Bits and Bants

is that too dirty a title??

I’ve been trying to come up with a catchy title for a quick little note from me each week and it really will just be some banter and some links to things I like, but “Bits and Bants” is probably a bit much even for me. What say you?

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This week was spent getting back to semi-routine around here, some classes for some kids were back, some kids were still allowed to sleep till ten and play with toys for the rest of the day, I didn’t teach any school as I tried to get my house is some semblance of order. It was also blissfully warm—as in only -7C during the day—single dig temps makes a sweet January. Last week was so dark, foggy, and grey that I felt myself slipping into despair even with the added benefit of day drinking and chocolate consumption, so I was a bit concerned.

This weekend will be more cleaning, organizing, and driving kids places. I hope yours is a cozy, hibernating weekend.

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There have been so many good articles this week on Pope Benedict, I especially liked this one from the brilliant Tracey Rowland. And this piece is the most depressing but probably correct. So a warning for you.

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A weird story about the country home of Evelyn Waugh from The Guardian - wish Waugh was around to write about it himself, I’m sure it would be scathing.

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A piece that I believe has captured a small slice of my experience over the last few years in a beautiful way. I think more people should read it.

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Each of us is the result of a thought of God. Each of us is willed, each of us is loved, each of us is necessary. There is nothing more beautiful than to be surprised by the Gospel, by the encounter with Christ. There is nothing more beautiful than to know Him and to speak to others of our friendship with Him. - Pope Benedict XVI

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Reading, Watching, What Have You

• Crushed the new season of Emily in Paris. Do I recommend? Of course not, but there were less bucket hats this season.

• Reading The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell and so far I love it so much and am crossing everything there’s no weird modernist twist that ruins it for me!

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Happy Epiphany!

-Christy