as cozy as spring

Stamp Out Hunger

I meant to mention this earlier just in case you, like me, ignore random mailings.  Easy cheesy.  We've got our bag all ready to go.  It's tomorrow, don't dawdle!

Government finally steps in

A crackdown on church bake sales.  It's about time!  These grandmas and their pies are a social menace.  And please, no one comment about "safe food preparation standards" because I think if we've gotten to the point that we are afraid of grandmas and their pies there is something seriously wrong with us.

(This is my Dad's childhood parish - I've been there several times and lived to tell the tale.)

Clematis.  Also terrifying.  

Controversial Weekend Blogging

I promised myself I was done being outspoken on current events, but this story had me clapping my hands together gleefully - and sticking my tongue out, saying "Ha, ha!" at all the late night comedians and liberal talk show hosts.  

Harvard Researcher agrees with the Pope

Now I will do my best to go back to flowers, knitting, picture books and fairies tomorrow.  But seriously, this needs to be noted.  

Ha,ha.  Pass it on.

Earth Hour

Today's post is written by a more opinionated Jennifer.  I do my best to ignore her, but some days she refuses to be silenced.

I heard about Earth Hour on the radio and my first thought was "Oh how fun!"  We'll sit around the fire (because yes it's cold again) and read stories, have a candlelight dinner and cut down on the electric bill by a teeny tiny amount.  

And then I flipped on the computer this afternoon and saw these conservative rebels talking about how they were going to do their best to turn every light on instead.

Why?  What does that do for you - or anyone else?  I'm not commenting on global warming or politics.  You don't have to agree with or believe in anything behind this effort.  I don't see the harm in teaching your children about using our resources responsibly.  Why does it have to be turned into something divisive?  

I am a fairly conservative Catholic but I will be turning my lights off tonight, not because I agree with them but because I think it's a kind of a neat thing to do.  

Just popping in to say...

I think this is hilarious.  

Can I just say?

From yesterday morning - this photo has nothing to do with anything except that I'm hoping it will distract you from me being catty (again). But it's bad to hold things in too long.  So - 

He's not Jesus!  Can we please just get a hold of ourselves America?   My favorite late night comedian keeps joking about how Obama was 'born in a manger and rode to school on a unicorn' and on and on.  OK, no Bush wasn't necessarily the best president ever but Obama hasn't done a single thing yet.  His speech yesterday was mediocre at best and appalling to some.  So just settle down everyone.  I fully intend to give him a chance and everything but really.  

Look at those chubby hands!  So sweet!

That's all.

Puzzles are here - this company makes some great products.

And one more thing, why do I only catch my typos when I see them on Google Reader?  Why not before I hit publish?  

With Courage

I have an intense admiration for people who are courageous enough to say what they truly believe, particularly (though not exclusively) when I agree with them.  Perhaps it is because that is a quality I lack myself.  

My sister sent me this excerpt from this CNS article:

 Bishop Paul Loverde of the Roman Catholic diocese of Arlington, Va., said last week that if the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) should become law and a Catholic hospital in his diocese is forced to provide abortions, he would refuse to let the hospital comply, but he would also not close the institution. 

Though there are no Catholic hospitals in his diocese, the bishop nevertheless was defiant: “I would say, ‘Yeah, I’m not going to close the hospital, you’re going to arrest me, go right ahead. You’ll have to drag me out, go right ahead. I’m not closing this hospital, we will not perform abortions, and you can go take a flying leap.’ ”

And I give a singular standing ovation to Bishop Paul Loverde.

The last, I promise.

I know I said I wasn't going to talk politics and I tried, really really I did.  But the whole purpose of this little site here is for me to air what's on my mind to someone other than my long suffering husband.  

I was sad yesterday, I admit, and I couldn't put my finger on why until I read this post by KC where she laments that she didn't get the chance to celebrate the first African American president.  And I thought about driving over to KC's to hug her for writing exactly what I felt.  I want to be happy and proud, but there is an asterisk there I can't ignore.

My favorite feminist called on Tuesday night.  It was a neat phone call, akin to my sister calling me while on the White House lawn listening to Pope Benedict speak.  She was driving over to the big party in Chicago to be a part of history.  And I celebrated with her and she was kind to me.  We'd spent a lot of time chatting about this over the past few months and here's the thing: we agree on almost everything - even finding some common ground on Roe v. Wade (here's a secret: that they don't actually like abortion).  So I do have hope that we can all join together.  I mean, if I can get along with a feminist and she can get along with a conservative Catholic there's hope for all of us. 

If nothing else, laughter is the best medicine and we are guaranteed plenty of that in the form of Joe Biden and did-he-really-just-say-that?.

OK, I'm done.  I promise.  Unless I'm not.  

In the end.

Yesterday was just gorgeous.  It was slightly overcast and the wind would strengthen from time to time sending bright leaves twirling to the ground.  I sat in the garden and knit.  Stopped and checked the news.  And back again.  I did finish the scarf, all six feet, casting off just as Barack Obama took the stage at 10:45 or so.  And I admit to shedding a few tears as I tucked in the ends of the yarn.

I hope he is everything you think he is.  I hope he can accomplish this grand new America you have envisioned.  I admit to being a bit blue (ironically) this morning because I don't see what it is you see in him.  I see him and remember the first time I heard my daughter's heartbeat.  She was eight weeks old.  I remember the photo of my son, at twenty weeks.  He was sucking on his bottom lip.  If I were to peek around the corner, I would see him doing that still.  Because he is what he was then, a live, unique, beautiful person.  

So I don't understand, but I will hope right along with you.  I will have faith, the same faith I've always had, not a new one brought about by this one human man.  I will teach my children to pray.  I will teach my children to cherish and protect the newest of lives and those that are not so new, but just as precious.  I will teach them to conserve, starting with our own backyard and our own consumption.  I will educate my children.  I will teach them to love one another (I'm failing at that this morning as a symptom of my daughter's cold includes a really bad attitude, poor girl).  My family and I will financially support those in the world who live in poverty, just as we always have.    

Congratulations to us all on this big step forward.  Our prayers today are for our new leader and for all of us as we continue to move forward.

Here we go!

I love election night!  We are having a lot of fun here.