{pretty, happy, funny, real} and a confession!

If you are new here to our blog, welcome!

You may not know that back in the day, when blogging was a thing everyone did for fun and not monetization, we had a link-up called {pretty, happy, funny, real} — the idea came to me one day in a flash of inspiration, and I must say it was fun! People would link up their posts with all the nice, funny, and honestly bonkers things that had happened during the week!

But then link-ups sort of faded as people moved on to Instagram and so on, and it was a lot of work for me to be sure we had that post every week while also trying to write my books. Those posts are still memorialized up in the menu bar if you want to have a look!

But today I have a {phfr} — not a link-up, although you could certainly share your blog or Instagram post in the comments, but just a visit today, along those lines of sharing and chatty!

AND I HAVE A CONFESSION! I will put it in my {real} down below!!

 

{pretty}

Progress on the rec-room-turned-craft-room… I am loving the brick and the white! New sconces are coming (in my house, there is little overhead lighting, but lots of random sconces on the walls) and other details that I will put in a proper before-and-after post soon, I hope! Meanwhile, I have a mountain of ironing to do, since I moved it up here and then promptly put this room out of action.

Hence, the deployed ironing board. (You can see a few more peeks on my IG)

 

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{happy}

I made that King Arthur Pan de Cristal recipe, following it exactly, and am so happy that finally I have produced that light, airy, sort of dry yet toothsome bread I’ve been after for so long! I’m working on a sourdough version too, and will keep you updated.

 

{funny}

Leila Miller shared a meme that was basically saying, “If I have to parallel park, I just won’t go” and I had to boast to her about how I used to squeeze my Suburban into the tiniest spaces in Cambridge, MA, when Rosie was at school there and I would go visit her. I was a real pro! No space was too small!

However, as I texted Leila, I have now completely lost my touch. Despite back-up camera, beeping, and of course a much smaller car, I cannot for the life of me get it into any sort of spot straight!

I don’t know whether it’s the vehicle’s curved lines or the disappearing, sloped hood, or what, but I am truly hopeless!

I had to send her these pics to make up for my vain boasts! So I thought I’d share them with you so that you can continue laughing at me!

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{real}

MY CONFESSION!!

So, on the Amazon listing for The Summa Domestica: Order and Wonder in Family Life (affiliate link), early on there was one review that simply and stunningly says,

1.0 out of 5 stars So much spanking
This woman encourages frequent spanking. So much spanking. She recommends hitting children regularly to keep them obedient

Well, that kind of took my breath away! Considering how many thousands of words I have written on the subject of discipline — on being firm and affectionate, on learning patience and self control, and yes, on spanking, but seldom and effectively, to avoid psychological manipulation, which can be so very dangerous — this was quite the shocker! “So much spanking?” “regularly”??

But now it must be said!

I have a confession!

I did write a post in which I not only said you should spank children regularly, I said you should line them up at the same time every day and spank them!

I said that this approach is the only way to ensure consistency and to avoid all sorts of issues, that I laid out systematically in six numbered points, concluding with the Spanking Paradox, viz.,

6. Spanking reduction. Yes! It’s true! This method actually results in fewer punishments for most children! They will thank you because this way they only get one spank every day! Win-win!

I confess! IT’S ALL TRUE! I WROTE THAT!

BUT —  this was my April Fool post from 2014, and yes, I included it in the book! To be honest, I put a lot of effort into that post and I consider it some of my best work! Or at least, something that certainly represents my peculiar sense of humor, funneled to me from my amusing husband; so I thought it should not be left out of my vast archival work, since part of my aim is to be known, not necessarily in a lot of personal details but in the honesty of my thought processes!

But I guess some people have no sense of humor!

I love you, my readers… that post has so many funny comments, one of which is “My kids are really wishing I had read to the end before lining them up! ;)”

So, let the chips fall where they may… I will say this: I think that commenter did me a favor! I got a lot of messages to the effect of, “I figured that a book that got someone that mad about spanking had to be up my alley! It made me pull the trigger and buy the set!”

And of course, I am so grateful for the 79 other people who left me five stars and helpful and approving reviews. The truth is that it helps so much to have reviews on Amazon — it makes it so that their algorithm produces my book to others who might not have ever heard of it. 

So if you ever think to yourself, “What little thing, not requiring a lot of commitment or effort, could I do for Auntie” — the answer would be, “Please leave a nice review on Amazon, even if it’s one word!” 

If you had a {pretty, happy, funny, real} this week, feel free to share! There is a hashtag on Instagram (#prettyhappyfunnyreal) that has some posts, and I have a feeling that it would not be a bad idea to revive it! I’ll see you there…

 

bits & pieces




Someone asked me about making sourdough panettone, and this is the recipe I used a while back. It’s not quite as complicated as it seems (though granted, there are two doughs). I did not go through the whole pasta madre rabbit hole (maybe later haha) and honestly, using my rather stiff starter worked beautifully! However, you really do need to have those paper molds and hang the loaves upside down after baking. Mine came out really perfectly but did collapse because I thought I could get away with it. These are the ones I have on the way.(affiliate link) If you live near me, I’d be happy to share my order with you — don’t think I’ll be making 12 panettone!

 

The Pillaging and Plundering of the English Monasteries by Joseph Pearce

 

Robert Reilly always edifies. I was happy to see this article about Haydn’s Music of Gratitude and Goodness. Did you notice that I chose Haydn for my intro music on my podcast? I have to say that I am often shocked at the terrible, assaulting, and anti-cultural music employed on many podcasts that I would otherwise enjoy (not to mention background music on videos and reels etc). (Look for my next podcast sometime next week, assuming I get over the near-laryngitis left from my cold!)

 

On a tragic note, please read this article:17 Years After They Starved My Sister to Death, We Must Never Forget Terri Schiavo and heed its advice to set up the proper legal form for medical care in case of your losing the ability to make decisions — and in the case of your children over the age of 12 as well. A living will, so called, is not enough. 

 

I liked this short video about weight loss (really, overall health) after menopause  and I think it applies to any woman at any stage of life struggling with certain issues this doctor describes. I get very frustrated with people (men) who blithely assume that if you simply count calories and exercise you will become trim. Yes, if you are a man, this is usually true (which makes you wonder how there can be so many obese men!). But for a woman it’s far trickier — and there are issues way beyond our control, about our food supply and even water supply. But the simple explanation and advice in this video helps – I’ve been following it myself and can attest to it.

 

I was sad to hear of the passing of Christopher Alexander — perhaps we could pray for his soul! Longtime readers here know how much I admire his work. I pray that he may be brought into that ultimate heavenly Pattern, the Source of all patterns! 

 

from the archives




Speaking of comments from our wonderful readers, I wish the comments to this post had not been lost in our move over to this platform. I remember them as very insightful. Men without chests, or, what C. S. Lewis made me think about.

 

We’re almost to the end of Lent. Now is the acceptable time… now is the time to begin again. The Rule of Life

 

liturgical living

We are turning the corner and beginning to anticipate Passiontide. Time to intensify our mortification while realizing that only in Christ is our hope.

 

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My book, The Summa Domestica: Order and Wonder in Family Life is available now from Sophia Press! All the thoughts from this blog collected into three volumes, beautifully presented with illustrations from Deirdre, an index in each volume, and ribbons!

My “random thoughts no pictures” blog,  Happy Despite Them  — receive it by email if you like, or bookmark, so you don’t miss a thing!

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