Hoops are back!

We had a wonderful dirt basketball court in our backyard in Columbia. I used it more than anyone as the boys were still pretty young, they were just starting to use it when we moved.

There was a hoop here, but it was mounted on a telephone pole overlooking what is our garden. No good. But I didn't move it for a long time.

Several weeks ago we finally took it down, and this afternoon we relocated it to another telephone pole. This will turn into another wonderful dirt court. (Dirt is easier on the ball and your knees than hardtop.) Now all we have to do is find the pump for the basketball....

Each year as I approach this blog's anniversary (October 18th) I start looking back at posts from the early days. On October 25, 2004 I wrote in part-and this was addressed to Mrs. Curley:

Soon I will finish building the pantry so you have a place to store the food; soon I will take a look at that toilet that rocks precariously; in just a few days I will patch and paint that section overhead where the plaster keeps falling off; and the washer drain .... sooner than you think.

So in three years, how have I done?

Well, the pantry has been finished for a couple years anyway. The toilet (after many false fixes) was replaced (along with the floor) this past spring. The overhead section with loose plaster is unchanged. And the washer drain-finally (again after many false fixes) was taken care of this past spring.

I'm am glad I kept the list short three years ago so my batting average looks okay 3 years hence. As a matter of fact, most of the fixes accomplished were documented here. There is much more to do-some of promised 3 years ago or more...

The Rosary

It is said that if you are not in the habit of saying the rosary daily and you pick up the habit-be bold in your requests in the early days of your new-found practice as our Lady will grant these requests to solidify the habit.

This past Sunday was Respect Life Sunday and many "life-chains' were formed around our state (and I assume around the country.) I'll bet many rosaries were said at these events. There was no "life-chain" in our immediate area, so our parish opted for a rosary after Mass in the Church.



Sunday was also the feast of the Our Lady of the most Holy Rosary-celebrating the victory at Lepanto through the intercession of our Lady. For the second year in a row we were hoping to release our first children's book on this date, which is about Our Lady of Victory (of the Most Holy Rosary)-but haven't had the money to print it (it being full color, the cost structure is different.) Maybe by Christmas?




But tribulations on getting this book printed is an aside and not the object of my post this morning.


No, this weekend, on the anniversary of the miracle at Fatima, our diocese is having its 5th annual Rosary celebration in Kingstree, SC-home of the Shrine of Our Lady of South Carolina-of Joyful Hope. I mentioned it before and will be writing about it the rest of this week, and reporting on it next week.

As this year was proclaimed by Bishp Baker (now of Birmingham) as the "year of the family" in our diocese, families are the theme of this celebration. Bishop Baker returns from Birmingham to celebrate the Mass (10:30 AM). Holy Cross Father John Phelan will give the homily. Since the shrine itself is tiny, the Mass will be outdoors at the Kingstree Recreational Park, just down the street.

We are honored that altar boys from my parish are serving the Mass. Picnic lunch (bring your own) follows the Mass.

We've been looking forward to this for a long time. If you are in the area-come and see.

Oremus pro invicem!

Short announcements

I have posted our yearly deep discounts on Daily Prayers for the Church Suffering on our website with details on the booklet at my other blog in preparation for November-praying for the holy souls in purgatory.

We give these books away free with every order to encourage prayer for these poor souls. The 500 quantity discount is practically at cost-when you consider you get free shipping at this quantity. So take advantage: get one for yourself and distribute some to others. Don't worry, I'm sure I'll remind you all again.

And I have a new post up at The Patent Agent.

Enjoy!

Cast Away

Saw it last night for the first time. We were only going to watch an hour of it (Mrs. Curley had got from the library several weeks ago-its probably overdue), but forgot the time and watched the whole thing.

I am not a Tom Hanks fan. I appreciate that he is a very talented actor-I just don't ever seem to like the character he plays or the movies he plays in. (There is one exception, but it slips my mind at the moment.)

Cast Away once again shows his talent. Warning-spoilers ahead if you haven't seen it (by now-it came out in 2000?).

Hanks is an always in a hurry FedEx troubleshooter. He gives his girlfriend a ring on Christmas right before he is called away on business. The airplane crashes and Hanks is the sole survivor, washing ashore on an uninhabited (by man or beast) island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Here he stays for 4+ years, learning how to start a fire, fish, pull his own teeth etc. What keeps him going? The movie gives at least two answers.

First, the one possession he manages to keep is a pocket watch given to him by his girlfriend, and which has her picture in it. He looks to it constantly for hope and draws her picture on the wall of the cave.

Secondly, there is the package. Many FedEx packages wash up on the island. At first he just gathers them, but eventually he opens them-all but one. It seems he is determined to leave it unopened and deliver it.

To keep his sanity he "makes friends" with a volleyball on which he has painted a face in blood. This is "Wilson".

After 3 years he tries to commit suicide by hanging-"to do the one thing I still had control over"-yet he tests the branch first with a log on a rope and it breaks-so he can't even do this. This would have been the perfect spot for a conversion-realizing he has no control over anything: God does. But unfortunately God is absent from the film.

For example, earlier when he buries the dead washed up body of a crew member of the plane, he stands by the grave and says, "Well, that's it." He offers no prayer.

He doesn't find God on the island-so it seems the movie has no purpose-except maybe the package.

He does eventually return to civilization and find his girl married with children. They have feelings but realize they can't go back. The movie ends with Hanks delivering the package-the implication is that this was the whole purpose-for the recipient is an attractive women.

On the island is by far the best of the movie. Once Hanks returns to civilization, the movie drags-fortunately it is almost over.

But really, it was esthetically disappointing-not that I am looking for Christianity to be beaten into the viewers, but it doesn't make sense to me that this man would not determine some relationship with God after 4+ years on the island-especially after his bout with despair.

Thus, here again is a well-acted Tom Hanks movie where I just can't relate.

Garden Report and other things

Update: Noticed some spinach coming up, so I planted another row. Also transplanted the brocolli (started indoors), although I may have been a bit late with it. Otherwise, here's the rest of what went in the ground today: 1 row radishes, 2 rows of turnip greens, and 4.5 rows of turnips. I think all the space is used. We took off the last three peppers yesterday but still are getting tomatoes from one plant.

The turnips and radishes are flourishing. I planted the first round of carrots 35 days ago and nary a sign of them. (The carrot seeds came from several different sources, so its not the seeds.) I planted 5 rows of spinach and may have one plant. But I have turnips and radishes galore (the two things no one likes - yet; I have a feeling we will get used to them this winter.)

I am planting the rest of the fall garden this morning as soon as the sun rises. Guess what? I am going to stick with what works. You guessed it: radishes and turnips.

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As a kid several of us worked a garden every year. I always grew cucumbers (the yield was so great my mother used to make me eat them as snacks), miniature watermelons and cantaloupes. Even as miniatures, my watermelons never quite finished growing by the first frost. I think I got a cantaloupe or two. I used to also have some green beans. Usually I planted enough to have one or two servings.

One sister grew radishes every year. Only she and my father would eat them. Another sister only grew flowers. Its funny that as I recall now, the garden was on the South side of the house. I am sure this wasn't planned, it just happened that way.

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Here is a picture of the house I grew up in. We lived here for my whole life. (My Mom still lives here.) This picture was taken about 8 months before I was born and just few months after my family moved in.

Notice the sheets hanging in the front picture window. The curtains hadn't arrived yet.

As I recall (being told) there were few houses on the street when the family moved in. The woods you see behind the house provided many hours of fun until my sister saw a rattlesnake there (confirmed by the snakeskin recovered at some later time.)

Also, as I recall, the garage was supposed to be under the living room (picture window) not under the bedrooms. The builder got that and a couple other things backwards. The garage windows suffered breakages every winter when we played street hockey in the driveway.

It was a good house with lots of good memories.

Oremus pro invicem!

Available ...

... for pre-order at our website :

Don't forget to check out the author's blog as mentioned below. It is worth the read.

Oremus pro invicem!

Library Sale

I mentioned last week that we were going to hit the Camden library sale. Two years ago we went with pocket change and came away with bags and bags of books. This year-being a little better off- we came with a little more money-but went away with few books.

One of the problems is that we got there late. The library sale opens Thursday night for "Friends of the Library" only, and then at 10:00 AM on Friday morning til 5:00 PM for the public. (It is also open on Saturday.) Two years ago we got there in the late morning on Friday. This year we arrived at 4:00 PM on Friday afternoon. So I think alot of the good stuff was gone. Never-the-less we did come away with a few things....

This first one (Christmas Religious Art) I scooped up immediately. We had this book in our house as a child. There is no text except the Gloria on the middle pages. The paintings are full-page. About half the paintings are by George Hinke. He might not be a household name, but I'm betting that if you saw some of his Santa Claus paintings/illustrations, you would recognize them. The book was published by Ideals Magazine-which utilized Mr. Hinke's work quite a bit.

Here is a sample of a painting included in the collection not by Hinke, but by Ludwig Kraus.

I also picked up a book on selling and marketing crafts-I am a sucker for such books, although I have never actually put it into practice.

I bought a book called, "The Art and Science of Taking to the Woods." After spending an hour or so with it, I was not too impressed. It recommends taking your food into your tent unless you are in bear country. I think that is irresponsible and begging for racoons and other wildlife into your tent. It is also has you burying your trash instead of taking it out with you. I'm sure there are some good tips, but clearly it is dated.

One son bought me a book with tips on hunting and fishing is South Carolina. Some of the content I can tell already is very valuable especially in going after bream during the different seasons. I like catching and eating bream more than any other fish.

A couple of the boys bought books on card games. One got a WWII officer's manual. I think Mrs. Curley got a square dance book (with directions, music for songs, and calling instructions.) This may be book we get the most use out of! I think she also got at least one gardening book. I am not sure how many Christmas presents were found (I found one).

We had fun, but wish we had more time and a better selection.

Now back to work.

More stories from the road

I stopped into St. Joseph's Church in Columbia Thursday morning to go to confession. I picked up a brochure for the US Army Chaplain Museum which is at Fort Jackson in Columbia. I believe Chaplain boot camp is held at Fort Jackson. When we used to be parishioners at St. Joseph's, we would often get Catholic chaplain's from the 'Fort' saying Mass on Sundays in the summer.

I am thinking this museum (although I am sure it is small) may be worth a field trip for the altar boys-especially if we can get the Catholic chaplain at Fort Jackson to spend a little time with us while we are there. It is a long way from Lancaster-so maybe I should find something else to do also while we are in town.

A new blog - (not mine)

I have several things I'd like to write about today, but most can wait til later. But while you're waiting, you should really go over and read A Funny Thing Happened. Don't just read the top entry; if you have time, read from the first post. We all like conversion stories-how did you come to the faith? This is a good one. Here's a sample:

With every page of homework, with every meeting with Father B., I began to see the world around me change.

At our third or perhaps fourth meeting, Father B. greeted me, we prayed, and then before he sat down he walked to the library window. It looked out on a rolling lawn that led on one side to a lake and on another to a path that meandered down to the huge white Church. Near the window, close to the priory, a yellow tarp flapped and lifted in the autumn wind, revealing a stack of newly cut wood. Father B. and the other priests had been busily preparing for the winter.

"Does the world around you seem to look different now?" Father B. asked me, turning back from the window. I was surprised. Had he read my mind? "Yes," I said. "And it's a very uncomfortable feeling." After only a few lessons, I felt as if blinders had been removed from my eyes, allowing me to see the world not from my accustomed secular vantage but from a new place, one that considered God before all other created things.

Oremus pro invicem!

Unspeakable crimes

As mentioned in my post below-I was on the road yesterday. Although I understand the bias often associated with National Public Radio reporting, I often find myself listening to NPR as there is not much decent music available and sports talk shows offend (especially the radio ads.) Silence would be better, but sometimes I listen anyway. Yesterday was one of those times.

Yesterday NPR featured a story on female veterans. It cited a VA study which found that 23% of female soldiers reported they were sexually assaulted while in the service. 28% of those being treated at VA facilities reported being raped by their fellow soldiers! The problem (rape by rank-thus reporting rape might possibly go through your rapist's hands) is so prevalent that:

Two years ago, the Department of Defense introduced "restricted reporting," which allows the victim of a sexual assault to bypass chain of command and make a confidential report.

The problem with "restricted reporting" is that no action or investigation is launched against the perpetrator-'restricted reporting' simply allows the victim to get help.

Read the rest of the story online here.

There are many reasons why deploying female soldiers is problematic. Some have to do with morale, some have to do with finances. The most important reasons have to do with the order of creation.

However, no matter how you see the deployment of female soldiers, this report is a disgrace to our country and to our military. But look at the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal in Iraq a few years ago. So is today's story a surprise? (See how they are related in a post from 2005 at Caelum et Terra .) There are stories out there that pornography is encouraged among the soldiers. There is emerging a picture of a culture of sexual immorality in the ranks-which seems to be silently approved of.

Maybe this is a potential outcome when you have an army of professional soldiers instead of a citizen soldiers. The Anti-Federalist papers warned that a strong central government would result in a standing army of professional soldiers, and having such an army at hand would result in more wars.

I am not trying to say that soldiering is not an honorable profession or that we don't have many, many honorable soldiers in our military. However, I do believe that there is a subculture in the military that encourages violence for violence sake-including pornography. When you put women soldiers in that subculture, rape is going to happen frequently and perpetrators will not brought to justice often.

I am not in favor of female soldiers in general as could be gleamed by astute readers of this blog-but it is NOT because I think large numbers of women will be sexually assaulted. I am against the ordinary use of female soldiers because I think it goes against their nature and confuses the nature of man (males). Both of these things are bad for society.

Yet if we must have women soldiers-they must be protected from "friend" and foe alike.

May God have mercy!

Was on the road yesterday ...

doing some consulting work in the city.

When I was employed by industrial Amercia, one of the perks was that my company suscribed to a number of magazines every month. Granted that most of them were engineering oriented towards our particular industry, but some were more generic.

Scientific American was one I read every month-which was very frustrating. The editorial board at SciAm had bought into the culture of death as progress for the betterment of mankind and the environment. I wrote several letters to the editor, none of which were ever published. (This is the only publication I ever have written to which did not publish my letters-maybe the truth was too threatening.)

But my favorite was a quarterly magazine which married my profession (science/engineering/ inventions-I was/am a patent agent with my love-history): Invention & Technology.

I am doing some consulting work at the old company now an then and was there yesterday. So I stopped by the library and picked up a back issue of Invention & Technology and brought it home.

The Spring 2007 issue has a story on 'Revolutionary Restaurants"-or how they developed those restaurants that rotate while you eat. Reading it brought to mind a story from a business trip I made years ago.

I was in Detroit to visit the site of an experimental installation. The restaurant we ate at one night was on the top floor of hotel, overlooking the city. At some point during the meal I turned to my collegue and asked where the men's room was, as he had left the table to go earlier during the meal.

He replied, "It was just over there to your right when I went. I don't know where it is now."

I said, "What do mean, you don't know where it is now? They can't just move it around."

He looked at me strangely and said, "No they aren't moving the bathroom, we are moving!"

Sure enough, we were at one of these rotating restaurants where the outer ring, where the tables are, rotate, while the center is stationary. We had been there for over an hour and I hadn't noticed!

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Will be on the road part of today. First Friday Mass at St. Catherine's-followed by breakfast in the hall. Then instead of returning home, thee is a big "Friends of the Library" book sale in Camden. We went to their sale with a couple dollars and lots of loose change two years ago and came out with bags of books and some reading treasures. (Not that we need more books around here.) The kids love it. They can actually afford the prices. (I am sure they will complete their Christmas shopping today.)

And we finally got some rain around here yesteday (maybe more today.) Thanks be to by God!

Oremus pro invicem!

Devotion to Mary

This is the month of the most Holy Rosary. There was feature article in this week's Catholic Miscellany (Diocese of Charleston weekly) on the Marian Shrine in Kingstree, SC. The focus was Bishop Baker as the whole issue was dedicated to his legacy in our diocese. Here's some of the article:

Bishop Baker fromally established the shrine to Our Lady of South Carolina-Our Lady of Joyful Hope with a canonical decree in March 2006, saying the holy place was created "in order to increase veneration for the Blessed Virgin Mary and to provide more adequately for the spiritual welfare of the Diocese of Charleston."

Father Smolenski noted that the shrine is distinctive because it falls solely under the auspices of the diocese. Most shrines in the United States dedicated to specific saints or Mary are run by religious orders.

"It will be difficult to replace Bishop Baker because of his interest in the presence of Mary in the diocese," said Father Stanley Smolenski, shrine director. "Bishop Baker's devotion to mary is not superficial in any way. It extends from his youth."

Bishop Baker will be celebrating Mass at the Rosary Celebration this year (13 October, 10:30 AM) in Kingstree. Altar boys from my parish have the honor of serving at the Mass. If you are in the area, try to make it.

Oremus pro invicem!

The best place to eat (and other things)

Yesterday there was a doctor's appointment in Columbia. Afterwards, since we don't get in town that much (and since October is our biggest birthday month) we stopped by a bookstore-Books-A-Million. I guess it had been a while since I was in a bookstore. There many new releases I hadn't heard of (including a John Grisham novel about football-Playing for Pizza?-and apparently this isn't even his first foray into sports) and trends I was unaware of.

For instance, a recent big hit is: The Dangerous Book for Boys (I had heard of this one). There seems to be an endless slate of similar books. In fact, in an Amazon.com interview with the author the subject comes up:

Amazon.com: It's difficult to describe what a phenomenon The Dangerous Book for Boys was in the UK last year. When I would check the bestseller list on our sister site, Amazon.co.uk, there would be, along with your book, which spent much of the year at the top of the list, a half-dozen apparent knockoff books of similar boy knowledge. Clearly, you tapped into something big. What do you think it was?

Iggulden: In a word, fathers. I am one myself and I think we've become aware that the whole "health and safety" overprotective culture isn't doing our sons any favors.

Related to this trend is the nostalgia cover. I saw many covers which looked like they came right out of the 1940's and 1950's.

And then there was a whole slate of woodworking books I had no time to look through.

I was pleasantly surprised at the good selection of Catholic books available. There were several Ignatius Press titles along with the Catholic 'best sellers'-John Allen's book on Opus Dei and Scott Hahn's series of books from Doubleday. (No Requiem Press titles by the way-but I knew that going in.)

Speaking of Dr. Hahn, I have had Surprised by Truth hanging around here for a long time but never picked it up. I knew several of the prominent Protestant ministers who converted to the Catholicism had gone to Gordon-Conwell Seminary in MA-but am amazed at the numbers: Marcus Grodi, Dr. Hahn, Steve Wood, Gerry Matatics, are there others? At one point during Steve Wood's journey home, he talks with a priest who taught at Gordon-Conwell when it was a Carmelite-run school for boys. They used to pray for vocations there before they closed shop and sold it to the seminary folks. Interesting.....

Okay-how about that best place to eat---It isn't the bookstore.

We very seldom go out to eat, but if we do, we always end up at the same place: The Camden House of Pizza. It is a Greek pizza house and has marvelous pizza (I get mine with no sauce, but even their pizza with sauce rates better than I've had.) They are very friendly. I remember the first time we went there, long before we moved to Bethune (Camden is about 1/2 way between Columbia and Bethune) the young kids got excited because there was a small painting of the Last Supper in the kitchen, which you can see into from the tables. It is a family restaurant and just a joy to eat at-and the food is great (our favorite pizza and at a good price.) And I always have a Greek beer when I am there also. I am not sure if it is so good because it just is or because usually if we are at the Camden House of Pizza it has been a long day in the city and the beer is so welcome. Who knows? I just enjoy it.

Okay, onward....Oremus pro invicem!

varia

Took a walk this morning with our dog in our neighbor's woods. I was coming up on 3 deer; I was about 20-30 feet from them when my dog finally noticed them and barked, driving them into the wood.

I know deer skirt the edges of our property because I see the tracks. If I want one (in season of course) I am going to have to camp out there over night.

It was very crisp this morning-just how I like it.

Today we officially lose Bishop Baker to Birmingham, AL. (Although he will back in less than 2 weeks for the Rosary Celebration at Our Lady of South Carolina Shrine in Kingstree.) We need to start praying for a strong and holy bishop.

Feast of the Guardian Angels today and I literally just found out I will be a godparent again. So I will pray that my soon-to-be godson's guardian angel keeps a close watch on him.

Oremus pro invicem!

I know I am about to offend several classes of people

First they let females become cadets. Then they banned prayers before meals. Now....

(according to Readers Digest-but note I couldn't confirm it on The Citadel website) The Citadel, following the lead of Notre Dame, is offering alumni the chance to have their ashes kept perpetually on campus in a memorial wall.

Mrs. Curley tells me that I can't relate these three things (especially, she said, because the ash thing is 'guy idea'.) But I can relate them-just see:

By admitting females into the corp of cadets, The Citadel fundamentally changed its nature and purpose. By banning prayer before meals, it starting losing its soul. Now with a changed nature and purpose, The Citadel gropes around like a lost child in the dark trying to find itself; in the dark because prayer has been abandoned. Thus initiatives arise which reflect this search for identity through heritage (as well as to raise $$). Follow this: if enough alumni (or should we say alumnAE now?) buy into this, it justifies their continued existence because the change of nature and purpose and loss of soul has been endorsed perpetually by the graduates (in their ashes). (I might try to make the case the school is going to ashes....)

The back-up argument is simply that once you start doing goofy things (like having female cadets and banning of prayer), even more goofy things follow.

Some would change the argument and try to tell me that it wasn't Citadel's fault (i.e., the Citadel was forced by the courts to accept female cadets and to ban prayer before meals.) Whether that is the case or not, it doesn't change the fact that the fundamental nature and purpose of the institution was changed overnight and continues to change...for the worse.

I am sure I have now offended all the female cadets at the Citadel, all the alumnAE who wish their ashes interred there, feminists of all sorts, many people in general who are opting for cremation over traditional burial (although note well that I didn't really address this last topic at all.), and many Citadel alumnI who have decided to accept the fundamental change as "inevitable progress" for whatever rationalization they have become comfortable with.

(Really though, I am NOT bitter.) Now, I have spent way, way too much time on this.

Oremus pro invicem!

Took a walk this morning and then planted 5 rows spinach and another row of turnips. (Why the turnips?-because the last ones I planted are doing well. If turnips and radishes are the only things that grow, then that's what I'll learn to like.)

Last year when I taught, I ate 1.5 meals a day and was on my feet all day. Now I eat 3 hearty meals a day and sit in my office most of the time. I think something has to change. One of the reasons I eat all three meals is so I can spend that time with the family. Maybe I can start just sitting, but not eating anything for at least one of those. And walking in the morning should help too. (Not to mention the football.)

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Have a good start on the new catalog. I am trimming it down a bit because I want to make sure it doesn't exceed normal postage. Back to work....

Okay, so I lied...

I am going to tell you every time I update my Patent Agent blog - like I did this morning.

The Weekend

Friday night it was My Darling Clementine with Henry Fonda. Never have cared too much for Henry Fonda films, but this movie is the exception. Of course Victor Mature as Doc Holiday isn't the best Doc Holiday on film-and in fact the unhistorical death of Doc H at the OK corral in this version (denying him his conversion to Catholicism) does not sit well esthetically. But Fonda is a better Wyatt Earp than Kirk Russell, Kevin Costner, or Burt Lancaster for that matter. I agree with Pro Ecclesia that Van Kilmer was the best Doc Holiday.

Saturday morning I weeded the garden. After breakfast I finished the 2-foot chicken wire fence around the garden (posts made of old pallets). The purpose of the fence is to ward off domestic pets, children, and possibly rabbits-although I think the presence of a dog takes care of the latter.

Spent much of the afternoon working in the office while number one and number two sons did some weeding and preparing the next section of garden for planting spinach on Monday (that's today!) by tilling in some chicken litter, peat, and manure.

Sunday after Mass we talked to two friends who are going to Mexico for the feasts of Bl. Juan Diego and Our Lady of Guadalupe. They are trying to talk me into going with them. If I work hard enough, maybe I can swing it. I have prayed before the Shroud of Turin. I'd like to do the same in front of the Tilma-of course I'd like to see it with Mrs. Curley. So maybe we'll wait a bit and go together when the kids are older.

Saturday and Sunday saw our first football scrimmages of the season. Last year number 3 son and I were demolished in every single game by number 1 & 2 sons. (This was departure from the past years when we were pretty evenly matched.) Number 1 & 2 are getting bigger, stronger, and faster. But this year I think we have chance to post a few wins (hopefully the big one at Thanksgiving.) Number 3 son is catching the ball more consistently this year, throwing it further, and running faster. And I proved to the older sons twice yesterday that they still can't catch me from behind (although secretly I think it is psychological). So maybe we can squeak a win here or there without me blowing out my knee.

Boys found a new cache of muscadine grapes-technically not on our property, but technically not on anyone else's either. They are by the road and about 2 feet beyond our property line on the southern side. They picked 5 pounds yesterday in about 15 minutes-and there is more to be had. I'm not sure Mrs. Curley is up for another round of making jam, but I'm thinking that she's thinking of a pie or something. (Have you ever heard of a grape pie????) (Wish we had the tools to make some wine.)

Went to my neighbor yesterday (the one who lost 15 chickens to our dog) to let him know our Barred Rock and Buff Orpingtons are about 8 weeks old and that I'd be obliged if he came over and picked some out some time. What does he say? "I have 104 chickens now-why don't you pick some out of our flock. I have some bantams I'm trying to get rid of-the perfect chicken to train your new puppy against-or take a game hen or two-they're good setters." What a way to turn the tables. Anyway-he may want a couple Buff Orpingtons, so we may trade. But you can't wish for neighbors better than the ones we have on both sides.

Feast of the Little Flower. We have a daughter named for her. If you look at my parents generation, Theresa (Teresa, Therese) is almost as common as Mary. Of course nowadays you are hard pressed to find either. Of my 100 or so students last year in a Catholic high school (about half of which were girls), I had exactly one Mary and not a single Teresa.

Our Theresa has birthday this week. She missed her patron saint's feast by only a few days.

Oremus pro invicem!

It's Great...

when you finally put the book to bed-that is you send it to the printer. The last few days before cutting the string and sending it to the printer are filled with constant 2nd guessing and tweaking-quite stressful because you just want it out the door, but you also want it perfect.

For example, in my last post yesterday I put up the "final cover". Well it's not the same cover that went to the printer today. We did some final changes on both the front and back-see if you can find them here (on the front.)

Next week it will be on the website and will be available for pre-order. And then of course I will be hounding you all to spread the word (or buy some books.)

I think it is a moving story and hopefully will make an impact for saving some babies.