Irritants

Live in infamy.

Necessary Evil

Violence is inhuman.

Bless your heart.

My Feng Shui Friend

 https://youtube.com/shorts/Y9Ddt8o0Ksk?si=TAvhYq7MSlZge9Gi

“And now you know!” Cliff ends his shorts about Feng Shui this citrusy sign off. What do we know? How to fix bad furniture layouts with Feng Shui. I don’t know how I feel about Feng Shui, but Cliff always makes things better no matter how small or strange the room.  And he’s fun to watch. If you’ve got a problem room give Cliff a listen. If you just need a mood boost Cliff’s infectious energy will brighten your day.

Christmas Book Haul

 This isn’t my complete book haul. Some of it will be arriving later or I’ll use gift cards later. These are the books here on time.

https://www.amazon.com/Illuminations-Hildegard-Bingen-Matthew-Fox/dp/1879181975/ref=asc_df_1879181975?mcid=63f553a45cc63e8d94c528b4489e2198&hvocijid=13193360303217113315-1879181975-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-

20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13193360303217113315&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9016901&hvtargid=pla-2281435178298&psc=1

Illuminations of Hildegard of Bingen

I’ve been interested in Hildegard of Bingen for a long time. This is a collection of the drawings of her visions. I’m not sure what I think of the author/publisher, but it’s the only collection of these images I’ve found. They are fascinating at first flip through.

https://www.amazon.com/value-humility-Mother-Teresa-ValueTales/dp/071728316X

The Value of Humility

Value Tales had a powerful influence on me as a child. Highlighting heroes from every community, they held forth a standard for everyone. I don’t remember Mother Teresa being part of the collection at my local library, but I ran my finger down the list of titles and I read almost all of them. I liked them so much I have collected them for my children. Mother Teresa was expensive to collect. At eighty dollars I had to accept there were going to be important gaps in my collection. Looking for ways to meaningfully spend my Christmas money I found the Mother Teresa Value Tale on an old list. This time it was only eighteen. I snapped it up, and then cried my way through it for lots of reasons.

https://www.bookfinder.com/isbn/9780201043037/

Workjobs

This was another book on the old list. Written by Mary Barratta-Lorton it is full of activities children can do on their own. It is Montessori-esque. I love how everything can be made from recycled materials. As a former homeschool mom I know that the more of these activities you have the happier class will be.

https://www.amazon.com/Fairytale-Baking-Delicious-Inspired-Classic/dp/1510751815/ref=asc_df_1510751815?mcid=95812856f6913581868db2d52f08d539&hvocijid=5835487333394455045-1510751815-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5835487333394455045&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9016901&hvtargid=pla-2281435178098&psc=1

Fairytale Baking

A bit of a disappointment I’m afraid. I was imagining the little book of fairytales I grew up with and then having a simple treat I could make with my grandchildren after we read each story. This is not that. This is four seemingly random fairytales followed by lots of also seemingly random, very fancy, desserts. Fairytales speak of childhood, and there is none of that here. I doubt my ability to reproduce a good chunk of the recipes, especially not with children around. More fairytales, simpler recipes, more childlike, and I think it could be good. 

Interesting Beginnings

 A plea to the worthy scholars that prepare important texts for the rest of us to read, make the introduction at least as interesting as the material you are framing. I’ve started dreading reading the introductions. If I put a list of the books made boring by their introduction you would be surprised as many times the text itself is a great pleasure to read. There are exceptions. Some scholars make it seem as though the book were written yesterday, and that it is a popular best-seller. I love those moments, but they are rare. I have to read the introductions because I want to understand my texts more deeply than a straight reading would offer, but lately I’ve wondered if it wouldn’t be better if I read the introduction after the text.

Christmas Treats

 

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. I admit it. I cried. I cried even though the story has been around forever and I cried every time I read it before. The beauty of a Christian community being reminded about what those comfortable, old rituals mean, and the joy of children being loved is enough to stir tears in any true believers and sympathetic co-religionists. I’ve already put in enough spoilers, so I’ll just say if you love Christmas and you love children this will open your heart wide.

Let It Glow. Charming is my favorite description for very fun things for children. This book oozes charm and even sparkles as it leads on a journey reuniting twins separated at birth who are adopted into a Christian family and a Jewish family, respectively. The twins switch homes for the holidays and they (and we) learn a lot about Christmas and Hanukah. There are also good lessons in courage and gentle reminders about the importance of observance. I’ve given two away already. 

Christmas Teatime. This book has me thinking I can write a Christmas of my own. It turns out you can make a tea with just scones, three sandwiches, and three cookies. That is totally doable if I pick my recipes strategically. Part inspiration, part how-to I’m letting this book be my guide.

For the Good of All

 One of my friends when I was young had severe disabilities. His family needed help carrying him up the flight of stairs that brought you to the sanctuary of our church. They requested that an elevator be put in. It started a whole battle of opinions and the final answer was a regrettable “no”. For the first time I saw a body of sincere believers make the wrong decision. It was my introduction to the fact that Christians can make selfish, wicked decisions en masse. 

Ever since then the push to accommodate disabled persons has interested me. I recently discovered a very accessible YouTube channel on the subject, Sarah Todd Hammer. Sarah became disabled at the age of eight. She is partially paralyzed in her arms and upper torso. She has still moved forward and achieved much. On her channel is a mix of advocacy pursuing greater understanding and show and tell videos about accommodations she currently employs. I find the person on the street perspective helps me understand disabled people better and it improves my efforts to be helpful whenever possible.

Sarah is fun to watch. Her bubbly personality lightens a weighty subject. You should give her a visit.

https://youtu.be/luoKLNtA3gA?si=tP5PX8uuqdZ095ho

Reunited

I’ve been handing on my useful tricks to interested parties. One of the first books to go was Fix Freeze Feast. It went first because it is one of the best. The dishes are easy to put together and easy to cook out of the freezer. There was no question about its usefulness. 

I recently discovered that I own 2,000 books. Logging them into Library Thing I also discovered that most of them are useful. Lending books has long been a habit of mine, but that is a small way to do good. BookTube might be calling. I rebought Fix Freeze Feast because it is so useful and therefore so recommendable. I’m considering doing BookTube shows drawing solely on my book collection. I am a person of many interests so it will be hit or miss with viewers much like this blog. I hope you’ll come and see it. If it becomes real I will invite you.