Emily M. DeArdo's Blog, page 32
April 8, 2020
Wednesday Notebook #4
Liturgically:
It’s Spy Wednesday. Tomorrow evening the Sacred Triduum starts, with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. This is followed by Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. And then, of course, EASTER.
Making
Easy and Good Pot Roast, from Like Mother, Like Daughter!
Elementary Wrap—it’s still chugging along! I’m on the second ball of yarn now, so the project is 33% done. :)
Another loaf of whole wheat bread
Reading(Lots of various things, I’m dipping in and out….)
A Ring of Endless Light (Finished)
Watching (and will be Watching)I always watch The Passion of the Christ on Good Friday.
Jesus of Nazareth is also excellent viewing.
Opera: Les Pecheurs des Perles, Macbeth, Norma, Aida, La Fanciulla del West, Falstaff, Parsifal, Romeo and Juliette, Don Pasquale, Cosi Fan Tutti.
(Parsifal actually takes place partially on Good Friday and Easter….)
It’s Lamb Time At Colonial Williamsburg!
Speaking of sheep—remember Ma’s Delaine dress in Little House in the Big Woods? Meet the delaine merino sheep! The wool is soft, fine, and wrinkle free, so wonder Ma liked it! A beautiful fabric that doesn’t wrinkle?!
The Long Lent and the History of Quarantine
NO seven quick takes this week since it’s Good Friday. On Monday, though, BIRTHDAY WRAP UP! :)
Also the ebook version of Living Memento Mori is on sale until 4/15 on the Ave Maria Press website.
April 3, 2020
Seven Quick Takes--5th Friday of Lent
-1-
Post from around here this week:
-2-
And a bit of business: The Living Memento Mori ebook sale is still going on at Ave Maria Press!
-3-
So this week…..whew. It wasn’t a bad week, but there were some hard days. I’m just trying to take each day at it comes, as we all do! My days do have a rough “shape” to them—mostly around the Liturgy of the Hours, and I am doing basic chores and things like that, just to keep myself sane. But I miss my people!
-4-
My birthday is next week, and it’s basically the highlight of the month for me, since the governor has said that the stay-at-home order will be in effect until May. We all sort of figured that was coming. My birthday is also Holy Thursday and it will be beyond weird not to be at church for those celebrations. I’ve always loved the triduum. (I was born on Good Friday, it’s in my nature!) But my parish will be streaming their Masses, so it’s not like I can’t see them. It’s just weird, like so many other things these days.
-5-
I did, however, discover the wonder that is Tiger King. Man. I needed some of that absurdity.
-6-
We’re having a proper spring here in Ohio, which is nice. Sometimes we skip spring and go right to summer. But the days have been nice enough to leave the windows open, and the tree outside Orchard House is getting the pink buds on it. :) I love my hawthorn tree.
-7-
Finally, I leave you with Crookshanks in Quarantine Photos (which are explained in my yarn along!)
April 1, 2020
Yarn Along #96: Comfort knits!
OK, so story—
this is Crookshanks. A stuffed Crookshanks (obviously). I’m not allowed to have a real cat or dog—someone else would have to clean up after them, and since I live alone, no go. But in Quarantine Time, when no one is allowed to come over and give me hugs, the stuffed cat is going to have to do. And, for my amusement and the amusement of others, I’ve been posing her doing things, so I thought I’d start off this yarn along with something (hopefully) amusing!
Anyway, she’s holding one of my “comfort knits” that I’m doing during this period.
I decided to raid my stash and take out yarn that I’d been holding back (why, I ask myself), and just knit it up. I have three skeins of this City Tweed from Knit Picks that I’d been saving and I decided I was just going to knit them. They’re on size 9 needles, cast on 22 stitches, and just knit. There you go. This color (above with Crookshanks) is called Rhubarb, and I also have Chipmunk….
And a third skein in Morning Glory. So these are really simple, the yarn is yummy, and I love working with it, so, there we go.
I also have two skeins of Quince’s Osprey yarn in Peacock that I’ve been using to make Puck’s Scarf.
I have not abandoned my Elementary Wrap. It was just that last week I wanted basic, basic knitting. So this week I will resume my work on the elementary wrap.
(Also, if you’re not on Quince’s email list—you’re missing out. They’ve been sending out FREE PATTERNS every Friday during this pandemic time—happiness! [Well at least some happiness, right?])
I’m reading many, many things (you can see what I read last week here), but right now I’m reading A Ring of Endless Light, one of my favorite books, and sort of appropriate for right now, given that the book revolves around the main character’s grandfather dying, and discusses the nature of life and death and God. Yes, a lot for something categorized as a “kids’ book”! (and no, the movie with the same title does not follow the book really closely at all….sigh.)
Wednesday Notebook #3
MAKING
two garter stitch scarves—if you knit, use an aran weight to cast on 20 stitches on size 10 needles, and just garter stitch the heck out of it. Or, with DK weight yarn, cast on 22 stitches on size 9s and do the same. :) More on knitting in the Yarn Along!
King Arthur Flour’s Classic 100% Whole Wheat bread—this is really good! I didn’t have vegetable oil so I subbed olive oil. Worked fine. This is a really good bread to serve with soup or pasta as well.
READINGThe Moon At Night (finished)
The Fellowship of the Ring (Finished)
33 Days to Greater Glory (Finished)
Revelations of Divine Love (Finished)
The Red Lotus (finished)
The Young Unicorns (Finished)
(Also, my book is still on sale at Ave Maria Press—ebook version only)
WATCHING(The trilogy of extended editions is on insane sale at Amazon right now—more than 58% off. It’s nuts! So if you’re looking to get them for your Blu-Ray library, now is the time. The packaging is not nearly as nice as the DVD sets, but…alas.)
LINKS AND THINGSThis list from Mason Dixon Knitting—100 self-care ideas—is gold!
The Pope’s Urbi et Orbi speech (from 3/27)
March 27, 2020
Seven Quick Takes--Fourth Friday of Lent
-1-
We’ll start with some business. :) First, if you have read my book, please leave a review on Amazon! That helps more people find it (the more reviews, the more it shows up in Amazon “related items” or whatever.)
Second, Ave Maria Press is having an ebook sale, and Living Memento Mori is part of it!
-2-
Last week, as you know, I wrote all about Billy. You have probably seen the post from Monday, where I wrote about his death. Thank you, again, for all the comments, thoughts, and prayers for my friend, her husband, and their little boy. It’s so comforting to know that people are, as Anne Frank said, “really good at heart.”
-3-
Here in Ohio, we’re basically shut down. We’re told to stay inside unless it’s an essential thing—like, you must work, or get groceries or food, or things like that. We can go out to exercise, as well, sot hat’s helpful. But just going out to go out and in groups is, um, discouraged highly. I live alone, so most of my days are spent in my own company, but the hardest thing is not being in contact with people—no hugs. No touching. It’s rough. I mean I’m not a hugely touchy-feely person, but I do like parental hugs! And I haven’t had any in a month (or thereabouts). Sigh. Oh well. It could be worse.
-4-
The knitting is a lot of comfort knitting—I went into my stash and broke it down into types of yarn and then projects I can do with each type. Right now I’ve got two garter stitch scarves going and I’m going to make some washcloths with the stash of cotton dishcloth yarn I have here—why I bought so much, no idea. But knitting keeps my hands busy and it’s nice to have the feeling of getting something done and working on a project with a definitive, easy to see end! :)
-5-
I dunno if we really need more memento mori art, but here’s one of St. Catherine of Siena:
-6-
As far as churches go, we’re shut down at least through April 6, which is Palm Sunday. I would bet that there won’t be public celebrations of Holy Week, which is just….weird. I mean, weirder then Mass not happening publicly. I am very much hoping for streaming services for these. The Triduum liturgies are so beautiful! And my birthday is on Holy Thursday this year! That’s always special and to not have the Mass is just….again, weird. That’s really the only word I can use right now. WEIRD.
-7-
What are you reading, writing, doing, cooking—whatever-ing—during this time? Share your ideas in the comments!
March 25, 2020
Wednesday Notebook #2
Today is the Solemnity of the Annunciation: Eight things to know and share about the Annunciation.
Simon Bening, “The Annunciation”, Getty Museum
MAKING:
English Muffin Toasting Bread (with notes on how to make it with whole wheat flour….scroll to the bottom!) It’s yummy!
Elementary Wrap
A bunch of garter stitch scarves
Making A Life (Finished)
The Virgin’s Lover (yes, yes, I love Philippa Gregory, sorry guys, but I do!—finished)
The Other Queen (see above note. Sorry not sorry.)
Vanishing Fleece (finished)
Exalted (finished)
Revelation of Divine Love
The Red Lotus
Outlander (again)
Meet the Austins
Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
Bishop Barron’s Catholicism: The Pivotal Players series.
The story of Billy, if you missed it. And its follow up.
Many, many moons ago, Elizabeth Foss wrote a workshop for Lent called Restore. And it was amazing and I come back to its principles all the time. So I thought I’d share some of them with you in these notebooks. The first one is: Realize when you’re burned out, and work to get good rest. I think right now we could all use really quality sleep, because when we’re stressed sleep can fly away so quickly! Try going to bed at a set time every night and getting up at a set time in the morning. Conversely, if you’re like me and you need more sleep than usual, try to see if you can structure your days to get it—go to bed earlier, nap if you can, etc.
The whole series where she talks about renewing and restoring her life is a gift—this post has all the entries linked.
Want some science at home? Our local science museum, COSI, has a site with daily activities and exhibits to check out!
46 productive things to do instead of scrolling social media
Kids’ coloring pages from Cultivate What Matters
Bishop Barron: “Coronavirus and Sitting Quietly Alone”
March 23, 2020
Billy Love
Getting to meet Billy on Sunday
The first post I wrote about Billy is, far and away, the most popular thing I’ve ever written.
I’m so glad that so many people got to know this incredible little boy and his fabulous parents. I’m so glad—and overwhelmed in a good way—by all the comments, prayers, and e-notes I’ve received saying they are praying for Billy and his family.
Sadly, Billy passed away in his father’s arms this morning (Tuesday, March 23).
He was loved, and so cared for, until the end.
These six days they had with him were an incredible gift from God. They were a miracle. I’m sure about that. Billy wasn’t expected to last an hour. Instead, he gave his parents almost a week to rejoice and delight in him—and for us to delight in him as well.
Tiffany got to nurse him. Bill changed his diapers. They slept with him on their chests, cooed at him, took videos, rocked him, and loved him. Billy grasped their fingers and looked into their eyes. His grandparents and aunts and uncles delighted in him. And so did all of us.
The day they left the hospital, the membrane that covered Billy’s encephelocele began to break down. The neonatologist said this was to be expected. At home, the brain tissue began to bleed. But through it all Billy and his family had the love and support of their family and the wonderful hospice nurses from The Resort. Billy was kept comfortable and was always in someone’s arms. He was unbelievably loved, and only knew love his entire life.
I was so blessed to be able to see him. I was so blessed to see my best friend hold her child, her first-born, to mother him, to see Bill hold his son against his chest and feed him. I stroked his little ear and marveled at his tiny fingers and even tinier nails. I delighted in him.
On Sunday, we heard the gospel that contains my life verse—Jesus healing the man born blind. My verses are taken from the beginning of the gospel’s ninth chapter:
As Jesus passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned. He was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him.”I don’t know why I was born the way I was—but God does. I don’t know why Billy was born the way he was—but God does.
Maybe we were both born this way so that we can glorify God. I certainly hope so. That’s what gives me comfort, and that’s why I consider this my life verse.
Billy’s short life glorified God. His parents’ faith and love glorified God. The support, community, love, and prayers of all of you for this little family glorified God.
A few weeks ago, Bill and Tiffany’s church had a luncheon for them, to celebrate Billy and to provide support for Tiff and Bill. At the lunch, we made a quilt, where every guest was invited to write something to Tiff and Bill on a square. The quilt was draped over their couch when I went to visit. It is beautiful.
I had brought my Bible with me, and I spent time going through it, wondering what to write. Finally, I settled on one of my favorite verses. It’s the verses that begins the epilogue of my book.
“God himself will be with them;he will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Death will be no more;
mourning and crying and pain will be no more,
for the first things have passed away.” And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” —Revelation 21: 4-5
Today’s Mass reading from Isaiah talks about a time when infants will not die after a few days. When I heard that at the streamed Mass this morning, I almost dropped my coffee mug. Billy was dying, and here Isaiah spoke of a new world, where we would all live the lifespan that God appointed us. There would be no more crying, or death, or sadness. We would all live together to old age. Isn’t that what every parent wants for their child?
We all loved Billy. I thank you for all the love that you gave this family, that you continue to give this family. Please pray for them. At this time, the state of Ohio is essentially shut down—I don’t know what’s going to happen with the funeral. Thankfully, their families are local, so they have that support here in town and they can be together. Please continue to pray for them.
March 20, 2020
Seven Quick Takes--Billy
-1-
OK, I have a really freaking great story to tell all of you, if you don’t know it already, but first business: Ave Maria Press is having an ebook sale and my book is included! So go get it!
-II-
OK so, it’s story time.
My Bestest Friend, Tiffany, and her husband, Bill, are some of the nicest people in the world. I won’t say the nicest people because I haven’t met everyone in the world. :)
I have known Tiffany since September of 1996, when we were seated next to each other in Theater I at PHS. (Alphabetical last names). And we just hit it off.
One of her best gifts is that she is absolutely calm and chill about everything. I had to do my treatments in front of her while we were on choir tour? No biggie. I’m injecting myself with insulin? Whatever. I’m in the hospital? OK, cool, can I come visit? She always treated me absolutely normally.
I spent a lot of summer days at her parents’ house, eating dinner with them, even going on vacation with them. We’ve seen Broadway shows together, we have inside jokes…(“Zazu, why am I not….loved?”)
Me and Tiff.
Her husband, Bill, is the perfect person for her. I was so happy when she met him (one of our friends fixed them up, thanks Gary!) and they got married, because he’s such a wonderful guy, and she deserves a wonderful guy!
We’ve been friends for almost twenty-five years.
-III-
So, when Tiff and Bill were expecting their first baby, I was thrilled for them. A baby! YES!
And we were all excited….until he got a really bad diagnosis. So bad that he wasn’t expected to live very long after birth.
Tiff and Bill decided that it didn’t matter—they were going to love on him as long as they had him. They took him places (the zoo, the aquarium, the symphony, the movies), read to him, played music for him, and wrote him letters in journals that they each kept. They wanted to make as many memories as possible with him while he was inside Tiffany and alive.
They named him—Billy the IV. :)
His birthday was set to be St. Patrick’s Day. He has encephalocele, and they didn’t want to risk Tiff going into labor, so Billy was a scheduled C-section.
They arranged for their pastor to be there to baptize him. In the midst of all the virus craziness, the hospital allowed their parents and siblings to come, because they knew time would be short.
-IV-
But.
He didn’t die.
He lived.
And is still living.
-V-
Billy is eating. He’s sleeping, he’s grasping his daddy’s finger, he looks at his mommy’s face when she coos at him. He yawns and gives us looks of disdain. :)
-VI-
They get to take him home. They get to be parents! At home! Something they didn’t think they’d ever get to do!
I told Tiff last night that I’d never prayed for someone as much as I’d prayed for them and Billy. My prayer journals are full of notes about Billy and his parents, and really desperate prayers for them, for healing, for peace, for…everything, really.
I’ve written many times, including in my book, that God is not a vending machine. Prayer is not a vending machine. We don’t get to say God is good only when he gives us what we want.
God is always good, even when we can’t see it. God always loves us.
-VII-
But right now, in this period of time when we all need miracles and good news, we have one—we have Billy and his amazing parents. We have a little boy who was supposed to die, and who is living. This time with him is a precious and amazing gift, and the fact that my friends get to take home a baby, A LIVE BABY, something they didn’t think they’d get to do, is cause for praise to God.
This morning, Billy was taking a nap with his dad. Something that countless babies do—that I did—that you probably did, with one of your parents. But a priceless gift to them.
God is being very good to us.
I shall not die, but I shall live,and recount the deeds of the Lord.—psalm 118:17
Billy the IV with Bill the III
March 18, 2020
Wednesday notebook
While the COVID 19 virus goes on, I’m going to try to do a Wednesday notebook—a mid-week check in with what I’m doing, reading, watching, and any goodies I find on the internet to share with you. And also let’s have conversation in the comments—how is everyone doing? Let’s get some virtual community!
These brownies from King Arthur Flour are AMAZING. So fudgy. I made them with one cup of chips because that’s all I had—still excellent.
Their English Muffin Toasting Bread is next up in my baking list.
I’m still working on my elementary wrap in Linen Quill from Purl Soho.
Elementary Wrap and book stack!
READING:
Exalted, by Sonja Corbitt
Revelations of Divine Love, by Julian of Norwich
The Red Lotus, by Chris Bohjalian (about…..a pandemic…..)
From the Depths of Our Hearts, Benedict XVI and Cardinal Robert Sarah
Making A Life, Melanie Falick
WATCHING:The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Going to watch all of the Hobbit movies….might as well!)
Knives Out
Links and such:Social Distancing Tips from a Cloistered Nun (I LOVE Sister Mary Catherine!)
Catholic Coloring Pages and activities for kids!
Magnificat is offering their app for FREE during this—daily Mass readings and other devotions
March 14, 2020
Illness & Piety
The second station: Jesus Carries His Cross
A lot of dioceses are dispensing their Catholics from attending Mass; some are shutting their churches completely. It’s a strange time to be Catholic in America—what do we do without Mass?
We know that we are required to attend Mass unless we are sick, find ourselves really far from Mass, or for other big reasons (you’ve got a sick kid and you have to stay home to take care of her). Not attending Mass is a mortal sin, but, like all mortal sins, that means there are three criteria for it: Grave matter, full knowledge, and deliberate consent.
If you live in a diocese where the bishop has dispensed you from attending Mass, you’re not committing a mortal sin if you don’t go. We don’t know a lot about this virus. What we do know is that a person can have zero symptoms and be contagious! That’s scary.
Even before the dispensation came down from Ohio’s Catholic bishops, my transplant team had told me that they didn’t want me going to Mass. Was I super pleased with this idea? No. Am I listening to them? yes.
To me, this is very like life right after my transplant. I didn’t attend Mass for three months, because I was severely compromised. To go would not have been a good thing. (And also, it was an uncomfortable thing. Most Catholic churches have wooden pews. When you weigh 90 pounds, your bones really feel that wood, let me tell ya.)
I am being obedient to my doctors, and not going. My health is important and I know they want what is best for us.
I’ve seen some people talking about how our physical health isn’t more important than our spiritual health. This is true—but, that doesn’t mean that we should be reckless. There are saints who were told not to do so many penances, that they were being too hard on their bodies. It’s a balance.
I am NOT suggesting that we skip Mass. I am saying that at this time it’s important to think about other people at Mass.
People like me aren’t going. But that doesn’t mean that they’re won’t be people at Mass who take care of immunocompromised people, or work with them. If they get sick, that’s a big problem.
I’ve seen way too many people who go to Mass and they just don’t seem to care about other people. They come and they’re sick, and then they want to shake hands at the sign of peace! They don’t cover their cough! They sit directly behind you, when you have a whole pew! All those things.
So I can see why some bishops are closing churches—because people aren’t doing what is right and prudent. They’re going to Mass and spreading germs everywhere, in flu season, all the time. This is not cool, folks.
Also, Masses still happen with out a congregation. Carthusian monks, for example, say Mass everyday without a congregation. I imagine that priests will still say Mass, even if the church is empty.
So, what can you do if your dioceses has shut your churches, or if you are staying home from Mass?
We can make a spiritual communion. This is important!
We can read the Mass readings (Magnificat is offering its app for free right now—daily Mass readings and devotional readings every day!)
We can pray the rosary, or parts of the Liturgy of the Hours.
We can perform spiritual reading.
In this time, you might want to check on your neighbors who are sick or older, and see if you can do anything for them to help them out. Maybe you could pick up their groceries for them or something, or put gas in their car.
Just because we can’t get to Mass doesn’t mean that we can’t still practice our faith. Yes, the Mass is the source and summit of our lives. Yes, it’s vital.
But sometimes life intervenes and we can’t worship the way we’d like to. I’ve experienced that a lot in my life.
St. Teresa of Avila once received instructions from God to build her convent somewhere. Her bishop then told her to build her convent somewhere else. Teresa obeyed the bishop, because she knew she owed obedience to him. She said later, when God asked her about this, that she knew her bishop was telling her what to do and she owed him obedience; she might have imagined what God told her to do. (This story was in the book Be Holy. I’m paraphrasing here.)
Keep calm, guys, and carry on—and PRAY. Don’t rage against your bishop and take offense. Pray. If you can go to Mass, weigh if it’s prudent for you and your family. If you go, act responsibly—don’t crowd pews, cover your cough, don’t shake hands at the sign of peace, etc.
The important thing is to pray, even if you can’t get to Mass.
