Aragorn and Pippin celebrated their "twin" birthday nearly setting the house on fire. Pippin is now 8. And continues to keep us on our toes and chuckling.
If I have any worth, it is to live my life for God so as to teach these peoples; even though some of them still look down on me.
St. Patrick
The Feast of St. Patrick always reminds me of my grandma who passed way on his feast day back in 1981. She was well-devoted to St. Patrick as every Irishman is... or should be!
To celelbrate we had some green shamrock pancakes.
And a bit o' the green in the fresh bread. We even had Frodo make some green butter, but it is not pictured here.
Marigold... I'm not sure what she's doing but she was happy to do it.
Kili helping churn the butter. He really enjoyed it... no kidding... but he kept sticking the other hand into the gears with unhappy results. But it wasn't as bad as getting bitten by one of his little friends this week. :D
St. Joseph was so reserved and careful in his speech that not one word ever issued from his mouth that was not good and holy, nor did he ever indulge in unnecessary or less than charitable conversation. He was most patient and diligent in bearing fatigue; he practiced extreme poverty; he was most meek in bearing injuries; he was strong and constant against my enemies; he was the faithful witness of the wonders of Heaven, being dead to the flesh and the world, living only for God and for Heavenly goods, which were the only things he desired. He was perfectly conformed to the Divine Will and so resigned to the dispositions of Heaven that he ever repeated" May the Will of God ever be done in me!" He rarely spoke with men, but continually with God, whose Will he desired to perform. Wherefore, he now enjoys great glory in Heaven.
St. Bridget of Sweden
Of course I couldn't find an actual quote from St. Joseph as he didn't say a word. He just acted upon the Will of God. Something to learn from there...
We made a St. Joseph Altar Cake. My wonderful sugar-free-maple-syrup-and-honey-only friend might be interested to know that I very carefully chose what sugar-ful sweets we would partake of. For example we made a marvelous homemade white cake which did have sugar but the frosting was just butter, honey and vanilla. The little flowers I just couldn't resist as they seemed like a nice addition to the "altar" but the cream jel jubes or something like that did have coconut oil in them so I think that gave them some redeeming value.
And the apple cinnamon newtons were simply for making some fancy "breads" and have absolutely no redeeming value outside of carving out religious symbols. They not only are full of all sorts of fructoses and syrups but they didn't even taste good. Due to our careful consideration of our sugar intake... I'm happy to report that no one was hyper or sick as a result. And if you look, you will see that we still have no skill at frosting but this was a wonderful tasting frosting!
I have always loved St. Benedict. So I cannot resist a few lovely quotes from his Rule:
† Idleness is the enemy of the soul; and therefore the brethren ought to be employed in manual labor at certain times, at others, in devout reading.
† And let them first pray together, that so they may associate in peace.
† He should first show them in deeds rather than words all that is good and holy.
† The sleepy like to make excuses.
† For at all times we must so serve Him with the good things He has given us, that he may not, as an angry Father, disinherit his children, nor as a dread Lord, provoked by our evil deeds, deliver us to everlasting punishment as wicked servants who refuse to follow Him to glory.
I mean what is not to love about this man of great wisdom?
We had a couple of adolescent (juvenile) bald eagles in our field.
And in case you are wondering why they aren't bald, they don't earn their baldness until they are 3 years old.
Here one is unfolding his feathers to try and gain the territory.
2-1/2 more gallons of syrup out of 75 gallons of sap. :D
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