Things are getting busy around here. I'm headed to Chicago next week to speak (come have lunch with me!), then RI for a parish visit where Phil and I will talk and host a Q&A (come have a chat!).
And then we are entering Wedding Zone — our Will is getting married! We are of course super excited!
And not only will he be taking The Big Step with his lovely Jaime, but of course the family will be gathered from the four winds, which I'm greatly looking forward to!
So I will not be here much for about a month. You could poke around the archives and catch up with the many fascinating links I have posted, most of which are not time-restricted. In fact, sometimes I'll be looking for something and come across an older bits & pieces post and be quite taken with the engrossing, riveting, and thoughtful articles I've put here! I'll think — “Well, that was quite interesting!” Maybe you will as well.
I will see you later. Don't forget to buy books and follow us in all the places (listed below). Think about what you'd like to talk about when I come back! I almost have too many ideas to choose one!
bits & pieces
- I am a little obsessed with Antiques Roadshow, and of course finding an actual Roman bust at Goodwill would be an adventure!
- Listen to this little gem of a hymn.(It will be a prelude at Will's wedding!)
- Sister Maria Bernadette of the Cross — the story of a 20th-century Polish nun who trod the quiet road of sacrifice for love of Christ.
- Down with revisionism! A few years ago my dear husband surprised me with tickets to a Mozart opera in Boston. The actual music was sublime; the production was awful, an assault on reason. You cannot make Don Giovanni into a feminist rant.
- I was interviewed by Stephanie Burke from Spiritual Direction on Hidden Graces: Rediscovering God’s Design for Women.We didn't get to all the questions — when I look at them, I definitely want to answer them! Maybe I will have a chance to soon.
from the archives
- Covering my thrifted deck furniture, back in 2016. This week I put those same cushions back out in the sunny weather! Going strong for 6 years!
follow us everywhere!
My book, The Summa Domestica: Order and Wonder in Family Life is available now from Sophia Press! All the thoughts from this blog collected into three volumes, beautifully presented with illustrations from Deirdre, an index in each volume, and ribbons!
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The boards of the others: Rosie’s Pinterest. Sukie’s Pinterest. Deirdre’s Pinterest. Habou’s Pinterest (you can still get a lot of inspiration here! and say a prayer for her!). Bridget’s Pinterest.
Julie VS says
Oh!!! You’re coming to Chicago! I have to see if I can possibly come. So exciting!
Julie VS says
My husband and I attended a Catholic Citizens of Illinois luncheon at which your husband spoke, a number of years ago – maybe 13? – before all our children began arriving. God willing, I can make it to hear you, as well!
Emily says
GREATLY dislike “revisionist” opera (well and everything else!). Give me good productions that make sense (in as far as some operas can, that is–swan boats and some other things mean we just have to suspend our disbelief, haha). Congratulations to Will and Jaime!
Valerie says
Hi Leila! Before you leave, maybe you can remember and direct me to the post where you mentioned a bookby a woman about cooking that was nontraditional. The book started by talking about boiling water, then vegetables, then a chicken…does that sound familiar?
Mrs. Bee says
I know exactly the book you’re talking about, and yet I can’t remember the title or the author either… I know I checked it out at the library, but the reading history on the account doesn’t go very far. It wasn’t a real cookbook, more of a reflection on food, cooking, and eating. I remember her saying that a meal starts with you putting some water to boil, and how satisfying a dish with simply pasta, broccoli, and Parmigiano is. Maybe someone else will remember the details!
Leila says
I don’t remember a post but is it Laurie Colwin, Home Cooking?
She had a really satisfying column for Gourmet Magazine (RIP, sad tears for both Laurie and in a lesser but still real way, the magazine) that was the early equivalent of blogging. She’d just chat along about her ways of producing good foods without over-thinking, and yet everything she said was amusing and intelligent!
Mrs. Bee says
It’s not the one I had in mind, but it looks quite interesting! Now I won’t rest until I can read the chapter “Repulsive Dinners”…
Valerie says
Found it, ladies! I can’t wait to read it again.
https://www.amazon.com/Everlasting-Meal-Cooking-Economy-Grace/dp/1439181888/ref=sxin_20_mbs_w_global_sims?crid=33BESWPTHAQEP&cv_ct_cx=home+cooking+laurie+colwin&keywords=home+cooking+laurie+colwin&pd_rd_i=1439181888&pd_rd_r=58946459-fd06-45a7-8452-4fc0ee166c9f&pd_rd_w=GBB81&pd_rd_wg=AMXOw&pf_rd_p=d7b1408f-27e9-471c-b115-37998291bd25&pf_rd_r=1S6ZRPA46E60F012SNDY&qid=1652208625&sprefix=home+cooking+%2Caps%2C631&sr=1-7-9e7645f9-2d19-4bff-863e-f6cdbe50f990
Laura P says
Maybe An Everlasting Meal by Tamar Adler? (I haven’t actually read it.)
Mrs. Bee says
Yes, I think this is the one at least I had in mind. I’m actually not sure I heard of it on this blog, and I have only vague memories from it – now thanks to you I can go check it out again!
Caitlin says
Ooh, will miss you but congratulations on the wedding, Will and Jaime, and on the speaking engagements, Leila! I have been enjoying the podcast and your books have permanent occupancy on my bedside table. Safe travels!
Mrs. T says
I have to mention it: I really like the pictures you posted of Will and Jamie. Your son looks like the protector in each photo, his fiancé tucked in close. It is a very good depiction of male and female. Does that make sense?
I’ve seen too many engagement pictures where the photo is centered on the woman while the man looks as though he is fawning over her embarrassingly.
Leila says
Thank you — I love your comment. I agree with it! I also think she has a loving manner of accepting protection from him whom she trusts. I am very grateful.
Dixie says
Congratulations to Will and Jaime! What wonderful news!
Mrs. Bee says
Congratulations to the expanding Lawler clan, how exciting! Thank you for the pretty pictures of the happy couple – I can’t believe some consider Queen Anne’s Lace a weed… At some point, I’d love to know Auntie Leila’s thoughts on how to become a good mother-in-law 🙂
Revisionism at the theater is awful, Shakespeare is another frequent victim and productions must be investigated thoroughly beforehand!
Lisa G. says
Congratulations to Will and Jaime – they look very happy. A life long of blessings to them both!
Diana says
Congratulations to the expanding clan! What an exciting time!
Also, do come to Phoenix sometime!!
Donna L. says
Congratulations to your Will and his sweetheart, Jaime!
I hope they have a long, happy, and blessed life together!
Love, Donna
Anon says
Congrats on your expanding family!!
I was listening to your interview on letters to women podcast and a question I’ve had for awhile came up again. My husband is much tidier than I am— and he really likes our office/library tidy as well as the public spaces- living room, den, dining room etc. this creates two problems for me in the desire to keep our bedroom tidy. First, it’s very difficult for me to keep the whole house tidy. If I focus on the areas he cares most about, it’s really difficult for me to find time to tidy the bedroom as well (or not have the three Year old totally destroy the downstairs while I’m up here). Second, he will actually take things (picture books, laundry, etc) he thinks are too messy from the public areas and dump them in our room, often on my dresser. I’m not sure how to solve either problem except be tidy all the time, which doesn’t seem realistic for me in the best of times, let alone when pregnant and nauseous for 4 months. Of course we have four children who we/I have tried to teach to be near but do leave random debris places.
(My third problem with all of this was that I was spending my cleaning time tidying to a degree that I didn’t find necessary and never really cleaning well enough. That’s solved for now, with a family Saturday morning clean that will be moved to a weekday afternoon in the summer, when my husband has to mow)
Leila says
I would recommend a “free and frank discussion” about how to care for the spaces! It’s not going to work to just dump things, and in marriage, we have to respect each other’s work and timelines.
Seek solutions in the talk. The one staring you in the face (both of you) is to have less stuff! And to have places for the stuff you do have that you BOTH are aware of.
It’s important for spouses to tell each other what stresses them out. “It stresses me out for you to dump things because then I have two jobs… I do need help in this area… what do you suggest that would help me feel calmer?” “What stresses you out about it?”
Also, I have so many posts, collected in my book (3rd volume) about how to get the house ready for your husband to come home. There needs to be a “blitz” and it’s all about setting a timer and having the kids relocate all the things! They can do it… especially if there’s a “carrot” at the end of it to incentivize them.
Catherine says
My husband and I are the opposite, I’m orderly and tidy and can’t think when there’s too much clutter; he’s not. Also I can totally relate to your #3; sometimes I can’t vacuum and dust because people’s stuff is all over!!
Some things that work for us (also 4 kids, though no pregnancy and nausea at the moment. 😉 )
Lots of baskets for things, ugly plastic baskets inside cabinets or closets, prettier thrifted baskets on floor and open shelves, drawer organizers in so many drawers. Labeled liberally, except for decorative ones.
This way everyone (ok, in theory) knows where things go and has an easy spot to put them. It might be messy inside the basket, but the things are put away and neat! Picture books in a sturdy basket, all the phone chargers in a basket in cabinet, each child has a basket or drawer for his treasures, all the throw blankets in another basket, etc.
And maybe you could try a decorative basket or small trunk in your room, in an easy spot for your husband to access, and that’s where he can dump all the random stuff, then close the lid, and it’s tidy. Of course, eventually these things will all need to be redistributed to their proper baskets throughout the house. But at least it looks neat in the meantimes.
Also, you’re probably rocking this already, but we throw things out or donate a lot. All the junky toy prizes from the dentist office have a 1-2 week life span, art projects get hung up occasionally but mostly tossed after a few days, and so on. All my kids have 4 outfits, I do laundry every day; 2 jackets, 1 heavy for winter and one waterproof fleece for all the other times; one pair of sturdy winter boots that are waterproof and can be worn in rain as needed; etc.
Basically, you could sum up our approach with: baskets and very moderate amounts of stuff (as babies and several children permit.) The house still gets cluttered all the time, but it’s fairly easy to restore at least!
And yes, my husband totally teases me about my basket/bin obsession. 😉