tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11674192815270260052024-02-18T20:45:40.238-05:00Whiskers and WildflowersEmmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601173525611502671noreply@blogger.comBlogger97125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1167419281527026005.post-76100232110781210952018-06-28T21:49:00.001-04:002018-06-28T21:49:53.511-04:00Well that's embarrassing...<br />
Hello. *waves awkwardly*<br />
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I feel I must issue a quick apology to those of you who have left comments over the past two months. You may have noticed that your comments were never moderated and therefore never published. <br />
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I was just scrolling through my dashboard and discovered that in my distracted/diverted/overwhelmed-with-life state of mind I've been swimming through due to various and unexpected happenings within my family and life lately that I neglected to actually publish them. Whoops.<br />
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So again, I'm sorry. Please don't think it is because I don't love you, because I do! You are all amazing and every time you leave a comment you brighten my day! <br />
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Talk to you soon!<br />
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<span style="color: magenta;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">~Emma</span></i></span>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601173525611502671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1167419281527026005.post-5725860424343258532018-06-15T23:51:00.000-04:002018-06-15T23:51:39.613-04:00Choices<div style="text-align: center;">
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The choices we make, the choices we take, some we regret, some are mistakes. Some lead us near, some lead us far, all serve to make us who we are.</div>
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But still, whatever choices we decide to make, they are what turn us into the people we are. They are the weft thread that makes up the pattern of our lives, that shapes our character and builds it to what it's meant to become.<br />
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Sometimes the decision is difficult to make, other times we are entirely confident in what we have chosen. Either way, there will be many, many times in our lives when we will turn and look back and imagine that life would be better or things would be easier had we made a different choice. Tread a different path, followed a different dream.<br />
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This is tempting but serves only as a distraction, an excuse to stand still.</div>
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So remember this: nothing in our lives is ever wasted and there is a plan and purpose to absolutely everything.<br />
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We may never know what lives we've touched or to what extent our seemingly simple or insignificant choices have affected the people, places, and things in our lives for the better.<br />
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Nothing goes to waste.</div>
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God uses everything...</div>
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...even our mistakes.</div>
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Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601173525611502671noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1167419281527026005.post-71575724578715873232018-05-21T23:16:00.000-04:002018-05-21T23:16:17.104-04:00Fresh starts and new pizazzWell hello. <br />
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It's just me, your elusive neighborhood blogger, back from who-knows-where doing who-knows-what. Again.<br />
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It seems like lately I'm writing into an echo chamber. I apologize for my absence, post something guilt ridden and half hearted, and repeat the process over when I seemingly inevitably disappear yet again. And to be perfectly truthful, I am quite sick of that ceaseless pattern. <br />
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Alright, scratch all that out. I don't want it to be that way anymore, and I've got a fresh idea!<br />
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I want to write you about things that are important to me, things that are "me". I have a tendency of convincing myself that no one who doesn't already know me well really wants to hear what I have to say. This causes me to keep things at surface value, revealing my true depth only to those closest to me. And in doing so, I rob myself of the opportunity of writing in my own voice-of using my own words and not just a parody of someone else's.<br />
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Anyway, I am sooo tired of doing that here on my blog. <i>MY </i>blog! Of all places, here I should be totally me. <br />
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And so this is my proposed solution: I want to write my posts as posts that I would want to read, not lame copies of another's vision.<br />
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<img alt="Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self. - Cyril Connolly" class="_ry _27 _40 _2j" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/8c/82/6c/8c826c7d37fd763cf2b2d6b875bffd4c.jpg" width="265" /> </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">My new official motto</span></div>
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I was looking through a list earlier of various post ideas I've either scribbled down or begun to draft and then abandoned, I want to share a few of them with you to give you an idea of what I have in mind.</div>
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"The World Needs More Happy"</div>
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"Admit it...Things we all did as kids"</div>
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"I wanna see the world...Or not"</div>
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"Why I don't like Mr. Darcy"</div>
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"Hometown Vignettes"</div>
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"All the words I would say..." </div>
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And I even have a couple series I'd like to write.</div>
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"Reclaiming Beauty: Modesty in a modern world"</div>
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"Pages Through Time"</div>
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"What Defines Gentleman: Reigniting chivalry in the 20th century man"</div>
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"On Being a Lady: Timeless femininity for the 20th century woman"</div>
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This certainly isn't an exhaustive list, but I think you catch my drift. Regardless, I want to hear what you think! Are any of those ideas things you'd like to read? Do you have any suggestions or ideas to add? Please, don't hesitate to throw your thoughts into the comments! We're in this together, I want to hear from you :)</div>
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Always,</div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">~Emma</span></i></span></div>
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<br />Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601173525611502671noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1167419281527026005.post-1991633731351515262018-04-10T23:25:00.001-04:002018-04-10T23:25:54.363-04:00Brothers and sisters...<div style="text-align: center;">
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Happy Siblings Day to my brother and sister (and brother-in-law, too!) </div>
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<img alt="Happy National Siblings day from Pusheen, Stormy, and their new little brother, Pip! Tag your siblings! " class="_mj _3k _2h _3w" data-reactid="198" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/ad/51/9b/ad519b867e774d0fee80fea19317cf8e.jpg" /></div>
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You guys are so absolutely positively wonderful and I'm so very blessed to have you in my life!</div>
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I thought the following to be rather true of us and they made my think of you :)</div>
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<img alt="These 10 Quotes Prove That Your Sister Should ALWAYS Be Your #1" class="_mj _3k _2h _3w" data-reactid="213" height="320" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/4f/31/dd/4f31dd4cf2e160b3b3a8f8af160161f9.jpg" width="257" /> </div>
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<img alt="...remember those days with sibs. lol!" class="_mj _3k _2h _3w" data-reactid="198" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/fe/73/bc/fe73bc54b80c0779906f07bbb8965cfb.jpg" /></div>
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<img alt="Being the older sibling of my siblings, I can say this is true. XD" class="_mj _3k _2h _3w" data-reactid="204" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/13/f5/39/13f5390b94f0c2b20e458be2b1c03b78.jpg" width="261" /></div>
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(No, names mentioned...you know who you are)</div>
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<img alt="Friendship" class="_mj _3k _2h _3w" data-reactid="207" height="320" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/a2/a6/a4/a2a6a4fa49c749b143b829f8e0b11567.jpg" width="255" /></div>
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<img alt="Much love to fun families everywhere for National Siblings Day!" class="_mj _3k _2h _3w" data-reactid="204" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/93/1f/40/931f40aa6dee0b5a383a22cda1f02108.jpg" width="266" /></div>
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<img alt="Happy National Siblings Day Funny Quotes [2016] Brother & Sister ..." class="_mj _3k _2h _3w" data-reactid="198" height="303" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/af/86/7f/af867f164128f79210ed86dfde2ab2d7.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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<img alt="Amen" class="_mj _3k _2h _3w" data-reactid="198" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/65/5c/91/655c913bd23bb8fa89d8d12e01a1e17d.jpg" width="346" /></div>
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xoxo </div>
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~Emma</div>
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Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601173525611502671noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1167419281527026005.post-58376079892360389572018-03-19T23:50:00.003-04:002018-03-20T11:35:16.778-04:00Bits and Pieces: February/March '18<br />
Hi there! Remember me??<br />
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I haven't a valid excuse, so I shan't invent one...<br />
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Instead, I thought I'd give a pictorial account of my
adventures/excursions/mischief that has evidently kept me so thoroughly
occupied as of late. (Or something like that).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjntNOCiD0Lx_tf0kabLCiRQr3w09OOGLasUMVrrMKgh1KUaO3wlG_DBXSC-TM0pjtolzIwsLyIyFib5CDU_4OYPcys8vx5zdXQ6hi0HIKf5-C645Z0y7wBv5XPh6aEaeLf9nMUwvX92HA/s1600/veils+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjntNOCiD0Lx_tf0kabLCiRQr3w09OOGLasUMVrrMKgh1KUaO3wlG_DBXSC-TM0pjtolzIwsLyIyFib5CDU_4OYPcys8vx5zdXQ6hi0HIKf5-C645Z0y7wBv5XPh6aEaeLf9nMUwvX92HA/s400/veils+1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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New chapel veils I hope to review soon...</div>
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Bacon and puff pancake for Shrove Tuesday....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKALBSjcjPspgTDjL3FiUS59RGLo3tGFE8KckdPxasyPkb6wLQDtA7AUzqsAJipRYylq0Ne1oNwPRfgnDKYEftvI8zMOkigi2qP8kx5nIcrqkYIdIapSt1-ZwXNcuF78J1vmtNCZeq71Y/s1600/projects+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKALBSjcjPspgTDjL3FiUS59RGLo3tGFE8KckdPxasyPkb6wLQDtA7AUzqsAJipRYylq0Ne1oNwPRfgnDKYEftvI8zMOkigi2qP8kx5nIcrqkYIdIapSt1-ZwXNcuF78J1vmtNCZeq71Y/s400/projects+1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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One of my latest projects I did in February (more on that to come.)</div>
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At the end February, my brother and I went up to NY for a week to help our sister and brother-in-law move into their new place! It was a lot of hard work, but also fun to be doing it together. And seeing my niece was a nice bonus, too :) Here are some pictures from the trip...</div>
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A little sleepy...</div>
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Now these, I will have you know, are the best swings <i>ever!!!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdf-sP38RLtgL5yflaXvp_POJ1MLmMNka_F0SWOCI9m5yduFhIYENgibhmUmPm8QQbjIgzJrQmRFtAXqsDqVk6aVjVFDDcx84EzT-8wzYoRdtVv3U3SIGKxWVgZywX6BZXERlY7vWYjg/s1600/swings+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdf-sP38RLtgL5yflaXvp_POJ1MLmMNka_F0SWOCI9m5yduFhIYENgibhmUmPm8QQbjIgzJrQmRFtAXqsDqVk6aVjVFDDcx84EzT-8wzYoRdtVv3U3SIGKxWVgZywX6BZXERlY7vWYjg/s400/swings+2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
Trying for an artistic angle...how'd I do? ;)</div>
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Being silly with her Uncle Matthew!</div>
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Part of the view heading home again after a busy week...</div>
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Woohoo!</div>
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A warm welcome home from the greeting committee!</div>
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Homemade Lenten pretzels...mmm</div>
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When will I learn to read one book at a time???</div>
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<i>Hopefully</i> the last snow of the season!</div>
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It is awfully pretty, though...</div>
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Benjamin caught being nice for a change!</div>
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St. Patrick's Day! Only a few days late...</div>
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Okay, so I pinky promise you I'll have a "real" post up very soon! This has been an especially busy time for me and, as you can tell, life kind of pushed blogging to the back burner. That doesn't mean I haven't thought of you, though, because I have! That's partly the reason for the excessive flood of pictures, so I'd have something to share of my adventures! I hope you enjoyed :)</div>
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Happy Feast of Saint Joseph! </div>
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Always,</div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">~Emma</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">p.s. Please let me know if you have trouble viewing any of the pictures, either on the blog or email version, as I was having a difficult time uploading them.</span></span></span><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></span></div>
<br />Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601173525611502671noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1167419281527026005.post-9548130353835861872018-02-18T23:25:00.002-05:002018-02-18T23:25:44.745-05:00Words, pages, paragraphs<div style="text-align: center;">
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Helloooo,</div>
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I love how I always have these spectacularly wonderful ambitions that never quite come about in a timely manner. It's great, it really is. Take this post for example, it probably would have been far more relevant had I written it last month when 2017 had just ended and everyone was still interested in what happened during the span of that year. </div>
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Well guess what, I still care. And because I care, I'm still going to tell you about all the books I read last year! So ha! (If you do not care, I encourage you to discontinue reading this now.)</div>
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There, now we may proceed!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(I can only make out "David Copperfield" in this picture, a book I am not particularly fond of, but they all look so pretty! They <i>must </i>be good books, heehee)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">You're going to be just <b>amazed </b>when I tell you how many books I read! It is shocking, absolutely shocking! You ready?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">23!!!!!!<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (boo, Emma, boooo!)</span></span></span></span></div>
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<img alt="I don't know why it's always backwards. It's "That's it, Dishonor! Dishonor on your whole family! Dishonor on you, dishonor on your cow"" class="_mj _25 _3x _2h" height="320" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/52/34/49/5234499f9faccba6737bc20c9f44c985.jpg" width="180" /></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> One of my go-to quotes, ask my family ;)</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I know, not a lot. Oh well. I don't really know how that happened, I mean, other than the obvious fact I just didn't read many books. I think I read almost twice that many in 2016, so I'll have to try to beat that score this year! (Because I know I don't have a chance at beating my brother!)</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">You might be thinking, "That's still a decent amount of books, Emma, it's okay!" But here's the thing, a rather large majority of them were school books or picture books. (What can I say? I have a thing for rereading Beatrix Potter stories <span style="font-size: x-small;">(<i>maybe</i> in accents...)</span> My dear sister will back me on this.)</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img alt="Beatrix I do so hate finishing books. I would like to go on with them for years ... Potter" class="_mj _25 _3x _2h" data-reactid="165" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/f6/d4/c9/f6d4c9bf0a763b1471b835cfd5b9c23c.jpg" width="225" /> </span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Anyway, onto the books I read!</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'll spare you the textbooks and such, I don't think they'd be of much interest to you.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">The first <i>real </i>book I read was "The Hidden Treasure of Glaston" by Eleanor Jewitt. It was an adventure story set in medieval England about two boys living in Glastonbury Monastery who search for the Holy Grail of Arthurian legend and uncover many more hidden secrets about themselves along the way. I enjoyed it!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Also:</span></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Wuthering Heights" by Emily Bronte. If you liked this book, I would like to shake your hand. If you love this book, we need to talk because you need to tell me what you see in it. Sorrow, depression, death, wasted lives, more death. What's not to love, right?</span></span></li>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img alt="It's true..." class="_mj _25 _3x _2h" data-reactid="179" height="320" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/7e/b8/c8/7eb8c8d753d6bf7f796a0f6355787aef.jpg" width="320" /> </span></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">"The Twelve Dancing Princesses"~The Grimm Brothers. Um...interesting concept. In a nutshell, *<b>spoiler alert* </b>king hires old (broke) soldier to follow his twelve rebellious daughters around at night to a magical dancing land that they disappear to. They don't know they're being followed, he tattletales on them to their father, instead of punishing the naughty princesses, the king let's the old (broke) soldier to marry whichever daughter he chooses as a reward, he marries the eldest because "she's closest in age" (ever though I'm pretty sure he liked the youngest one best), The End! How'd I do?</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">"The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck" (my favorite), and "The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin", both Beatrix Potter. We know those are always good, though!</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> "Weddings In the Family"~Dale Fife. A sweet story told from the perspective of a little girl about each of her quirky Alsatian relatives' weddings and the hilarity often surrounding each of these events.</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: small;">"Lay Siege to Heaven"~Louis de Wohl. The semi-fictional account of the life of the great Saint Catherine of Siena.</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img alt="50 Books Every Catholic Should Read - How many of them have you read?" class="_mj _25 _3x _2h" data-reactid="178" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/ee/aa/0b/eeaa0bf6f7668367d779cd6d8d0534c6.jpg" /></span></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Number the Stars"~Lois Lowry. A moving fictional story about a girl living in Denmark during the Nazi invasion of that country and how she helps to save Jewish refugee families escape capture.</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">"The Great Gatsby"~F. Scott Fitzgerald. This. Book. Is. Wonderful. If you haven't read it, you must do so. If you have read it, tell me what you thought!</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">"The Hundred Dresses"~Eleanor Estes. I liked this book slightly less than her others, (<i>The Moffats, Pinky-Pie</i> ) but overall it was an enjoyable story.</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">"'The Awakening of Miss Prim"~Natalia Sanmartin Fenolerra. I enjoyed this book more than I expected to initially. (What can I say, I judge books by their covers.) If you love "Pride and Prejudice", "Little Woman", and constant intellectual Latin quotations, you will probably love it, too.</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">"No Plot, No Problem", Chris Baty's wonderful accompany to doing NaNoWriMo, sooo worth the read! I actually bought my own copy of the updated version so I'd have it next time around, it was that helpful.</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> "Saint Patrick and the Peddler"Margaret Hodges. <b>Confession:</b> this was a picture book. But it was a really good, Catholic picture book! I read it to a bunch of kindergartners and kind of fell in love with it, the pictures are gorgeous!! (And it was Ireland, so I mean, there was no way I <i>wasn't </i>going to read it ;) )</span></span></li>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="gatos y libros Más" class="_mj _25 _3x _2h" data-reactid="184" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/ff/65/df/ff65dff34e9d5081d9e5d62cf94728b1.jpg" width="300" /></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Black Heels and Tractor Wheels"~Ree Drummond. (Not as edgy as it sounds, I promise.) Anybody know Ree Drummond, the Pioneer Woman? She's a cook, author, cooking show host, and really funny blogger. This was a (sort of) dramatic biography of how she, a city girl through and through, met, fell in love, and married her cowboy-husband and all the crazy stories she tells surrounding those events.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">And finally...</span></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Rifles for Watie"~Harold Keith. This is my brother's <u>favorite</u> book, he actually read it out loud to me! I promised him I'd write a special post about it and about the new holiday we invented in honor of it, the NFRD or, "National Rifles for Watie Day". More on that soon :)</span></span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="I love books. Its like you have made a whole new world and dont give a damn about goes around you. I just love the feeling of getting lost in a book to the extent that i tend to forget where i am." class="_mj _25 _3x _2h" data-reactid="170" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/f7/0d/60/f70d60b6c2fe378c34e938207450adad.jpg" width="274" /></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Stats:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">In conclusion, (if you stuck around this long) I read,</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <b>23 </b>books in 2017,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>4,583 </b>pages,</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">the longest book I read was <b>"Christ And the Americas"~Anne Carroll, </b>at <b>440 </b>pages.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">And my favorite book was <b>"The Great Gatsby"</b>.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">So I didn't win my family's reading challenge in any category last year, but I've got dibs for this year! I'm going to try, at least!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">What books did you read in 2017? Did you have a favorite(s), least favorite(s)?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Always,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: magenta;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">~Emma</span></i></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601173525611502671noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1167419281527026005.post-20875654250055595792018-01-30T00:32:00.002-05:002018-01-30T00:33:57.534-05:00Love Saves Lives.<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I can't remember exactly how old I was when I first learned what the word abortion meant, it just seems like something I've always been conscious of. That's not to say my mother told her young daughter every horrible, frightening detail of what that word stood for, of course not. But I knew from a young age that it meant killing little babies who were still growing inside their mommy's bellies, just like my baby brother. I didn't understand the reason for it, but I didn't need to. I knew it was wrong not just because my mum told me it was, but because I knew it was a sin to kill a person. </div>
<br />
And that's exactly what an unborn fetus is: a person.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Forget Hilary Clinton. This woman is a true femanist and worthy candidate for president. #prolife" class="_mi _25 _3w _2h" data-reactid="185" height="320" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/bb/b1/5e/bbb15e046981ff3c69375e5379e172ef.jpg" width="320" /></div>
<br />
When I was about ten I remember watching EWTN one afternoon and during a break between programs a little girl around my age came on screen and said a prayer I'd never heard before. This was the prayer:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I love you very much. I beg you to spare the life of the unborn baby whom I have spiritually adopted who is in danger of abortion. Amen."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The girl went on to share a website* where you could spiritually adopt an unborn baby by pledging to say the above prayer everyday for nine consecutive months. Your baby had a birth date and there was even a place where you could give a name to the baby (or babies, twins) you were praying for to make it seem more personal. That year each of my siblings and I, along with our mum, adopted a baby to pray for. And coincidentally (although nothing is a coincidence for God) a close friend of ours found out she was expecting around that time and delivered her healthy little girl around the close of our nine month novena! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Guardian Angel" class="_mi _25 _3w _2h" data-reactid="178" height="320" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/ca/d0/2d/cad02d0f90966a34067fe03387282cfa.jpg" width="193" /></div>
<br />
Saying that little prayer really left an impression upon me and I continued praying it continuously for years, understanding exactly the purpose in mind: saving babies! Why shouldn't children, who's prayers to Our Lord are the most innocently uttered, be told of this great tragedy taking place daily so that their prayers might help to end it?<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="We must strive to not only make abortion illegal, but to make it unthinkable." class="_mi _25 _3w _2h" data-reactid="185" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/11/64/5c/11645cb9b51697b8edfeb206079bf0b2.jpg" width="294" /></div>
<br />
Unfortunately, as people, we all make mistakes in life, but we should be the one's who pay the consequences for our own mistakes. It is terribly, terribly wrong to make other's take that blame, especially an innocent child who didn't ask to exist, but was <i>given</i> existence just like the rest of us. The solution is never to kill the child, regardless of how they came to be, because abortion kills not once, but twice. First the baby, then the mother. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt=".A monument dedicated to "The child that was never born"." class="_mi _25 _3w _2h" data-reactid="185" height="320" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/b3/84/a1/b384a1644c67dc91f07de1063591da17.jpg" width="320" /></div>
<br />
Have you ever stopped and thought about the fact that you might never have been given the chance to live? It's kind of a strange feeling, isn't it? What about if someone you love had been aborted, never existed to you in your life at all?<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Imagine: if the millions of babies who have been aborted were alive today, how might the world be different? #anglicansforlife #prolife #Tolkien" class="_mi _25 _3w _2h" data-reactid="185" height="320" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/11/72/5b/11725b8793286bc6bbfd98cfcd6c4a62.jpg" width="320" /></div>
<br />
One of my dearest friends was adopted when she was just a new born, adopted, not aborted.<br />
<br />
One of my cousins found herself in an unplanned pregnancy and was informed her baby had a serious birth defect. When faced with a decision she chose to keep her little girl and although she lived only a couple months, brought much joy while she was here on earth.<br />
<br />
Whenever I see an unmarried expectant mother I always admire her for her courage. She could easily have disposed of the "problem", but instead chose life for her and her baby.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="We ALL want abortion to end, but how can we play a part? Father Frank Pavone breaks down our role in his newest book, Abolishing Abortion. Grab your copy NOW by visiting http://www.abolishingabortion.com/?utm_campaign=Commentary&utm_content=20715629&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook" class="_mi _25 _3w _2h" height="320" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/b5/dc/af/b5dcaf62cba876808e14fabb41680dfe.jpg" width="320" /></div>
<br />
Now as I've gotten older I have gradually learned just how evil the horror of abortion is, how tragic and despicable the act of murdering a baby in the womb. Why would a woman murder her own child? How could people claim that the developing infant in the womb wasn't even human? Did people really believe that lie to be the truth?<br />
<br />
As a direct result of our depraved world that has shunned God, yes, tragically many people do believe it. Both men as well as women believe that human lives are worthless and disposable simply because they cannot do for themselves, speak for themselves, defend themselves.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="50 million dead children, people due to abortion, death by someone else choice!" class="_mi _25 _3w _2h" height="320" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/71/d4/ff/71d4ff8799181393c39da9d41a7e076c.jpg" width="320" /> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
That is why it is up to us to speak for the innocent victims. We must not be afraid to speak out boldly in defense of the unborn, in our governments and to those in power, in our cities and towns, our work places, even in our own families. We must defend the defenseless so that they too may live! We are the pro-life generation, and we know that...</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><u><b>Love</b></u></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><u><b>Saves</b></u></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><u><b>Lives. </b></u></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><u><b> </b></u></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Always,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: magenta;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">~Emma</span></i></span> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">*This is not the original website I found the prayer for unborn babies on years ago, I don't believe that one exists any longer, but here is the link to a similar website: http://spiritualadoption.org/index.html </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Please feel free to share your own thoughts and incites on this topic in the comments below, just make sure you keep them charitable towards others :)</span><i><u><b> </b></u></i></div>
Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601173525611502671noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1167419281527026005.post-41224900002659387782018-01-16T20:28:00.000-05:002018-01-16T20:29:29.941-05:00Year In Review '17<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="slovak folk patterns - Google Search" class="_mi _25 _3w _2h" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/73/03/52/730352f706bcb95c0b8e89fa1fa4dbe1.jpg" width="267" /> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I
was feeling a bit blog-ish tonight (yes, I believe I invented that word),
so I thought to myself, "Why not strike while the iron's hot?" A
positively smashing idea on my part, undoubtedly ;)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Truth
be told I was scrolling through my reading list on my blogger
dashboard, feeling somewhat wistful and dreamy, and I happened upon <a href="http://violetcottage.blogspot.com/2018/01/a-year-to-remember.html" target="_blank">Abby's post</a> in regards to hopes for the coming year, I felt compelled to follow suit in my own little way.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
These are some of the questions that she included.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>What did you do in 2017 that you'd never done before?</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i> </i>Rode a Ferris Wheel! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> </i><br />
<i><img alt="I Absolutely LOVE Ferris Wheels,I can set and watch them for hours,especially at night..when they shine so bright! :)" class="_mi _25 _3w _2h" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/19/ed/a7/19eda70cf059b447551e3b8f10e9bbde.jpg" width="266" /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i> Did you keep your New Year's Resolutions and will you make new ones?</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I've
never really been one for making resolutions, or at least not the usual
kind people seem to expect. I'm not saying those kind are bad, not at
all, but I guess I just prefer to look at them as goals or opportunities
for betterment. With that in mind, I want to make my focus this year
more or less the same as last: To live every moment of my life as the
gift that it truly is, to remind myself of this in moments when I
forget, and to help others see life as a great treasure, too.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i> </i><i>Did anyone close to you give birth?</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Yes, my favorite sister had a baby in the spring, making me a proud auntie! <i> </i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQZMs-ucSiNzn-6JIXjSQ18kGVfrwsGqKFem9LvllSKLEkSSiJuYI5fQTCwjy-f1VFMne5HHk1qZvBwJHWNeDATvsNKBRJzG8ZI4I1eaOXIXCLq7U1S9rLcHx3_l2JpPJg6ZHhTY9gNE/s1600/hummingbird.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQZMs-ucSiNzn-6JIXjSQ18kGVfrwsGqKFem9LvllSKLEkSSiJuYI5fQTCwjy-f1VFMne5HHk1qZvBwJHWNeDATvsNKBRJzG8ZI4I1eaOXIXCLq7U1S9rLcHx3_l2JpPJg6ZHhTY9gNE/s400/hummingbird.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My little Hummingbird in her new Christmas bonnet ♥</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i> </i><i>Did anyone close to you die?</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
A great-uncle.<i> </i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i> </i><i>Which countries/states did you visit?</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i> </i>Let's see, no international borders were crossed, unfortunately. Sorry to disappoint!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
As
for states, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, and for the first
time ever, New Hampshire! I would love to add Maine to my 2018 list but
I can't really see that becoming a reality.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="I love New England" class="_mi _25 _3w _2h" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/af/17/d2/af17d29c4176edc5bc247674c0b854ef.jpg" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
♥ Home sweet home ♥</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i> </i><i>W</i><i>hat would you like to have in 2018 that you lacked in 2017?</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<strike>My very own lighthouse.</strike> <i> </i>Maybe a slightly clearer future? On second thought, I'll just look for another lighthouse.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Portland Head Lighthouse Museum in Cape Elizabeth Maine--this is almost the exact painting I inherited from my grandma." class="_mi _25 _3w _2h" height="320" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/d4/79/2c/d4792c8ac7bf417c4c5a9a432b55b85a.jpg" width="213" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Portland Head Light, Portland, Maine.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">I think I'd like to write a story about this place. Thoughts?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i> </i><i>What date from 2017 will remain etched upon your memory?</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i> </i>Ooh, January 22nd! But I'm not telling why...<i> </i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i> </i><i>Did you move anywhere?</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
If living with my favorite sister and wonderful brother-in-law in NY for two months counts, then yes.<i> </i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i> </i><i>What was the best month?</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i> </i>Hard to say... March? April? October?<i> </i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i> </i><i>What was your biggest failure?</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Not making prayer my first and strongest refuge.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<i><img alt="St. Ephraem of Syria on praying makes us more virtuous" class="_mi _25 _3w _2h" height="640" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/2c/ae/d8/2caed89101c2d9323c46ac608f93f531.jpg" width="339" /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i> </i><i>Did you suffer any illness or injury?</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i> </i>A few more colds than usual but I'm still breathing.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i> </i><i>What was the best thing you bought?</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i> </i>Probably my laptop since it's come in handy for schoolwork, writing, and this very blogpost you're (hopefully) enjoying :) </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i> </i><i>Whose behavior merited celebration?</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i> </i>Mulan's, she saved China ;)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Day 02 Favorite Princess: Mulan. Technically she may not be a real princess, but she is a real heroine. With a good heart, incredible bravery, and cunning she is able to- protect his father, bring honor to her family AND SAVE CHINA! Talk about badass am i right? She grew to be the most beautiful flower of all. (And no I am not biased bec I am Asian...maybe just a little)" class="_mi _25 _3w _2h" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/63/3e/d4/633ed4e3b3da71fac942cf11b46796aa.jpg" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i> </i><i>Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i> </i>Those
who think being an American means throwing mass temper tantrums in the
streets is a show of patriotism when they don't get what they think they
want from a government they don't begin understand.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i> </i><i>Where did most of your money go?</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I don't think I spent very much in the past year, it was probably equally dispersed between book sales, thrifting, and yarn.<i> </i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i> </i><i>What did you get really, really excited about?</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
My trip to New York and my eventual return home.<i> </i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> </i><img alt="Free printable Mother's Day sign | CatchMyParty.com" class="_mi _25 _3w _2h" data-reactid="187" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/4a/bf/7b/4abf7badbe492138d53c45b454a55fba.jpg" width="321" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i> </i><i>Compared to last year, are you:</i><br />
<i>happier or sadder? </i>I'd like to think I'm happier :)<br />
<i>thinner or fatter? </i>More or less the same.<br />
<i>richer or poorer?</i> Richer in love, poorer in fears.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>What do you wish you'd done more of? </i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Reading and blogging, but we shall change that this year!<i> </i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<i><i>What do you wish you'd done less of? </i></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Asking "what if?", procrastinating, doubting.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt=""To thine own self be true." | "Hamlet" | 21 Shakespeare quotes shared in LDS general conference #shakespeare #lds #quotes" class="_mi _25 _3w _2h" data-reactid="183" height="271" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/e0/c3/0a/e0c30a3842b03daaf5ef7636ba80ce58.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><i><i>What was your greatest musical discovery?</i></i></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><i><i> </i></i></i>Spotify. Where was this incredibly helpful convenience when I was planning a wedding two years ago?!?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><i><i> </i></i></i><i>How did you spend Christmas?</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i> </i>As stated above, with my family.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i> </i><i>How are you spending New Year's?</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i> </i>Same as Christmas :)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
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<i> </i><i>Who did you spend the most time on your phone with?</i></div>
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<i> </i>My most special friend!</div>
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<img alt="Another Summer read." class="_mi _25 _3w _2h" height="320" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/ea/b3/66/eab366171218cdbc5806ec837d5037ce.jpg" width="189" /><i> </i></div>
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<i> What was the best book you read?</i></div>
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<i> </i>Hmm...probably <i>The Great Gatsby.</i> I'll tell you what my least favorite was and about all the books I read last year in my next post.</div>
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<i> </i><i>Did you fall in love in 2017?</i></div>
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<i> </i>Oh, wouldn't you like to know?</div>
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<br /></div>
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<img alt="Everyone remembers those seagulls from Finding Nemo, not by their significance but by "mine! Mine! Mine!"<<< I know" class="_mi _25 _3w _2h" data-reactid="181" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/73/aa/3c/73aa3c4465248eaa82dfd829109217cc.jpg" width="304" /> </div>
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<i> </i><i>What was your favorite TV show?</i></div>
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<i> </i>I
don't really watch a lot of TV shows, especially not current stuff, but
as an enduring favorite I'd have to say JAG. (Which I got all ten
seasons of for Christmas, eeek!)</div>
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<img alt="JAG - fun show but funny how almost every finale had Rabb crashing a plane in some remote area over seas. Oh no! Is he gonna make it this time? Cliffhanger!" class="_mi _25 _3w _2h" height="320" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/57/dd/03/57dd03e16822e8d867694da5b7979c2a.jpg" width="256" /> </div>
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<i> </i><i>What were your favorite films of the year?</i></div>
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<i> </i>That would be <i>I am David, A Walk to Remember, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, </i>and <i>The Zookeeper's Wife.</i> I think the latter is my top favorite, plus it's also the only one that was "new" as of 2017.</div>
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<img alt="THE ZOOKEEPER'S WIFE (2017): The Zookeeper's Wife tells the account of keepers of the Warsaw Zoo, Antonina and Jan Zabinski, who helped save hundreds of people and animals during the Nazi invasion." class="_mi _25 _3w _2h" height="320" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/cc/43/9c/cc439c25f235ca12d418ec64d989f3af.jpg" width="207" /></div>
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<i> </i><i>What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?</i></div>
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<i> </i>I turned 17 and my wonderful brother-in-law got me a pinata!</div>
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<i> </i><i>How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2017?</i></div>
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<i> </i><img alt="http://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/164887750/tidy-hair-was-all-my-ambition-print-12-x?ref=shop_home_active http://society6.com/britishindie/Tidy..." class="_mi _25 _3w _2h" data-reactid="182" height="320" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/59/df/e1/59dfe1a334019f0c76e259e69f369add.jpg" width="212" /></div>
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<i> </i><i> </i>And some days, not even that was achieved!</div>
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<i>What kept you sane?</i></div>
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<i> </i>Journaling everything. Thoughts, joys, the things I did, and what made me sad or especially happy.</div>
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<i> </i><i>Which celebrity/public figure did you admire most?</i></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WE6WC_BVZ4Q/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WE6WC_BVZ4Q?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe> </div>
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Jacob Rees-Mogg, a British politician who speaks the truth unabashed and defends it with dignity.</div>
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<i> </i><i>Who did you miss?</i></div>
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<i> </i>My family and friends at home while I was in NY, and my family in NY when I was home again.</div>
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<i> </i><i>Who was the best person you met?</i></div>
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<i> </i>Two new friends-one older than I, the other younger-but both very dear.</div>
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<i> </i><i>Tell a valuable life lesson you learned in 2017. </i></div>
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"It could always be worse; this too shall pass." ;)</div>
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<br />
<i><i>Five personally significant events of 2017</i></i>:</div>
<ul>
<li>Becoming an Auntie.</li>
<li>Learning to drive.</li>
<li>Participating in NaNoWriMo.</li>
<li>Entering my Senior Year.</li>
<li>Developing my skills.</li>
</ul>
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<i><i> </i></i><i>Five things I want to do in 2018:</i></div>
<ul>
<li><i> </i>Continue developing my skills and gain new ones.</li>
<li>Go on more adventures!</li>
<li>Turn 18!</li>
<li>Graduate!</li>
<li>Embrace all that life is and has the potential to become.</li>
</ul>
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<i> </i><i>People I'd like to know better in 2018:</i></div>
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My grandfather.<i> </i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i> </i><img alt="motivation, inspiration, quotes, home decor" class="_mi _25 _3w _2h" data-reactid="189" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/92/b9/ee/92b9ee786d22a8b15788fd72480902ad.jpg" width="286" /></div>
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Thank you again, Abby, for the inspiration and very good questions! Be sure to pay a visit to her beautiful blog, <a href="http://violetcottage.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Lavendar Spring</a>. </div>
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<br /></div>
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And
of course, I fully intend to blog more frequently in 2018 (distant
laughter), so you shall be hearing from me yet again before too long. </div>
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Until then, tallyho, my dearies!</div>
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Always,</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">~Emma</span></i></span></div>
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Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601173525611502671noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1167419281527026005.post-76444592396780353722017-12-31T23:26:00.000-05:002017-12-31T23:26:31.853-05:00On the sixth day of Christmas...<br />
Greetings! Happy sixth day of Christmas to you all!<br />
<br />
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<img alt="Ryan Fowler's Six Geese-A-Laying, part of an exclusive #TwelveDaysOfArt collaboration with Surround Yourself + @greatbigcanvas #holidaydecor #holidays #12DaysOfChristmas" class="_mi _25 _3w _2h" data-reactid="174" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/41/b5/05/41b505b24ec320acc8d8dea28881cec1.jpg" width="320" /> </div>
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(Here, I brought you "six geese a'laying", aren't they cute?)</div>
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I very much like that song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas", but I especially like the hidden messages it carries in its lyrics about our Catholic Faith. Do you know the message I'm referring to?</div>
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<img alt="Twelve drummers drumming, eleven pipers piping, ten lords and leaping, nine ladies dancing, eight maids a milking, seven swans a swimming, six geese a laying, FIVE GOLD RINGS, four calling birds, three french hens two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree." class="_mi _25 _3w _2h" data-reactid="174" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/f5/95/8b/f5958b03552bd33acbcc15470e400da0.jpg" width="340" /> </div>
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For the benefit of this post, I'll just assume that you don't ;) </div>
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I first learned the story of this old carol many years ago in one of my English workbooks, maybe in 5th Grade? The story goes like this: </div>
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During the time of the Protestant Revolt in England under Queen Elizabeth I when Catholics were forced to practice there religion in secret, the hunted Jesuit priests who bravely remained would teach the little children to sing this seemingly nonsense song as a way of instructing them in their Catechism. You see, each phrase of the song acted as a mnemonic for a particular Truth of the Faith, one for each of the twelve days of the Christmas Season, lasting from December 26th to the Feast of Epiphany on January 6th.</div>
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<img alt="Irish Catholics attending a “house Mass” despite the English persecution and law" class="_mi _25 _3w _2h" data-reactid="181" height="296" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/bf/42/15/bf42157201af55ffd022dad3438854ba.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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(Faithful Irish Catholics attending a "house Mass" despite persecution at the cost of their lives.)</div>
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The "secret messages" contained in the song look something like this:</div>
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"<i>My True Love </i>sent to me" = God the Father, Who sent His Son Jesus into the world to die for our sins.</div>
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<br /></div>
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"A <i>partridge </i>in a pear <i>tree</i>" = Jesus Christ is the "partridge" and the "tree" is the Cross on which He was crucified.</div>
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"Two <i>turtle doves"</i> = The Old and New Testaments of the Bible.</div>
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"Three <i>French hens" = </i>The virtues of faith, hope and charity or the gifts of the Three Wisemen to the Christ Child.</div>
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"Four <i>calling birds</i>" = Represents the four gospels, "calling" all people to Christ.</div>
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"Five <i>golden rings</i>" = The Pentateuch, or first five books of the Bible.</div>
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"Six <i>geese a-laying</i>" = God created the world in six days.</div>
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"Seven <i>swans a-swimming</i>" = The seven sacraments or seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost.</div>
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"Eight <i>maids a-milking</i>" = The eight beatitudes revealed to us by Jesus.</div>
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"Nine <i>ladies dancing</i>" = Referring to the nine choirs of angels: Angels, Archangels, Thrones, Powers, Principalities, Dominions, Virtues, Seraphim, and Cherubim.</div>
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"Ten <i>lords a-leaping</i>" = God's Ten Commandments given to us through Moses.</div>
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"Eleven <i>pipers piping</i>" = The number of apostles who remained faithful to Our Lord.</div>
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And my favorite!</div>
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"Twelve <i>drummers drumming</i>" = There are twelve points of doctrine contained in the Apostles' Creed, which is what this final line refers to. </div>
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Isn't this cool!?! So next time you hear this song playing, you can think about all of the meaning behind some of those words we sing. It is far more than a nonsense song for children!</div>
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<img alt="Christmas Lover" class="_mi _25 _3w _2h" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/5b/47/77/5b4777dee1572354804218433711a6f7.jpg" width="266" /></div>
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<br /></div>
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Can you believe that it's already the end of 2017? I certainly can't believe it. Isn't it strange how time passes us by the way it does, sometimes feeling fast and breathless, sometimes slow and lingering on endlessly? It's fascinating and weird and perhaps a bit unsettling at times, but that's what I think makes it so valuable!</div>
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<br /></div>
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This has been an amazing year! I think after four years of blogging here I have finally felt comfortable, like I can just have fun and write from my heart without holding back or being self-conscious. </div>
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And you know what? I have all of you to thank for that. No, I'm serious! Knowing that there's even one person reading my insignificant little scribblings I create here is a great feeling, but I know that there's more than just one person tuning in here to every post, and that's kind of amazing to me! Know that I appreciate your reading and commenting, your encouragement always makes me smile, dear. So thank you, and I hope you are given every blessing in the coming year ahead!</div>
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Here's to 2018!</div>
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Always,</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">~Emma</span></i></span></div>
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Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601173525611502671noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1167419281527026005.post-90141748633315292582017-12-10T23:57:00.003-05:002017-12-12T20:12:20.072-05:00"Traditionnnnn! Tra-di-tion!"<br />
First and foremost, to whomever got the reference, mozel tov! ;)<br />
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This post is kind of a hodge-podge of a bunch of different things my family and I do during the season of Advent leading up to Christmas. </div>
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It's also that special time of year when Emma isn't quite sure if she sure should be baking lot's of yummy things, crocheting all of the Christmas gifts she hasn't <strike>started</strike> finished yet, or getting her room straightened out for Christmas guests to stay in. Soo, yeah...</div>
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<img alt="Keep calm, there is only one more holiday till christmas!!! <3" class="_mi _3k _2j _3w" data-reactid="179" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/17/e8/b8/17e8b8b1af59c02dd7343e640bb67303.jpg" width="300" /></div>
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Since Advent started a bit later this year (Dec. 3), it feels like we're even closer to Christmas than usual at this point in the month. *Eek! Just over two weeks?!?* Like, Christmas is literally 15 days away. How??</div>
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<br /></div>
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But if I'm going to tell you about traditions, I'm already getting ahead of myself! (Does that surprise anyone?) Let's go back and discuss November, shall we?<br />
<br />
Being the month dedicated to the Holy Souls in Purgatory and also the month in which All Saints Day (Nov.1) falls, my mum has almost every year decorated the door in our dining room with pretty much every saint holy card we have a copy of.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAcLiwPLXA5KkV7zBPTET7woPbG0q243FegrnU3aGLYmVg1_QDvoc-VQzUsZ1tKmdn5a7BO98lq9GK_qPsS57NXWxycut2X4GgACjgmnJf9TXA3hq0gKj6ufftOALgeR1Sg_xj-3KT4ng/s1600/saint+door.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/AVvXsEjAcLiwPLXA5KkV7zBPTET7woPbG0q243FegrnU3aGLYmVg1_QDvoc-VQzUsZ1tKmdn5a7BO98lq9GK_qPsS57NXWxycut2X4GgACjgmnJf9TXA3hq0gKj6ufftOALgeR1Sg_xj-3KT4ng/s320/saint+door.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Of course, it isn't the work of a day and some years takes well into the month to fill, but it's always<br />
fun adding new and interesting saints to the collection every year.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7TkrToBTifRftWRCi3SJScOFc1hb7zLbbG1msn4CngbVe2DwIoxeYlavdnR1m3Ci9Hru4itPfLk2WkWMCNUNk4UbsKuGTj9-FLaqQBPEkOjIsuJIaA82uOYJjdLbwpn5FoOE5zbH-LaI/s1600/IMG-0046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7TkrToBTifRftWRCi3SJScOFc1hb7zLbbG1msn4CngbVe2DwIoxeYlavdnR1m3Ci9Hru4itPfLk2WkWMCNUNk4UbsKuGTj9-FLaqQBPEkOjIsuJIaA82uOYJjdLbwpn5FoOE5zbH-LaI/s320/IMG-0046.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Bonus points! Can anyone name the saints in this picture?)</span><br />
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Our altar, too, is decorated with saints all through November.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFnsQzXsc9ibrf978KX5Ja3CTM73iwvbXNRGDLqcF5DXyRwowk3Vpxtnnx3vrD2TwwVfXHDzOQeyRclA_x2V1Vh68TCt3LH39wICbMagagoJS1bvjulJ8oORR5JAlt7KMQWVlIzGGgLE/s1600/IMG_0009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFnsQzXsc9ibrf978KX5Ja3CTM73iwvbXNRGDLqcF5DXyRwowk3Vpxtnnx3vrD2TwwVfXHDzOQeyRclA_x2V1Vh68TCt3LH39wICbMagagoJS1bvjulJ8oORR5JAlt7KMQWVlIzGGgLE/s320/IMG_0009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Christmas wreath in pre-stages: Hemlock, White Pine, Mountain Laurel, and Some Kind Of Brown Weed)</span></div>
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Courtesy of NaNoWriMo, November was a bit of a blur. A really fun, super exhilarating, inspirational blur, but a blur all the same. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again next year, in fact I plan to providing life doesn't get in the way, but now I have a better understanding of how much more preparation I need to have in advance.<br />
<br />
So anyway! For me, the first <i>official </i>commencement to this most joyous of seasons is a little something known in my family as Wreath Making. (Yes, the caps are entirely necessary ;) )<br />
<br />
Wreath Making occurs every year, rain or shine, on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. My whole family-aunts, uncles, cousins, and a special friend or two-all gather at my grandparents house to make wreathes with the fresh greens we pick from around the property.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxuClAkAcsnYvKNoQUXGzS2RSFwVwmjc6oLrlxjgiXuvDBsmEB8KaxrN8AZkD8kIkN4z9wNLXb3SJxtF1okpg_cdPqsM9eDb7GXemU8h9B-s8gUVqvn91ZCmUa5sVUr2LoEVde_4VKx2U/s1600/IMG_0015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxuClAkAcsnYvKNoQUXGzS2RSFwVwmjc6oLrlxjgiXuvDBsmEB8KaxrN8AZkD8kIkN4z9wNLXb3SJxtF1okpg_cdPqsM9eDb7GXemU8h9B-s8gUVqvn91ZCmUa5sVUr2LoEVde_4VKx2U/s320/IMG_0015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(One of the wreaths I made this year for my best friend and his family)</span></div>
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This is one of my absolute favorite things to do every year! Drinking warm apple cider, tramping around outside in the cold, trimming tree branches and getting thoroughly covered in more pine pitch than you might think humanly possible. It's the best!<br />
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Plus, that is also the day when it becomes officially acceptable to blast Christmas music pretty much whenever you want, beginning with while you make your wreath. And no one even minds if you sing along <strike>loudly</strike> with Bing and Frank! Win win, am I right? <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(My chickens got their very own swag this year....</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSNiFS11t7w9JU4ReUQWWeA0NE2nGhfwaUVmZZuTYbyyw0hHgew58TYb_7yFCDNtJT2MYzphmWZ4EeQOj-y_pUdtaMaV7UIhmW5Ts8rfUE4HxEjQvhB2aivaZCj4dQgHmTW_QOU3jH3c/s1600/IMG_0031.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/AVvXsEjXSNiFS11t7w9JU4ReUQWWeA0NE2nGhfwaUVmZZuTYbyyw0hHgew58TYb_7yFCDNtJT2MYzphmWZ4EeQOj-y_pUdtaMaV7UIhmW5Ts8rfUE4HxEjQvhB2aivaZCj4dQgHmTW_QOU3jH3c/s320/IMG_0031.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> ...much to Amber and Elsbeth's approval) </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> <span style="font-size: small;">Now onto December!</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfD6BbF-74eQyyMZnN0bYoBRJFIDaUrgP5971e8X4aN8FCDK2IASfRDiJOHo7iSyOCjkcCZqax-nmnYgeHkEHiZKolhSUK2cZl8edu4ip0uUkMqa7Og5VFhw-jiAnHoRy7rNtjPzGh4YU/s1600/IMG_0034.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/AVvXsEjfD6BbF-74eQyyMZnN0bYoBRJFIDaUrgP5971e8X4aN8FCDK2IASfRDiJOHo7iSyOCjkcCZqax-nmnYgeHkEHiZKolhSUK2cZl8edu4ip0uUkMqa7Og5VFhw-jiAnHoRy7rNtjPzGh4YU/s320/IMG_0034.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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We set our tree up rather early this year, the first Sunday on Advent, I'm not quite sure why. Usually we wait until more like the second week, but I think the reason partly has to do with the fact that my sister, brother-in-law, and niece are going to be able to come down and celebrate Christmas with us this year!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2h60SI5Zwa5yImH9tBJJbxkNmJh2Ov_lTahsGCzOVarMLgomcaY0egvgtbXxpghyphenhyphentpkNQ1xEf06J7aH9B2DWi433aheVjqlWx-1WMkPDuqElZmuMI-PpFz9OZl4v46XdVhupDbo_T4I/s1600/IMG_0035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2h60SI5Zwa5yImH9tBJJbxkNmJh2Ov_lTahsGCzOVarMLgomcaY0egvgtbXxpghyphenhyphentpkNQ1xEf06J7aH9B2DWi433aheVjqlWx-1WMkPDuqElZmuMI-PpFz9OZl4v46XdVhupDbo_T4I/s320/IMG_0035.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is going to be little Anastasia's first Christmas, so maybe that has something to do with it. For me it kind of feels even more exciting than usual, almost like I'm seeing firsthand what it's like to experience all the wonder for the very first time.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (Our December altar. No more saints, just the Infant of Prague and our Advent Wreath)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(St Nicholas found way into our Advent Wreath on his feastday, Dec. 6)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(I made these just the other day, Beehive Buns for St Ambrose, Dec. 7)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Why a beehive? There is a legend that when Saint Ambrose, whose name in Latin means "sweet as honey", was a baby a swarm or bees came one day and clustered about his lips without stinging him. By this sign his mother understand that he was destined to be a great writer and orator one day and he is still revered as one of the greatest theologians of the 4th century. You can read more about St. Ambrose <a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=16" target="_blank">here</a></span> <span style="font-size: small;">and get the recipe for Beehive Buns <a href="http://catholiccuisine.blogspot.com/2011/12/beehive-buns-for-st-ambrose.html" target="_blank">over here.</a></span></span></div>
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Thus concludes this lengthy post! I hope you enjoyed :) </div>
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And for those of you who didn't understand this post's opening line, here is the solution for you.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sWSoYCetG6A/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sWSoYCetG6A?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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Happy Advent, everyone! Do you have any pre-Christmas traditions?</div>
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Talk soon, my dears!</div>
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Always,</div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">~Emma</span></i></span></div>
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Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601173525611502671noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1167419281527026005.post-26845911961213058202017-11-23T23:05:00.000-05:002017-11-23T23:08:24.967-05:00Happy, thankful, blessed, and smiling<br />
I'm sitting here at my computer blogging this.<br />
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Yes, I probably should be writing, but this is almost the same thing, right?<br />
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It's words. That counts for something, maybe...<br />
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<img alt="Thanksgiving" class="_mi _25 _3w _2h" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/ae/8e/e2/ae8ee2882c5cd293ef466d3e064be2aa.jpg" width="245" /> </div>
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Anyways, Happy Thanksgiving all you US readers! </div>
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<img alt="If you are really thankful, what do you do? You share. #Thanksgiving #Wishes #Quotes" class="_mi _25 _3w _2h" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/44/d5/97/44d597d8999780a26431ddfbe75be46c.jpg" width="278" /></div>
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I will admit, I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted to make this post about. I was just browsing through pinterest looking for pretty quotes and pictures, the typical blogging fare, but I still wasn't quite sure of what I wanted to say. I didn't want to sound cliche but at the same time I knew I wanted to write along the lines of Thanksgiving.</div>
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In my browsing I stumbled across a writing prompt I had saved a while back, a challenge to write down 50 things that made you smile. Hmmm... that got me thinking. So in the spirit of that prompt here are just a few things that make me feel happy, thankful, blessed, and put a smile on my face.</div>
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<img alt=""It was November; the month of crimson sunsets, parting birds, deep, sad hymns of the sea, passionate wind-songs in the pines." L. M. Montgomery" class="_mi _25 _3w _2h" data-reactid="175" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/2f/4a/da/2f4ada8a8561a1064156049cedf59c22.jpg" width="322" /> </div>
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1. The smell of wood smoke burning on a cold day.</div>
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2. Memories, and the fact that I have so many treasured ones.</div>
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<img alt="Vintage Thanksgiving Postcard" class="_mi _25 _3w _2h" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/e8/ab/e5/e8abe50ffe1aee98343e4894efa75fce.jpg" width="258" /> </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Isn't this just so simply beautiful? It makes me wish I could've written it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">3. My Catholic Faith</span>, <span style="font-size: small;">through which my many blessings are realized.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><img alt="St. John of Avila - Blessed be God! ~ AnaStpaul - May 10, 2017" class="_mi _25 _3w _2h" data-reactid="175" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/20/73/4a/20734a52079a21f4b0895c97af21b7c5.jpg" width="400" /> </div>
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4. People in my life who love me and care about me and even make me laugh!</div>
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<img alt=""When I count my blessings, I count you twice." —Irish proverb" class="_mi _25 _3w _2h" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/e3/69/64/e36964cfe3fe2b7a85da127833574f35.jpg" width="240" /></div>
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5. Rainy days.</div>
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6. And sunny ones, too.</div>
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7. Changed plans and new beginnings.</div>
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<img alt="Squirrel Nutkin by Beatrix Potter Today I bought a Squirrel" class="_mi _25 _3w _2h" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/54/f7/94/54f794813b1eabc03755a3a6ed6e1f4a.jpg" width="333" /> </div>
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♥ </div>
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8. And for all the tiny, countless things in this great big beautiful life that we don't always notice and don't begin to deserve yet are blessed with anyway.</div>
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<img alt="nothing is more beautiful than a grateful heart #thanksgiving" class="_mi _25 _3w _2h" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/5a/f3/7c/5af37ccf94b96267dda2940d9b64b53b.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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<img alt="Here is a free vintage Thanksgiving postcard for you. Front: and back: Click on images to enlarge." class="_mi _25 _3w _2h" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/50/bb/9e/50bb9e7707a509e810c108f5532f7792.jpg" width="259" /><br />
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And so, I bid you all a very happy thanksgiving day, and just a very happy day in general! You guys are all wonderful, the best, and I'm really glad we get to cross one another's paths the way we do. Thank you!!!</div>
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Always,</div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">~Emma</span></i></span></div>
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Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601173525611502671noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1167419281527026005.post-26168069163070392302017-10-31T23:58:00.001-04:002017-10-31T23:58:05.622-04:00The countdown begins...Here it comes....<br />
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Are you ready for it?<br />
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No turning back!<br />
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<img alt="I hate you, November. I will not have another winter after this year. Florida here we come." class="_mi _3k _2j _3w" data-reactid="166" height="640" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/a6/c7/1d/a6c71d55402e033bcbf7fe46615a84ee.jpg" width="491" /> </div>
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Good luck to all you other WriMo's out there! </div>
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Always,</div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">~Emma</span></i></span></div>
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Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601173525611502671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1167419281527026005.post-20383252522949119562017-10-29T23:59:00.000-04:002017-10-31T12:54:45.261-04:00'October's over? It can't be!' AKA, 'Whoops, I think I blinked too long!'<br />
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Couldn't we please just go back and rewind this month?<br />
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That'd be great.<br />
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<img alt="“time flies when you don’t know what you’re doing” by mungo thomson" class="_mi _3k _2j _3w" height="243" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/a9/26/9a/a9269a897cc6110660a8ebb0bfa8fbe7.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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Let me tell you, that, my dear friends, is very true. Very true.<br />
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As is the following, which I like to imagine was written by someone specifically with myself in mind ;)<br />
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<img alt="the character could be written to have a learning disability (scatter brained can be a symptom of certain learning disabilities)" class="_mi _3k _2j _3w" data-reactid="174" height="248" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/54/c2/72/54c272de0b8de400ca162945e0992e47.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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You know something? This month has been a bit of a roller coaster. And you know something else? I've never been fond of those contraptions.<br />
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Believe it or not, I've been working on a draft post all month. (I <strike>hope</strike> think you're going to like it!) I keep adding to it here and there, always telling myself that I'm going to finish it tomorrow. And then suddenly it's tomorrow, and the "Great Roller Coaster of Life" laughs and sends me into a tailspin. Another one.<br />
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<img alt="#RebelliousWriting" class="_mi _3k _2j _3w" data-reactid="173" height="320" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/10/7c/bf/107cbff93042af97c1e45d08278218a0.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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If that's true, Mr. Chesterton, I could fill a book. A big book.<br />
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So that's been the month of October for me, but hey, that's okay. Sometimes we just have little challenges and things to work through, nothing lasts forever. And it's okay to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, smile, and remind yourself that just for right now at least,<br />
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<img alt="Everyday." class="_mi _3k _2j _3w" data-reactid="173" height="320" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/dc/dd/16/dcdd1606303dadeb93efbd34bc0319d4.jpg" width="266" /></div>
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And speaking of filling books, did I mention I finally decided to be brave and actually signed up for NaNoWriMo?!?!?<br />
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<img alt="Rustling Thoughts" class="_mi _3k _2j _3w" data-reactid="168" height="222" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/ec/57/2c/ec572c765c398c9a9e3aa4a853a974d4.gif" width="320" /></div>
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Is anybody else attempting this this year? Has anyone ever participated in NaNo before? If yes, I'd be eternally grateful for the companionship/mutual encouragement/advice. Please let me know!!<br />
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**Edit: My NaNoWriMo username is StoryGirl17, feel free to add me as a buddy or give a shoutout! <br />
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So anywho, I think I'm gonna end this weirdly random post before it drags on much longer. (Or I bore somebody to death, I don't want to do that to any of you.) If you were beginning to feel the grips on unconscious delirium setting in, I fully apologize. It wasn't intentional ;) <br />
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<img alt="Travel Quotes | The time is always now." class="_mi _3k _2j _3w" data-reactid="173" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/13/d1/55/13d1552d448ba2512ba81f585c3ca2ba.jpg" width="266" /> </div>
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We'll talk again soon, I promise!</div>
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Always,</div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">~Emma</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">p.s. I really missed you, just so you know!</span></span></span><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></span> </div>
Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601173525611502671noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1167419281527026005.post-27742420595853610472017-09-22T23:55:00.001-04:002017-09-22T23:55:33.576-04:00It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!<div style="text-align: center;">
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<img alt="seasonalwonderment: Autumn" class="_mj _3i _2h _3u" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/cf/78/2f/cf782fce118ec66cd16e4d76295be83b.jpg" width="266" /> </div>
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Can I get a "YAAAAAYYYYY!!!!!"??? The best season ever is upon us yet again, what could possibly be lovelier than that, I ask you??</div>
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Nothing. The answer is nothing.</div>
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Except for all the lovely things we get to do in the Fall, like...</div>
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<img alt="Henry Herbert La Thangue (1859-1929) was an English painter of rural scenes. He was associated with the Newlyn School . A Ligurian..." class="_mj _3i _2h _3u" data-reactid="158" height="342" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/36/24/8e/36248eac25f10531bcb097ef5431174e.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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Those cool, crisp mornings. Picking apples and eating them fresh. Playful breezes that send the colorful leaves swirling down. Hot cups of tea or coffee to warm chilled hands. The spicy smell of drying leaves. Make all sorts of pumpkin treats. Curl up with a good book. </div>
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Oh, how I love it!</div>
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<img alt="Vamos a leer" class="_mj _3i _2h _3u" data-reactid="165" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/35/c7/2b/35c72bdf73076c48e56750fa372c74da.jpg" width="320" /> </div>
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And now that it's Fall again-my best season for writing-perhaps I'll be able to accomplish more great and wonderful things than in Summer!</div>
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~~~</div>
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In other Fall randomness, have you ever wondered what color leaf you'd be? No? That doesn't surprise me, but here's a quiz in case you're curious now :) Right <a href="http://www.playbuzz.com/tibbyzupan10/which-color-of-autumn-matches-your-spirit" target="_blank">here.</a></div>
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Supposedly I would be a brown leaf because it is the color of subtlety, strength, and being down-to-earth. Hmmm....</div>
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<img alt="Brown | Buraun | Braun | Marrone | Brun | Marrón | Bruin | ブラウン | Colour | Texture | Pattern | Style |" class="_mj _3i _2h _3u" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/99/be/d7/99bed70a62eaebf72ada2e16c361f8cc.jpg" width="266" /> </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">A pretty brown leaf :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Before I bid you all a "goodnight," I leave you with a few songs that have been going through my head today.</span></span></div>
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"Autumn"-Ben Rector</div>
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Figures, right?</div>
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"Summer Again"-The Afters<br /><iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1EaKNMxKEd4/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1EaKNMxKEd4?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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♥</div>
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"The Best Day"~Taylor Swift</div>
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Quite Fall-ish, wouldn't you agree?</div>
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Do any other songs come to mind about this lovely season? What are your favorite things about Autumn? Do let me know in the comments, I'd love to hear!</div>
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<img alt="Happy Fall" class="_mj _3i _2h _3u" data-reactid="164" height="240" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/7f/46/42/7f46425460a811b5a6196f8cd88d22f5.jpg" width="320" /> </div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">~Emma</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i><span style="font-size: small;">p.s.<span style="color: black;"> Today is the first day to begin the novena to Saint Therese the Little Flower, you can find it <a href="http://www.praymorenovenas.com/st-therese-novena/#respond" target="_blank">here.</a></span></span></span> </div>
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Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601173525611502671noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1167419281527026005.post-20369110888219930822017-09-08T23:56:00.005-04:002017-09-09T00:06:18.149-04:00September.<div style="text-align: center;">
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Firstly, it is Our Lady's birthday today, so here is this beautiful image in her honor.</div>
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<a href="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/4a/3a/e6/4a3ae6539bfebc089f64f99f4a7feffc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Blessed Virgin Mary" border="0" class="_mj _3i _2h _3u" data-reactid="160" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/4a/3a/e6/4a3ae6539bfebc089f64f99f4a7feffc.jpg" width="278" /></a></div>
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What I tell ya, folks? Now do you believe me when I say August went by fast? I feel like I blinked too long or something.</div>
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I kept giving myself little tasks to complete before I allowed myself to just sit down and type up a blog post. (Which I fully realize is rather unfair to you. Sorry ;) ) The truth is, as I'm sure you are all very much aware, life is busy. Wow! I know, right?!</div>
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<img alt=""Let there be light..."" class="_mj _3i _2h _3u" data-reactid="160" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/b5/85/c3/b585c3611fc72e8998967391c91f03f1.jpg" width="252" /></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Some happy yellow flowers for you. Because I love you.)</span></div>
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September, though. September is busy. September is always busy. For me at least.</div>
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We start school on Monday, I have a part-time job beginning next week, our church fair is the following weekend so I'll be face painting for that, and I still have a few minor, measly little things to do before then and it seems it's always those petty things that weigh you down and make everything feel so much more hugely overwhelming than they really are. Hopefully that's the only run-on sentence you'll have to deal with in this post, but I think you get the idea ;) </div>
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Now please don't think I'm complaining because I truthfully don't really mind all those things. Like I said, September is always busy. I mean it's true, busyness can lead to craziness, craziness often leads to chaos, once chaos ensures the feeling of being overwhelmed sets in rather quickly and can easily lead to insanity, but as long as you take a few deep breaths and say a Hail Mary or two before things get out of hand, you can usually avoid going stark raving mad and inevitably being locked away in a nut house for the rest of your days. I don't know about you, but I'm pretty okay with those odds.</div>
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(Oh look! There's another one! Whoops...)</div>
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<img alt="Let's read..." class="_mj _3i _2h _3u" data-reactid="153" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/22/79/ac/2279ac66722cc2fe1428ff8e1f77aabd.jpg" width="266" /></div>
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Anyways, when I'm not concerning myself with the added strain put on my mental state, I find September a rather endearing month. It's so charming, caught between the desire to be as warmly carefree as summery August or brisk and dignified as cooler October, the same as a child torn between either the sophistication or simplicity of an older and a younger sibling. </div>
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There is just enough of sunshine and warmth so as not to mourn August's passing too dolefully, yet with a definite and irresistible spice of Fall, come to enchant the world to sleep once more against the coming chill. </div>
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I guess I think September is special. That's probably just me, but I'll continue to feel this way regardless!</div>
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Alas, I must be off, but you will hear from me soon, my dears! I hope you're enjoying your Septembers, are they as busy/busier than mine? (Not that it's a contest, of course, just makin' conversation. hehe ;) )</div>
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Always,</div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">~Emma</span></i></span></div>
Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601173525611502671noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1167419281527026005.post-60197347948961971972017-08-14T23:58:00.001-04:002017-08-14T23:58:21.167-04:00Of birthdays, injuries, and exciting finds <br />
No, in case you were wondering based on the title of this post, today is not my birthday. However it was in fact last Tuesday, therefore making this a continuation of birthday week until midnight and hence I can still write this post within a reasonable passage of time. So there. <br />
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<img alt="Image result for and it's kind of my birthday tangled" class="_m9 _3d _2c _3p" data-reactid="151" height="320" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/ba/eb/90/baeb90da858969e0a34cfff6e29555b0.jpg" width="318" /> </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Say what you will, this is one of my favorite lines of the whole movie) </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I turned old this year. Actually, I've turned old every year for as long as I can remember. For some reason I am always surprised at the amount of people who, when asking my age, don't understand what I mean when I say I'm "as old as the year". I mean, is that such a weird simile to use that no one but myself understands it? I understand me. Do you understand me? Does anyone understand me?!?! Probably not, so we'll move on.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Do you know what my dear brother, sister, and brother-in-law surprised me with this year? A pinata, they got me a pinata! And not only that, they filled it with an absurd amount of skittles, because clearly they love me very much. So I was taken outside, blindfolded, spun (which I could've done without), handed a sharp, pokey stick, and told to have at it. Oh, it was great fun! I do so love surprises! </span></span></div>
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<img alt="The Pinata at the Hospital" class="_m9 _3d _2c _3p" height="310" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/83/1e/e2/831ee2e48592ca4de2b1facf0d7f23ce.jpg" width="320" /><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Once the poor donkey was brutally beaten and decapitated, of course Emma, in all her natural grace and dignity, proceeded to-(remember that sharp pokey stick?)-well she stepped on it. Really stepped on it. Without shoes. That is not something I'd recommend any of you doing. You see, limping around on a bandaged foot for a day and a half causes a lot of pressure on the opposite ankle, thus creating-in the words of my Pepere-"a hitch in your get-along", which then of course inevitably leads to a knot in your upper back. Moral of the story? Do not step on sharp pokey sticks. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Okay, so that was my birthday! (Which really truly was fantastic despite.) Come Thursday I hadn't succumb to blood poison and it was also shopping day. While wandering through Walmart trying to find, of all things, a pair of scissors, I stumbled across a super exciting (exciting for me, anyways) something in the clearance aisle! (Seriously though, you wouldn't believe how difficult it is to find the right kind of paper shears with all the mounds of school supplies they have in that <strike>horrible</strike> gigantic place.)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I found a big box of my favorite brand of yarn at a great discount on one of the clearance shelves! This brand is usually pretty pricey so if I knew I needed it for a project I'd hoard my Michael's coupons and buy it there. (Have I mentioned my love of that store before? It is my favorite, before I went to <a href="http://whiskers-and-wildflowers.blogspot.com/2017/05/in-land-of-empire-state.html" target="_blank">New York </a>I was practically on a first name basis over there ;) )</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> The pictures doesn't quite do the color justice but the finished product comes out looking sort of like a stained glass window. Really pretty, anyway! I'm going to use these skeins to make a bunch of "slouchy" hats for upcoming craft fairs and my new Etsy shop! (More on that soon)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Finally in closing, I thought you'd like to know that I have checked a few items off of my <a href="http://whiskers-and-wildflowers.blogspot.com/2017/07/summer-ambitions-2017-edition.html" target="_blank">list of summer ambitions. </a>I'll try and get a post up about that soon so you can see what mischief I've been up to!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Always, </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: magenta;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">~Emma</span></i></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> </span></div>
Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601173525611502671noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1167419281527026005.post-43525013838887457212017-08-03T23:36:00.002-04:002017-08-03T23:39:35.965-04:00Open Letter to August Is it really you again, dear? It seems to me still so recent when we
parted ways that eve of last September, how strange when I realize an
entire year has come and gone since. I've grown older, but somehow you
still seem the same in my eyes - reckless, daring, youthful, full of all
things bright and promising - just as you always are.<br />
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When I was a child you were always my favorite, like a friend one
looks forward to chumming with while on holiday, counting down the days
until you arrived. Hoping when you did that this time you would stay
longer, perhaps never leave at all. But time and again you spin me
through your whirlwind of excitement, careless of time, oh so fleeting,
careless that Summer's magnificent concerto is nearing its finale.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijn2pFqH31RvuNcI7bbx-XSCBTxKrjG7ixyGXdAv5Xost1ISQUA6xMPC9oPLEBr98oM-GTfaAdyOSJpacfcn0e77Qx3F3b6tIER0c1XYpvHdiyyOjS5dfjuwAl9jfmvDqUILhwtDVz1bc/s1600/IMG_5487.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1196" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijn2pFqH31RvuNcI7bbx-XSCBTxKrjG7ixyGXdAv5Xost1ISQUA6xMPC9oPLEBr98oM-GTfaAdyOSJpacfcn0e77Qx3F3b6tIER0c1XYpvHdiyyOjS5dfjuwAl9jfmvDqUILhwtDVz1bc/s320/IMG_5487.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
I regret to say, my dear, that you behave rather like a rogue, yet
despite this I will leave off reprimanding you for it. Even if I could
find the proper words with which to scold you I know it would do no
good, for you would take them lightly, with a giggle and a wink, and be
off again in twirls. Perhaps it is this very roguishness that allows me
to pardon you again year after year. Perhaps it makes you somehow, in
spite of your foolishness, endearing, a quality I have commonly found
among most rogues of my acquaintance.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dwaE36bgk3qX5aPCZGIAShx9meTORveWWud3eosXRTrzd_AzIGoSsfbbEzd3Y8kS8we5MsliIFrZUmFVDyS2pPMuetOInOsxACTOZ904OFAHUrGe0sGSKVkoikXzPz8tm62wApVoBgE/s1600/IMG_5488.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1196" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dwaE36bgk3qX5aPCZGIAShx9meTORveWWud3eosXRTrzd_AzIGoSsfbbEzd3Y8kS8we5MsliIFrZUmFVDyS2pPMuetOInOsxACTOZ904OFAHUrGe0sGSKVkoikXzPz8tm62wApVoBgE/s320/IMG_5488.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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Regardless of your faults, I confess that I remain still very fond of
you, although not in the same way as when I was child. I know now that
you will not stay forever.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_ImfJlSKcSGGmupXNdhk2e_SUcdl3LQ1k7grfW94Qf0EyWp95uBmT41vm9F7wa8HQqo3YucvFINQd-a06Yni9Mk6j73AgQFpwMprM3-ez-Hpp0jjAuvj0lsU4dudXBvsez5OmIOGLeY/s1600/IMG_5486.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1196" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_ImfJlSKcSGGmupXNdhk2e_SUcdl3LQ1k7grfW94Qf0EyWp95uBmT41vm9F7wa8HQqo3YucvFINQd-a06Yni9Mk6j73AgQFpwMprM3-ez-Hpp0jjAuvj0lsU4dudXBvsez5OmIOGLeY/s320/IMG_5486.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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Still I dance to your merry whirlwind and enjoy doing so, however now I
am ever conscious that just as the golden summertime, no dance can last
forever, but eventually must end and give way to the next. Until then,
let the crescendo rise, your dance has begun.<br />
<br />
Devotedly Yours,<br />
<br />
<span style="color: magenta;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">~Emma</span></i></span><br />
<br />
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<br />Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601173525611502671noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1167419281527026005.post-76995830256471714002017-07-16T23:10:00.000-04:002017-07-16T23:11:08.148-04:00Happy Anniversary!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Wishing my Favorite Sister and Wonderful Brother-in-law a happy 1st wedding anniversary!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><img alt="Fifth Sacrament is the Marriage Covenant" class="_m9 _1x _3p _29" data-reactid="74" height="400" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/b7/04/65/b70465dc64b21266adadda7ffa25bd2b.jpg" width="320" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">May God continue to bless your marriage in the years to come as fully as in the preceding one!</span></div>
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<br />
<img alt="From The Catholic Gentleman, an excellent blog." class="_m9 _1x _3p _29" data-reactid="68" height="320" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/4a/07/57/4a075724823fd6051132e467f7e91c06.jpg" width="262" /></div>
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~♥~</div>
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<img alt="There are so many things about this that makes me laugh!" class="_m9 _1x _3p _29" data-reactid="68" height="400" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/27/1c/15/271c153055f97b6e9545751cd00f807f.jpg" width="244" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Always,</i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>~Emma </i></span></span>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601173525611502671noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1167419281527026005.post-49452055962806626022017-07-16T00:49:00.000-04:002017-07-16T00:49:58.193-04:00Summer Ambitions~ 2017 EditionI am always so seized during the span of these warmer months with such soaring aspirations towards greater productivity and creativity. <br />
<br />
Perhaps there is something in the sunshine and warmth or that special, joyful bloom lying all about and covering everything that sends my imagination whirring. Whirring and reminding me of all the things I want to learn,<br />
<br />
and create,<br />
<br />
and do. <br />
<br />
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<img alt="John Sloane ~ summer respite ~ country ~ farm ~ girl & dog" class="_m9 _1x _3p _29" height="300" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/64/09/dc/6409dc8576e383b88b9c3e0cf5119dda.jpg" width="400" /> </div>
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For me, if I want to get things done without forgetting or losing interest, I write it down. So this is my list of things I want to learn, projects I want/need to accomplish, and skills I want to attain. Some are more silly than practical, but why not have fun in the progress? </div>
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I plan to keep you all updated on my progress and at the end of the season see how many things I actually accomplished! </div>
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And now the list:</div>
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<b>1</b>. Post more frequently. (No, I'm not kidding, I'm really going to <i>try</i> ;) )</div>
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<b>2</b>. Go through/reorganize/consolidate my hope chest and items therein.</div>
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<b>3</b>. Make more time for writing, and just <i>write.</i></div>
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<i> </i><img alt="Renee Zellweger as Beatrix Potter in 'Miss Potter' (2006)." class="_m9 _1x _3p _29" data-reactid="81" height="285" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/ec/cc/bc/ecccbc7503477df4e12e26c07bd55181.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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<i> </i><b>4</b>. Learn to play guitar. (Or at least try.)</div>
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<img alt="There is a deep hole in our hearts where music once lived. Honing our craft and continuing to write music (separately and together) will help to fill that hole in as we find our rhythm again. | transition from surviving to thriving." class="_m9 _1x _3p _29" height="400" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/8b/52/23/8b522310c6ee7d6b7ab182928b46a36b.jpg" width="299" /></div>
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<b>5. </b>Maybe finally figure out how to ride a bike. <i>Maybe.</i></div>
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<b>6</b>. Teach myself to play the lap harp. </div>
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<i> </i></div>
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<b>7. </b>Repair bureau drawer. (There's a story to that, I promise!)</div>
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<i></i><br /></div>
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<b>8</b>. Learn to paint hand-blown eggs. (You know, like those gorgeous Eastern European ones. So fascinating!)</div>
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<img alt="Krakus Market-Polish Easter Eggs, had an art teacher that could make these. She was Polish." class="_m9 _1x _3p _29" height="400" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/c0/0c/81/c00c814ee4b1832d7576d7c87498ce92.jpg" width="300" /> </div>
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<b>9</b>.Read<strike> books </strike> <i>lots of books. </i></div>
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</div>
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<img alt="Story of my life..." class="_m9 _1x _3p _29" data-reactid="68" height="320" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/39/36/19/393619e1aef019cc627d2a4ff5009f1f.jpg" width="241" /></div>
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<b>10</b>. Repair broken statue.</div>
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<b>11</b>. Create a resume.</div>
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<b>12</b>. Make homemade <u>SPRINKLES!!!</u> (Sounds super fun, maybe a disaster, but a fun disaster!)</div>
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<br /></div>
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<img alt="Say yes to sprinkles!" class="_m9 _1x _3p _29" height="400" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/d8/c5/c1/d8c5c1c2384ca05f40be8b7f948131bb.jpg" width="260" /></div>
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<b>13</b>. Turn 17! (Eek)</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>14</b>. Expand run for chickens. </div>
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<img alt="Girl Feeding Her Chickens by Allan R. Banks (1948, American)" class="_m9 _1x _3p _29" height="400" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/b7/da/96/b7da964854c0b3180b731e54a84eddba.jpg" width="268" /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>15</b>. Crochet lots of items for Fall craft fairs and local fair entries.</div>
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There! That's my list, what do you think? It certainly isn't comprehensive, but it's something from which to work. As I said, I 'll be sure to keep you all updated on my progress, success or fail, I promise!</div>
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While we're on the subject of goals, do you have anything you'd like to accomplish over the summer? Things to do, places to go, people to see? I'd love to hear! </div>
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Well, I guess it's time to get started and "make hay while the sun shines", as they say! Wish me luck!</div>
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<i><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: large;">Always,</span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: large;">~Emma </span></span></i></div>
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Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601173525611502671noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1167419281527026005.post-24643016243068063802017-06-30T23:30:00.000-04:002017-07-01T00:04:00.690-04:00Things I love about JuneOh Emma, Emma, Emma, why is it you always begin composing blog posts past 10:30 p.m.? Why can't your brain comply with regular office hours? Why do you insist upon opening all of your recent posts with these odd soliloquies?<br />
<br />
Hello.<br />
<br />
I didn't have any grand plans of blogging tonight. In fact, all I had in mind was curling up in my pajamas and finishing <i>The Great Gatsby</i> (which I did indeed complete). Anyway, somewhere between the last page and <a href="https://theedgeoftheprecipice.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-great-gatsby-by-f-scott-fitzgerald.html?showComment=1498876831007#c703076721996303383" target="_blank">Hamlette's closing remarks</a>, my brain said something like, "Hey, let's write a blog post!" I was like, "Why?" and my brain was like, "Because June 30th is such a pretty looking date, that's why!"<br />
<br />
So here we are.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately for me, my over zealous brain didn't offer any brilliant suggestions as to what I should write about, so this is the best I could muster on my own. I present to you,<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Things I loved about June~</span><br />
<br />
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<img alt="A poem to June." class="_m9 _1x _3p _29" data-reactid="68" height="400" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/7a/f0/ea/7af0ea9ec2cdc0ef39d2f3f483c5b55a.jpg" width="275" /> </div>
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Beginning with this poem I found on *shocked gasp* <i>Pinterest. </i>I know, right?</div>
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<img alt="all the sweet prettiness of life" class="_m9 _1x _3p _29" data-reactid="75" height="400" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/1c/c5/1d/1cc51d10cead48333d68af273c986daa.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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I always feel like June is simply bursting with flowers, as though to make a bright show of fanfare to usher in the summer! Because of course, Summer is yet another something I love about June.</div>
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<img alt="Meet me at the farmers market!" class="_m9 _1x _3p _29" data-reactid="68" height="400" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/65/58/cc/6558cced0fdf70a62898a3df2a80e116.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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Also the month when fresh produce becomes more readily available. Fresh peaches, plums, strawberries, and cherries!</div>
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<img alt="Greek // Am I the only one who finds thunderstorms completely fascinating? ceraunophilia - loving thunder and lightening and finding them intensely beautiful" class="_m9 _1x _3p _29" data-reactid="68" height="320" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/48/ee/59/48ee59628ed342b45ba143bfb32fbea8.jpg" width="256" /></div>
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To all of those who suffer from a fear of this beautifully incredible phenomenon, (which has a name by the way, astraphobia), I deeply pity you! I will admit, in certain circumstances they can be intimidating, but I will never cease to be amazed at how much power is displayed during a real thunderstorm.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFJdLssoxSAolD6fw2UPcOexDhdEhDbAHaaQuOq-Pt4dmD0QUGWqJEc9BOq5_b42Jmj0mzOzPb7SB9sTEkbqOSwqtHboPwFWVwq-ItBGVQN-MJruSfCVIj1tLcdazzkRKZdVeS8r55Q0/s1600/anastasia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="659" data-original-width="492" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFJdLssoxSAolD6fw2UPcOexDhdEhDbAHaaQuOq-Pt4dmD0QUGWqJEc9BOq5_b42Jmj0mzOzPb7SB9sTEkbqOSwqtHboPwFWVwq-ItBGVQN-MJruSfCVIj1tLcdazzkRKZdVeS8r55Q0/s320/anastasia.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
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The month of June brought visits from family and many close friends, including my little niece (Oh right, and my sister ;) ), so that was particularly special.</div>
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<img alt="...go back...to feel a feet hints twice!" class="_m9 _1x _3p _29" data-reactid="68" height="400" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/e1/85/f3/e185f399be2110cafbfd75e81813bfca.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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I think my favoritest thing of all, though, are all of the special memories of the past that are linked with the month of June. The people, places, and things that make and have made this month special!</div>
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And thus ends my strange ramble for tonight! I hope my brain is satisfied because I have run out of ideas for this post. I hope you all enjoyed your individual Junes! </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="I don't know why i find this so funny, but i do! More" class="_m9 _1x _3p _29" data-reactid="68" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/da/79/41/da7941aee077963b1cfc0c0848b93429.jpg" /> </div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>~Emma</i></span></span> </div>
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Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601173525611502671noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1167419281527026005.post-45393049003249811282017-06-10T00:34:00.000-04:002017-06-14T16:45:39.687-04:00Of piles, pages, and pussy cats*Edit: I think I may have solved the issue with the pictures not displaying, please let me know if the problem continues.*<br />
<br />
Oh wow, look at that.<br />
It's June.<br />
<br />
Well it is now June and I am home again and finally getting back into a routine. *chokes on suppressed laughter at own hilarious joke* Yeah, no, not really. You want an idea of what life looks like presently?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhDZc3HP3fy21gZrJgbZAL0LrnSfoU-Jlcunb6pcUiko9N5uSENBzDZqsEZy91TMnCdgW2_YpTgVlulXR-IpMwNMdc8hlqucJ8V7N_tgsOBoo9yQYd7DKZ-tt7ylNo-cB7IMxIW2STrg/s1600/books+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="950" data-original-width="710" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhDZc3HP3fy21gZrJgbZAL0LrnSfoU-Jlcunb6pcUiko9N5uSENBzDZqsEZy91TMnCdgW2_YpTgVlulXR-IpMwNMdc8hlqucJ8V7N_tgsOBoo9yQYd7DKZ-tt7ylNo-cB7IMxIW2STrg/s400/books+1.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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Here, this is my desk. </div>
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You would think the fact that the cat knocks at least one of those piles onto the floor every single morning would inspire me to find respective homes for them, but to no avail! I am dreadfully skilled at ignoring such things and tripping over books is excellent exercise ;)</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
Ah yes! That brings me to the real reason I'm here, books! There are so many book sales being held around here lately, it's really rather dangerous for me!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgReBWmxyr3nWk3-gEgrS-ALRUeE6OIMaMObzemSIcRJ1rB2g3po4jQ5iTEgD1zLYBJtbD7w9jv4PjI6IVnv0OAAqMcPvc-wf36Y7pS2q-VP1_aGdx6K91A8unzhEiiKZtq9LLcNRUsbgU/s1600/books+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="673" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgReBWmxyr3nWk3-gEgrS-ALRUeE6OIMaMObzemSIcRJ1rB2g3po4jQ5iTEgD1zLYBJtbD7w9jv4PjI6IVnv0OAAqMcPvc-wf36Y7pS2q-VP1_aGdx6K91A8unzhEiiKZtq9LLcNRUsbgU/s400/books+4.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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My treasures from book sale #1</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<ul>
<li>Several <i>American Girl </i>books I didn't already own</li>
<li><i>Song of Years</i>, Bess Streeter Aldrich. I wasn't familiar with this one in particular but I have heard rave reviews on this author bantered about on you ladies' blogs, so why not?</li>
<li> <i>Irish Journal, </i>German-Man-Who's-Name-I-Don't-Remember. A descriptive work on Ireland by said German Man, pretty self explanatory.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><i>The House of the Seven Gables, </i>Nathaniel Hawthorne. Quite possibly the BEST book EVER. I love it!!! And bonus, not only was this an old copy, it had a pretty cover, and we all know how important that is!</li>
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Book sale #2</div>
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<li><i>Don Quixote, </i>Miguel Cervantes. I finally found a copy that <b>wasn't </b>abridged! (Have I mentioned how I loathe abridged editions?)</li>
<li><i>The Mill On The Floss,</i> George Eliot. Doesn't that look pretty? The cover drew me in immediately, it harkens back to simpler times.</li>
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#3 Not exactly a book sale, but from a used bookstore. Anyone ever heard of The Book Barn in New London, CT?</div>
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<li><i>The Victorian Nursery Book, </i>Two-Men-I-Don't-Know (but I think one is named Paul). Sweet stories, nursery rhymes, and Victorian prettiness.</li>
<li> <i>Looking for Anne of Green Gables, </i>Irene Gammel. The name caught me on the spot! It is sort of a dual biography of both Anne as a character and LM Montgomery as her author, I can't wait to read it!</li>
<li> <i>More Perfect Than the Moon, </i>Patricia MacLachlan. The third/fourth? book in the <i>Sarah, Plain and Tall </i>series (that I love). </li>
<li> <i>At the Altar: Matrimonial Tales, </i>LM Montgomery. One of her lovely short story collections, of which there are dozens!</li>
<li><i>Pat of Silverbush, </i>^^^^^^^^ I have the sequel, but I didn't want to read it until I read this one! Ah, these are Summer books!</li>
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Aaaaanndd, yeah. Those are my treasures! Oh, and this one from the first book sale that I'm reading currently.<br />
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I've always wanted to read <i>The Great Gatsby</i>, so that is the first I have begun. Terrific so far!</div>
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What good books are you reading right now? Have you read any of the above?</div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>~Emma</i></span></span></div>
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Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601173525611502671noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1167419281527026005.post-24820693817620182602017-05-17T13:54:00.000-04:002017-06-14T16:46:25.513-04:00In the Land of the Empire State<br />
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Do you all remember a few weeks back when I said that I was going to post about my trip to New York? </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">"Life has been pretty crazy around here lately, but I fully intend to get in at least <i>one </i>post
about New York while I'm here. One. I have so many ideas floating
around in my head right now I just need to find a few minutes to write
them down! Please, bear with me, I think you'll like them :)"~April 26, 2017, <a href="http://whiskers-and-wildflowers.blogspot.com/2017/04/introducing.html" target="_blank">Introducing.....</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">(Yes, I copy and pasted my exact words. I strive for consistency despite lack of productivity.)</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><img alt="i said yesterday i would do it tomorrow, when i woke up this morning it was today, i didn't say anything about doing it today.: " class="pinImage rounded" data-load-state="pending" data-src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/f7/15/f9/f715f9f8814394f36c5a0a9c7b300153.jpg" height="224" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/f7/15/f9/f715f9f8814394f36c5a0a9c7b300153.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Anyway, clearly that is a promise I have not yet fulfilled, and I do so dislike broken promises. So here we are. This is my collection of adventures, misadventures, and observances concerning the grand ol' state of New York. (oh, and be prepared for random facts throughout because facts are just cool. They are.)</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/vt/data=RfCSdfNZ0LFPrHSm0ublXdzhdrDFhtmHhN1u-gM,JTSNk6c3hCWEWlUTyJFX5QxIIVnvnkn7YWFprEY-wOsoqaIjR8FLVAH2ebFuYVQDwyixgt7V0imvINjlopYCpx_HXDOCkRtzgeHB2NbnPvaa8JCo_YVLlrNWKufNPLtO17bP8_IMnMkDSfWEzEylfy2-6Ty3uTaaCV0FfN4WdBk9lusetfDJEejOzFeC5LerlX1TrUhSQmkXsIQ" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Map of New York" border="0" height="207" id="lu_map" src="https://www.google.com/maps/vt/data=RfCSdfNZ0LFPrHSm0ublXdzhdrDFhtmHhN1u-gM,JTSNk6c3hCWEWlUTyJFX5QxIIVnvnkn7YWFprEY-wOsoqaIjR8FLVAH2ebFuYVQDwyixgt7V0imvINjlopYCpx_HXDOCkRtzgeHB2NbnPvaa8JCo_YVLlrNWKufNPLtO17bP8_IMnMkDSfWEzEylfy2-6Ty3uTaaCV0FfN4WdBk9lusetfDJEejOzFeC5LerlX1TrUhSQmkXsIQ" style="border: 0px none;" title="Map of New York" width="400" /></a> </div>
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Let's start with a quick geography lesson, shall we? </div>
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That, that is <b>not</b> New York City. That is in fact New York State. Let it be cleared up here and now that New York is a state, a state in which NYC just so happens to be located <i>in</i>, but they are not one in the same. You see up in the Northwest corner by that unlabeled-body-of-water? *Good job whoever said Lake Ontario* My sister whom I am visiting lives somewhere up there. So I did not visit the aforementioned city, not even close. We will not mention <i>that place </i>again.</div>
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If I'm going to do this correctly then we have to back up two months to the beginning of the adventure. </div>
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<img alt="Displaying IMG_4659.JPG" class="aLF-aPX-J1-J3 aLF-aPX-aLK-ayr-auR" height="320" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=61a2c7f5b0&view=fimg&th=15c146b19fbe5494&attid=0.1&disp=inline&realattid=c42dad4fdda96d43_0.1&safe=1&attbid=ANGjdJ8ahQhJd8SdCvOS2XVuOChLsxL3t_MZ5gUUW5AklCleHHGZ50Ojojxj2XLMA8ThMXR0VcvIVGQpjg6lVPRHhAGITsDv7ivoC73JuXP6ScARbScyT9ua-LTMuW4&ats=1494991203206&rm=15c146b19fbe5494&zw&sz=w1366-h659" width="238" /></div>
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My adventure by train began here...</div>
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<img alt="Displaying IMG_4661.JPG" class="aLF-aPX-J1-J3 aLF-aPX-aLK-ayr-auR" height="320" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=61a2c7f5b0&view=fimg&th=15c146b19fbe5494&attid=0.2&disp=inline&realattid=791d217bdd0e2ed9_0.1&safe=1&attbid=ANGjdJ-wEau9dl77hrWw9kpsZslIrNQkKVxaFXyVEAIvHhkzprRBK3apaC7I4XAU91QZYarwqVO0N0lct81A7ME6QDPIEWLRwVJj7MHYkOtMPN7HBiFtHTnRC5BBZ3g&ats=1494991203206&rm=15c146b19fbe5494&zw&sz=w1366-h659" width="238" /></div>
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...Union Station</div>
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<img alt="Displaying IMG_4670.JPG" class="aLF-aPX-J1-J3 aLF-aPX-aLK-ayr-auR" height="239" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=61a2c7f5b0&view=fimg&th=15c146b19fbe5494&attid=0.3&disp=inline&realattid=9fe843a5d8af40aa_0.1&safe=1&attbid=ANGjdJ_t4U5mRcR01lcjV7sQxjlIkBVmprcjCe1rckVn0j1-QH_l4Kr5-KKyQ5BcUP_LYwu3L5TvVhJbbMSu7csqPEhbaXdtTUHW_4rNNZaJ1GAxpdY5SDvgFwQXgaI&ats=1494991203206&rm=15c146b19fbe5494&zw&sz=w1366-h659" width="320" /></div>
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Fact: Union Station first opened its doors in 1911, servicing over 10,000 passengers daily, and is known as "the Beautiful Portal to the Heart of the Commonwealth".</div>
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The train ride from Worcester was uneventful but not disagreeable by any means. That is up until...</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Albany: a pleasant place?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">What was supposed to be a 1-hour stopover in the state capitol quickly turned into more like upwards of 3 hours. Stuck on a train. A train that needed to restock its cafe car. On the upside, it turned out to be a neat experience chatting with fellow stranded passengers and learning their destinations, getting to be a part of their story. </span></span></div>
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<img alt="Displaying IMG_4676.JPG" class="aLF-aPX-J1-J3 aLF-aPX-aLK-ayr-auR" height="298" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=61a2c7f5b0&view=fimg&th=15c146cc5ce36f24&attid=0.2&disp=inline&realattid=20e00b4d0d8f8d8_0.1&safe=1&attbid=ANGjdJ87JYzXy7t5ftrvUX-tNzl3wYLB6dNNJE9BueNvliwTOYeefBpNkMlNgo6VFnzxKCBeFHSsA8Ps-Hl6L4e9vmaJTt9RdhuLinm8Jm0xK-B2_aWrBgUOYRZi_Bg&ats=1494991323596&rm=15c146cc5ce36f24&zw&sz=w1366-h659" width="400" /></div>
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The brochure in front of my seat, I showed this to my dad (who was my traveling companion) and it quickly became our motto. Well done, Amtrak, truer words have never been spoken.</div>
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<img alt="Displaying IMG_4671.JPG" class="aLF-aPX-J1-J3 aLF-aPX-aLK-ayr-auR" height="320" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=61a2c7f5b0&view=fimg&th=15c146cc5ce36f24&attid=0.1&disp=inline&realattid=f559ed955f70b1bf_0.1&safe=1&attbid=ANGjdJ-1rytXFtquPYGjlQEc1fmrxySbS1ty2ievlEhe6ndA3G3xknIh-Z4iRAXHOoLLifE215kubN8GecdeDuOdbvui6NzJoucId94Zq2-Rz3pwdoLuI233mxfjVKs&ats=1494991323596&rm=15c146cc5ce36f24&zw&sz=w1366-h659" width="238" /></div>
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Eventually we did get moving again and I got a cool shot of the skyline. I suppose all-in-all Albany wasn't too bad, considering we made it to our respective destinations before cannibalism became an immediate concern.</div>
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Fast forward from the end of March and here we are! I am still in NY but will be returning home again next week, and I must say, it will be good to be home again! </div>
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<img alt="Lived: Buffalo, Corning, Elmira (Finger Lakes Region) Been: Rochester, Syracuse, Oswego, Binghamton, Albany, New York, Adirondack Mountains: " class="pinImage rounded" data-load-state="pending" data-src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/ec/7b/9e/ec7b9eb428cb4273825aa3bd67c395d5.jpg" height="400" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/ec/7b/9e/ec7b9eb428cb4273825aa3bd67c395d5.jpg" width="265" /> </div>
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In closing, here are a few observations I've made during my time here. Wait, allow me to bullet them for you. </div>
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<li>If I had to describe Syracuse in one word, that word would be rust. </li>
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<li> There are seagulls haunting EVERY McDonald's parking lot. Literally. It's a rare occurrence to turn onto the highway entrance ramp and not be bidden farewell from a seagull perched on those infamous golden arches! </li>
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<img alt="Happier than a Seagull with a French Fry: " class="pinImage rounded" data-load-state="pending" data-src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/e4/64/41/e46441cf742e3cec587d291ee45da9dd.jpg" height="320" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/e4/64/41/e46441cf742e3cec587d291ee45da9dd.jpg" width="256" /></div>
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<li>Friendly people. They almost make me believe all those cliche lines about "cold, reserved New Englanders "!</li>
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<li> Nearly everywhere you look there are daffodils. Like, absolutely everywhere, especially along the highway. I was really surprised when I heard they weren't the state flower!</li>
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<img alt="Buttercup Field. Just like the fields at the family farm. Love you granddaddy.: " class="pinImage rounded" data-load-state="pending" data-src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/6d/44/84/6d448482bde83ab29c6475da4ce5cd79.jpg" height="400" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/6d/44/84/6d448482bde83ab29c6475da4ce5cd79.jpg" width="266" /></div>
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Fact: The state flower is the Rose. (Of which I haven't seen one)</div>
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<li>The Bagel vs. Bagel (bag-gle) controversy. I personally subscribe to the former pronunciation and had never heard this strange alternative until recently. Which do you use, I'm curious?</li>
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Fact: Bagels did not originate in NY despite their popularity therein, the first bagels were made in Jewish communities in Poland as early as the 15th century :)<br />
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There, I think I've covered everything! If you ever have the opportunity, New York is definitely a nice state to visit! Have you ever been before/lived there?<br />
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<span style="color: magenta;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">~Emma</span></i></span><br />
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Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601173525611502671noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1167419281527026005.post-77808396356408067712017-05-01T11:19:00.003-04:002017-05-01T11:20:31.187-04:00In Honor of St. Catherine <br />
Being one of my favorite saints, I wanted to make sure I got in a quick little post about Saint Catherine of Siena before too much time had gone by her feast day. Only two days, I don't think I did too bad :)<br />
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<img alt="St. Catherine of Siena. Philosopher, theologian, greatly respected for her spiritual writings and boldness to "speak truth to power," and a Doctor of the Church.: " class="pinImage rounded" data-load-state="pending" data-src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/2e/a7/a9/2ea7a9ca1ee734bfa45382ee0a93c958.jpg" height="400" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/2e/a7/a9/2ea7a9ca1ee734bfa45382ee0a93c958.jpg" width="248" /> </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">St. Catherine of Siena, 14th cen. philosopher and Doctor of the Church</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> I apologize in advance because this post is less of me writing about this amazing saint</span> <span style="font-size: small;">and more my overwhelming you with a gazillion beautiful pictures and quotes. Sorry about that ;) But I'll let her speak for herself, her writings are simply incredible and her life even more so!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><img alt="St. Catherine of Siena: " class="pinImage rounded" data-load-state="pending" data-src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/c9/80/46/c9804621359086c88bb53e87eed70e72.jpg" height="400" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/c9/80/46/c9804621359086c88bb53e87eed70e72.jpg" width="400" /> </div>
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~~~</div>
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<img alt="St. Catherine of Siena quotes. Catholic Saints: " class="pinImage rounded" data-load-state="pending" data-src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/af/fd/a8/affda8b971f258312a6a084ea1e44c5b.jpg" height="400" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/af/fd/a8/affda8b971f258312a6a084ea1e44c5b.jpg" width="278" /></div>
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How important to remember, yet so easy to forget! </div>
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~~~</div>
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<img alt="St. Catherine of Siena / Catholic Saints: " class="pinImage rounded" data-load-state="pending" data-src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/99/80/82/998082ad1b4fe9c8ae33db72102ff7dc.jpg" height="400" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/99/80/82/998082ad1b4fe9c8ae33db72102ff7dc.jpg" width="319" /></div>
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Growth through temptation and trial... </div>
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<img alt="St. Catherine of Siena | http://www.saintnook.com/saints/catherineofsiena - A Beautiful Mystery: St. Catherine of Siena inspired outfit //: " class="pinImage rounded" data-load-state="pending" data-src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/a4/a6/49/a4a6496b88b113cd0ee9c03e8c292eb7.jpg" height="400" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/a4/a6/49/a4a6496b88b113cd0ee9c03e8c292eb7.jpg" width="232" /> </div>
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When St. Catherine was 14, her mother arranged a betrothal between herself and the son of local merchant. Catherine, however, had no wish to be married as she had already promised herself to Our Lord as His bride, so she cut off her beautiful long hair with her mother's sewing scissors to make herself undesirable to her suitor.</div>
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<img alt="St. Catherine of Siena | Monday Morning with the Saints on The Catholic Wife | by Katie Sciba #mmwsTCW: " class="pinImage rounded" data-load-state="pending" data-src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/45/ba/41/45ba41302b52606e386362cadcc88f8d.jpg" height="334" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/45/ba/41/45ba41302b52606e386362cadcc88f8d.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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~~~</div>
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<img alt="Spend time prayerfully reflecting on these words of St. Catherine of Siena. #ReflectwithMystics: " class="pinImage rounded" data-load-state="pending" data-src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/74/da/69/74da69ba21a3cdeed3e7b6d63713ad47.jpg" height="400" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/74/da/69/74da69ba21a3cdeed3e7b6d63713ad47.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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~~~ </div>
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<img alt="saint catherine of siena quotes - Google Search: " class="pinImage rounded" data-load-state="pending" data-src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/ff/91/92/ff9192d2fc2150a0684ac56147637700.jpg" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/ff/91/92/ff9192d2fc2150a0684ac56147637700.jpg" /></div>
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Fear is understandable and silence is easy but it is only through truth and bravery that one will succeed.</div>
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<img alt="Be who God meant you to be. ~St Catherine of Siena: " class="pinImage rounded" data-load-state="pending" data-src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/91/30/e5/9130e593fff0526c9598c70e4b62d926.jpg" height="400" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/91/30/e5/9130e593fff0526c9598c70e4b62d926.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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I'm sure we've all heard this one... </div>
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I hope you survived my wordy ramble! If you still want to know more on the life St. Catherine of Siena, I recommend you take a look <a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=9" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03447a.htm" target="_blank">here</a>, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_of_Siena" target="_blank">here</a>. Enjoy!</div>
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Always,</div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">~Emma</span></i></span></div>
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Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601173525611502671noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1167419281527026005.post-35599454843867097572017-04-26T23:27:00.000-04:002017-04-26T23:28:33.869-04:00Introducing.....<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-large;">Anastasia Therese!</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3HK8OJ6Yvq5uUX0ODT7IRfjI8AAfSBmkc7p7T2-IjVh1F89o24zdkadTLkh-6hFEJhWXi8Z2DGkFVjRCDdoRbCGRBj-AFYOGnz3K_CK_x9sZwMHuY-D8ZXYXn_o7yORx7sp-j9rlLGvw/s1600/IMG_20170416_090425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3HK8OJ6Yvq5uUX0ODT7IRfjI8AAfSBmkc7p7T2-IjVh1F89o24zdkadTLkh-6hFEJhWXi8Z2DGkFVjRCDdoRbCGRBj-AFYOGnz3K_CK_x9sZwMHuY-D8ZXYXn_o7yORx7sp-j9rlLGvw/s320/IMG_20170416_090425.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> I want to thank you all SO much for your prayers for this little girl! Believe it or not, she was born naturally at 3:15 am Easter Sunday morning, exactly 9 hours and 10 minutes after my prayer request! </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMoAcjQqEXqX4uZ2u2TU2h8692lJIe_cyViEVUBpxd4nx58xvA2Bm_hEr3q6l25Nbiv57hqEFuPHZINgzEbuC8g6_j6j_ixShkCjM8mHCOd7F4fu5z3EExgPDwM2BlaaYnSJQYL5KCCaw/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMoAcjQqEXqX4uZ2u2TU2h8692lJIe_cyViEVUBpxd4nx58xvA2Bm_hEr3q6l25Nbiv57hqEFuPHZINgzEbuC8g6_j6j_ixShkCjM8mHCOd7F4fu5z3EExgPDwM2BlaaYnSJQYL5KCCaw/s320/unnamed.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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And unsurprisingly, she is such a sweetheart!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8uH6Jkd_tacrI07fcZ2twh9QEBS1zhc-tXJtSUXRlFQxCRFe7hMB7qMxNaZFon8JMWSRkd4ey2exhOUjNwyAYG91orOGiG16sN1JNUOLe7pEhwgSyAZCoQN173YhseqZj0fy4p7YD9_g/s1600/IMG_7404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8uH6Jkd_tacrI07fcZ2twh9QEBS1zhc-tXJtSUXRlFQxCRFe7hMB7qMxNaZFon8JMWSRkd4ey2exhOUjNwyAYG91orOGiG16sN1JNUOLe7pEhwgSyAZCoQN173YhseqZj0fy4p7YD9_g/s320/IMG_7404.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> So again, thank you all for your prayers, I am so appreciative of them!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Life has been pretty crazy around here lately, but I fully intend to get in at least <i>one </i>post about New York while I'm here. One. I have so many ideas floating around in my head right now I just need to find a few minutes to write them down! Please, bear with me, I think you'll like them :)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Talk soon!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Always,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>~Emma</i></span></span></span> </span></div>
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Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601173525611502671noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1167419281527026005.post-67883788840498017882017-04-15T18:05:00.000-04:002017-04-15T18:09:14.388-04:00Because by Your Holy Cross, You have Redeemed the World<br />
Just a little reflection I wrote last night...<br />
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<img alt="Francesco Hayez, Crucifixion with Mary Magdalene Kneeling and Weeping, 1827 | Museo Diocesano Milano: " class="pinImage rounded" data-load-state="pending" data-src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/9a/36/82/9a36826d432868d7ea621013fd41653f.jpg" height="640" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/9a/36/82/9a36826d432868d7ea621013fd41653f.jpg" width="312" /> </div>
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"Today, my dear Lord, is Good Friday. It was today so many hundreds of years ago that You died on the Cross for the sins of the world, for <i>my</i> sins. How awesome is it that as You hung there in the acutest of agonies You thought of each one of us, You even thought of me. With what have I repaid You for this in my meager little life? With what can I ever hope to repay You? I have nothing to offer that You have not already given me, nothing to lighten this great debt I owe! And so I offer the one thing in my power to give You, I offer You myself and all my imperfections. Take them and refine these imperfections and turn them into deep sentiments of Faith, Hope, and Love. I offer these gifts to You and place them at the foot of Your Holy Cross to remain there always. Accept them, my Jesus, and remember me when You come into Your Kingdom!" </div>
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I have two prayer requests to ask of you all before I go, the first is for my great-uncle, who passed away early this morning from cancer. He had been away from the Church and Sacraments for much of his adult life, please pray for the repose of his soul.</div>
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And the second is for my sister who is several days overdue expecting my first niece. It was revealed on an ultrasound this past week that the baby has shifted to a breech position (head up feet down) and unless she shifts into the correct position within the next few days, she may need to be delivered via C-section, emergency C-section if she hasn't shifted prior to the onset of labor. Please pray for a safe delivery of both mama and baby! St. Gerard, pray for us!</div>
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Thank you all in advance for your prayers, you have no idea how much we appreciate them!</div>
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Always,</div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">~Emma</span></i></span></div>
Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601173525611502671noreply@blogger.com5