A pandemic Lent, ox cookies, and Valentine’s gifts (7 Quick Takes) February 19, 2021By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window In many ways, it feels we have been in one long Lent for almost a year now.
Do nothing for Lent February 18, 2021By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Lent, Open Window Many years for Lent I take on too many goals and give up too many things. A few days into Lent, I invariably realize I have failed at everything I planned to give up and take on.
God prepares us for the unexpected February 18, 2021By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Commentary, The Domestic Church We so rarely know what will be asked of us on any given day. All we can really do is accept each task as it’s placed in front of us.
Xin Nian Kuai Le! A Chinese dumpling recipe February 14, 2021By Rita Buettner Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window, Recipes Remember way back at the beginning of the pandemic when we were all jockeying for yeast and discussing sourdough starters? It seems like a distant memory. Lately, I feel I’m thinking more about which local restaurant I want to support tonight.
Our Chinese New Year festivities and other highlights from the week (7 Quick Takes) February 12, 2021By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window Welcome to the Year of the Ox.
Need a laugh? Meet the Zoom kitten attorney February 10, 2021By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window I’ve been thinking just how much we all need to laugh right now.
A winter walk with friends February 6, 2021By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window Yesterday, many, many months since our last visit together, my friends and I decided to get together for a walk.
Winter beauty, food and fun (7 Quick Takes) February 6, 2021By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window ~1~ A few months ago, my husband installed Christmas lights on our back deck. We have always admired our neighbors’ string of multicolored lights on their back deck. If I wake up in the middle of the night, I look out our bedroom window and see theirs and think how cheerful and friendly they are. […]
Thank you, God, for the snow January 31, 2021By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window It’s elegant and beautiful, covering the trees, spreading across the grass, and changing everything.
BLTs, the finches’ favorite music, and more (7 Quick Takes) January 29, 2021By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window The other evening I couldn’t think of anything I wanted to eat. Then I opened the freezer and saw some bacon.
Meet my mandolin January 27, 2021By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window I have never considered buying a mandolin—neither the musical instrument nor the kitchen tool. But if I wanted to try to make this dish, I might as well do it right.
Cookies from a friend in heaven, losing the lottery, and more (7 Quick Takes) January 23, 2021By Rita Buettner Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window The cookies are a beautiful reminder that the end of life on earth doesn’t mean the end of a friendship.
