Tales From The Bonny Blue House

Do you still miss him?

Celebrate his life and commemorate his birthday today with a Polish feast. I have a post up at Catholic Cuisine with recipes.

"Be not afraid!" ~ John Paul II, October 16, 1978.

Sunday Morning Visitor

I guess it's time to take the cover off the pool.

Have a blessed Sunday.

Wine talk

I have a post about loving and drinking wine over at Catholic Cuisne. Go over and leave a comment. I would love to hear what you think.

Yup, he's a teenager

As a person living with autism Ryan has real difficulty understanding the nuances of language. Sarcasm and subtle humor are really beyond him. The world of autism is black and white with no shades of gray. At least for Ryan.  That's why these two incidents struck me as so funny. Is he developing some sense of humor at last? Or is he just being a teenager? You tell me.

I was up in the room he shares with Kevin last night and it was a disaster. This really doesn't happen too often, Ryan prefers order.  When I came down I told Ryan he needed to "straighten up" the room before he went to bed.  The next morning when I walked into the room to wake my boys there was still a bunch of stuff on the floor.  "Ryan", I said, "why didn't you clean your room like I asked?"  "You asked me to straighten the room", he said, "those piles of clothes are much straighter."

??

I could have just let him have it, but he was sincere in thinking he had accomplished something and so I chose to laugh.

Today we were driving to the Cottage. It was just Ryan and the twins in the car with me. I was distracted by what I had going on that day, kids all over Long Island all needing to be picked up, dropped off, shuttled around, babies needing naps, and a torrential rain was going on.  So I missed a turn going to the Cottage and then missed a turn to go back.

This made Ryan nervous, he didn't want to be late, he was going to rehearsal and Ryan is gifted with an internal MapQuest. He has no idea why people don't instinctively know where they are going. Having been driven somewhere once ten years ago he can give you uncannily accurate directions to get back there. It's a useful gift.

He then, with barely controlled patience (where did he pick that language nuance up:)?) directed me back to where we needed to be. 

"I'm so glad to have you as a navigator", I said with a big smile thinking he would like the compliment.  Without missing a beat he replied, "well you certainly need one."

Okaaay.

It just struck me funny. First because he is right. Second because for a minute there he was just another teenage boy goofing on his mom. No disability, no oddness just banter between a mom and her son. When you have oddness all the time you treasure these little moments of clarity and companionship. They are the moments that let me know he's in there, he's waiting to find out how let the real Ryan out and it is slowly happening, a moment at a time.

Or he could just be goofing on mom.

My Friend's House

There have been a lot of home keeping and house work posts lately in the blogs I frequent. Some people have made mention of what they find in other people’s homes. “You would never write about my house would you?” says my friend nervously. I smiled. She thinks she has much to learn about housekeeping.

I think she has much to teach.

I have never been in her house that it is not filled with light and warmth. In the winter it is firelight from the fireplace in the living room and the wood stove in the kitchen. In the summer it is her curtains thrown back and doors constantly open as children run in and out.

I have never been in her house that it did not smell wonderful. There is always, and I mean always, something baking or bubbling merrily on the stove. She is rightly famous for her breads and I would walk a mile barefoot for her oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. Her young daughter’s Magic Cake has done more damage to my waistline than I care to think about. The young ones are following the family tradition of hospitality.

I have never been in her house when someone wasn’t laughing. It’s one of those places where joy happens.

I have never been in the house more than five minutes that I haven’t received a cup of tea, a cold drink or a glass of wine.

I have never been in that house and not heard music. Her children playing, her husband playing, my children and husband playing… Friends bring instruments every time they come.

I have never been in that house that I haven’t wanted to stay.

Have I mentioned I’m there nearly every day?

Does she have dust bunnies under her bed? I have no idea, could care less. She has love, laughter, joy and grace. She has hospitality down pat. She has a great husband and great kids who follow her lead in making everyone welcome. 

It’s where I want to be. No matter what is under the bed.

May Crowning at the Cottage

The procession.  Notice the other children all dressed in "Blessed Mother Blue".

Our Lady awaits. See the lovely lanterns Alice made with the children last week.

Alice leads the children in a rosary. I stopped counting at 53 children.

Then, of course, there is chocolate.

Lovely ladies in their blue.

Happy Mother's Day

"The most important person on earth is a mother.  She cannot claim the honor of having built Notre Dame Cathedral.  No!  She need not.  She has built something much more magnificent than any cathedral---a dwelling for an immortal soul, the tiny perfection of her baby's body.  The angels have not been blessed with such a grace.  They cannot share in God's creative miracle to bring new saints to heaven.  Only a human mother can do that.  Mothers are closer to God the Creator than any human creature.  God joins forces with mothers in performing his act of creation... What on God's earth is more glorious than this: to be a mother?" ~ Cardinal Mindzenty

Thirteen years ago today my greatest Mother's Day gift arrived. He was a day past his due date but just in time to make me a mother for Mother's Day.  Thank you God for the gift of an incredible son.

Going to Town

On Long Island going to town means going to Manhattan. David surprised me with a night out tonight in NYC, even booking his mom to come spend the night to babysit the children (thanks mom!!).  The kids can't wait for grandma's arrival and me to go. I suspect some spoiling goes on while I am away.

We'll be staying here, having a martini here, and dining here.

Have a blessed day, I'll check back soon.

Immodesty and the boys

Angie from Many Little Blessings has an excellent post up about the effect of immodesty on the boys in our society.  Please pop over and read, it's worth the time.

From Thy Bounty

Have you seen the beautiful new blog Catholic Cusine ? It's a blog set up to help us all celebrate the seasons and feasts of a Liturgical Life.  I was honored and flattered to be asked to join the ladies who are putting it together. They are a fun bunch and really talented and creative.

I want you all to go over and check it all out and read up about  From Thy Bounty which is the  name of the various fairs we will be hosting. The first one will take place on May 15th and celebrate First Holy Communions.

'Tis the season after all.

So if you are blessed enough to have a first communicant and want to share your celebration please email mary_machado at comcast dot net and she will include you. We want to know everything, food, drink, favors, crafts, flowers.....

Have a blessed day.