tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26964269352797896132024-03-18T23:28:12.575-04:00DUMB OLD HOUSEWIVESOn the border between Order and Chaos: having fun, pursuing sanctity, loving vintage kitchen stuff.Mrs. Pinkertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05430881135921278001noreply@blogger.comBlogger1870125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2696426935279789613.post-64701262343759130882021-11-22T17:21:00.003-05:002021-11-22T17:21:55.929-05:00Contemplating a return<p> But not on this platform. Possibly Substack or Thinkspot. Stay tuned. </p>Mrs. Pinkertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05430881135921278001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2696426935279789613.post-83217841876787903162020-11-20T13:33:00.010-05:002020-11-20T13:53:55.411-05:00Wow, it's been over a year. <p> Can't let 2020 expire without posting at least once. For anyone who wants to know, this is what I do (as <a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5c2d646eaf20968b17eee9b4/t/5f59218b81499142101157be/1599676849325/CLN+Fall+2020+PRESS+READY.pdf" target="_blank">editor).</a></p><p><br /></p>Mrs. Pinkertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05430881135921278001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2696426935279789613.post-10128706403933805912019-11-18T12:22:00.000-05:002019-11-18T23:50:21.478-05:00A time for contemplating eternity<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/orim-book-contributors/11368077-book-contributor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/orim-book-contributors/11368077-book-contributor.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">D.L. Sayers, as she probably looks today.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It's November, so it's time to pray for the dead and contemplate the coming of Christ, not just by remembering/celebrating Christmas, but also by looking forward to his Second Advent. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Sorry for recycling old goods, but perhaps few have read this column. I published it in <i>The Record,</i> the newspaper of the archdiocese of Perth, Australia, once upon a time. (I would link the page, but alas, they seem to have removed all but six of my columns from their archive.)</span></div>
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<b>Death and Dorothy L. Sayers</b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">Have you heard the joke that begins: “An Anglo-Catholic theologian, a delusional geneticist, and Death walk into a bar…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">No? Well, that’s because the joke doesn’t exist. It doesn’t have to, when we have scientists who actually believe that temporal immortality is not only possible but desirable. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">For Catholics, November is traditionally a month to remember the dead, and to ponder the Four Last Things. Advent looks forward not only to Christmas, but also to Christ’s second coming. Some misguided theologians consider this emphasis on death a quaint anachronism; science would like to eliminate it altogether. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">Some years back, on a Canadian science programme called “The Nature of Things,” I heard an interview between the host, Dr. David Suzuki (a geneticist turned climate guru, who now has the dubious distinction of being the Canadian Al Gore), and another geneticist whose name (alas) I do not remember. Let’s call him Dr. G. I do recollect that he was presented as a credible and serious scientist (as opposed to the assorted kooks you’ll find online today if you Google the phrase “Immortality Gene”). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">The excitement of mapping the human genome caused Dr. G. to declare that science would soon find –and eliminate—the “aging” gene, so as to achieve immortality for mankind. The science itself is debatable; what struck me is that neither geneticist sought to explain why living forever would be a good thing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">While Suzuki ventured that immortality might engender ethical dilemmas for society (ya think?) it did not seem to occur to him that the implementation of such genetic manipulation would itself be a huge ethical problem. He cited, for example, the need for population control, suggesting that once the Immortals had been genetically engineered to perfection, fertility could be eliminated. But not entirely. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">He further postulated that only the rich would be able to afford genetic ‘immortality’ treatments. On the assumption that these folks would not wish to spend any part of their eternity cleaning toilets, they would need to employ the poor (mortals), who in turn would be allowed to reproduce, but only under controlled circumstances (Aldous Huxley, call your office). The drones, naturally, would not desire immortality: a life of eternal servitude? No thanks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">Of course, for earthly life to be (ahem) heavenly for the Immortals, all war, disease, pestilence, infirmity, strife, and natural disasters would also need to be eliminated—good luck with that. But then the naïveté of post-modern science is boundless. Dr. G. declared that, thanks to the ability to perfect our DNA, “human evolution will stop.” I submit that this happened long ago, in the Garden of Eden, when the serpent beguiled Eve: “Ye shall be like gods.” Little has changed since then. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">There is no guarantee that immortality would make life enjoyable, or even tolerable; I suspect it would be precisely the opposite. It’s ironic that many scientists consider the traditional concept of heaven (and an all-loving God, who can fulfill the deepest longings of the human heart) a silly fairy tale, but believe that a genetically-modified and climate-controlled heaven on earth, engendered by MA’s and PhD’s, is a concrete possibility. Rather makes you think that science is the opiate of the Masters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">I have long admired the brilliant mystery writer, scholar, theologian, and staunch Anglo-Catholic Dorothy L. Sayers. In her poem, “Hymn in Contemplation of Sudden Death,” Miss Sayers gives thanks to God for the many blessings of her life: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">“For all things merry, quaint and strange / For sound and silence, strength and change / And last, for death, which only gives / Value to everything that lives.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">In other words, it is death that makes life worth living. Life is precious, not because it is fun, but because it is fleeting. In a 1937 letter to a clergyman and school headmaster, Miss Sayers wrote of the effect of Christ’s resurrection: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">“It is precisely because of the eternity outside time that everything in time becomes valuable and important and meaningful. […] ‘Eternal life’ is the sole sanction for the values of this life. The revelation in Christ is the means by which we get into touch with what the eternal pattern is.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">We needn’t strive in vain for a shabby imitation of immortality; </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;">the Lord of Life offers an infinitely more glorious option, if we but choose to accept it. Christ our Saviour has already conquered death (genome maps not required, thank you), and thus we need not fear it. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;">All ye saints and holy souls, pray for us.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Mrs. Pinkertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05430881135921278001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2696426935279789613.post-46954902419955541302019-11-13T08:00:00.000-05:002019-11-13T08:00:11.473-05:00Yes, it's too early for Christmas music! But heaven help me. I'm too sad. There's too much garbage going on in the world. But I will not discuss it.<br />
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Most of us love Christmas music, and this is really superb. I loooooooooove ancient music. I will admit that Medieval and Renaissance music in general is an acquired taste, but Baroque... well, this is just sublime. It will get you in the Christmas spirit. I'm not advocating that you skip Advent, but if you (like me) need some peace in your soul, seriously, give this ensemble a listen. Beautiful hymns and carols, and a very talented group of singers and musicians.<br />
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We will reclaim the culture through beauty. That is all.<br />
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PS this video is not narrated in English. Yet at the very end I heard the name "John Rutter," and John Rutter is NOT a Baroque composer (but his music is also sublime! We will leave that for another day.) Enjoy, and God bless your day! (Just 6-odd weeks till Christmas!!!)<br />
.Mrs. Pinkertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05430881135921278001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2696426935279789613.post-24260797432996019752019-11-07T10:19:00.001-05:002019-11-07T10:20:07.451-05:00Of kingdoms and coal scuttles.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.antiquehome.org/img/queenanne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.antiquehome.org/img/queenanne.jpg" data-original-height="396" data-original-width="320" height="320" width="258" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Queen Anne: so cute, but way too fussy.<br />
Yet how I would love to sit and write in a sunny turret!</td></tr>
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I don't know where (or quite when) my husband and I will retire (really, I mean my husband, since I've been a stay-home mom all my life: do you ever retire from that? I guess you morph into Travelling Grandma, and that's wonderful too). Sometimes I dream about building a house where we will spend our golden years. And by "build" I mean "have built:" I'm not a builder and my hubby is tired of doing renovations, which have been occurring regularly for the 20+ years we've lived in our current house.<br />
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I've always had an interest in residential architecture and construction. As a kid, I helped dismantle an old house on our farm, for the purpose of salvaging materials that would be used to construct our new house. Long before "reduce, reuse, recycle" was an eco-edict, rural folk were doing it every day, all the time. I also watched my dad build a house, and sometimes participated, if the job wasn't a danger to life or limb. He trusted us with hammers; power tools, not so much. As a reader with geeky tastes (the dictionary, no lie), I spent happy hours browsing house plan books and even dad's DIY construction manuals. I'm not sure how many Grade 4 girls in the 70s cared about back-to-back plumbing, but I did.<br />
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I've drawn many house plans over the years, and my brother and I designed a two-storey plan for a 40-foot round steel grain bin. It was never built, but he thought of it twenty years before <a href="https://www.pinterest.ca/sstuart123/grain-bin-houses/">this began to happen. </a> I still like to look at house plans but I get impatient with many contemporary designs: they waste space and seem more geared for "Wow factor" than for family life. Does anyone <i>need</i> a 500 square foot bedroom closet? I think not. Nor would I want a soaring 20-foot ceiling over the living room (not cozy) or a massive chandelier hanging over the entryway (who's going to stand in the ENTRY oohing and aaahing over your light fixture? Life is too short). The Tiny Home movement is another story altogether, and I find it quite funny, since so many people treat it like a New Thing, but it's been happening for hundreds of years at least (see nomads, gypsies and people who own RVs).<br />
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A nice compromise comes in the form of <a href="http://www.antiquehome.org/">early 20th century home plans</a> designed for middle class folk. They are compact, well-designed, and would take only minor tweaking to bring them up to date. Many of them contain a maid's room, with an entire staircase exclusively for her use, haha! Not likely. And they are aesthetically beautiful without being pretentious (granted, Queen Anne is pretty fancy, but that style hearkens back to Victorian era, in my mind). I like American Foursquare, Colonial, Cape Cod, Dutch Colonial, Tudor/English Cottage, but I keep gravitating back to Craftsman. I gotta have a front porch. With a rocking chair.<br />
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One of the most entertaining aspects of these plans is the promotional blurbs.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">"Men who would die for their wives, yet never bring in a pail of water or a scuttle of coal without grumbling, are seldom found in homes which have been built by mutual endeavour. Hands that help in making the Marlowe should gladly help in lightening the burdens of the helpmate whose kingdom lies within its threshold." </span></i><br />
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Let me translate: a lady's home is her castle; help with the chores. No toxic masculinity there, despite its having been written in the 1920s. I know coal is evil now, but what a great image. I am blessed that my hubby has been carrying my coal scuttle --and a great deal more-- for 33 years.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://ia902503.us.archive.org/BookReader/BookReaderImages.php?zip=/1/items/StandardHomesCoBetterhomesatlowercostno100001/StandardHomesCoBetterhomesatlowercostno100001_jp2.zip&file=StandardHomesCoBetterhomesatlowercostno100001_jp2/StandardHomesCoBetterhomesatlowercostno100001_0065.jp2&scale=8.638474295190713&rotate=0" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="800" height="484" src="https://ia902503.us.archive.org/BookReader/BookReaderImages.php?zip=/1/items/StandardHomesCoBetterhomesatlowercostno100001/StandardHomesCoBetterhomesatlowercostno100001_jp2.zip&file=StandardHomesCoBetterhomesatlowercostno100001_jp2/StandardHomesCoBetterhomesatlowercostno100001_0065.jp2&scale=8.638474295190713&rotate=0" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Super cute: but my knees require a main floor bedroom and laundry. </td></tr>
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And check out the description below. This guy really got carried away by prepositional and other extraneous phrases "The gods smile..." (that's the subject/predicate) but it continues: "on the man...whose heart beats...in unison...with the lullabies...of a happy mother...as she cradles <b>a living expression of love</b> (<i>Whoa--do they mean a baby?</i>) ...in a happy home...like the Vernon." </div>
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But I love it. Such a refreshing change from today's nihilism and despair. Sadly, our society is no longer geared towards encouraging young people to aspire to marriage, home and family. </div>
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<a href="https://ia902503.us.archive.org/BookReader/BookReaderImages.php?zip=/1/items/StandardHomesCoBetterhomesatlowercostno100001/StandardHomesCoBetterhomesatlowercostno100001_jp2.zip&file=StandardHomesCoBetterhomesatlowercostno100001_jp2/StandardHomesCoBetterhomesatlowercostno100001_0088.jp2&scale=8.638474295190713&rotate=0" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="800" height="484" src="https://ia902503.us.archive.org/BookReader/BookReaderImages.php?zip=/1/items/StandardHomesCoBetterhomesatlowercostno100001/StandardHomesCoBetterhomesatlowercostno100001_jp2.zip&file=StandardHomesCoBetterhomesatlowercostno100001_jp2/StandardHomesCoBetterhomesatlowercostno100001_0088.jp2&scale=8.638474295190713&rotate=0" width="640" /></a></div>
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On a more prosaic note, split levels are terrible (I live in a 1975 split level). They are so dumb, I thought they HAD to have originated in the 1960s. Not true! They began to appear in the 1930s... (my illusions are shattered). However, if one <i>has </i>to live in a split level design, it should be an aesthetically pleasing design, and not anything from the 1970s. </div>
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<a href="http://www.searsarchives.com/homes/images/1933-1940/1934_3390.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://www.searsarchives.com/homes/images/1933-1940/1934_3390.jpg" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="618" height="640" width="492" /></a></div>
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This Craftsman checks several boxes: front porch, main floor bedroom, lots of room for guests upstairs. </div>
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<br />Mrs. Pinkertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05430881135921278001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2696426935279789613.post-84698633131530292692019-11-05T12:59:00.002-05:002021-11-22T17:20:07.637-05:00Easiest Keto snack of all time Cheese "chips"<br />
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Well, OK, maybe not as easy as opening a bag of nuts. And only suitable for people who can eat dairy. This can help satisfy the craving for potato chips or other salty carbs snacks. </div>
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1) Grate cheese</div>
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2) Fill a baking sheet with parchment paper, then spread cheese evenly. (I use an <a href="https://epicure.com/en-ca/product/1006111">Epicure silicone pan liner</a>: Worth. Every. Penny.) Note: some recipes say to make little piles of shredded cheese, but I find this too time-consuming. </div>
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3) OPTIONAL: Sprinkle seeds, herbs, spices, or ground flax over top</div>
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4) Bake till cheese is brown and crispy (350 F is hot enough, but you can go as high as 400 F; just watch to make sure cheese doesn't burn)</div>
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5) Cool and cut apart. </div>
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PS You can freeze these, but they will lose their crispiness. However, chewy is fine too. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgquYjOQwsCYFNWo01NMVZsKMVHkQ2f0xjL7UfQAjTjHovUsvrvVeP4ZnaTwUsxpamU-tZBZ5PLfEN46pF-vMC853G5KoaRztV6sxbD1QtqE7OZMkbYZcG2YBCWmM_WAszLVE-WwMDlAoZu/s1600/20190812_141024.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgquYjOQwsCYFNWo01NMVZsKMVHkQ2f0xjL7UfQAjTjHovUsvrvVeP4ZnaTwUsxpamU-tZBZ5PLfEN46pF-vMC853G5KoaRztV6sxbD1QtqE7OZMkbYZcG2YBCWmM_WAszLVE-WwMDlAoZu/s640/20190812_141024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Removed from pan.<br /><br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBWbS-JaxLXCO1CI9i9KULY4ToLtSh4-UXkYKawxzg7CbCuJeY-mc8oeEHuqjdc14Y4w5NvEQAPP6TFaYw_TFa5UdiqvTjR0c5kgza_DFkFjGDyE3UhYNKQHXrcKVT0aCIllV0bhYDXDhp/s1600/20181207_152521.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBWbS-JaxLXCO1CI9i9KULY4ToLtSh4-UXkYKawxzg7CbCuJeY-mc8oeEHuqjdc14Y4w5NvEQAPP6TFaYw_TFa5UdiqvTjR0c5kgza_DFkFjGDyE3UhYNKQHXrcKVT0aCIllV0bhYDXDhp/s400/20181207_152521.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheese was cut in strips before baking.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJa7559pN0vLSe7WWG8P8D2qt29vIyc2SzsjA-IGNud4aYDLtf7fg05_Uidp2VAYq8mZ5dmKN4gbeO2BEJplx7ThRGovjYXS7GStcm9sY8WsUpNgKMgtyu8Oxj7HnNZqNPaJUO4PbRGXFW/s1600/20181207_153748.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJa7559pN0vLSe7WWG8P8D2qt29vIyc2SzsjA-IGNud4aYDLtf7fg05_Uidp2VAYq8mZ5dmKN4gbeO2BEJplx7ThRGovjYXS7GStcm9sY8WsUpNgKMgtyu8Oxj7HnNZqNPaJUO4PbRGXFW/s400/20181207_153748.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready for freezing</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-tGa3clDv2fCnp9YUbspNLg7v3TN_TIVeynJxcIwo5Q-WRJRLLywSoTSV8rTHBpVcKB-OR_uBNpDPtb8DpxqBbyrdlK0aOEmLhmjLxr3CjrVf4ufyiWvY0iroRErTLPp9vWnhLxskgzX/s1600/20181207_152936.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-tGa3clDv2fCnp9YUbspNLg7v3TN_TIVeynJxcIwo5Q-WRJRLLywSoTSV8rTHBpVcKB-OR_uBNpDPtb8DpxqBbyrdlK0aOEmLhmjLxr3CjrVf4ufyiWvY0iroRErTLPp9vWnhLxskgzX/s320/20181207_152936.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The larger size makes them great for dipping and scooping (guacamole)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPWWlUfMy_hZKYCnbcSgRyqFpaAUyrcjoWOREyKCcoX3Ty8jgWEtU_iQk2N8WPaQbNDg-FbSbls7lN5ryj3oGAsg3NyJJaD2iA7z08aKP1zpt6MTOZDAMGHJ84nZgoc_p86NGfszdE-2My/s1600/20181207_152954.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPWWlUfMy_hZKYCnbcSgRyqFpaAUyrcjoWOREyKCcoX3Ty8jgWEtU_iQk2N8WPaQbNDg-FbSbls7lN5ryj3oGAsg3NyJJaD2iA7z08aKP1zpt6MTOZDAMGHJ84nZgoc_p86NGfszdE-2My/s320/20181207_152954.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left: a chip made from a tiny pile of shredded cheese; <br />Right: a chip cut from a strip of cheese.<br /></td></tr>
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Mrs. Pinkertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05430881135921278001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2696426935279789613.post-62819928447991809132018-09-04T07:00:00.000-04:002018-09-05T10:59:42.699-04:00Back to school<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhcpkSRNxShURl6nbjbpLwM90eRXygbm4vUCDoBu-ab3IoGqJ0-nKqaTQbxAUjaf2SFATo5X2gtrfCEmBEZDOjCd35G53jZyt4k6p1qwulbfO58KKfYALVNS37eMjASB4ewWukPbcJBw7Z/s1600/IMG_20170927_151715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhcpkSRNxShURl6nbjbpLwM90eRXygbm4vUCDoBu-ab3IoGqJ0-nKqaTQbxAUjaf2SFATo5X2gtrfCEmBEZDOjCd35G53jZyt4k6p1qwulbfO58KKfYALVNS37eMjASB4ewWukPbcJBw7Z/s320/IMG_20170927_151715.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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After a very busy summer, our house is a tad quieter. My university age girls have left: one is in Winnipeg studying music at Canadian Mennonite University, and another has begun a Nursing program in Regina. I still have two teenagers at home: one doing online high school courses, and the other in grade 9, which brings me to a rather startling realization-- this is my last year of full-time tutoring. We've had our ups and downs on our homeschool journey--lots of fun and lots of challenges. It's hard to believe that the end is in sight: I'm already having mixed feelings. In the meantime, does anyone need eight years' worth of books and curriculum? If I sold it all, maybe my hubby could retire early. </div>
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<br />Mrs. Pinkertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05430881135921278001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2696426935279789613.post-84596930530369615582018-09-03T10:29:00.000-04:002018-09-05T10:31:25.318-04:00Happy Anniversary to meAnd to my husband. No, it's not our wedding anniversary (32 years in October). But it's our 30th anniversary of parenthood. Good gosh, where did that time go? Happy Birthday, Mrs K! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZU22Gc2RXJ16ZZzMK1DGgYJ9lWG2r6zxUvtQD9DB0AlALAOGonOmg-FvnlhshKwpUilkF9kKDqXVthBZOZ1zDB5gCytTwcexhNochkEfI5LR2wsaKx3ijsTgt8EpEikNaOIuAqiqaEbMM/s1600/gplus418457695.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZU22Gc2RXJ16ZZzMK1DGgYJ9lWG2r6zxUvtQD9DB0AlALAOGonOmg-FvnlhshKwpUilkF9kKDqXVthBZOZ1zDB5gCytTwcexhNochkEfI5LR2wsaKx3ijsTgt8EpEikNaOIuAqiqaEbMM/s320/gplus418457695.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOraItifBAmqXXtcX5lMTrlt9uJv925kVZM_uYKAJN0iO3yn6__hsyvgY06dLUR4vTI3TF-m91qHFECAx9yY6e9nw41RDtXABpe7McpnK_pGw2qK5dRYjr1Pss2DokrqtSUVWwFkhquMmv/s1600/gplus1448086926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOraItifBAmqXXtcX5lMTrlt9uJv925kVZM_uYKAJN0iO3yn6__hsyvgY06dLUR4vTI3TF-m91qHFECAx9yY6e9nw41RDtXABpe7McpnK_pGw2qK5dRYjr1Pss2DokrqtSUVWwFkhquMmv/s320/gplus1448086926.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_A9zijlcGjfrUzDzPiRqbLE0Hw1sCfroZ2pvaQs3wcWM3CTp4c7tID9RvS_B0MSh8JL80H5bBCDqLQjfLyf5XN3CiLp2iKb2n2ac-x3VFfXPfmgvd_m207-kjQklI36FUdX0x7M0w99A/s1600/gplus1762775430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_A9zijlcGjfrUzDzPiRqbLE0Hw1sCfroZ2pvaQs3wcWM3CTp4c7tID9RvS_B0MSh8JL80H5bBCDqLQjfLyf5XN3CiLp2iKb2n2ac-x3VFfXPfmgvd_m207-kjQklI36FUdX0x7M0w99A/s320/gplus1762775430.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yikes. Time to replace the album. Good retirement project.<br />.</td></tr>
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<br />Mrs. Pinkertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05430881135921278001noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2696426935279789613.post-63554845928217814682018-09-02T14:06:00.002-04:002018-09-02T14:08:39.947-04:00OK, so...the Church abuse crisis<br />
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<a href="http://cdn.gospelherald.com/data/images/full/19358/the-passion-of-the-christ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn.gospelherald.com/data/images/full/19358/the-passion-of-the-christ.jpg" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="720" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
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Not a nice topic for a Sunday afternoon. Not a nice topic ever.<br />
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I am soooooo angry, and so grieved, sad, horrified--there are hardly words. I can't say a prayer, read a word of Scripture, or hear a Mass reading without thinking of this still-mushrooming scandal. I want to say so much, but a good deal of it is not remotely charitable. Let's just say I find the image of Jesus cleansing the temple, corded whip in hand, somewhat comforting at this moment.<br />
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But there's a lot of grief to deal with too. And don't think our Lord isn't feeling it. His Church (his holy Bride) is being ripped apart: figuratively and potentially literally. Not least by wicked, lying, despicable, hypocritical shepherds (may they all be called to account--every last one of them), but also by us. You and me. Because we are all sinners and that's what sin does: divide and destroy.<br />
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Have you watched the <i>Passion of the Christ</i> lately? I did last Lent, and it made me cry, especially the scene where Jesus, shaking with pain, embraces his Cross. He is embracing it now. Will you carry it with Him, or will you stand in the street mocking and shouting?<br />
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On the <i>Via Dolorosa,</i> he embraced our sins and carried them to Calvary. Maybe we can't do much about the sins that have been committed by our pastors, but we can do our best to ensure that Christ's burden is not any heavier than it has to be. Our only option at this point is sainthood, ie. striving for holiness in every moment of our lives. And we can only do this by remaining in prayer and by staying as close to Christ as possible. I believe the rest will unfold as it should. Justice will be done, if not on earth, then surely in the hereafter.<br />
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In the meantime, here's a good read <a href="https://www.convivium.ca/articles/division-in-the-church">by Fr. Raymond de Souza. </a><br />
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Holy Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.anniekarto.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/images-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="182" data-original-width="277" height="262" src="https://www.anniekarto.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/images-1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"><i>This is where I need to be in my prayers.</i></span></td></tr>
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<br />Mrs. Pinkertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05430881135921278001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2696426935279789613.post-53339084218038944682018-09-01T06:30:00.000-04:002018-09-01T08:30:46.518-04:00Today is a good day to start blogging againAnd not just because it's the first day of a new month, and a new school year, and my sister's birthday (Happy Birthday, D!) But because there is just so much to say, and do and share. But some of it will have to wait, because today we're moving two of our daughters to university. In the meantime, please enjoy the lovely colours of summer at my house. Hollyhocks, some of my favourite garden babies.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyDaVecoeibv60A6UAxnnlT01BO6-5bVTOG3VbBnUQW7KqGEouYqs19e_AmVK8De3AqRrK58cC2bAenjXEMMneH8ByCiH0r8X_7dlSdaGYfM8H7nAjbnrBQmgPgXWYomiGPFv6XrIiKR0/s1600/40504556_995924770590406_3717063138332377088_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyDaVecoeibv60A6UAxnnlT01BO6-5bVTOG3VbBnUQW7KqGEouYqs19e_AmVK8De3AqRrK58cC2bAenjXEMMneH8ByCiH0r8X_7dlSdaGYfM8H7nAjbnrBQmgPgXWYomiGPFv6XrIiKR0/s400/40504556_995924770590406_3717063138332377088_n.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzF0ZaM8ArtkMAUI452oACzRlB7KUewiC2u4CzWiSKZfXrOb4OnS3WxIp6af-UrEgW7bIQdHMa5nDePoEBVzZjS2mcpvMSUU5o52TNLrcdoPOEnC7Q31wmYk0K8gN38lpsgPLjR_DvW8eq/s1600/40404149_261494754479050_7905936521553772544_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzF0ZaM8ArtkMAUI452oACzRlB7KUewiC2u4CzWiSKZfXrOb4OnS3WxIp6af-UrEgW7bIQdHMa5nDePoEBVzZjS2mcpvMSUU5o52TNLrcdoPOEnC7Q31wmYk0K8gN38lpsgPLjR_DvW8eq/s400/40404149_261494754479050_7905936521553772544_n.jpg" width="297" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjn7fuzT4Rr6aOxxSm4YUjQLC3o36ndSWRDU6VSEoKkM7SW2qLuBALk4lc2S1x_8ZmIH_s8c9XYeUGrU1VF5Ew4X4g_nTwz6BqD_ohIsmBi_tND_RvsvOEZ022g8cZ-ZD8_roRBMm6Q_Su/s1600/40337253_2274535226166117_5183316972632276992_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjn7fuzT4Rr6aOxxSm4YUjQLC3o36ndSWRDU6VSEoKkM7SW2qLuBALk4lc2S1x_8ZmIH_s8c9XYeUGrU1VF5Ew4X4g_nTwz6BqD_ohIsmBi_tND_RvsvOEZ022g8cZ-ZD8_roRBMm6Q_Su/s400/40337253_2274535226166117_5183316972632276992_n.jpg" width="400" /></a>Mrs. Pinkertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05430881135921278001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2696426935279789613.post-31411562280886687392018-05-18T14:00:00.000-04:002018-05-18T16:49:29.798-04:00Wherein he extols the virtues of Catholic confession!I kid you not. He also lauds atonement, redemption and <a href="https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/dictionary/index.cfm?id=34855">metanoia</a>! The audio is not the best, and there is no video. (You may do as I do, and LISTEN to it as you go about your daily household chores, or your various commutes.)<br />
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The wisdom and inspiration in this lecture is off the charts. I truly do praise the Lord for what this person is accomplishing in the world today. There is a reason why the mainstream media is attacking him so viciously, but basically the devil is behind it. Dr. Peterson is improving (and sometimes saving) people's lives, and he's even leading nihilistic, addicted atheists to Christ (see this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oll2hmdLNnY">video/podcast by James Fox Higgins</a>).<br />
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Enjoy. Be inspired.<br />
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<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/m2wEhTwkIOs" width="560"></iframe><br />
.Mrs. Pinkertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05430881135921278001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2696426935279789613.post-26545480974951189642018-05-02T08:00:00.000-04:002018-05-02T13:39:15.987-04:00Two of my favourite things<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.talkativeman.com/img/Enormous_Christ_the_Redeemer_Statue_in_Rio_de_Janeiro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.talkativeman.com/img/Enormous_Christ_the_Redeemer_Statue_in_Rio_de_Janeiro.jpg" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="800" height="400" width="640" /></a></div>
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Jesus and vintage. Though the aforementioned is a Person, of course, and what a Person. I especially love the image/statue of Christ the Redeemer as he appears in Rio, Brazil.<br />
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I want this!! (Cough, Mother's Day is coming... cough). <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/8in-12in-Vintage-Tin-Sign/dp/B07BT1RPQW/ref=sr_1_23?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1525281929&sr=1-23&keywords=statue%2BChrist%2Bthe%2BRedeemer&th=1">Available at Amazon.</a><br />
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<a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51-batadi4L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="344" height="400" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51-batadi4L.jpg" width="275" /></a></div>
<br />Mrs. Pinkertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05430881135921278001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2696426935279789613.post-6513633681403405942018-04-25T12:00:00.000-04:002018-04-25T14:10:42.179-04:00Oh dear; I'm about to go on Audrey overload<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/heart/784036932"></a><a href="https://t2.genius.com/unsafe/300x300/https%3A%2F%2Fimages.genius.com%2F1930e979fdc98d91f588a407dc7a0f72.1000x1000x1.jpg"></a><br />
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For as much as I love Audrey Assad, I have to admit that I don't own ANY of her albums. Isn't that the worst? A Christmas or two ago, I'd bought <i>Fortunate Fall</i> for my daughter. Then I "borrowed" the CD, and still haven't given it back. (She's OK with that, since she ripped the album into her iTunes library.)<br />
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To expand my Audrey repertoire, I've been listening to her tracks and playlists on YouTube, and loving everything I hear. Then I went to the iTunes Store and previewed all her tracks from all her albums, and I gotta say, I HAVE TO HAVE ALL OF THEM. That is all. This fantastic song is from her album <i>Heart</i>:<br />
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<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gfSI3mnZaqQ" width="560"></iframe><br />
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This is a great live version. Want the official video with lyrics? <a href="https://youtu.be/gfSI3mnZaqQ">Go here. </a><br />
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Do not be troubled; His eye is on the sparrow. Have a great day.<br />
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<br />Mrs. Pinkertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05430881135921278001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2696426935279789613.post-39446955929085822672018-04-23T08:00:00.000-04:002018-04-23T10:41:31.800-04:00Another great low-carb lunch...or breakfast<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYvdh_kHzX-fzsA14Rb3KIN4mtX-rby2veI3DMSODDFz8iXNbG9Bvp7vtJN0p_vAJ8aU-3x3zBj7S2WxXuA7vfP4cpttuG4Ig8-fDca_v5AH55VXR926-_x6CpzSqZ7St-zEF2y9xEwe-2/s1600/gplus865498636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYvdh_kHzX-fzsA14Rb3KIN4mtX-rby2veI3DMSODDFz8iXNbG9Bvp7vtJN0p_vAJ8aU-3x3zBj7S2WxXuA7vfP4cpttuG4Ig8-fDca_v5AH55VXR926-_x6CpzSqZ7St-zEF2y9xEwe-2/s400/gplus865498636.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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"What do you eat for breakfast?" a friend asked the other day. I couldn't lie. The answer was, "Coffee and Facebook." Sometimes I'm not hungry in the morning, and sometimes I'm too lazy or befuddled to make something, because I just don't know what to make. Carbs were my breakfast go-to, and now I'm off breads for the time being. So no more English muffins, toast, bagels, waffles, wraps, pancakes, hot (or cold) cereal.<br />
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My recent post about the Cheese-crusted Quiche was one solution, but that's not the sort of thing one tends to whip up on a weekday (however, you can save portions and reheat them, which I plan to do at some point with that recipe).<br />
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The other day I built myself a cabbage-leaf wrap for lunch. I didn't take any step-by-step pictures (y'all are smart enough to imagine this on your own). Besides, this is not a recipe so much as an idea. You can put virtually anything you like inside.<br />
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I removed, washed and trimmed the stem area from a couple of large outer cabbage leaves and laid them on a dinner plate. I lined the leaves with cheddar cheese slices and nuked it all for 1 minute in the microwave. This softened up the cabbage a bit and melted the cheese. Then I added two large slices of turkey breast deli meat, half an avocado (sliced), some alfalfa sprouts, and garnished it with some salsa.<br />
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It was really good. So good, I almost don't miss eating actual flour wraps.<br />
.Mrs. Pinkertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05430881135921278001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2696426935279789613.post-75661406510624974902018-04-18T08:00:00.000-04:002018-08-31T17:15:19.220-04:00I am not on the Keto diet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJWqGuhx0i9L2_BhTsuT-HtaXTNsbzyiAFHJpzBMPExWxCMbIWYwocO9wOhppBXWUe-Yx2CaJf2vrS3OXnBL6vUPtPTV5-JIISheuu5TTJuCOkqvE-aoV6H1S1VtzWvbyKoHMNoTYI4_9L/s1600/gplus1869968327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJWqGuhx0i9L2_BhTsuT-HtaXTNsbzyiAFHJpzBMPExWxCMbIWYwocO9wOhppBXWUe-Yx2CaJf2vrS3OXnBL6vUPtPTV5-JIISheuu5TTJuCOkqvE-aoV6H1S1VtzWvbyKoHMNoTYI4_9L/s320/gplus1869968327.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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But since I'm going low carb for the time being, I've been googling Keto recipes, and found <a href="https://www.forkly.com/recipes/cheese-crusted-keto-quiche/">this Cheese Crusted Keto Quiche</a> last Saturday morning. I wanted something really delicious and satisfying. What ho! It was incredibly delicious and satisfying. I tweaked the recipe a little bit (of course) because I had no ham, but it turned out really well.<br />
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The <a href="https://ketodash.com/ketogenic-diet">Ketogenic Diet</a> is not new, by the way. It's been around since the 1920s, apparently, when it was used to treat epilepsy.<br />
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But back to the quiche. You may follow the recipe link, above, but this is how I tweaked mine. First, I lined a 10" quiche plate with slices of Swiss cheese, marble cheese and medium cheddar cheese. Then I baked the crust till it was brown and bubbly. I did not photograph the baked crust (sorry). You can see gaps in the Swiss cheese lining the sides. Next time I would overlap them. You can never have too much Swiss cheese.<br />
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Into this lovely crispy baked crust, I added chopped spinach and kale and 1 green onion. (The amount of greens is up to you. I probably used between 1-2 cups; didn't measure).<br />
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To the greens I added 3/4 cup of cubed Feta cheese, and 3/4 cup of crumbled bacon (we buy this in bulk at Costco) but you can use any meat.<br />
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On top of that, more cheddar cheese (1 cup shredded), and a little bit (didn't measure--let's say a "generous sprinkle") of flaked Parmesan:</div>
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Then, the egg and cream mixture. I used whipping cream, because that's what we had in the house (birthday party); I'm sure you could use a lower fat cream or milk (but why would you? haha):<br />
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For seasoning, I added a Cajun mix (hot but not too hot--Keg Steakhouse brand), some freshly ground black pepper, and a sprinkle of dried parsley. I did NOT add salt because there was enough in the cheeses and bacon. Then I baked it (see recipe link, above). This is the finished product. It looks good enough to eat. It was.<br />
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I had sort of planned to eat one or two pieces and save the rest for easy breakfast portions throughout the week, but everyone wanted to try it (I had two extra daughters home for the weekend) and it disappeared fairly quickly. The kids were raving about it, so I didn't bother telling them it was low-carb.<br />
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I am now into Day 9 of my no-sugar, low-carb experiment and so far, I have dropped 6.6 pounds (no exercise, other than dashing around my house and music festival), and more importantly, I feel FANTASTIC. I was having terrible mood swings, but lately everything has been much more even-keeled. And it feels great. I have lots of energy, even though my sleep patterns are a bit off.<br />
#FeelingGrateful.<br />
.Mrs. Pinkertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05430881135921278001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2696426935279789613.post-78551286057937667732018-04-17T07:30:00.000-04:002018-04-17T10:12:32.317-04:00This isn't even a little bit funny. It's past the middle of April, and we're into Music Festival week, where I have to drive literally hundreds of km (29 km one way; round that off to 30, then multiply by 15) back and forth to a nearby town for our daughters to compete in piano, vocal and musical theatre. And I don't like winter driving. And what is going on outside at this very moment is winter. I know this is Canada, but even here, we're supposed to have something resembling Spring right now.<br />
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In the olden days when people were ignorant and superstitious, they would blame this on the weather gods. But now we have Al Gore. I'm long past even <i>hoping</i> for a little bit of Global Warming. At this point, I'm praying that our government will let us keep our carbon tax so that we can use it to heat our homes in June. Cuz the planet isn't overheating. Not here. Not even a little bit.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif-nWQO1VDYLo-usbph1xR3LQGzn0NYqDcQ4zLm1lSQmZEIPjrDt65m3t19x7SiQVffU9DidGFrja71PhWpow_2WXqADFqGKLlcc9vvLGMUSrgvovnuNzgSD_SgBNBeunhjm8XpHFWUSz1/s1600/18+-+1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif-nWQO1VDYLo-usbph1xR3LQGzn0NYqDcQ4zLm1lSQmZEIPjrDt65m3t19x7SiQVffU9DidGFrja71PhWpow_2WXqADFqGKLlcc9vvLGMUSrgvovnuNzgSD_SgBNBeunhjm8XpHFWUSz1/s400/18+-+1" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view out my North patio doors, blocked by the driven snow.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An artistic (blurry) rendering of my patio chairs, buried in snow. <br />
The melting drops on the window in the foreground represent my tears of frustration at Al Gore, and all Global Warmists and politicians who think taxing us will change the weather. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My "garden." I use the term loosely. </td></tr>
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<br />Mrs. Pinkertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05430881135921278001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2696426935279789613.post-55366968324394491612018-04-15T06:00:00.000-04:002018-04-15T06:00:34.613-04:00<br />
I've mentioned this artist before (and I will keep doing it until everyone I know has at least given her music a try), but if you want to be blessed and uplifted and refreshed and energized, LISTEN TO AUDREY ASSAD. This song is appropriate, because it's mid-April, and we are still sitting under three solid feet of snow. So try not to laugh when this video begins with the "Spring" quotation from Shelley. He obviously had never heard of Saskatchewan.<br />
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On a somber (and more hopeful) note, the song and video remind me of death and resurrection. I'm thinking of the men, boys and Dayna who "woke up in April" to eternal life, and to the broken hearts they left behind. I am praying for every one of you. #BroncosStrong.<br />
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.Mrs. Pinkertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05430881135921278001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2696426935279789613.post-40764766688379365922018-04-14T10:00:00.000-04:002018-04-18T11:28:11.809-04:00Hello from the amusement park!Last post (oh so long ago-sorry!), I said my life was like a movie. Not really. It's been more like this:<br />
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I love this classic photo, which has inspired countless internet memes. It's all the more funny to me because the terrified kid reminds me of one of my daughters (when she was little), and the girl holding her hand reminds me of my niece, who is close to the same age as said daughter.<br />
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Every time there's a chronological gap in my blogging, I allude vaguely to how challenging life has been, and I more or less hint that I may explain myself in time, but somehow I never do. <br />
<a name='more'></a>I probably should, because maybe it would be interesting and possibly even comforting and (dare I hope) inspiring if I could share some of my challenges and how I'm trying to deal with them.<br />
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But it's not easy to catch up on weeks and weeks, especially when the time has been so busy and crazy and full of highs and lows (see photo, above). So here's where I am right now: there have been many good things happening in my life, but also an ongoing struggle with shaky health (too many issues to mention! sheesh, growing old is hard), depression and anxiety (those last two always seem to go hand in hand--they run in my family. Heck, to quote <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036613/">Mortimer Brewster </a>, they practically gallop).<br />
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Where to begin?<br />
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The Good Ship <a href="https://dumboldhousewives.blogspot.ca/2018/03/fitness-update.html">CrossFit </a>sank before it left the harbour. When I posted on Facebook that I had gone to a CrossFit gym, one of my friends commented, "Are you crazy?" and the answer is... well, let's not go there. But keep this in mind. In wanting to start a new fitness adventure, I had decided NOT to research CrossFit and knew NOTHING about it before I went to the gym, because I didn't want to scare myself and chicken out before I'd even tried it. I have since discovered that people in their 70s (and probably older) do CrossFit, so it's not an age thing. Besides, they scale down the exercises, weights, and moves to suit your ability. I survived the workouts I attended, but decided overall that the approach was not for me. It's fairly high-intensity, and therefore the exact opposite of what a cardiologist ordered for me after I had some tests done a few years back. I also could not afford the gym membership. So there you have it.<br />
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During Holy Week, I attended an iconography retreat at <a href="https://www.sttherese.ca/">St. Therese Institute</a>, and that was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. More on that in a future post (and yes, I will show you the icon I wrote, even though it didn't really turn out as I had hoped, and thus I am pleased with it. You read that correctly.) Easter weekend was lovely, even though some of my daughters were not able to make it home. The Triduum was so beautiful, and thanks to the<a href="https://www.franciscanpenancelibrary.com/trust-for-tomorrow"> Rosary of Abandonment </a>(thanks, Jim!), it was the least stressful of my life, despite the parish jobs, long hours, and lack of sleep.<br />
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'Twas Easter Monday that the birds flew south. And the culprit was refined sugar. NOT. That is a lie. The culprit was gluttony and a lack of discipline. I ate WAY too much Easter candy, and way too much Easter bread. I don't normally eat a lot of bread, but over the Easter holiday, there was so much of it around: sticky cinnamon buns, poppyseed loaf, and danishes (all homemade, some by me, and some by my daughter who could be a pastry chef, but has decided to study Nursing in uni).<br />
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Friday, came the news of the Bronco's bus crash. No further comment needed. We are all grieving, and will continue to do so for a long time.<br />
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I really felt sick all last week (no need to say "I told you so," all you people who say Sugar is Toxic): lesson learned. On Easter Saturday I was hit by such incredible back pain, I literally couldn't walk. I spent the next two days on painkillers, an electric heating pad and Rub A535 (remember that stuff, fellow high school badminton players?). It still stinks, but man does it work.<br />
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On Monday, my back was well enough (painkillers etc) to drive my daughter to pottery class 45 miles away. Mentally I was still in a fog, but had decided to make some changes. The first thing I decided was to start thinking a little more outside the box when it comes to wellness. Prescription drugs can help, but I've been taking too many for too long, and I'm kind of sick of it.<br />
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I also know that diet is key, so to get back on the Healthy Lifestyle wagon, I decided to see how my body would react if I quit eating refined sugars and complex carbs (bread, grains) for a week. The results have been rather mind-blowing. Not going to make this post any longer than it has to be (I may have passed that point already) but I am feeling VERY well: lots of energy, more mentally alert and positive, not depressed, not tired. And in five days, I've lost 5.2 pounds. I have not had time to exercise much, due to sewing costumes and other prep for music festival next week, but yesterday our family played about two hours of badminton and pickle ball, and that was lots of fun.<br />
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Life is hard, but God is good. If you're at the bottom of the roller coaster right now, hang on.<br />
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<br />Mrs. Pinkertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05430881135921278001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2696426935279789613.post-20384971014171289482018-03-15T07:00:00.000-04:002018-03-15T07:00:01.344-04:00My life is like a movie!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Unfortunately, the movie is <i>Napoleon Dynamite</i>. This actually happened to me recently.<br />
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<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/K6YeWZ_l7cc" width="560"></iframe><br />
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Yes, Middle Age Brain strikes again (actually, I'm past middle age, since I don't think it's likely I'll live past 100, but that's neither here nor there. I still feel too young to call myself a 'senior'). I was at a small-town grocery store, having dashed inside to buy two (literally <i>two</i>) items. $44 later, I zipped open my purse to see... no wallet. Of course. I had put it in the side pocket of my gym bag the previous morning, and had forgotten to replace it. No cards, no cash, no knowledge of how to use my smartphone to pay for stuff (IS there such an app? I don't even know. Probably, but I'm old.)<br />
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Luckily, I had my bulging little change purse, and if there is anything I don't do often enough, it's empty my change purse. I decided to pay with "loonies" and "toonies" ($1 and $2 Canadian coins).<br />
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<a href="http://weclipart.com/gimg/FE2A5285FBD63482/loonie-toonie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://weclipart.com/gimg/FE2A5285FBD63482/loonie-toonie.jpg" data-original-height="211" data-original-width="459" height="147" width="320" /></a></div>
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I got as far as $37, and that was that. The kindly clerk said she would ring in the entire amount ($44) and that I could bring the rest back the next day. Did I mention she didn't know me from Adam? Or Eve? However, I must have looked suitably pathetic (and trustworthy) because she let me walk out with $7 of my groceries unpaid for. Fortunately, when I got to the car, I remembered hubby also has a little stash of coins which he uses at the coin-op carwash (sorry, Hon). So I ran back into the store to square my debt.<br />
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It restores one's faith in humanity. My memory, not so much. Must go put wallet back into purse now.<br />
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<i><a href="http://www.avatarhell.com/avatars/avatarhell_fizzymayo_idiot!.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.avatarhell.com/avatars/avatarhell_fizzymayo_idiot!.gif" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" /></a></i></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.audiovalley.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/coins2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.audiovalley.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/coins2.jpg" data-original-height="341" data-original-width="465" height="292" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scale: our quarters, nickels and dimes are the same size as U.S. coins of that ilk. <br />So are the pennies, but we don't use them anymore. </td></tr>
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<br />Mrs. Pinkertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05430881135921278001noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2696426935279789613.post-6886679037149400542018-03-14T17:00:00.000-04:002019-11-11T20:28:53.449-05:00One more quick post <a href="http://www.ygkfamily.com/making-my-home-beautiful/">This blog post was written </a>by my lovely niece Anna, who is a mom, designer and seamstress/crafter. She owns and operates <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/LittlePlumTree/photos/?ref=page_internal">Little Plum Tree </a>from her home: beautiful hand-made toys, using local products and materials. I have a couple of her tote bags, and my pet hen, Henrietta, also came from Little Plum Tree.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAi6GbiZHVehUlhtgpESukp0SGchPdl7PNPnm6A4faZq_IAUq6KAKPdj75uRshmtFgQ3LLupG2K5XTQwcnAcyqGytMsiml4_n7d4dL5YQbVvQ_5W_wMUOVR4u565eu-8HwB8eI6cpXK5h/s1600/IMG_20160806_064443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAi6GbiZHVehUlhtgpESukp0SGchPdl7PNPnm6A4faZq_IAUq6KAKPdj75uRshmtFgQ3LLupG2K5XTQwcnAcyqGytMsiml4_n7d4dL5YQbVvQ_5W_wMUOVR4u565eu-8HwB8eI6cpXK5h/s400/IMG_20160806_064443.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Henrietta enjoying a prairie summer sunrise from the comfort of the settee</td></tr>
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The article is about making one's home beautiful--something with which I have always struggled mightily. Heck, I can hardly keep the place tidy, but it's all part of the same problem. I liked this quotation:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "open sans";"><b><span style="font-size: large;">In the past I’ve been tempted to settle for a solution that is functional only, thinking I need to be content with something I don’t particularly like because we need to finish a project, or because it’s superficial to hold out for something that’s more attractive.</span></b></span></blockquote>
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Ain't THAT the truth! Mrs Beazly and I have struggled with this for so long, we even came up with a name for our decor style: "Scrap and Salvage" (and not in a good, trendy, hipster, thrift-store kind of way). For a while at my house, we had an old kitchen cabinet standing backwards (doors to the wall) embellished with some laminate shelving and pine "trim," which functioned as a shoe shelf IN OUR ENTRYWAY: you know, the place in your house where guests get their first impression. Before it went to its rightful home (the dump) I photographed it, but it was so ugly, I can't even bring myself to post it. (Like that Legolas guy said after that Gandalf guy died in that movie, "the grief is still too near.")<br />
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And I still can't get my hubby to throw away the boxy, non-functioning, fake wood/fake leather stereo speaker from the 1970s that he uses for an end table next to his reading chair. Good Lord! I'm in my FIFTIES: when can I stop living like a college student, and instead have only real furniture in my house? (Yes, I know: First World Problems.)<br />
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Anyway, back to Anna and Little Plum Tree. She also has a great eye and is a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/little_plum_tree/">marvellous photographer.</a><br />
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I think my next acquisition will be this little owl. I'm in love with him. </div>
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<a href="https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/p200x200/19437776_1035786809890833_496408109812877366_n.jpg?_nc_eui2=v1%3AAeFwZWvkxaDFLWrOGajLOn0CuyBRv3ZaE6xrlTH1TDoDihREQsMo4VLkLL5r_rxunBfFKZy-mLzxB9bXcar-JTdhP9nbxnAV-OuRaCyB8e8W6Q&oh=599d3d1fa47c31f56251698212d9150c&oe=5B47DCB9" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" height="320" src="https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/p200x200/19437776_1035786809890833_496408109812877366_n.jpg?_nc_eui2=v1%3AAeFwZWvkxaDFLWrOGajLOn0CuyBRv3ZaE6xrlTH1TDoDihREQsMo4VLkLL5r_rxunBfFKZy-mLzxB9bXcar-JTdhP9nbxnAV-OuRaCyB8e8W6Q&oh=599d3d1fa47c31f56251698212d9150c&oe=5B47DCB9" width="320" /></a></div>
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Mrs. Pinkertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05430881135921278001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2696426935279789613.post-40037875817613245512018-03-14T12:00:00.000-04:002018-03-14T13:42:57.189-04:00Deadlines and other necessities of life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Today is music lesson day. Not much time for blogging. </div>
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<a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CZ25sVFXEAIZDSJ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="600" height="336" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CZ25sVFXEAIZDSJ.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
So true. It was true in university; it was true for freelancing, columns and speech-writing. It will likely remain true for future projects (evidently).<br />
.Mrs. Pinkertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05430881135921278001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2696426935279789613.post-16122959596192920272018-03-13T19:10:00.000-04:002018-03-13T19:13:43.172-04:00Fitness update<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjotrmsWDoSAXkYiQTCrB7zVp_UFikbSzM5AhD44D_h-2YyvfHGMSIoqPZThfv_iz8XF53BoTwDkHbeN8znDuLwSrDDtrQslKk-j_7_fJcjXcC9rqyAy7WMhYAfPM3D4lcC9NmgM3FNNVcG/s1600/Ladies+Doing+Exercise+in+the+1920s+(8).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1275" data-original-width="1600" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjotrmsWDoSAXkYiQTCrB7zVp_UFikbSzM5AhD44D_h-2YyvfHGMSIoqPZThfv_iz8XF53BoTwDkHbeN8znDuLwSrDDtrQslKk-j_7_fJcjXcC9rqyAy7WMhYAfPM3D4lcC9NmgM3FNNVcG/s1600/Ladies+Doing+Exercise+in+the+1920s+(8).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm old, but I'm not that old. Going to the gym, circa 1923</td></tr>
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OK, I've now completed three workouts, and I have good news: I DIDN'T DIE! And I didn't even throw up (though after my first one last Thursday, I felt pretty nauseated, and my entire body felt like Jello). But I survived! This took place at the local CrossFit gym. I was inspired by a friend and assured that "anyone" can do it: they scale down the exercises and movements to fit your age, fitness level and any injuries or or chronic physical issues that you may have. So far, so good.<br />
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And golly, as a Catholic, how can you<i> not</i> be attracted to something with the word "cross" in it? And believe me, after my first three sessions, the emphasis is definitely on the "cross" -- fit, not so much.<br />
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I have to do the "On ramp" beginner's class, before I'll be ready to join the regular fitness classes (well, "ready" is a relative word. I may never feel "ready"; the best I might be able to do is "willing"). My first sessions have definitely pushed me to the edge of my strength and abilities. I had not done any research into CrossFit before plunging in; this was so that I would not get intimidated before I even began. But I'm moderately intimidated now. Not only are the workouts hard, but it also looks as though the cost of regular gym membership might be prohibitive, at least for the present. My writing income has been (*cough*) hovering around zero for the last three years. So until I can find a job or two, and earn a few dollars, I don't see how it will be feasible for me to join a second gym. (Our family already frequents another establishment on a semi-regular basis.)<br />
.Mrs. Pinkertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05430881135921278001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2696426935279789613.post-4134790434786477772018-03-08T08:45:00.000-05:002018-03-08T12:45:43.144-05:00#selfesteem<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.freefitnesstips.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/cartoonwomanwalking1-403-x-600.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.freefitnesstips.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/cartoonwomanwalking1-403-x-600.png" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="403" height="320" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Closer to reality</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="168" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTzegI7MI7YHjo6G58AfDA6xZ1hRye_J7HlaMZ120nNORgH9XBp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fantasy--sort of</td></tr>
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Today I'm taking the plunge and starting a new fitness adventure. I'm carpooling with a couple of other ladies and going to a gym in a nearby community. Close to the time they were due to arrive, I heard a vehicle pull up outside. "Is this my ride?" I wondered.<br />
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No, it wasn't. I hope this isn't an omen.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.loraas.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Lorass-Disposal-300DPI-19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="424" src="https://www.loraas.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Lorass-Disposal-300DPI-19.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But with snow. Lots and lots of snow.<br />.</td></tr>
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Mrs. Pinkertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05430881135921278001noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2696426935279789613.post-48030812346161757512018-03-07T11:50:00.001-05:002018-03-07T11:51:56.237-05:00Promises, promises<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://wattsupwiththat.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/gw-al-gore-fire.jpg?w=640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="317" data-original-width="430" height="235" src="https://wattsupwiththat.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/gw-al-gore-fire.jpg?w=640" width="320" /></a></div>
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Not that I want to pick on Mr. Gore especially (cough); after all, he's not the only alarmist, but it's possible that he's made the most money off his <a href="https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Al-Gores-Hipocrisy-The-Climate-Crusader-Profits-from-Fossil-Fuels.html">fear-mongering</a>. (Oh wait, mybad; that's money made from fossil fuels.) And I have just one teeny question to ask him: WHEN IS THE GLOBAL WARMING GOING TO START? and CAN IT START IN SASKATCHEWAN, PLEASE? Pretty please?<br />
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Here it is, March, and yes, I know March always has unpredictable weather (heck, so does January, February, April, and so on. Do my classmates remember the blizzard of '82 that happened on the day of our high school graduation on the last weekend in May?) At any rate, there <i>is</i> such a thing as "normal and "seasonal" temperatures for this time of year, and -26 degrees Centrigrade is NOT IT.<br />
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I don't mind the snow--truly I don't, except when it's all over the highway and makes you cancel appointments or makes it dangerous to drive. With the fresh fall of snow, I might even get out to use the <a href="https://dumboldhousewives.blogspot.ca/2018/01/the-fitness-files-husband-wife.html">snowshoes that I received for Christmas.</a><br />
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But the cold: I can no longer stand the cold. Not in March. Please Mr. Gore, let loose the Dogs of Warming ... or at least open up one of your many <a href="http://www.worldpropertyjournal.com/featured-columnists/celebrity-homes-column-al-gore-tipper-gore-oprah-winfrey-michael-douglas-christopher-lloyd-fred-couples-nicolas-cage-peter-reckell-kelly-moneymaker-2525.php">vacation homes </a> to winter-refugees, so we can get away from this chilly misery. Some of us can't afford tropical vacations, because we're trying to keep up with the cost of not freezing to death and stuff.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://illuminutti.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/al_gore_climate_change.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="592" data-original-width="800" height="472" src="https://illuminutti.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/al_gore_climate_change.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Too funny not to share.<br />.</td></tr>
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<br />Mrs. Pinkertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05430881135921278001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2696426935279789613.post-12712557140283189072018-03-06T07:00:00.000-05:002018-03-06T09:02:31.613-05:00We are not on TwitterWhen it comes to online communication and/or searches, a single letter, or even a dot can direct you to the wrong (or let us say "different") place. So one must be precise. I was googling our blog name one time, and came up with this lady's Twitter address (or handle, or whatever the Twitterites--Twitterenes--Twitteronians--Twits? call themselves).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/822948067871571968/xmEkOyHp_400x400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="240" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/822948067871571968/xmEkOyHp_400x400.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I highly approve of this graphic</i>: Mrs Pinkerton</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://twitter.com/DumbOlHousewife">DumbOldHousewife</a><br /> <a href="https://twitter.com/DumbOlHousewife">@DumbOlHousewife</a><br /><br />Most in the MSM and Hollywood consider women like me to be just dumb old housewives. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/wife?src=hash">#wife</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/momto5?src=hash">#momto5</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nebraska?src=hash">#nebraska</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/catholic?src=hash">#catholic</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/prolife?src=hash">#prolife</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/conservative?src=hash">#conservative</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFP?src=hash">#NFP</a><br /></span><br />
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This is not <strike>us </strike>we (you must use proper grammar, no mattter how awkward it sounds). This is (as you can see from her description) a wife, mother of 5, who is Catholic, from Nebraska, who is prolife, conservative, and promotes natural methods of fertility awareness. Something tells me we could have a tremendous amount in common with her. But I can't say for sure, as I've not read all of her tweets. </div>
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Here are the differences: we are <i>three</i> ladies (albeit two fairly silent ones, for various reasons--we're slowly rectifying that); we have 16 children between us, and we are not from Nebraska. We are from Canada (SK and ON) and Australia. </div>
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In any event, more power to you, Mrs DOH from Nebraska! Let it be noted (if copyright issues ever arise) that she joined Twitter in 2017, and our blog has been operating under this banner since 2009. And she has 128 followers, and we have 34, so we're evidently doing something wrong. Maybe we should get on Twitter. </div>
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Mrs. Pinkertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05430881135921278001noreply@blogger.com0