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Open Window

The shape of macaroni and cheese and other back-to-school ponderings (7 Quick Takes)

September 4, 2022
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

Does macaroni and cheese taste different based on the shape of the noodles? My son pointed out that I hardly ever make macaroni-shaped macaroni and cheese—and right away everyone else at the dinner table chimed in.

The call of the state fair, back-to-school excitement, and our bathroom renovation (7 Quick Takes)

August 28, 2022
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

The Maryland State Fair calls to me like a siren song. I know that it will be crowded and expensive and hot. But I can’t help myself. It’s almost as if I have to go.

Enjoying zucchini, a mediocre birthday gift, summer goals, and a special anniversary (7 Quick Takes)

August 21, 2022
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

One of my son’s friends gave me three enormous zucchinis from his garden, and I was so excited. We don’t have a vegetable garden, mostly due to time and partly due to the enthusiastic wildlife in our yard. These were the largest zucchini I had ever seen.

Sorry, Mariah, but there’s already a Queen of Christmas

August 21, 2022
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

There’s already a Queen of Christmas. She’s your mother and mine—and Jesus’. She’s the queen of heaven and earth.

On This Back to School Eve

August 18, 2022
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

Some days as it’s all spinning around me, I pause and realize that the worries have nothing to do with finding a navy blazer or getting someone to orientation on time. It has everything to do with hoping your children have the knowledge and tools they need to navigate a new school year.

Trying to emerge from my beach daze…er…days (7 Quick Takes)

August 14, 2022
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

We spent last week at Rehoboth Beach, enjoying a beautiful week of cousin craziness

Beating the claw machine

August 11, 2022
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

My son spotted the claw machine from a distance away, and I had a feeling he would want to give it a try. It was a hot summer afternoon, and we were hanging out with some of my nieces and nephews. The cousins have been playing “Among Us,” a video game you play in groups. […]

A personal flyswatter and other gifts, hummus, and a new room (7 Quick Takes)

August 8, 2022
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

~1~ My neighbor Kathy invited me to take a birthday walk through the neighborhood the other day, and she greeted me with a sangria popsicle. She had filled a bag of gifts and cards for me to open as we walked. We stopped every few minutes for me to open either a card or a […]

A Faith Lesson After a Power Outage

August 5, 2022
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

Still, your hand reaches for that light switch—again and again—trying to restore light to the darkness,

Chocolate birthday cake with 4 candles

My birthday festivities, a painting project, and spaghetti pizza for lunch (7 Quick Takes)

July 30, 2022
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

My mother made me a hot milk sponge cake with Aunt Alice’s chocolate frosting, and she put two pie birds on the top in honor of our pet finches.

Just by showing up

July 27, 2022
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

A few weeks ago, a jury summons came in the mail.

Texting with kids, Mr. Trash Wheel, and what’s in my Instapot (7 Quick Takes)

July 23, 2022
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

One night this week, our older son went to the double feature at Bengie’s Drive-in Theatre with friends. Since there were just three of us, we decided to go out to dinner.

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