• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Effie Caldarola
          • John Garvey
          • Father Ed Dougherty, M.M.
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe

A field trip, little league, a new flyswatter, chocolate chip cookie dough yogurt, and more (7 Quick Takes)

May 31, 2018
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

~1~

Our sons went on a joint field trip this week, and I got to tag along as a chaperone. The Maryland State Fair hosted the second, third, and fourth graders from our school for a trip, teaching to all kinds of interesting things about agriculture and treating them to the bus ride and lunch.

We learned about sheep shearing and how to tell sheep from goats (it’s the tails), that corn is used in numerous items—many of which aren’t edible—and that kettle corn is delicious. We met a woman who competes in rodeos, and the children each planted a flower or herb in a milk carton to decorate part of the fairgrounds.

The best part was that even though I was chaperoning the second grade, we kept bumping into the fourth grade as we moved from station to station. Second best was the fresh strawberry shortcake they served for dessert.

~2~

Baseball season is ending. Our little leaguer just had his last regular season game before the play-offs begin. Why is soccer season so long and baseball season so short? This is one of the great questions of life.

It’s amazing to me how much the players improve over the season. Children are such fast learners. At the start of the season, they were throwing past one another and dropping the ball and not knowing where to go to make a play. They still have quite a bit to learn, but you can see the progress.

And, as sad as I am to see it end, I won’t be sorry to have evenings and weekends free again.

~3~

The other day I was feeling a little grumpy because it was late in the afternoon and I still hadn’t had time to eat lunch. I stopped at a grocery store to find something quick to eat. As I was walking in, I spotted a basket full of flyswatters.

Now, some people who are starting to feel a little light-headed from hunger would continue on to find some food. But I stood there trying to decide which flyswatter to buy. I have many flyswatters—hundreds, in fact—but I do not have one shaped like a mushroom.

Or, I should say, I did not have one shaped like a mushroom until this week. And I picked one of the blue ones.

~4~

Meanwhile, my family treated me to my annual hanging basket. They usually buy it for me on Mother’s Day weekend, but this year we had our little boy’s First Communion. So we went out last weekend to find one, and our older son spotted it.

The picture doesn’t do it justice, but it has been gray and rainy so much of the week that I haven’t had a chance to take a better photo.

Trust me, though, that it is at least as beautiful as a mushroom flyswatter.

~5~

I want to think I could be Laura Ingalls Wilder, with a sense of adventure, living off the land, providing for myself and my family. But then I complain that one of the grocery stores I’m not boycotting doesn’t sell the brand of instant coffee I like.

And then I discover chocolate chip cookie dough yogurt.

So I bring it home, and our second grader can hardly stand that it exists because it’s just so wonderful.

And I find myself thinking what a marvelous world this is, where chocolate chip cookie dough yogurt is at my fingertips.

~6~

My sister Maureen made me aware of this Spiritual Warriors Couture site, which has a number of saint items, including a St. Rita tote bag and St. Michael the Archangel boots. So tempting.

~7~

I love this piece in U.S. Catholic, “What Sustains You?” It really makes me think about what we don’t know of what is going on in others’ lives and how so often we don’t know their intentions and stories.

Read more quick takes at Kelly’s blog, This Ain’t the Lyceum, and have a wonderful weekend!

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

Rita Buettner

Rita Buettner is a wife, working mother and author of the Catholic Review's Open Window blog. She and her husband adopted their two sons from China, and Rita often writes about topics concerning adoption, family and faith.

Rita also writes The Domestic Church, a featured column in the Catholic Review. Her writing has been honored by the Catholic Press Association, the Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Press Association and the Associated Church Press.

View all posts from this author

| Recent Commentary |

The Beauty of Mass in the Gym

Exquisite pizza, the school year winding down, and a shopping day (7 Quick Takes)

In honoring anti-Catholic activists, L.A. Dodgers strike out

10 Easy ways to grow in your faith this summer

Question Corner: Are our intentions actually remembered at the shrines we donate to?

| Recent Local News |

CEO, authors, NFL coach take part in Catholic college commencements

Connect program centered on empathy, listening

RADIO INTERVIEW: How to grow in your openness to the Holy Spirit

Archbishop Lori announces eight appointments

Archbishop Lori ordains six to transitional diaconate

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Dioceses wake up to youth mental health crisis, helping parents, teachers and pastors take action
  • The Beauty of Mass in the Gym
  • Exquisite pizza, the school year winding down, and a shopping day (7 Quick Takes)
  • Experts hail U.S. surgeon general’s social media warning for youth mental health
  • As COVID’s emergency phase ends, Catholic experts share takeaways for the church
  • Missionary of mercy priest: ‘Be Christ to all people’ in a world ‘hungry for the Word’
  • Florida Catholic wife, mom, doctor involved in sainthood causes says Eucharist is central to all she does
  • Nun’s incorruptible remains highlight rich heritage of Black Catholics in U.S., say experts
  • Under surveillance, government pressure, China needs prayers, observers say

Search

Membership

Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2023 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED