Movie Review.

The other night Dan and I watched the movie Juno. From the outset, I'd like to say that I really never cared a great deal for Diablo Cody, the screenwriter. I remember reading her articles back when I actually picked up the City Pages, and never really being impressed. Course, it is the City Pages, and they've never really impressed me. She's really quite vulgar and crass.

So, I was a little skeptical about viewing Juno, which is supposed to be pretty pro-life. I was surprised to find that it really is quite pro-life. But not in a perfectly wrapped, life is always perfect sort of way, like Bella tends towards. Which makes Juno more believable and far more interesting.

Plus the characters are hilarious. Bonus for good humor!

I give it three stars. I would've given it four, except it's laced with the f-bomb. And being a woman who spends most of her time with a toddler, I never hear the word and it really hits me wrong.

THat's all for now folks!

Velcro: It's a Love Hate thing.

As promised, a photo of my "what's left in the fridge pizza" from yesterdays post. It was actually very tasty, and, as you can see, the tastiness surprised Ana.



We woke up to some muggy and hot weather. Obviously, time to bust out the hose. As you can see, Ana took to it right away. In this first shot, you can't really see it but her diaper weighs about 10 pounds in water alone.



Here is a photo taken 10 minutes after the first. She had decided shortly before that her diaper was just dead weight. At least she got some fresh air on her fanny. Not a bad idea for our poor little diaper wearers.



Ana must've really liked going commando because once I got her diapered again and got her inside, she took them right off. So, I put them on again. Then she took them off. So, we spent much of the early afternoon going about our day to the merry sound of ripping velcro.

The irony is that when I bought her diaper covers, I had to choose between velcro and snaps. A comment from a customer said that the snaps are great because her curious toddler couldn't undo them. Oh, Ana would never do a thing like that, I thought. Oh ho! Was I wrong! Well, nothing I can do about it now except stock up on baking soda.

Lookee Here!

Today is my much appreciated Day Off. Last week, Helen and I came to the agreement, that Thursdays will be her day to have Ana. It gives me a day to catch up on lagging house work, and Helen a day with Ana.

I didn't get much of a chance to work in the garden, which is what I was planning on doing, because we're getting a much needed slow and steady rain.



Instead, I've been tackling a few indoor projects. One of which was to change up the side bar on Muffinshire. Take a looksee and tell me what you think!

Another great thing about having the Day Off is that I can make dinner. As of late, Ana has refused to let me do much in the way of working at the counter without me holding her. And it's hard to execute the kind of dinner that I like to make with a babe in arms. Even if she is cute. Especially if she is cute.

So, today I looked in my fridge to see what needs to be used up. Here's what I came up with: Pizza. But not just any ordinary pizza mind you. I'm roasting some potatoes and asparagus, carmelizing some onions, grating some gouda, and spooning some sour cream. I'm not sure how it will all taste atop a pizza crust. But, you know, pizza is good no matter what. right? i'll post pictures and facial expressions later.

Well, it's been quiet around here today and yesterday. Which has been exceedingly nice. Ana has settled back into her sleep routine, thank God. Three weeks of back and forth to the cities had taken it's toll on her clock. Ergo, mom and dad's clocks. Even better, she's begun to sleep all the way through the night. See that? That's a tear in my eye.

Dan and I are starting to think about our road trip to Vancouver Island in August. Which of the 50 provincial parks we'll stay at. How often we'll pull over for breaks. How many times we'll pull Ana from the clutches of a mountain lion.

It made me think of last years trip to the Tetons and Idaho. How easy it was to tote Ana around. Something tells me this year will be a little more challenging.

Here's a shot from last years trip that makes me long for the days of infant portability.

If a deer happens across our campsite, ten bucks says Ana would be hanging on his neck instead of quietly observing.

Happy Birthday Mary!

With all the hub bub over the weekend, I completely forgot that yesterday was Mary's birthday. What would life be without Mary. The best thing my parents could have done for me is to give me such a wonderful sister to go through life with. And it's especially great now that we're not roommates.

She's smart, she's cute, she makes me laugh until sweettarts shoot out my nose, she's Mary.

Unless you eat my body and drink my blood.

Today is Corpus Christi Sunday. The day that we celebrate the institution of the Eucharist which we Catholics believe is the very same body and blood of Christ that lived on earth 2,000 years ago and now sits at the right hand of God the Father. Hard to believe? It's all in John 6. Incidentally, the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist is the top reason I decided to become Catholic some eight years ago.

Enjoy the hymn Pange Lingua, written by St. Thomas Aquinas for this very feast. If you'd like to read the English, scroll down and I'll include it there.

Sing, my tongue, the Savior's glory,
of His flesh the mystery sing;
of the Blood, all price exceeding,
shed by our immortal King,
destined, for the world's redemption,
from a noble womb to spring.

Of a pure and spotless Virgin
born for us on earth below,
He, as Man, with man conversing,
stayed, the seeds of truth to sow;
then He closed in solemn order
wondrously His life of woe.

On the night of that Last Supper,
seated with His chosen band,
He the Pascal victim eating,
first fulfills the Law's command;
then as Food to His Apostles
gives Himself with His own hand.

Word-made-Flesh, the bread of nature
by His word to Flesh He turns;
wine into His Blood He changes;
what though sense no change discerns?
Only be the heart in earnest,
faith her lesson quickly learns.

Down in adoration falling,
Lo! the sacred Host we hail;
Lo! o'er ancient forms departing,
newer rites of grace prevail;
faith for all defects supplying,
where the feeble senses fail.

To the everlasting Father,
and the Son who reigns on high,
with the Holy Ghost proceeding
forth from Each eternally,
be salvation, honor, blessing,
might and endless majesty.
Amen. Alleluia.

Little Girl on the Prairie.

A Boar's ... ahem.

Another smashingly successful E-team night last night. Awesome dinner accompanied by conversation that can only come about from a group of like-minded friends who know how to take a joke. After dinner, we headed downstairs to the fireside to discuss the second part of Deus Caritas Est. We mostly covered the role of charity and the Church in society. Great discussion that cleared up a few things in my mind. Fr. Jeremy also offered a few choice quotes which I can add to my list of Things I Never Thought I'd Hear A Priest Say. One of them was "tits on a boar." The other shouldn't be documented out of context.

Someone recently commented that I make fun of Fr. Jeremy a lot on this blog. Let me first say that I have the utmost respect for Fr. Jeremy. He is truly a man of God. He seeks personal holiness with every ounce of strength in him. He strives to be our spiritual father and a shepherd to this wayward flock. That said, he is really easy to make fun of. And in fifty years, when Fr. Jeremy is canonized, I want to look back on this blog and remember his humor as well as his saintliness.

Here was another great contribution last night. It was a quote from one of the Church Fathers, no one was sure who though: "Heaven for God is dwelling in the human heart."

If anyone knows who said this, by all means let us know!!!

Gianna update: She just had an MRI scan which showed that the main tumor in her neck has shrunk significantly. She starts her third round of chemo shortly, and will hopefully be going home (albeit with round the clock nursing care) in a few weeks. Hoo ray!

Knitty.

Don't I wish I knit this. I found it on the internet. But I'm thinking I may put it on the roster (rooster, get it?) of knitting projects.

Busy Days!

Kittens lazing about

Trellised and mulched peas

Dirty toes!

Anyone, anyone?

Did anyone see Lost last night?
Dan and I have to admit that we are Lost devotees. But there is a caveat. Lost was way better in it's first couple of seasons, as it emerged as a thinking man's adventure. Now, it's just a shoot em up adventure. But, in the hopes that some of the ponderous parts of the show will resurrect, we continue to watch.

Best line, spoken by Hurley's mom as Hurley is poised to strike potenetial theives with a small stature of the Sacred Heart: "Jesus Christ is not a weapon."

Sweet Sorrow.

Dan just completed his very last Institute for Pastoral Theology class weekend. It's been three years since he started, and yes, it seems like yesterday.

Dan truly enjoyed (enjoyed is a lame word for what he felt, but i can't think of a better one at the moment) the three years that he spent basking in the sun of his professors and the wisdom of the Church. He never took a moment for granted and knew full well that these three years were really a gift from God.

Now that he's finished, he looks forward to some free time (and so do I!). He will also miss the wondrous pleasure that he had learning all the philosophy, metaphysics, patristics, Scripture ... all that good stuff.

But we both look forward to seeing what God will have him, and us, do with it now.

So, remember to pray for your favorite theologians!

Congratulations Dan!

Finally!

The Office is funny again!
Michael to Jan: "You cheated on me, when I specifically asked you not to?"

Shed Sweet Shed

Spring has finally settled in. Today, the sun is shining and a little breeze cools the skin. It's wonderful. The farmers are busy now that the soil has finally begun to warm, so I am now typing to the sounds of various tractors working the fields all around us. Not to be outdone, we were able to plant almost the rest of our garden yesterday. Corn, beans, pumpkins, and zucchini all went in without fanfare. Today, Ana willing, we will plant our winter squashes as well. Which will only leave our melon, watermelons, eggplants, tomatoes and cukes ... for these we need warmer weather. What fun. What excitement. What sore muscles.

The "chicks" are moved into their new shed and they seem cozy. Although the area they now call home is perfect in every way, I still caught one chick sneaking in a box of donuts. How rude.

Here's a shot of their new digs. And of their awkward teenager chicken-ness. Poor girls. Don't they know that it's their personality that will get them a date to the prom?

Besides this little brooder spot, they also have acess to another fifteen square feet or so to stretch their wings. Lucky ladies. Soon, they will be in their permanent coop and will be able to run around outside all the live long day!

O Give Me A Home

It's been a quiet day around the farm.
Save for one noise that has been heard with increasing frequency.
That is, the sound of feathers flapping and cheeps rising. I ventured downstairs to check on our now ginormous "chicks", who now more resemble small dinosaurs than fuzzy Easter basket filler. The room where we keep them was quiet and still as a mouse. The chicks were all frozen in place, not daring to move. The only thing that gave away the flurry that must've taken place only moments before was a cloud of feathers and fuzz slowly drifting down over their nest.

Which brings me to a great announcement. Tomorrow, our chicks are moving to their new home! Dan Sr. spent the last two days fashioning a nice warm (and much larger) coop for them to spread their wings in one of our outdoor sheds. So stay tuned!

I hate wind.

I know I moved to the prairie of my own free will. And I think I told at least one of you that the wind wouldn't bother me. But that was before I had ever tried to plant a garden while tormented with a giddy wind pulverizing every part of my body, the first thing it had hit since Saskatoon. It is not pleasant.

In other, and more joyous news, Bill Holm, a resident of our neighboring Minneota, has won the McKnight Foundation's Distinguished Artist award. A high honor for Minneota's native son. Thanks for the heads up Dan!

Happy Birthday Church!

Today is Pentecost! This is the day, so many years ago, that God sent His Holy Spirit down to be with His children. Thus the Church was born. Not church as in the building ... but Church as in the Body of Christ, made up of us pilgrims on earth and the Saints in heaven, together with Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit helps us accomplish our Mission of bringing mankind in union with God by guiding us towards greater union with Christ, and helping others to grow closer to Christ.

Let's have a beer on that!

Do we really need Eight?

Anyone else see this article?
It's a fun read.
It's Eight Reasons to Drink Beer.
As if we needed more than just the one.

So silent around this blog.
Which is so antithetical to what it's been like in my life this week.
Noise, information, emotions, business, talking, and lots of prayer.

Last night the entire Prescott/Costello clan met at the Lexington in St. Paul for a nice dinner and tribute to Grandma. It was a wonderful evening of delicious food, putting faces to the names Grandma would talk about so much, connecting with lost cousins, and of course all the laughter (mostly at Sheila).

Tomorrow we bury Grandma's ashes.

Dan knows how much I think of death. And how I actually look forward to it, morbid as that sounds.

I do look forward to it. But, not because I have more faith than someone who might be fearful. Quite the opposite. You see, death will finally prove to me that God does exist. That God is my final end.

It is strange to have a heart split in two. One side is completely assured in the existence of God, a Being who sent Himself to us to save us from ourselves. The other side of my heart is under the influence of evil and constantly needs guidance.

To me, I believe death will be a relief because I will no longer have to struggle, and assure myself. I will no longer have to contend with my doubts.

I see it's time to find another fart joke for tomorrow.

Goodbye Grandma.

Grandma died sometime on Saturday night.
I got a call yesterday afternoon from dad, he was at Grandma's house. After I got a few breaths, he explained that she died in her sleep still hugging her sleep pillow. There wasn't any struggle or pain.

Grandma lived a somewhat turbulent life. But she loved all her kids, her grandkids, and her great-grandkids so, so much. Tootin around town in her red Volkswagon beetle, she shunned old lady clothes and insisted on the latest styles. Always looking out for the next thing, and having just finished up a full time job, mom said she had just put an ad in the paper looking for a new job. She was 88 years old, for pete's sake! Take a break!

But a happy death is more than we could have hoped for her. She was on good terms with her family, healthy, lucid and active. She went to sleep and went on to eternity.

We love you Grandma!

Please Sir.

(Read out loud in a cockney accent for best effect.)
Please, sir, I want some more. Y'see, sir, I've not eaten for fourteen days since me mum died of the croup. I would take an entire Apple Pie. Yes, sir. Thank you sir. Goodbye, sir.