Cottage Blessings

What the Scrabble Board sees

(Photo and caption credit, Marie.)

St. Lucy's Day

St. Lucy's Day began with baking before dawn.

We made Swedish almond cakes for ourselves and for our friends. 

In the evening we had a candlelit procession, going from room to room and up and down the stairs singing O Come, O Come Emmanuel and remembering the long years the people in darkness waited for the One who would bring light to the world.

St. Lucy's Day is the day we officially light our Christmas lights. The children (and their darling friends) went from room to room lighting first the Christmas tree, then the other indoor Christmas lights and wreaths and finally the lights outside. 

We celebrated afterward with hot chocolate and pastries.

There are few things more cozy than a candlelit tea by the light of the Advent wreath.

Candlelight, cakes and girls in white dresses--Happy St. Lucy's Day, everyone!

A Woodland Walk

We almost always have a big family dinner on Sundays, often with a theme to keep it interesting: "Italian Night," "Irish Night," "German Night," "Steakhouse Night," "Cowboy Night"--well, you get the idea. This was the third or fourth year in a row we have had a "Woodland Walk" dinner, with a menu inspired by a walk in the woods. Just like the "Sugar Spring" dinner in March, the Woodland Walk has become a family tradition, with college students rearranging their schedules to come home and all the children brimming with excitement.

I started dinner, while Daddy brought the five youngest out for a walk in the woods, gathering items for a centerpiece on the way.

The day was made to order, sunny and crisp.

Meanwhile, back at home, stew was simmering--beef and mushroom with a few sprigs of fresh thyme.

I took some time to decorate:

The walkers returned and added decorations of their own:

They made a collage for the table with some of their woodland finds:

We had French baguette, still warm, from the farm down the road--

--and a salad of spring greens, chopped apples, walnuts and vinaigrette.

These metal mice seem to appreciate the children's haul of chestnuts:

They weren't the only ones looking pleased:

We had lingonberries, my favorite condiment. (I'm hoping they grow in the woods of Sweden):

Mixed berries and raspberry sherbet floated in the punch bowl:

Asparagus added a touch of green:

Dessert was our own invention--"The Woodland Walk Sundae"--blackberry ice cream, peach ice cream, raspberry sorbet, hot fudge, cream, and oak and acorn butter cookies.

But the best was yet to come. Note the mysterious bag on the mantel:

It held an even more mysterious basket:

You see before you an optimist:

There is nothing like meeting new friends:

A cardinal, a bear, a mouse, an owl and, what is that, a racoon? A badger? I'm not even sure.

But I do know one thing--October is off to a good start!

*******

Woodland Walk Menu

Mixed green salad with walnuts and apples

Beef and mushroom stew

Mashed potatoes

Roasted asparagus

Lingonberries

French baguette

Mixed berry punch

"Woodland Walk" sundaes

The Breakfast of Penitents

We came home from Mass yesterday to the planned green smoothies. Notice how cold and lonely this smoothie appears.

This was unposed. Looks like they were making the best of it:

 It was quite delicious actually.

 

How I have spent the last twenty years

I have loved every single minute of it!

Me and my shadow

Shining morning face

 

And a good time was had by all

Here's a photo of a moment I want to remember.

Thank you, Michele!

Confirmation in the Latin Rite

On June 15, 2008, our daughters, Agnes and Theresa, were confirmed in St. Agnes Cathedral by Bishop William Murphy in the first Latin Rite Confirmation to be held in our diocese in forty years. It was one of the most beautiful, grace-filled ceremonies I have ever attended, despite the fact that I spent a good portion of it pacing the back with our two-year old!

This first photo shows Theresa and the dogwood before we left home. The girls' friend Hope made their special confirmation dresses:

So eager were we for the ceremony that we were the first ones to the church. Agnes and Theresa wait in the Cathedral of St. Agnes parish center:

Donning white robes, along with traditional beanies:

The beautiful confirmandi:

Before the ceremony, eight girls (all very good friends who sing in choir together) performed an impromptu, but lovely, rendition of Ecce Panis Angelorum [The right of the film is cut off below, to see the complete view, please click here. Theresa is third from the left, and Agnes is far right in the unclipped video]:

Lining up:

Our beloved bishop:

The bishop speaks to the children:

I managed to film the actual confirmation, so stirring in Latin. Here you will see Agnes and her sponsor (godmother Eileen) followed by Theresa and her sponsor (godmother Patty) [For a view that is not partially clipped by the blog borders, please click here]:

Photo op, rear view:

Agnes and her sponsor, godmother Eileen:

Theresa and her sponsor, godmother Patty, along with Patty's brother, Msgr. Robert Brennan:

A proud moment with our bishop:

How my little girls have grown since this photo with the bishop, taken after a special Mass he offered for homeschoolers six years ago:

Many beautiful Gunther family members—grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins—were in attendance. I wish I'd managed to get more photos of them, but the sun was blazing, and we rushed to our car. I did manage to get this shot:

St. Jude, Agnes's patron, pray for us!
St. Gianna Molla, Theresa's patron, pray for us!

Here is The Long Island Catholic's beautiful coverage of the event.

Now Playing

in the Cottage Garden:

Shakespeare's Twelfth Night (unabridged)! [Captions from the script appear above each corresponding photo.]

"If music be the food of love, play on."

"What country, friends, is this?"

"By my troth, Sir Toby, you must come in earlier o' nights."

[Patrick.]

"I marvel your ladyship takes delight in such a barren rascal."

"He's but mad yet, Madonna, and the fool shall look to the madman."

"I will on with my speech in your praise, and then show you the heart of my message."

"I am bound to the Count Orsino's court. Farewell."

"Were not you even now with the Countess Olivia?"

"Would you have a love song, or a song of good life?"

"What a caterwauling do you keep here!"

"My masters, are you mad?"

"Mistress Mary, if you prized my lady's favour at any thing more than contempt, you would not give means for this uncivil rule."

"If I do not gull him into a nayword, and make him a common recreation, do not think I have wit enough to lie straight in my bed. I know I can do it. "

"My purpose is indeed a horse of that color."

"But if she cannot love you, sir?"

"Get ye all three into the box tree: Malvolio's coming down this walk."

"Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em."

"I could marry this wench for this device.
--So could I too"

"Nay, but say true, does it work upon him?"

[The scenes above were from Acts I and II.]

Too bad the rhododendrons weren't blooming!

********
Gorgeous scenery by Mary Maggio-Smith and others
Beautiful costumes by amazing seamstress Hope Giambalvo (age 16) assisted by Mary Smith and others
Directed by Kari Riess

Our children's parts:
Agnes: "Maria"
Theresa: "Viola"
Margaret: "Feste the Clown"
Marie, Patrick, and Maureen: sign carriers