Anastasia Abboud's Blog

And So It Begins...

Happy Summer!

​Mid last week, Joseph and I took off to the Gulf coast for the day. Fishing reports indicated it was a good day to catch dinner. The weather was warm, not scorching, and partly cloudy, so the sun felt a little less harsh than usual. Moreover, being midweek with an iffy forecast, the beaches weren't crowded, although far from empty. For the past several years, I've usually packed a vegetarian lunch for the beach. It's just easier. But that day, we both wanted sandwiches--my first since well before Lent this year. They were delicious!

Prior to our wee getaway, I'd been a bit down. I'd eagerly looked forward to a few trips this summer, especially one with our kids to visit dear family in Lebanon. But we have lots of odds and ends to tie up, and Joseph has a lot of work, especially now as he looks towards retirement. So leaving town at all, much less the country, is most likely a no-go this summer.

Instead, I get to spend time in our comfy home, with our lovely garden, with dear family and friends mostly nearby, all summer. I'll write, study, play, and probably enjoy a few days in Houston's museum district. I definitely expect to spend many days at the coast with my best friend (hubby). We'll work out and feel great and get stuff done. And I'll relish time with our little grands whenever they're in town.

I have to say--because this is important--that I will continue my quest to be a better person, a better servant of God--grateful, loving, unselfish. It seems I have quite of bit of work left to do in that regard.

And Joseph and I will pray to stay healthy and strong so that we can continue to be with our loved ones and share a happy retirement together. 

Disappointment is natural and cannot always be helped. But sulking can certainly be curtailed, especially when there is so much going right and so much to look forward to. No one needs me to point out that there's a lot of trouble in this world. Quiet mornings, peaceful evenings, good health, and people we love--and who love us--are blessings beyond compare.

We didn't catch many fish at the first location, but I managed a splendid nap. And early evening, we moved to the jetties, where Joseph caught dinner and then some.  Not a whole lot, but enough. We actually ate fresh fish at 11:15 that night. Yum. Thank God for the catch, for the day, for my spouse.

Thank God for the people I love and the life and hope He has given us. 

May a rush of joy and gratitude fill you. May love warm your heart and brighten your days.

I'll write again soon. Here's to a great Summer 2025! 

Sharing a Rabbie Burn's Poem

Burn's Night, commemorating Robert "Rabbie" Burns, Scotland's national poet, is this Saturday, January 25. Given our rare and recent snow, it seems especially appropriate to share this, a favorite poem of my childhood. Enjoy!

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
by Robert Burns

Whose woods these are I think I know.   
His house is in the village though;   
He will not see me stopping here   
To watch his woods fill up with snow.   

My little horse must think it queer   
To stop without a farmhouse near   
Between the woods and frozen lake   
The darkest evening of the year.   

He gives his harness bells a shake   
To ask if there is some mistake.   
The only other sound’s the sweep   
Of easy wind and downy flake.   

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,   
But I have promises to keep,   
And miles to go before I sleep,   
And miles to go before I sleep.

A (very) Brief Note on New Year's Resolutions

Do you make New Year’s resolutions? I do! I love them. But when I think about it, I realize that any date would work. In fact, every day presents the opportunity to begin again. 

And isn't that a wonderful thought?

Wishing you happy days, peaceful slumber, and a joyful heart in 2025. Happy New Year!

Playing Along the French Riviera

"That's not nearly enough time!" 

That was our AirBnB host's comment when we told her how long we would be in the region. At this point, hindsight and all that, I would say she was not stating her opinion, but a fact. And that was in Eze, at the very beginning of our 12-day visit to the Côte d'Azur.

It is, of course, BEAUTIFUL! Again, please! But when I can walk longer, have more time, and the weather's a little warmer. I want to walk, shop, eat, drink, swim, hike, boat...any order will do! 

After Eze and Monaco, we continued along the coast, spending one full day each in Nice, St. Tropez, Ste. Maxime, and Cassis, and two days in Marseille. To be sure, we didn't change accommodations every day. So, there were extra evenings and mornings spent in a few spots. Marseille will have its own post because we stayed there the longest--four nights-- and our time there was comical. But you will note that there are some major towns missing. Next time, Cannes! We'll be back, Antibes! Menton, next time we'll do more than just wave as we drive by!

What we did do:
Promenade along Nice's Promenade des Anglais--spectacular 
Eat bouillabaisse--yum
See the Calanques by boat--magnificent
Watch a boule tournament in St. Tropez--fun and so picturesque
Enjoy the cheerful, familial ambiance of Ste. Maxime--loved it

Obviously, we were rushed. Only, given the location, who wants to (rush)? Moreover, I physically couldn't (rush). You could say we rushed in slo-mo. 

I must admit, due to the one city/town per day, the harbors, ports, and certain architectural features began to fade into one another. Joseph and I had to remind ourselves and each other that "This is the French Riviera. It's not an 'if you've seen one port, you've seen them all' destination." Even if they have a few things in common (like perfect beaches along the gorgeous Mediterranean Sea), each town has its own distinct personality. That's why I won't say I would do things differently given the same amount of time. It was worth the experience and knowledge. But would I do it again? No. I would spend more time in one place and absorb everything it has to offer.

Still, we saw and experienced plenty, and with my sweetheart, it was all so much fun.

Dreamy Monaco

One day in Monaco--one! It's amazing! Sophisticated and glamorous... Peaceful... And history... The old city, with the Place du Palais, some of those winding, medieval streets, and spectacular views, is on "Le Rocher" (The Rock).  Beautiful, comfortable, welcoming. Thank you, Monaco! We hope to see you again!

Simply Beautiful

Moustiers-Sainte-Marie. Medieval churches. A waterfall. The Alps. Love at first sight. 

Joseph is the beach baby. I love the mountains. The crisp, cool air was like an embrace upon our arrival.

This gorgeous, Provencal village proved a sweet and restful respite in our early days of travel. It's a small village, easy to navigate, and it wasn't crowded, perhaps because of that cool mountain air I'm so fond of. All the shops were still open, but shopkeepers told us they would soon be closing for the season.

We stayed at Le Relais, a lovely, family-run hotel. From our room, we had beautiful views from every window and the waterfall offered bedtime music.  There's so very much to do in this region. Throughout our vacation, my walking improved day by day. But I was still very limited in the beginning. At the same time, there's a twelfth century church above the town--Chapelle Notre Dame de Beauvoir-- that I really wanted to visit. You might recall my observation about medieval villages and steps. Joseph was up for it --not for himself. Going up all those steps posed no problem for him. But we both knew my ascent would be painstakingly slow.

It was worth it.  Stations of the Cross are along the trail, giving us even more opportunity for prayers and gratitude. To be sure, the view alone prompts awe for God's creation.

The chapel holds an air of both antiquity and sanctity. I didn't take photos inside because it's a small, intimate space and people were praying.

More than a hike, something of a pilgrimage, and a beautiful way to start the day.

Those Winding, Medieval Streets

I've been away and have only just returned. I want to fill you in and will do so in installments. We'll start at the beginning. Our first stop was Eze, France.

"Enjoy the labyrinth of winding medieval streets..."

Well... If I had all day and was not still healing from multiple foot surgeries, maybe. It was so funny! I was enthralled, bemused, amused, chagrined--you name it! Eze is on a hill. I knew that going in. But every narrow, winding lane leads to several other narrow, winding lanes, and those lead to others, and so on. When you finally reach the end of a particular labyrinth, you might find yourself facing a long series of steps. Or a wall. At one point in this magnificent village, a man proclaimed loudly in English,

"No one knows where they're going! No one knows where they are!"

I laugh every time I think of it.

It's something medieval towns across the world have in common--narrow, twisting, labyrinths of cobblestone lanes. Have I mentioned steps? Lots of them?

But without question, the villages we visited were/are charming. We're talking Eze, Aix-en-Provence, Moustiers-Sainte-Marie. The combination of history, stunning natural surroundings, and relevance to the local and national economies ensures that they are well and beautifully preserved and maintained. The shopkeepers, restaurateurs, municipalities, and regions make the most of what they have--to everyone's benefit.

Was I able to see everything I wanted to see? Absolutely not, but I saw enough to know I would go again. We'll need more time, and I would wish to be able to walk as much as I heart desires. 

We didn't take a lot of photos in the villages. It was early on in our trip and me simply getting from Point A to Point B was a stress. Overall, our experience was something of an assault to the senses. We saw a lot in a short space of time and those medieval villages pack in a lot of tourists! 

And yet...beautiful.

A Lovely October Poem

October
by Robert Frost

O hushed October morning mild,

Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;

Tomorrow’s wind, if it be wild,

Should waste them all.

The crows above the forest call;

Tomorrow they may form and go.

O hushed October morning mild,

Begin the hours of this day slow.

Make the day seem to us less brief.

Hearts not averse to being beguiled,

Beguile us in the way you know.

Release one leaf at break of day;

At noon release another leaf;

One from our trees, one far away.

Retard the sun with gentle mist;

Enchant the land with amethyst.

Slow, slow!

For the grapes’ sake, if they were all,

Whose leaves already are burnt with frost,

Whose clustered fruit must else be lost—

For the grapes’ sake along the wall.

Feast Day of St. Catherine of Siena

"Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire."

-- St. Catherine of Siena (25 March 1347 – 29 April 1380)

Isn't that a fabulous quote? I feel it's perfectly typical of St. Catherine of Siena. I've always found her a little intimidating. She was amazing -- highly opinionated, very intense! She was a person of action AND prayer. She was especially eloquent about love of God and neighbor.

Today, April 29, is her feast day.

St. Catherine of Siena, pray for us.

#inspiration #St.CatherineofSiena #catholicsaints

A Prayer in Spring by Robert Frost

​OH, give us pleasure in the flowers today;
And give us not to think so far away
As the uncertain harvest; keep us here
All simply in the springing of the year.

Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,
Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;
And make us happy in the happy bees,
The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.

And make us happy in the darting bird
That suddenly above the bees is heard,
The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,
And off a blossom in mid air stands still.

For this is love and nothing else is love,
To which it is reserved for God above
To sanctify to what far ends he will,
But which it only needs that we fulfill.

--Robert Frost