{bits & pieces}

The weekly “little of this, little of that” feature here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!

 

 

 

Remember my post about living without air conditioning? There were a lot of comments on that one! But —  As I said then, even if you have AC and need to use it (and well do I know that some of you are broiling away), there are things you can do to be more comfortable and more efficient with it. And certainly here in New England — provided your house is built correctly and reasonably — you do not need AC!

This post gives helpful illustrations of what I was talking about. It explains that cooling is a “zone” and not a temperature point. Fans will help a lot — even with AC. And if you are building a house, you should click through some of the links embedded to see how to cool things down without profligate energy use. The sad fact is that most new houses are built with no consideration for the geography in which they are placed; a datum of significance, you would think. So vexing.

 

I love the idea of the commonplace book. I myself have tried keeping different notebooks at different times, and find now that good old index cards work best for me. What do you use?

This short post demystifies the concept (although in my post I suggest more than just quotes).


Ever see sand magnified 300 times? Fascinating.

(Here’s my post on what kind of microscope to get to see this sort of thing on a regular basis.)

 

Did you see this article about a way to nurse your baby that seems to be what he wants to do anyway, when left to himself? I always nursed my newborns this way (and all the other ways too), because then I got to lie down! And here is another really helpful one about “low milk supply (sic).”

Listen, take it from me — I’ve nursed seven babies — these articles are helpful. Don’t fret yourself about them; don’t worry if they don’t absolutely apply to your situation right now. Just read and file away.

If you are like us, you teach your children to obey reasonable and duly constituted authority but not to check their minds in at the door. We want them to be problem solvers. We assume that they will take responsibility for their actions and see the big picture — at least, that’s what we hope for once they reach maturity, and our responses to all the little events along the way are geared to that goal.

I think that the consequences of a different attitude are shown in this article by the acerbic Mark Steyn on a July 4th parade that went awry for no particular reason. And those consequences, while not decisive for any one day or place, nevertheless will take their toll on our liberty. If our kids were younger, I think I’d give them the facts of the piece, ask them what they’d do, and then after what I am sure would have been a lively discussion, read them what Steyn writes.


I’m really enjoying this blog from David Warren. If your head starts spinning with all the “must reads” out there, his voice will calm things down.


My husband, Phil Lawler, aka The Chief, has a little bits and pieces of his own to wind down his week of reporting and commenting on the news. I highly recommend checking it out. And be sure not to miss this “Modest Proposal” about sexual consent contracts.


I may have shared this, Our Only Option, from C. C. Pecknold, before, when it first came out, but maybe not. It’s worth another read. Pecknold insists, against the idea of retreating, per se: “Our families are going to need to live according to a rule if we are to endure—very much as religious orders do—with daily habits of prayer, confession, adoration, ingesting the Scriptures, emulating the great saints, learning to think with the doctors of the Church.”

Here’s the thing. It’s frustrating. We keep knowing we should do this, but not knowing how. That’s because we just don’t have the collective memory to do it.

That is why I wrote The Little Oratory, along with David Clayton (additional drawings by Deirdre!). So that when you read a spirited exhortation like this one, you know where to turn for practical help! Spoiler alert: It’s actually very simple — it’s living the Liturgical Year! So don’t be worried.

A very delightful feast of St. Benedict, Abbot, to you! This saint who changed the world will intercede for us in heaven, don’t worry!

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