Tuesday, April 30, 2013

4 Pretty, Holy, Catholic Pinterest Boards

It's hardly a secret that I love Pinterest. There are so many beautiful ideas, fun crafts, delicious recipes, and inspirational images.

When I scan the feed, though, I always pause an extra-long time over the religious images. They always catch me off guard because there are so few holy pins, but it's like seeing portraits of old friends and it never fails to make me smile.

And, not gonna lie, if I'm starting to slip into covetousness of beautiful houses or dream gardens, the images of the Blessed Mother gently call me back! It's a wonderful little pictorial evangelization.

If you need some Catholic boards to follow, I'm rather fond of:


Betty Coe's "Catholic" Board


Sherry Gardiner's "Catholic" Board


Kathleen Doherty's "Catholic" Board


Amy Caroline's "Believe It" Board

and I suppose I could do a little shameless self-promotion and direct you to my own

City Wife, Country Life's "Sanctus" Board

Please please please let me know which Catholic boards you follow so I can have some more sanctified Pinterest viewing!

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Monday Musings on Tuesday


Right now... I'm content.

This weekend... I went to meetings and parties galore! It seems to be the season for baptisms, wedding showers, baby showers, burger bashes; it was all very fun.

Some plans for this week... I read a book about making wine. I'm intrigued and want to price out the supplies I'd need to make some blueberry wine with the supply in our freezer. Sounds like a worthy project.

I'm also hunting, furiously, for someone to finance our housing project. We made a misstep by planting crops on our land. Apparently nobody finances land that makes money. Now they tell us! I have one option left, and I'm waiting for him to call us back. Otherwise, well, let's just not think about the "otherwise."

Time to plant a lot of stuff in the garden, too. My entire pea crop was decimated by quail, and they're threatening my beets, too. My tomato starts succumbed to some virus, and the aphids wiped out my peppers. It's not a good gardening year, thus far, except for my artichokes. Those are hardy little suckers and just might live to tell the tale!

If I find some time for myself, I would like to... learn some music on the piano. I didn't know our library had sheet music! This is a wonderful find, and I've got lots of Irving Berlin to hammer out.

I am grateful for... our parish that offers so many daily Masses. Sometimes we have 4 on any given day, so there's no excuse for not going.

Some prayer intentions for this week: a green light on house financing. Success for my husband who's installing irrigation systems and planting crops and working obscene hours to provide for us. For all those I know who are getting married in the next few months (lots!!).

Something that makes me smile: 


This little cutie that I really really really really really want to buy! I'm going to have to campaign hard for this one, but isn't she adorable??

Read Nadja's Monday Musings.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

My Second Painting: This is Fun!

I went to Hobby Lobby yesterday and picked up a $3.49 canvas, determined to make another paint by number.

"Mary Consoles Eve" Crayon & pencil drawing by Sr. Grace Remington, OCSO.
Copyright 2005, Sisters of the Mississippi Abbey




I saw this image on Facebook yesterday and it really moved me. Eve, the mother of all the living, clinging to the fruit of death with the snake coiled around her leg, is consoled by the New Eve, the mother of Life, holding the fruit of her womb while crushing the head of the serpent. Reconciliation, forgiveness, grace, beauty, everlasting life -- a pretty powerful image.


Unfortunately, the Blessed Mother's lips are pursed and Eve's luscious locks look like a gunnysack, but overall I'm rather pleased with the outcome.

Can't wait to find another image to paint! This is really really really fun.

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Louis and Zelie Martin Painting

Pinterest is amazing. Really.

I saw this idea yesterday from Librarian Tells All, and was blown away.

"I think I could do that," I mused to myself.


Why yes, yes I can.

I'm imagining a whole line of classical artwork and saints, now. And an Etsy shop? I'll build an empire of DIY paint by number!!

Or, maybe I'll just mat and frame this one for our broom closet for starters.