Church and Graduates

My youngest son was baptized after mass on "Sign Up Sunday" for CCD classes at our old church. Our oldest of the five was a first grader and I did not get her signed up. When I arrived at the door of the classroom the next Sunday, I was told there was no room for her in the class. We drove home, I looked in the phone book under Catholic churches and called the first one whose name began with "A". The director and first grade teacher were at my house that afternoon with forms and activities she missed that morning. When I got a call on Monday from the first church to apologize for a misunderstanding, I had already switched our membership. 

The next Sunday she and I arrived for mass. Afterwards I was walking her to her classroom when I was stopped and told the church was having a breakfast to celebrate something. I confessed I had not brought any money and was told - there is no charge. Our parish is a little country church that does not have an attached school (anymore, kids my age actually attended the two classroom school back in the 60's before the diocese closed it). I knew we had landed in the right place, where God was more important than money. 

Two years later I was the first grade CCD teacher, a position I loved and enjoyed for 20 years. Year 21 I arrived at church on Sign Up Sunday with my crayons and the director, who can talk me into anything, sat in my pew and said she was moving me to the confirmation class. Yikes. I taught the now called PSR confirmation class for 8 years, retiring when my first grandchild moved to Ohio. About 5 years later I succumbed to begging and returned for another 4 years in the confirmation game. 

By then things were changing. Our churches became sisters and twins and were matched with different other churches along the way. We were no longer just a little country parish, we were lumped with larger churches who didn't like our ways. Everything became a "charge" or fundraiser.  I began to call our parish the red headed step child (does anyone say that anymore?) I do still sit on a board at a catholic church in town that we were sister/twined with maybe 15-20 years ago. They lost our parish but kept me, lol. 

Then came the elections in 2015. All the sudden the little country church became very political. I was uncomfortable with the name calling on Facebook. I was a nicer person then and quietly unfriended former church friends.  I sat by myself in the back of church and resigned from most church activities, including the ladies group where I had served as an officer for over 25 years. I still baked ridiculous amounts of pies for church functions and did grunt work when called by certain people, but I was not an active part of this community. 

Covid. As a church, many of the members felt this was a hoax and masks were an infringement of rights. They did begin sharing mass on Facebook so I have attended from my recliner for the past two years. I have been totally absent in activities. I have really struggled with this. 

Last week a church friend I respect contacted me. She and I used to do a lot of small breakfasts and dinners and projects behind the scenes. She wanted to revive a former activity we did where we invited our graduating seniors and their families to breakfast on a Sunday in May. Of course I said yes. We are a small parish and our first count was 2 graduates, parents, grandparents, priest and deacon for a total of ten. After they heard it was Mary and Maria (you know, we are catholic), the number grew to over 40. She and I do these things out of the love in our hearts, not for money or donations.  Here is what we came up with. (sorry some is eaten - even with a Jessica helping, we were busy!)

One of the things I have missed most is the fellowship. Well, first the kids, but second the fellowship. We had time before the breakfast for some long talks. Unfortunately I heard lots of hurt and sadness from others, too. I am not sure if there is just a meanness in the clergy or just general tactlessness where people in power don't realize how what they are saying is affecting people. As much as I was hurt by words and actions of other parishioners, the words and actions of church leaders toward others is much worse.  I will be sticking to the Facebook services for now and will be praying for people who are very hurt.  

End of My Pretend Trip to England

Those whose actually traveled on the Queen Mary 2 to England landed on Sunday, May 8 in Southampton. Some chose to board an airplane to return home. 

A tour company had arranged some terrific small tours. They picked up the visitors at the ship and arranged a full week of 3 different tours in a 8 or 9 passenger vehicles with different themes, visiting castles, museums, historical sites, gardens, even Beatrix Potter's birthplace! The tour price included lodging at different places along the way. The price also included 2 meals a day. I think you can tell I spent a lot of time looking at the tour details. 

Some of the passengers stayed in the area, visiting family or friends. I know one group of friends stayed in London and visited every site you ever dreamed of visiting! 

On Sunday, May 15, anyone available met for a farewell picnic at Stourhead Gardens in Warminister.  The original plan was for a garden picnic but due to rainy weather (imagine that in England) the party was moved indoors with a brief respite for group photos outdoors in the lovely location. It looks like lots of fun was had by all.  Some of the participants boarded the QM2 for the reverse crossing home and some boarded planes. And some had arranged for longer stays in Airbnb or VHBO cottages. 

My original plan was a morning picnic in a park, or possibly at a beach along the lake since we have had unseasonably warm temperatures. I planned to bake scones, and make deviled eggs, maybe some ham biscuits and mimosas. 

We had a full week of babysitting and it has been crazy. We are just

exhausted and due to illness of another set of grandparents, this week is crazy too. We got up on Sunday, looked at each other and set up this simple picnic on my living room rug. It is all for looks. The Champagne went back in the frig and we ate our breakfast in our recliners. 

Instead of baking on Saturday, I went to Aldi where I purchased the giant blueberry muffins (I think they were 2.69 for 4) and snack packages of precut apples, cheese and grapes for 2.49 each. I washed the carafe and rinsed it in boiling water but that was just silly. We poured our coffee into our normal cups, my husband uses a pedestal cup for our Pfaltzgraff set and I like clear glass mugs. 

And my last disclaimer. I did not make this quilt. I actually purchased it at least 20 years ago at Big Lots, when my daughters were young. I spotted it put it in my cart and was looking to see if there was a second one (there was not). Several women stopped me on the way to the register to try to talk me into letting them have it. I did not put together that I had chosen a "Sunbonnet Sue" quilt for a Susan Branch picnic until someone pointed it out to me. Meant to be! 

I Jumped Ship!

What happened to my pretend cruise on the QM2 from my living room? I left you with dinner on Wednesday night and disappeared. 

After our lovely dinner, the ship's galley made a dinner carryout for my daughter and her family with a larger edition of our Chicken Marsala with side dishes of brown rice and green beans. 

I managed to get dinner in the crockpot before we left for the hour and a half drive to her house.  My daughter had surgery on her foot the week before and both of us decided we should wait a week to visit since the grandchildren we care for during the day were passing around a stomach virus. She was well taken care during week one by her co-workers who organized a "meal train" and brought dinner every night. 

I would like to brag a little on my daughter. I raised her to be a strong independent woman and, darn it, she is. She started nursing school at age 17 and graduated at age 20 with her RN. She moved to a big city and worked in an ICU unit while she earned her bachelor degree and several certifications. She met her husband, a nurse anesthesiologist and they roamed the country for a few years as travel nurses. They provided me with my first grandchildren, a grandson and then boy/girl twins within 2 years of each other and she went back to work and earned her Masters degree in nursing. For the past few years she accepted a position as a professor of nursing and stepped into a position as director of student services of nursing at the college. This July she will receive her doctorate in Nursing Education. So this surgery, which had been pending, became critical with very bad timing at the end of the school year and graduation. She is working from home with her leg elevated and a fancy cast. 

Back to the ship. We got back home in time for the chef to quickly assemble the meal for the dining room as guests at our table included my youngest daughter, my youngest grandson and my youngest granddaughter who had to have dinner before kindergarten soccer practice. 

There is no appetizer because I forgot until I opened the refrigerator to put away leftovers and spotted the lettuce wedges which could have been dressed with cheese and bacon.  Instead, we went straight to Mustard Crusted Pork Loin, Long Grain Wild Rice with Roasted Vegetables and Corn with Paprika Butter.  

For dessert, we were served Roasted Pear with Cream. 

After Thursday night's dinner, I was spent. I also had a refrigerator of leftovers and two preschoolers to take care of for the fifth day in a row. We had been excited (or at least I was) about the Roaring 20's Gala on Friday night and I even had a special headpiece to wear. But we put our feet up in the recliners and ate leftovers instead. Saturday we ended up with two school aged grandsons, a kindergartener and a preschooler while the moms went to a Mother's Day painting event and ended up ordering pizza instead of an appetizer of Tuna Tartlettes with Berry Glazed Pork Chops, Pureed Potatoes and Champagne Mousse.  

I did want to share what we enjoyed for lunch all week. Yes, most of the tea sandwiches are peanut butter and jelly although there are some salmon, and chicken and ham salad sandwiches, too.  I had planned to bake, but lowered my standards and used boxed cookies. Yes, those cookies were served in Christmas mini cupcake liners. Tea Time was fashioned more for my two and three year old guests than the elegant tea party of my dreams. 

Tomorrow the REAL QM2 group is having a picnic at a park in London. I have put together a small brunch picnic and hope to require my husband to accompany me to an outdoor location for our own picnic celebration in unison with the real travelers. If I actually get up in time to do this, I will try to take some photos. 

Last week was a blur and this week will be more challenging as my three year old grandson will be spending the night as dad has to go out of town for a training and mom has to run his older brothers to before school care in the morning at a different school than the one where she teaches and we can't help because we are making breakfast and putting a different set of grandsons on a school bus for a different school. And I am tired just reading that schedule. 

News From the Ship's Galley

I can't lie, it is a lot of work to prepare all this food for my pretend cruise on the Queen Mary 2!  I had put together some activities aboard my pretend ship such as a puzzle, books and a list of movies. I have decided that next week I will lounge and take the time to enjoy the cruise while eating frozen dinners or something. At this point it is becoming a marathon and, by gosh, I am not giving up! 

I prepared a full English Breakfast buffet for my school bus riders and their parents who drop them off. The kids favorite part was the selection of juices. 

I enjoyed the meal quite a lot, but I am not sure I want to get up an extra hour early every day to do all this cooking! 

I had to do a menu switcheroo which resulted in two nights in a row of chicken dishes. I actually multiplied this recipe to make enough for my daughter and her family, too. We are traveling up there in the morning.  

We began with our Mushroom Tart appetizers. 

Here is my version of Chicken Marsala with Whipped Potatoes and Asparagus. 

We finished with Crustless Apple Pie. 

Well, I think I have my ducks in a row for the appetizer and mains tomorrow but I just realized I better check on the dessert before bed. Whew. Those chefs have my admiration! 

As We Drift Across the Ocean

As we drift across the ocean, in my mind anyway, we are continuing to enjoy wonderful cruise menus nightly in the Queen's Lounge, located in my living room. 

I am a little behind so I will be sharing Monday and Tuesday night's meals. 

Monday night was the Red and Gold Gala on the Queen Mary 2. I was originally planning on formal dress, too. I then remembered I do not own anything Red or Gold and decided maybe I was carrying it a little too far, especially with my galley duties. 

We began the meal with a lovely Lobster Bisque. 

We then enjoyed Cannelloni with Crab and Asparagus served with Long Grain Rice and Roasted Vegetables. I used a Food Network recipe for the Cannelloni dish and I was not overly impressed. 

We finished the meal with Raspberry Tarts. 

Tuesday was  a very busy day with a Full English Breakfast Buffet (pictures tomorrow) with four grandchildren and a busy day in the galley with a 2 year old and a 3 year old "helping". 

We began our meal with an Artichoke and Gruyere Tart (thank you Aldi), with cocktails. 

Followed by Chicken Breast Francese, Creamed Potatoes and Grilled Gourgettes. I was trying this recipe for the first time and was very impressed.  I thought the chicken was delicious. My six year old granddaughter who joined our table in the Lounge, was not impressed when she saw the lemon on top. Luckily I had an extra piece of chicken that had not been dressed with the lemon cream sauce. 

We finished the meal with Warm Chocolate Cake with French Vanilla Ice Cream. After finishing her plated cake and ice cream, my granddaughter told me she can only eat ice cream in a cone so she had to have a second serving in a cone. 

I may have to reorganize my cooking and menu planning tomorrow. My oldest daughter had some surgery and we may be out of town with her on Thursday. I think I can move Wednesday's menu to Thursday and cook in the crock pot  so we may move Thursday's Chicken to Wednesday and have two chicken dinners in a row. 

We Have Set Sail!

The Queen Mary 2 has set sail for England! I am checked into my imaginary cabin and we enjoyed our first dinner in the Queen Mary Lounge corner of my living room. 

We  began the evening with a glass of real champagne! 

Our appetizers were "Shrimp Cocktail Shooters". 

Followed by Steak Au Poivre, Chateau Potatoes, and Steamed Spinach. 

For Dessert, we enjoyed Chocolate Gateau.

I was completely wiped out with all this cooking. I did go ahead and bake a few things ahead, did a little preliminary cooking for the next day and got some things ready for breakfast.  I was pleasantly surprised that my husband is playing along and sitting at the "table for two"!