Saturday, November 27, 2010

Word of the day:
Saturday of the Thirty-fourth week in Ordinary Time
Today the Church celebrates : St. Maximus, Bishop († 460), St. Virgil, Bishop († 784)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 21:34-36.

Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man."

Friday, November 26, 2010

Friday of the Thirty-fourth week in Ordinary Time
Today the Church celebrates : St. Peter of Alexandria, Bishop & Martyr († 311)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 21:29-33.

He taught them a lesson. "Consider the fig tree and all the other trees. When their buds burst open, you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near; in the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving!

And a great big Happy Birthday to our wonderful son-in-law, Jamie!!!

Sunday, November 21, 2010

I'm in a melancholy mood today.  Today my dad would have been 83 years old.  My mother never lived to see us married, and Dad never lived to see his grandchildren.  Marian Pryor has been taken to Saginaw after suffering a probable stroke.  I'm not sure what that means - hopefully it means that there is a surgeon that who can help her.  I saw her last night at church and it was one of the few times I didn't visit with her for a few minutes.  I wish I had stopped to give her a hug after Mass.

We had the last of our craft shows yesterday.  It was a very good season for us.  We have a nice little tithe fund to spend this year.  The economy has been so bad in Michigan that we are amazed that we have done so well.  There is so much need and we can barely make a dent but we can do something. We usually donate to various causes that support our military, we usually buy toys for area children through Toys for Tots, we have some gift baskets left that we will give to the church for their Christmas baskets - spending tithe money is one of the most rewarding aspects of our little business endeavor.

I am suffering a little from post-craft show let down.  This is the time when I should be putting things in order for our next show.  I will be doing that, but there is something about that last minute rush which always seems to grab hold of me.  I really can't spend a lot of time waving goodbye to another craft show season because I still have about 20 stockings to get done in the next couple of weeks.  I want to be all ready to enjoy December.


 
Word of the day:
Our Lord Jesus Christ the King - Solemnity
Christ the King, solemnity
Today the Church celebrates : Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 23:35-43.

The people stood by and watched; the rulers, meanwhile, sneered at him and said, "He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Messiah of God." Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine they called out, "If you are King of the Jews, save yourself." Above him there was an inscription that read, "This is the King of the Jews." Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us." The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, "Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He replied to him, "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Wow, this week has gone fast.  We finally closed our stocking season having taken orders for over 160. Today I made a dozen nightlights.  We can't seem to keep these in stock.  I made 9 the other day and they all sold yesterday.  Our last craft show of the year is coming up this Saturday.  I love this show because it's the closest to home and we know so many people who come to this show.  It's been moved to the new elementary gym and I think that may even be a better location.  We'll see.

I have set my stocking schedule at 3 stockings per day.  That keeps me from going cuckoo.  I have a batch of chocolate peanut butter fudge to make and the rest of the bins to inventory for the shows.  I have half of them done and ready to go in the garage.  I also made 24 bottles of room spray. 

Went to the doctor today. My blood glucose numbers are good.  She said I am very close to normal ranges.  Hmmmmm.  I know that the parameters are a bit different from dr. to dr., but I seriously think I am in the borderline range.  Oh well.  Everything else was good.


Word of the day:
Thursday of the Thirty-third week in Ordinary Time
Today the Church celebrates : St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, Religious (1769-1852)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 19:41-44.

As he drew near, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, "If this day you only knew what makes for peace--but now it is hidden from your eyes. For the days are coming upon you when your enemies will raise a palisade against you; they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides. They will smash you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another within you because you did not recognize the time of your visitation."

Monday, November 15, 2010

We are winding down the last week of craft show season. In the past this last show has been our best. It is going to have to go some to beat Saturday's show. We were up about 32% from last year. It's been a very good season so far.

I have cut off the stocking sales for 2010. We can take orders for 3 more and that's pretty much it. There is just no way I am going to make myself crazy trying to knit 5 stockings a day between now and November 30. Since all of our bottoms are gone, each one has to be started from scratch. I will be so on top of that for next year. Plus, I have 2 stockings to make for our new expected granddaughter.

I never did solve the mystery of the sink holes. I guess I will just need to keep my heat gun handy until I figure it out. That seems to be the easiest remedy.

I made fudge today. Worked on stockings. That was pretty much it. I need to stay better focused tomorrow if I want to keep on top of things.


 

Word of the day:
Saturday of the Thirty-second week in Ordinary Time
Today the Church celebrates : St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin and Foundress (1850-1917) - Memorial, St. Agostina Livia Pietrantoni, Virgin (1864-1894)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 18:1-8.

Then he told them a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. He said, There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being. And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, 'Render a just decision for me against my adversary.' For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought, 'While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being, because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.'" The Lord said, "Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

Thursday, November 11, 2010

First of all, a big thank you to our veterans, those who are now serving in the military, and their families!  Your service is greatly appreciated!

 School is closed for Clayton this morning.  I didn't think it was that foggy out, but when I checked the page it was closed.  Now that I'm up, I can get some other things done.  I'm hoping to get in a run this morning.

Took some more stocking orders.  The season is winding down for that.  It went by so fast.  We have our show at West Intermediate on Saturday.  We will set up on Friday night and celebrate Harold's birthday afterwards.  My mission is to get cider and vanilla ice cream.

The fudge is packaged and ready to go.  I need to finish the inventory, make some more stockings, get the house cleaned up, make chicken pot pie, finish laundry and bills. I also need to make the snack mix for Saturday. 


Word of the day:
Thursday of the Thirty-second week in Ordinary Time
Today the Church celebrates : St. Martin of Tours, Bishop († 397) - Memorial
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 17:20-25.

Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he said in reply, "The coming of the kingdom of God cannot be observed, and no one will announce, 'Look, here it is,' or, 'There it is.' For behold, the kingdom of God is among you." Then he said to his disciples, "The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. There will be those who will say to you, 'Look, there he is,' (or) 'Look, here he is.' Do not go off, do not run in pursuit. For just as lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be (in his day). But first he must suffer greatly and be rejected by this generation.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

We had a fog delay today so Clay just got on the bus. Claire is staying with me this morning because she doesn't feel well.  She looks kind of pale.  Melisa will pick her up around 11:30.

I think I finally have the sink hole mystery solved after making a batch of Christmas tree candles which STILL had sink holes in 3 of the jars. I just realized that I have been storing my candle jars on the basement floor and they are probably too cold when I pour the wax.  I realized it when I looked at my jars after pouring and the bottoms were already setting up.  I am hoping that is what has been happening.  I will warm my jars before pouring the next batch and see what happens. Never a dull moment in the dungeon.  I also need to make another batch of primitive nightlights.  People have been snapping them up as fast as I can make them.

Checked the Flylady website - the week we work on the kitchen.  That sounds about right.  I have fudge to package up today and stockings to make.  Anna took our chex mix to work and sold it all so I am making more of that for Saturday.  I need to run up town and pick up the makings.  I hadn't expected to sell out so soon, but I'm not complaining.




Word of the day:
Wednesday of the Thirty-second week in Ordinary Time
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 17:11-19.

As he continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten lepers met (him). They stood at a distance from him and raised their voice, saying, "Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!" And when he saw them, he said, "Go show yourselves to the priests." As they were going they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply, "Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?" Then he said to him, "Stand up and go; your faith has saved you."

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

We had our craft show at the Shepherd VFW last night. It was a total bust. This is officially the worst attended show we have been to and that includes last year's fiasco in Ithaca. If organizers have done all they can with advertising etc, then that's one thing. There was very litte, if any, advertising for this at all. It's too bad because it could have been a nice little show. We won't be going back next year - we are too strapped at this time of year. :(

Gained some time this morning, though. The kids didn't have school so there was no getting anyone on the bus. Since I was up already and Madison was due at 8:00 I got some laundry done.

Today I have to finish laundry, pay bills, I've already done the folders for Friday and this weekend, I have to check inventory for Saturday and look at music for the Christmas choir.


Word of the day
The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome - Feast
Today the Church celebrates : Dedication of St. John Lateran (Feast)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 2:13-22.

Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money-changers seated there. He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables, and to those who sold doves he said, "Take these out of here, and stop making my Father's house a marketplace." His disciples recalled the words of scripture, "Zeal for your house will consume me." At this the Jews answered and said to him, "What sign can you show us for doing this?" Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up." The Jews said, "This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?" But he was speaking about the temple of his body. Therefore, when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they came to believe the scripture and the word Jesus had spoken.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Yesterday was a long day, but a very good one. We had our craft show at His Place in Alma. This was our second year for this one and we increased our sales by over 50%. I am totally amazed at the way God continues to bless our efforts. In Michigan's economy, we would expect to have declining sales or stay constant, but in the four years we have done this, our sales have gone up at every show but one. That is amazing to me. During downtime yesterday I was able to sew finish off 8 stockings. I packed those and 2 others for shipping. I'll have to go to the post office because for some reason, we have a lot of Canadian orders this year. Eh? (little Canadian lingo there). I knitted and cuffed 5 more. Today the girls and I will be packaging baskets for tomorrow night's show at the VFW.

This will be an insanely busy week again because we have the show at the VFW tomorrow night. Deacon John asked me to teach Tuesday's RCIA class on Sacraments, but before that I have to squeeze in a cantor practice because I have a meeting on Wednesday night. Father David asked me to be the point person for the implementation of the new translation of the Roman Missile. We have that meeting on Wednesday night and I am sooooooo thankful that it will be at St. Vincent in Shepherd.

Oh, and I think I have solved the mystery of the sink holes in my candles. My thermometer was lying to me about the temps at which I was pouring! I loved this thermometer, but I guess it has lived a good long life and needs to be replaced. Sniff Sniff.

I should go out running this morning, but the messy house is driving me nuts.



 
Word of the day:
Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today the Church celebrates : St. Willibrord, Bishop (657-739)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 20:27-38.

Some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, came forward and put this question to him, saying, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us, 'If someone's brother dies leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother.' Now there were seven brothers; the first married a woman but died childless. Then the second and the third married her, and likewise all the seven died childless. Finally the woman also died. Now at the resurrection whose wife will that woman be? For all seven had been married to her." Jesus said to them, "The children of this age marry and remarry; but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and to the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. They can no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are the children of God because they are the ones who will rise. That the dead will rise even Moses made known in the passage about the bush, when he called 'Lord' the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive."

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Hmmm, I have had to pull all of my cinnamon stick candles again.  The HTP 105 isn't much better than the HTP104.  I scaled down the colorant and the candle still goes out.  I am going to wick one number higher and then I don't know.  Another fun thing that has been happening.  I have had at least one candle out of each batch develop sink holes while cooling.  I have no idea what is causing this.  I tried lowering the pouring temp and got sink holes in every jar.  It's easily fixed but very annoying.  I just got a new batch of container wax and we'll see if the problem continues.

I made a batch of Kris Kringle grungy jar candles.  I am going to try and get a pic of these up.  They are very cute.  I just love the scent.  I also made 5 stockings today, took an order for 8 more and so far am still on top of the orders.  We are hoping to hit 150 again this year. 

I am making detailed notes on all projects that I can get done during the summer so that our fall season isn't so frantic.  I say this every year.  I am sticking to it this coming summer.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

36 years ago today, I met Harold. Now, 4 kids, 3 in-law kids, and 3-going-on-4 grandkids, I have to say, "It's a good life."

I got quite a bit done yesterday.  I did 6 stockings, two of which were special orders and had to be completely done.  I made a dent in the kitchen but the house is still looking pretty sad.  I have a memorial mass to do tonight plus cantor rehearsal following.  Today I hope to get the rest of the stocking orders caught up.  All of our "made ahead" bottoms are just about gone.  We are at 98 stockings so far for the season.  In a week or so we will be lucky to keep our heads above water.  LOL!

I am stumped by the Cinnamon Stick candles.  I have wicked them up and the flame still goes out.  Now I'm going to have to look at color - I may have to scale back on intensity.  If I wick too high, the candles smoke.  So right now I have 5 candles for my candle warmer.  Good thing I like cinnamon


Word of the day:
Wednesday of the Thirty-first week in Ordinary Time
Today the Church celebrates : St. Martin de Porres, Religious (1579-1639), St. Hubert, Bishop (657-727)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 14:25-33.

Great crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and addressed them, If any one comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him and say, 'This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.' Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. In the same way, everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.

Monday, November 1, 2010

It's hard to believe it, but 19 years ago today, Harold's dad died.  I had just finished playing the All Saints Day evening Mass.  When I got home, Harold's mom called and asked Harold to come over.  I'll bet all of the kids remember because we saw the emergency vehicles from the window.  We would never be able to see that now because our Joseph Tree blocks the view.  I can't believe 19 years have gone by since that traumatic night. 

I slept in a bit (1/2 hour) because I had no kids to get on the bus.  I had Mass for the Feast of All Saints Day.  The kids are doing something different with the psalm and though I was nervous about it, they did a great job.  I love working with the school kids.

I got some things done yesterday, but I still have 13 more stockings to do.  Harold's Monday night card games have started up.  Monday night is my traditional quilting night, but it will have to wait for a bit - until after the shows.  I have compiled a list of chores that I can get done during the summer so that next year it won't be so cuckoo. 

Don't forget to vote tomorrow!!!!




Word of the day:
All Saints - Solemnity
Today the Church celebrates : Solemnity of All Saints
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 5:1-12.

When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.