My Hero (swoon)

Isn't he handsome? Well, not as handsome as Dan. I more go for the tall, pink and handsome types.

Pope Benedict, one of my other hero's, has declared the next year, starting today, the year of St. Paul the Apostle to commemorate the approximately 2,000 years since his birth.

St. Paul has always been one of my favorites. I'm sure due in large part to my once being a protestant. You know those protestants, really on the up and up on the Epistles. Having studied Galatians, Ephesians and Romans and Acts (of course, his conversion story) in small groups so many times, it's hard to not feel completely dumbfounded and in awe of such an about face this man experienced. He went from persecuter of Christ (in fact, in Acts he sent St. Stephen to his death making him the first martyr) to arguably the single greatest missionary in the history of the world.

This year, we remember and venerate St. Paul so that we, through the grace of God, might emulate his zeal and love of God in our lives.

Move Over Ken Barlow.

I know, I've got a lot of catching up to do. I've been ill this week. About twice a year I get this thing, it's called The Throat Slasher. And that's what it feels like, until it gets to my lungs. Then it's called The Frog Breather.

In the last three weeks, we've gotten maybe three drops of rain. Which makes for a somewhat crabby gardener. But, despite the lack of precipitation, the garden still looks decent, and so do the weeds (evil).

Dry patches aside, I've been learning that one of the great advantages of living on the prairie is the ability to see for about a hundred miles in every direction. Here is a good example: A couple of months ago, Dan and I remarked on the towering thunder clouds to the east. Little did we know, those were the storms that spawned tornadoes that did dances in Hugo.

Today, Ana and I awoke to muggy weather and stormy skies. I did my "hooray for severe weather!" dance (and those who know me know it is a joyful dance.) I petted my tomatoes and caressed my beets, explaining that it wouldn't be long now.

The remainder of the day was spent doing one of two things. One: watching as huge storms pouring deluges of glorious rain fall apart right before they got to us. The other: Witnessing the splendor and electricity of a new thunderstorm swollen with rain forming just beyond us.

And never seeing a drop of rain land within a mile of our garden.

At least we got to see some cool storms.

And before I go set up the sprinklers, here's one for Dad and Mary.

Motherly Love

This is a little out of season. But it is so funny, I cry every time I watch it. I found it on another blog, Testosterhome, which by the way is hysterical. If you've already seen it, well enjoy a rerun. If not, it's a treat.

Ahhhhhh.

Finally. Ana will fall asleep for naps without being strapped to my back.

AND, bonus, she's down to one nap a day. Before, she was taking two naps. A half hour in the morning and maybe an hour in the afternoon. With the first 15 minutes of each being spent on my back, of course.

Now, she's doing ONE nap. Yesterday it was an hour and a half. Today it's two hours and counting.

I could take up a hobby!

Good times.

A few weeks back, Dan Ana and I attended a friend's wedding in the nearby town of St. Leo.

We hadn't met Luke before, but Jessi Callens is the eldest of nine, her parents close friends of Dan and Helen, my in-laws.

The Callens have a true homestead by Minneota. They raise all kinds of animals on their 26-acre farm, grow all their own food, embrace the values of rural living, devoutly love the Church, and just enjoy an old-fashioned farm life.

The wedding was a testimony to their way of life. And so different from the weddings Dan and I had attended before.

We celebrated the nuptial Mass in the beautiful country church. True to form, the men in the wedding party all wore bolero ties, and several wore jeans, but in their defence they were black jeans. Jessi wore her aunt's wedding dress. It fit perfectly.

The Mass itself was beautiful and reverant. Jessi's sisters sang in the choir loft while Helen played the organ.

Afterwards, the whole troop gathered in the basement of the church for dinner (or supper, they call lunch dinner out here). On each decorated table sat 2 bottles of homemade fruit wine. On our table, we sampled sweet apple, and elderberry wine. I didn't care for the elderberry. But the sweet apple complemented the supper cooked by the several friends in the church kitchen. We feasted on roast beef sandiches, potatoes au gratin, and a host of different salads. The cake was one of the best I've tasted, and was homemade that morning by one of the relatives of the couple.

There was plenty of space in the basement for the dace without moving any tables. Jessi's family took out their instruments and played tune after tune of their own style of country music. Everyone danced, especially the kids! There must've been a good thirty children dancing and swaying and wrestling around to the beat. Ana was one of them. And Dan and I had a splendid time watching her interact with all the children. One little boy, Kyle McKeown, who is about six years old, took her out to dance with her. It was very sweet. But poor Ana didn't know how, and just watched Kyle's fancy footwork with awe.

By the time it was eight o'clock, the dance was only a half hour old. But, we had to whisk Ana home before her carriage turned into a pumpkin. Within minutes of driving back home, she was fast asleep in her car seat.

Dan and I agreed it was one of the best weddings we had been to, full of homegrown fun.

Peas sir,

Hmmm.

I was poking around the Didymos site since I've been toying again with getting one of these suckers. I found this picture, which looks veeeeeery familiar.

Peas!

They are bearing their cute little pods!
This is an Indian heirloom ... with yellow pods instead of green. Yesterday, Dan, Ana and I each tasted one ... and they were so sweet and delicious. Looks like we're going to do stir fry tomorrow night.



The chickens (they are no longer chicks) are getting used to the outdoors after a few days of being, well, chicken. The cats however, they're not quite sure what exactly to think of them.

Could've Fooled Me.

Could it be that my husband, who when I met him ate Carl Budding and white bread sandwiches for dinner, has turned a new leaf?

The following conversation started like any other.
It's the ending that really got me.

Dan: How is our lettuce looking?

Me: Really good.

Dan: So, we have a lot left?

Me: Yep.

Dan: Does that mean we're going to have huge salads with dinner tonight?

(this is the part where I cringe because when I answer in the affirmative, there is usually much wailing and gnashing of teeth)

Me: Um, yes. (My affirmative. Now I wait for the wailing to begin.)

Dan: Oh good.

WHAT?

Eyebrows.

A new trick Ana can do. She learned it from, who else? Grandpa Dan.



You will notice I had to abruptly stop recording. She loves to go after the camera lens.

Correction

I guess I should clarify that my cousin on the WSJ is the one holding the sign that says Affirmative Action is Racism in Action.

Tit for Tat. Hat for Hat.

Ana wouldn't let me have my hat back. So, the next best thing ...

What's this?

My cousin Justin on the cover of the Wall Street Journal.

Here's a guy who has discussed politics with my dad since he was six. So, of course he went into politics and is now a lobbyist in Washington. I probably would disagree with his libertarian philosophy (correct me if I'm wrong Justin), but he is spot on with his sign. As Dan puts it, you can't right a wrong with a wrong.

In other news, Ana uttered her first sentence yesterday. Wouldn't it have been great if it were something like: I love you, Daddy. Or, Read to me, Mommy. Or, The good is diffusive of itself. I would've even settled for, More oatmeal! But no. Because deep down, even though her last name is Wambeke, she really is a Prescott.

She said, "I pooped."

Tonight's the Night!

Off I go, with some bundles of rhubarb, a few baskets of lettuces and little baggies of radishes. Oh, and a great big bunch of peonies.

I'm excited for my first night at the Walnut Grove Farmer's Market. Last year, we sold a good share of pumpkins at the Marshall Farmer's Market. But tonight will be my first time selling edible produce.

So c'mon down if you're so inclined, and keep me and the few other vendors company!

We'll right next to the Welcome to Walnut Grove sign on highway 14 from 4pm to 7pm.

Really, really big.

So Many Great Things.

Where do I begin?

Dan my husband, Dan my fil, Helen, Ana and I all spent two rainy but mysteriously wonderful days in Door County. We explored the far reaches of the peninsula and stayed at a great Inn. It served as a relaxing prelude to the festivies that awaited us in Green Bay.

Which were all we expected and more. My mom and dad made the long haul from Minneapolis and met up with us in Green Bay. All the 'rents stayed at the swank Motel 6, while Dan, Ana and I stayed with Chuck and Diane Gustafson, the gracious hosts Dan has been privileged to be a guest of for these last three years. When they first hosted Dan and his friend Tim for the weekend back in 2005, they had no idea the program would last three years let alone 2 weekends. I'm not sure which Dan will miss the most: His classes or the Gustafsons. And I mean that in all sincerity. Here's a great shot of the Gustafson's at the graduation reception.

Mass was at noon at the Cathedral of St. Francis Xavier. Not only did Dan direct the choir, but he also played the trombone. What the ???

Afterwards, the ceremony. I'm pretty sure Helen teared up when they announced the graduating class. Here's Dan receiving his hood. Dr. Twellman, the gentleman "hooding," him whispered to Dan: "Now you can correct Joy." Nice.

And here is a shot of the conquering graduates:

That night we feasted at St. Brenden's, an Irish Restaraunt. Ana decided enough was enough and went to sleep for the night on my back shortly after this photo was taken.

The next day was Sunday, and we attended Mass at the Cathedral again. Ana fell asleep on my back again (this was a theme over the course of the four days we were gone.) As Ana slept, we received communion and made our way back to our pew. Kneeling, I listened to the cantor sing "Taste and See," (which, incidentally, I always hear with the voice of Nate Clyde who sang it at our wedding. His voice is unforgetably made for that song.) The presence of Christ in the Eucharist still sat on my tongue. I wanted to hold onto that moment. Me, Dan, Ana and Jesus. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord. What a wonderful close to our weekend.

Once we made it back to my parents house we were finally able to exhale a bit. And what do you think we did? Made bread, of course. Here's Ana learning how to knead.

Now that it's been a few days, and I've had a chance to ruminate on everything, I have to admit my favorite part about the weekend was when my Dad went up to Dr. Feingold, Dan's Christian Anthropology professor, a brilliant man who spend nine years studying philosophy in Rome. He could've asked about his thoughts on St. Thomas Aquinas, or about his conversion from Judaism to Catholicism. What did he say though? My dad asked him if anyone had ever told him he looked like Woody Allen.

That's my dad.

And, we're back.

We made it.
The weekend was fabulous. More later. Now, sleep.

So Long, Farwell.

The Wambeke Clan are off to the far reaches of Wisconsin where we will courageously brave the sludge that are Packer fans.

We have a two day stay in Door County. On Friday, we'll skip down to Green Bay and enjoy a celebratory dinner at the chic country club hosted by Ave Maria University. On Saturday is the big To Do. At noon, we will celebrate Mass at the Cathedral in downtown Green Bay with the Bishop, Dan's classmates, and all of their families. The graduation ceremony immediately follows. Then lots of merry-making. And one more celebratory Dinner at Brendon's Inn. Good times!

Dan, you deserve more than two days of abundant food, drink, family and friends. For three years you have toiled through the most challenging and rewarding time of your life. Ana and I are so proud of you, and we love you.

In other news, Ana and I stepped out of the front door this morning to find a welcoming if surprising sight. Stewart trotting gaily from a meadow of tall grasses with a dead mousey in his mouth. Three Cheers for Stewart!

Feeding the baby.

Ana added something to the Things She Does That Should Get Me In A Tizz But It's So Cute I Can't list. She laid her baby down on the floor, and ever so carefully poured a glass of orange juice into her mouth. It really was cute.

And now, I have just received Laurel's Kitchen Bread Book, which will hopefully show me how to bake whole grain breads that aren't bricks, and the new issue of Saveur. So, happily to the couch I go to immerse myself in these goodies!

I Need Books.

Hey, lookit here moms. I need some book titles for Ana.
I'm getting a little tired of Goodnight Gorilla and I Love You This Much.
Which, of course, are great books. But, I would like something new. And I think Ana might too.
Any ideas?

I can't wait until she's a year older. Then we can dive into some real goodies. I'm dying to read Elsa Beskow and those cute Madeline books to Ana. Sigh.

Okay, gimmee your book pics!