Prunty House

My Life with the Jesuits

2012-02-04T17:23:00.000-08:00

We got super fab seats at Father Jim Martin's lecture at Seattle University today. Which just goes to show that you don't have to give a million dollars to the university to be a VIP. You just have to be a friend of Father Ryan. :D

On her way to work

2012-01-20T08:41:00.001-08:00

Someday, we'll tell somebody's grandkids about how we trudged half a block in the snow to get to the bus stop.

Day is fading... literally

2012-01-18T23:20:00.000-08:00

This day has included four pots of tea, several home decorating shows, a couple of hours reorganizing the basement, one attempted escape, two hours work via remote desktop, an hour reorganizing our tea cupboard. Not sure where the other hours went, but at long last it's time for bed. Heavenly as our house is, I can't wait to get out of here.

Morning scene

2012-01-16T11:59:00.001-08:00

That face, that face,

2012-01-12T22:03:00.000-08:00

That fabulous face!

Torrent of Tail

2012-01-05T23:11:00.001-08:00

Hairy has a splendid tail, don't you think? He obviously does.

The end of the day

2012-01-02T19:48:00.001-08:00

At the end of the day, it's fun to watch a stupid movie about the end of the world. The end of the world, by the way, was just one of many things the Mayans were wrong about.

A Christmas Cardinal

2012-01-01T11:52:00.001-08:00

Someone gave this thing to Father Ryan for Christmas. What if we just said, Why?

A visit to the SAM

2011-12-29T21:23:00.001-08:00

I was struck by the ermine cape St. Francis Xavier is wearing in this 18th century ceramic. An unusual choice for a Jesuit...

The Artist

2011-12-29T21:01:00.001-08:00

"Two thumbs up." Last night, we went to see this weirdly fascinating movie, seemingly made for silent movie buffs. It's unusual to go to a movie where you don't know what is going to happen next.

Owl Baby

2011-12-28T17:25:00.000-08:00

We got to spend some quality time with Charlotte yesterday. Hoo-hoo!!

The Master Parol

2011-12-10T15:48:00.001-08:00

One Parol to rule them all,
One Parol to find them,
One Parol to bring them all
and in the darkness bind them.

Two Thumbs Up

2011-11-30T23:04:00.000-08:00

We went to the movie version of "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" tonight. It was every bit as good as the picture above (from the book) would suggest.

New Missal? What new Missal?

2011-11-27T12:46:00.001-08:00

Ella did not allow a mere new translation of the Roman Missal to get in the way of her enjoyment of Sunday morning.

Anatomy of a Yawn

2011-11-26T16:33:00.000-08:00

Black Friday Bargains

2011-11-25T13:35:00.001-08:00

A delightful sunshiny afternoon at home, complete with kitten, new book, and eggnog latte. All absolutely FREE!

An Unconventional Love Story

2011-11-23T21:03:00.001-08:00

It's hard to tell which one is happier...

Fare thee well, Miss B

2011-11-19T18:36:00.000-08:00

She's all grown up and engaged to be married...!? I guess we'll have to change her nickname from "Miss B" to "Mrs B."

Emmaus

2011-11-15T18:39:00.001-08:00

There is a magnificent new triptych of Emmaus at Christ Our Hope downtown. You must see it, you really must.

Exercise in futility

2011-11-15T11:40:00.000-08:00

We stayed home this morning to rake leaves.

The Beautiful People

2011-11-12T17:31:00.001-08:00

Gregory and Rachel are definitely The Beautiful People. It was the Cathedral's first white spats wedding since 1928.

Tom says "Yawn"!

2011-11-10T20:41:00.001-08:00

Return of the Owls of Ga'Hoole

2011-11-08T16:44:00.000-08:00

The great warrior owl Metalbeak stopped off at St. James today for his daytime nap. He'll put on his armor and wreak havoc as soon as night falls.

Cutest baby ever?

2011-11-06T14:01:00.000-08:00

Is it just my imagination, or is Ella literally the cutest baby in the world?

Tom's new favorite book

2011-11-03T21:16:00.001-07:00

Halloween Candy

2011-10-31T20:59:00.001-07:00

We didn't have any trick-or-treaters, which I guess means we have to finish all this Jujy Fruit by ourselves.

Objects in mirror are closer than they appear

2011-10-29T21:06:00.001-07:00

Autumn in the Garden

2011-10-29T17:41:00.000-07:00

Little did I ever dream I'd ever be so old that I'd gush over the changing fall colors in my garden.

Autumn leaves

2011-10-17T21:08:00.001-07:00

Take that, New England!

Vineyard... In our backyard!

2011-10-15T18:08:00.000-07:00

Lime-laden trees

2011-10-11T14:33:00.001-07:00

The weather in Rome is warm and wonderful. In the garden of the Angelicum, the trees are laden with limes.

Charlie, again

2011-10-09T12:03:00.001-07:00

Charlotte is one of the cutest babies of all time. Here she is with her two favorite toys, one cylinder and the other cylinder.

In the choir

2011-10-09T05:56:00.001-07:00

We sang in Bethie's women's chant choir at St Mary's in Clapham! Quite the adventure. It's a Redemptorist parish, lively with lots of families. We sang "Adoro te devote." Fortunately, Corinna and I got to be the "drone."

In the Mayfair Art Gallery

2011-10-08T14:25:00.000-07:00

I guarantee you've never seen anything like this in your life.

The Farm Street Church

2011-10-08T14:24:00.001-07:00

We visited Mayfair and the famous Jesuit Church on Farm Street. Mayfair is oh so posh, and the church is, too.

A votre sante

2011-10-06T13:52:00.000-07:00

We had a glass of wine with dinner--it's de rigueur in these parts. Reen really looks like she knows what she's doing, doesn't she?

Adieu, Notre Dame

2011-10-06T13:49:00.000-07:00

We went to see a film about Notre Dame de Paris projected sur ecran geant. Notre Dame is, according to the film, the most beautiful, the most historic, the grandest Cathedral in all the world. I have to say I agree. The only thing it's missing is a parish community.

Revolutionary Relic

2011-10-05T11:35:00.000-07:00

This saucer and sugar bowl set depict (on the plate) the execution of Louis XVI and on the sugar bowl, the execution of Marie Antoinette. Enough to cause anyone indigestion.

Tres catholique

2011-10-05T11:24:00.000-07:00

St Paul-St Louis is one of my favorite churches in Paris. Not sure why, exactly. It just is.

American Girls Galore

2011-10-01T16:31:00.001-07:00

Today we went with our fellow American Girl Eavan to the new American Girl store at Alderwood Mall. The place was swarming with America Girls both small and extra small. Eavan was desolate when she found out we couldn't have lunch there, unless we wanted to wait until 7:30pm. Poor thing. We got a new outfit for our doll. Groovy, isn't it?

Sketch of Hairy--from the life

2011-10-01T10:00:00.000-07:00

It took me hours... of browsing the App Store to find a free app that would turn a photo into a sketch.

iPad or kPad?

2011-09-28T21:20:00.001-07:00

Hairy seems as interested in the iPad as she does.

Gratuitous kitty photo

2011-09-28T18:38:00.001-07:00

Marley and She

2011-09-27T16:27:00.000-07:00

Our aunt Lenore came for lunch and brought Marley, the Amazing Dog Who Jumps Through Hoops.

The cat's away

2011-09-26T15:05:00.001-07:00

Father Ryan's off on vacation. Before he left, he composed a massive pile of notes to people all over the globe. His mother really brought him up well.

David and Patches

2011-09-24T19:58:00.001-07:00

The world's most famous and most elusive cat made a brief appearance at Oktoberfest.

Watching Tom/T.V.

2011-09-21T21:02:00.000-07:00

We love watching TV, and Tom seems to love watching us watch TV.

Celebrating new endings

2011-09-20T19:26:00.001-07:00

We went to Cafe Lago to celebrate the end of the Golf Tournament. Some events are so dreadful, so awful, that you actually look forward to the sensation of their being over. This is the case with the Golf Tournament, my incubus.

Farewell, DC

2011-09-12T21:10:00.001-07:00

Today was the last regular meeting of the Development Committee. Father Ryan proposed a toast, using the one his mother used to say: "Here's to us--there are no better people in the world!"

St. Edward's Seminary

2011-09-10T16:58:00.001-07:00

We had a delightful visit yesterday to St. Edward State Park, formerly St. Edward's Seminary. Did I ever mention that I ADORE old photos, especially churchy ones?

A blog for blogging's sake

2011-09-06T17:02:00.001-07:00

Because I haven't blogged in a whole year, I thought I'd send this update. This is Thomasina, monarch of all she surveys, enjoying a relaxing Labor Day at home.

Our old apartment

2010-06-20T21:49:00.001-07:00

It looks so spacious without all our stuff in it.
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It's heavenly, simply heavenly!

2010-06-18T17:57:00.000-07:00

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A grey day in Portland

2010-04-26T18:42:00.000-07:00

Undoubtedly, it was grey 39 years ago, too. But a cosmopolitan makes everything quite rosy. Mmmmm.

Teavana...

2010-04-12T19:33:00.000-07:00

It's like some kind of mystical experience. Or something.

Immigration Rally

2010-04-10T12:05:00.000-07:00

Why do they always plan for 10,000 more people than actually come?
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Not bad...!

2010-04-08T18:58:00.000-07:00

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She's in love

2010-04-06T12:27:00.000-07:00

She's in love with her new Blackberry. We are out to lunch, and the conversation is riveting--at the next table.
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Ah, yes...

2010-03-11T20:24:00.000-08:00

Easter has already come to Fred Meyer.
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Three Cups of Tea

2010-03-11T19:24:00.000-08:00

We're enjoying tea in Grandma's old china and a pleasant gossip session with Mom.
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Springtime!

2010-03-10T12:49:00.000-08:00

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An apt illustration?

2010-03-07T17:00:00.000-08:00

A pile of episcopal regalia is used in the 1880s to represent the history of the Catholic Church. A bit sad really.
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The wilds of NYC

2010-03-06T11:34:00.000-08:00

We had a fun visit to the AMNH. Taxidermied animals are better than live ones in many ways--they hold still for pictures, and they don't bite.
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Times Square

2010-03-05T17:58:00.000-08:00

This city is so much friendlier than I remember from our first visit. It's clean, with big open areas to sit and relax in. Also, everyone is younger than I am, by ten or a dozen years. Weird and inexplicable.
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Just like Appleby's at Southcenter...

2010-03-05T17:02:00.000-08:00

Except for the prices...!
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We're feeling better now

2010-03-05T16:26:00.000-08:00

Here we are at Appleby's again.
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A secret

2010-03-05T15:42:00.000-08:00

I find MOMA boring. And I'm hungry. Really hungry.
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So many shows

2010-03-04T12:53:00.000-08:00

It's amazing how they've cleaned this place up. It's also amazing that it's more than 20 years since we first visited here. The hotel clerk says Becky looks "too young" to be our sister. Hmph.
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Snooty lions in NYC

2010-03-04T07:42:00.000-08:00

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Hot wheels

2010-03-02T11:41:00.000-08:00

We had lunch at the tea shop in Springfield. Here's Reen and father with our rented Ford Focus.
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His hair's even longer than last year

2010-03-01T14:41:00.000-08:00

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Mapping at Staff Meeting

2010-02-11T11:09:00.000-08:00

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Not too bad

2010-02-09T16:18:00.000-08:00

The "Boulevard Park" of the north.
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Cozying up to the founder of Fairhaven

2010-02-09T15:43:00.000-08:00

In Bellingham for the evening...
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Our palms rise like incense...

2010-02-06T13:53:00.000-08:00

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Father Ryan

2010-02-05T22:09:00.000-08:00

Wowing the throngs at Fulcrum's Celebration of Light!
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Grandpa's scrapbook...

2010-02-02T20:14:00.000-08:00

...is a wee bit naughtier than Grandma's.

Old Scrapbooks

2010-02-02T19:27:00.000-08:00

Grandma found some old scrapbooks in the attic. This is she "back in the day."

State of the Union

2010-01-27T18:33:00.000-08:00

Shhhhh! The President is talking!
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At the old seminary

2010-01-23T15:20:00.000-08:00

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Here there be Protestants

2010-01-19T18:56:00.000-08:00

Christian Unity

2010-01-19T18:53:00.000-08:00

We are here at St. Mark's for the prayer for Christian Unity. We get to be servers, always more interesting than just being there. Lots of hymns in store.

At the Corner Cafe

2010-01-18T13:18:00.000-08:00

Haley's 16th

2010-01-18T08:16:00.000-08:00

She's sweet and she's 16!

Still in Milwaukee

2010-01-14T16:41:00.000-08:00

This was a lovely painting at the Milwaukee Art Museum.

Hugo and Father Ryan

2010-01-14T15:42:00.000-08:00

They get along swimmingly! Here they are as Buzz and Woody.

Mr. Lucy Vosmaer

2010-01-14T13:34:00.000-08:00

Joan of Arc Chapel

2010-01-14T12:32:00.000-08:00

That's Father Marquette in the foreground, the Medieval chapel in the background.

Everything that's bad about the 18th century

2010-01-14T11:09:00.000-08:00

Quite cool!!

2010-01-14T10:07:00.000-08:00

It's a bird, it's a plane...

2010-01-14T10:02:00.000-08:00

...It's the Milwaukee Art Museum!?

Irish Root Soup

2010-01-13T17:44:00.000-08:00

At the Brewery

2010-01-13T14:35:00.000-08:00

Conference fuel

2010-01-12T12:51:00.000-08:00

Binders and lattes are what make conferences go 'round.

Conference-appropriate art

2010-01-12T07:42:00.001-08:00

Perfect Rob Roy

2010-01-11T19:05:00.000-08:00

The beverage of choice for Cathedral pastors

Just what I love...

2010-01-11T16:12:00.000-08:00

...mixing and mingling at cocktail parties. Father Ryan didn't approve of "sitting" at a "cocktail party." So he stood the whole time. He's the talk of the town, of course. We're getting some attention on his account, too. "Oh, you're Father Ryan!" the Cathedral tour guide exclaimed, flinging her arms around his neck. Another guy commented, "Oh, you guys are FAMOUS!" We sat and ate cashews and drank white wine.

St. John's

2010-01-11T14:19:00.000-08:00

The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist was renovated "non sine difficultate" in 2002. The renovation was modelled in part on that of our own St. James. Behind Father Ryan you can see a lovely image of Blessed John XXIII, his hero and ours. Supposedly this image is exactly life size. If so, Blessed John was a very short man.

To Milwaukee via Versailles

2010-01-11T12:59:00.000-08:00

This is the ceiling of the grand lobby at the Pfister Hotel. We decided it's probably not original to the Hotel because there is a little African baby and a little Asian baby in the swirl of cherubs. Were they doing that in 1908? The hotel is lovely and we have a great room, with two great big beds about 3 1/2 feet high, and best of all--CABLE TV!

Hot new wheels!

2010-01-05T19:55:00.000-08:00

Mom's new car is really a lot like her old one... Only burgundy.