October 2019: Taco Bell Burrito, Music lately & car troubles that continue

I try to write "daybook" updates every few weeks to note seasonal, daily and weekly changes in my life. These kinds of updates are not particularly detailed and are quite random.

I found myself at the Taco Bell Drive in, with a cloudy, rainy world outside of the Rental car that we were in..... and I thought to myself: "I haven't had a burrito in like 5 months!" suddenly the memories and feelings came back to me....all of those burritos I had at the hospital. the burritos that became  my favorite thing to get at the cafeteria. the burrito I started to have just hours before she died.... I remembered the trek down to the cafeteria from the various hospital rooms she was in. I remembered the skaters that the kids wore. I remembered the cafeteria and how I think that the UW hospital has a great cafeteria.
(I'm trying to make that whole I-was-at-taco-bell-thing a little more poetic, but, for now, its a just a blurb)



Songs I've been loving:
-Wisconsin by Glenn Yarbrough (since I've been driving the truck a lot, I've been listening to dad's music and have really come to love this song over the past few days, and am starting to memorize it :)
-still been into the Beetles
-Everybody wants to rule the world
-one piece at a time by Johnny Cash (my car theme song----civic has been having radiator problems, but is not working again because my brother "bled the lines" (whatever that means) and an engine was found for my Camry---so, that means we will rebuild it soon!)

Comedy Lately:
-Chris Fleming/Gayle Videos---baby got back, D batteries----hilarious!

Trying:
-st John's wort....not sure  if it does anything/if its doing anything yet.... I have been taking it for 5 days. I decided I will try it for a month and then see if it helps after that.


Fall is coming too fast for me. I am still working on using my cultivate what matters powersheets and just hit my first 3 month reset (I haven't been using the monthly pages once a month...just when ever a I feel the need to regroup (which is a frequent feeling!) but I go through the sheets every few weeks.)

Looking forward to....
-an upcoming wedding
-rebuilding my camry
-getting rid of my civic (yay!)

end of September daybook// wake me up when September ends, part two

My life keeps happening at such a fast pace---sometimes I feel as if I can hardly keep up, or that I'm just trying to get to the next thing. I like writing "daybook" like posts every so often to remind me of progress, and see the big picture better.

New books:
Catholic All....Day, November, December, Christmas Novena, Hymns and Carols for Advent and Christmas. I have already used the "Catholic All Day" booklet and thought it was a nice addition to my mass bag.

New Skills/experiences:
This week I learned how to milk a goat, and this Sunday & Monday, I will be milking that goat.
Watching someone have a sugar crash. That was interesting.
I got to drive a Ford Transit on Tuesday night---that thing was a bus! so huge!

Been listening to:
-The Beetles (particularly, "Hey Jude", "Revolution", "She Loves you")
-Man/Opposable Thumb from Good Burger
-Bonnie Rideout G'ime Elbow Room CD
-Green Day songs (wake me up when September ends, and 21 guns, mostly)
-The William Tell Overture by Hans Zimmer/from the Long Ranger

I have been eating a lot of:
smoothies in a mason jar (magnesium powder/raw eggs/ bananas/ strawberries/apple juice/kefir/blueberry/raspberry/yogurt/spinach smoothies)

New things:
Today I bought a bottle of St John's Wort and am going to try taking that.
Mrs Meyers Clean Day Every day multi surface spray

Trying out:
White vinegar cleaning spray

Using more:
My cultivate what matters powersheets planner.
My new Instagram account for faith & the liturgical year.
Pinterest
The Library

Enjoying:
Reading/Writing time on Thursdays at the Stoughton High School while my brother has band practice
Hiding a case of root beer in my Camry.
Sundays
Cross country meets
Wednesdays, 9:30-12, teaching a second grader. Each week so far has included 20 minutes of science experiments (!)
Little workouts here and there

Not loving:
the Catholic Schoolhouse co-op I babysit at
That my home button on my phone is even more broke
school


Still trying to get my act together:
Missing a certain someone---every day! Listening to my "FMR 2" playlist nearly every day. Still feeling many angsty feelings as the days go on. trying to be intentional about ingredients in smoothies. trying to rest and recharge even more. attempting little lifestyle changes. going to try out St John's Wort. Since M is still under construction, I keep accidentally driving past the apartment, which always brings me many tears. I feel like I am getting worse about replying to emails---if getting worse was actually possible! I used to reply the same day as I received an email, but these days.....you'd be lucky to get a reply within a week... (also-don't email me babysitting requests!!) Recently I have been waking up with "kind of a headache" and Thursday I had a really bad tension headache, so that's helping my cause. I'm going to get a massage on Sunday, so that should help a lot. still wondering/fighting the feeling "is this depression?". I read the book "a catholic guide to depression" this past week, which has made me think no, but still, I've been trying to fight these mental..."challenges"(?)/feelings as depression....increasing serotonin, tryptophan and dopamine as much as I can (through foods) and getting magnesium powder in me. Trying to get more organized about this all.... sometimes I wonder: "is this the new normal?"....trying to work on my attitude/a mental game plan...
Still wondering when this "September" will end.... will things ever be the same again? (probably not)

in more cheerful news....

VERY soon I am replacing the engine in my Camry and am very excited for that!!

Babysitting has been aplenty, with more overnights, and more time with twins too. We are on week 3 of Catholic Schoolhouse starting again, and 2 other new babysitting deals that started for the school year. I also started up a weekly teaching with a 2nd grader once a week, so that is fun. Babysitting lately has meant lots of driving around, which has also been fun, and I do wish I had a Red Ford Expedition.

I bought my first ever Moby Wrap, its Olive Green, and it was my first purchase off of Facebook Marketplace, and I felt really good about the purchase, because the woman and I had 3 mutual friends from varied parts of my life. The Moby, which I have not had experience with wearing prior to my purchase, feels very comfortable and a lot like wearing a Moby.
I have my first 2 ergos--- a mint/black one that I need to sew up a little, and my favorite colors on an ergo, black and camel. Tomorrow I hope to try out one of my new ergos.

the end of August has meant the start of cross country and other fall sports for our family. I am looking forward to go to a few friday night football games.
the end of August has meant the start up of school, at home for some of us, community college for others, and online school for two of us.

I made a new Instagram account (a second account really) for record keeping and Idea sharing of how I live the Liturgical year. It feels pretty bare and sparse so far, but I am sure it will fill up soon.

I've gotten into audiobooks again and listen to them often. I've gotten into classical music again, and listen to it a lot. I have almost finished my show on Netflix, and will be ready to start a new one soon. I've still been doing some reading, but nothing particularly exiting.

I went to an apple orchard for the first time with friends this past weekend.

A few weeks ago I started using Google Calendars which feeds into my ical for the first time. Using google calendars and iCal are new for me.

Sunday, the home screen button on my phone fell off, so now I guess i really need to prioritize getting a new phone...

This afternoon I am off to the library, cross country practice to play with a new buddy and then, more driving around, and then babysitting, until I crash in bed tonight!

crying over cars (still); some other happenings

Last week, I heard the story of the song at the scaffold on audio (the story of civilization volume 3), and was inspired to read the actual book. I can only hope to have that kind of accepting joy like the nuns had, when I am about to do something I don't want to!


Last week, I took a trip for 8 days to visit/babysit for a family I used to babysit more regularly. They just had their 6th baby in July. I live life fast & hard chasing the 2 year old around all day, playing with the other kids, holding the baby, and eating Popsicles + hanging out with their mom each night. This made for exhausting days, but it was great trip!


On the trip, I was walking home from an afternoon out with the two year old in the stroller. We turned from the library, and there was a silver grand caravan braun ability adapted van, and all of a sudden, the tears came hard for me. I cried the whole walk back to the house. Jeremiah kept saying "Don't crying Miss Frannie" and it was maybe the cutest thing ever. It IS a little frustrating how much crying I do over cars these days....


In other car notes, I am pretty close to rebuilding the engine on my Camry, so I will hopefully have that back soon.


Liturgical Living this month:
this was the first time I did this/knew about this---the Portuincula Indulgence
+ the regular things


got the steers butchered this week. picked up the pork from the pigs. and now all I can think about is getting more steers and more pigs. I'm quite bored with just one turkey ;)

Reading Lately....

Still working on my 45 minutes of reading each day habit :)

This list doesn't include blog reading or liturgical year reading.

New books/Current reads/finished:
The Story of Civilization volume III The Making of the Modern World---a gift; I have been learning so much from this! I have this as an audiobook---so good!


Uncle Tom's Cabin---still trucking through this with Librivox, Ignatius Press text and study guide, Kolbe Lesson plans. Really trying to dive into this & learn from it.


The Mass for boys and Girls by Father Joseph Dunney---good, but a bit tedious; finished this.


Servant of God Gwen Coniker by Nancy Martin---still working on. its okay.


The Life of Saint Gemma Galgani by her spiritual director---a few chapters in. haven't really gotten a feel for this book overall.


Catholic Schoolhouse Tour III Science book---a gift. flicked through it and then threw it on my shelf. more of a science experiment book, not much of a reading book.


The Children's Charter by Mother Mary Loyola---very good & insightful; finished this.


Picture book I recently discovered and Like:
-Charming Opal (read with a girl that I babysit  named Opal :). )

busy days

This week has been an especially busy week. Last week we had a fair which was great, but very tiring, and a lot of work for me, since it seemed like every superintendent wanted to give me jobs to do. At the fair I had so many texts for babysitting! I definitely felt overwhelmed and anxious for the coming week.

Monday, July 8
made it to low mass
I babysat twice, 5 hours an hour from home, and 3 hours, closer to home right after that.

Tuesday, July 9
babysat in the morning, 9-12; in the afternoon, 12:30-2:30, went home in hopes of regrouping but I had so many texts and emails that I got those done, prepped for the next day, did chores and was off again; I babysat at another house from 5-8:30. The kids kept asking me to bring my swimsuit for Thursday  morning when I babysit them. When I left I figured that for babysitting 3 times in one day, I earned a trip to culvers and my car needed a big drink.

Wednesday, July 10
Babysat in the morning 8:30-1 at the same house as Tuesday afternoon, 1:45-4:25 was watching my new person to take care of (not sure what else to call her)--took her for her first spin in a new scooter and we went for a little expedition, then, did more organizing with her.

Thursday, July 11
babysat 7:30am-1pm with the Tuesday night family, and did in fact, bring my swimsuit. Went home for just a little. Babysat again from 2:45-4:30 to the Tuesday and Wednesday family. Spent the afternoon at a friends house. I was at Mrs KBL's daughters house and I had a moment of panic before I walked in the house---I've been there several times since she died...maybe they just recently did this, or I didn't notice before, but the ramps were gone. (!!) I stopped in my tracks. a reminder that she is gone.
Lice has been going around (with much hysteria) in our homeschool group, and since I was around so many affected families, I thoroughly checked myself for lice, didn't see any, used a robi comb, and then did the overnight olive oil soak.

Friday, July 12
Today, I woke up early and showered in attempt to get all of the olive oil out of my hair.
Went to low mass.
and went to help out a family with 3 month old twins for 6 hours. It was great. My thrill was changing two diapers at one time and calling the boys "little T" and "little M" after my friends's twins.
I'm off to feed steers, and in a few hours, I'm off to babysit again for a few hours.


Although I babysit twice a day very frequently, and have babysat 3x in one day at least 2 or 3 other times, this week was especially interesting because of babysitting twice all the days but Tuesday, and then babysitting three times that day.
I am currently not scheduled to babysit again until Sunday ;)

I am a little exhausted ;)

I can't go out in public anymore! (a little dramatic, but...)

This is a bit of a dramatic statement, but within the last few days I have realized it to be true....

tonight, I was at vespers (my first time at a monthly thing with a local parish), and I'm mostly just listening to whats happening, and I was feeling alright until they said "May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen"...and I started crying and was basically a wreck for the rest of vespers

a few days ago was my first day on a new "job" where I'm helping take care of a woman who had a stroke, I was at the pharmacy for her, and I don't know, it was just too much to handle going to the pharmacy for someone else.... And I know what you're thinking--- "weren't you just at the pharmacy for yourself a few weeks ago??" well, yes, but I don't know...something about using somebody else's credit card, and signing forms for someone else....I kind of hope the pharmacist didn't notice all the tears in my eyes...

anytime I'm driving and I see a silver colored Chrysler Town & Country van...  and definitely when I see the wheelchair adapted ones... I feel immense angst

last Monday I went to an organ recital, and "for old times sake" I parked where she and I had to park when all the handicap spots were taken and we had to trek through  the parking lot, I walked up/on the wheelchair accessible (but not wide enough!) ramp, I went to the elevator, I stood in the spot where we "sat" for mass..... at an organ recital, I was remembering our trek there for the All Souls Day mass. And, again, just for old times, I literally ran to the bathroom, like I'd have to do when I took her places (I couldn't leave her for more than a few minutes on her own!) Yes, even at a lovely organ recital, there were tears. I also remembered my most recent time at that building---the first mass when we were appointed Bishop Hying....24 ish? or less? a full day? I don't even really remember... after she died, and I was, although glad for a new bishop, not loving life that day.

I feel like as each day goes on, I am filled with more and more angst....

written 6/23/19

Busy days

I had every intention of writing here more and tapping the "publish" button more frequently than I have in the past few months, but I am currently in the middle of 2 very busy weeks (about to start week 2 of the busy weeks)

Here is an example of the day in the life of me.... This was a particularly interesting/busy day!

Thursday  June 13- Friday June 14 2019

Thursday Morning:

7am daily mass

work at cloth diaper shop 8:30-12

interview at Memory care place; met a guy who is 99, went through the battle of the bulge and Normandy, and shares the same birthday as me---we sat and talked for 45 minutes!!; visited a friend
rushed around with chores, writing about the exciting afternoon, got ready for the night and next day

went to my brother's rugby banquet

hit the road again to spend the night with a family with 10 week old twins to help with the twins throughout the night.Think I'm living the high life during my night with the twin boys. Remember my dear friend and wondering if this is what life was like for her and her twins. I also named each twin after my friend's twins. :)
I read books to the older kids, got them in bed, said my own night prayers with a twin in my arms, slept some but woke up each time one of the twins cried, changed diapers and rocked babies back to sleep throughout the night. :)

went home the next day, got home at 10:30 am. Did chores, caught up on texts, showered.

12:00-1:45 paid for my car, got gas and worked at cloth diaper shop

2:05-5 babysat three kids for my sister

dashed to stoughton for a grad party

5:56 get a text at the party that I'm looking at a new car at 6:40 (that was the time we were going to meet)
RACE home, do chores in 4 minutes, get my money, drive back to Madison

look at car

buy car (I am now a Honda owner)

go home. hit Wendy's and remember a certain mishaps for my friend and I there. ;)

at home work on "The Death of a Salesman" paper
shower
go back to Madison--feeling so tired!! drive new car home. listen to frightening CD that previous owner left in car.

jump into bed at 10:20!

April & May books read + new books

April:

How to get to "I do": a dating guide for Women by Amy Bonacorsso
A Love that Multiplies by Jim Bob & Michelle Duggar
Somebody I Used to Know by Wendy Mitchell
Mother Teresa of Calcutta: a personal portrait




Myrtle Beach trip:

Fabiola by Cardinal Wiseman

Re-reads:
Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry
Leo the Lion by Jennifer Montemurro
Each Little Bird that Sings

Haven't finished yet:
National Catholic Reader book six


New books:
the Catholic All May booklet
The Catholic all June Booklet
(what else were you expecting for new books???)



Also,
I have now started to get Homeschool Magazines and Catalogs to ME and in MY name. (Yes  I am very dorky)
so far I have received things from....
Memoria press
Mother of Divine Grace School
Seton
Catholic heritage Curricula

a new direction/update

Hi everyone---

It's been awhile. My last post was like 6 weeks ago. The end of April, and May this far, have flow by. And its almost June...
OK, so it has been a while. I have been doing some writing, but am just now, in the last week or so, getting back into the swing of typing my writing.
I've fallen out of several routines---including my treasured "liturgical year keeping", but it has come back, but in a different way now. My reading regime has kind of fallen apart, and only made a return when we went to Myrtle Beach. And, its been weeks, for sure most of this month, since I last said a rosary, so I fell out of that habit too....
Many exciting things have happened in my life, and, I hope to get back to a regular "liturgical year sharing" schedule--I have new booklets and other new discoveries to share!! But, because of tragic happenings, this blog may be taking a bit of a different direction. I know that sounds vague but, I don't feel like saying what exactly happened. but, for now, expect to maybe see things a little bit differently here. I'm not really sure what that will be, or if things will even end up being different at all, but I felt it was necessary to give a bit of a (admittedly vague) update, after an unplanned lapse in regular posting here.
I have a few drafts that I plan to finish and hit publish for, and then a couple of new things, but other than that, we'll see. Like I said, I hope to get back into my regular "liturgical year sharing" routine.

In other news...
 In March and April, I volunteered at a Memory Care place (as apart of a school assignment), and from the first day, I liked it there and felt like I "fit" there. (Yes, I know how weird that sounds!!) The employees really liked me all along, and on my last day I took an application. I just sent it in yesterday, so wish me luck with that!! (2 years ago, or really anytime previous to the last 15 months of my life I would have never imagined myself eagerly wanting a job at a memory care place, enjoying being there, or cheerfully telling others that I'm applying to work at a memory care place---but, God ALWAYS has other---and better!!! plans!! I do hope to get the job there!!

My family and I went to Myrtle Beach May 12-18...it is probably our last "family vacation" as my sister has been engaged since March, and is set to get married May 23rd of next year. It was an interesting trip in that sense.

Well, this is all for now,
Stay tuned to see what happens!! (I'm sure you are all holding on with suspense!!)

Passion Sunday & Passion Week (Lent week 5):: 4/7/19, 4/8/19, 4/9/19, 4/10/19, 4/11/19, 4/12/19, 4/13/19

Plans:
-Daily Low Mass (but, probably not on Monday); Sunday Mass (2x)

-Daily Lenten Reading: Lives of the Saints, A Character Calendar; Lent for Children, A Time of Renewal (essentially a continuation of what I have already been reading); with the church volume 1 chapters (a few for this week)

-Librivox: Jesus of Nazareth by Mother Mary Loyola (try to finish)

-Daily Rosary (2-3x), Daily Stations of the Cross (by myself, 2x with others)

-Daily Writing/Keeping

-Daily Calendar Work; Father Oak Peg Doll

-Read: The Carrying of the Cross or Start Reading: The Imitation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

-Sunday Keeping: Sunday Morning Story land



4/7/19
-Mass (the statues and such were not covered up :(. ); Purple
-Read from/Sunday Keeping: Sunday Morning Storyland, Lent for Children, a time of renewal (maybe I won't actually get rid of this one after lent...), with the church volume 1 (a great Sunday keeping time with lots of notes!)

4/8/19
-Low Mass (YAY!)
-Read from: a time of renewal, lent for children

4/9/19
-Mass
-Read from: Lent for children, a time of renewal, & a character calendar
-found some old Stations of the cross booklets to possibly use

4/10/19
-Read from: Lent for children, a time of renewal

4/11/19
-Low Mass
-read from: lent for children, a time of renewal, a character calendar, st gemma quote, & butler's lives of the saints

4/12/19
-read from: lent for children, a time of renewal, with the church volume 1 (friday of the passion week), Butler's lives of the saints, a character calendar
-gathered books & such to make plans for Holy week

4/13/19
-Calendar work
-Read from: a time of renewal, Lent for children, around the year with the von trapp family, the catholic all year compendium
-Palm Sunday vigil Mass
-Palm Sunday copy work from Catholic All April booklet
-Holy Week Prep: wrote out more plans, gathered books & such into 1 book bin, read around the year with the von trapp family & the catholic all year compendium
-listened to Jesus of Nazareth on Librivox

This was a packed week for me, so I am glad I was able to do such a great Sunday keeping session on Sunday. kind of sets the tone for the rest of the week. It's hard to believe that Lent is nearly over, and we are now welcoming holy week.

Lent week 4:: 3/31/19, 4/1/19, 4/2/19, 4/3/19, 4/4/19,4/5/19, 4/6/19

3/31/19 Laetare Sunday
-Sung Mass (?) at St Marys Pine Bluff; Pink/Rose colored vestments (got to put out the pink father oak!!)
-Read from: a time of renewal, lent for children

4/1/19
-read from: Lent for Children (lovely as always!), a time of renewal (I am contemplating getting rid of this book after this lent)
-listened to Jesus of Nazareth on Librivox (several chapters!)

4/2/19
-Low Mass
-Read from Lent for Children, a time of renewal

4/3/19
-Read from: Lent for Children, A Time of Renewal, A Character Calendar
-I seem to be having a hard time with the waking up early for mass thing this week....

4/4/19 St Isidore of Seville
-I seem to really be struggling with the whole wake up thing this week....
-Calendar work
-Read from: A time of renewal, lent for children, a character calendar & Butler's lives of the saints (for the first time!)

4/5/19
-Read from: A Time of Renewal, Lent for Children

4/6/19
-Read from: Lent for children, a time of renewal
-Mass (so great to see the images and statues and crucifixes veiled!)
-Made plans for passion Sunday & Passion week

This week has felt a bit...stagnant or something. And I'm not sure why I couldn't get my act together to make it to Low Mass more than I did. We're coming down the home stretch of lent, and I need to make some plans for Passion Week and Holy Week.

Lent week 3:: 3/24/19, 3/26/19, 3/27/19, 3/28/19, 3/29/19, 3/30/19

3/24/19 3rd Sunday of Lent, St Gabriel
-High Mass (!!) FINALLY! I haven't been to a high mass in like, forever!
-Read from: Lent for children, a time of renewal, Sunday Morning Storyland, Catholic All Year Compendium + Catholic All March booklet (St Catherine of Sweden)
-Made plans for the feast of the Annunciation
-Father Oak: purple
-Read about St Gabriel from A Character Calendar & Lives of the Saints

3/25/19 The Annunciation-see separate post

3/26/19
-Low Mass
-New books came in the Mail:

More catholic All Year Booklets!!!! (and the April booklet is THICK!) I haven't had much of a chance yet to even look inside of these, but am very excited to have them!!
-read from: Lent for Children, A Time of renewal

3/27/19
-Low Mass
-Read from a character calendar (I've missed this book!!)
-Investigated New "Catholic All Year Books" (can't wait for April to begin!!)

3/28/19
-Read from: Lent for Children, A time of renewal, A character calendar (what a treat!)
-Listened to Jesus of Nazareth on Librivox
-New Books: Good Saint Anne (booklet) Butler's Lives of the Saints & Imitation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (all from Tan books--- I bought these when it was the St Benedict's Day Sale--they are all so beautiful, I am excited to have them in my collection & can't wait to read them! So grateful  for the St Benedict's Day sale!!)

3/29/19
-Low Mass; purple; Feria mass for Friday of the third week of lent
-Read from: Lent for Children, a time of renewal
-thought up edits for my way of the cross document

3/30/19
-Read from: Lent for Children, a time of renewal, Sunday Morning Story Land, Catholic All March booklet, With the church volume 1
-Mass
-I got a new shelf!!!!! I have a bit of organizing to do on it, but it is might nice having (nearly) all my books in one place--and pretty accessible.
-made edits on my way of the cross document

Update:
I have pretty much ditched the "40 steps to Easter" booklet from Dumb Ox pub--and I don't have a great reason why... I was reading with my friend nearly every day, but, I didn't pre-read (ever!) when I should have and awkwardly read things out loud to her (like I read "thank you for the gift of being able to walk" (which was in the book) when she hasn't been able to walk in almost 20 years...so that was...awkward), so I kind of stopped bringing the book to her house. and sure, I could read it to myself, but the daily sections are so short that it feels like some thing I *should/could* read with her, so mentally It feels like I *can't/shouldn't* read it with myself...its complicated. but I've basically ditched it and I don't think/plan on going back to it (even though I could...)
I have been saying the stations of the cross by myself nearly every day, and this was a goal of mine. I use either my document or the Catholic All Year ones. I've said it with my friend not as often as I had envisioned us, but we have a  handful of times. I have also found that I don't have enough breath (or something) to say a rosary and the stations in one day with her, so I usually choose the rosary because it's *generally* a smoother experience.
My Lenten readings have gone...mostly well. There's no zeal or anything or but the habit is there. I'm looking forward to starting a new book or two soon.
I have been going to low mass pretty much every day it was offered this lent (I overslept at least a few mornings...)
So, I guess, you could say that lent has been pretty fruitful this year.

February Reads

*not including liturgical year books/reading.

I've been using the library again, and have been on a bit of a kick now....

(I've been reading some Fascinating ALS Memoirs lately...so good!)

January Daybook

1-16-19

Watching:
I watched my favorite parts from "White Christmas". the "we'll follow the old man" song gets me every time...
I've been on a Sebastian Maniscalco kick again.

Trying to resurrect my peg dolls vision....

Latest editions to Spotify playlist:
I like it like that-Pete Rodrriguez
Rising of the Moon
Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata
Stars and Stripes Forever-John Phillip Sousa (various versions)
Funiculi, Funicula (I should find a better version)
Joshua fought the battle of Jericho (various versions)
Drew Pizza Party Music CD (most of the songs)
Tarantella (various versions)
Adeste Fideles, the old Man, Gee I wish I was back in the Army-Bing Crosby

The Punch Bowl Podcast and the SSPX podcast are the only podcasts I ever listen to anymore. Although, the Punch Bowl Podcast is a weekly thing, and the SSPX podcast hasn't put out a new episode since early December...(but I have listened to some old installments. I really the like the "questions with Father" episodes. so enlightening!)

Finished Reading:
-Stay Hungry by Sebastian Maniscalco. I can't wait until his next special/show is out on Netflix!
-the religious potential of the child ages 6-12 by Sofia Cavaletti (I didn't "enjoy" it but wanted to have the experience of reading this book, so I finished it.)

I recently started Bible History by Ignatius Schuster. It's going alright.
Still slowing working through Seton's Art 8, Art through Faith.

Tools:
-I bought some Sistema containers!
-I've been using Pinterest again
-I'm still loving my Tan books calendar (the saints planner, not the wall calendar, although I have had the hanging wall calendar before.)
-Eucalyptus oil has been my friend! (twice now in January I have been sick with a sore throat and mild congestion) I feel like a kid again (I used to get sick a lot) Yay, me! I ran out of all of my Young Living Oils (which I have non-committedly been using for a few years, since it was "easy" to buy) For years, I have been strongly recommended the Hopewell Oils/Heritage essential oils brand, and have always thought to myself, "in the future" (but, why can't the future be now?), and I have also been enticed to the Eden's Garden brand...but I don't know if I love those. So, now, I am proudly & eagerly awaiting my first batch of oils from Hopewell Essential Oils to arrive.

Lessons learned from overnight babysitting #2:
Its hard!!
Tip for next time--bring more (&better!) books!

Loving: having my own beats!!

Thinking about:
-getting a massage soon (a real one!)
-art prints I want
-books to get
-need to come up with a steer feed solution (!)
-the liturgical year

I've been wearing a lot:
-black sweatpants! (like, daily)
-my H&M Divided Black/white shirt, I look like such a jailbird.

Clipboard picture on my desk: Sophie the Squash inspired one (still)

Recently, I've done some more teaching with a 1st grade, and a 4th grade who use the Seton books. and, I've been having a total hay day with the Seton books!

Happy January!

In the first week of 2019...

1/1

I turned 21!

We had our usual largeish party at our house on New Years Eve, and after we banged pots & pans at midnight, we came back in and had cake (for me). Everyone left after 1, I showered and I was the first one in our family to bed in bed(at 1:30am)

(my sister, our friend, & I)

I went to 7:30am mass at Saint Mary's Pine Bluff, did chores, took a great big nap and spent the rest of the day visiting with friends (at three different houses! including my pal) and  saying "I MUST go to bed early!"

1/2
Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus-Mass, Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus & Copywork: Golden Arrow Prayer. 

I went babysitting at new house that was out in the middle of no where....

This sign was so hilarious that I had to pull over and snap this picture. I have never seen a sign like this so near my own home. 

I borrowed a scrapbook on Father Kunz to learn more about him.
Starting in the afternoon I started to get a little bit sick, so the next day (1/3) I stayed home all day and was sick (not very, but too sick to be around my pals) So I am still enjoying my beats (a lot) and have added new songs to my spotify, and have been listeing to back episodes of the SSPX Podcast.
For the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus- readings from Sunday Morning Storyland and from with the Church.

1/4

I got tested for tuberculosis.(for school, not because I thought I have it, so don't panic everyone. ) (this wasn't really on my list of things to accomplish in life though...)
I started my first Emily Ley notebook, its super cute but also super small.

I went through the Father Kunz scrapbook and learned SO much...and learned more about the Little Saint Therese's school ("The Academy of Saint Therese" as its properly called) It was great!!

1/5

We had the steer weigh in. We tipped the scales at 796 (right on track) and 742 (a little low on that one). We brought the steers home. It was just my dad and I. There was so much snow/ice/and such in our yard, that dad got the truck and trailer stuck in the yard....just spinning and spinning and spinning the truck tires. He ended up detaching the trailer from the truck...which made the trailer start to roll down the hill....so I had to run after it....

Our yard is a bit of  a mess right now and today its raining and raining.
More babysitting at a new place in a really pretty part of our county; it was a long drive out but with a refreshing view.

1/6
Epiphany Day! (see Epiphany tag for more about that day)

1/7
I got the results to the Tuberculosis test (negative, of course), ran a few errands, its a rainy rainy day & now I am settling down to an average week of school & babysitting ahead (what is average?)
And because its Monday, I am very much enjoying a  new episode from the Punch Bowl Podcast.

Currently Reading:
Stay Hungry-Sebastian Maniscalco
Art through Faith (Seton Art 8)
Catholic All January -Kendra Tierney
The Religious Potential of the Child 6-12 Years Old (still)

Just another week in the life of me!

Happy First Week of 2019!

10/22/18 Daybook

Amidst lots of babysitting, teaching (2nd & 3rd grade), my own family life, and spending time with/taking of Mrs KBL (all things I LOVE doing & am very grateful for), here is a bigger picture update of sorts...

Thinking about--- With another birthday in the family today I am wondering how is it possible that 3 of us kids are adults?!?! When we reached the 5 teenages milestone, that felt like a midlife crisis or something. But, this...I don't really know what it feels like. Sometimes its hard to imagine siblings getting older....
Recently our family was invited over for dinner at our brother's wrestling coach's house. We were all there. And to be honest, besides Sunday dinners, I don't remember the last meal we were all at together, or the last thing we all rode in the van together to.
Times have changed from our youth!

Listening to lately--- I'm still loving Spotify and I'm still LOVING my brother's beats. I added a bunch of classics to my playlist this weekend such as, "It's Tricky",  "Take Me back to Tulsa, I'm too young to marry", "No Sleep Till Brooklyn" and "Jump Around". Still enjoying all of my old favorites as well! My YouTube playlist continues to get lots of use during the school day.

Currently Reading--- The Catholic All Year Compendium! It's really good! (I bought it at the Holy Family Bookstore in Kenosha Wi. I also bought a handful of medals and Holy cards). Last week, read "Off the Hook" by Tim O'Malley. He recently spoke at UW Madison's "Newman Center" so I bought his book there. I found the beginning to be a little vulgar, but the middle was really good. I picked up some inspiring and thought provoking quotes on love (in the general sense) so I am glad that I read it. I am also reading How Now Shall We Live? I am about 60 pages in. I am not sure if I will finish this one. Next, I hope to read "Loss and Gain".

Excited about--- I put in a request to the Tridentine Mass Society of Madison (diocesan Latin masses) for a Mass to be said on the night of 11/28 (the feast of St Catherine Laboure). (this is the saint who Mrs KBL is named after/her patron Saint. I was thinking and thinking of how we can celebrate this day with her. Innovative me came up with a spectacular idea!)  My wish has been granted! (This is so crazy exciting!! This is going to be such a treat!) A Low Mass will be said at 6:30pm on that night (I can see it now--her and I sitting in the very front on the left). I couldn't be happier! I am extremely excited for this event on so many levels! It's going to be AMAZING!
My car is still working out very well!
Having steers again! These are the most gentle, calmest steers ever. And they LOVE grain! They are so eager!! I've got HIGH HOPES for these two to hit 1500lbs!! but, really, I'm happily back to feeding steers. We got hay yesterday, so that is also exciting.

I am wearing--- I went to 7AM low mass today, so this is the outfit I picked out last night: black shirt and long black skirt--nothing extravagant in this department. Also, I am wearing a miraculous medal.

Clipboard picture on my desk: Still savoring my "Sophie's squash" inspired image. 

The Liturgical Year--- I printed off some more calendars (I have 5 liturgical calendars now). As I have already stated, I am excited for the feast of St Catherine Laboure. I am also looking forward to the upcoming feast of St Raphael. I am still super impressed with the Restored Traditions art prints. I really want to make some purchases from this website, but to be completely honest, I don't fully "get" how this website works...
Today, on the new calendar, it is the feast of Pope John Paul II. Last year on this day we had a family funeral in Kenosha and I did some nice copywork on the way down. Today I don't have anything special planned for this feast but may come up with something of some sort before the day ends. We'll see what happens between now and then.

Charlotte Mason---I've had a renewed eagerness for memory work. I am still keeping with copywork/commonplacing, lots of reading and lots of notetaking.

Today I went to 7am Low Mass, have been working on school, made a quick trek to Mrs KBL's, and am now back to doing school work. It's a rare day that I am not babysitting or teaching, so for excitement I am trying arm & hammer deodorant again. In about an hour it will be time to feed steers and on deck for tonight: a trip to Mrs KBL's (I hope it will be better than earlier today!) Life is good!

This Week:: More New Things!

This has been a busy week and I am taking some time today to catch up on projects at home. So far I have organized all the books under my desk (not an easy feat!), organized my notebooks by date (a little bit easier), and threw a load in the laundry of my sheets/blankets + new things I bought at a garage sale today (a super easy task!).

This week I (finally!!) bought a new car! This is an extremely exciting feat!

 I learned to drive on a 2012 Toyota Toyota (which I LOVE), my first/other car was a 2002 Ford Tourus (I didn't love it), I have also driven my brother's 1994 Buick Grand Regal Sport, our family's Chevy Express, I drove someone Else's truck, and Mrs KBL's car is a Dodge Grand Caravan (its not like driving a regular mini van because it carries weight funny). I am learning to drive stick shift on a Ford Focus and drove a 1994 Saturn once. i am getting better at stick, although I haven't practiced in about a month. I've also driven a 1952 ford jubilee a few times, so I have some experience. I like driving our truck best, our van second, Mrs KBL's van third, and my brother's Buick fourth. My new car is a 1999 Toyota Camry. It drives like a Toyota (what more can I say?). I don't love it but I like it better than my Ford Tourus.

So that's that.

My Desk This Week:

See anything new? Your eyes don't deceive you! I have an echo dot. I was at this garage sale today and there was an echo dot for $25 so I got it rather impulsively because it felt like a deal I couldn't pass up. I'm not really into echo dots or whatever, and I don't think I ever "wanted" one but, I couldn't walk away from such a deal. So I now have an Echo Dot!

It's beginning to feel like fall around here and have chillier temperatures! I am not particularly excited about fall coming (I do not like fall) but....fall means NEW STEERS!!!! and I am plenty excited about that. This past week we went to look at our new ones. They were cute and solid looking. Also, at the farm there were 4 calves that were 2 weeks old and we got to bottle feed them!!!! They were so adorable! It was so exciting to bottle feed them. As for our new steers, they won't come until no sooner than October 8th. I have already ordered feed and hay (I hope I am not jumping the gun on that!) so, the Hay is coming to our house soon!

This week I enjoyed a week off of Catholic Schoolhouse, but that meant more babysitting elsewhere. I picked up some more free books. I will spare everyone my complete dorkiness and not share which books I got and which ones are now my current reads. I started using my new Erin Condren Notebook as mentioned/pictured in a previous post. It is a dot grid notebook. I don't love it or anything. It's okay but I don't know if I would ever use this specific notebook again...

As for today's feast, I found this post from Fr Z interesting and I plan on taking some notes on it later. Other than that I don't really have my liturgical act together for today.

This week: Wedding Extravaganza

Listening to a lot: I am still loving having Spotify again. One way or another from Blondie. Fox on the Run. The Parting Glass sung by the High Kings. You're nobody until somebody  loves you by Dean Martin. Brick House. Mud Digger from the Mud Digger CD. still on a Norman and Nancy Blake kick. My spotify and I spent a lot of time together this weekend.

Reading: yesterday I read The Story of a Soul by St Therese. Friday I read a booklet on Devotion to the Sorrowful Mother from Tan books. I got inspired to read the catholic hearth magazines with Mrs KBL and that's been going well. Does blog reading and reading texts count?

Comedy: I re-watched Sebastian Maniscalco's "aren't you embarrassed?" this week. it was good, as always. I am due for another round of watching My Cousin Vinny.

New things: I now have the Marco Polo app. I was inspired by someone who uses it with her brothers so I wanted my siblings and I to have it/use it.

Last Saturday was "a wedding". We went to Mass at St Rita's in Racine. At this wedding there was a table with a candle with pictures of all the family members who have died. I was glad to see that my Grandma was remembered.

This weekend was "THE wedding". Mass was at St Robert's parish in Shorewood.
 

 The church looked/felt very Roman.

It was super cool! Milwaukee is cool! This was probably the most time I have spent  in Milwaukee. I don't remember the last time I was actually in Milwaukee... Most of what I know of Milwaukee is from the "Caroline Ingalls" books. ;) The reception was in Turner Hall. we got an AMAZING! parking spot (we were in Milwaukee, after all) We were right near the Bradley Center and the UWM arena. we went and checked out the new additions to the Bucks Pro shop and whatever the name of that entire building is...

 
the cocktail hour was in the balcony of the ballroom in Turner Hall and the dinner/everything else was in the ballroom. It was so spectacular! The speeches were good. The grand march was great!

At this wedding, there was a big "remembrance table" that everyone went to pay their respects to. Its sad to see all the pictures, but I was glad to see it there.

My Grandma and the groom

The Bride and her dad. In the middle of the head table they left an empty chair for her dad. The first toast of the night was for her dad and a beer was left in its place. 

8:30 hit and I went and sat with my Great Aunt. 9:30 came and I went to sit with my Grandpa. He and I sat in chairs and slept off and on for the next two hours. There was a polka and the tarantella dancing was the worst I've ever seen. It was a great wedding feast!
________________________________________________________________________________
I saw this "catholic tag" and I thought it would be fun to participate in.
What is your rite? Mostly TLM, but somewhere between the NO and the TLM.
Cradle Catholic/ Convert? Born Catholic.
Year You were baptized? 1998 (at Holy Rosary with Fr John Molnar)
Year you received your First Communion? 2005 or 2006 (I think '06) (at St Paul's Evansville)
Confirmation Saint? St Brigid of Ireland.
Name of Current Parish? The Cathedral Parish, Madison/St Patricks & St Mary's Pine Bluff for weekend Masses. St Williams Paoli for Daily Mass.
Parish groups you belong to? None.
Prayers you say everyday? Angelus, Magnificat, "Now I lay me down to sleep", The Creed, Act of Faith, act of Hope, Act of Charity, Archbishop Brady's Prayer for Vocations, Night Prayers, Eternal Rest, Litany of Our Lady of Loretto, St Joseph Litany
Religous Items you travel with? Missal + bag with: Veil, Pieta Book, Jesus Make Me Worthy book, Rosary & a booklet.
Do you go to adoration? Yes!
Last time you went to Confession?  In Italy.
Color of your favorite rosary? white.
Convert that helped your faith? I think Fr Z is a convert from Lutheranism...
Cradle Catholics that helped your faith? My Great Grandma's, my parents & SO many others!
Weirdest thing about being Catholic? um. I'm not sure.
Best Thing About Being Catholic? Traditions. The Bible. The Latin Mass.The Liturgical Year.
Your patron saints? (& favorite saints) I wrote about that here.
Favorite Parable? the cure of 10 lepers, emphasis on the one who went back to say Thank you to Jesus
Favorite Psalm? I don't have one.
Favorite religious order? Franciscan Sisters of St Joseph!
Favorite Catholic Singer/Band? I don't have one.
Favorite Spiritual Author?  St John Bosco. Cardinal Dolan. Gwen/Jerry Coniker. Fr Lovasik. Mother Mary Loyola.
Favorite Marian Devotion? The Rosary. The Magnificat. The Angelus.
Favorite Pope? St Pope Pius X! (Peter takes a close second, with Benedict XVI in third!)
Favorite Biblical Character: Raphael. Elizabeth. Peter.
Favorite Catholic Movie? The Reluctant Saint. The Song of Bernadette. 
Favorite Catholic Song? The Ave Maria?
Favorite Encyclical? Humane Vitae, I guess. or Fides et Ratio. I am not much of an encyclicals reader...
Favorite Marian Hymn? Oh Queen of the Holy Rosary & Immaculate Mary
Favorite book written by a Saint? The 40 Dreams of St John Bosco.
Favorite Catholic Meme? I'm not much of a meme person.
Favorite Liturgical Season? Easter.
Favorite Feast Day? the days of my favorite saints. Christmas Eve.
Favorite part of Mass? The Last Gospel or the Sermon.
Favorite Sacred Hymn? Tantum Ergo or Oh God Beyond all Praising.
Favorite Gospel? anything with Peter in his good moments in it. or the "Bread of life discourses"
Favorite Martyr? Max. Kolbe!
Favorite Titles of Mary? Of the Rosary of Pompeii, Mount Carmel & Lourdes.
Favorite Bible Translation? Douay Rhiems.
Religious Life or Married? Marriage!
Homeschooling or Catholic School? Homeschool!
GK Chesterton or CS Lewis? Neither.
St Peter or St Paul? Peter!
St Thomas Aquinas or st Augustine? Hmmm....Aquinas!

And that's a wrap on this past week!

This Week:: New Things!

So, I've been in like a 3 week funk of car problems and struggling with scheduling changes/having a consistent schedule, and basically just being thrown off routine. So, that called for some Amazon purchases on my part. :) I bought another Latin Mass book (It hasn't come yet), an Erin Condren weekly desk pad in  hopes of sorting out my schedule in a weekly format, this book because I saw it at a parish and wanted it, and lastly, the main reason for this big purchase- pens! (I'm left handed and these are the pens that I have found to work the best!) I ran out so pens were an urgent need for me!  I have also borrowed these books to read: In my own words by Pope John Paul II (its a quote book) and the Secret Diary of Elisabeth Leseur. I am excited for both of these books!

Today I came home from a cross country meet to find that this box came in the mail! Everything was generously gifted to my by Jennifer Mackintosh and I couldn't be more excited! (and this isn't the first time she has gifted me with some planning things!). Here are some pictures of what I got + I received LOTS of stickers. The sticker sheets are half used or ones she didn't want anymore. :) Everything is from the Erin Condren company but the stickers are from an assortment of places.

I am thinking of using the deluxe monthly planner for the liturgical year, a desk pad (I got another one today) for babysitting dates, and I'm not sure what else....the possibilities are kind of endless. good thing I bought new pens! I love the Erin Condren snap in dashboards too! Just a super exciting day!

My planners came with out covers because they had her kids name on them, so I pulled out my covers from the EC Horizontal planner that she gifted me with 2 years ago (she chose the cover design), here it is:
Isn't it pretty? It's not exactly what I would choose but I like it, and sometimes I flip them around and use the inside facing out (my notes from a fair two years ago were still on them today!) It's nice having interchangeable covers. I could always buy more/new ones, but I can be kind of cheap, so I bet I will just keep these. :)

Stay tuned for what I end up doing with this all!