We ate one of our chickens last night. These Rhode Island Red roosters are big enough to feed the whole family on one bird. We actually slaughtered and dressed two birds. I taught my oldest at home how to do it-going through the whole process together in parallel. The bird was one of the best we'd had.

After doing a little research, as suggested somewhere below, we re-mated the rabbits. This time I think I know a little more about it. First, it may have been too cold in December. Secondly, while the buck certainly tried, I didn't look for the "sign" he gives when he has "succeeded". This time when we mated them, he gave the "sign". In two weeks we try again with the same doe. If she resists violently or persistently, then it is a good sign she is pregnant. Stay tuned....

I read Mrs. Curley this (see the story on extraordinary ministers) piece last night. I had her going for a couple minutes, then we both had a good laugh.

And a thought end on this morning:

As, sooner or later, you are bound to stumble upon the evidence of your own personal wretchedness, I wish to forewarn you about some of the temptations which the devil will suggest to you and which you should reject straight away. These include the thought that God has forgotten about you, that your call to the apostolate is in vain, and that the weight of sorrow and of the sins of the world are greater than your strength as an apostle. - None of this is true! (Furrow #141)

I hope some profit comes to you this morning from this little thought. From Bethany, the small holding in Bethune...Oremus pro invicem!

Blessings and odds and ends

Blessings
Last night our kids gave Mrs. Curley and me a great gift. You must understand that until we moved to Bethune, virtually every week for over 2 years, Mrs. Curley and I went on a date-usually dancing to 30's and 40's era music, (as I may have mentioned before). Since moving to Bethune, we have not been 'on a date'. Last night the kids told us that we were invited to dinner for two at 7:30 PM-but we had to "get out of their way" for a couple hours. At 7:30PM one of my sons came upstairs to escort Mrs. Curley into the "restaurant". They had transformed our livingroom/dining room area into a candlelit dining area. The song we had danced to at our wedding was playing in the background (during dinner, a soft collection of classical music played). Dinner consisted of homemade bread (with homemade butter), appetizers of potato skins and homemade cheese sticks. The entrees were a scallop dish for me and shrimp stir-fry for Mrs. Curley. Dessert include brown sugar bars and lemon squares. The youngest children helped served the appetizers and then quietly went to bed. The older children stayed to serve, to clean-up (and to eat any left overs). Except for serving us, the kids stayed away from the dining area and let Mrs. Curley and I talk and enjoy ourselves. The food was excellent! Ironically, this was planned for last week, (we got invitations in the mail!), but the sickness postponed it til last night-which conicidentally was St. Valentine's Memorial. It is comforting to know that our children have enough awareness, even at their young ages, that their parents sometimes need to be taken care of. It is a comfort to me that I know my kids will take care of Mrs. Curley when I am no longer able to....

On a very light note, Mr. Riddle's comment below on Pope John Paul the Great's poetry reminded me of a very funny story I have been meaning to blog for over a month...On January 6th, we took the youth of our parish on a round of Christmas caroling to the parish shut-ins. We also stopped at Fr. John O'Holohan's (our paster) house to sing a few carols. He graciously invited us in. He figured not many of the kids had visited a priest's house before. Now Fr. John is famous for greeting people with "Shalom" as this is the greeting of Christ to us. At some point in time, someone gave Fr. John a little wall plaque which says, "Shalom, y'all!" (probably when they heard he was coming to SC). As he was giving the tour of his house, Fr. John pointed to the plaque and said that he likes to use that word because it is a greeting that Christ actually used. Mrs. Curley suddenly pipes up, asking, "Y'all?, Christ said 'Y'all'? I whispered to her: "Didn't you know, Christ was a southerner?" This is one we will laugh about for years and years.

Odds and ends: As it is quite apparent now, I have been robbed and cheated! Obviously some nefarious plot is afoot. My illustrious blog has been left off the nominations for the 2006 CatholicBlogAwards. Go and vote anyway. Besides I have made a more prestigious appearance, being included in this.

And a final thought: "Those problems which used to overwhelm you and seemed like enormous mountains, disappeared completely. They were solved in a divine way, as when Our Lord commanded the winds and the waters to be calmed. - And to think you still doubted! " [St.Josemaria Escriva-Furrow #119] (That's me the doubter who is continually blessed....)

From Bethany, the small holding in Bethune...Oremus pro invicem!

tagged?

I guess I will play, having been tagged by Corpus Meum:

Four Jobs I’ve Had
Dishwasher
Gas Station Attendent
Patent Agent
Publisher

Four Movies I Watch Over and Over Again
Beau Geste (Gary Cooper version)
Casablanca
Adventures of Robin Hood
The Sound of Music

Four Places I’ve Lived
Norwood, MA
Cleveland, OH
Columbia, SC
Bethune, SC

Four TV Shows I Watch
Haven't watched TV shows in years....

Four Websites I Visit Daily
a bunch of blogs-see sidebar, plus
CatholicExchange
Google

Four Places I’d like to be right now (Besides Heaven)
Right here
Any place in Ireland
Anywhere surrounded by friends and song with a Guiness in hand
In the presence of our Lord, preferably in a beautiful chapel, - anywhere

I tag: The Wandering Moon and anyone else who is so inclined....

Pecan Pie

I forgot to mention the pecan pie my sons made on Sunday. We had got the pecans off the ground at the Camden (SC) Revolutionary War Park about 20 miles from here at least a month or more ago. There is a huge pecan tree and the pecans were literally covering the ground two to three nuts deep around the tree. We gathered as many as we could carry.

On Sunday one son (11) made the bottom crust and the other son (9)made the filling and baked it. (I helped shell pecans for a bit myself.) The pie was excellent. We still have plenty of pecans, but must go back for some more.

From Bethany, the small holding in Bethune...Oremus pro invicem! Sts. Cyril and Methodius-ora pro nobis!

Random Thoughts...

It is 42 (F) in my office this morning. TS, earlier in the winter, had recommended one of those portable heaters. A good suggestion, but I really don't mind the cold so much. I am just funny to look at in bundled in a blanket and my fingers protruding from a pair of gloves with cut-off fingers. (Besides, I don't think the electrical system can take any more appliances up here.) You see, only the downstairs was fixed for the central heat and AC in this house. The woodstove actually used to send up some good heat upstairs, but we had chimney fire last winter (another story) and we haven't got the chimney redone yet. Since the upstairs is basically an attic, we have window air conditioners for my office and (soon) the bedroom upstairs. When the printer in my office is going non-stop, you don't need heat up here. (Of course in the summer, the air conditioner can't keep up with the heat generated by the printer.)

Has anyone read "The Place Within-the poetry of Pope John Paul II"? Actually the title is misleading because all the poems in the collection were written before he became pope, that is, between 1939 and 1978. Some of the poems do not give the year written-which is unfortunate. I am not personally a great reader of poetry-I miss my days in college when for a short time (a semester or two) I learned how to read and appreciate good poetry. But as they say, if you don't use it.... In any event, early in this collection is a poem entitled: Shores of Silence. Here's are a couple pieces from it:

The distance shores of silence
begin at the door. You can not fly there
like a bird. You must stop, look deeper,
still deeper, until nothing
deflects the soul
from the utmost deep......

There, he is there. Only a tremor here,
only words retrieved from nothingness.
Oh-and a particle still remains
of that amazement which will become the essence
of eternity....

It seems to me, that he is talking about contemplative prayer-like that described in "The Cloud of Unkowing".

of Singing and Snow

There are a lot of songs which are not appropriate for use in the Liturgy, which may be, none-the-less, still fun to sing, (depending on your taste). Many of the old spirituals, many of which have Protestant theological undertones, are examples (Just a Closer Walk with Thee, Comin' for to Carry me home, etc, - even Amazing Grace). Unfortunately, all too often songs like these, and even worse, songs from the Glory & Praise book are played at Mass.

There are at least 2 problems with the G&P songs: 1) they are mostly about us and only secondarily, if at all, about praising God; and 2) most are written for piano and guitar-which unfortunately encourages use of the guitar; 3)many of the songs have ranges which half-octave range singers like me, (and I am not alone) can't hit (even if I wanted to), thus the songs turn into a performance by the musicians; 4) (Oh yes, I said only 2 problems...)

Yet one of my children this week made a probably very true observation about the G&P songs. It goes something like this: We are all at some deep level, drawn to sing, and drawn to sing to praise God. Since singing in groups is found so seldom in any place but at Church in this day and age, the songs selected and played by the musicians or 'music minister' become merely a matter of taste-because it is the only outlet for singing, and they sing and play what they know and like best. (Many are converts or group up in the liturgical mess that has been the last 30 or so years.) Many of these songs-while maybe nice around a campfire-have no place at Mass.

Finally, in the same "spirit", you have to read this!

This past weekend I was supposed to travel to NH for my newly born Godson's, (Brendon Christopher), Baptism. A family member was going to share frequent flyer miles and I was all set to go, looking forward to seeing family again and participating in this holy and crucial sacrament. Sickness in the family (as I blogged about all week) last week prevented the trip at the last minute. Turns out, if I had gone, it looks like I would have been snowed in, as New England got more than 2 feet of snow.

We actually had brief flurries here yesterday. Nothing landed-it was in the cooold 40's. In fact, two of the kids were playing tennis at the local courts during the brief "snowstorm".

From Bethany, the small holding in Bethune...Oremus pro invicem!

Saturday Evening

Well, it has been a week of sparse posting. It has been a tough week, with sickness and weather (we had snow flurries!!! yesterday). We decided to knock off our Saturday chores early today (it rained all day anyway) and have a mini-celebration as we are all finally well and together.

After lunch we spent some time rehearsing skits and songs and then met at 2:30 to perform. Two daughters did the "Who's on First"" Abbott and Costello routine. The boys and I sang "O Danny Boy". Mrs. Curley and I danced and sang "Pick a Bale of Cotton". Three sons on Trumpet, Baritone, and clarinet played "When the Saints Go Marching In", etc., etc. Then we took a break while some of the family made homemade pizza. We ate pizza while watching a "classic" Gene Autry western on video. Now we'll say the Rosary and hop in bed. All Saturdays should be such fun...

From Bethany, the small holding in Bethune...Oremus pro invicem!

It never stops. Daughter is home from hospital. Had to take son in as he had an allergic reaction to something he ate-we haven't figured out what yet.

When I did have some time earlier this morning, I happened to wander upon this new blog. The subject of silence, which I blogged about a little below, has many facets. Check it out. (Disclosure: I do know the blog owner, and I think "Stella" will be worth reading.)

From Bethany, the small holding in Bethune...Oremus pro invicem!

Little Things...

This article on CE today is quick reminder of some of those things that build a Catholic culture and a presence of God in your heart.

One last (I hope) post on the stomache bug. Last daughter to recover got dehydrated and is spending night in the hospital to get fluids. Looks like everything is okay-but I promised her that I would mention her on the 'blog'. When I left the hospital this evening she was playing with the controls on the bed and told me that the hospital was "so interesting".

We arise....

Well rested!

While we still have one not quite out of the woods, everyone slept through the night for the first time in a week! Deo Gratias!

Sorry to be pre-occupied with this bug the past few days, but lack of sleep can do that to you. Some religious orders fast from sleep. I think it is harder than fasting from food.

Here's a thought from Furrow by St. Josemaria Escriva:

Optimism? Yes always! Even when things seem to turn out badly: perhaps that is the time to break into song, with a Gloria, because you have sought refuge in Him, and nothing but good can come to you from Him.

I used not to think much of St. Augustine's words that singing was praying twice (do I have that right?). But over the years, I have found that there is something about singing which can direct your whole being to the object of the song in a way that mere words can't. This is why lovers put their words to music, so they can express more fully their feelings. Thus it is so in praying to God. (I am not talking "Say Hey to the Carpenter" here-but true hymns of praise and thanksgiving to God). One day, out of deep distress, I spontaneously broke into song as my words couldn't express either the depth of my distress, nor my thanksgiving to our Lord for His blessings. The problem didn't go away, but after my prayer, I knew the Lord was with me, and I was able to go on.

I have also learned that God wants not only our minds (because this is what I tend to give Him), but also our hearts. Song helps us to give our hearts. This also why the restoration of singing together-whether hymns or folk songs-is important to the restoration of a Christian culture. People need to know how to give their whole being. Music helps us do this. People resist. Singing makes them self-conscious. But this is exactly why it needs to be done-to thrust aside the self in order to give your entire self in song...

From Bethany, the small holding in Bethune...Oremus pro invicem!

After Mass on Sunday, I remarked to Mrs. Curley how the reading from Job had been particularily appropriate for our recent experiences with the stomache bug at Bethany:

Job spoke, saying:

Is not man’s life on earth a drudgery?

Are not his days those of hirelings?

He is a slave who longs for the shade, a hireling who waits for his wages.

So I have been assigned months of misery, and
troubled nights have been allotted to me.

If in bed I say, “When shall I arise?”then the night drags on;

I am filled with restlessness until the dawn.

My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle;

they come to an end without hope.

Remember that my life is like the wind;

I shall not see happiness again.

We still have one down, but I think everyone else is through it...

Stomache bug in full force all night long. Rain all day so far. Am retreating to the office to catch up on work...

Feast of St. Blaise

As a child at St. Catherine of Sienna school in Norwood, MA the priests would go from classroom to classroom on the feast of St. Blaise blessing throats. They only came around for two occasions as I recall: to distribute report cards and on the feast of St. Blaise. For some reason it took me several years to get over my fear of having my throat blessed. I had this impression every year that the candles would be lit when placed around my throat, the priest would slip and I would be burnt. You would think that after the first year I would notice that the candles weren't lit. But the fear came back every year until at least the 4th grade.

Didn't get to Mass this morning (or the past two days for that matter) we still have the stomache thing going around in full force. We do have a couple partial recoveries, but some of the kids are in bad shape-keeping Mrs. Curley and I up at all hours with buckets and towels and changing sheets, etc. Finally we laid out the worst of them on the living room floor on sleeping bags, each with their own bucket. This centralizes the clean-up area. Enought about that....

Have been excerpted the past two days a little bit of John Meehan's "Two Towers" over at my other blog - where he discusses the circumstances surrounding the founding of Magdalen College in Warner, NH. Interesting reading....(and the book is 1/2 price when you buy Russell Shaw's "Catholic Laity in the Mission of the Church" at RequiemPress.)

That's it for now-from Bethany, the small holding in Bethune...Oremus pro invicem!

St. Blaise, ora pro nobis!

We have this stomache thing going on around here. Number 3 son had it last week and is fully recovered. Everyone else but Mrs. Curley and I are down with it now. I had to fetch an egg this morning-hazardous duty I was told as we have a rooster which attacks number 2 son everytime he goes to feed the chickens or fetch an egg. I think it was tooooo cold this morning for the rooster to care. I came away unscathed. As soon as the help gets healthy we're going to pluck some chickens and load up the freezer.

Found the missing 1099, so the taxes are essentially done.

I have been reading a collection of short stories by Flannery O'Connor. I had never read her before, but was finally convinced after reading several people I admire refer to her writing with esteem. After reading the first couple stories, I must confess, I came away thinking some disturbing thoughts about Flannery O'Connor. Having read a few more, I can say that everything she writes isn't so disturbing, but I can't say I understand the attraction to her. Maybe I am too obtuse to understand the point of her stories. I could use some help here....

UPDATE: re: flannery O'Connor, found this quote over at Amy Welborn's Openbook

''O'Connor is important to the way this movie is constructed," he continues. ''What you do is you consider some so-called religious thinking without the didacticism of the classical approach. You look for the allegorical intentions of what we're taught in the Bible, and then find some way to have it revealed or expressed by common experience. You'll find this happening over and over again in O'Connor, who was a rather classical Catholic thinker who wrote about nothing but backwoods north Georgia rednecks." (my emphasis).

Finally, while I did mention this book a few weeks ago, it has finally been released: I got my signed copy of this book in the mail today from my youngest sister, author Agnes Penny...Get a copy for the wife or mother in your life! (From TAN books)

From Bethany, the small holding in Bethune...Oremus pro invicem!

Silence...

I regularly take our oldest dog, Challenger, for a run through the cornfields and forests which abut our property. Since my knee has been acting up over these weeks, our runs have been walks. Challenger is part hound, and I have found to my surprise that he can be very patient at times. We will walk for a while in the forest, and then he will stop dead still and wait and sniff the air. One time he stopped for 15 minutes. He was looking intently in one spot. I saw nothing. Then I heard rustling in the forest. Finally, some 200 feet away, I spotted a squirrel which was slowly making its way over to us. Challenger didn't move until the squirrel was within 5 feet of us-then he pounced. Of course, being on a leash, he come up empty.

While walking through the forest, you notice the quiet. But when you stop and listen for 10 minutes, you suddenly realize it is not so quiet. (Ever notice that the longer you look at stars, the more stars you see?) There are many noises that even your quiet walking disguises. I wonder if this is like prayer....

In our prayer, how often are we paying attention? Just like in the forest, maybe a true silence will help us hear what God is trying to tell us-if we would only listen! He is speaking, but we are too busy with our distractions-and often don't even know it. Thomas More wrote (from The Sadness of Christ):

I wish that sometime we would make a special effort, right after finishing our prayers, to run over in our minds the whole sequence of time we spent praying. What follies will we see there?...Indeed we will be amzaed that it was at all possible for our minds to dissipate themselves in such a short time among so many places at such great distance from each other, among so many different affairs, such various, such manifold, such idle pursuits.

Our late Holy Father, John Paul the Great wrote about silence in prayer in NOVO MILLENNIO INEUNTE:

...we cannot come to the fullness of contemplation of the Lord's face by our own efforts alone, but by allowing grace to take us by the hand. Only the experience of silence and prayer offers the proper setting for the growth and development of a true, faithful and consistent knowledge of that mystery which finds its culminating expression in the solemn proclamation by the Evangelist Saint John: "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father" (1:14). (emphasis in original)

From Bethany, the small holding in Bethune...Oremus pro invicem!

Okay, I have pretty much finished my Federal taxes (I misplaced an 1099-INT, but it won't make a measurable difference). No good news-but no bad news either, as expected. The state taxes should be a breeze from here on out.

I have not read Deus Caritas Est yet, and I have tried not to read too many of the commentaries appearing all over the place because I just want to form my own impressions.

We had a good weekend, some good friends were over on Saturday. I have been having alot of trouble with my knee (an old basketball injury which flares up occasionally) for several weeks. I have even used a cane for a few days. But Saturday we got a football game going with the boys, and although I was hobbled (this is my excuse for our team being slaughtered) I tried not to let my knee interfere too much with the game. Lo and behold, on Sunday (and continuing this morning) my knee is better than it has been in several weeks. Usually playing through my knee problems is countrer-productive, but not this time.

Got my Winter 2006 copy of Catholic Mens Quarterly this weekend. I have mentioned CMQ before as a good read. They are about to expand the magazine by about 50%, but are holding yearly subscription prices the same for a limited time...

From Bethany, the small holding in Bethune...Oremus pro invicem!

The lone hen left of the new batch laid her first egg. The hens from last year haven't started laying again yet-those who haven't hit the pot already.

33 days an no baby rabbits. I thought this was supposed to be easy...

No rabbits....Special offer at Requiem Press is up. Why they go together is discussed at my other blog.

Check out Mark Shea's discussion of 'Crunchy Cons' (That's a book I'd like to read). Also note at the top his request for prayers at CE experiences some financial speed-bumps.

Back to the taxes...

Taxes...

It is that time again. I have to do inventory, taxes, etc. I do them myself still at this point. Hopefully it won't take more than a day or so to get them completed, but you never know around here. I may be scarce, but then again, I may check in to maintain sanity...

No signs of baby rabbits yet-I'm beginning to wonder...

Look for a special buy at Requiem Press starting tomorrow through February, to get that cash flow going....

That's all for now folks!

From Bethany, the small holding in Bethune...Oremus pro invicem!