Yarn Along

Knitting:  I'm still working on the same scarf, which is going surprisingly quickly.  I hope to have it done in another week or two.

Reading:  I've been reading an interesting book (Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day) I received as a Christmas gift this year, and I'm almost ready to give the bread a try.

Moments of Grace

One of Lucy and Linus' Christmas gifts was a nice, sturdy holy water font to be hung where they can reach it.  We've been practicing making the Sign of the Cross.  I guide Linus' hand, saying "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost... "
I pause for a moment, and with great enthusiasm he says,  "AAMMM."

I think it's pretty much the cutest thing ever.  But then, he's my son, and I think he's pretty much the cutest thing ever.  I might be biased.

Today

In the bath ...
Lucy:  "Shhh!  The priest is singing, Linus!"

While putting Linus down for a nap ...
Linus:   "A sheep.  Baa baa baa baa baa."

Playing with Suds

I have discovered an easy and efficient way to make suds for my little ones to play with.  I put warm water with soap in a jar, put the lid on, and shake.  I use a spoon to transfer the suds to the play sink.  For more suds, just shake again.

{Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real}

A crown, platter, glasses, and lantern are all ready to celebrate the feast of St. Lucy.  We had Lussekatter and hot chocolate.  Neither of my children ate the Lussekatter, but at least Linus enjoyed the chocolate milk.

Lucy and Linus with their Grandma in the tent she made for them.  It fits over a card table.  When we set it up, Linus was fussing a little bit and wanted to be held.  Grandma went in to demonstrate, and Lucy quickly followed.  Linus saw this, stopped fussing, said, "Uh-huh!" and wiggled to be put down.  It remains one of his favorite places to play.

While Grandma and Grandpa were here, we visited the local zoo.  While the monkeys were not out, the cats were unusually active, which was fun to see.

One day while playing with blocks, Lucy quite spontaneously picked up these two blocks and said, "Look Mama, got my camera.  Take a picture."

Yarn Along

Reading:  Teaching Montessori in the Home:  the Preschool Years, by Elizabeth G. Hainstock.

Knitting:  A scarf with a leaf lace pattern (as you can see, I made a couple modifications to suit my own taste), from some lovely cotton yarn which my dear husband brought home on the feast of St. Raphael (the anniversary of the day he proposed).

I'm loving both.

Go visit Ginny for more knitting and reading.

Feast of All Saints

I'm reposting this from 2010, just to remind everyone of the plenary indulgences available.  We made our visit to the cemetery today.  Did you?

O almighty, everlasting God, who hast granted us to venerate in one solemnity the merits of all thy saints; we beseech thee, that as our intercessors are multiplied, thou wouldst bestow upon us the desired abundance of thy mercy. 
               Collect from the Feast of All Saints

With so many to pray for us, let us not forget to pray for the dead.  All this week (November 1st through 8th), "a plenary indulgence, applicable only to the souls in purgatory, is granted to the faithful who ... devoutly visit a cemetery and pray, if only mentally, for the departed."  (from the current Manual of Indulgences)  It is also necessary to be free from attachment to any sin, receive a sacramental confession, communion, and pray for the intentions of the Pope. 

The document The Gift of the Indulgence states that it is sufficient to have made a sacramental confession "within several days (about 20)" before or after doing the prescribed work.  This is much more generous than the old requirement of "within the octave" and this permission is still in effect (not only for the Jubilee year).

Since the church is so generous, let us not fail to send this abundance of mercy to the aid of the poor souls in purgatory.