Books Read in the Past Week

Books read for the first time are marked with a #

"Make A Wish For Me"
"Happy Birthday, Dear Beany"
by Lenora Mattingly Weber
[teen fiction, mainstream, (Catholic family), 1950s]

"Johnny-up and Johnny-down"#
by Mabel Leigh Hunt
[children's fiction, Quakers]
{Open Library Loan}
(quick read)

"These Lonesome Hills"
by Letha Boyer
[fiction, teacher, Ozarks]

"Little Clearing In The Woods"
by Maria D. Wilkes
[children's fiction, historical, biographical, family]
Little House: The Caroline Years
{carrying over into next week}

Only ONE for 2012

I've decided to keep things simple by making one, yes, only one,
New Year's resolution.
I will spend at least one full hour a day, [90 minutes on Sundays] in online Adoration. I'll probably, almost definitely, have to divide the hour into several segments. The larger
portion will be in the morning.
Do you notice that I said "portion," as though speaking of food? Well, Adoration IS food; food
for the soul.

From RAnn's Blog: Review: Strawberry Girl

This That and the Other Thing: Review: Strawberry Girl: Strawberry Girl About the Book: How can Birdie’s family grow strawberries when the neighbors let their cows into the berry fields? ...

Great Homily by Fr. Anthony

God bless Fr. Anthony and his twin sister on their birthday
and every day of the year!

Jigsaw Puzzle Site

I came across an online jigsaw puzzle site.
I've always enjoyed doing jigsaw puzzles, even though my perceptual difficulties make
them hard for me. Or perhaps the truth is that I enjoy them all the more
because my perceptual difficulties make them more challenging.
I really hope it is the latter!

Holy Innocents

Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Innocents. We remember
the babies Herod ordered massacred.
May these innocent babies intercede for the innocent unborn.
"Innocent unborn"
ALL unborn babies are innocent. No matter what the circumstances of their conception,
all unborn babies are innocent.

The Great Train Robbery

I've just added The Great Train Robbery to my Vintage Media Collection.
It's about time I put this landmark film in my collection!

Christmas is Over

Thank God, our Christmas season has just begun! However, for many who celebrate only the secular aspect, it was over as soon as the last present was unwrapped, the Christmas dinner was eaten, and the last belch was belched!

Joy To The World!!!

I'd just like to take a moment to wish everyone a very blessed
Christmas, and to share some pictures from my Rosary Art Collection.
And to quote from a book I read every December 24th:
God bless us, every one!

A Lovely Video from Barbara's Blog

Silent Night
Incredibly beautiful rendition!

Books Read in the Past Week

Books read for the first time are marked with a #

"The Second Form At St Clare's"
by Enid Blyton
"The Third Form at St Clare's"
"Kitty At St Clare's"
by Pamela Cox
{fill-in titles}
[children's fiction, English, school stories, series]

"Pollyanna and the Secret Mission"#
by Elizabeth Borton
[children's fiction, series]
{the last book in the series; some
were better than others}

"The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Decked Out"
by Neta Jackson
[Religious fiction, series, Protestant, multi-denominational and non-denominational]

"Once Upon a Christmas Time"
by Thyra Ferre Bjorn
[memoir, childhood, Christmas, Sweden]

"A Christmas Carol"
by Charles Dickens
[fiction]
{my yearly December 24th tradition}
(I read this book for the first time in 1962,
after the first broadcast of Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol.
Since then, I've read it every year around Christmas, but I don't
remember when I decided to make December 24th my day to read this
book.)

A Different Sunday Schedule

I'm using a different schedule from the one I usually follow
on Sundays. First of all, I usually light my Sunday candle (electric, for safety!) and pray
Evening Prayer 1 at 6:30PM or thereabouts. This evening, however, I ushered in my Sunday
at 5:00PM, which was Midnight in Bethlehem.
Usually, at 1:00 AM, I am asleep; today I'll be watching Midnight Mass on EWTN . The Mass will
be rebroadcast, but I'd much rather see it live!

Two new Pictures in My Collection

I found two pictures,
The Annunciation
and The Nativity, both by Botticelli, for my Rosary Art Collection.

Different Ways of Collecting

So many people, myself included, have collecting hobbies.
What one collects depends, or should depend, on his or her interests.
How one collects, of course, depends a great deal on what he or she can afford to spend.
Let's take two men who are fascinated by antique clocks. One is a multi-millionaire, the other
is just managing to make a decent living. The first man can afford to buy the actual clocks, and
a place, perhaps a whole house, in which to store his collection. The second must content himself with pictures.
As for me, I collect things on my two hobby blogs for free!

Old Newspapers

I am constantly amazed by what can be found online. Today, for example, I found an archive of old newspapers
from New York State.
I'm especially glad to have these old editions of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle.

An Embarrassing Case of Sacramental Mistaken Identity (From Patrick Madrid's Blog)

An Embarrassing Case of Sacramental Mistaken Identity
There are times when silence is, indeed, golden. This was one of them.

Fr. Denis Wilde, OSA, Associate Director of Priests For Life, on EWTN

Fourth Sunday in Advent.
Fr. Denis Wilde chanted (or is "intoned" a better word?) the Gospel, and judging
by the look on his face, I'd say he enjoyed doing it as much as I enjoyed listening!
Great homily, too!

TV on Sunday

Most of the tv shows I watch on Sunday are on EWTN, either
while they are being broadcast, or later, on my DVR. (I ALWAYS watch the live Mass while it is being broadcast!)
I also watch, on my DVR, one, just one, sitcom from the 1960s, and I watch it only
on Sundays. And what is that sitcom?
"The Flying Nun!"
Rather appropriate, don't you think?

Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

Join me and a growing group of Catholic bloggers at Sunday Snippets. Thanks to RAnn for hosting!

Semper Gaudete!: Sleeping Through Mass

Semper Gaudete!: New Picture in my Collection

Semper Gaudete!: Emulating Johnny Malone

Semper Gaudete!: The Bible in Chronological Order

Semper Gaudete!: Oh, That Cat!!!!!

Semper Gaudete!: Counteracting Worry

Semper Gaudete!: Changes To My "Books I Plan To Read" List

Semper Gaudete!: One LESS Item in Media Collection

Semper Gaudete!: Great Column From Fr. Frank Pavone

Semper Gaudete!: In Case of Accident, Please Call...

Semper Gaudete!: New Picture in my Collection

Semper Gaudete!: Books Read in the Past Week

Books Read in the Past Week

Books read for the first time are marked with a #

"The Twins at St Clare's"
"The O'Sullivan Twins"
"Summer Term at St Clare's"
by Enid Blyton
[children's fiction, British, school stories, series]

"Pollyanna of Magic Valley"#
by Virginia May Moffitt
[children's fiction, series]
{faithful to the original books by Eleanor H. Porter}
(Early in this book, Virginia May Moffitt writes:
"It was a simple game of just finding something to
be glad about. But sunshine is simple, too; yet
what would the world do without it?")
Exactly! And it was Pollyanna's "Glad Game" that
inspired my "Gratitude Attitude" Game!
And now, I'm actually thankful for the so-called "Pollyanna" book
that I read prior to this one, because it made me appreciate this
one all the more!

"The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Rolling"
by Neta Jackson
[Religious fiction, series, Protestant, multi-denominational and non-denominational]

New Picture in my Collection

I've just added a new picture
to my Rosary Art collection.

In Case of Accident, Please Call...

Many Catholics carry, or used to carry, a card with these
words printed on it:
"I am a Catholic. In case of accident, please call a priest."
Well, I knew a priest who had a card that read:
"I am a Roman Catholic priest. In case of accident, please call a doctor."

Great Column From Fr. Frank Pavone

Click here.
I wonder how the student responded to that teacher's request. I wonder how
I would have responded.

One LESS Item in Media Collection

Charlie Chaplin's "The Gold Rush" is no longer available at "Internet Archives," and since that's where I got it from, it is also no longer available in my Vintage Media Collection.
This is the second time I've lost this item; the first time was when it was removed from YouTube.
I believe it's available there again, but I'll wait for awhile before replacing it.
And, on the up side, it gave me something to blog about!

Changes To My "Books I Plan To Read" List

Starting this week, my "Books I Plan To Read" list will be published on the "My First Word Was "Read!" page of this blog. It will be edited frequently,
and will no longer include the words "This Week.

Counteracting Worry

I find that the Gratitude Attitude game helps when I am worried about something.
"Thank God I don't know the outcome yet, because what I've been worrying about may never happen. And thank God that whatever happens will be according to His will, whether it is His ordaining will, or His permitting will.

Oh, That Cat!!!!!

Winky gave Mom and me a scare today.
I had taken out some turkey (packaged, not cat food) to have for my lunch.
Usually, when I take this turkey out of the refrigerator, Winky comes running, and
gives me the "poor starving kitty" routine.
Not this time. At first, I wasn't worried, but after Mom and I had looked
around, under the beds, in the closets, and hadn't found him, I have to admit we
were rather scared.
I checked downstairs. No Winky.
I wondered if he had somehow gotten out when I went to get the mail.
I went onto the porch and called, "Winky! Weeeen-ky!"
No response.
Mom looked.Meanwhile, I was praying to St. Francis of Assisi,
and to St. Gertrude of Nivelles, patron saint of cats and cat lovers.
We called him, both in the house and outside.
No cat.
Mom left the door ajar so he could come in, if he had gotten out.
Mom telephoned our neighbor, Aron, who had recently retired from his job.
And then, guess who came out of Mom's bedroom closet! He had been all the
way in the back corner!
We were so glad, and so relieved to see him. And yet, at the same time,
we wished we could ground him!

The Bible in Chronological Order

I've sent for, and received the Bible Timeline Chart.
Now I can read the books of the Bible in their chronological and historical context.

Emulating Johnny Malone

Every time I read Lenora Mattingly Weber's books about the Malones, I find myself wishing that I knew as much about the history of New York State, especially Brooklyn, as Johnny Malone knew about Colorado, especially Denver.
Well, I could always follow his example:
Research and read.
And I have at least one advantage over Johnny Malone. He did not have access to the Internet!

New Picture in my Collection

I've added another picture to my Rosary Art collection.

Sleeping Through Mass

I'm not talking about myself; I'm talking about Winky.
He was curled up on the couch, fast asleep, for most of this morning's Mass on EWTN.
He woke up very briefly, raised his head, looked right at the TV, gave one "Meow,"
and went back to sleep.
And yes, the celebrant was Fr. Mark!

Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

Join me and other Catholic bloggers at Sunday Snippets. Thanks to RAnn for hosting!


Semper Gaudete!: Differing Viewpoints

Semper Gaudete!: Great Homily by Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers

Semper Gaudete!: Mass is Mass

Semper Gaudete!: Another Homily I HAVE to Share!

Semper Gaudete!: Another Great Homily from Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers

Semper Gaudete!: Not Just Doodling

Semper Gaudete!: No URLs to THOSE Rosary Websites

Semper Gaudete!: Change Is Good

Semper Gaudete!: Fr. Mitch Pacwa's Homily on The Immaculate Conception

Semper Gaudete!: Fr. Andrew Apostoli's Homily for December 9th

Semper Gaudete!: Winky's Views on Water

Semper Gaudete!: Books Read in the Past Week

Semper Gaudete!: Books I Plan To Read Next Week>

Books I Plan To Read Next Week

"The Love Of Our Lord Jesus Reduced To Practice"#
by St. Alphonse de Liguori
[religious non-fiction, Catholic, spirituality]
{free Google e-book}
(carried over from last week)

"The Gates of Heaven
A Beginner's Guide to Jewish Prayer"#
by David M. Schaps
[religious nonfiction, Jewish]
{carried over from last week}

"Miss Erin" #
by M. E. Francis
[religious fiction, Catholic]
reserved for Sunday
{carried over from last week}
(free Google e-book)

"Candy Stripers"
by Lee Wyndham
[young teen fiction]
{Open Library loan}

"Look Homeward, Angel"
by Thomas Wolfe
[fiction]

"The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Rolling"
by Neta Jackson
[Religious fiction, series, Protestant, multi-denominational and non-denominational]

Books Read in the Past Week

Books read for the first time are marked with a #


"The Love Of Our Lord Jesus Reduced To Practice"#
by St. Alphonse de Liguori
[religious non-fiction, Catholic, spirituality]
{free Google e-book}
(still reading)

"The Gates of Heaven
A Beginner's Guide to Jewish Prayer"#
by David M. Schaps
[religious nonfiction, Jewish]
{still reading}

"Miss Erin" #
by M. E. Francis
[religious fiction, Catholic]
reserved for Sunday
{still reading}
(free Google e-book)


"Just Plain Maggie"
by Lorraine Beim
[children's fiction, summer camp story]
{Open Library Loan}

"The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Caught"
by Neta Jackson
[Religious fiction, series, Protestant, multi-denominational and non-denominational]

"Pollyanna's Protege" #
by Margaret Piper Chalmers
[teen fiction]
{this book could really have been about any group
of characters. The Glad Game is briefly mentioned, but not
the history or the premise thereof.}

Winky's Views on Water

My cat, Winky, firmly believes that water is meant for drinking, and only for drinking. Therefore, when he sees me bless myself with Holy Water, Winky looks at me as if to say, "What are you, nuts?"

Fr. Andrew Apostoli's Homily for December 9th

Wonderful anecdotes about, and quotes from, Archbishop Fulton Sheen!

Fr. Mitch Pacwa's Homily on The Immaculate Conception

They can fix anything in Chicago!

Change Is Good

Yes, once in awhile, it is good to make a change. And
that is why I've made some rather major changes to the structure, but not the content, of this blog!

No URLs to THOSE Rosary Websites

I recently googled "Rosary Meditations", and I found a website which I will never share on this blog, on Twitter, on Facebook, or anywhere else.
Why? Because it turned out to be a New Age site, where Our Lady is depicted as a goddess.
You can guess how fast I got out of THAT website!

Not Just Doodling

A little girl, about two and a half years old, lay on the carpet
in her grandmother's apartment, making marks with a crayon on a sheet of shirt cardboard
She seemed to be drawing, or perhaps doodling would be a more
accurate word.
Her grandmother looked down and asked, "What are you doing?"
The child looked up from her work and answered, "I witing a towy."
Yes, even then, even before she could read, even before she could print, even before she knew the alphabet, even before she could pronounce the word, I knew, that she, or rather, that I (for I was that little girl) wanted to write.

Another Great Homily from Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers

That makes three in a row!

Another Homily I HAVE to Share!

That's two in a row from Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers!

Mass is Mass

About 20 years ago, I was spending the day in the city, walking around, shopping, going to the library (and avoiding the crowds as well as I could; being jostled is not good for me. Not, of course, that it is good for anyone. But I digress.)
I went to evening Mass in one of the many Catholic churches in New York City; I forget the name
of the parish. That is probably just as well!
The readings were mumbled, and I do mean mumbled.
The singing was waaaaaaaaaay off-key.
The homily was more of a ho-humily.
But these are, after all, not the most important elements of the Mass; they
do not even make up the Mass.
The priest, for all his shortcomings as a homilist (and it's really not fair to judge on the
strength, or weakness, of one sermon,) offered the Eucharistic Prayer beautifully.
THAT is what makes the Mass; the Eucharistic Prayer. The Consecration. Otherwise, what
we have is a Communion Service.
As we walked out after Mass, a woman turned to me and grumbled, "That Mass stunk, didn't it?"
"No," I answered softly. "Mass never stinks."

Great Homily by Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers

Before Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers was halfway through this homily, I knew that
I had to share it on this blog!

Differing Viewpoints

This is a clip from Walt Disney's version of "Pollyanna."



For once, my viewpoint is different from Pollyanna's. I thank God that there are ONLY six days from one Sunday to the next!

Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

Join me and other Catholic bloggers at Sunday Snippets. Thanks to RAnn for hosting!

Semper Gaudete!: John Paul Stelten (Fr. Anthony Mary's father) RIP

Semper Gaudete!: Fr. Frank Can't Attend Abby Johnson's Confirmation!

Semper Gaudete!: Two Collections

Semper Gaudete!: "Christmas Can Can"

Semper Gaudete!: The Windsor Hotel, 1960s

Semper Gaudete!: Incident in a Restaurant

Semper Gaudete!: 'Tis The Season????

Semper Gaudete!: Books Read in the Past Week

Semper Gaudete!: Books I Plan To Read Next Week

Books I Plan To Read Next Week

"The Love Of Our Lord Jesus Reduced To Practice"#
by St. Alphonse de Liguori
[religious non-fiction, Catholic, spirituality]
{free Google e-book}
(carried over from last week)

"The Gates of Heaven
A Beginner's Guide to Jewish Prayer"#
by David M. Schaps
[religious nonfiction, Jewish]
{carried over from last week}

"Just Plain Maggie"
by Lorraine Beim
[children's fiction, summer camp story]
{Open Library Loan}

"Party Line"#
by Louise Baker
[nonfiction]
{Open Library Loan}

"The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Caught"
by Neta Jackson
[Religious fiction, series, Protestant, multi-denominational and non-denominational]

"Candy Stripers"
by Lee Wyndham
[children's fiction]
{Open Library Loan}

'Tis The Season????

Doesn't it seem as if the secular Christmas season, (or should I say "HOLIDAY season?") begins earlier and earlier every year? If the trend keeps up, we could
very well be hearing Christmas music on Mother's Day. Make that Groundhog Day!

Books Read in the Past Week

Books read for the first time are marked with a #

"The Love Of Our Lord Jesus Reduced To Practice"#
by St. Alphonse de Liguori
[religious non-fiction, Catholic, spirituality]
{free Google e-book}
(continued from last week)

"The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Real"
by Neta Jackson
[Religious fiction, series, Protestant, multi-denominational and non-denominational]
{continued from last week}

"Snips and Snails"#
by Louise Baker
[nonfiction, memoir, school]
{online, Open Library loan}

"The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Tough"
by Neta Jackson
[Religious fiction, series, Protestant, multi-denominational and non-denominational]

"The Gates of Heaven
A Beginner's Guide to Jewish Prayer"#
by David M. Schaps
[religious nonfiction, Jewish]
{carrying over into next week}

"The Home Has A Heart"
by Thyra Ferre Bjorn
[nonfiction, Protestant, anecdotes, recipes]
{December chapter only}

Incident in a Restaurant

Once, when I was by myself in a restaurant, I ordered steak, even though I have trouble cutting meat. Several men in business suits at the next table began talking, loudly enough for me to hear. In fact, they probably meant for me to hear; they probably wanted to embarrass me.
"Look at the way she cuts her meat."
"I guess nobody ever taught her proper table manners."
And so on.
Well, I was embarrassed. More than that, however, I was just plain mad!
I turned to them and said, "Excuse me, but I am awkward cutting my meat because I have a slight physical disability and poor co-ordination. YOU have bad manners!"

Fr. Frank Can't Attend Abby Johnson's Confirmation!

Please read this post from Abby Johnson.
I have ordered her book, "Unplanned."

The Windsor Hotel, 1960s

Posted here in slightly different form.


I remember going to The Windsor Hotel in South Fallsburg for a week every summer back in the 1960s with my grandparents, Rose and Nathan Rosenthal.
I remember being fascinated by the color tv in the lobby; our sets at home were black and white.
I remember people gathering around the piano in the lobby, singing and dancing
I remember a woman who played that piano. I remember the way she sang "Yankee Doodle." For some reason, I can remember most vividly her singing the line, "I got a Yankee Doodle sweetheart."
I remember how everyone would clear the floor, and my grandparents would dance
the Peabody.

John Paul Stelten (Fr. Anthony Mary's father) RIP

Please pray for the repose of the soul of John Paul Stelten, Fr. Anthony Mary's father, who passed away on Tuesday afternoon.
May Our Lord, Our Lady, and all the angels and Saints, especially those of the Seraphic Order,
strengthen and comfort Fr. Anthony and his family in this time of sorrow.

Here are two quotes about grammar, or rather, about the love of grammar.

"I loved grammar and argued with my teachers over the way words were used in sentences. I nearly memorized my grammar book>"
Jesse Stuart in "To Teach, To Love," and "Beyond Dark Hills."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


"You ain't sayin' you like grammar?”
“Are you nuts? I hate it,” said Herbie stoutly.
To confess his guilty pleasure in the machinery of language would have been as bad as admitting a taste for opium; in fact, Lennie would have been much readier to forgive the opium.
Herman Wouk in "The City Boy," also known as "City Boy: The Adventures of Herbie Bookbinder."

I know exactly, and I mean exactly how the real-life Jesse Stuart and the fictional Herbie Bookbinder felt. I, too, loved grammar when I was in school. In fact, I've started buying, online, used copies of the books I studied in my junior high school and high school English classes. (I did a Google search, using phrases from paragraphs I remember from those books. I loved those paragraphs!)
Besides, I am reasonably certain that I knew more about grammar back then than I do now.

"Christmas Can Can"

A friend sent me the link to this video. Yes, it is appropriate for
this time of year. It is also hilarious!

Two Collections

The other day, I revived my Vintage Media collection.
But does that mean that I am dropping my Rosary Art collection?
By no means! In fact, the other day I added something new to each collection!
This is the latest item in my Rosary Art
collection,
and this is the newest addition to my Vintage Media collection.
I really enjoy having two collections, one religious and one secular.

Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

Join me and a growing group of Catholic bloggers at Sunday Snippets. Thanks to RAnn for hosting.

Semper Gaudete!: Advent Prayer For Life

Semper Gaudete!: Our Lady of Guadalupe Pro-life Prayer

I just discovered that my Semper Gaudete!: Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival for last Sunday never went up; here they are now.

Semper Gaudete!: Advent, 2011

Semper Gaudete!

Semper Gaudete!: On EVERY SINGLE PAGE

Semper Gaudete!: November 22nd, 1963

Semper Gaudete!: A Small Thought for Thanksgiving Day

Semper Gaudete!: Life On The Rock, Thanksgiving, 2011

Semper Gaudete!: Two Stories I Like To Read on Thanksgiving Day

Semper Gaudete!: Sitting on the Stoop

Semper Gaudete!: Pippa Passes, Pippa Passes, Pippa Passes

Semper Gaudete!: Books Read in the Past Week

Semper Gaudete!: Books I Plan To Read Next Week

Advent, 2011

This is a post from last year, slightly modified.

In less than an hour, I will pray Evening Prayer 1 for the First Sunday in Advent.
And so will begin another liturgical year, another cycle.
I love Advent. It's such a thoughtful, joyful time of preparation. I love that we
have different seasons, and ordinary time, too.

I'm including links to a couple of Advent calendars.

EWTN Advent Calendar

Advent Calendar from The Mary Page

Books I Plan To Read Next Week

"The Love Of Our Lord Jesus Reduced To Practice"#
by St. Alphonse de Liguori
[religious non-fiction, Catholic, spirituality]
{free Google e-book}

"The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Real"
by Neta Jackson
[Religious fiction, series, Protestant, multi-denominational and non-denominational]
{carried over from last week}

"Snips and Snails"#
by Louise Baker
[nonfiction, memoir, school]
{online, Open Library loan}

"The Gates of Heaven
A Beginner's Guide to Jewish Prayer"#
by David M. Schaps
[religious nonfiction, Jewish]
{it will be interesting to see the differences
and the similarities between formal Jewish prayer,
and formal Catholic prayer. Some of the similarities and
differences are already familiar to me.}

"The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Tough"
by Neta Jackson
[Religious fiction, series, Protestant, multi-denominational and non-denominational]

"The Home Has A Heart"
by Thyra Ferre Bjorn
[nonfiction, Protestant, anecdotes, recipes]
{December chapter only}

Books Read in the Past Week

Books read for the first time are marked with a #

"The Love Of Our Lord Jesus Reduced To Practice"#
by St. Alphonse de Liguori
[non-fiction, Catholic]
{free Google e-book}

"The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Down"
by Neta Jackson
[Religious fiction, series, Protestant, multi-denominational and non-denominational]
{continued from last week}

"Miss Happiness and Miss Flower"
"Little Plum"
by Rumer Godden
[children's fiction, British, family, dolls]

"Ballet Teacher"#
by Lee Wyndham
[young adult fiction, career]

"The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Real"
by Neta Jackson
[Religious fiction, series, Protestant, multi-denominational and non-denominational]
{carrying over into next week}

Advent Prayer For Life

Please pray this
Advent Prayer

Our Lady of Guadalupe Pro-life Prayer

I will be praying this
Novena, and I hope you will pray it as well.

Life On The Rock, Thanksgiving, 2011

I watched this last night. Great fun!

Two Stories I Like To Read on Thanksgiving Day

Two Thanksgiving Day Gentlemen

This is a story by O. Henry.

Thankful

This is a children's story by Mary E. Wilkins. I first read it in when I was in
elementary school, but I don't remember what grade I was in. I've also forgotten
whether I read the story in a school reader, or a regular storybook.
I have to admit that I was surprised to discover how long ago this story was written!

A Small Thought for Thanksgiving Day

One thing I love about Thanksgiving Day is that it is a day set aside for all Americans, no matter what their religion, to give thanks to God. It is a Movable Feast for the entire nation.

Sitting on the Stoop

I remember sitting on the stoop (actually just a long, low, red step) in front of my old apartment building:
Reading comic books.
Eating ices.
Listening to the radio.
Eating David's Pumpkin Seeds (the shells were covered with salt; they were more salt than seed!)
Talking with my friends,
Eating Button Candy (and getting paper in my mouth every time!)
Not all at the same time, of course!

November 22nd, 1963

Friday. Fifth Grade. Friday was Club Day for the fifth and sixth grades; I was in the Citzenship Club.
What were we discussing? I can't remember. Part of my mind may have been focused on the upcoming weekend.
Then the announcement came on the Public Address System.
What we'd been discussing, what I may have been thinking about, no longer mattered.
President Kennedy had been shot, and they didn't know if he was going to live.
Up until that moment, I had thought that presidents getting shot was something that happened
in the past. Not now.
I remember going outside at dismissal time, and seeing my Baba and her friend Mickey coming towards the school. Baba USED to pick me up from school, but she hadn't for several years, and she had always come alone.
I knew then.
I looked at Baba and Mickey.
"He's dead, isn't he?"
Baba nodded.
"Yes. He's dead."
And my next words?
"But what are his kids going to do without their daddy?"
Or something like that.
I knew that losing their daddy was a worse tragedy to those children than losing a president
was to us.
It is a simple matter to fill the Office of President; the Vice-President is sworn in almost immediately after the death of an incumbent.
But there is no such office as Vice-Daddy.

On EVERY SINGLE PAGE

In the first chapter of "Beezus and Ramona", Beezus takes Ramona to the library, and borrows a picture book to read to her. Also, in this chapter, Ramona wants to learn how to write her name, the way Beezus writes her name. However, Ramona is not satisfied with the way "Ramona" looks in script; there are no dots or lines as in "Beatrice".
But, being Ramona, she creates her own version of "Ramona" in script!
And when the day comes to return the book to the library, Ramona insists that it is HER book.
When it is explained to her that the book belongs to the library, Ramona goes sulkily to her room to get the book.
She comes back and informs her mother and sister that it is, too, her book, because she has written her name in it.
And indeed she had! On EVERY SINGLE PAGE, in purple crayon! Remember?
Fast-forward to the last chapter. Aunt Beatrice comes to dinner to help celebrate Beezus's
birthday, bringing a cake from a bakery. (Ramona had managed to ruin two, yes TWO cakes!)
We learn that, as children, Beezus and Ramona's mother and aunt didn't always get along!
But the worst thing that the younger sister, Aunt Beatrice, ever did was to write her name
on EVERY SINGLE PAGE of her sister's brand new autograph album! Remember?
I have to admit that it was only recently that the similarity between these two incidents occurred to me.
And perhaps we can imagine either Beezus, or Ramona, someday having a daughter who writes
her name on EVERY SINGLE PAGE of her older sister's book!

I'm trying something new: reading the Bible at mealtimes.
(not necessarily at EVERY meal).

Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

Join me and other Catholic bloggers at Sunday Snippets. Thanks to RAnn for hosting every week!

Semper Gaudete!: Hair Ribbons

Semper Gaudete!: Fr. Joseph Mary's Homily for 11/14/2011

Semper Gaudete!: Expanding My Collection, Again

Semper Gaudete!: Looking For Goldenrod

Semper Gaudete!: More "Betsy-Tacy" Elements in "The Black Angels"

Semper Gaudete!: What Not To Read To Your First Grader (from someone else's blog)
(post includes my own comments)

Semper Gaudete!: Red Sour Balls

Semper Gaudete!: Honor Roll of Hits

Semper Gaudete!: Pippa Passes, Pippa Passes, Pippa Passes


Semper Gaudete!: Books Read in the Past Week

Semper Gaudete!: Books I Plan To Read Next Week

Books I Plan To Read Next Week

"Ballet Teacher"
by Lee Wyndham
[Young Adult fiction]


"The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Down"
by Neta Jackson
[Christian [Protestant] fiction]
{carried over from this week}

"Miss Happiness and Miss Flower"
"Little Plum"
by Rumer Godden
[children's fiction]


"The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Real"
by Neta Jackson
[Christian [Protestant] fiction]


(Unlike the 10 Commandments, this list is not written in stone)

Books Read in the Past Week

Books read for the first time are marked with a #

"In the Midst of the World
A Call to Holiness"
by St. Francis De Sales
Selections from the Writings of the Saint
Compiled and Edited and Explanatory Commentaries Written
by
Sister Joanna Marie Wenzel, V.H.M.
Assisted by
Sister Aimee Franklin, V.H.M.
(Catholic spirituality)

"The Yada Yada Prayer Group"
by Neta Jackson
[Christian [Protestant] fiction]
{carried over from the past week}

"The Black Angels"#
by Maud Hart Lovelace
(fiction)

"Caroline M. Hewins
Her Book"#
Containing
"A Mid-Century Child and Her Books"
by Caroline M. Hewins
and
"Caroline M. Hewins and Books For Children"
by Jennie D. Lindquist
(non-fiction)
[many of the books mentioned can be
read online]

"The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Down"
by Neta Jackson
[Christian [Protestant] fiction]
{carrying over into next week}

"The Love of Our Lord Jesus Christ Reduced to Practice"
by St. Alphonse de Liguori
Translated by a Catholic Priest
(Catholic Sprituality)
[e-book]
{carrying over into next week}

Pippa Passes, Pippa Passes, Pippa Passes

So what's with the title in triplicate?
Quite simple, actually. Sometime in the near future, I plan to read, one
after the other:
"Pippa Passes"
by Robert Browning
[drama]
{e-book}
"Pippa Passes"
by Rumer Godden
[fiction]
and
"Pippa Passes"
by Scott Corbett
[children's fiction]

I may not read them in that exact order, and I won't start until I receive the Corbett book
which is now on its way to me.

Honor Roll of Hits

I've just made a, to me, fascinating discovery.
From 1945 until 1963 "Billboard Magazine" ran a chart called "The Honor Roll of Hits". This was a listing of hit songs rather than hit records, and listed the songwriter(s), the Best Selling Record, (if applicable) and finally, all available recordings of the song.
Here is a copy of "Billboard" from 1950. The chart can be found on page 18 of the magazine.
(I find all the contents worth browsing).

Red Sour Balls

I loved red sour balls when I was a little girl, and yet,
I never bought one. Never once.
I remember walking on Brighton Beach Avenue with my Grandpa, and stopping in a store that
sold appetizers. Even now, I can almost smell the pickles; I can see the olives.
But I was a little girl. Pickles and olives didn't really interest me.
What interested me? The candy. The bins and bins of cellophane-wrapped candy. Round, flat peppermints. Lemon-drops. Caramels. And sour balls of various colors: orange, yellow, green, purple, and, of course, red!
And other candies, too many for me to remember.
And always, there were several candies in the wrong bins. And always, I would put them
back where they belonged. And always, the owner of the store would let me have a piece of
candy for "helping out".
And always, I chose a red sour ball.
It's been years since I've had a red sour ball. From time to time I've thought about buying some.
But would they taste the same?

More "Betsy-Tacy" Elements in "The Black Angels"

Yesterday I mentioned the presence of goldenrod in Maud Hart Lovelace's first novel, "The Black Angels". Goldenrod, as I said then, is a recurring element in the author's "Betsy-Tacy" books.
Now that I've read further, I've found other familiar items.
The "Cat Duet", which was introduced in "Betsy and Tacy Go Over The Big Hill"
Alex, in "The Black Angels", and Uncle Keith, in the "Betsy-Tacy" books, were both based on MHL's Uncle Frank, who left home to go onstage because of an overly-strict stepfather.
Also mentioned in "The Black Angels" are:
Fried potatoes. Remember how Mrs. Ray was always frying potatoes?
A pill-box with hair in it. THAT made me chuckle, remembering the pill-boxes in the "Red Hair, Yellow Hair, and Brown" chapter in "Betsy-Tacy and Tib".

What Not To Read To Your First Grader (from someone else's blog)

I just had to respond to, and share,
this post.

Here, for quick reference, is my comment.
If I had seen this horrific, totally unsuitable earlier version in the first grade, I would have been traumatized!
SHAME on whoever wrote such a story for
first graders! SHAME on the teachers who
assigned this story!
The new version, which can be found by going
HERE
is MUCH more suitable, because only the ham gets eaten!

Looking For Goldenrod

I was looking for goldenrod today, and I found it. No, not out of doors, but in a book.
I'm reading a recent reprint of Maud Hart Lovelace's first novel, "The Black Angels", originally published in 1926! And, knowing how the author almost always put goldenrod into her books, I had my eye out for goldenrod!

To be honest, I hadn't really been thought about the goldenrod in these books until I read "The Betsy-Tacy Companion" by Sharla Scannell Whalen. It was just there, so familiar as to be almost unnoticed.

Fr. Joseph Mary's Homily for 11/14/2011

Fr. Joseph shares some great anecdotes in this homily.

Expanding My Collection, Again

Once again, I've expanded my Rosary Art Collection.
It will now include pictures of stained glass windows. So far, I've added
two.
I have always loved stained glass windows; it's about time I included some in
my collection!

Hair Ribbons

I wear my hair in a simple ponytail with a ribbon.
I choose each day's ribbons according to that day's commemoration.
Weekdays, optional memorials, and memorials rate a grosgrain or cotton ribbon (mostly
grosgrain.)
Most of my ribbons are grosgrain.
Feasts and solemnities are celebrated with a satin ribbon. (I have several, but could use
a couple more.)
On Saturdays and feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary, I wear a light blue hair ribbon.
I have only one ribbon for Sunday; a gold gauze ribbon with gold trim.

Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

Join me and other Catholic bloggers at Sunday Snippets. Thanks to RAnn for hosting!

Semper Gaudete!: Father "Meow"


Semper Gaudete!: Father "Meow"

Semper Gaudete!: Church Mice

Semper Gaudete!: Liturgy of the Hours


Semper Gaudete!: A Series I ALMOST Remember

Semper Gaudete!: How Appropriate!

Semper Gaudete!: "Church Mice--- Julie's Birthday"

Semper Gaudete!: New Reading System

Semper Gaudete!: When Using An Electric Coffee-Maker

Semper Gaudete!: Books Read in the Past Week

Semper Gaudete!: Books I Plan To Read Next Week

Books Read in the Past Week

Books read for the first time are marked with a #

"New Term at Malory Towers"#
"Summer Term at Malory Towers"#
"Winter Term at Malory Towers"#
"Fun and Games at Malory Towers#
"Secrets at Malory Towers"#
"Goodbye Malory Towers"#
by Pamela Cox
(children's fiction)

"In the Midst of the World"
by St. Francis De Sales
(Catholic spirituality)
(still reading)

"The Yada Yada Prayer Group"
by Neta Jackson
(Christian [Protestant] fiction}
(still reading)

When Using An Electric Coffee-Maker

I've learned some, but not ALL, of this by experience.
1: Be sure to add water; otherwise there will be a stench! (or worse)
2: Make sure that the pot or cup is in position, OR make sure you have plenty of paper towels
on hand.
3: Make sure coffee-maker is plugged in.
4: Make sure coffee-maker is turned on. Omitting these two steps will mean a long
wait for nothing!
5: VERY IMPORTANT!!!!!
Be sure to add the coffee! To paraphrase L.M. Montgomery's "Anne Of Green Gables,"
Coffee is so essential to coffee!

Books I Plan To Read Next Week

"In the Midst of the World"
by St. Francis De Sales
[Catholic spirituality]
{carried over from the past week}

"The Yada Yada Prayer Group"
by Neta Jackson
[Christian [Protestant] fiction]
{carried over from the past week}



"The Black Angels"
by Maud Hart Lovelace
[historical fiction]
{this is a reprint of her first novel,
originally published in 1926}




"The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Down"
by Neta Jackson

New Reading System

I've decided to cut down on the number of books I'm reading
at one time. I really was juggling too many!
My new system, not counting long-term devotional reading material, is:
One book on Catholic spirituality
AND
One work of fiction
OR
non-fiction
OR
drama.
(In other words, no more than two books at a time, not counting the Bible, short story collections, and poetry collections.)
I've set aside Henry David Thoreau's "Walden" for now; but I do plan to read it sometime
during the winter, when I'm feeling walled in!

How Appropriate!

Today, Veterans' Day, is the feast of St. Martin of Tours.
St. Martin is the Patron Saint of the Military!
How appropriate!

"Church Mice--- Julie's Birthday"

Here is another "Church Mice" strip.

This one puts me in mind of Ecclesiastes 3:7, where we are told that there is a time to keep silence, and a time to squeak... er, speak.

A Series I ALMOST Remember

I've been trying for AGES, or so it seems, to remember the name of a series I read in a magazine (Humpty Dumpty's Magazine for Little Children? Children's Digest?)
in, I think, the late 50s or early 60s. The series was about a little girl (it would help if
I could remember her name!) who lived a long time ago. I think she was spending the
summer with her grandparents; I do remember that they played a prominent role in the stories.
The funny thing is that I really remember just one of the stories. There was an Ice Cream Social, for which all the ladies made ice cream. The girl wanted to be sure to get her Grandma's ice cream, so she went up for ice cream again and again and again and....!
Of course, when the ladies serving got to her Grandma's ice cream, Grandma brought her a dish.
I remember that I wasn't surprised! However, the kid was in NO condition to eat another SPOONFUL!
Oh, how I'd love to read that series again, if I could just remember which magazine it was printed in, and when!

Liturgy of the Hours

I pray the Liturgy of the Hours every day, using the four-volume set.
Matins and Lauds
(Office of Readings and Morning Prayer)
As soon as possible after I get up and have my coffee.

Terce
(mid-morning prayer)
(after Mass on EWTN)
(Sundays only)

Sext
(midday prayer)
(Sundays only)


Nones
(midafternoon prayer)
Around 3:00 PM.

Vespers
(Evening Prayer)
Around 6:30 PM


Compline
(Night prayer; Bedtime prayer)
I pray this in bed, last of all before
I go to sleep. Since we are permitted to use the prayer
for Sunday night during the week, I use the Night Prayer for
Sunday II, unless Sunday I is prescribed.
There is something so cozy about praying Night Prayer in bed, and
we never outgrow the need for a little coziness.

Church Mice

There's an online comic strip I really enjoy called "Church Mice", by Rev. Karl Zorowski. The cartoonist is a Protestant minister, and I don't always agree with everything he says, but this particular strip is one of his best, in my opinion.

Father "Meow"

Yes, this is a bit silly, but I sometimes think of EWTN's Fr. Mark Mary as "Fr. Meow." Of course, my cat, Winky, has something to do with it. Did I say "something"? Make that everything! You see, every now and then, Winky has meowed at Fr. Mark. What's really funny is that Fr. Mark is the only priest Winky meows at!
The first time was while I was watching "The Roamin' Catholic". It happened to be the episode about Vocations. Well, all of a sudden, there was Fr. Mark! Winky, who was on the couch with
me, looked at the tv and gave a surprised "Meow?"
From time to time since then, Winky has meowed at Fr. Mark during the Mass! One morning,  however,  Winky did more that just meow.
It was the Feast of St. Mark, and  Fr. Mark, in his homily, mentioned the word "chicken."
Winky jumped off the couch, went over to the tv, stood on his hind legs, put his front paws
on the tv, and said, "Meow!"
Then he went to his dish, which was on the windowsill, and ate some of his canned food, which
just happened to be.... you guessed it!
CHICKEN!

Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

Join me and other Catholic bloggers at Sunday Snippets. Thanks to RAnn for hosting!

EWTN

Semper Gaudete!: Four Year Anniversary

Semper Gaudete!: Fr. Anthony Mary's All Saints Day Homily


PRAYER
Semper Gaudete!: For The Souls In Purgatory

SUNDAY

Semper Gaudete!: Sunday Reading
Semper Gaudete!: Secular Amusements on Sunday


BOOKS AND READING

Semper Gaudete!: Not A Pleasant Read

Semper Gaudete!: "Larger-Than-Life LARA"

Semper Gaudete!: Delicious Dilemma

Semper Gaudete!: Books Read in the Past Week

MISC.
Semper Gaudete!: Turning Back The Clock

Books Read in the Past Week

Books read for the first time are marked with a#

"Third Year at Malory Towers"
"Upper Fourth at Malory Towers"
"In the Fifth at Malory Towers"
"Last Term at Malory Towers"
by Enid Blyton
(children's fiction)


"The Home Has A Heart"
by Thyra Ferre Bjorn
(non-fiction, Christian [Protestant] themes,
anecdotes, recipes)
{November chapter only}

"Larger-Than-Life LARA"#
by Dandi Daley Mackall
(children's fiction)

Turning Back The Clock

Tonight is the night we turn back the clock, and return to Standard Time. I'm going to turn back the clock right now.
kcolc eht

Delicious Dilemma

Sometimes, when I finish a book, I am faced with the delicious dilemma of what to read next. Shall it be a book written for children? Teens? Adults?
Do I want to read, for perhaps the dozenth-or more time, a familiar favorite,
or do I want to read something new, at least, new to me?
Do I want to read the next book in a series I'm following, start on yet another
series, or read a stand-alone book?
Do I want to read Christian fiction? Judaica? A secular story? Perhaps a biography or an autobiography?
Am I in the mood for a mystery? (I actually re-read mysteries, if the surrounding details are interesting and entertaining.
Perhaps something historical? Maybe a humorous book? A family story?
I could go on listing genres, and sometimes the genres can overlap.
Many historical novels are also family stories; Carol Ryrie Brink's "Caddie
Woodlawn" and Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Little House" books come to mind.
Ray Bradbury's "Dandelion Wine" is science fiction, but it is also a family
story, as are Madeleine L'Engle's books about the Murrys.
Then again, I might decide to read a play. Shakespeare, perhaps? Something
more contemporary? Comedy? Tragedy?
And in which format shall I read the book? Physical book? E-Book?
Decisions, decisions.
Of course, there is one day each year when I know what I do not have to decide what to read. On December 24th, I always read "A Christmas Carol", by Charles Dickens.

"Larger-Than-Life LARA"

I've just read Dandi Daley Mackall's "Larger-Than-Life LARA",
and this time, I will actually say something about the book, as well as giving my reaction.
Briefly: The story is told in the first person by fourth-grader Laney Grafton. As she
narrates the events, she also talks about what her teacher has taught the class about writing.
Dandi Daley Mackall has not only written a work of fiction; she has also shared a few rules for writing a story... AND shown us that there are times when those rules won't work.
(The following is from the inside of the dust jacket)
"But Lara doesn't act the way a fat kid should. She's confident. She's happy. And nothing, it seems, can change her positive attitude. Until one day, when Laney's classmates do the unthinkable."
Laney's classmates. Not Laney, herself. She didn't know about the trick until it was over.
"I wanted it to be over. I wanted it not to have happened."
This book is from a mainstream, rather than a Christian, publisher, and is not overtly religious, although praying is VERY briefly mentioned.
Not overtly religious. But what Lara does for her classmates after that cruel prank
can best be described as Christ-like. And they, too, now wish that the trick hadn't happened.
And perhaps it is a good thing, in a way, that this is NOT an overtly religious book. More people are likely to read a book from a mainstream publisher than from a religious one.
Yes, what Lara does can definitely be called Christ-like. Or, to put it in Jewish terms,
she behaves like a real mensch. But then, to be Christ-like is to be a real
mensch.
My reaction? I was open-mouthed and gasping when I finished this book, and I needed to wipe my eyes.

For The Souls In Purgatory

I pray the Liturgy of the Hours every day.
I have decided to pray The Office of the Dead for the Souls in Purgatory once a week,
if there is a day that doesn't already have a set Office.

Secular Amusements on Sunday

The other day, I posted about my Sunday reading. Now, I'm going to talk about secular amusements.
I don't think that innocent amusements are wrong on Sunday, in fact, they can help to enhance the observance, as long as they don't take precedence. How many times have we heard, "What's allowed on Monday is allowed on Sunday?"
I love to play games on the computer, and on my TV, but mostly on the computer. However, on Sundays I like to play different games than I do during the week.
On weekdays, I play a variety of games, both online and offline, but on Sundays, I play only
Beach Solitaire (on my TV) and a few games on MahJong Suite, which is a collection of solitaire MahJong games.
The reason I play different games on Sunday from those I play during the week is that I like a change on Sunday.

Fr. Anthony Mary's All Saints Day Homily

Fr. Anthony gives us the background of the Solemnity, and shares with us a name the friars jokingly suggest to their postulants.
I have to admit, I cracked up!

Four Year Anniversary

Many people have discovered EWTN by "accident" (more likely, through Providence) while channel-surfing. I found EWTN on the Solemnity of All Saints, 2007, because I was looking for a televised Mass. I wanted to at least see and hear Mass, since I was unable to go.
I checked the Guide on my television. There were several Masses about to be broadcast. What was it that made me choose the Mass on EWTN?
1: The letter "L", indicating that it was a live Mass.
2: The fact that it was broadcast from Our Lady of the Angels Monastery.
(I have a deep devotion to Our Lady, and to the Angels; the name of my parish
Church is "Guardian Angel.)
The next day, I once again watched the live morning Mass on EWTN; I have watched every day since November 1st, 2007. And on those all-too-rare days
when I am able to actually get to Mass, I watch the later broadcast.
EWTN has been a great blessing in my life.

Welcoming The New Mass For Human Life

This is from Fr. Frank Pavone's
blog.

Not A Pleasant Read

I've recently read
"Drowning Anna"
by Sue Mayfield
(JHS-HS level)
I did not find this book to a pleasant read; it was, in fact, disturbing. Any book that
begins with a suicide attempt is bound to be disturbing, to say the least!
However, therein lies the book's merits; a book of this nature, on how far bullying
can go, how it can destroy a person, really OUGHT to be unpleasant and disturbing. After all,
such things should not be taken lightly. A light, fluffy book on this subject would have annoyed, no, infuriated me.
Minimal use of bad language, including one use of the "f" word; I, personally, could do without that!


This book was originally published in Great Britain as "Blue".
In my opinion, "Drowning Amy" is a much better title.

Sunday Reading

I'm not talking about the readings at Mass or in the
Liturgy of the Hours. What I'm talking about is my own Sunday reading.
On Sundays, (and that means from Evening Prayer 1 to Evening Prayer 2), I put aside whatever non-Catholic books I may be reading. On Sunday, I read only Catholic books from Catholic publishers, (or the Catholic imprints of mainstream publishers.)
The book can be fiction or non-fiction, but it absolutely MUST be something I'll want to carry into the next week. Dull, dry books are not welcome!
This may seem like a restriction, but it is actually an enhancement of the most beautiful, precious day of the week. And, as a bonus, I find that I enjoy the non-Catholic books all the more for having put them aside for those 24 hours.

Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

Join me and other Catholic bloggers at
Sunday Snippets. Thanks to RAnn for hosting.

Semper Gaudete!: Horn: Setting record straight in dispute | Amarillo Globe-News

Semper Gaudete!: Books I'm Planning to Re-Read

Semper Gaudete!: Books I USED to Love

Semper Gaudete!: Treasures I Found While Looking For The Trapp Family Singers on YouTube

Semper Gaudete!: Let The Buyer Beware!

Semper Gaudete!: Prayer For Peace

Semper Gaudete!: Fr. Joseph Mary's Homily on EWTN

Semper Gaudete!: Singing Along???

Semper Gaudete!: Seek and You Will Find!

Semper Gaudete!: Books Read in the Past Week

Books Read in the Past Week

[Books read for the first time are marked with a #]
"The Story of the Trapp Family Singers"
by Maria Augusta Trapp
(autobiography/biography, Catholic)


"Drowning Anna"#
by Sue Mayfield
(children's fiction)
{older children}
[I'm writing a post about this book, which will
be up one day next week.
Please be aware that I write mostly about my reactions
to the events and characters in a book.]

"First Term at Malory Towers"
"Second Form at Malory Towers"
by Enid Blyton
(children's fiction)

"the teen-ager's guide to
collecting practically anything"
by Norah Smaridge and Hilda Hunter
(non-fiction)
[I passed my teen years lo, these many years ago,
but I love books for teen-agers, and
I love to read about hobby collections.]

Seek and You Will Find!

I was looking for a painting of The Nativity to add to my collection. Sounds easy, doesn't it? After all,there are so many beautiful paintings of this event!
Ah, but I was looking for something a bit different; I wanted a painting with a
cat in it, because of the beautiful legend about how a tabby cat purred the newborn
Baby to sleep and was rewarded by Mary with the "M".
(That's a VERY short version of the story!)
Well, "Seek and you will find."
Here is the painting
I found. I think it is a purrfect addition to my collection!

Horn: Setting record straight in dispute | Amarillo Globe-News

Here is another article about Fr. Frank Pavone.

Horn: Setting record straight in dispute | Amarillo Globe-News

Singing Along???

This happened several months ago, but somehow I never got
around to blogging about it until now.
I was watching the morning Mass on EWTN, as usual. My cat, Winky, was on the carpet.
Well, the Recessional that day was "All Creatures Of Our God and King".
At the words, "Lift up your voice and with us sing", Winky lifted up his voice and
meowed!

Fr. Joseph Mary's Homily on EWTN

Here, as I promised, is Fr. Joseph Mary's homily from this morning's Mass on EWTN.




A couple of times, Fr. Joseph said "Pray for priests" when he meant to say, "Pray for peace". I really believe that The Holy Spirit was giving us a message through Fr. Joseph!

Prayer For Peace

Since His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, is in Assisi today, praying for peace, and has asked us to do the same, I'm going to be just a little bit lazy, and let St. Francis of Assisi write the most important part of this post. :)

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love,
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith,
Where there is despair, hope,
Where there is darkness, light,
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much
seek to be consoled as to console,
not so much to be understood as to understand,
not so much to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
it is in dying that we awake to eternal life.

Let The Buyer Beware!

Remember those ads in the back of comic books? Back in the 1960s
I saw one for pieces of cloth cut from hotel sheets, and pillowcases used by The Beatles while they were touring America.
I did NOT buy one of those pieces of cloth, for several reasons.
1: I had no proof that these articles were authentic. Proof, to me, would have been actually
seeing a Beatle using the object in question.
2: A little piece of cloth could disappear very easily.
3: (My main reason) I'd MUCH rather spend my money on their RECORDS than on a piece of cloth!

Another time, my friend Jack (who was almost two years younger than I was) and I came across an ad, again at the back of a comic book, for "Hit Songs". Jack wanted to send for it, but I said,
"It says "Hit Songs", but it doesn't say "By the original artists." For all we know, it could be a bunch of recordings by some kindergarten band."
So neither of us sent for that record.
Of course, the offers may have been perfectly legit.. but then again...!!

Treasures I Found While Looking For The Trapp Family Singers on YouTube

I'm reading (not for the first time) "The Story of The Trapp Family Singers" by Maria Augusta Trapp, and so I decided to see if I could find any of their performances on YouTube. I do have some of their recordings stored on my computer, but I wanted something that I could share on this blog.
Well, during my search, I discovered that "The Sound of Music" was NOT the first movie about them. There was an earlier German movie, "The Trapp Family In America".
However, I wanted to find something by the real Trapp Family, not by actors portraying them, no matter how beautifully.
Well, I found a little gem!



And as if this weren't enough, I also came across, as a wonderful bonus, two clips of
Maria Augusta Trapp with Julia Andrews! And yes, they sing together!

Part 1


Part 2

Books I USED to Love

There are several books I used to love, and I mean absolutely LOVE, but I'm not going to read them again. These were books on astrology, reincarnation, and crystals; all subjects which fascinated me back in my New Age days.
Now, if I want to read about the stars, I'll read a book on astronomy. If I want to read about crystals, I'll read a book about mineralogy. And of course, I now believe in the resurrection of the body, NOT the reincarnation of the soul.
But don't get me wrong. I still believe very strongly in the New Age, and I always will. After all, it's what happens on every birthday, unless, of course, one chooses to emulate Jack Benny!

Books I'm Planning to Re-Read

Sometime in the near future, I plan to re-read:
Books in the series I'm already reading
The "Anne of Green Gables" series
(This time, I will use "The Annotated Anne of Green Gables"
when I read the first book)
The "Emily of New Moon" series
"The Story Girl"
"The Golden Road"
"Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" and "New Chronicles of Rebecca"
Louisa May Alcott's books.
(And there will be a post about two, maybe three, things I
do NOT agree with in "Little Women")
"The Moffats" series
The "Melendy Family" series
The "Joshua Cobb" books
The "Yada Yada Prayer Group" books
The "Ellie's People" series
The "Great Brain" books
The "Bruno and Boots" series
The "Penrod" books
(I love "Penrod", but I'm planning a post about the
racism in the books.)
{I may write those posts before I re-read those books!}
The "Pennsylvania Dutch Mysteries" by Tamar Myers
(More for the humor than for the mysteries!)
[and there are some books in this series that I
haven't read yet.]
"Heidi"
"Heidi Grows Up"
"Heidi's Children"
"A Tree Grows in Brooklyn"
"How Green Was My Valley"
Enid Blyton's
"Naughtiest Girl"
(Again, I'm planning a post
about the first book in this series!)
"St. Clare's"
and "Malory Towers" books.
(That last is NOT a series about a girl
named Malory Towers. It's about a school by that name.
There have been additions, by other authors, to these three series;
maybe someday we'll see a book called "Mallory Towers at Malory Towers"!
Did I say "Near Future"??? Make that "Within the next six months!"
I could add even more books to this list, but instead I'll just say
"Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera!"

Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

Join me and other Catholic bloggers at Sunday Snippets. Thanks to RAnn for hosting!

I'm giving this post top priority.
Semper Gaudete!: Help Keep Fr. Frank on the Virtual Road

Semper Gaudete!: Getting A Bit Ahead of Myself


Semper Gaudete!: Re-discovering a Serial from my Childhood


Semper Gaudete!:
Juggling Series

Semper Gaudete!: New Picture in my Collection

Semper Gaudete!: Mixed Feelings

Semper Gaudete!: Pro-Abortion Priest

Semper Gaudete!: An Artist I've Just Discovered

Semper Gaudete!: Not COMPLETE, But.....

Semper Gaudete!: Blessed John Paul II and the Luminous Mysteries


Semper Gaudete!: Not COMPLETE, But.....

Semper Gaudete!: Books Read in the Past Week

Books Read in the Past Week

[Books read for the first time are marked with a #]

"jazz off-key"
"storm warning"
{"Blog On" series}
by Dandi Daley Mackall
(children's fiction, Christian [Protestant])

"Little Rhody"
"Somebody Special"#
"Secret Friend"#
by Neta Lohnes Frazier
(children's fiction, historical)

"Beany Has a Secret Life"
by Lenora Mattingly Weber
(teen fiction)

Blessed John Paul II and the Luminous Mysteries

In honor of the feast of Blessed John Paul II, and the month of the Holy Rosary, I am presenting this post, adapted and modified from a longer post in one of my old blogs.

When Blessed John Paul the Great added the Luminous Mysteries to the Rosary in 2002, I was delighted, absolutely delighted. I had felt for a long time that there was too great a gap between the Fifth Joyful Mystery and the First Sorrowful Mystery. A BIG chunk of Our Lord's life on Earth was missing from our Rosary meditations.
Of course, many choose not to pray the Luminous Mysteries, preferring to stick to the traditional form, and that is their right. I, personally, believe that there will be a time when people will be surprised to learn that the Luminous Mysteries weren't always a part of the Rosary; they fit in so perfectly!

Not COMPLETE, But.....

As of today, my collection
has at least one picture for each Mystery of the Rosary, so now it will
be helpful to me when I pray the Rosary.

An Artist I've Just Discovered

One great thing about collecting pictures based on the Mysteries of the Rosary is that I can never run out of pictures to collect. There are so many classic paintings and new ones are being made all the time. After all, the subjects are inexhaustible.
I recently discovered a contemporary artist by the name of Simon Dewey, thanks to The Passionists of Holy Cross Province, from whom I received a packet of Christmas cards.
I have already added three of his paintings to my collection, and plan to add some more.
Wow! This post has three links in it!

Pro-Abortion Priest

Click here
.
A priest who speaks out in favor of abortion?
OUCH!
This priest is seriously misguided and needs our prayers.

Help Keep Fr. Frank on the Virtual Road

Click here.
Please share this wherever you can.

Mixed Feelings

I have mixed feelings about one of the books I am currently reading.
In "the teen-ager's guide to collecting practically anything" (title is in lower-case)
Norah Smaridge and Hilda Hunter write: "The whole point of making a collection is to end up with something of interest to others."
And here I thought that the point, if any, to a collection is to collect something I, myself, am interested in. I thought that collecting was a hobby, something done for one's own amusement and enjoyment at one's leisure.
This book, however, seems, so far, to be aimed at teen-agers who want to collect for profit.
On the plus side, there are some fascinating anecdotes, and the authors do mention some interesting things to collect. I enjoy reading about collecting just about as much as I enjoy
working on my own collection.
Would I have enjoyed this book when I was a teen-ager? As the saying goes, the jury
is out on that one.

New Picture in my Collection

To be honest, (why WOULDN'T I be honest, anyway???) I
debated with myself before adding this PICTURE to my collection. To me, Jesus looks like a sulky brat in this picture, and Mary and Joseph look ready to ground him for 18 years!
Then again, I must say that the painting has a very human quality.
Besides, how would most of us have reacted? I'm afraid that I, personally, would have said something like, "I'll 'Father's business' you, young man!"

Juggling Series

Right now, I am juggling several book series at the same time:
The Chalet School books
The Ramona books
The Lily series
The Beany Malone series
The Pollyanna series
The Caroline Years
[Little House]
The "Blog On" series
(one to go)
[I may have left out one or two!]
Of course, it could always be worse. I could be juggling balls, or, even worse,
eggs!

Re-discovering a Serial from my Childhood

I've started watching, on YouTube, a serial called "Annette", which I originally saw back in the 60s on "The Mickey Mouse Club".
I wonder if I'll enjoy it as much as, or perhaps more than, I did when I was a little girl.
After all, I am rather heavily into nostalgia.
The serial was based on the novel "Margaret" by Janette Sebring Lowrey, which I recently read.
She also wrote a book which has always been a great favorite of mine, "The Poky Little Puppy".
Ah, yes, I can almost see the heads nodding, and the smiles.
And, honestly, I like "The Poky Little Puppy" better than "Margaret."

Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

Join me and other Catholic bloggers at Sunday Snippets. Thanks to RAnn for hosting!

Semper Gaudete!: Exciting (I Hope!) Announcement

Semper Gaudete!: Based on the 23rd Psalm

Semper Gaudete!: Books Read in the Past Week

Getting A Bit Ahead of Myself

I decided that my New Year's resolution for 2012 would be to
read at least one book a week that I haven't already read. But then I decided, why wait?
Why not start this week?
Oh, well! I still have 11 weeks to pick another resolution!

Books Read in the Past Week

"Pollyanna's Golden Horseshoe"
by Elizabeth Borton
(children's fiction)

"The House of the Fifers"
by Rebecca Caudill
(teen fiction)
[online, Open Library loan]

"What I Really Think Of You"
by M.E.Kerr
[teen fiction]

"grace under pressure"
"upsetting annie"
{"Blog On" series}
by Dandi Daley Mackall
(children's fiction, Christian [Protestant])

"The Story of a Soul"
by St. Therese of Lisieux
(autobiography, spirituality, Catholic)
[this book had a LOT to do with my conversion]


"Angel Unaware"
by Dale Evans Rogers
(biography, Christian [Protestant])

Based on the 23rd Psalm

I wonder exactly how many hymns there are based on
the 23rd Psalm. I added my own to that probably humongous list back in the 70s:

THE LORD, HE IS MY SHEPHERD

The Lord, He is my Shepherd,
And I am fully blessed.
To green pastures He brings me,
And there He lets me rest.

The Lord, He is my Shepherd,
And His love keeps me whole.
To still waters He leads me,
And there restores my soul.

The Lord, He is my Shepherd,
And I need never fear.
His rod and staff assure me
That He is always near.

The Lord, He is my Shepherd,
He gives me all I need.
He spreads a table before me,
And there He lets me feed.

The Lord, He is my Shepherd,
And He does all things well.
To His own House He'll take me
Forevermore to dwell.

Meter: 76 76

Even though I wrote these verses, this isn't my favorite hymn based on
Psalm 23. My favorite is "The King of Love My Shepherd Is".

Exciting (I Hope!) Announcement

Beginning today, there will be at least one new post on this blog every day.
And no, this post doesn't count.

Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

Join me and other Catholic bloggers at Sunday Snippets. Thanks to RAnn for hosting!

Semper Gaudete!: Angel Prayer

Semper Gaudete!: Great Homily on The Rosary from Fr. Anthony Mary

Semper Gaudete!: This Was the PERFECT Day for It!

Semper Gaudete!: Books Read in the Past Week

Books Read in the Past Week

"Little House In Brookfield"
"Little Town at the Crossroads"
[Little House: The Caroline Years]
by Maria D. Wilkes
(children's fiction, historical)
"Pollyanna's Door To Happiness"
by Elizabeth Borton
(children's fiction)