The weekly “little of this, little of that” feature here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!
I'm going to take a moment this morning for some shameless promotion of something my husband's up to. {Discount code below!}
And by shameless I really mean I have no shame at all in sharing this with you, because it is absolutely worth sharing and I know that I'd want to know! He and a colleague studying at the same studio have made some of their paintings for sale on Etsy. You can check it all out at The Rat Scullery Art Gallery.
I've seen many of these paintings in person here in Manchester. They are even more beautiful than they appear online!
The Artist decided that he wanted to make sure that folks would be able to hang their paintings right away, if they wanted to, and that these works wouldn't end up hanging around anyone's attics while the customers wondered how to go about framing. So he worked out a deal so that he can frame any painting purchased from the Rat Scullery for you, meaning it arrives to you all framed and sealed and ready for your wall — for a much better price than you'd be able to get by taking it to a framer.
I am a huge fan of the plein air paintings by The Artist's colleague John Peterson (that I'm a fan of my husband's work is a given!). Pure New England beauty:
I just want you to know that these prices are truly bargain-level (most of the works are for $100 or less). The shop is new and will hopefully get well off the ground before long (that would certainly help us out and would be a boon to this whole studio of artists trying to do the beautiful and traditional thing in a post-modern world) — so I can't promise that the getting will always be so good for the average art appreciator… Just saying.
The Artist is offering a deal for all you lovely LMLD readers for the rest of the month: free shipping on any Rat Scullery painting (domestic shipping only)! Just enter the promotional code SHIPLMLD — expires on May 31!
You can also follow along to see deals and developments on the Rat Scullery Facebook Page. Thanks for looking and for passing along to anyone who might also be interested!
This week's links!
Visual fascination:
- A professional pianist and his student wear special glasses that highlight for us (the viewers) where they're looking while they play. We get to see how their eyes move while they're busy with the keys, both in playing from memory and sight reading. Video: Tracking Glasses Show what a Professional Pianist Sees While Playing
- {Auntie Leila adds: “This put me in mind of the importance of having a child read aloud, and teaching him, once he's gotten proficient at reading in general, to read ahead with his eyes while his voice is still on the previous words. I've never seen any directions for this — have you? — but it's important for understanding the text and expressing it well. You can help by actually covering the words he's saying, forcing the eyes ahead before the next words get covered up!”}
- {I add: A high school teacher of mine who was also a cab driver in Boston told us that the way to drive smoothly and safely is by this same principle: to keep your eyes one step ahead of your actions. You have to be competent and confident enough in what you're currently doing to turn it over to your muscles while your mind looks ahead to the next turn or step, he said.}
- A Japanese children's story illustrated with a Rube Goldberg-type contraption (as in: those cool ball track thingies). Incredible coordination! Pretty clever and cute:
News in the Church:
- A quick read about the likely soon-to-be Saint, Fr. Solanus Casey. “We have to put God on the spot” — love it!
- Interesting development here in the Manchester diocese: the celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation will be re-ordered in the coming years so that Confirmation precedes First Communion. “Finally, it will allow for more opportunities for parents to take their rightful place as the primary educators of faith formation. It places sacrament preparation at an age when children are naturally more open and receptive to participating with their parents. “
A few deals going on this Mothers Day weekend:
- I am actively looking forward to getting back to MuTu in the next few weeks, once I'm officially out of my post-partum phase! In case you've been considering getting the program, just wanted you to know that it's 20% off this weekend. My thanks if you use the links here! Here's my review of Mutu for a refresher.
(And yeah, the whole “love you” theme isn't really my favorite either… I'd prefer to say, “take care of your tummy!”)
- Enter to win a raffle and support the cause of helping a family pay their midwife bill after their insurance company let them down – very appealing prizes of the handmade quilt/home-dyed fabric variety!
From the Archives:
- Covering the Last Settee On the Deck
- Nursing a Toddler in Public {pretty, happy, funny, real}
- Dear Aristotle, He's So Clever
In the Liturgical Year:
- Big Deal! The 100th Anniversary of the apparition of Fatima! Read about Our Lady of Fatima and perhaps get out for a May Pilgrimage today!
~We’d like to be clear that, when we direct you to a site via one of our links, we’re not necessarily endorsing the whole site, but rather just referring you to the individual post in question (unless we state otherwise).~
Laura says
We have a special place in our hearts for Fr. Solanus. Two of my great-grandmothers experienced miracles while praying with him. One was cured of debilitation migraines and never had another headache and maintained perfect vision until she passed away at 94 years old. The other was given bad news-that her husband would pass suddenly away in six months. Doesn’t seem like a miracle, but she was able to finish a secretarial course and support her young family after he passed. We’re also partial to his ice cream miracle. If you google it, you’ll find it.
Deirdre says
So awesome!
I am definitely curious about this ice cream miracle…
Rozy says
Oh those paintings are gorgeous!!! When I took Art History in college I discovered that my favorite style is American Impressionism. Thanks for sharing this. I’m talking to my husband about an early anniversary present.
Deirdre says
Yes, I love the style as well! I seriously wish I had more of an art-buying budget and more wall space so that I could get a whole bunch of them!! The artist’s life is, “we can’t afford our own paintings.” 😛
Carol Kennedy says
I am very excited to read about the re-ordering of the Sacraments of initiation in your diocese! The FAQ was very good. I have thought for years now that we are actually handicapping our youth by dangling Confirmation to get involvement. The re-order helps parents to see their important role of bringing that child into an adult/mature faith—a role that no “program” can fill. Faith is nurtured through relationships of love and the parent child is the perfect relationship for that. Here’s hoping many dioceses follow suit!
Deirdre says
Yes. I just found that line about the parental role very encouraging!
Dixie says
The information about the sacraments is really thought-provoking. I know some families in our diocese who go to great lengths to get dispensations to have confirmation done early. I’m interested to see that whole dioceses are reordering things, too. Something to think about.
Dyan Schisler says
I agree with Auntie Leila’s comment about seeing the upcoming words. It’s not often that I hear or see someone else mention that idea.
Amy says
Deirdre (or anyone here) – Mutu guidelines on shoes call for no heels–not even small ones. Do you have any recommendations for “barefoot” or minimal everyday shoes that are sort of cute?
Specifically, I mean regular, casual shoes that are not running or athletic shoes. Most minimal shoes I’ve seen online look rather unattractive to me.
Laura says
I transitioned to minimal foot wear. Go very slowly, an hour here or there and build up slowly. I still wear traditional tennis shoes when we’re out walking all day, like a zoo trip. For every day minimal shoes, I buy classic keds. They’re flexible and I buy the extra wide so my toes have room. There’s also video tutorials on how to take the heel off of sandals from places like tj maxx or target. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yLkddGt2G1w&ebc=ANyPxKq4Q0vdplvUzJZYewcnXKX9ZygWXPfGztsZuQ32CAgfYhTIHz-UDBrlUJMsA5EQwfGeR46RV_j0sahfMvykIoe-2ZY-4g
Deirdre says
Amy, I mentioned in my ‘pregnancy picks’ post about a pair of Bandolino ballet flats that I found at a thrift store but which are also available on Amazon in a bunch of colors.
Summertime is easier in that it’s definitely a simpler task to find cute sandals (with no heel) than it is to find wintertime shoes without heels…
Wendy has some suggestions on her blog, I think — at least I’ve seen some for MuTu-approved winter boots. If you have the budget, I’d suggest searching online for walking shoes and walking-friendly/posture-conscious brands like Clarks and the like.
Dixie says
Amy, I forget if it was the Mutu lady or Katy Bowman, but one of them said, “Think Converse, not Nike.” I would say just look for flat, flexible soles as your top priority (and of course, make sure the shoe doesn’t slip around on your foot — you mustn’t be having to use your muscles just to keep them on, like with flip-flops). I have found that just switching to wearing Converse canvas sneakers rather than standard athletic sneakers while out and about has made a huge difference for me — the soles are quite flat and flexible. I bed some Keds are the same. I think there are also a lot of slip-on shoes for the summer that might fit the bill that you could find at a Famous Footwear or the like — aren’t espadrilles pretty simple, for example?
Amy says
Thank you for your excellent suggestions, Laura, Deirdre and Dixie!
Katie says
Deirdre (and anyone else interested in Mutu), I just wanted to pass along info about a similar program that Trim Healthy Mama has out. Their’s is a DVD set (which I appreciate, as it means I don’t have to be online for instruction!). Right now, they are only selling it as a complete set, with workout bands, 7? DVDs (I can’t remember for sure how many!) and guide book. I’ve found it very helpful, and it covers similar core-protecting and diastasis-healing ground to Mutu. The workouts are set up to be about 20 minutes long each, incorporating a variety of targeted core exercises, isometric exercises, and anaerobic exercise for metabolism-boosting. They can be stopped and restarted as needed or mixed and matched (their last DVD is the mix-and-match one, which I haven’t tried yet). I don’t think this is on sale now, but wanted to offer an additional option. Thanks so much for your info about Mutu…despite my desire to “unplug” from online as much as possible, I think I may check it out, too, after our next baby arrives!
Deirdre says
Thanks, Katie!
And I totally get what you mean about wanting to unplug. For what it’s worth, you can download all the MuTu materials so that they’re accessible whenever, even if you’re offline. But it still does mean being in front of a screen. :-/
Once you get to know the exercises better, you can do them from memory or with written prompts, in theory. I just find that I rely on her videos to keep my momentum and focus up.
Katie says
Thanks, Deirdre! It’s helpful to know that Mutu can be done offline and (eventually) from memory! I definitely agree about the momentum factor, though!