Ignatius Critical Editions {Review & Giveaway}
From the about page: “The Ignatius Critical Editions will ensure that traditional moral readings of the works are given prominence, instead of the feminist or deconstructionist readings that often proliferate in other series of ‘critical editions’. As such, they represent a genuine extension of consumer choice, enabling educators, students, and lovers of good literature to buy editions of classic literary works without having to ‘buy into’ the ideologies of secular fundamentalism.”
Celebrating the 4th of July
A Back Yard War Film
Summer 2020 :: The “Nun Run” Part Two
Good morning! I’m back this week to share the next stop on last summer’s Nun Run. After leaving Gower, we continued our trip to Valparaiso, Nebraska to visit the Carmel of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. I have visited this convent three times in the past, for my three uncles very first Masses following their ordinations, but the last time was back in 2008 so it had been 12 years!
On our way there we stopped at a sushi restaurant for dinner (and played some “close your eyes and guess how many *insert items* are in the room” inspired by Shawn Spencer in Psych lol).
A picture on our way to the Carmel
The Chapel at the Carmel was so beautiful!
After Mass, we were able to visit one of the sisters through the turn and she told us her vocation story which was so inspirational. Also, we noticed a young lady who, after Mass, entered into the Carmel!
Visiting the Carmel of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph was such a rewarding experience and to see just how much the sisters give up for our Lord is so uplifting.
Patriotic Berry Pie
Can you believe it’s July already?!? I just don’t know where the months go anymore… They are flying by faster than ever! I’m really trying to slow down and enjoy these summer days with everyone home. I’ve had a little help from the weather this week… With temps reaching ridiculously hot up here in the North Idaho, most of our scheduled plans and activities have been canceled due to the dangerous heat wave! We are just praying that this isn’t followed by more wildfires and smoke…
He had requested “Berry Pie!” instead of birthday cake, after an afternoon rafting with friends, and I ended up surprising him with a couple Patriotic Berry Pies! It was quick and easy to make with the help of Red Hills Fruit Company Tart Cherry Filling, Blueberry Filling and some refrigerated pie crusts.
Summer 2020 :: The “Nun Run” Part One
Now that golf season has ended, and now that I have a lot of free time while I recover from my knee surgery, I can start back up on the posts! You can find my past posts here: written by Twinkle Toes.
Our Daily Schedule at Gower:
5:05 Matins and Private Prayer
7:10 Lauds, Prime, and Breakfast
8:45 Work (We mainly worked in the garden.)
10:50 Terce, Mass, Sext, Lunch
2:15 Exposition, None, Free time/Rosary
5:30 Vespers then Supper
6:45 Work
8:00 Compline, then bed
After Compline is the Grand Silence (no talking) which goes until after Prime the next morning.
The nuns gave us a tour of their sewing studio during our final day at Gower and showed us how to make vestments and altar linens.
Emily and I happen to have the same godparents (small world!) so we took a quick picture together to send to our godmother.
While we were at Gower, we were able to see one of my close friends (the girl in the middle).
The singing at Gower was amazing! I’ve grown up listening to their CDs at home and to hear them in person was even more beautiful!
St. Joseph’s Day
A Masquerade Murder Mystery Sweet Sixteen Birthday Party
“We primarily use an INTERACTIVE mystery party format. If you’ve played games offered by our competitors, you’ll find this format very different, a lot more versatile and a whole lot of fun. Instead of everyone sitting around reading off a piece of paper, your guests are up and mingling, flexing their sleuthing skills (with some helpful sample questions from us to get everyone started) and questioning one another to discover the killer. It’s simple, fantastic and perfect for mystery party newbies and veterans alike.” Read more here.
“Some mysteries inform the guilty party that they are guilty. We don’t do this for two reasons. First, not knowing allows all Suspects to be completely honest with the information they receive. Second, it allows all players to piece together the mystery equally. With one Suspect not investigating, it quickly becomes clear to the other players who the culprit is and your mystery ends up ruined. In our experience, your mystery is more successful when the culprit isn’t aware they are the culprit.”
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Death by Chocolate Cake made with Chocolate Fudge Cake Layers with Whipped Ganache Filling, Chocolate Frosting, White Chocolate Ganache Drip, Chocolate Ganache Drip and Oreo Crumbles
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After everyone arrived, and had had a chance to get some food, we began the mystery with the Announcement of Murder. Our package came with an audio file, but I opted to read the transcript to the teens. Afterwards each of the suspects introduced themselves and read their bio to everyone.
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| My little photographer in training! |
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| Photo credit for these goes to our three year old! |
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| And to Twinkle Toes for this one! |
.: The Suspects and Sleuths :.
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| Basket of Prizes for Best Costumes, Best Masks, and those who were able to guess thief/murderer including: “PayDay” • Gum for all the “Gumshoe Detectives” • King Size KitKats for “Cat’s Pajamas” |
Golf Tournament at Hayden Lake Country Club
Hot Cross Buns
According to tradition, Hot Cross Buns originated on Good Friday in 1361 at St Alban’s Abbey in Hertfordshire, north of London, where the monks gave them to the poor people who came there on that holy day. Each bun is marked with the shape of a cross to symbolize Christ’s suffering and crucifixion. Some say that the dried fruit in the bun represents the nails of the crucifixion.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 1/4 teaspoons yeast
- 3/4 cup warm milk
- 1/4 cup plus 1 teaspoon sugar (I used coconut sugar)
- 3 1/4 to 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon allspice
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs, room temperature (I sent one of the kids out to the chicken coop!)
- 3/4 cup currants (I used raisins – can also substitute some currants for candied peel)
- 2 teaspoons grated orange zest
For the glaze:
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon milk
For the frosting (optional):
- 1 1/2 teaspoons milk
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
DIRECTIONS
Whisk the dry ingredients: In a large bowl or the mixing bowl of an electric mixer, vigorously whisk together 3 cups of the flour (reserving additional flour for later step), the salt, spices, and 1/4 cup of sugar.
Make the dough: Create a well in the flour and add the foamy yeast and milk mixture, softened butter, eggs, and the remaining milk. Using a wooden spoon or the paddle attachment of your mixer, mix the ingredients until well incorporated. The mixture should be quite sticky. Add in the currants, optional candied peel, and orange zest.
Knead the dough, adding more flour as needed: If you are using a stand mixer, switch to the dough hook attachment and start to knead on low speed. (If not using a mixer, use your hands to knead.) Slowly sprinkle in additional flour, a tablespoon at a time, kneading to incorporate after each addition, until the flour is still slightly tacky, but is no longer completely sticking to your fingers when you work with it. Total kneading time should be about 7 minutes in a mixer or 10 minutes by hand.
Let sit 30-40 min (second rise): Let the dough mounds sit at room temperature (or warm place) to rise again, until the mounds have doubled in volume, about 30-40 minutes.
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Brush with egg wash: Prepare egg wash by whisking together one egg and a tablespoon of milk. If you want, you can score the top of the buns with a knife in a cross pattern. You will want to make fairly deep cuts, for the pattern to be noticeable after they’re done. Using a pasty brush, brush on the egg wash over the dough mounds. The egg wash will give them a shiny appearance when cooked.
Make and pipe frosting in cross pattern on buns: To paint a cross on the top of the buns, wait until the buns have cooled (or the frosting will run). Whisk together the milk and the powdered sugar. Keep adding powdered sugar until you get a thick consistency. Place in a plastic sandwich bag. Snip off a small piece from the corner of the bag and use the bag to pipe two lines of frosting across each bun to make a cross.
You can make the cross on the top of the buns in the following five ways as mentioned by Jennifer Gregory Miller in a comment on Hot Cross Buns – A History over at Catholic Cuisine:
2. With scissors, snip cross pattern on top of shaped buns before rising.
3. Apply flour-and-water paste cross after rising but before baking.
4. Make cross by using uncooked dough, and place on risen bun.
5. Make a cross on risen dough out of candied peel.
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