Leila Marie Lawler's Blog, page 39
June 10, 2017
{bits & pieces}
The weekly “little of this, little of that” feature here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!
My life right now: laundry, laundry, laundry… and artwork! And nursing!
The last photo here is a candid shot of the center of my home, my big ole kitchen table. Past the messy randomness of artwork is a load of folded laundry, waiting to be put away. Just after taking this photo, I dumped a load of diapers on one of the chairs to be folded once the space has been cleared — in order to make room on the clothesline for another load to dry!
There are projects afoot and artistic plans and inspired visions and… meals to get on the table and that same patch of floor to be swept again and laundry to be done. I would tell you more about all of it, but that would take up precious time that must be used for artwork… until the next load beckons. I’m sure you know how it feels, anyway!
(Full disclosure: My mom sent along almost all of the articles below; I admit that I do very little online reading these days!)
It’s all good, because the sun is shining. That’s all I ask. I can do without a fair bit of sleep if the sun just keeps shining (not speaking rhetorically; saying this from experience).
This week’s links!
Auntie Leila says, “I had posted this on Facebook. It says some things that need to be said. Although for most people, such a high school does not exist locally, it’s still worthwhile to have principles in mind and to reject false criteria:” How to Choose the Right Catholic High School for Your Children.
On obfuscation and gibberish, and being able to identify it: Reflections on Being the Dumbest Man in the Room.
Stephanie from Littles Make the World Go Round wrote this lovely meditation on D-Day and how each of us, doing his part, can save the world for ourselves and each other – if we have the courage to do it: The Toehold. I love this line from the post: “In the crisis a handful of heroes came forward. They were men who decided that, however hopeless the battle seemed, they themselves would try to do something.”
A little memoir-esque piece on the struggle to be a neat person even if one’s nature is to be sloppy and lazy: Making a Marriage Magically Tidy from the NYTimes. “Because now, when my husband comes home, the first thing he sees is me.” Humorous but -warning: some straight-up gross stuff discussed.
Post-Pentacostal Depression. Again, from Auntie Leila: We are coming to the end of the phantom Pentecost Octave. Maybe with enough clamor, it can be made real again. Our friend Fr. Imbelli makes the case for a cup of joy running over.
What are BFFs for but to share crucially important information with each other? A prime example being my girl Lauren letting me know about the privilège du blanc. Clutch papist/fashion trivia.
In the Liturgical Year:
Ever heard of St. Landericus?
From the Archives:
Ask Auntie Leila: Will Homeschooling make Me Lose my Mind?
The One Method of So-Called Discipline that Doesn’t Work
The Blitz
~We’d like to be clear that, when we direct you to a site via one of our links, we’re not necessarily endorsing the whole site, but rather just referring you to the individual post in question (unless we state otherwise).~
Follow us on Twitter.
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Auntie Leila’s Pinterest.
Rosie’s Pinterest.
Sukie’s Pinterest.
Deirdre’s Pinterest.
Habou’s Pinterest.
Bridget’s Pinterest.
Habou’s Blog: Corner Art Studio.
Auntie Leila’s Ravelry.
Auntie Leila’s Instagram.
Rosie’s Instagram.
Sukie’s Instagram.
Deirdre’s Instagram.
Bridget’s Instagram.
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June 3, 2017
{bits & pieces}
The weekly “little of this, little of that” feature here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!
On Monday we went to the excellent Memorial Day ceremony and parade, shivering a bit and not actually getting rained on; after which Hoodsie cups were distributed widely. Nothing says hometown parade like a Hoodsie cup! (Not pictured but close by — but not eating ice cream — baby Josie, in the arms of a willing young friend.)
And when the sun does shine, we garden like crazy people. I’m that stiff and sore…
On Wednesday evening I’ll be speaking at St. Mary’s Visitation Parish in Elm Grove, Wisconsin. Apparently they have a nice new atrium that holds lots of people, so I hope you can be there! I’d love to meet you even if it was at the park (I’ve done that!). Goodness, truth, beauty — let’s talk!
{If you are interested in having me speak to your group, drop me a line and I’ll give you the nitty-gritty particulars! It doesn’t matter if you are not Catholic or your group is not Catholic, as I’ve sometimes been asked. I am willing to come talk!}
On to our links!
Remember Madame Defarge in Dickens’ Tale of Two Cities, knitting away? Well, apparently it was really a thing, knitting as a tool of espionage.
Bridget, having completed her junior year at Thomas More College, attended the graduation ceremonies there and recommends the commencement address, given by Dale Ahlquist, which touches on what he calls “The Chesterton Option”.
Remember our discussion of Romano Guardini’s vision of the Logos as revealed in the Liturgy? This reflection by Fr. George Rutler on “false Pentecostal enthusiasm” resonates with those thoughts as well.
Ever since I first read about Fr. Solanus Casey, years ago, I’ve wanted to know more. How wonderful that he will soon be beatified!
We celebrated the feast of St. Joan of Arc last week; sorry to be behind, but this article about her is still worth reading.
I thought this was a lovely tour of a lovely garden, and look forward to learning more from this site. The vegetable garden has finally gotten under way, however slowly, around these parts.
From the archives:
Whenever the season changes (yes, for me it’s still changing, as Spring’s gears are grinding slowly in these parts), we need a reboot. If you find you can’t remember what the heck to make for supper, maybe it’s time to think about grilling instead of stewing. And here’s a simple way to organize your day — but sometimes you need to just surf!
St. Charles Lwanga and Companions, Martyrs, pray for us! Tomorrow is the great feast of Pentecost! Many blessings to you all!
~We’d like to be clear that, when we direct you to a site via one of our links, we’re not necessarily endorsing the whole site, but rather just referring you to the individual post in question (unless we state otherwise).~
Follow us on Twitter.
Like us on Facebook.
Auntie Leila’s Pinterest.
Rosie’s Pinterest.
Sukie’s Pinterest.
Deirdre’s Pinterest.
Habou’s Pinterest.
Bridget’s Pinterest.
Habou’s Blog: Corner Art Studio.
Auntie Leila’s Ravelry.
Auntie Leila’s Instagram.
Rosie’s Instagram.
Sukie’s Instagram.
Deirdre’s Instagram.
Bridget’s Instagram.
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May 30, 2017
“Books that every boy should hazard” in the Library Project
If you are a new-ish reader, you may be forgiven for not realizing that our little blog has what had been a regular feature — postings on books of interest to you and your children. We haven’t had a Monday Library Project post in so long… and now it’s Tuesday… le sigh.
But, good news for busy bloggers and readers: The other day I got a mailing from the Gregory the Great Academy — you know, that school I told you about a couple of weeks ago. Enclosed was a little booklet, and I was quite taken with the short reviews of excellent reading for adolescent boys.
Since summer is just upon us, and I know that you are always looking for good recommendations, I asked the good gentlemen there at the Academy if I could share their little booklet with you. I thought it made a wonderful addition to the Like Mother, Like Daughter Library Project.
This isn’t a sponsored post at all — I don’t receive anything for posting it (other than revenue from the Amazon affiliate links, as always, when you buy by clicking); I’m simply sharing with you something you may not have seen (but you can easily get on the mailing list as well — info at the end of the post!) — great leads to wonderful books for your boys!
Mr. Sean Fitzpatrick, headmaster, told me the following, by way of introducing the reviews: “Gregory the Great Academy‘s mission is the restoration of Christian culture. This series of ten forgotten books for boys provides a taste for the educational experiences of intrigue and delight that the relativistic world has relegated as antiquated in their portrayal of virtue, truth, and a moral universe.
“These books and their kind open windows of wonder to a generation of boys who are closed in and plugged in. Reading them and falling in love with them may prove hazardous to boys who live in times where truth is out of fashion, but nothing worth doing is free of peril. Fall on!”
NB: The editions I have linked to are the ones recommended by the reviewer unless those are not in print. But you might be able to find an old second-hand copy at a sale!
Mr. Midshipman Easy by Frederick Marryat
File Under: Adventure
Recommended Age: 14-16
Boys hold high esteem for books of high adventure on the high seas and Mr. Midshipman Easy by Capt. Frederick Marryat is preeminently one of these, brandishing bright prose, a swashbuckling spirit, sharp humor, and a penetrating look into the humors of human nature.
This naval novel is a rollicking comedy set on a British man-of-war in 1836. Mr. Midshipman Jack Easy, a young officer of nobility serving in the Royal Navy, is sent to sea to be righted of his social sophistries and navigates the brutal and beautiful realities of sailors, ships, and skirmishes with a philosophic fortitude that is hilarious to behold as he always lands on his feet and claims the last laugh.
Mr. Midshipman Easy has no shortage of exotic and exciting marvels: African curses, duels involving three, ships struck by lightning, musket balls and powder kegs, death-defying cruises, heart-pounding campaigns, cloak-and-dagger villains, murderous mutinies, shark attacks, family feuds, and a thousand other delectable intrigues. As a satire, Mr. Midshipman Easy is magnificently silly and serious at the same time, embodied by the gentleman-rogue at the helm of this indomitable book teeming with laughs, lessons, and life.
Wild Animals I Have Known by Ernest Thompson Seton
File Under: Nature, Natural History
Recommended Age: 10-14
The natural historian Ernest Thompson Seton (1860-1946) was a master of bush-craft, a pioneer of the Boy Scouts of America, and an excellent story teller. Of the many wonderful books chronicling his outdoor knowledge and experiences, Wild Animals I Have Known is one of the best.
In it, Seton tells the histories of such characters as Silverspot the Crow, Raggylug the cottontail rabbit, Redruff the partridge and many more. Seton possesses the keen eye of the seasoned observer of nature and his writings open doors of wonder for the reader as he follows the train of Seton’s thought through his observations.
Seton was also an accomplished artist and his books are liberally sprinkled with his own charming illustrations. On one level, this book is a collection of delightful and beautifully written stories. But to stop there would be to sell the author short. The writings of Ernest Thompson Seton are steeped with every true scientist’s first love: this fascinating world created by God. The more a boy becomes in tune with this “book of nature” the more he will be receptive to the truths of reality and its divine Author.
The Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchan
File Under: Thriller, Spy Novel
Recommended Age: 14-16
The Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchan (1875-1940) is a good book for boys because it is neither plausible nor credible.
Buchan was a connoisseur of the dime-novel thriller—or “the shocker,” as he fondly called it—and, in 1915, Buchan fashioned what would become the cast of a genre: The Thirty-Nine Steps. This spy novel is a breakneck race against all odds at a breathtaking pace, featuring the archetypal man-on-the-run with faceless foes of alarming power and precision on his tail.
The Thirty-Nine Steps is a delight because it attaches more importance to pure emotion and plot motion than to plausibility. It is the type of story that is immensely pleasing to boys as it delves into the charm of the impossible. There is a very real need to believe in the impossible these days—to believe in miracles, where one man can overcome all odds and make a difference in the fate of a nation. The Thirty-Nine Steps engages and enacts this dream, and thereby serves to keep alive the hope that the impossible may, in fact, be possible.
The Persian Expedition by Xenophon
File Under: History, Leadership, Virtue
Recommended Age: 15-17 Shortly after the close of the Peloponnesian War, a force of ten thousand Greek hoplites found themselves in a very awkward position. They were in the heart of the Persian Empire, while the army they were hired to assist had fled or deserted to the enemy. The Greek generals and captains had been treacherously slaughtered by the Persians who had summoned them to a friendly meeting. Facing their doom, Xenophon, a common Greek soldier, took command and led what is considered the most fantastic military retreat in history.
The Persian Expedition is Xenophon’s firsthand account of this march of the Greeks back home against all odds. This book is more than an interesting historical work. It is a manual for leadership. Xenophon not only exemplifies strong leadership, but he also discusses the differing leadership strategies of several of the Greek generals and of the Persian prince, Cyrus, thus demonstrating much of what made the Greek civilization so great. The story highlights the Greek characteristics in contrast with their more barbaric neighbors and serves as a striking example of the Greek attitude that was both fiercely independent yet also willing to submit to a well-ordered whole.
Otto of the Silver Hand by Howard Pyle
File Under: Chivalry, Adventure
Recommended Age: 13-15
Otto of the Silver Hand by Howard Pyle challenges young readers to face the darker regions of history and humanity. The book follows a young German boy living in the Dark Ages who “saw both the good and the bad of men,” as Pyle removes the sheen that chivalry usually boasts and allows the cruelty that chivalry must face to show its face.
Boys, like knights, must confront hardship, fear, and pain. Otherwise, they will never be able to conquer them. The whole point of children’s literature is not to force any design upon children, but to allow them to encounter things as they are and on their own.
Otto of the Silver Hand presents an honest and unrestrained representation of the holy and the horrible, providing both the glorious and gritty elements so children might decide for themselves what is desirable and what is not without preaching to them for a moment. Just as the monastery was the hope for the Dark Ages by being a haven for truth, goodness, and beauty, that same Catholic culture remains the hope for the modern Dark Age, largely bastioned in good literature.
The Chimes by Charles Dickens {the Academy recommends the Easton Press edition}
File Under: Fairy Story, Fantasy, Read-Aloud
Recommended Age: 15-17
There is no better tale to ring an old year out and a new year in than Charles Dickens’ goblin story, The Chimes. This little drama by the great storyteller deals with the temptation of Toby Veck to look back on the tragedies of a year gone by with dejection and very little hope for mankind. Suddenly, Toby finds that he has died and that he is high up among the bells in the belfry he has listened to all his life; and the bells are issuing not just chimes, but Goblins. Goblins that scatter through the world, lulling people to sleep, flogging others with whips, loading others with chains. Goblins that soar and sail through the habitations and businesses of man. Goblins that impose their impish devices mercifully and mercilessly as the Chimes ring.
Dickens whisks his readers along a wild adventure as Toby is reprimanded for his loss of faith in humanity. This book rings out a tremendous moral for all who live surrounded by suffering. The Chimes is a reminder that, though the world is plagued with misfortune, ugliness, and tragedy, it remains the duty of every man to improve and advance with spirits unconquered.
The Prisoner of Zenda by Anthony Hope {This is the edition available on Amazon; perhaps you can find the Penguin one recommended by the Academy secondhand}
File Under: Adventure
Recommended Age: 14-16
There are in existence a few books that can cure the sickness of cynicism. These books remind men of the glory and grandeur of man and the glories and grandeurs that give meaning to mankind. The Prisoner of Zenda, written in 1894 by Anthony Hope, is one of these. This gallant book is a remedy to the heavy seriousness of cynicism because it is lighthearted. It is a fairy tale infused with the optimism of escapism, the thrill of romance, and the charm of the dashing, debonair, gentleman hero.
Even the gravest of cynics must smile, chuckle, and inch to the edge of his seat in appreciation of men bristling with weapons, women swooning in their lovers’ arms, guns firing and combatants laughing, swords flashing and soldiers of fortune. Thus it runs with blazing revolvers, ancient castles, woefully grim councils, wonderfully glib speeches, daring souls pulling at brandy flasks, midnight marauding, and one of the most memorable villains of Victorian fiction. The Prisoner of Zenda is quite simply irresistible, making it a balm for this dour day and age, and worthy of its reputation for being the finest adventure story ever written, in which the struggle between good and evil is a great game and nothing seems so serious as keeping the serious at bay.
The Other Wise Man by Henry van Dyke {The Academy recommends the Harper and Row edition}
File Under: Religious Literature
Recommended Age: 12-14
In this engaging story of long ago, Henry van Dyke tells of the Magi, the Three Wise Men who came at Christmas, in a way both new and refreshing. Artaban, the other Wise Man, was accidentally left behind when the famous three set out and then spent the rest of his days seeking the new King whose birth the stars foretold.
Artaban carries his gifts for the Child under his cloak: a sapphire, a ruby, and a pearl. Over the course of the story he finds himself in difficult situations and his gifts provide the means required to remedy them. Artaban parts with his gifts to save a sick stranger, a threatened child, and a friendless woman. He must part even with his pearl, pointedly called the pearl of great price in the chapter title.
Artaban, like the man in the parable, sold all his possessions to buy these gems for the King; to obtain the Kingdom of Heaven. This was the expectation of faith. What he did not expect was that he would have to give these gifts to others out of love. The Kingdom is gained through the giving of it.
The White Company by Arthur Conan Doyle {This edition has the illustrations by N. C. Wyeth; the Academy recommends the William Morrow one which is out of print}
File Under: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Friendship
Recommended Age: 15-17
Though best known as the creator of Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s true passion lay in creating romances of historical fiction. His greatest achievement in this realm is The White Company, a high-spirited tale of friendship and bravery set during the Hundred Years’ War in 1366 as the Prince of Wales campaigns against Spain and France to restore his control over the Kingdom of Castille.
In a wayside English inn, two very different young men are recruited to join the White Company, a group of mercenary archers preparing for the impending clash of nations. As these two friends make their way to the rendezvous point with many a rollicking adventure with lovely ladies, wicked lords, bloodthirsty pirates, and whatnot, Conan Doyle gives readers a vivid vision of the past.
The tale finds intense culmination as the White Company is attacked in a narrow ravine by the French and Spanish forces. Though disaster abounds, it is not enough to stop The White Company from a victorious conclusion.
The Black Arrow: A Tale of the Two Roses by Robert Louis Stevenson File Under: Drama, Adventure
Recommended Age: 14-16
Robert Louis Stevenson was a master of action and adventure stories for boys, and The Black Arrow: A Tale of the Two Roses delivers vigorously on every expectation. It follows a young knight, Richard Shelton, during the 15th century’s Wars of the Roses over the throne of England. As Richard investigates the murder of his father, he learns more about the outlaw band of the Black Arrow and the possible treachery of his own uncle.
His suspicions force him to flee his wrathful uncle and join the outlaws against him in a mighty struggle for justice. The Black Arrow is a lively medieval story with themes and fantasies and plots that appeal highly to the adolescent imagination. Its drama givesboys an understanding of what true intrigue is, true appeal, true gravitas, and a true moral universe.
Boys suffer nowadays from an insular existence. More than ever, there is need for the old romance because it is remedial, because it is real. Books like The Black Arrow do not pander through virtual reality, but challenge boys to encounter actual reality in its most vivid and livid colors.
A final note from the Academy, which I think will be food for thought if you are worried about the themes of any of these books:
“Thanks to the adulterators of children’s literature, the natural anticipations when approaching forgotten classics have been skewed. Everyone expects that everything will be picturesque, nice, and most importantly, safe. For reality is far too dangerous, far too harsh a thing, and children must be protected from it at all costs.
“Real stories for real boys, however, refuse to deliver saccharine platitudes. Real books are composed of the uncanny, unforeseeable, and unimaginable. They present a reality that is often harsh, terrible, and so far from the idyllic it is free to become adventure. The books every boy should hazard are constantly on the brink of disaster, but still bear the distant but firm promise of final resolution; deftly navigating the fine line between realism and romance—requiring caution.”
I hope you enjoy this list! Don’t forget that we have many posts about books — look up in the menu bar here and click on “LMLD Library Project.”
If you would like to subscribe to the newsletter of the Academy, visit the Minstrel page.
The post “Books that every boy should hazard” in the Library Project appeared first on Like Mother Like Daughter.
May 27, 2017
{bits & pieces}
The weekly “little of this, little of that” feature here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!
Care to see the latest update to my home office?
Our little computer/office station consisted of a lovely wooden desk which I inherited from generous former roommates and a bulky swivel chair that The Artist found back in Maryland that time that I called him and said, “there’s a ‘for free’ estate thing listed on Craigslist and it’s on your way home from work — you must go!!”
It had served us well enough, if bulkily. It also had a rather annoying habit of occasionally shedding bolts out of the side, resulting in hardware on the floor and a chair arm that would fall awry.
Before:
After:
A much-slimmed down look, right?
This newer model courtesy of the curbs of Manchester. A catch not to be missed by my spendthrift eagle eye. Not top-of-the-line, but also a better color for this room, not tearing on the seat, not as bulky and, importantly, can slide all the way under the desk and therefore take up much less landscape. It’s also a big less cushy, which makes it better for exercising my posture.
I tidied up my desk – the way it’s supposed to be – for this photo:
My furnishing and decorating plan is sponsored by my large trunk and my strong husband. “Hon, there’s a big office chair in the car. Could you take this one down and go get that one and bring it up? Thanks.”
This week’s links! A smattering for you:
For the military-minded among us: Ancient Slingshot Was as Deadly as a .44 Magnum!
An interesting take on surrogacy: How ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Might be Too Close to Reality in California.
From my mom: “Elizabeth Anscombe demolishes all stereotypes. An epic figure (in more ways than one), her mind served the truth. Enjoy Fr. George Rutler’s memoir of this great thinker:” G. E. M. Anscombe.
A great article about a beloved book: The True Story Behind Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler and Her Mixed-Up Files
An absolutely adorable article about The Art of Reading Outside from a teacher at The Heights School (where the Artist used to teach). Do watch the brief video at the bottom and be sure to check out the monkey of a boy around the 1 minute mark! Auntie Leila says that this reminds her of how learning to pray at Adoration is similar and that one should bring the child to church and let him pick his own spot, wherever he likes.
From the Archives:
Summer in the Home School
Old Testament, New: How the Bible determines worship ~ The Spirit of the Liturgy: A Book Club
A {pretty, happy, funny, real} from May 2013
In the Liturgical Year:
Today is the optional memorial of St. Augustine of Canterbury!
Happy Memorial Day weekend! May God grant everlasting rest to those who gave their lives for our freedom.
~We’d like to be clear that, when we direct you to a site via one of our links, we’re not necessarily endorsing the whole site, but rather just referring you to the individual post in question (unless we state otherwise).~
Follow us on Twitter.
Like us on Facebook.
Auntie Leila’s Pinterest.
Rosie’s Pinterest.
Sukie’s Pinterest.
Deirdre’s Pinterest.
Habou’s Pinterest.
Bridget’s Pinterest.
Habou’s Blog: Corner Art Studio.
Auntie Leila’s Ravelry.
Auntie Leila’s Instagram.
Rosie’s Instagram.
Sukie’s Instagram.
Deirdre’s Instagram.
Bridget’s Instagram.
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May 20, 2017
{bits & pieces}
The weekly “little of this, little of that” feature here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!
I’m sure you’re busy where you are — we are certainly busy here. Goodness, having many little children running around takes a lot of energy! Did you know that???
I am slowly working on this little sweater:
Spoiler alert (NOT!): I will probably run out of yarn. But maybe not! You just never know…
Got the deck cleaned up and relaxation-ready:
For an outdoor cat, which he has to be because of allergies, Farouk is remarkably long-lived, don’t you think? Just realize this before you worry about how skinny he’s getting.
Did a wee bit of thrifting when I saw that a good number of dishes that are virtually similar to the other dishes I’d thrifted before were on eBay for a song (and, amazingly, the seller was local so we just did a meet-up, saving me shipping $$!):
These are just some of the ones I had before (a lot are in use in the kitchen, so not pictured here):
In other news, if you follow me on Instagram, you will accomplish two very important things. One, you will keep us in touch, you and me, seeing as I’m having trouble getting to posting on here, and Two, you will see my IG’s hashtag’ed postofficebouquet. At my little town’s little post office, a neighbor very humbly keeps a fresh bouquet of flowers at all times on the counter. She must a) have a fabulous garden and b) have a veritable warehouse of vases. Click on the hashtag and see them all. I only got the brilliant idea to post them on IG towards the end of last fall, but our community has been enjoying them for as long as I’ve lived here at least, which is going on 18 years!
I wish I was smarter and had thought of it sooner, but at least I started!
On to our links!
Three Sisters, Three Weddings — some of you will remember that a few years ago, we had two weddings three weeks apart. I won’t pretend it wasn’t crazy, but I will say that whatever my own shortcomings, I can’t help but be grateful for the love and support of family (and friends!) that made it possible to pull off. This article isn’t just about three weddings in a short amount of time — it’s about a sweet and loving big Catholic family that sticks together!
Maybe your kids would like to read about the New England Dark Day of 1780. This quote from a member of the Connecticut legislature struck me as justly famous: I am against adjournment. The day of judgment is either approaching, or it is not. If it is not, there is no cause for an adjournment; if it is, I choose to be found doing my duty. I wish therefore that candles may be brought.
If you’d like to hear a lovely conversation I had about The Little Oratory, it will be featured on Tuesday at the Spiritual Direction site, and available on iTunes and Stitcher as well. When I get exact URLs I will post on my Speaking page — which does have some new podcasts, so do check it out.
Those of us who are trying to raise our children in the faith should not be afraid to speak clearly about what helps us most (hint: it turns out to be what helps us most as well, namely, true worship and clear teaching). I wrote about three changes I think should be made as soon as possible, last year. Here is a good companion piece, one that fits in well with our study of the two Spirit of the Liturgy books here on the blog: Abolish Ordinary Time.
From the archives:
Don’t forget birthday cake that you can easily make very elegant!
Five things that are worse than being in debt.
In the liturgical year: Today is the feast of St. Bernadine, who was devoted to the Holy Name of Jesus.
~We’d like to be clear that, when we direct you to a site via one of our links, we’re not necessarily endorsing the whole site, but rather just referring you to the individual post in question (unless we state otherwise).~
Follow us on Twitter.
Like us on Facebook.
Auntie Leila’s Pinterest.
Rosie’s Pinterest.
Sukie’s Pinterest.
Deirdre’s Pinterest.
Habou’s Pinterest.
Bridget’s Pinterest.
Habou’s Blog: Corner Art Studio.
Auntie Leila’s Ravelry.
Auntie Leila’s Instagram.
Rosie’s Instagram.
Sukie’s Instagram.
Deirdre’s Instagram.
Bridget’s Instagram.
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May 13, 2017
{bits & pieces}
The weekly “little of this, little of that” feature here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!
I’m going to take a moment this morning for some shameless promotion of something my husband’s up to. {Discount code below!}
And by shameless I really mean I have no shame at all in sharing this with you, because it is absolutely worth sharing and I know that I’d want to know! He and a colleague studying at the same studio have made some of their paintings for sale on Etsy. You can check it all out at The Rat Scullery Art Gallery.
I’ve seen many of these paintings in person here in Manchester. They are even more beautiful than they appear online!
The Artist decided that he wanted to make sure that folks would be able to hang their paintings right away, if they wanted to, and that these works wouldn’t end up hanging around anyone’s attics while the customers wondered how to go about framing. So he worked out a deal so that he can frame any painting purchased from the Rat Scullery for you, meaning it arrives to you all framed and sealed and ready for your wall — for a much better price than you’d be able to get by taking it to a framer.
I am a huge fan of the plein air paintings by The Artist’s colleague John Peterson (that I’m a fan of my husband’s work is a given!). Pure New England beauty:
I just want you to know that these prices are truly bargain-level (most of the works are for $100 or less). The shop is new and will hopefully get well off the ground before long (that would certainly help us out and would be a boon to this whole studio of artists trying to do the beautiful and traditional thing in a post-modern world) — so I can’t promise that the getting will always be so good for the average art appreciator… Just saying.
The Artist is offering a deal for all you lovely LMLD readers for the rest of the month: free shipping on any Rat Scullery painting (domestic shipping only)! Just enter the promotional code SHIPLMLD — expires on May 31!
You can also follow along to see deals and developments on the Rat Scullery Facebook Page. Thanks for looking and for passing along to anyone who might also be interested!
This week’s links!
Visual fascination:
A professional pianist and his student wear special glasses that highlight for us (the viewers) where they’re looking while they play. We get to see how their eyes move while they’re busy with the keys, both in playing from memory and sight reading. Video: Tracking Glasses Show what a Professional Pianist Sees While Playing
{Auntie Leila adds: “This put me in mind of the importance of having a child read aloud, and teaching him, once he’s gotten proficient at reading in general, to read ahead with his eyes while his voice is still on the previous words. I’ve never seen any directions for this — have you? — but it’s important for understanding the text and expressing it well. You can help by actually covering the words he’s saying, forcing the eyes ahead before the next words get covered up!”}
{I add: A high school teacher of mine who was also a cab driver in Boston told us that the way to drive smoothly and safely is by this same principle: to keep your eyes one step ahead of your actions. You have to be competent and confident enough in what you’re currently doing to turn it over to your muscles while your mind looks ahead to the next turn or step, he said.}
A Japanese children’s story illustrated with a Rube Goldberg-type contraption (as in: those cool ball track thingies). Incredible coordination! Pretty clever and cute:
News in the Church:
A quick read about the likely soon-to-be Saint, Fr. Solanus Casey. “We have to put God on the spot” — love it!
Interesting development here in the Manchester diocese: the celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation will be re-ordered in the coming years so that Confirmation precedes First Communion. “Finally, it will allow for more opportunities for parents to take their rightful place as the primary educators of faith formation. It places sacrament preparation at an age when children are naturally more open and receptive to participating with their parents. “
A few deals going on this Mothers Day weekend:
I am actively looking forward to getting back to MuTu in the next few weeks, once I’m officially out of my post-partum phase! In case you’ve been considering getting the program, just wanted you to know that it’s 20% off this weekend. My thanks if you use the links here! Here’s my review of Mutu for a refresher.
(And yeah, the whole “love you” theme isn’t really my favorite either… I’d prefer to say, “take care of your tummy!”)
Enter to win a raffle and support the cause of helping a family pay their midwife bill after their insurance company let them down – very appealing prizes of the handmade quilt/home-dyed fabric variety!
From the Archives:
Covering the Last Settee On the Deck
Nursing a Toddler in Public {pretty, happy, funny, real}
Dear Aristotle, He’s So Clever
In the Liturgical Year:
Big Deal! The 100th Anniversary of the apparition of Fatima! Read about Our Lady of Fatima and perhaps get out for a May Pilgrimage today!
~We’d like to be clear that, when we direct you to a site via one of our links, we’re not necessarily endorsing the whole site, but rather just referring you to the individual post in question (unless we state otherwise).~
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Auntie Leila’s Pinterest.
Rosie’s Pinterest.
Sukie’s Pinterest.
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Bridget’s Pinterest.
Habou’s Blog: Corner Art Studio.
Auntie Leila’s Ravelry.
Auntie Leila’s Instagram.
Rosie’s Instagram.
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May 11, 2017
My Side of the Mountain in the Library Project
Title: My Side of the Mountain*
Author: Jean Craighead George**
File Under: Adventure, Nature, Read-Aloud
Age Group: Primarily middle-school age, but would be enjoyable for an older kid to read and littles would like to listen along, although some of it may go over their heads; enjoyable as light reading for the adult, especially the tense parent who needs to snap out of it a little.
This may be an ideal book to read just before summer starts, when one is becoming anxious about how the children’s time will be spent after school lets out. To me, this book is somewhat in the same category as Farmer Boy (not that it approaches what I consider to be the greatness of that work) — just in that it is a reminder about the nature of boys and of what they’re capable, when given the freedom — although the fun and adventure will be appealing to girls, as well. If you were to decide to read this aloud with your kids, for example, I can imagine them being inspired for many hours of imaginative play as a result – saving you the trouble of signing them up for another summertime “activity.”
My Side of the Mountain is a fictional, first-person account of a boy’s venture into the woods of the Catskill Mountains to live primitively, off the land. The story is simple, told largely in the form of a journal account, and focusing mainly on the practical details of day-to-day living without any basic conveniences or even tools. The 1950s come through slightly when dialogue appears (which is fairly seldom, given the topical solitude of the protagonist), but otherwise the story has a timeless feel.
Anyone who’s ever cared to build a fort in his backyard will find immense appeal in the boy’s description of how to start a fire without matches, how to carve a home out of a hollow tree, how to use deer skins, and how to make “pancakes” out of acorn flour. The author, who learned all about woodland life from her father, who was a “naturalist and a scientist” (according to the preface) does an impressive job of leaving almost no questions unanswered — to the point that it seems fairly plausible that this bright, adolescent kid really could have made it through an Upstate New York winter entirely on his own devices. There are pleasant little pen illustrations to enliven the description of the wildlife of the Catskills.
I picked up this Newbery Honor Book from the “giveaway” shelf at my library, simply because the sound of the title rang a familiar bell in my mind and so I figured it must be worth reading someday. I ended up reading it a week or so ago because it was right there on the shelf when I needed another book for nursing, and it was a conveniently small size to fit in one hand (a mere 177 pages).
I read parts of it aloud to Finnabee (currently age 3) because she begged me to read to her about “the boy in the woods” after she heard me discussing it with The Artist at the dinner table. (I have steered her away from My Side of the Mountain for now, in favor of A. A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh, but I look forward to having her pull it off the shelf in a couple of years.)
It’s about freedom, about being young and needing to learn things for yourself, about being in touch with nature, about the oft-stifled abilities of children when given their space, about the existential questions relating to solitude and mastery over things versus community and convenience… but, basically, it’s just a fun little book that will make your offspring (and maybe you) want to head into the woods with nothing but an ax and some string and see how you can make out.
*I was not aware, when I read it, that it is the first of a series of books. I will have to get back to you about the other four when I’ve read them!
**George is also the author of Julie of the Wolves,*** of which I have only the slightest memory but which I recall with great fondness as a book that I totally loved when I read it sometime around age 13.
***[Update] Some readers have mentioned, in the comments, that caution is necessary when approaching Julie of the Wolves, because of a particular scene involving the main character being imposed upon by an offending young man. I do recall this scene in that vague yet strong sense that characterizes how topics of a sexual nature stick with us, especially at an impressionable age. I agree that parents should use discretion before handing this book to their daughters and consider appropriateness based on maturity. It is a coming-of-age story. I will say, however, that the scene is not bad — it depicts something very evil in a deft and true way. Julie’s reaction to the forced advances is disgust and self-defense. In so far as this scene stayed with me, I believe that it contributed to the basic knowledge that all my formation gave me: the girl has the right to follow her instincts to push back, to run away, etc. Actually, it seems to me that this consideration is helpful in a world where Twilight-type entertainment tends to glamorize this issue and makes girls being imposed upon seem appealing. It’s not appealing; it’s scary and the proper response is literally to feel sick, which Julie does.
What is the Like Mother, Like Daughter Library Project?
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May 6, 2017
{bits & pieces}
The weekly “little of this, little of that” feature here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!
I am hoping that everyone has heard the news that one of our tippity-top favorite authors, often linked to here, Anthony Esolen, is leaving Providence College and will be teaching at Thomas More College of Liberal Arts in Nashua, New Hampshire. Our joy on his behalf for having found a haven after his time of turmoil is not untinged with personal satisfaction, as our own dear Bridget will reap the benefit of his move, since she is a junior there!
I kind of want to give you a flavor of what it’s like. This admittedly modest and tiny little place is mighty of heart. Taking a step on campus is like coming home, if home for you is nothing grand or carefully manicured, but full of love and life. We felt it immediately about six or so years ago when we happened to go for some event. The whole student body turned out (as it always does), in jackets and ties (boys) and skirts (girls) — but cute, you know? And smart. Little by little we were drawn to the place, and as Bridget has delved into her studies we are only more so — in fact, the Chief taught a class there this semester on the American Founding!
Below I will include some links on what is going on, but know that even before the great and exhilarating news of Professor Esolen’s arrival, wonderful things have been happening. Our friend (and my co-author) David Clayton worked with the faculty to establish the guild system, whereby, in the words of a friend, studies do not remain in the intellect but become manifest in beauty. The transformation of the little chapel bears witness to his legacy. Our friend Paul Jernberg, composer of the transcendent Mass of St. Philip Neri, is Guild Master and leads the choir in church and concert. Every member of the faculty is someone we count as a friend, so I won’t go through the whole list, but truly, this school exemplifies our motto here at LMLD, that tremendously pithy and expressive quote from Pope Benedict XVI, “He who has hope lives differently.”
Some links about this great news:
An interview with Tony Esolen about this move.
His account of his day at TMC and what it meant to him.
A taste of TMC (Bridget-centric).
The president, William Fahey, on G. K. Chesterton’s view of Robert Lewis Stevenson.
Okay, other non-TMC-related links:
The fascinating figure of Russell Kirk, who shaped a movement from a small farm in Michigan. When I see something about him, I tend to post it (can you tell, haha) — you need to know him.
There are little pockets of like-minded people all over. Isn’t it funny that I put our Pockets under the intercession of St. Gregory — and here is a school named after him that represents just this kind of community that we talk about: The Gregory the Great Academy, a boys’ boarding school in Pennsylvania. View this video about the school and scroll down for more information. There is a TMC connection — President Fahey is on their Board of Governors, as is the solid Bishop Conley of the Diocese of Lincoln.
Two good pieces from Carl Olson of Catholic World Report: Settle for nothing less than the infinite mystery and the infinite delight, about that “sad and sorry” March for Science; and Travels with Walker Percy, a look at one of my favorite authors.
Last week I posted some slow videos about guys working on wooden things and you seemed to love them. Here’s a better link (but just skip the silly one at the top).
Wondering where to start with chant? Here is a guide to twelve chants everyone should know.
The winner of the giveaway from In the Loft is Ann! An email is on its way to you my dear.
If you loved the saint figures from Sue Dow but didn’t win, fear not — you have until May 12 to take advantage of 10% off for our readers in her store: just enter the code spring10 when you buy!
~We’d like to be clear that, when we direct you to a site via one of our links, we’re not necessarily endorsing the whole site, but rather just referring you to the individual post in question (unless we state otherwise).~
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May 3, 2017
A little chatty.
I’m making a Sunnyside Baby cardigan.
It took me a long time to figure it out, as the directions are terse. Gotta love that feeling when thousands of people are all like “such an easy knit!” and you can’t understand the first thing about it! But I persevered due to lack of alternatives. And sheer cussedness. (I also changed up the edgings because I’m not a huge fan of garter stitch because overthinking.)
I’m also, as usual, challenged by the necessity of knitting for show-watching vs. the futility of doing even the simplest lace-work while distracted by pretty dresses and handsome chauffeurs (starting Season 2 of Upstairs, Downstairs! *EDITED TO ADD: warning, Deirdre reminds me that she told me that Season 2 is utter trash so ugh, I’ll have to find something else.).
What do you suppose the odds are that I have enough yarn…
If you have my book, The Little Oratory, you know that I have a wry little comment in there, borne of long experience, about May-as-the-Month-of-Mary coming just in time to ease the heartbreak of seeing one’s few spring posies mercilessly yanked off their stems and grubbily presented to one with a loving smile. If we can, in turn, offer them to her, it makes it all better.
Note to self: One can never have too many tiny vases!
While little Nora blithely gathers flowers while she may, Molly helps me plant. So it’s all good and the grandmother’s life is a happy one!
Side by side with the pretty (as-yet-untouched) tulips in the garden is the massive amount of cleanup and work that needs to get done. Do you see that grass??
I feel like the toppled chair by the compost hack tell the tale for all who have ears to hear. We are about to be swallowed up by our landscape.
Things need to dry out and then the mowing and weeding and planting and fixing will commence! But at a painfully slow and advancing-middle-age pace…
What’s going on at your house?
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May 1, 2017
{bits & pieces} ~ A Giveaway!
The weekly “little of this, little of that” feature here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!
St. Tarcisius
Early Saturday morning I was going to pop in some pictures and post this post — but the site was down. And down it remained all weekend! I wasn’t going to try to deal with it on a Sunday (or ask anyone else to). I tried not to think about it.
That was not a good feeling. The blog is backed up… somewhere… somewhere secure. But not to be able to get to it is another thing entirely, and suddenly the idea that there is a place, LMLD, that exists… on the internet… made me realize that if it just disappeared there would be no good way to replace it or even to explain to someone what it is and what it means to us and to many of our readers. I’m still torn up about all the comments that we lost when we switched over to this platform (not all, but many). By this morning I was in full offering-up mode — offering up ten years of something dear to me — trying not to get upset.
So I’m pretty relieved that we are indeed here, wherever here is — that the hosting company took the time to figure out what was going on (I guess; it sort of seems like they don’t exactly know but they fixed it anyway). Thank you for being here too!
Phew!
So please forgive a Saturday’s {bits & pieces} here on a Monday!
Blessed Imelda
We have another wonderful giveaway for you from Sue Dow, In the Loft — again, just in time for First Holy Communion season and all those other younger child gift-giving needs — or for your own little ones. How about Mother’s Day?
When we first had a giveaway for Sue’s sweet little wooden saint figures, she sent me two “review copies” — a Madonna and Child and a Blessed Imelda (so really apt, as she is the patron of the “Little Oratory“!).
After a couple of years, I can definitively say that they are small but sturdy, just right for little hands and minds to play with (in that serious play that encourages the child’s inner life).
Mother Mary
Sue has graciously offered our readers a Mother Mary, Blessed Imelda, or St. Tarcisius. The value of each figure is $40. Sue encourages custom orders (prices in her shop range from $8 to $290) — find her designs in her Etsy shop and on Instagram and Facebook.
To win a saint figure, go FOLLOW Sue’s Instagram account and leave a comment HERE on the blog telling us that you have done so!
On to our links!
Secret room discovered with Michelangelo drawings.
The touching story of Charles de Gaulle’s love for and devotion to his daughter Anne, a girl with Down Syndrome.
As regular readers here know, sacred music is a topic we’re always thinking about.* Does it matter? Dr. Peter Kwasniewski gives examples and explanations: Part I and Part II.
A baseball play for the ages: Chris Coughlin front-flips his way to a run. Like, does a tumble worthy of a gymnast, while scoring a point at home plate! A must-see!!
My friend Bo Bonner, whom I met when I spoke at Newman University in Wichita, writes a winsome piece here on the fittingness of the sacraments.
In the Liturgical Year:
Happy feast, today, of St. Joseph the Worker: “In every type of labor we are obeying the command of God given in Genesis 2:15 and repeated in the responsory for the Office of Readings. The responsory for the Canticle of Zechariah says that “St. Joseph faithfully practiced the carpenter’s trade. He is a shining example for all workers.” In particular let us pray for St. Joseph’s intercession for husbands and fathers!
I can’t let go of this one, even though it was Saturday: Happy feast of St. Catherine of Siena, Doctor of the Church! “Unbelievable were her austerities, her miracles, her ecstasies… The priests associated with her, having received extraordinary faculties of absolution, were unable to accommodate the crowds of penitents… She weaned Italy away from an anti-pope, and made cardinals and princes promise allegiance to the rightful pontiff. She journeyed to Avignon and persuaded Pope Gregory XI to return to Rome.” And she was the youngest of twenty-five children! (I feel like her mom deserves a shout-out!)
From the archives:
*There’s so much to say about music in the liturgy, so much to think about. Here is my take on what Cardinal Ratzinger (later Benedict XVI) said about it (part of my Spirit of the Liturgy series).
About once a week I see someone posting on Facebook to ask if their young child should read a book the theme or tone of which is more suited to a mature person. Yet, as C. S. Lewis remarked, a book for a child ought to be enjoyable to an adult as well. So how to navigate these waters? First, know that I have some stellar book lists for you. And then, there’s this post about whether it’s wise to give your child free rein when choosing what to read.
And of course, the recent birth announcements! Baby Sebastian and Baby Josephine! (You can see why we haven’t been posting a ton lately!)
To win a saint figure, go FOLLOW Sue’s Instagram account and leave a comment HERE on the blog telling us that you have done so!
We will pick a winner on Friday!
~We’d like to be clear that, when we direct you to a site via one of our links, we’re not necessarily endorsing the whole site, but rather just referring you to the individual post in question (unless we state otherwise).~
Follow us on Twitter.
Like us on Facebook.
Auntie Leila’s Pinterest.
Rosie’s Pinterest.
Sukie’s Pinterest.
Deirdre’s Pinterest.
Habou’s Pinterest.
Bridget’s Pinterest.
Habou’s Blog: Corner Art Studio.
Auntie Leila’s Ravelry.
Auntie Leila’s Instagram.
Rosie’s Instagram.
Sukie’s Instagram.
Deirdre’s Instagram.
Bridget’s Instagram.
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