I would very much like to know what the difference is between tannery bronze, antique bronze, heirloom bronze, oil rubbed bronze, aged bronze, etc. etc. etc.
AUGH!!
I think I am about fit to be bronzed myself. At least I’m not trying to drag three children to umpteen different stores while I attempt to buy lights for our house. But if our lights all end up being subtly different shades of bronze, please promise to not mention it, ok?
I’ve been keeping track of everything I’ve read since I graduated from college. The five years or so are in a MS Access database, and from 2003 on everything is in LibraryThing. I tried importing the data at one point, but it was too time intensive and I decided it just wasn’t worth it. It also was skewing my recommendations, because much of what I read then is not really anything I’d be interested in reading now.
I’ve put together a year in review post just about every year I’ve had a blog (although I have no idea if I did last year - I’ll have to check my archives) and I thought I would do the one for 2008 before it slipped my mind.
Here’s my sum totals since 2003:
2003: 55
2004: 63
2005: 63
2006: 55
2007: 56
2008: 102
Was anyone else surprised by that last number? I certainly was! Considering all that last year saw - working on a house, having a baby, moving, homeschooling, etc - I am amazed that my number of books read has almost doubled.
I think two things can account for this. First, I have a baby who really only nurses well when I’m alone with him in a quiet place. This gives me more reading time than you might expect, especially now that I have the use of a Sony eBook Reader. (I love, love, love, this little device. I keep meaning to write a post about it, but I haven’t gotten around to it yet. Obviously.) The Reader is great because not only can I easily switch from one book to another, I can also hold it in one hand and turn the pages very quietly so as to not distract my very distractible nursling. Second, I’ve been reading a fair amount of fiction targeted towards children, which generally reads a lot faster than fiction targeted towards adults.
Here’s a link to all the books I’ve read in 2008. As you can see, I’ve been reading a lot of classics - which is great because I can get them for free from Project Gutenberg and put them easily on the Reader with Calibre.
In 2009 I want to continue to read classics, and now that I’ve finished Don Quixote (I really would like to know just how many people have actually read the whole thing - my goodness that is a long and repetitive book!) I want to continue reading the books listed in the Well Educated Mind by Susan Wise Bauer.
1. I read this column last night by Emilie Lemmons and I was profoundly moved. I’ve really been thinking about this part:
I rage against the possibility that I might die and leave my children motherless, my husband a widower. Even though the medical odds are against me, and my rational mind knows I could die, it is hard for me to accept death as an outcome.
What if I just let go of that? What if I trust that even if I die tomorrow or next month or next year, things will somehow work out? What if I allow myself to put the outcome in God’s hands and just live intensely in the present, absorbing and embracing life as it happens? It’s not indifference or admitting defeat; it’s seeing the bigger picture.
My biggest hang-up with the idea of death is not dying in itself, but what I’m leaving behind. Would my children remain Catholics? Would they even remain Christians? I have no idea, but I have a hard time seeing how it would happen. I started thinking about this during my weekly discussion group a few months ago and I’ve been having a hard time working through it.
2. I also really liked the quote Emilie wanted her husband to share after her death. It is on her blog, Lemmondrops. It is very strange to scroll down to read older posts and reflect that the person who wrote those words is no longer alive on this Earth.
3. Hmm… starting with death is quite a beginning, isn’t it.
4. Have I mentioned that I have a spiritual advisor and regular confessor? It is a very good thing. Most recently we were talking about how my fears show a lack of trust in God, and it was an epiphany for me. I suppose this dovetails with #1 quite well, doesn’t it.
5. Another thing we’ve discussed a lot is how God can turn anything - anything! - to a good for our salvation. Not necessarily a worldly good, as in how we often think of things being good, but to our ultimate good. This doesn’t happen automatically though. It requires obedience, a willingness to turn aside from selfishness and worldly things and an acceptance the graces He gives us in every moment.
6. Another thing I’ve been thinking about is pride. I was actually thinking I was doing pretty well in this area, until I started reading an examination of conscience he gave me recently. And of course, as he pointed out, patting my back about making inroads on pride is, well, pride. *grin*
7. Several blogs I read have been writing excellent and thought provoking posts on what they’ve learned in the last year and how they’d like to improve in the next. I’m having a very hard time making myself have that kind of introspection. I find the busy-ness of everyday life far more comfortable right now, which probably means I particularly need to do this. It is rather strange for me in a way because usually I’m one who likes to self-examine, make plans and lists and such. Right now the only planning I’m comfortable doing is my school planning for the second term. Now that I’ve finished that though, perhaps I need to sit down and make myself think a bit more about where I need to go. [Edited to add: I checked blogs after I wrote this (yes, procrastinating, thank you very much) and I found a post on Simple Mom with a series of reflection questions. I thought I would mention it in case anyone else is in the same situation]
Thanks, as usual, to Jennifer at Conversion Diary for the idea and for hosting this!
It’s a white Christmas!
We spent the night down at the house, as planned. It was lovely to sleep in our very own house. We went down after our “Midnight” Mass (I say “Midnight” because it was at 10 pm) and got everyone settled. The kids were excited to be there, and it was entirely too bad that we had to leave once the presents were opened.
With thanks to Jennifer at Conversion Diary again…
— 1 —
Nathan’s decided he’s far too mature for little things like nice long naps. A 20-30 minute catnap in the morning and afternoon is about all I can get from him. Those of you who have babies and toddlers who take nice long naps… I am so envious. The only bright side I can come up with is that at least I don’t have to organize my life around nap time…
— 2 —
Gregory turned 3 on Wednesday. He had a wonderful birthday, and I managed to finish his birthday present in time (see play rug above). He was so excited about his birthday and his presents and his cake. We all had fun watching him.
— 3 —
My handmade stuff is coming along slowly. Nathan is also not going to sleep well at night, so that gives me less time in the evening to work on things as well. I don’t know if he’s getting sick, going through a big “I need Mommy” phase, or what. I’m way behind on the Jesse Tree at this point, but the kids haven’t noticed for some reason. We are having fun talking about the stories as I work on the ornaments though.
— 4 —
The snow has been a lot of fun, but the whole trying to get around thing does get old pretty fast. We did venture out yesterday though during a break in the storm and that went well. We’ve been having a combination of rain, snow and sleet for most of today though, which I’m glad to just watch from inside. I am hoping for a break in the weather tomorrow though, so I can finish Christmas shopping.
— 5 —
Speaking of troubles getting around, we have quite a situation on our road right now. Our drywall guy got his truck stuck, which is blocking the other drywall guy. My MIL, in trying to go around the drywaller’s truck, got stuck. Matt made it worse and got her car into the (smallish) ditch on the side, and our car is blocked in by this whole mess too. Matt had to come back in for a phone conference, and when my MIL called AAA to see about getting a tow, she was told that the tow trucks in this area are not 4 wheel drive and aren’t allowed to put on chains for liability reasons (?!?). When she asked what she should do, they told her “wait until the snow melts”. She then tried Farmer’s Insurance because they have towing coverage with their auto policy, and while they will at least work with various tow companies, they’re having trouble finding anyone who can help. Right now Matt is heading back out to try and see what he can do.
— 6 —
My daughter (wearing Gregory’s knight costume, which was supposed to be toddler size. Butnow, even if it is big, at least he doesn’t have to dress up as a princess!) has been drooling over the Play Mobil catalog and website. I wish we could get her a set or two, but I’m not sure how to make that work when she shares a play area and a bedroom with a three year old who would love to scatter the pieces far and wide. Right now it is just a potential mess, but in another couple months it’ll be dangerous as Nathan starts to get mobile. Is giving Emma her own room and keeping stuff like this in there the only solution? It seems quite unfair to Emma if she always has to play with infant/toddler safe toys!
— 7 —
I am amazed that Nathan has been happy sitting on the floor and playing the whole time I’ve been typing this. He is getting to be such a stable sitter! OK, starting to fuss now…
We’re having our first snow storm of the season, and it is turning out to be a good one!
The kids are having a great time playing in the snow, and it is perfect snow for a snowman.
It is hard to take a picture of both of them at the same time because they are moving around so much.
It is really fun to see them having such a good time, and that they’re old enough to go out for awhile and play. Matt is “working” from here today, but right now he’s out cutting down a tree that is blocking the road and then he’s going to play with the kids for awhile. OK, time to go change and feed Nathan. Poor mommies, we don’t get snow days! *grin*
Thanks to Jennifer at Conversion Diary, I now present my version of 7 Quick Takes Friday.
— 1 —
I have been wanting to participate in this for weeks now, but I tend to read Jennifer’s blog on Saturday, hence missing the whole thing. Thanks to Nathan’s nap and my MIL making cookies with the other two, I actually have a little computer time on Friday!
— 2 —
Why is it that I’m at the weight I want to be, but I’m a size more than I should be at this weight? I don’t get it. It is the same scale I’ve been using for years too. Well, actually, I assume I’m at the right weight, but the kids did something to the scale and now it measures in St. lbs. (whatever that is). But the last time it worked I was only 1 lb off, so I assume I’m there by now.
— 3 —
And also on that subject, I find it deeply annoying that I own lots of size 8 clothes, and lots of size 4 clothes, but nothing in size 6. Guess what size I am now. After the last two, I skipped size 6, but that doesn’t seem to be happening. And now I can’t decide if I should just contend with baggy clothes and hope that I can get back to a 4, or just accept things as they are and start haunting the thrift shops for size 6 stuff. Humph.
— 4 —
And speaking of thrift shops, I would really like to find one where I could get decent kids clothes. So far the pickings have been pathetic at the places I’ve visited. But I did find a pair of jeans (size 6 petite, yay!) and a long sleeve shirt for $6. I hate finding myself thinking so much about clothes right now, but I can’t seem to stop myself. I wish I could have a wardrobe of decent, long-lasting clothes that fit well and then I could just stop thinking about it for a few years until stuff started to wear out again.
— 5 —
The kids are enjoying Advent this year, and I’m managing not to be too stressed about it. I’ve made lots of Jesse Tree ornaments (although I’m not done) and I’m doing reasonably well on some of my other projects. Today to celebrate Our Lady of Guadeloupe we had Mexican hot chocolate and cheese and crackers while I read (well, paraphrased, because I knew it would be a little long for Gregory) Tomie dePaola’s book. It was simple, but successful, and it worked well for the kids. In future years perhaps we’ll do more, but for where we’re at now, it was perfect. Someday I’d like to get to the 5:30 a.m. procession/Mass/hot chocolate and Mexican treats at our local church, but this was definitely not the year for that!
— 6 —
We’re supposed to have a much needed storm coming in this weekend, and the kids are hoping for snow. Actually, we’re all hoping for snow. *grin* It is in the forecast, but we shall see. I sure wish that the weather had been this nice last fall - we wouldn’t have had to bale out icy cold water from trenches once if the weather had been like this!
— 7 —
I had better and pithier quick takes composed in my head, but alas, they have all disappeared. I really should take notes or something. Too bad I tend to compose them when I’m nursing, which makes note taking a little challenging. But still, this was fun. Thanks, Jennifer, for coming up with this and hosting it.
Here’s an encouraging post for Moms with littles to read -
I think that I’m at least getting closer - and I certainly am a lot further along than I was when Emma was a baby! - but when I do things like visit my good friend who’s youngest is 8 I see how much more I have to learn. Of course, if we weren’t also trying to build a house I might feel a lot better about my abilities!
We decided to do things a little differently this year…
It’ll be so much easier to get the tree topper on top!
Before:
After:
Makes a bit of a difference, don’t you think?
Today they are taping and mudding, provided the inspection this morning went well. Ah, it is nice to hire things out sometimes!
(And yes, Matt, I probably should have put this on the house blog. My apologies)