#7QT: Windsdays

Tuesday was warm and windy.  I brought Afon to school but got off on the wrong bus stop.  Never mind.  We had a walk with a beautiful view of bay from way up in Llysfaen.

Did you see our Martinmas?  I also finished Roan's mittens!

I feel myself turning toward winter preparations, but I'm not sure what that means.  I don't have any livestock to slaughter or grain to stow away.  But living in Wales where the seasons are felt is stimulating me to be busy before I hibernate.  This must be what animals feel!

What do you do to prepare for the deep of winter, those of you who live in cold climes?

Maybe because we jumped right out of the sauna into the season. Here are the photos from the very, very hot Halloween in Florida:

Each year, we go to the home of long-time friends of ours in town, who are innkeepers.  I only took Roan around to the trunk-or-treating at the church around the corner, and then we came back to hand out candy to trick-or-treaters.

Now skipping forward in true consumer fashion, I'm thinking . . . Christmas presents?  Probably all going to be homemade this year.  But I am the worst worst worst at keeping to a timely schedule.  Should I start now?  I guess I answered my own question.

I think list-making is order.

BUT before Christmas, in the heart of Advent, we will be moving to new accommodation!  This is all good, with a side of inconvenient, but once we are settled at a permanent address, we can apply for my immigration.  Of course, then I'll have to leave the country again. . .

We've actually been made two offers.  The person in charge of house placement interviewed John a few weeks ago and liked him so much that she wanted to give him the choice of a larger and nicer accommodation.  Though this second one is not immediately across from Morrison's (boo!), I'm withholding judgement until we see them both.

Prayers being answered, two months late, but twice as good.  So there you go.

Roan did end up having hand, foot, and mouth disease, but I can tell he's on the mend because he's sleeping much better.  Poor babe!

And those are my quick takes!

Linking up with Kelly for Seven Quick Takes Friday.

Liturgical Lifestyle | Remembering Our Dead

November is the month of the dead.

It's Hallowtide, the beginning of the month we give over to deceased souls, and while October is breathless and busy, November brings a dead-stop, like the drop of a curtain.  After today, All Souls' Day, comes a time of rest and recovery, for sitting in your bones and not doing, before the preparation and expectation of Advent.

I love November, I really do.  All of autumn is like one big, cozy bedtime, and I think that's why I love it.  It's the cosmic equivalent of getting into your jammies and slippers and sipping a mug of herbal tea in front of the fire before climbing under the quilt and turning in for the night.

Let me broken-record (verb) about how the seasons of the Church correspond with the seasons of the western hemisphere (where she was born).  How it's organic and natural and second-nature.  And if we feel a sense of something not-quite-finished, especially when we think of those gone before us, it is because we're not.  Finished, I mean.  Death isn't the end.  We know that as Christians.  But if anything of reality can be gathered from the natural world, it's that this November stillness is only temporary.  There will be work and new life and redemption to come.

So we pray for the dead.  Because, before the Incarnation, we could only hold our breath and hope, rightfully, that Someone would have mercy and not end us at what appeared to be our natural end.  And now our hope is given hands.  With the dying God, we can work because He is pleased to see us do for one another.  So we pray for the people who have died in good faith, and ask that for them the way is made smooth and brief.  Which it then is, because our Father is one who delights in giving gifts.

Please don't forget them.  Don't think it's "the end," even a happy ending.  Because before the fairy tale's happy end, the peasant girl doesn't go in rags to her wedding feast with the king.  She must be prepared.  We will go on knees in the graveyard and paint our faces like death's heads to jar ourselves to remember.

Please remember my loved ones, and yours.  And remember me when I go, too.  We're all the walking dead, which is a good thing.  You have to put the peasant girl to rest in order that the queen might live.

Here is my Hallowtide summary from a few years ago.

Here is St. Gertrude's Prayer.  When prayed it releases a thousand souls from Purgatory into Eternal Glory.

It doesn't get scarier than this. . .

Best wishes this Hallowtide, from Roan the little prince.  Alternatively, Saint Edward the Confessor for All Saints' Day.  #Catholicftw

May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.  Amen.

Poe Halloween Printable

Halloween isn't just a kids' holiday.  Think about a grown-up party themed on Edgar Alan Poe, or even just "The Raven"--there's plenty of material there for a spooky, sophisticated gathering.  Using this print-out as your starting point, think of all the creepy creativity you could conjure!

I'm gonna be honest here, I'm jealous of you guys with a permanent residence that you can deck out in crystal balls, spider webs, and velvet pillows to get the gothic library effect.  So if it strikes your fancy, please use this and show me how you incorporate it into your Halloween decor!

Here's an alternative version:

And these would work great for invitations:

Pottery Barn's sold stuffed crows the past few seasons, but they're nothing special, and I bet you could find some just as good at a craft store or thrift shop.

(The printable will fit in a document frame; otherwise, use a paper cutter to trim the edges off to fit a picture frame.)

What kind of Halloween parties and decorations do you indulge this time of year?

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For further reading:

• Autumn in My Home--A Blog Hop on A Knotted Life
• Haunting Your Home on a Budget on Everything to Someone
• and another free Halloween printable in this week's Quick Takes

#7QT in Pictures

Roan Reuel turned 8 months old on the 14th.  He is sure is big for a baby who can't sit up on his own!

We finally got Afon his uniform trousers (not pictured), a second sweatshirt, and four more polo shirts--that makes five, one for each day of the week.  I don't know who thought it was a good idea to give four-year-olds one set of uniform clothes to start with.  We're still looking for a pair of black shoes that will fit him.

The name of his school means "sound of the waves" in Welsh.

At the local camera store, looking at all the lovely things I can't buy.  But this wide angle lens is on my wish list.

It's not too soon to watch Hocus Pocus, right?

Didn't think so.

(Not the same brick wall.)

Lately, on the blog (click to view):

• Back to School Fall Fantasies
• 30 Days Has September
• The Road Not Taken

Have a great weekend, guys!

Linking up at This Ain't the Lyceum for some very lazy Quick Takes.