*I have 3 Masses at 3 parishes this weekend, so I'm working through that pile of music.
*For "fun" I'm still working on Vittoria's Toccata, FFIX music, and G minor Hanon 4 octave scale.
*For work I've added Ad Astra from the fall, Vive La Compagnie arranged by John Leavitt, and Hold Fast to Dreams by Susan LaBarr.
*We are less than a month from Barbershop Explosion which starts off our "concert/festival" season for third quarter; we don't have one big event but many many smaller events.
Today is the memorial of Sts. Timothy and Titus. It's also the beginning of Catholic Schools Week, and we're beginning with a snow day. I personally feel it's the best way to start this week. I'm grateful for the day off!
Timothy saw Paul in Ephesus and converted; he is mentioned in 11 of the 14 Paul-written epistles, in 6 as co-sender. Titus was bishop of Crete and also friend and disciple of Paul; Paul wrote the Letter to Titus to him; he was eulogized by John Chrysostom and Jerome when he died in 105.
(From Pinterest traced to https://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k27/jakyl32/365%20Rosaries%20YEAR%202-%20january/126timtitus2.jpg)
Over almost 20 years my sister and I have managed to accumulate almost all of the Agatha Christie novels and short stories. I'm hoping to finish out the list in 2026 as she prepares to move to a new house and make a new start.
We've had a pretty good food week. We had three meals out for Restaurant Week: Blind Box BBQ, Trofi Restaurant, and Minsky's Pizza. Everything was very good, but my favorite may have been the bottom picture, the charcuterie tray from Trofi for my appetizer. There was enough variety (except of crackers) to be really delightful.
*On Sunday the Son made some steaks from the freezer with a brandy rosemary pan sauce; the Husband made some frozen peas and some lovely mashed potatoes.
*Monday we had meatball sliders in tomato sauce with provolone cheese. The Son ate some of the slider buns before I could stop him but we had plenty. It was a slow cooker recipe but I did it in the dutch oven because it tastes better if I have the opportunity to make it that way.
*Tuesday we had spaghetti al limone from Cook's Illustrated. The Son helped me cook (Husband it out of town until today) and the sauce was probably the nicest it's ever been. We ended up leaving out the cheese and only putting it on top because otherwise it clumps up despite all our efforts.
*Last night I wanted to wimp out and grab chicken strips but the Son helped me put together the top picture below, Lemon Chicken Soup with Orzo. The broth was wonderful, and we have enough to get us through the cold days this coming weekend.
*Tonight we're doing a salad kit and pierogis from a friend.
*Friday will be leftover pork with eggs for tacos.
This week is slowly collecting the solos for small group festival and starting to practice them. Pieces for small and large group festival are coming together, we've solidified the beginning of almost every piece.
Did you know we have a whole tea station at work? We've also collaborated to also have snacks all the time this year. It's been a blessing especially since I don't usually feel hungry first thing in the morning; this way I can grab a snack once I get to work for my breakfast.
Yesterday started the week of prayer for Christian Unity, an ecumenical prayer that somehow, someway, Christians everywhere could be united. The theme for this week is below. We can only each do our own small part to reach out to others to share our one spirit and one hope.
Picture from https://www.atonementfriars.org/2026-week-of-prayer-theme-announced/
I helped out my sister by running to Lawrence to buy a loom for her daughter's Christmas/birthday present, and we also got a book and some beautiful yarn. Color is so subjective but I hope she likes these colors.
*Tomorrow night we're having soy-lime "grilled" chicken breasts. I'll probably saute them and have it with a salad kit and with leftover rice from tonight.
*Thursday, today, I'm making up a stir fry. I have some nice leftover smoked pork chops, a bell pepper, onion, frozen veggies, water chestnuts, carrot and celery, and then I'll make up a sauce...and I'll make rice.
*Wednesday we had pasta and then leftover pork from Sunday mixed with leftover red sauce from lasagna and pizza. And leftover lettuce. All I had to do was warm and take out of the fridge.
*Tuesday the Son made macaroni and cheese; we decided it probably needed a breadcrumb topping for crunch, but otherwise we really liked it.
*Monday I made French Onion Soup. It took forever (I started about 2:30) but it was really delicious. I've mixed leftovers into my lunch every day this week and the broth/onion combo is wonderful.
*Saturday the Husband make Italian Pork Roast for Sunday. I was out of town for Scholars Bowl, and it made Sunday really easy. We rewarmed the pork, toasted ciabatta buns, and added provolone. Delicious.
Today we modeled for the students what taking solos to festival looks like. It's hard for the freshmen to know whether they want to try out for this optional exercise or not, and it's also hard for them to understand the work it takes to memorize a piece on your own. While we help them with recordings and practice time, it's primarily something they undertake by themselves.
Last night I made French Onion Soup, which takes FOREVER and makes the whole house smell like caramelized onions. This is not a bad thing! Then we did our first taste test of Christmas: the Husband bought chocolates from three fancy places, theoretically in similar flavors, so that we could compare. Last night we did caramel chocolates. I preferred the one from Christopher Elbow (best contrast of chocolate and caramel) and the boys preferred Andre's (more chocolatey but milk chocolate and very smooth middle).
What to know about St. Antony:
Father of Monasticism; as a young man, heard the gospel Mt 19 (give all you have and come follow me) and followed it literally after giving his money to the poor and providing for his sister. He visited hermits to learn their way of live and then lived in solitude in the desert; founded the first monastery of monks; fought against Arianism; what we know is from St. Athanasius, who studied under him in the desert
St. Antony is my son's patron saint, so I try to make something nice to celebrate him for the day.
(Picture found on Pinterest: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:St_Anthony_the_Great.jpg)
You should know by now I'm not much of an athlete. I do walk every day and stretch every day, but coordination and stamina and strength...are not part of my skill set.
My sister-in-law invited us to go bowling for her birthday with her family.There were 8 total, divided between two lanes. SIL's family was way, way better than us, and my husband was way better in our lane than the rest of us. My baby brother and I were about 5 points apart after 3 games, so he challenged me to a death match to try and wipe me out.. His line is third, mine is second. A strike and two spares put me way ahead--my highest score for any game that day! He was very gracious in his defeat.
*Tomorrow I'll be traveling to a tournament, so the boys of the house are going to have homemade runzas. I'll pull them out of the deep freeze tonight and put them upstairs.
*Tonight I'm making Southern Cornbread from a Cook's Illustrated recipe, and we'll have that with a jarred soup from Aldi.
*Last night we had Sweet Potato Casserole, also from Cook's Illustrated. I put the filling and streusel together the night before and had someone in the house combine them and put it in the oven before I got home since I had a long day back yesterday. The casserole was great, not too sweet, the nuts on top were wonderful, and I picked up some hamburgers to have with it.
*Tuesday the Son made Apple Oven Pancake from the 2024 Betty Crocker Cookbook. It was not as good a recipe as my mom's, and the Son struggled to beat the eggs enough, but it was still good.
*Monday we picked up Raisin Cane's because my husband was out of town from Sunday to Wednesday.
*Sunday we had tacos! It's one of our go to meals and it was delicious.
I'm back at work today, and I got five new songs to start learning:
"That Old Feeling" by Sammy Fain and Lew Brown, arranged by David von Kampen
"The Luckiest" by Ben Folds, arranged by Kerry Marsh
Messe Breve the Kyrie by Leo Delibes, edited by Douglas J Walczak
"A Red, Red, Rose" by James Mulholland from Four Robert Burns Ballads
*I don't even know the last photo I posted since November is a lifetime ago, but my two most recent pictures (minus 1) are from a walk along the Millcreek in Amana, Iowa. It was cold and icy, a little shocking since we came from 50 degree weather, but we visited some new places and stayed in Amana at Hotel Millwright for the first time. We weren't able to walk the entire Millcreek but hopefully next visit we'll do a thorough walk of most of the Amanas.
What to know about today's saint:
Redemptorist (first Redemptorist to take vows in US); immigrated to US and was ordained here; established the first parochial school system in US; consecrated bishop of Philadelphia 1852; knew 12 Slavic dialects and modern languages; wrote 2 German catechisms and a Bible history; famous for organizational ability; died while visiting the poor in Philadelphia, and on him was found a belt of sharply pointed wires, a rosary, and pieces of candy for children; inaugurated 40 Hours Devotion in US
Quote from today's saint: “I am prepared without any hesitation to leave the episcopacy. I have taken this burden out of obedience, and I have labored with all my powers to fulfill the duties of my office, and with God’s help, as I hope, not without fruit…I am much more accustomed to the country, and will be able to care for the people and faithful living in the mountains, in the coal mines and on the farms, since I would be among them.” (letter to Cardinal Barnabo)
(Picture on Pinterest from defunct website)
