this is my flesh which is given as a ransom for many.

Doug is in need of a new coverall and since they are so expensive ready made I commissioned Matthew to make him a new one.  When it comes to this kind of sewing Matthew is way beyond my abilities.  Now all his dad has to do is try it on so that the pants can be hemmed and fasteners can be attached.

I also decided to make something for Layn to wear for Easter.  Nothing too fancy but something new to him was in order.  My first attempt is this blue gingham outfit with a scotty dog appliqued on the bib.  Ian said no.  No flowers!!!

Back to the drawing board and I came up with this tractor outline.  Much more boyish!  How could Ian possibly object to this outfit?  We'll see when he gets home tonight.

A friend and I recently went to the city for a couple of days.  On our way back home we stopped at this store called Paper Trail which is, oddly enough, a stationers shop.  Displayed in the store were these beautiful little confections made from paper.  I immediately thought of Beth. 

Friday was Layn's first birthday.  That kid is growing like a weed, to coin a familiar phrase.

Outside my window....the sun is shining!!!!!!  The wind has finally stopped blowing and it looks like we will have another outstanding spring day here in upstate New York.  As we enter into this Holy Week, the beautiful weather is just another reminder of all the manifold blessings that God has heaped onto mankind.

I am thinking....of every occasion in my daily life where I must offer back to Christ the thanks that I have in my heart for the gifts that he has given me.  This week is a walk up the hill to Calvary for each of the faithful but it must be a thankful and generous walk.  The suffering that we enter into is nothing compared to His.

I am thankful for....far more than can be enumerated. 

From the schoolroom...there will be silence this week so that we can turn out hearts and minds on the real business of the redemption of mankind.

From the kitchen.....MK and Melissa are planning on baking Easter Bread today so that they can send a package out to the big guy.  I think burgers and dogs are on the menu for tonight since most of us will be scattered to the four winds.

I am wearing....a long flannel nightgown.  It is too chilly yet for anything less.

I am creating...works of art.  I am teaching myself how to make flowers from ric rack so that I can embellish a dress that I am making.

I am going...to the Y to work out, to the adoration chapel to spend an hour in the presence of my Lord and then home to hide myself away as he did in preparation of the Easter Mystery.

I am reading.....The Collected Works of Josephus

I am hoping....that those I love know of the depth of the love I have for them for there is no real way of expressing it.

I am hearing....the wind chimes outside my window, MK's dog crying at the door to go out, and the washing machine working its way through the first load of laundry for the week.

Around the house....there is evidence of family, industry, a child, and much love.

One of my favorite things....the yearly ritual of collecting last year's palms from around the house and burning them.  Then going back around the house and distributing the fresh palms that we were given at Mass yesterday.

A few plans for the rest of the week....this week will be spent hidden away as much as possible just as Our Lord hid himself away in the days before his passion and death.  Solitary hours will be spent in contemplation and prayer, recalling the sufferings that were endured on our behalf.

Here is a picture thought that I am sharing with you...

The soft maples are budding out.  Very soon we will wake one moring to find tiny baby leaves on the branches.  There earth and everything around is coming alive once again.

Some of these might just bear repeating?

51 Things Every Person Should Know

My cousin Kay sent this to me. Enjoy!!!!
 

PORK CHOPS




In a zoo in California , a mother tiger gave birth

To a rare set of triplet tiger cubs.

Unfortunately,
Due to complications in the pregnancy,

The cubs were born prematurely

And due to their tiny size,

They died shortly after birth.

The mother tiger after recovering from the delivery,

Suddenly started to decline in health,
Although physically she was fine.

The veterinarians felt that the loss of her litter

Had caused the tigress to fall into a depression.

The doctors decided

That if the tigress could surrogate

Another mother's cubs,

Perhaps she would improve.

After checking with many other zoos across the country,
The depressing news was that there were no tiger cubs

Of the right age to introduce to the mourning mother..

The veterinarians decided to try something

That had never been tried in a zoo environment.

Sometimes a mother of one species

Will take on the care of a different species.

The only orphans' that could be found quickly,

Were a litter of weanling pigs.

The zoo keepers and vets

Wrapped the piglets in tiger skin

And placed the babies around the mother tiger...

Would they become cubs or pork chops?


Take a look.. You won't believe your eyes










Now, please tell me one more time ...
Why can't the rest of the world get along?

Outside my window...the wind is blowing like nobody's business.  The temp is 55 and we are supposed to top out at 78.  Of course we will also pay the price for such a high temperature so early in the season, forecasters are calling for thunderstorms and hail with high winds.  I'll take the warm day and ride out the storm.

I am thinking...about family.

I am thankful for...the reawakening of the world around me as spring builds.  There is no other place to experience the slow change of the seasons than right here in Central New York.

From the schoolroom...things are winding down.  Matthew is about done with his senior year and MK is about done with her semester.

From the kitchen....there are leftovers from Saturday and Sunday to get us through until tomorrow.

I am wearing....jammies. Doug let me sleep in today so it is a late start that I am getting this morning.

I am creating...an oasis of peace and warmth.  Today will be a day to enjoy the outside until the calm before the storm.  Then instinct will drive me inside to curl up with a book and read away the thunder and wind.

I am going...nowhere today.  Actually for the next two weeks there will be no unnecessary trips.  This is passion week and next week is holy week.  Time to become even more inward looking and examine myself in light of eternity. 

I am reading...Jesus of Nazareth part 2 by Pope Benedict XVI

I am hoping....to get the asparagus and raspberries weeded and mulched this week.

I am hearing...Layn chattering to himself as he looks out the window, Matthew running his sewing machine, and Melissa starting the first load of laundry.

Around the house....ugh!  We spent the bulk of the weekend outside coming in and out only to eat and put things inside.  There are piles here and there and things out of place.  We definitely need to put some quality time into straightening up this place.

One of my favorite things....chubby baby toes.

A few plans for the rest of the week....finish two sewing commissions and get paid for them, get out in the asparagus patch and the raspberries and get them weeded and mulched between showers, daily holy hours and time spent with my family.

Here is a picture thought that I am shaing with you....

This guy and some of his buddies was out strutting his stuff on Saturday. 

This is a photo that my youngest brother (in the picture) had of the family home when we still lived in it.  I would say that it was late '70's vintage.

This is the photo that I took this week of the house.  The changes are obvious.