Author Archives: Kim Halloran-Fry
First look at Cambridge
This makes my inaugural England post from our whirlwind house hunting trip. Such a jam packed visit that the only tourist pictures I got were from the car. Since there are a remarkable number of roundabouts in that fine country and since driving on the other side of the road in traffic made things just a smidge confusing at first, I had lots of opportunities to get up my shots as we circled the college area moving ever closer to the exit each round lol.
April was quite a month let me tell you. Catching my breath just a bit this week as we enter round two here in May. Lots of challenges converging simultaneously, the sort which tend to make one's hands wring and feet pace. What to do? What to do?
I listen to my gypsy friend who reminds me - just do the next thing.
I hope you have a friend like that. I hope you too remember to just do the next thing when the water gets choppy. And maybe take a few pictures too. I think it helps <g>
perfect drudgery…. not
"We housewives often in the course of our work come up to bare unwitting prospects and we exclaim, “Oh, it’s perfect drudgery!” But stay, come round this way, view your work from another standpoint. Ah, what a change! Heavens light is upon it; sacred memories arise, glad songs are heard and we trace where high art has been at work. Best of all, our work need not be likened to a ruin, but a place filled with happy human souls. Don’t have one-sided views of your work, view it all round. Have a truly high idea of your work, and you will never commit the great mistake of thinking it drudgery."
By Charlotte Skinner, The Housewife, 1886.
Do visit Brocante Home for the entire essay!
the mark of time
They stayed there on her mirror for weeks after we left. She couldn't bear to wipe away the imprint of my little ones. Seeing those tiny hands as she passed by made it feel as though they weren't so far away. There were no other little ones nearby and the glass stayed spotlessly clean. There were no messes. And no giggles. This is what Gram told me after we visited all those years ago when bearded sons were still toddling boys.
I thought of this glancing over my shoulder as the sun fell the other night, remembering one sticky, tiny person pressed to the glass earlier, looking for her brothers in the yard.
I left it there for just a little bit longer.
convoy
So, it's the first sunny weekend in our corner of Germany and what comes to mind to while away the hours? Why of course, you form a tractor convoy with your neighbors and snake your way through the backroads of local hamlets until you're all tired out. Then you go sit a spell at the corner pub and have a rousing singalong.
At least that is how local folks were spending the day around here. Never know quite what you will find as you turn the corner. <g> I hope your weekend is full of silly surprises.
new every morning
It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23
One of the biggest surprises I have had in the past several months has been a growing fascination with the Old Testament. I will admit it did not draw me in regularly for many years. It was Allen's audio bible study app that started it all. He is a man of schedules and goal setting and the whole idea of this reading all planned out appealed to him especially. He listens to his chapters on his own and then reads to us after the rosary. More often than not I am so caught up in what we hear I grab my bible after to read the sections before and after.
It's been a blessing.
Every morning.
A Rainy Day in Prague
A little rain doesn't stop us when we are adventuring. Ok, maybe it slows us down a little, but we usually splash on through. That's a darned good thing considering our next location. The second day in Prague was misty moisty which later turned to buckets as we approached the bridge going home. We took cover there laughing ourselves silly.
My beautiful Moira. She took my breath away when I turned and caught a glimpse of her gazing out across the bridge as we waited.
This image IS Prague for me. It is what I picture when I think of our time in Europe together. Oh those little bitty hands. She will never remember this place. I hope she never forgets arms bearing her up and carrying her out of the rain.
note to self
A very good theme for 45, I'd say.
How about you? Are you dreaming any new dreams this year?
It's never, never too late.
Bread of Heaven
This is the sixth time we have buttoned up a little man for his First Communion Day. This year was Brendan's year and he has so looked forward to this day.
He was so sincere throughout the mass. Father gave a special homily in English for Brendan, who was so rapt with attention he was nodding yes throughout the whole thing. Father doesn't do an English sermon very often. He took it from The Sermons of St. John Vianney. (which is now in my Amazon shopping cart!) I know this because he showed me his copy of the book afterwards with all the notes and Brendan's name penciled in here and there. Our boy is forever to be remembered when he thumbs through his volume and I can't tell you how that endeared me to the man.
We took no pictures during the service. As a priest once said, "It is a holy moment, not a Kodak moment." But we made up for that after. <g> We giggle when we look at the pictures now because dear Mr. Sherner (r) looks so stern. But don't let that fool you. It is like those old tintype pictures. As soon as the camera fired he was all smiles! In fact he swapped places with me and set up and took pictures of us. Another of those cultural things we are just now understanding.
The other parishioners were every bit as kind. When all the pictures were done and we stepped outside there they all were. All of them, waiting, with gifts and hearty handshakes for Brendan.
Have I mentioned how much B enjoys journaling? He just thinks it is so cool to write down whatever he is thinking about or telling what he has done. He often just sits and doodles. I found this page below and had to smile. Salvation history from a 7 year old's point of view. So him. Don't worry. We've assured him all is well now. "I know," he said, quite satisfied with the whole explanation.
He still likes to make pictures and write about them. I wonder where he gets that from….
Starry Sky Journal 