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St. Stephen, proto-martyr and Deacon, Pray for Us as we begin our discernment towards the Diaconate, following in your venerable footsteps.
Tonight is our very first discernment meeting. We’re nervous and excited. One step at a time, one step…
From the upcoming Simple Gifts Cookbook:
Gingerbread Pancakes
4 c. flour
1T baking powder
Dash salt
¼ c. sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp ginger
¼ tsp. nutmeg
Pinch cloves
Pinch allspice
2 c. whole milk
4 eggs
¼ c. molasses
¼ cooking oil
Combine dry ingredients in large bowl, set aside. Mix wet ingredients in a medium sized bowl until eggs are well beaten. Fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients to make a batter. Drop by the ladleful onto a hot, oiled griddle. Brown each side. Serve with plenty of maple syrup, stewed apples, bacon and home fries.
Delicious!
P.S. I’d have taken a photograph, but they were gone in a wink!
Where did it go?
Well, just as predicted, we exceeded both bandwidth allowances and storage on the server. We need to purchase more. With a bit of Divine intervention, we’ll be able to do that this week or next.
In the meantime, please consider making a contribution if you have been blessed by the podcast!
Today is the Queenship of Mary.
In celebration, we’ll be reciting the Crown of Twelve Stars, making crowns, having Queen’s Pudding with afternoon tea.
The Crown of Twelve Stars Prayer (to be said for the Holy Catholic Church, for the propagation of the Faith, for peace among Christian peoples,and the extirpation of heresy).
Let us offer praise and thanksgiving
to the Most Holy Trinity,
Who has shown us the Virgin Mary,
clothed with the sun,
the moon under her feet,
and on her head a mystic crown of twelve stars.
Forever and ever.
Amen
Let us give praise and thanks to the Eternal Father,
Who chose her for His daughter.
Amen
Pray the Our Father…
First Star
Praised be the Eternal Father,
Who predestined her to be the Mother of His Divine Son.
Amen
Hail Mary…
Second Star
Praised be the Eternal Father,
Who preserved her from all stain of sin in her conception.
Amen
Hail Mary…
Third Star
Praised be the Eternal Father,
Who adorned her at her birth
with His most excellent gifts.
Amen
Hail Mary…
Fourth Star
V. Praised be the Eternal Father,
Who gave her Saint Joseph to be her companion
and most pure spouse.
Amen.
Hail Mary…
Glory Be To The Father…
V. Let us give praise and thanks to the Divine Son,
Who chose her for His Mother.
R. Amen.
Pray the Our Father…
Fifth Star
V. Praised be the Divine Son,
Who became incarnate in her womb
and there abode for nine months.
R. Amen.
Hail Mary…
Sixth Star
V. Praised be the Divine Son,
Who was born of her and was nourished at her breast.
R. Amen.
Hail Mary…
Seventh Star
V. Praised be the Divine Son,
Who in His childhood willed to be taught by her.
R. Amen.
Hail Mary…
Eighth Star
V. Praised be the Divine Son,
Who revealed to her the mystery of the Redemption of the world.
R. Amen.
Glory Be To The Father…
V. Let us give praise and thanks to the Holy Spirit,
Who took her for His spouse.
R. Amen.
Pray the Our Father…
Ninth Star
V. Praised be the Holy Spirit,
Who revealed first to her His Name of Holy Spirit.
R. Amen
Hail Mary…
Tenth Star
V. Praised be the Holy Spirit,
by Whose operation she was at once Virgin and Mother.
R. Amen
Hail Mary…
Eleventh Star
V. Praised be the Holy Spirit,
by Whose power she was the living temple of the ever-blessed Trinity.
R. Amen
Hail Mary…
Twelfth Star
Praised be the Holy Spirit,
by Whom she was exalted in Heaven above every living creature.
R. Amen
Hail Mary…
Glory Be To The Father…
Antiphon:
Let us praise Mary, who hath done so much for our good,
and let us say to her:
God hail thee, Mary,
Mother of Clemency,
Comfortress of the Afflicted,
Redemptress of Captives.
Thou art the glory of Jerusalem,
thou art the joy of Israel,
thou art the honour of our people.
V. Remember thy congregation *, O Mary.
R. Which belongs to thee from the beginning.
Let Us Pray
O God, Who by means of the Most Glorious Mother of Thy Divine Son,
didst enrich the Church with a new religious family
for the redemption of the faithful of Christ
from pagan oppression, grant, we beseech Thee,
that we may be freed from our sins
and from the bondage of the devil
by the merits and intercession of her
whom we devoutly venerate as the foundress
of so great a work.
R. Amen
Hail, Holy Queen…
* (The congregation referred to in this prayer is the Order of Our Lady of Ransom
[the Mercedarians], now called the Order of Our Lady of Mercy. The Order of Our
Lady of Ransom was founded by St. Peter Nolasco [c. 1189-1258] to ransom Christian
slaves from the Moors. In addition to the usual three vows, the Mercedarians took
a fourth vow: to give themselves up, if necessary, in exchange for a slave.) Can be substituted with “Children”
Queen’s Pudding
2.5 c crumb (stale pound cake or lady finger biscuits)
5 c. milk
1.5 cup sugar
4 eggs, separated
4 T butter, melted and cooled
Jam (quince, apple, raspberry), loosened
1 lemon
1.5 cup sugar
Combine crumbs through butter, mix well. Pour into a pudding bowl or baking dish. Place bowl into a bain marie (or a larger baking dish filled halfway with water). Bake at 350F, until custard is set, about 35-40 minutes, checking often after 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool about 20 minutes on a rack. Spread with jam (and whole berries if desired). Beat egg whites, lemon juice and remaining sugar until stiff peaks form. Pipe or spread merengue over the top of the pudding and place under the broiler or into a hot oven until lightly browned.
“Let the entire body of the faithful pour forth persevering prayer to the Mother of God and Mother of men. Let them implore that she who aided the beginnings of the Church by her prayers may now, exalted as she is in heaven above all the saints and angels, intercede with her Son in the fellowship of all the saints. May she do so until all the peoples of the human family, whether they are honored with the name of Christian or whether they still do not know their Savior, are happily gathered together in peace and harmony into the one People of God, for the glory of the Most Holy and Undivided Trinity”
Few things are lovelier to me than lace and handwrought needlework. I hope you will enjoy a sampling of some of the pieces in our collection. Many were handmade by me, some were gifts from family and friends, and others are vintage pieces that I acquired over the years. I love to purchase new lace pieces when I’m in Europe - I’m long overdue for another trip. One day, perhaps, my daughters, daughters-in-law, and granddaughters will cherish them as much as I do today.
The filet name sign was given to me one Christmas by Barb Seward, Brian’s commander’s wife. I think fondly of her everytime I look at it. She stood in as proxy for Caroline’s godmother in 1997. Caroline was wearing a beautiful gown made of Nottingham lace. It is currently packed safely away at Grandma’s house.
Here’s a detail shot of the same pieces. The doilies were a purchase on our honeymoon in Bermuda. I love the delicate trim, hemstitching, and whitework. The lavender sticks are something that I have taught my daughters and nieces to make. It has become an Independence Day tradition for us to sit on the lawn enjoying home-made clam chowder and fritters while we weave tiny satin ribbons around the blossoms. In the dead of winter, they are a sweet reminder of seemingly endless summer days.
This was my first-ever attempt at filet crochet, back in 1990. I am a self-taught needlewoman. By the time I was interested, my Nana’s hands were too arthritic and her eyes too weak to teach me. But both she and my grandfather taught me that I could learn to do anything as long as I could read.
Ribbon embroidery is intensely satisfying. This is a beginners project which can be completed in one sitting. The feel of the silk slipping through your fingers and the soft variegation of the colors makes for an experience for the senses.
My great-grandmother used to make lace like this to trim her pillowcases. I adore making trims because they are small projects, quickly finished. These were made from a Devonshire-cream-coloured #20 crochet cotton. The finished pieces have a marvelously soft hand and a gorgeous drape. One day I’ll work up the courage to sew these to some of my own pillowslips.
This is a pair of ecru lace booties I’m working on. I hope that one day I’ll have another sweet baby girl to wear them - either a daughter or a granddaughter. With my first three children, I was in and out of Labor and Delivery for pre-term contractions. I soon learned that having a small project to work on - one that made me think of the sweet babe growing within me - was just the thing to pass the time.
My mother always had a dresser scarf on her chest of drawers. This one is another treasure from my honeymoon. Once again, I was completely smitten with the classic whitework and the delicate edging.
I’ve been blessed to receive some vintage pattern books and needlework magazines from Brian’s mother. Many of the volumes were more than 20 years old. This filet crochet runner is from a pattern in one of those magazines. When it’s finished, it’ll be a sweet round-bottomed cherub.
I love Irish crochet. I have collected many books on the topic. Here is another length of trim, which I think is vaguely reminiscent of tatted patterns and a “Marguerite” sprig that are awaiting assignment in my lace box.
Vintage lace and raw silk were used to make this First Communion dress for my middle daughter, Caroline. The dress was her own design and the lace was pulled from my English lace stash.
A multitude of sins can be covered with embroidery, including the hole I accidently made while unpicking the hem of Caroline’s dress. These things can also become a trademark of sorts, as this daisy motif has for me.
Vintage lace and my first attempt at shadow-work embroidery came together in Louis’ Christening gown last year. Correction: The lace is actually a Nottingham trim with Oak and Acorn motif.
In this close-up of Louis’ Christening gown you can see the Trinity knot and the beautiful Miraculous Medal pin that was a gift from his godparents, Bill and Mimi (foster parents to 101 children!).
Sacramental garments are my favourites. If I could make a living from making them, I think I might. But as it is, I’ll have to take joy from knowing that my children, and one day my grandchildren, will wear garments lovingly made by my hands. This Christening gown belongs to Sophie. It was my first smocked garment and was sewn from raw silk and vintage lace.
Here you can see how we used a gold beauty pin to good effect, holding the soft blue silk accent ribbon to the bodice.
I made this dress for Sophie’s first birthday from an antique pillowcase. It matched the theme for the day. I also hand-painted butterflies onto the fondant on her strawberry cake. She looked so sweet in this little dress. What a shame she grew out of it so quickly. I’ll pack it away for someday - perhaps one of her little girls will wear it for her first birthday, too.
And I simply couldn’t resist a close-up of the lovingly wrought embroidery. It’s delicious!
And finally, the tradition continues with the next generation:
This is one of my daughter Cate’s cross-stitch projects. I’m not a cross-stitcher at all. I simply helped her walk through the instructions and she flew from there. She’s not one to shy away from a challenge. This will surely find it’s way into a custom frame for someone’s Christmas present.
Just look at the eyes on this wolf. It’s amazing how soulful and painterly a picture wrought from fabric and coloured threads can be.
Long before my children arrived, I was in love with old handcrafts. I was saddened that there weren’t many remaining opportunities to learn these skills. Thanks to the internet, sharing these nearly lost arts is much easier. I was blessed to have been able to learn many of the techniques I use on my own, using vintage books, patterns and by studying antique textiles. I am so pleased that I have the ability to teach my daughters and other women and girls how to make beautiful heirloom pieces. For me, creating a piece of needlework is deeply joyful work. I pray with every stitch that whomever the intended recipient is will be blessed everytime she uses the piece.
But you don’t need to know how to make them yourself, you can become an admirer and collector. You can breathe new life into old textiles and preserve them for generations to come. Who knows? Perhaps your daughter or granddaughter will one day take up a needle or hook and create heirlooms for generations yet to come.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this Simple Gifts Fair. I love that you spent some time to visit with me today. Have a blessed week!
Jack spent late yesterday afternoon wandering the woods in a soft rain. It’s not unusual for our children to do that - three years of living in England developed an abiding affection for such weather. When he returned, he presented me with this beautiful broom. I especially love that many of the twigs are still adorned with green leaves.
Perhaps you’re having what the Irish call “soft weather”. If so, I hope you will venture out-of-doors for a walk. Everything looks so intensely lovely when the sky is grey and colors have been darkened by the damp.
Have a blessed day!
How lovely to sit in a comfortable chair, with a good book, a cup of tea and snuggled up in your grandmother’s antique afghan. We just received two more bookcases to finish off our family’s library. This one was the fortunate recipient of my recent thrifting find - a complete set of Harvard Classics and a complete set of the Great Books of the Western World. They were a steal for under $250 for both sets. I also found six volumes of Thornton Burgess’ Bedtime Stories for the younger children.
I’m looking forward to spending a great deal of this year snuggled into this chair, with children at my feet as we journey through our blessedly abundant collection of literature. I hope your day was your cup of tea, too!
Thanks to every one of you who stop by to visit my little corner of the world.
For the Family-Centered Living Conference, tentatively set for May 9-14th 2008, with an optional 2-day extension. There will be talks, practical workshops, daily worship, and lots of fun. I’ll have a website up soon with further details.
So essential to maintaining sanity and spirituality in a busy family-centered home… I started and abandoned mine last fall when I was pregnant with Louis. I found it very overwhelming, and in my delicate state, wanted to wait until I could devote my undivided attention to this most important task. I saved Elizabeth’s post until I could go back to it. It’s full of wonderful ideas and pretty pictures. I, like Elizabeth MUST have pretty. I won’t touch it otherwise. I’m going to start with a
I’ve collected my papers, binders (I bought a larger scrapbook for recording lovely moments along the way. The papers coordinate. Both books will be very “me”!
I’ve tooled around looking for schedules, forms, etc. to suit the way I work. I must be very unusual, because very little was ideal for me. However, this site has some fairly good basic forms. And Lesley has some beautiful papers. I found I needed forms that functioned a little bit differently, and looked as beautiful as Lesley’s do. I borrowed ideas from each and have been designing my own sets of forms, using favorite graphics and pretty fonts. Ive already designed some forms and copywork pages for the children.
