Acts of Kindness
A special way to give alms this Lenten season, one woman at a time
The season of Lent is a tradition in Christianity offering a time to turn back to God (also known as repentance). Once viewed from a strictly negative perspective (guilt over sins, giving up chocolate or some other treat during the 40 days before Easter), the very perception of Lent is being transformed into a great […]
Advent
Solace in the rose-colored candle: a prayer for the 26 Innocents of Newtown, CT
Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! So says Saint Paul in the fourth chapter of Philippians. Each reading this third Sunday of Advent proclaimed joy: Shout for joy, daughter Zion! sing joyfully, Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, daughter Jerusalem! (Zephaniah 13:4) Shout with exultation, City of […]
Alternative Lifestyles
Finding the mystic in me
Today I started reading a book entitled The Naked Now by Richard Rohr. I originally planned on reading it because a group I belong to, the Commission of Women of the Diocese of Worcester, chose this book as the one they wished to study this year. A dear friend of mine, a deacon in the […]
American History
Lincoln’s melancholy – guest post from the Holy Rover
I’m sure many of you have already seen Steven Speilberg’s acclaimed “Lincoln.” I am eager to see it myself. My favorite part of American history is from the Civil War to the present, mainly because it is captured in photographs. Abraham Lincoln is a most compelling and thoughtful man. Lori, in her post, describes how […]
Art
A quintessential New England autumn in Concord, Massachusetts
Autumn in New England this year has been positively spectacular. In central Massachusetts where I live, the color is peaking this week. I haven’t seen such brilliant reds, yellows and oranges in years. Driving down the Massachusetts Turnpike every morning greeted by the rolling hills of fiery colors tucked among still-green trees starts starts off […]
Autumn
Remember doing this as a kid?
Click to Tweet & Share: Remember doing this as a kid? http://wp.me/p2D9hg-hp Would you like to learn along with Susan how to live your life in single flow? Send an email to susanwbailey@gmail.com to subscribe, and never miss a post! Follow Susan on Facebook and Twitter Listen to Susan’s music Read Susan’s blog, Louisa May Alcott […]
Birds
A passion for birding brings joy in the midst of darkness (and unlocks a powerful memory)
I am a lifelong bird watcher. My mother was passionate about it and got my New York City-raisedfather hooked on it too. They used to take elder hostel trips to sanctuaries to watch bird migrations. Their favorite was a trip to the Audubon sanctuary on Hog Island in Maine with the “rock stars” of the […]
Book Reviews
Book review: Blessed, Beautiful and Bodacious by Pat Gohn – a new way to look at feminism
I write a monthly column for Catholicmom.com. This was my contribution for March. I have followed Pat Gohn’s career for several years from when she first made her appearance on the web with her outstanding podcast, Among Women. She is well-educated, well-spoken and a hard and patient worker who deserves her success with this book. […]
- Book Review: Louisa May's Battle: How the Civil War Led to Little Women by Kathleen Krull; illustrated by Carlyn Beccia
- Book Review: Everyday Holiness: Blunt, Funny and Poignant – “Do Bad Guys Wear Socks?” by M. Regina Cram
- Meet Jeff Goins, Author of Wrecked: When a Broken World Slams into Your Comfortable Life
brothers and sisters
A day of many goodbyes
Today marks a day of many goodbyes. One is a goodbye and good luck to new friends that I met just a few short weeks ago. Six furry friends who gathered around them a community of thousands, wishing them well. Cared for by a man and his son, who bring laughter, comfort and meaning to […]
care fo the poor
A recovering political junkie eyes a new direction
I am a recovering political junkie. Having my own office I am can listen to whatever I wish. I’ve always enjoyed talk radio because it keeps my mind engaged (whereas music unplugs me). My husband introduced it to me back in the days when I was home with small children; it became the adult conversation […]
Cat Lovers
What’s it like to foster kittens? Here’s an interview foster dad John from The Critter Room (reblog)
I admit it, I am totally hooked on watching live kitty cams. It is tremendous, harmless fun. Often the comments from fellow chatters is more entertaining than even the kittens. It all started rather innocently with a text message from my son whose girlfriend alerted him to Noodles and her seven kittens. A beautiful and […]
Catholic Faith
Good Friday reflections in video and song
On this Good Friday I wanted to offer several short video reflections as we pause and think about the meaning of this holy day and the glorious Easter to come. This first video takes a little over 5 minutes to view. It follows the Stations of the Cross using the Jesus Prayer as the reflection: […]
- Suggestions on how we can love the poor in honor of our new pope
- Wish you could have been at St. Peter’s Square? You can be! Experience the announcement of Pope Francis as it actually happened.
- We have a new Pope! Meet Pope Francis
- The mystery of God is but a breath away …
- Making the pledge to pray for our world – 40 days and 40 nights
Christian living
Pain, stillness, and the blanket of consolation
This is my monthly column for Catholicmom.com. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * It’s amazing how much you can learn by being forced to lie still in your bed for two days. That nasty Christmas virus went through our household and I got it just […]
Christian Music
Do you like to pray the rosary? Beautiful and prayerful music accompanied by a meditation guide available
I don’t normally use this blog to promote my music so directly but since one of my products was accepted for two print catalogs, I wanted to let you know. I am pleased to announced that the Mary, Queen of Peace Meditation Guide & Sung Rosary is now available in the print catalogs of The […]
Christian music
Songs that inspire prayer for our nation and the world
The world is a scary place and lately it’s been getting to me. I imagine it’s getting to you too. Are you finding yourself more anxious than usual? Mine is certainly not helped by morbid curiosity over the news. And I’m wondering why I’m grinding my teeth more than usual?!? I came across a song […]
Christmas
Favorite toys, family memories, blessings remembered … what did you get for Christmas?
I loved Christmas as a kid. Like all kids I’d be up half the night, listening to the activity down in the living room where my dad would be putting together a bicycle or building some other contraption. He’d sometimes ring the jingle bells that hung on our front door because he knew my sister, […]
Church music
Thankful for simple gifts
This is a teaser to my monthly column on Catholicmom.com. Some of the most wonderful gifts from God come in the form of whispers. They are the small gifts. The gifts for a particular moment, not to be grasped at, but merely accepted. And if the taker is alert and awake, the heart will swell […]
Faith
Mercy for the merciless – a guest column by my good friend, M. Regina Cram
I have known M. Regina Cram since high school. Her family is like my second family. The same is true for my husband. He came to know Reg first while I was friendly with her older sister Ginny first. We have all been through a lot of weddings, funerals, tragedies and births together. And all […]
Family
My daughter Meredith’s graduation day
You’ve seen my son, now may I introduce you to my daughter? This is Meredith, and she just graduated from Framingham State University with a BS in Business Administration. She is an incredibly dedicated, tenacious hard worker, having taken nearly a full course load each semester while working 30 hours a week at Bed, Bath […]
Health
Opening my eyes to winter
I used to hate the winter. The cold (and the subsequent heavy clothes). The darkness. The snow. The ice. The silence. And how difficult it can be to get around. I used to hate winter. Until I read The Outermost House by Henry Beston. For now I will just elude to it because I am […]
Lifestyles
True unity that brings all things together
Unity in the Heart of God “Love unites all, whether created or uncreated …” This is the beginning of a short meditation by noted spiritual writer (and my favorite), Henri Nouwen. You can read the rest here. This short passage utterly sums up the purpose of this blog, and my life. How about you? What […]
Love
There’s nothing better at Christmas than “It’s a Wonderful Life,” especially if it’s your story!
Last night I had a lot of cooking to do for a dinner party and kept myself company watching “It’s a Wonderful Life” on YouTube. This truly is a Christmas classic and I got all choked up at the end when the town turned out to help George Bailey. I was flooded with strong memories […]
Nature
A little more than I expected – a first try at snow shoeing
A big blizzard with lots of light, powder-like snow … a crystal clear blue day and warm February sun … the fields at Tufts Veterinary School in Grafton … how could I resist not trying out my snow shoes today? Except … It was way harder than I ever imagined! A major workout. I had […]
Noodles, Taco, Hank, Cosmo, Ramon, Spooky, Venus and Loki
Sisters, sisters …
Kitty Clubbers! One of you (Rose Marie W, thanks!) sent me the perfect picture of the Sisters Spooky and Venus: I couldn’t resist. I had to post this video, one of my favorite songs, one my best friend and I used to sing together. From “White Christmas” I present Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen singing […]
Tweets of the Week
Tweets of the Week (September 5, 2012)
Here are some great links and tweets I found this past week: From the Post Bulletin @PB_News Moonlight kayaking – I want to do this! – Post Bulletin http://www.postbulletin.com/news/stories/display.php?id=1507175 From Patheos.com @Patheos I am so blessed to have two outstanding spiritual friends – Spiritual Direction vs. Spiritual Friend http://shar.es/7V9RA From the Seattle Times @seattletimes Here’s […]
More Articles
Yet another reason to love cats
Like I need any more? Today on my lunchtime walk, I met the most lovely little female ginger. Talkative and sweet, we spent time together on the grass communing. She moved constantly but I did manage to get a couple of pictures to share. I needed that communing; the world is in turmoil right now […]
From gods to devils – the history of the cat, from Walt Disney’s point of view
I chanced upon this awesome video of an animated segment shown in the 1950s on the old Disney weekly TV show. Known originally as “Disneyland,” the show went through many title changes (the one I remember watching was “Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color.”). I just loved this video of their history of the cat […]
First-ever cat internet film festival crowns its winner: “Henri 2, Paw de Deux”
The Golden Kitty goes to … “Henri 2, Paw de Deux!” Except perhaps for the first Simon’s Cat video, this one definitely deserves the prize. I’ve posted both with a place where you can vote: which is your favorite? Here is “Henri 2, Paw de Deux:” And here is “Simon’s Cat ‘Cat Man Do:’” And […]
