Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real -- But not in that order this time!

Celebrating everyday life with Like Mother Like Daughter
(After our visit, stop by the blog hop for more glimpses of simple joys):

Something has me particularly appreciating my nightly sewing time this week.

{Pretty}

I've been using a small bit of my sewing time each night to make something other than veils.
(Although the hands in the photo are Elyse's because her nails were done and my weren't!)

{Real}

Apparently my quilting skills are not quite up to snuff with my veil making skills though.  You'll see why if you take a look at the misplaced block on the right edge of the photo.

After some consultation with women wiser than I, I decided that the block would stay just where it was, and would serve as a reminder of grace.

{Happy}

Once September rolls around, my thoughts always begin to turn toward Advent. I'm not sure why; All Saints comes first of course!  Still, as we shift toward fall, my mind starts lingering over the design of this year's Advent wreath and unpacking boxes for the fall season.

 This year, there is a special reason for Advent to be on my mind so soon. We are looking forward to the publication of the first installment of Let Us Keep the Feast: living the Church Year at home.  The release date will be later this fall.  This first portion will cover Advent and Christmas and will be chock full of ideas and helps for living out the Advent and Christmas seasons.  We're pretty excited!

Speaking of Advent, if you're interested in participating in a Jesse Tree ornament swap, take a gander over here!

I hope that this finds each of you well, prosperous, and at peace.

Pax Christi dear ones,
~Michelle

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Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real -- Family Reunion at the Claim Edition

In the wake of family reunion, I am contemplating heritage and family this week.

{Pretty}

It seems our daughter has an eye for photography.  Who knew?  And why didn't I hand her the camera sooner?  Its seems, ladies and gentlemen, that we have a new blog photographer.

{Happy}

Somehow, blowing dandelions is more meaningful in seats of family heritage.

Our water dog was in heaven on this trip and is quite sure that the claim is the best place for family reunions ever.

Our "I just live to eat" dog found heaven a little closer to camp and the graham crackers.

{Funny}

Our "baby" did not care for Papa's makeshift camp critter containment strategy...

...and was not in the least reluctant to use her digging skills to remedy the situation.

{Real}

What a lovely photo of a butterfly.....wait.  

Oops, oops, and triple oops.  If you don't see it, I'm not going to tell you, because-- well, just oops.

I hope that this finds each of you at peace in your domestic monastery celebrating the rich value of family.

Pax Christi dear ones,
~Michelle

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Striking Gold!

Celebrating everyday life with Like Mother Like Daughter
(After our visit together, stop by the blog hop for more glimpses of simple joys):

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{PHFR} - With a Grateful Nod to Small Town Life

Celebrating everyday life with Like Mother Like Daughter
(After our visit, stop by the blog hop for more glimpses of simple joys):

Something has me particularly appreciating living in a small town tonight, so it seemed appropriate to include a few glimpses of small town life.

{Pretty}
There's something really wonderful about historic towns.  The streets and buildings seem to whisper tales of yesteryear and speak wisdom to those who will hear.

{Happy}

It's easy to get caught up in all the evil and tragedy in the world.  Sometimes one just needs to let it all go and walk into town and have a Bratwurst.  Honestly.

{Real}

In a railroad town, an active crossing doesn't mean "Stop"-- it means "RUN!".  I'm not suggesting that this is a good thing!

I hope that this finds each of you well, prosperous, and at peace.
Pax Christi dear ones,
~Michelle

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7 Quick Takes Friday and PHFR - Snow, Lace, and Doxies

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and

Can you do that?  Is it allowed? I'm entirely unsure.
Does anyone feel any blog-world tremors?  :)

--- 1 ---
{Real}

It is really cold in the Central California mountains tonight. I mean, really, really cold. It's 28 degrees, which should not really feel that cold, but for some reason or another, this is a really cold 28 degrees. The "back road" home from work required chains for non-four wheel drive vehicles and the freeway had a highway patrolman slowing traffic. It's a snowy, icy, freezing cold weekend.  All of this to say: Dear mid-West and East Coast Readers, brace yourselves, this one packs a punch and I imagine it's headed your way.

--- 2 ---

We are now back in the Church season of Epiphanytide, otherwise known a Ordinary Time. I love Ordinary Time, because it isn't so ordinary. Of course, it is called "ordinary" in the sense of "ordinal", because we are counting the days. It's the little days we count between the big holidays that make up the bulk of our lives. In the midst of Ordinary Time, babies take their first steps, leaps of faith are taken, countless meals are cooked, precious hearts are warmed by Christ, bedsheets are made crisp, and belief grows firm and steadfast. We live deeply in the little counted days between the big days that we count as holy.

--- 3 ---
{Happy}

Elyse will be taking a piano class this semester. I'm looking forward to hearing the piano played in the house again.

--- 4 ---

Our dachshund has hurt her back again. I've had a doxie all but one of my 45 years of life, and this is the first one with the famous doxie back trouble.  She has grown quite fond of the heating pad, but is not quite as pleased to have her poor sore back iced. She is also quite certain that the vet is magical, and that when she is carried out his office feeling wonderful, it is time to jump, run, and play again. Convincing her that both jumping off of beds and climbing up stairs are off the menu is not an easy task.

--- 5 ---
{Pretty}

We are enjoying adding new colors and laces to the Veil Shop. We've also been able to bring back limited availability of a few old favorites.

--- 6 ---

{Funny: Because when God tips the boat, you're probably gonna get wet.}

Bloggers all over the internet annually choose one word as a theme to guide them through the new year. Most years, as the posts fill up my feed, I muse over them and move on. I've never been inclined to jump on the "One-Word" bandwagon. This year though, is a tad different. This year, there will likely be some changes impacting our little family.

For all of the 25 years that I have known him, my husband's family has celebrated Ukrainian Christmas, which falls on January 6. This year, they didn't -- just like that. This is not the change that I am talking about, but it illustrates the point. Sometimes, just when things seem to be gliding along smoothly and you are tempted to settle into comfortable familiarity, God tips the boat.

We may be in for some boat tipping this year. So, my word for 2013 is "trust". I have done my share of stressing over what will happen, but I'm not sure it is productive to do so. As I reflect over my adult life, I must acknowledge that there have been an enormous number of hours that I have spent worrying. The benefit of all of this worrying has been nil. And so, I will simply trust.

--- 7 ---

...So, in the spirit of trust, this:

Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart

Proverbs 3

1 My son, do not forget my teaching,
    but let your heart keep my commandments,
² for length of days and years of life
    and peace they will add to you.

³ Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
    bind them around your neck;
    write them on the tablet of your heart.
⁴ So you will find favor and good success
    in the sight of God and man.

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and do not lean on your own understanding.
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him,
    and he will make straight your paths.

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A Sorry Excuse for a {Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real} Post

Because things have been pretty hectic around here this week, I don't have much of a Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real post.

We have been too busy creating new veils:

{Pretty}

...and receiving happy news, after a bit of a health scare.

{Happy}

In an attempt to compensate for the lack of appropriate pictures for this week's {PHFR} post, Churro would like to do her Yoda impression.  (She's a big Star Wars fan, didn't you know?)  :

{Funny}

Unfortunately, that's all I've got this week folks, because I'm just plain worn out.   And...that's what is {Real}.

Blessings, Friends!

~Michelle

In spite of its obvious inadequacy, this post is linked with: