Shower Time

Big I experienced his first shower the other night. He squealed with delight the whole time. Very, very cute.

Got it covered

Arbor's up. Very happy with it. We used J&G Services out of Van Alstyne, TX and I was extremely pleased with not only their workmanship but also their ethics.


See how nicely they fit it under out overhang?


Anybody have any leads on decent, affordable patio furniture?

Whoa!

Yesterday, we woke up to this.


Who ever heard of snow on the Second of December?? It was 70 degrees 2 weeks ago. I still had tomatoes on the vine, peppers on the bushes and fresh blooms on the eggplant!



Fortunately, I was able to rescue most of the tomatoes and they are in a paper bag to ripen inside. What will I do with so many? Perhaps I should try frying some up green!

A new season

Get your wreaths and candles out, Advent is almost here already! It's time for a new year in the church. For many people, the past year may have been difficult, so I thought I'd share a novena I heard about on the radio this morning in the hopes that it might bring some peace and positive change in the coming year. It is said to be very powerful when said faithfully. (Remember, just reciting a prayer without thought and earnestness is useless. It's not magic!)

This novena is said 15 times a day for 25 days, starting November 30, the Feast of St. Andrew, until Christmas. It's also a wonderful way to focus our attention on the gift of Christ at Christmas rather than all of the other material 'stuff' that is going on in our culture this time of year. Perhaps you may want to say it with a special intention - selling a house, finding a job, surviving a stressful time, or say it for someone you know.

Christmas Novena

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour, vouchsafe, O my God! to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen.

Imprimatur
+MICHAEL AUGUSTINE, Archbishop of New York
New York, February 6, 1897

(There is a certain reader of this blog, by the way, who may want to avail himself of this prayer as it is not insignificant that it starts on the Feast of ST. ANDREW and there is a certain intention involving a house that he has been trying to get fulfilled for quite a while now. Just a suggestion.)

Getting Bigger

Big I has been very busy becoming a little boy lately.

He's had his first caramel apple. (Check Brisco out. He wants some caramel apple too.)


Actually, I made some, ate most of the caramel off but when I offered it to him, he studied it for a minute and then promptly turned to the caramel still on the end and took a huge chomp. Totally takes after his dad. How does he know??


He's been busy helping Daddy paint. On the step ladder - egad.


He helps me in the kitchen too.


Helps make a mess, that is.

But he has fun doing it.