Biking With a Toddler

 Top 10 "Must Haves" For Biking With A Toddler

    

1. A Helmet 

2. Cold water bottles and back up water bottles

3. Sun Screen and Bug Spray

4. Snacks 

5. Diapers and Wipes 

6. Rain Coats and Extra Clothes 

7. Lights and safety gear ( i.e extra tire) 

8. Short distances and points of interest locations (favorite store or friend's house) encourage success 

9. Have a plan B and be flexible 

10. Have a great time creating lasting memories and enjoy the ride. 

! Kitchen Garden !

                                        Grow Edibles 

         

I love beautiful flowers, especially if they are edible !

I recently, last couple of years, have really been inspired by the grow food not lawn pictures floating around the web. 

What a concept, 

your lawn could be edible if you dug up the dirt and planted seeds in it. 

My lawn is by no means 100% edible. 

My husband, son, and I  moved into our current home two months ago and started phase one of our kitchen garden. 

Phase one. 

 * Plant and design landscape with perennials.

* Make raised beds 

* plant small summer garden

*plant small fall garden  

 * Plant and design landscape with perennials.

The outer edge of our landscape will host most of our perennials. 

The perennials planted this year are: 5 blues berry bushes, 2 black berry, 2 kiwi, 1 peach tree, 5 strawberries, various herbs. 

* Make raised beds 

We have 4 wooden beds with plants growing in them and 2 being prepped for our fall garden. 

* plant small summer garden

Our summer garden consists of 1 cherry tomato plant, and 10+ tomato plants, 5 pepper plants, 2 water melon plants, 1 peanut plant, zucchini, eggplant, salad greens, basil, lemon balm, lavender, mint, aloe vera, and parsley. 

  *plant small fall garden

Our fall garden is being prepped to plant beets, collards, kale, spinach, broccoli, and carrots. 

Latest photos of our first home's first garden. 

I am currently located in the growing zone 7 a. 

Here is zone 7a vegetable planting calendar. 

Week 2 aero garden

          There is a something special about eating food you have grown. The taste is sweeter. I thoroughly enjoy knowing that I play a key role in my meal. It tastes good to reap what you sow.

   Eating is not just a daily task, it is a life essential. My body, like a fire, needs to be refueled. In a similar manner, I find it very rewarding building a healthy fire in the same regard as I enjoy caring for my health.
 My father, a food connoisseur, has always said, 'what else is there in life, if not family and good food?' I try to live by this, but often fall short of the good food end.

        When I am not falling short of my eating obligations, I am buying conscientiously, making, or growing my food. My father, a food entrepreneur, has taught me the value of making financially wise choices, by spending the extra money to buy fewer products that are lasting. I am not proposing that I go out of My way to buy the highest end organic food, I am saying that I buy less so I can have quality deli cheese and meat. 

      'Almost' every Friday I make pizza. I buy quality flour and sea salt to make the dough. I use my Grandma Lena's recipe for the sauce. My mother passed down this tradition of making pizza every Friday and pasta every Sunday from her Grandma Lena. I love this tradition and how it binds me to my roots and allows me to bind my family with our origins. 

 
     It is January here in Delaware, and my hydroponic garden is in full bloom. My Grandpa Frank had always had a garden.  His small backyard in the city of Chicago had rows of food and a compost machine (I realized this after its working days). This was a way of life for me, I had always assumed we would eat fresh greens at my grandparents. Years after my grandfather passed I heard the coined term "urban homestead" and it confirmed by belief that my grandpa was homesteady. My grandparent's generation was more than American, they were way ahead of their time.

    I love hydroponic growing! My aero garden is 2 weeks in. Here is my latest photographs:

Camping Hack! List

I love Camping.
But, what I love more than camping, is camping right.
Here is a list of things you/I should do next camping trip.
41 Camping Hacks

Boot Skiing down the Continental Divide

So, this past summer I had the awesome privilege to lead groups in the back-country. Leading backpacking, mountain biking and white water rafting trips.

On one of our backpacking trips we trekked near the continental divide in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. We spent a day meandering around the divide and discovered this beautiful snow-pack which turned out to be absolutely perfect for "boot skiing".

For the record - although the video does not show my entire run down the divide - I did not fall.

WInter indoor aquiponic garden

     Growing your own food outdoors in the winter is challenging. For this reason, I  am growing my food indoors this winter.

  In years past I have grown my plants in soil pots. This method was messy, occupied a large portion of my apartment, and was not efficient. 

   I am an advocate of the phrase, 'work smarter; not harder,' so I decided I needed to find a better way to winterize my kitchen garden. I did some research and found an aquiponic system that fit my needs called the Aero-Garden. 

   An aquiponic system houses the roots of the plant within a water tank. This allows for the roots to grow according to their needs. The Aero-Garden host a grow light, that is adjustable, above the plants.  

  The Aero garden works hard so I don't have to. The garden has five option to choose from: salad greens, tomatoes and peppers, herbs, flowers, and strawberry. Once you choose one of the five different options, it automatically regulates the grow light with a timer that best fits the needs of your plant.

I love being able to grow a small kitchen garden in my home during these cold winter months!

Where I bought my Aero Garden: Ebay

Camping, with a baby! Top ten Gear List!

 In November 2013 my husband and I took our then five month old son on his first camping trip. 

I know what you are thinking, November is such a cold month to take a baby for his first overnight in the outdoors. 

That was my thought, until I was able to find a KOA open all year less than two hours from our home. 

The KOA was a perfect setup. The 550 sqft. cabin was preheated upon our arrival and it was squeaky clean. My family is an AAA member so we were given a large discount; the room cost us only $30.00 a night. The baby loved it and my husband and I throughly enjoyed the peace and quite of the Pennsylvania Mountains.

To assist my fellow young outdoorsy families, I have compiled a top ten list of must haves for baby’s first immersion in the wild. 

1. Diapers/wipes. Most important thing for baby is his comfort level. I brought disposable diapers for the sake of convenience.
2. Layers. Be sure to keep baby warm. Remember, it is easier to stay warm than it is to get warm. 
3. Food. I am and was nursing at the time. 
4. Blankets. The cabin supplied mattresses, but you are expected to bring your own blankets. 
5. Bed. We brought our sleep divider. I suggest the most portable sleeper you own.
6. Extra Clothes. My baby has a tendency to soil his clothes abruptly, so I always bring an extra set of clothing.
7. Teethes. My baby’s gums are bothering him and he appreciates any and all teethes. 
8. Soap/ disinfectant.  Keep those little baby fingers clean and wash his and your hands often.
9. Diaper rash cream.  Baby’s sweet little bottom needs to be protected from rashes and that isn’t usually sold in camp stores.
10. Big ol’e Heart. Bring yourself, soak up each precious moment with your child, and be present. 

Being Militant in Your Current Lifestyle

“A dead thing goes with the stream, but only a living thing has the ability to go against it.” – G.K. Chesterton

Where is the stream? And if I’m in it, am I stopping, turning into connecting creeks and swimming upstream as I please?

The purpose of this post is to speak about why I, as a young, active, college-educated woman am blessed to call myself part of the church militant. I am not perfect, nor do I hope that I will ever profess to be. In the phone conversation that Christine and I had today, it was a conversation very much like the conversations that we have had during the past seven years of our friendship: we talked about friends, family, adventures, boys and men, health, inspiring things that we have listened to or seen, venting about different things. . . and today we talked about all of those things plus: government systems, world poverty, modern Christianity, Pope Francis, gay marriage, adoption, contraception, Common Core Standards and being a missionary.

That last one: being a missionary.

That means Africa, right? That is for people who have it all together. For men who constantly look well-groomed carrying a bible at their hip, for women who wear skirts and have perfect straight teeth smiles introducing themselves saying: “Hi I’m Jenn, do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ?” This is my stereotype every time I hear the word “missionary”.

Yes there are great, educated, amiable, charismatic, intelligent people who respond to the title of missionary. I am proud to call some of my siblings missionaries. Missionaries within a group called the Fellowship Of Catholic University Students.  FOCUS, as it is more commonly known, is a beautiful group of young Catholic men and women who live on multiple college campuses around the United States evangelizing and spreading the love of Christ and the Catholic faith to college students. FOCUS missionaries live here in the states, they look just like you and me and they love The Faith.

There are multiple Catholic missionary groups throughout the world that many awesome human beings are a part of, giving their livelihood to the cause of evangelizing and introducing people to Christ. This is a beautiful thing and very necessary.

Necessary, but, I have a job.

Necessary, but, I have a family.

Necessary, but, I have this, thing.

Necessary, but, I am a busy adult with many important things to do.

I feel you. Jesus understands your concerns. Pope Francis knows and has written his most recent exhortation on this topic: “Evangelii Gaudium” (for you Americans out there this means “The Joy of Evangelization”)

Some of you may be thinking “Evangelii Gaudium”, that is a challenging title to pronounce; I don’t think I would understand it even if I tried to read it.” Others of you may be thinking “Yeah, I started to read it, but it was waaay long and I don’t have the time to read anyway.” Still others of you may be thinking: “I know that Pope Francis is a guy and didn’t he get nominated for Times Magazine person of the year?”

There are many people who have written commentary on Pope Francis’ exhortation and posted their thoughts online, but I don’t mean to do so here. I have *almost* read it all and have really appreciated reading it. It has inspired me in many ways.

It reminds me that within the Catholic Church there are three main parts composing the one body. The three main parts being: The church militant, the church suffering and the church triumphant. The church militant are the foot soldiers; we Catholics who are still kicking it here on earth. The church suffering are those of us who have kicked it here on earth in the past, and are currently working towards living in a more pure union with Christ and those in the church triumphant; these are the souls we believe are in purgatory. The church triumphant is all holy men and women living in eternal celebration of God in heaven, who, during their lives here on earth have fought militantly.

So, you and I are a part of the church militant. It sounds intense, because it is.

There are so many things that I encounter in my daily life that tempt me towards an easier life, a life more in line with “what simply everyone is doing these days”. Let’s talk about that elephant in the room, known as purity.

What is that?

In conversations and writings I like to use popular culture as examples in anecdotes. Unfortunately, it is difficult for me to think of a pop-culture reference that embodies purity. . . perhaps you understand what I am saying.

Living a pure life in our culture today is similar to a living thing swimming against the stream. It is difficult. Oh, yes, it is difficult, but it is not impossible.

As Christine and I were talking on the phone earlier and talking about being missionaries, I listened and my mind wavered. It wavered because I know that I have fallen. I have sinned. I have broken many of the commandments. I cannot be a missionary preaching about Christ and His teachings if I am not fully following Him all the time myself!

That’s where that where Mr. buzz-word: “MILITANT” comes shining through. Wikipedia says that "militant is usually used to describe a person engaged in aggressive verbal or physical combat." I would like to add "aggressive spiritual combat" to that definition and we'll be working with something. We are at war. We are constantly fighting in a battle, plagued with poisonous lust, bullets of anger, grenades of envy, fire of gluttony, storms of pride, immobilizing sloth and fists of greed.

These are some pretty strong opponents, and we cannot fight them alone or we will certainly fall. We fight with the grace of God. When we fall in one battle, we need only to come back to God in confession and again be armed with the sword and shield of grace.

I am not Catholic because I am perfect. I am Catholic because I have fallen and have the courage to get back up and seek God’s grace in confession. Therein is the key. When we fall, and we will fall, we must get back up.

You and I and everyone and everyone’s mother here on earth are all a part of the church militant. No one is exempt from temptation. No one is free from sin. No one can boast in being perfect. And guess who Christ called to not only fight here on earth, constantly being shot at with one sort of temptation or another, but to also evangelize and bring others to Him?

All of us.

Even when we fall in battles against sin, we can still be missionaries in that. Our reaction after falling can be a form of evangelization. Seek out your fellow wounded soldiers; begin your journey back to grace with them, look for help to those who are stronger fighters. We are all militant together.

Life does not stop and wait for us to be fully prepared for battle. We are born and our fight begins. We are constantly changing, growing, fighting and learning until we are dead. Life does not stop and wait for us during the times that we are “working through something”; life does not stop while we are educating ourselves and trying to become a better version of ourselves; life does not stop while we are trying to grow more in our faith, life does not stop while we are planning for the future.

Christ knows this, and yet we, the members of the church militant are the ones being called to preach! We cannot wait for the time to be perfect. There will never be a perfect time.

The time is now.

Back to what I stereotypically think of when I think about missionaries: Africa, neat-looking bible-toting, cheerful, skirted people.

Missionaries may look like that. But they also look like secretaries, nurses, doctors, lawyers, construction workers, politicians, mountaineers, fishermen, loggers, policemen, businesspeople, scientists, engineers, teachers, students, mothers, fathers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters and you.

You have a job? Great! Preach by example to your colleagues. Be a Christian in your actions. When necessary use words. Words are great, especially when they involve “conversation” and “snacks” in the same sentence.

You have a family? Great! Teach them about the faith. Pray with them. Love them.

You have a thousand other excuses? Stop already. Christ wants you to be His hands and feet, now. Right now, in the lifestyle that you currently lead. This is what it is to be a Christian. This is what it is to be a Catholic. You are the church militant.

“Challenges exist to be overcome! Let us be realists, but without losing our joy, our boldness and our hope filled commitment. Let us not allow ourselves to be robbed of missionary vigor!” – Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium

You are not dead yet. You have the ability to swim against the stream if need be. You are alive. You belong to the church militant. Go fight like it.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the close of the age.” – Mt. 28:19

Un Poko . . . Mega Musings

“Guys, winter is not coming. Winter is here.” Says Brian, as we stomp into the main dining hall called The Poko Queen. It has been under 15 degrees for the past week and we are kicking off the new snow powder that has been quickly falling all morning.

It’s a place with a vibe that blends lumber-jacks, backwoodsmen, conservationists, hippies, gardeners, homesteaders, educators, adventurers, mountaineers, backpackers, party animals, camp counselors, rock climbers, dish-washing aficionados, house-keepers, teachers, time-travelers, actors, mechanics, ecologists, foodies, travelers, entertainers, and philosophers into one title:  Outdoor Education Instructors at Pok-O-MacCready Outdoor Education Center.

Long Pond on a September morning

You cannot get cell reception here at Poko, which is located within the beautiful six million acre Adirondack State Park in North Eastern New York.  Its lunch time and everyone piles their plates high with the rich left-overs from the previous meals. We all chat about our morning adventures with each other as we wait to heat up our food in the microwave. Three of us worked on the roof of the six story rock climbing center, scooping off the ice and snow which has been known to leak through the ceiling if left unattended.

It has been the banana peel type of icy here and we decided that since the roof doesn’t have railings, one person should belay the person scooping the snow while the third person holds a phone and radio ready to call EMS if need be.  I helped belay and thankfully we didn’t need to dial 911. I don’t think my fingers would have functioned well enough to punch numbers anyway, they were so chilled. I made a note to layer my glove/mitten layers better next time.

Setting routes at the climbing center

I arrived here in August, when the pond that we live near was a welcome oasis from the late summer heat. We canoed in the light of the full moon, jumped on the water-trampoline giddy from time-off and free Budweiser, skinny dipped off the diving board, swung like tarzan off of the rope swing and soaked up the sun on the docks. Nature is easily enjoyable in the summer-time.

The view from the summit of Porter Mt.

In the past couple of months, the North Eastern winter has slowly been introducing itself. I got to meet it earlier in October when I summited one of the Adirondack High Peaks early in the morning. My friend and I reached the summit of Porter as the sun was rising during an ice-storm. It was gorgeous, thrilling and powerful. Winter is not a season to be taken lightly, especially in our field of work where we are outside for the majority of the day. If you are not properly dressed with warm layers, it could be disastrous.

Winter, while being colder and more monotone than his sister summer does have his lovable traits. He whips you into a hard-ass very quickly, through activities that the elements dictate essential; such as: wood splitting, wood stacking, hauling wood, snow scooping and fire-building.  He also has a playful side offering activities such as snow-shelter building, snow angel making, ice-fishing, ice-climbing, snow-tubing down hills, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snow ball throwing, winter mountaineering and tracking animals in the snow.

Poko is not just a place where people work, it is a lifestyle. Working and living within such a small community as this, we spend our days and nights working and playing together. From early morning activities, like a nature walk at 7 AM, to evening activities such as rock-climbing until 9 PM our team of Poko people are well humored and down to earth; working hard and playing hard. Almost every evening we gather in one of the houses called The Junior House for conversation, bananagrams and beer. We all have different stories, view-points, thought-processes, vocabulary, habits and favorite colors. But mysteriously, providentially or serendipitously we all enjoy each-others company. We all laugh more than we complain (sometimes that happens simultaneously). We all care for the welfare of our planet.  We all love being in the outdoors. And we all realize that the life we are living should not be taken for granted.

Early morning canoeing on Long Pond

There are several times throughout these past few months when I have stopped and said “We’re actually getting paid to do this.” Memorable times such as: kayaking into Lake Champlain and camping on the shore, summiting one of the High Peaks on a bluebird fall day when the autumn colors were the most vibrant, self-belaying while setting rock-climbing routes at the climbing center listening to Katy Perry on full surround-sound blast and playing wood-game while talking about the philosophy of Marcus Aurelius.

Pok-O-MacCready and the Adirondacks are becoming a part of my whatness. Being and working in this place is truly an incredible experience. I am continually astounded with the wonderful beauty of the natural world that surrounds me and hope to regularly post about the adventures that I have. If simply for the purpose of being mindful that my life adventures are a gift and I should stop and cherish the cold breaths of chilly snowy air just as much as I savor the warm summer dips in the pond. 

XC Skiing on Long Pond in the afternoon

Being Faithful in a Success Obsessed Culture

Mother Teresa was once asked if she was mindful of success, while working with the poorest of the poor in Calcutta, India. After all, it would be practically impossible for the Missionaries of Charity to care for all of the sick and dying in the area. To which Mother Teresa responded: " God does not call me to be successful, only to be faithful."

When I first came across this anecdote, I was distraught by it, I didn't know what to think. It was the Spring of my Senior year in High School and I was in the midst of compiling my portfolio for my Senior Writing course. The theme of my portfolio was: Success. 

Every young person yearns to be successful. We are told that we need to study diligently during our elementary and middle school years so that we can be admitted to a good High School where will take advanced placement courses and study for standardized tests months before we take them, so that we can attend a good University, earn an undergraduate degree, get a good job, go to graduate school, climb the corporate ladder, get a raise, buy a nice house, buy a nice car, have adequate savings, save for retirement, work, socialize, vacation and once you have worked a 40 hour week for 40 straight years you may retire. This is success. . . but in the midst of all our studying, working, driving, purchasing and money saving, where are we glorifying God? Where are we being fulfilled? Where are we recognizing the truth? Where are we actualizing our rational nature? 

The answer should be "everywhere, and in all things!" Often during High School, I was told by my guidance counselors, teachers, and coaches that in order to be successful I needed to work hard. I do not doubt that these people wanted the best for me, but they neglected to communicate a key aspect of what it means to be an active follower of Christ: it does not matter if we are successful in this world, because the way the world measures success and the way Christ measures success are completely different. The way that the world often views success is through temporary vision: fortune, popularity, career and education. The way that Christ views success is through eternal vision: humility, love of truth, faithfulness and child-like learning. In order to be truly successful, we need to glorify God through all of our daily actions. 

It is possible to be faithful and glorify God through striving for worldly success, but it is very difficult. There is a famous story in the New Testament of Christ conversing with a young, rich man; the rich man is successful in the eyes of his culture, he is rich, young, popular and strives to follow the commandments of God. He asks Jesus: what else can I do? To which Jesus responds: sell all you have and give it to the poor, then come follow me. The young man is distraught, and walks away because he "had many possessions".

I had the fortune of earning a higher education at Wyoming Catholic College; a college that recognized the necessity of learning and gaining knowledge for the real world, while also recognizing that learning should be focused on glorifying God and not on climbing the corporate ladder. Moreover, many of my classmates are working in well-paid positions and have found their niche in the corporate world. But they recognize that with their monetary successes, they are ultimately not called to worldly success, they are called toward the more lasting success of eternal life.

I have been thinking about success more recently, perhaps because of my age and career placement. Being twenty four years old, with a B.A. degree and working in a seasonal job industry I am continually asked the infamous question from peers, co-workers, friends and acquaintances: "what do you want to be when you grow up?". Often when I am asked this question I am stumped. . .  "I am grown up", "A detective" and "Your wife" are my main answers. Just kidding about the last answer, but thinking about it, maybe I'll use that sometime.

Since I graduated from college in 2011, I have been following my passion for the outdoors and education. Many outdoor jobs are seasonal and because of this I have moved a couple times and had several jobs in the past two years. From working as an Intern Instructor at  an outdoor science school in Jackson, Wyoming to working as a logistics coordinator at an outdoor school in Lander, Wyoming, to working as a backpacking, rafting and mountain biking leader in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado to teaching outdoor education in Adirondack Park in New York. To some, I may seem to be "job hopping", living the "YOLO" life of a young twenty-something. And there may be some truth to these thoughts. I enjoy meeting new people, learning new skills, discovering new places and the challenge of sharing my life, opinions, background etc with people of different backgrounds.

This seasonal job hopping habit of mine has not been extremely lucrative, but it has brought me something that I value more than money, it has brought me fulfillment. I feel fulfilled because I believe that this is where God is calling me. There is a certain peacefulness that comes with following the will of God, and with every choice we make, whether it be small or large we must strive to find and follow His will. It is when our will recognizes, accepts and follows His Will that true success starts happening. We may not be able to be materially successful from this trusting lifestyle, but thankfully that is not what God wants. "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal..." (Matthew 6:19)

May we all strive to understand through the study of the life of Mother Teresa and the saints that material and worldly success does not matter as much as being faithful to the Will of God.

"I will sail my vessel, till the river runs dry

Like a bird upon the wind these waters are my sky

I'll never reach my destination if I never try

So I'll sail my vessel till the river runs dry. 

There's bound to be rough waters

And I know I'll take some falls

But with the good Lord as my Captain

I will make it though them all."

-Garth Brooks, "The River"

Working for a Non-for Profit Nature Society

Recently, I started working for the Delaware Nature Society .
I love their mission:

• to foster understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of the natural world through education
• to preserve ecologically significant areas
• to advocate stewardship and conservation of natural resources

As an outdoorsy sorta girl, I revel in outdoor education, preservations, and being a steward of the earth. 

 I am not the sit in a cubicle type, so any opportunity I find that allows me to work with my hands in the outdoors I am all about. I have been working with horses for over a decade, I love backpacking, camping, biking, skiing, and just about any outdoor activity. I got my first job in the outdoor education field when I was 18 as a camp counselor; since then, I have worked at 3 other over night camps and loved the experience.

    Nature preserves have always been one of my favorite go to places. I love being able to see a piece of untouched nature.  Walking the streets of any city, it is easy to forget about the neat critters around you, or you may even be trying very hard to get rid of the critters around you I.E large sewer rats.   In a preservation, it's like walking into your neighbors house to see what goes on in there; with out seeming to much like a creep. 

     Moreover, I love being an advocate for environmental stewardship. I view environmental stewardship as good house keeping. A good house keeper tends to their home at all times, ie. cares for the roof before it leaks, in the same manner; a human must tend to the earth's needs before real issues arrise. For instance, it is a good to clean up the trash around your neighborhood, but it is even better to not trash up the neighborhood in the first place.

   I am very pleased to share that I am enjoying my life at the Delaware Nature Society.  Working with this organization has allowed me to share my interest with others. What's your "thing" that you enjoy sharing with other people? 

Thrifty Thursday! DIY: Food Coloring Easter Egg Dye

In preparation for Easter Sunday I have found an awesome

 website on Dying Easter eggs with food Coloring!
This is a super thrifty way to do this (which is why I love it)
Skip to My Lou is the name of this cute website and it's loaded with a ton of
fun information.

A brake down of the cost of this project:

1. eggs $ 2-4
2. Gel Food Coloring $ 3.49 ( found that price on the web)
place I found Gel Dye


Thats about all you need totaling at about $6.
Egg dying kits can cost any where from a few dollars to quite a few, so why not use food color or something that you can use for cooking more than once.

Thanks for reading!
Let the Triduum { three days before Easter Sunday, beginning with Mass tonight}Begin!

My Palm Sunday Cross

I made this cross after Church today:

If you made a Palm Sunday Cross
We'd love if you share your picture. It would be wonderful to see all the different
crosses.

How To make a Palm Sunday Cross

Step By Step To Make a Palm Cross

Step 1.Take a palm that is about 2 feet long and 1/2" wide (if it tapers at the top, this is good!). Hold the palm upright, so the tapered end points toward the ceiling.

Step 2.Then bend the top end down and toward you so that the bend is about 5 or 6 inches from the bottom of the palm.

Step 3.About a third of the way from the bend you just made, twist the section you've pulled down to the right, forming a right angle.

Step 4.About an inch and a half away from the "stem" of the cross, bend this arm of the palm back behind the palm so that it is now facing to your left. Make the bend at a good length to form the right arm of the Cross.

Step 5.Folding that same section at a point that equals the length on the right side, bend it on the left side and bring the end forward over what is now the front of the cross.

Step 6. From the very center of the Cross, fold that arm up and to the upper right (in a "northeast" direction) so that it can wrap around where the upright post of the Cross and the right arm intersect.

Step 7.Fold this down and to the left behind the Cross...

Step 8....and then fold it toward the right so that it is parallel and under the transverse arms of the Cross.

Step 9.Bring it up behind the Cross again, this time folding it up toward the "northwest" direction.

Step 10.Tuck the tapered end into the transverse section you made in step 7...

Step 11....and pull through.

Step 12.Turn the Cross over; this side will be the front. Trim the tapered end if necessary, remembering that the palm is a sacramental and any part you trim away should be kept and respected as a sacramental! Use that piece for burning during storms.

Making Palm Sunday Crosses

Bruised and Winning

Call me Jimmy Braddock; I've recieved bruises, fallen down in the dirt and exhaled grunts of frustration, but finally I overcame and took home the gold.

James Braddock: even his hair looks tough.

 

I know what you're thinking. You're thinking: "Teresa you are a big jokester, you didn't fight anyone; you're just looking for a way to talk about your Irish boxing crush and hula hooping in the same post."

 

 

And you would be absolutely correct. 





Allow me to introduce you to J.B. : my brand-spanking new travel hoop from Hoopnotica! A big shout-out and thanks to Steen for introducing me to the travel hoop and the hobby of hooping.

 

I recieved J.B. about a week ago and since then I have learned many things; such as:

a) hooping tutorials on Youtube are hilarious and uniquely diverting

b) when learning to hoop around your knees try not to wear the baggiest sweat pants you own. This creates unnecessary bruising in the knee area

c) telling a perspective employer that you are learning to hula hoop and play the harmonica may give them the jolt that they need to "hire that girl!"

d) travel hoops are a great investment if you're planning to take it places (that's most likely why they named it the travel hoop). . . I mean, while having the 5' hoop tied to the top of my Honda with hemp seemed romantic and sprouted friendly conversation at Costco gas stations. . .this summer it would have bordered on burdensome while I am backpacking, white water rafting and mountain biking.

e) hooping and pooping rhyme and if you don't have the gift of proper articulation in the mornings: it may sound to others that your plan for the day is to "poop in the park"

 

This weekend I had a complete hoot twirling this thing around and learning to do a couple simple tricks. I'm so happy with my new travel hoop I may just take a trip to the past with it and show Jimmy that you don't have to box with people to get bruises. . . you simply have to bounce a ring of tubing off your knee caps for two hours.

 

Here's an ode to my new hobby of hooping:

 

Hooping is neat

It will get you beat

Stay on your feet

or you'll be dead meat*

 

*Just kidding. 

 

Anyone else have a hooping hobby? I'd love to hear your stories!

Hand-spinning wool to yarn

        Hand-spinning is the art of making wool to yarn.

  The last five days I have spent assisting my grandfather in a rehabilitation center in Florida. During this time, I was able to start working on a new crochet project, a camo beanie hat, I am making for my husband. My Nana noticed how much I like my new found art and decided to bring me to a store called yarn. 

 Upon entering through the door, I noticed two spinning wheels on the left hand side.The sight of the wheels just made my heart light up!! I had been avidly watching people spin their own yarn on youtube, but never have I had the opportunity to see a live spinning session before.

 If this interest you, and you want to get in touch with your inner amish, this is a video I would recommend watching: 

  

  The two women, Laura & Marge, at the wheels could not have been more delightful. I honestly have to say that this experience was life changing and very empowering. It was so exhilarating speaking with other women with a passion for self-sufficiency and the domestic arts. The one women, Laura, has a shop where she spinns her own wool & dyes it. http://www.etsy.com/shop/AudreyKnitted Her scarves are fabulous and highly suggest you check her out. 

Marge let me use her wheel and gave me the yarn I had spun 



 I believe that society has forgotten and even neglected some of the domestic arts. The domestic arts, ie: knitting, crocheting, & sewing, and knowledge of self-sufficiency, ie: widdling, pottery, & soapmaking, are on the verge of making the endangered arts & skills list. Understandably so, for in today's world we are no longer able to allot any amount of time for these such things, and it just so happens to be that it is also no longer a necessity to be skilled in these areas. On a happier note, there is hope! Marge had told me that this art is not faded & there are craftsmen that gather at the Maryland sheep and wool fest that sells sheep, sheers, spins, and knits all at once! I hope to check this out and give you an updated experience about that! 

California Mission Trail

"Always to go forward, never to go back" - Blessed Junipero Serrra

For a few years now, Christine and I have had a dream to bicycle along the California Mission Trail; retracing the steps of Blessed Junipero Serra, a Spanish, Franciscan friar who helped found and build 21 faith-filled communities along the Western coast in the 18th century. 2013 is the 300th Anniversary of the birth of this courageous missionary, appropriately coinciding with this Year of Faith.

This past Monday morning, while I was routinely online job searching I remembered this dream and decided to do some researching about the California Mission Trail, and I believe that God willing, we can make this dream a reality.

I hope during April of 2013 to make a pilgrimage along the California Mission Trail via bicycle visiting the 21 mission churches along the Western coast. I am blessed to consider myself "free" during the month of April because I do not start my summer position until the beginning of May. I have experience planning trip logistics, a love for Catholicism and the Franciscan spirituality and have a zeal for adventure.

And I could use your assistance. Would you participate on this pilgrimage with me? You can participate either through PRAYER, PAYMENT or PHYSICAL PARTICIPATION.

Here are the deets:
1. Starting in San Diego, CA we will travel north on bicycle taking hiking/biking trails closely following the old El Camino Real route that its founders traveled. The approximately 800 mile route will end at the last mission in Sonoma, CA.
2. Depending on the availability and physical ambition of the group members this trek could take 3-4 weeks to complete.
3. I am in the process of conversing with several people who have through-hiked this ancient trail and am currently planning the exact route that we would travel.
4. We will try and reach a new mission church every day. With this in mind, we will be living out of our packs and bicycles. We will be either setting up camp on each of the mission church's land (I am starting to call each of the churches to see what our possibilities are) or camping at a nearby camping ground.
5. My hope is that we would be biking consistently 4-5 hours each day, leaving time to visit Jesus in the sacrament of the eucharist, purchase necessities, set up camp and learn about each of the mission churches and their history.
6. The cost of this trek depends on many factors: your form of travel to and from California, the amount of food you like to eat and the gear that you currently own. You will need transportation to San Diego and from Santa Rosa, a dependable bicycle, a helmet and camping gear.
7. I have been speaking with several people who have seemed interested in physically participating, but in order for this endeavor to take off, I need at least TWO COMMITTED INDIVIDUALS. If you are at all interested in participating on this pilgrimage: please contact me as soon as possible!

If you are interested in participating in this pilgrimage through prayer, please pray through the intercession of Blessed Junipero Serra. Your prayers are greatly appreciated. Thank you so much. May Christ's peace be with you.

If you are interested in participating in this pilgrimage through payment, that would also be appreciated. My goal is to be frugal with traveling and I will be purchasing minimally, but if you feel called to donate please contact me.

Blessed Junipero Serra always moved forward to spread the Gospel. Let us also move forward, never to go back: to grow in wisdom, faith and delight in Him.

For more information and brainstorming please email me at teresaboever@gmail.com

Blessed Junipero Serra: Ora Pro Nobis!

“God has created me to do him some definite service; he has committed some work to me which he has not committed to another. I have my mission - I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next... I have a part in a great work; I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons..." - Blessed John Henry Newman

Flowered

The other day I posted a picture of the hat I recently crocheted. I want to post a picture of the hat with a felt flower I had sewn onto the hat today. Please let me know if you like it better with or without flower.

Pinterest Crafting

Hi my name is Elyahu Weatherford and I discovered Pinterest last winter, during one of those chill-you-to-the-bone evenings when all you can reasonablly do is to stay indoors, drink tea and put more clothes on. So I did; and last evening, I did exactly the same thing + crafting.

I pin happily and am ever energized with the recipes, crafts and resourceful ideas that people share on Pinterest. It's grand. I have mostly cooked and baked recipes which were then shared and devoured  within a couple days. But last evening, I upcycled!

The Rug; happily crafted from the (old) shirts off my back.

 

As I was cutting and weaving through my elderly t-shirts I remembered all the good times that I had in them: summer camp, wilderness first responder training, trading Chicago and Nebraska t-shirts with my best friend and roomie in college. . . it was great; and I was on a roll. As the sun set I sat there weaving, feeling like Penelope weaving her magestic tapestry. . . I must have sat there for a good two hours in the dark wooping and warfing with my t-shirts and imagination. I finally got up and took the hoop to the light. What looked crafty and fun in the darkness looked like a sloppy second graders craft of woe. Don't get me wrong. I think the rug would have turned out the same even if I'd been under the Tuscan sun in July. I had a hoot putting it together and it will look great hanging on a wall, as a decorative rug in a bathroom or as a very large pot-holder on a kitchen table. If you have around 5-10 old t-shirts and want to get crafty and up-cycled this is a fun way to pass a chill-you-to-the-bone evening. Here's the link with directions: http://spoonful.com/crafts/hula-hoop-rug 

Cutting up the t-shirts left me with this pithy saying from one of my "Life is Good" t-shirts that I made into a bracelet! :)

 

 

Crochet; latest addiction

In the last couple of months I have gone from being a normal 24 year old to a domestic dork.

To name a few things, I sewed reusable lunch bags for my husband, crocheted various baby hats, and today I have officially made a droopy crocheted hat!

  Now I would like to brag that I have taught myself these domestic skills, but that is not quite the case for youtube's various members have been my guides on all my endeavors.

   Here I would like to give a shout out to Emmy! She happens to tell you on each video who she is and most of her videos start, "Hello everyone this is Emmy." My husband has become quite acquainted with her voice and likes to rhetorically respond with, " Hello Emmy this is Mark".

   But aside from all humor, I would highly suggest everyone checks her videos out. I am not an affilate in any which way of hers but a big fan! The video I used to make this hat is:

This is a very quick and easy project, but if you have never seen or picked up a crochet needle I highly suggest you watch her videos on how to crochet first.

My hat which I finished in a few hours looks like this:

Let me know if you think I should add the flower like she did. 

Thanks for reading!