Highlights from one a-maze-ing week (7 Quick Takes)

~1~

Even though our family has certainly spent plenty of time inside the same house at the same time over the past 19 months or so, I feel we don’t spend much time together doing activities together.

I suggested that maybe we should go apple picking this weekend—and John liked that idea, too. Our sons were lobbying to go to a corn maze. We could have pulled the “It’s our anniversary” card, but we mainly wanted to be outside and together.

So, we went to Showvaker’s, which is always fun. It was a perfect day for getting lost in a corn maze and spending some time as a family. The boys were right that it was terrific, but I still want to go apple picking. I might be looking for an excuse to make apple pie.

~2~

I heard a homily last week where Fr. Tim Brown, S.J., spoke about being open to the Holy Spirit. He said, “You can never ever trust God enough.”

I’ve been thinking about that ever since—how we can always trust God more in our lives.

~3~

Fall is such a beautiful season, but I’m a summer person, and I always struggle a little with the transition to fall. I love the changing colors of the trees, but it is also a season that carries so much loss and grief. It also carries us closer to the bleakness of winter.

I love talking to people who revel in everything autumn-related. I’m going to try to embrace fall with a greater appreciation this year.

~4~

A few weeks ago, I received some kale. A few kind and thoughtful friends encouraged me to make kale chips.

It sounded like the best possible idea for how to use kale. After all, who doesn’t love chips? Potato chips, tortilla chips, chocolate chips…yum, yum, and yum.

I cleaned the kale and dried it, drizzled olive oil on it, added some salt and pepper, and spread it out on cookie sheets. I cooked it until it was crispy. Then I tried one.

It was dreadful. I tried a few more pieces in case I had just picked a bad chip. Nope. No one else in the household would go near them—and I couldn’t even think of a marketing pitch: “You can only like them more than I do!”

You might love them, and I hope you do. Kale chips are the kind of thing I would be proud to say that I like. Instead, I had to bake banana bread to get the kale smell out of the house—and I threw in some chocolate chips for good measure.

~5~

I shipped care packages to two of the college students in my life—my niece, who’s at school in Massachusetts, and my godson, who’s at college in Pennsylvania.

I sent the packages the same day, and after I dropped them off, I thought how funny it would be if the two packages got mixed up and went to the wrong person. I feel like that would be how it would happen in a movie, and then the two people would have to get together to trade the packages—and a friendship would start.

Fortunately, the packages landed in the right places, and my niece texted me to let me know that the stuffed bat we sent her had arrived—and was adjusting to college life just fine.

~6~

My younger son came to get me the other day because he noticed I had thrown my sweater on the bed without putting it away. I was surprised he thought it was worth commenting on when there are things to put away and clean up everywhere in the house. Then I realized maybe we tend to notice the mess others make rather than those we create ourselves.

So, that explains noticing. I wonder when we get to the point where we are willing to do something about picking up the mess.

~7~

John and I weren’t planning to exchange gifts for our anniversary, but somehow we just couldn’t stick to that plan. He came home the other night with a bag from Smyth, and I knew it was for me.

John’s gifts were so thoughtful and perfect—a beach towel, a wallet and wristlet, and a platter all celebrating our connection to the Delaware beaches where we honeymooned and where we have spent many vacations. He knows I love practical gifts that are also beautiful and fun, and these are definitely that.

I gave John cookies and cannoli from Vaccaro’s, which might not sound like much. Maybe you’ve never had a Vaccaro’s cannoli.

Find more quick takes on Kelly’s blog, This Ain’t the Lyceum, and have a wonderful week!

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