summer

Thursday Travels – Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs

Standard

These grounds are a reliquary to the North American Martyrs, St. Isaac Jogues and his Companions, St. Rene Goupil and St. John LaLande. In 1642, the same year Rene Goupil was martyred, the first known recitation of the Rosary was prayed here. This was also the birthplace ten years later after St. Jogues and St. Lalande’s martyrdoms, of St. Kateri Tekakwitha.

image

The view of the Mohawk Valley and River from the Shrine Grounds

image

Three Crosses bearing the names of the North American Martyrs at the Entrance, at the edge of what was the Mohawk village.

Continue reading

Monday’s Good for the Soul – Ecclesiastes 3:1-14

Standard

There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens.

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant.

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to tear down, and a time to build.

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.

A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them; a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces.

A time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away.

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to be silent, and a time to speak.

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

What advantage has the worker from his toil?

I have considered the task which God has appointed for men to be busied about.

He has made everything appropriate to its time, and has put the timeless into their hearts, without men’s ever discovering, from beginning to end, the work which God has done.

I recognized that there is nothing better than to be glad and to do well during life.

For every man, moreover, to eat and drink and enjoy the fruit of all his labor is a gift of God.

I recognized that whatever God does will endure forever; there is no adding to it, or taking from it. Thus has God done that he may be revered

[Version: http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0839/__PKY.HTM]
[See also: The Byrd’s Turn, Turn, Turn, written by Pete Seeger]

Thursday Travels – Coffee Planet

Standard

image

This is where my writing group is meeting for lunch to discuss dates and times for our next workshop. After a lively discussion, our topic for September is public bathrooms. Ironically, I didn’t use the coffee shop’s.

Movie Wednesday – Ten Inch Hero

Standard

image

This is part of my post-GishWhes recommendations and a part of the Supernatural family. Ten Inch Hero is a movie at the top of my to-watch list.  Two of the movie’s actors are Jensen Ackles and Danneel Harris. They were friends before the movie but fell in love on the set. They were married  in 2010, and had a beautiful daughter, JJ (who happens to share a birthday with my mom) three years later. I love the idea that they fell in love on the set of a romantic comedy. I also have it on good authority that this movie very much gives many feels to natives of California.

Thursday Travels – Mars and the Great Wall

Standard

image

This week, travels is a very loose term.

Those are just two of the places I’ve “traveled” to this week and its not over yet. I can’t share any items or pictures until the scavenger hunt is over, but I would like to say a few words about my team.

They are a phenomenal group of people, 15 people from all walks of life, single, married, working and not, spanning from California across to New York and over to Denmark. Everyone is not only chipping in their items, they’re supportive of everyone else, they offer advice and cheerleading. They are a fabulous and amazing group of absonome* creative new friends.

This is my third year and I’m having the best time.

Visit http://www.gishwhes.com to see the fun.

In the meantime, I’m off to find a superhero.

*Abnosome is a GishWhes term meaning absolutely awesome!

Make Your Own Sand and/or Water Table

Standard

It’s easy and inexpensive to make your own Water and/or Sand Table for the summer months for those sensory moments we all need, but especially children. This is especially convenient if you live in an apartment or have a small outdoor space and can’t buy a full size table.

Start off with a container that has a good lid. I’d recommend brand names and Tupperware, Rubbermaid, and Sterlite are the best ones in my opinion.

I would recommend that you get one about the size of a fast food tray and about 12″ or more deep.

image

I've used this one. It's a Sterlite 15 quart latch box

For either sand or water you will need a secure lid, especially if you’re storing it indoors.

For water:

Empty the bucket before storing, try and let the bucket and toys dry out before securing the lid to avoid mildew. If you’re storing it outside, you don’t want to leave standing water or you’ll get mosquitos. You also might get a stray animal tumble in and then you’ll have that mess to clean up.

For sand:

Take out the toys and store them in a mesh bag (you can store the toys this way for the water as well.)

Secure the lid. If you leave sand open, it will very quickly become a litter box for the neighborhood cats.

Toys should be durable plastic and should fit inside the bucket for long-term storage, but the mesh bag is good for the summertime when you’ll be using it regularly.

You can find toys at dollar stores or other thrift stores.

Look for toys that are durable and plastic. They can usually be sanitized in the dishwasher or by hand. You can use measuring cups and spoons from your kitchen including beakers that have had the measurements worn off from use. Strainers and colanders are fun as well as spoons and plastic bowls if you don’t want to buy anything new.

The dollar store will usually have small shovels and waterwheels. If you buy the toys/tools they are also very colorful.

SAFETY TIP: DO NOT LEAVE YOUR CHILD UNATTENDED. Young children have no sense of balance and can easily tumble and drown in as little water as this bucket will hold.

Don’t forget the sunscreen and a sun-hat to protect their fair skin. (This includes children of all races. Everyone needs sun protection.)

Have fun!