The Capital Times Drools Over Sarah Weddington

I have Yahoo send me alerts to items with the key words "Roe v. Wade," and today this article came up. In it, Debra Carr-Esling fawns over Sarah Weddington, the lawyer who argued in favor of restriction-free abortion in the famous Roe v. Wade case in 1973.

Apparently, Weddington is getting an award called the International ATHENA Award.

If you care to read on (you know, out of morbid fascination or something), here's a sampling.

It is the ironies of history -- specifically, women's history -- that Sarah Weddington finds remarkable. She ought to know because she's had a front row seat for many of the landmark events.

For example, Weddington is believed to be the youngest lawyer ever to win a case before the U.S. Supreme Court. She was 26 in 1971 when she successfully argued Roe v. Wade, the landmark case that made abortions legal. She returned to the country's highest court the following year to repeat those arguments, and the U.S. Supreme Court judges made their decision in January 1973.

The fact that Weddington also was a woman lawyer tackling this monumental case, in an era when few women were graduating from law schools, made the accomplishment even more noteworthy.

"When I arrived at the Supreme Court, I started thinking about my legal experience," Weddington recalls. "I had done uncontested divorces, wills for people with no money and one adoption for my uncle. That was my entire legal experience before Roe v. Wade."

The article goes on to say that she was told that women should be staying home to have babies, only men are lawyers, etc. Honestly, I can't say for sure if I believe all of it. I know things have changed over the last 40 years, but is this really how things were? I'm approaching 37, so I can't say.

I am also amazed at that last paragraph. She had nearly NO legal experience. From what I've read, she had considerable help from sympathetic justices on the Supreme Court as she argued the case.

God, I hope we can revisit this case someday to overturn it! Such an injustice!

Mass on Vacation

Our family will be going to Florida for a week, and I just figured out where we'll be going for Sunday Mass (and possibly the rest of the week, too).

I'm very excited! :)

Saints Christopher and Nicholas, please watch over us as we travel.

Crown of Thorns

In my Lenten Bleg post, I mentioned that I wanted to make a crown of thorns for Lent. Esther was kind enough to remind me that the project was posted at Elena's blog, and I snatched the recipe right quick and we made the crown last night. Already, the girls are trying to figure out ways to pull out thorns.

Here are some pictures of the project.

4 cups of flour and 1 cup of salt

Ready to brew some strong tea (I used just under two cups) to make the dough. Tea was used for color.

Toothpicks cut in half. I had more than 100 of these tiny things for the girls to poke into the dough.

The toughest part was braiding it!

Finished product after cooking for more than an hour at 300 degrees (pre-heated). **SPECIAL NOTE** You will want to let it cool in the oven so that it doesn't crack. Ours sat overnight and was still not completely cool, but close enough.

It's still a bit undercooked, but it will finish hardening over the next day or so.

Recent Sunset

This picture doesn't quite do it justice, but the cloud formation of this sunset was stunning. Hopefully, you can see the zig-zags in the clouds that seem to fade into a single point behind the mountains.

I caught this as I was coming down my street the evening of February 9.

A Better Bible Quiz

There was a Bible Quiz that went around St. Blog's a while back. EASY. Yes, I got 100%, but seriously, some of the answers were just plain ridiculous. I was nearly embarrassed to post it.

This quiz is a lot harder, and I admit to guessing on a few of them. But I'm pretty happy with the results. (Let's see if I can stick with my promise to read the daily Mass readings and get to know the Bible even better.)

You are 82% Scripture literate!

You are a Pseudo-Bible scholar. Good job, apparently you actually read the good book every once in a while.

The Adult Bible Quiz
Create a Quiz

Found at Rafting the Tiber and Happy Catholic.

[picture credit]

Lenten Carnival

Lent begins only 25 minutes from the time I am typing this post. (Man, I've got to get some sleep!)

Tonight, I offer you the Catholic Carnival, number 107! (I have missed posting the last two. Sorry!)

Check out the entire thing, being hosted at To Jesus Through Mary.

And, as always, any other Catholic bloggers out there can participate in the Catholic Carnival, too. Details on how to do that are here.

[picture credit]

Pa Beck Lassos a Stork!

Ma and Pa Beck really are Ma and Pa now!

Go check out the beautiful pictures of Mary Elizabeth and offer your congratulations!

(You might also notice that Ward Wide Web has been moved from Catholic Laity to Catholic Moms in my blogroll.)

Lenten Bleg

Someone posted a wonderful project for Lent that consisted of making a crown of thorns with bread dough and toothpicks, which is baked until hard and then the toothpicks are taken out when good deeds are done (to show that it eases Christ's sufferings when we do as He asks).

I cannot for the life of me find that post or an article on the project. If you've done this project as a family, could you please leave a message in the com boxes here so that I can do said project with my girls?

Thanks a million!

Update on Meanest Woman Award

Yesterday, the girls were in better spirits. I guess they woke up thinking, "How can Mommy REALLY throw away our favorite toys?"

After breakfast, I let them know that most of school was going to be writing. Little Girl had to write "I will obey Mommy and Daddy" 25 times. Big Girl had to write it 50. When they were finished with that, I said, and they apologized, then they could (a) have back their toys, and (b) watch TV or movies with the family.

Little Girl was the happiest penatent I've ever seen. "I want to write my sentences!" She will be such a joyful confessor, I'm sure. Just a little under two years for that! She apologized as soon as I said I expected it, finished writing before dinner, and went to bed snuggling Brown Cinderella Bear happily.

Big Girl didn't quite finish yesterday, but put her page on a clipboard on her desk. "That way, I can make my bed in the morning and do it right away," she informed us. She went to bed without Baby, but with a smile, knowing that she'll get her back sometime today.

And, though Big Girl still has a few doubts that I really loved her when I threatened to throw away Baby, she isn't angry any more. Oh, and she apologized before going to sleep, too.

Life was good once again!

Heard Last Weekend from the Living Room

Little Girl: Grandma, come and sit with me on the Love Couch.

Soccer Grandma: The Love Couch?

Little Girl: Yes. This little one is the Love Couch. That one (points to full-sized sofa) is the Hugs Couch.

Lent

Lent, these days, seems to be more about doing something extra rather than giving something up. While it is always good to do something extra (say a daily Rosary, go to daily Mass, pray the Stations of the Cross on a regular basis, etc.), it is still important for us to remember that Lent is also a time of sacrifice.

A long time ago, not only was there fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, there was no meat or dairy eaten for the entire Lenten season. "OH, we can't eat meat on Fridays!" Well, really, we shouldn't be doing that all year long anyway. Yes, you read that right. The Friday penance wasn't lifted. It was amended, however, to say that if you ate meat on Friday, you should do some kind of penance instead. I know, I know. I didn't hear that at all growing up, and I actually told people that it had changed. Vatican II, you know. Just like Vatican II says to turn around the altar and stop using bells at Mass. (Can you guess that it doesn't say that, either?)

Anyway...once upon a time, there was no meat or dairy at all during Lent. Now, I have to say that if I did THAT, it would be a very long Lent. I don't think the family could go the whole time without meat (and certainly not without dairy! I have growing girls, you know!), plus I'm not very keen on cooking two sets of food for every meal.

So what to do for Lent? I was pressing the girls to think of something to do, but then heard Al Kresta discussing how his wife would just pick something for the kids (still does), and that his older kids are now starting to add to whatever mom picks for them. Hmmmm...

When Hubby decided two years ago to give up something for Lent, he mentioned his derth of ideas. Knowing what a chocoholic he is, I said, "How about chocolate?" (I'd actually been fasting from chocolate for nearly a year by then.)

His answer was, "I CAN'T DO THAT!"

To which I said, "Your answer kind of points to that as the best thing to give up, sweetie."

So he gave up chocolate. Not easy for a man who puts chocolate syrup in his coffee and occasionally eats chocolate chips right out of the bag, you know. (I think he learned that last one from me.)

What we give up is supposed to be something we really like. We're not supposed to give up brussel sprouts if we don't eat them, cigarettes if we don't smoke them, or running if we don't step foot outside to go anywhere unless it's in the car. Lent is supposed to be a stretch. The sacrifice we make is supposed to help us to live the First Commandment better. Don't think you can give up coffee for 40 days? Not even for God? Are you sure you're not making it a god?

Our family will be, collectively, giving up chocolate. Hubby finds this really hard, year after year. I will find it difficult, too, especially since I started eating chocolate a year ago Christmas after having none of it for about 18 months. (Hey, yogurt is WAY yummier if you put chocolate chips in it! And have you ever had a peppermint mocha??) The girls aren't keen on my idea, Big Girl less so than Little Girl. All of Lent without chocolate milk? Without chocolate chips for the yogurt? Without ice cream with chocolate? (This is better than Big Girl's first ideas, which are usually giving up school or giving up sleeping with Baby. Little Girl can't get any ideas except for giving up using straws.)

So, as you are considering Lent, remember that it is definitely a fine thing, a very good thing, to do something extra. We'll try to make it to daily Mass, say a Rosary daily, pray the Stations of the Cross every Friday (did you know there is an indulgence for that?). But sacrifices made for God, sacrifices that will help us to place God more at the center of our lives, are also very good things. And a difficult sacrifice makes for a better offering than one that takes little difficulty to make. It's the difference between a child going to his father with a Father's Day gift he made by hand over several days and another going to the same father with something he borrowed $5 from mom to pick up at the store Saturday afternoon. Will the father love the child who grabbed something from the store less? No, but the hand-made, time-cionsuming gift might be a bit more pleasing. It has more meaning to it.

Consider your sacrifice as a gift to you Father, and put some effort into it! Stretch! Make it hard! When it's all over, you'll be happier with yourself than if you did something small and easy.

The Meanest Woman in the World

That is what Big Girl just called me about half an hour ago. You see, about an hour ago, I sent the girls up to brush teeth and pick up the toys they'd left on the floor. There weren't a lot, so when I heard them fooling around, I figured that they'd done what I'd asked and they were just jumping around and being silly.

When I went upstairs, I discovered that they were not in their room (which was fine) and that they had not picked up a SINGLE TOY in their room (which was NOT fine).

So I calmly got a trash back and started picking up for them. *wicked grin*

You have to understand that lately they have been completely ignoring me when I ask them to do something. So I decided that actions have consequences (actually God decided that) and that I'd show them some consequences.

Among the toys to go into the trash bag were their very best and favorite lovies, Baby and Brown Cinderella Bear. We cannot go on a trip without them. When we were being packed, Brown Cinderella Bear was accidentally put into a box, and we had to go to Target at ten o'clock at night to buy a substitute (which has been given down to the next cousin born since then). We have had near-hysterics over not finding Baby in time for bed.

Needless to say, when Big Girl stated, "I think I left Baby downstairs," and I answered, "No, I think she's in the trash now," immediate zero-to-sixty hysterics ensued.

Little Girl snuggled up under the covers and smiled up at me sweetly. "What about Brown Cinderella Bear?" she asked. "She's with Baby."

Again, zero-to-sixty.

I calmly stated that we'd discuss it more in the morning, that my mind isn't made up. I kissed them both, repeatedly informed them that, no, I still love them (that is a first!), but that they have to pay the consequences. "We'll talk about Baby and Brown Cinderella Bear in the morning."

And so I am now The Meanest Woman in the World. And I guess I will remain so until the Big Discussion tomorrow.

Just Because I Could...

I made another poster. Same site, this time with my own picture.

Motivation for Lent

Created here. Picture found here.

(sidenote: I am posting this at the top of my blogs just because I'm please with how it turned out, and it can't hurt to remind myself what I'm fasting and doing penance for.)

Relics and Healing

Some people might wonder why Catholics believe that God can work through relics and other objects. Well, it's mostly because it's true. For example, we have from the Bible, this verse:

Acts 19:11-12.

God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.

So there is evidence, even from the earliest times in Church history, that God can and does work miracles through physical objects.

And so, when I read this story at Maureen Wittmann's blog, I can only respond with an "AMEN!" and "PRAISE GOD!"

Let me give you a sampling, then I encourage you to head over to her blog for the rest.

The children had just finished their 4-H archery practice in the backyard of Coach Schafer. They put away the equipment in the shed and began to run and play in the front yard. After I figured the children had burned off enough energy, I called them to get in the van. As Buster climbed into the front seat his friend slammed the door after him. Unfortunately, he slammed too quickly and caught four of Buster's fingers in the door.

Buster fell out of the van, screaming and rolling in the front yard. If this had been another child, I might have chalked it up to overacting, but Buster is the kind of kid who can come in from an ice hockey game with blood pouring from his forehead and not even notice.

I jumped out of the driver's seat and ran to him. I held him tight in my lap, trying to figure out how and where he was hurt. I could see him holding his fingers in his other hands. Once I was able to persuade him to let me look at the fingers, I could see deep indentations across all four of them. I knew they were broken.

Meanwhile, Coach Schafer's wife came out of the house and was sitting in the grass with me. She asked if it was okay to pray over Buster. "Yes, definitely!" I exclaimed. She then remembered she had a handkerchief in the house blessed by a priest known for healing. She ran in, got the handkerchief and brought it to Buster. She wrapped it around his hands and prayed that Jesus would heal him. ...

The rest will leave you in awe.

Happy Valentine's Day

...to my sweetheart. Thanks for loving me even when I'm unlovable. I thank God for you every day!

Love Quiz (UPDATED)

(UPDATE: Christina let me know that she changed the title of the quiz and the url. Both have been fixed.)

Christina Martin has a GREAT love quiz up. (She calls it "Time to Hitch that Horse to a Carriage? A quiz for the ladies".)

It's not the questions (which I'll snag to post here), it's the ANSWERS that are so fantastic! After reading these, head over to the rest of the post and check out her evaluation of the answers.

Answer each question as honestly as you can. Then read below to find out how to score. Don't peek ahead!

The Questions

1. Do you feel ready for marriage?

2. Is he good marriage material?

3. Does he inspire you to be a better person?

4. Do you inspire him to be a better person?

5. How does he feel about having children?

6. What things about him would you like to change?

7. Does he lift heavy things for you?

8. Are you physically attracted to him?

9. Does he admire you ridiculously?

10. Is he the one you can't live without, that you are absolutely certain you can spend a whole life with?

Who Was Saint Valentine?

Today we celebrate the feast day of Saint Valentine of Rome, a Catholic Saint. Really. Today is not about buying the most expensive gift possible (a $300 iPod?!? a GPS system??? roses that have been marked up 200% for this week only?!??). It's not about being vile and offensive (listen up, radical feminists who have tried to steal our day with your disgusting "play").

Today we remember a saint who was imprisoned for giving comfort to martyrs in prison. He was a priest, possibly a bishop. He worked a miracle for the jailer's daughter, restoring her sight, and this action converted the jailer himself. Saint Valentine of Rome was a martyr himself; he was beaten and beheaded in the third century. [source: Patron Saint Index]

New Advent's Catholic Encyclopedia says this about Saint Valentine:

At least three different Saint Valentines, all of them martyrs, are mentioned in the early martyrologies under date of 14 February. One is described as a priest at Rome, another as bishop of Interamna (modern Terni), and these two seem both to have suffered in the second half of the third century and to have been buried on the Flaminian Way, but at different distances from the city. In William of Malmesbury's time what was known to the ancients as the Flaminian Gate of Rome and is now the Porta del Popolo, was called the Gate of St. Valentine. The name seems to have been taken from a small church dedicated to the saint which was in the immediate neighborhood. Of both these St. Valentines some sort of Acta are preserved but they are of relatively late date and of no historical value. Of the third Saint Valentine, who suffered in Africa with a number of companions, nothing further is known.

Catholic Online had this information:

The origin of St. Valentine, and how many St. Valentines there were, remains a mystery. One opinion is that he was a Roman martyred for refusing to give up his Christian faith. Other historians hold that St. Valentine was a temple priest jailed for defiance during the reign of Claudius. Whoever he was, Valentine really existed because archaeologists have unearthed a Roman catacomb and an ancient church dedicated to Saint Valentine. In 496 AD Pope Gelasius marked February 14th as a celebration in honor of his martyrdom.

The first representation of Saint Valentine appeared in a The Nuremberg Chronicle, a great illustrated book printed in 1493. [Additional evidence that Valentine was a real person: archaeologists have unearthed a Roman catacomb and an ancient church dedicated to Saint Valentine.] Alongside a woodcut portrait of him, text states that Valentinus was a Roman priest martyred during the reign of Claudius the Goth [Claudius II]. Since he was caught marrying Christian couples and aiding any Christians who were being persecuted under Emperor Claudius in Rome [when helping them was considered a crime], Valentinus was arrested and imprisoned. Claudius took a liking to this prisoner -- until Valentinus made a strategic error: he tried to convert the Emperor -- whereupon this priest was condemned to death. He was beaten with clubs and stoned; when that didn't do it, he was beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate [circa 269].

There are other saints who share this day as their feast day, too. Two of them are ones Big Girl learned about in school last year, Saints Cyril and Methodius.

Saint Valentine's Day Jokes

From today's Good, Clean Funnies. Note: The non-capitalization of Valentine was in the original. (I haven't forgotten that this is actually the feast day for a Catholic saint!)

What would you get if you crossed a dog with a valentine card?
A card that says, "I love you drool-ly!"

What did the painter say to her boyfriend?
"I love you with all my art!"

What does a man who loves his car do on February 14?
He gives it a valenshine!

What did the man with the broken leg say to his nurse?
"I've got a crutch on you!"

Did you hear about the romance in the tropical fish tank?
It was a case of guppy love.

What do you call two birds in love?
Tweethearts!

What do you call a very small valentine?
A valentiny!

What did Frankenstein say to his girlfriend?
"Be my valenstein!"

What do farmers give their wives on Valentine's Day?
Hogs and kisses!

Why did the pig give his girlfriend a box of candy?
It was Valenswine's Day!

Do skunks celebrate Valentine's Day?
Sure, they're very scent-imental!

What did the paper clip say to the magnet on Valentine's Day?
"I find you very attractive."

What did the French chef give his wife for Valentine's Day?
A hug and a quiche!

What did one pickle say to the other?
"You mean a great dill to me."

Why do valentines have hearts on them?
Because kidneys would look pretty gross!

What did one light bulb say to the other?
"I love you a whole watt!"

What did the caveman give his wife on Valentine's Day?
Ughs and kisses!

What did the bat say to his Valentine?
"You're fun to hang around with."

What did the chocolate syrup say to the ice cream?
"I'm sweet on you!"

Why should you send your sweetie a valentine?
Because you always heart the one you love!

What did the elephant say to his Valentine?
"I love you a ton!"

What would you get it you crossed a blonde with the God of love?
A stupid cupid!

Why did the cannibal break up with his Valentine?
She didn't suit his taste!

Why I'm Silent

I was busy this weekend entertaining, sort of. You see, on Saturday, Hubby made his Second and Third Degrees in a town about an hour or so from here. My parents flew up after finding an AMAZING deal on getting into the Very Small Airport we live near. Seriously. Just under $200 for BOTH of them, round-trip!

Anyway, Soccer Grandma (that would be my mom) and The Amazing Pa Pa were here from late Friday until late Monday. I think it will take the whole time between now and when we go to Florida to visit my family to deprogram the children! LOL! (Just kidding, mostly.)

But on Monday night, while Hubby dropped off my parents at the airport, I had my first Big Meeting with the Respect Life Committee at our parish. VERY light attendance (due to weather, I hope!), but two new members who were FULL of wonderful ideas! It's all very exciting!

More details to follow, but for now I really ought to see what the girls have been up to while I've been doing the taxes. They got very quiet again, and sometimes that means trouble.

iPod Meme

Okay, an open tag and a new iPod for Christmas means that I get to do this meme! HA!

Snatched from Housewife in Flip-Flops, who has a spiffy new computer.

Here's what you do: Go to your music player of choice and put it on shuffle. Say the following questions aloud, and press play. Use the song title as the answer to the question. NO CHEATING.

How does the world see you? "Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue" by Toby Keith. Oof. I'm seen as jingoistic, I guess. And wanting to kick terrorist butt.

Will I have a happy life? "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd. I'll be happy as long as I live in the South? Well, my life has improved since I left NJ...

What do my friends really think of me? "There Goes My Life" by Kenny Chesney. Yup. That's what every guy thinks when they see me. Sure. Because somehow between high school and now I've become desirable? LOL!

Do people secretly lust after me? Oh, now this is interesting. "Introit: Gaudeamus" by The Monastic Choice of the Abbey of Saint Benedict. I guess that means ... NO.

How can I make myself happy? "Genius in France" by Weird Al. Um...this song is about someone who is completely moronic, but is considered a genius in France, so he moves there. I'm not sure, but I think my iPod just insulted me.

What should I do with my life? Okay, I have them already, but the song that comes up is another Weird Al one (from Poodle Hat) called "Trash Day." And guess what? It IS trash day!

Will I ever have children? I have children, and I'm really not sure what this song means in relation to it. "Kerosene" by Miranda Lambert. Angry, cheated-on chick wants to torch boyfriend's house? Holy cow, someone warn Hubby!

What is some good advice for me? Back into the Gregorian Chant stuff with the monastic choir. "Responsory: Sancte Pater Benedicte" (Blessing from Holy Father, says my very-beginning Latin abilities.) Do what God tells me, maybe? Always good advice!

How will I be remembered? I think that the shuffle on my iPod really likes that Poodle Hat album. "Why Does This Always Happen to Me?" A song about a person who complains about small things when worse stuff is happening to other people. Hmmm... Bad sign for me.

What is my signature dancing song? Yeah, I'm about this good. More Gregorian Chant. "Hymn: Claris Conjubilia Gallia Laudibus" Same monastic choir. Again, not exactly a dancing song! (I actually added these on my iPod because they are soothing, and I can pray while I listen. I used them on the bus trip to the March for Life to lull my very-excited Big Girl to sleep.)

What do I think is my current theme song? "Cult of Personality" by Living Colour. Wow. That doesn't say much good about me, huh? But it's a kickin' song!

What does everyone think my current theme song is? "New York, New York" by Frank Sinatra. Wow, my grandparents would love that! I do really love NYC, though. Great place to visit.

What song will play at my funeral? "You're the Inspiration" by Chicago. May I actually BE an inspiration for good things!

What type of men / women do you like? "When I Think About Cheatin'" by Gretchen Wilson. Um...golly, I don't actually think about cheating.

What is my day going to be like? "One Hot Mama" by Trace Adkins. Wow! That is really COOL! Maybe those new jeans from Wal Mart will fit really well! LOL

I'll leave an open tag, too. Leave a link if you do it, please. :)

If you have a moment to browse, please check out my storefront, which you can find here. You can find everything from health and beauty (meaning vitamins, supplements, diet and weight loss stuff, and makeup & skincare products) to home care (meaning cleaning stuff and laundry stuff that I think totally ROCKS!), plus a lot of stuff in between.

Just a thought. Excellent vitamins and supplements, too.

As Bartles and James used to say, thank you for your support! ;)

Battle of the Toothpaste Tube

It never fails. Hubby and I each try not to be the one who uses the very last of the toothpaste in a tube. We squeeze out more than seems possible, and hope that the other one has to throw away the tube and open the new pack.



I lost this time.

A Smorgasborg of Links

I have a bunch of older posts that I've saved on my Bloglines account, some of which are just there to be shared, others that I've saved to read later. Here are a bunch of them.

1. Catholic Pillow Fight had this fantastic quote:

Therefore, in the Catholic view, the use of genital sexuality should be limited to the married, not because 'sex is dirty and we have to limit the spread of it', but because 'sex is holy and the use of it outside of Matrimony is a desecration.'

To the Catholic eye, it's as if someone said, "Gee, you must really hate people eating those little round pieces of bread - you have all these rules about who can get them, and you lock away the leftover ones in a box so that nobody can get at them otherwise ! Why not just let them lie around, so that anybody can have a snack whenever they want ?" -- Donna Marie Lewis

2. The Anchoress posted a few videos of old-school gymnasts.

3. I haven't gotten to read these yet, but I really like Maureen Wittmann, which is why I bookmarked this post from Nancy Brown.

4. Ignatius Insight (the blog for Ignatius Press) had a slew of goodies recently.

a. How converts see the Blessed Mother. (Chesterson!)
b. Fantasy and philosophy in the writings of Tolkien and Lewis.
c. The never-ending Left Behind series.
d. Were the Dark Ages really all that dark?
e. Evangelicals are beginning to see Mary as more than a prop at Christmastime.
f. George Weigel comments on ad orientum.

(Whew! I've got some catching up to do at Ignatius!)

5. Ironic Catholic reminds us to nominate Catholic blogs for the annual Catholic Blogging awards. (I am totally not fishing for compliments here. See my blogroll for some very worthy blogs.)

6. Musings from a Catholic Bookstore gives us a list of 100 books every Catholic parish library should have. I wonder how many our parish has?

7. Joel would like to vote for this guy.

8. Jay has a link to an interview with Sam Brownback.

9. Paul has a video that will have your jaw hanging open. Ever wonder about why your kids can't add or multiply easily? I'm glad I homeschool!

10. The Ward Wide Web has a post up about how the Mass is a mini-Catechism. I have only skimmed it so far, but I'll be saving it to finish reading later.

Golly, there's more, but I have things to do today!

I'm Rooting for the Colts...

...but I still think this is funny!

Accidental Science Experiments

I bought a bunch of potatoes for Thanksgiving, but didn't use all of them. I also bought a Chernobyl Sweet Potato to make mashed sweet potatoes, but I never really got around to it. When I went into the pantry for an onion last night for beef fajitas, I discovered this:

The kids were fascinated! Big Girl was a bit disappointed that we didn't save them for planting so we could grow our own potatoes and sweet potatoes. Aside from reading Farmer Boy, I haven't ever learned how potatoes are planted or grown. But this looked VERY cool!