Andrew’s Feast Day

Today is the feast of St. Andrew and the day we begin the St. Andrew Christmas Novena.

NOVENA TO SAINT ANDREW

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment 
in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, 
at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. 
In that hour, vouchsafe, O my God! 
to hear my prayer and grant my desires, 
through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, 
and of His Blessed Mother. 

Amen.

(It is piously believed that whoever recites the above prayer fifteen times a day 
from the feast of St. Andrew, on November 30th, until Christmas will obtain what is asked.)

[Imprimatur: +MICHAEL AUGUSTINE, Archbishop of New York, New York, February 6, 1897.]

 

Happy Feast Day Andrew

This picture was taken in the Vatican on his trip to Europe last fall. 

Jesse Tree

 

One of our family traditions for advent is to find, bring home and decorate a Jesse Tree.  This year we went out to Normand’s Aunt Inky’s property in the Carenro to find our tree and evergreen boughs for our Advent wreath.  We always enjoy walking around her property making memories with our kids.  We took the three little kids this year.

 

 

 

 

There shall come forth a shoot
from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch shall grow out of his roots.

Isaiah 11:1

The Jesse Tree is a beautiful anticipatory tradition for the great feast of Our Lord's Nativity.  A visual representation of the family tree of Jesus, the Jesse Tree offers the family a yearly opportunity to spend time with the great cloud of witnesses that St. Paul spoke of in his epistle to the Hebrews.   And since the Old Testament should never be read in isolation, but always in light of the New, the tradition of the Jesse Tree offers that view into the Old, always illuminated by the Light of Bethlehem. 

You can download images for your Jesse Tree here.  I found the scripture list here.

JESSE TREE SCRIPTURES (The symbols are only suggestions)

December 1 Creation: Gen. 1:1-31; 2:1-4 Symbols: sun, moon, stars, animals, earth

December 2 Adam and Eve: Gen. 2:7-9, 18-24 Symbols: tree, man, woman

December 3 Fall of Man: Gen. 3:1-7 and 23-24 Symbols: tree, serpent, apple with bite

December 4 Noah: Gen. 6:5-8, 13-22; 7:17, 23, 24; 8:1, 6-22 Symbols: ark, animals, dove, rainbow

December 5 Abraham: Gen. 12:1-3 Symbols: torch, sword, mountain

December 6 Isaac: Gen. 22:1-14 Symbols: bundle of wood, altar, ram in bush

December 7 Jacob: Gen. 25:1-34; 28:10-15 Symbols: kettle, ladder

December 8 Joseph: Gen. 37:23-28; 45:3-15 Symbols: bucket, well, silver coins, tunic

December 9 Moses: Ex. 2:1-10 Symbols: baby in basket, river and rushes

December 10 Samuel: 1 Sam. 3:1-18 Symbols: lamp, temple

December 11 Jesse: 1 Sam. 16:1-13 Symbols: crimson robe, shepherd's staff

December 12 David: 1 Sam. 17:12-51 Symbols: slingshot, 6-pointed star

December 13 Solomon: 1 Kings 3:5-14, 16-28 Symbols: scales of justice, temple, two babies and sword

December 14 Joseph: Matt. 1:18-25 Symbols: hammer, saw, chisel, angle

December 15 Mary: Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38 Symbols: lily, crown of stars, pierced heart

December 16 John the Baptist: Mark 1:1-8 Symbols: shell with water, river

On December 17, the Church begins to intensify the preparation for Christmas with the use of the "O" Antiphons during the Liturgy of the Hours. The symbols for the Jesse Tree from December 17 to 23 are based on the "O" Antiphons.  Click on the link to find them.

December 17 Jesus is Wisdom: Sirach (or Ecclesiasticus in old Bibles) 24:2; Wisdom 8:1 Symbols: oil lamp, open book

December 18 Jesus is Lord: Ex. 3:2; 20:1 Symbols: burning bush, stone tablets

December 19 Jesus is Flower of Jesse: Isaiah 11:1-3 Symbols: flower, plant with flower

December 20 Jesus is Key of David: Isaiah 22:22 Symbols: key, broken chains

December 21 Jesus is the Radiant Dawn: Psalm 19:6-7 (in older Bibles this will be Psalm 18) Symbols: sun rising or high in sky

December 22 Jesus is King of the Gentiles: Psalm 2:7-8; Ephesians 2:14-20 Symbols: crown, scepter

December 23 Jesus is Emmanuel: Isaiah 7:14; 33:22 Symbols: tablets of stone, chalice and host

December 24 Jesus is Light of the World: John 1:1-14 Symbols: candle, flame, sun

Thanksgiving

This year Thanksgiving and my birthday just so happened to fall on the same day.  It was a beautiful clear day and I enjoyed it surrounded by my fabulous family and was treated to a delicious meal and a sweet birthday party and lots of gifts.   Thank You to everyone who made my day so special.

On the menu on Turkey Day 2 baked turkeys, baked ham, merliton and shrimp in a cream sauce, cauliflower in a cheese sauce, rice and turkey gravy, brocolli cornbread, short rib dressing, divine sweet potatos, chicken and cornbread dressing, garlic french bread, brownies, choc chip cookies, sugar cookies w/candied fruit, and  German chocolate cake.   Oh my gosh it was all sooooo good.

A Beautiful Couple

Last Sunday we celebrated my parents Golden Anniversary.  Normand and I hosted a lunch for about 45 people here in our home.   The week before was very busy with preparations for the lovely day.  You can see pictures of the day here at Katy’s blog.  It was a beautiful day and a wonderful tribute to my parents.

A Shower for a Lovely Lady

Here a few of the pictures I took for Malory’s shower on Sunday afternoon at the beautiful home of Missy Ledet.

The shower was a Tea and the lovely hostesses wore pretty hats and had lots of extra hats for the guests to wear.

Mother of the Groom,  Lovely Bride-to-Be and Mother of the Bride

Grandmother of the Bride, Malory, Ariel Maid of Honor, Nicole MOB

  

Nicole gave Malory her “something blue” a beautiful pale blue hanky in a gorgeous little gold music box.  That one had me tearing up. 

Joanna and one of her bff’s Lucy.  When asked what they talked about at the tea Jo said “Oh random stuff.”  Joanna had a wonderful time and didn’t want to leave the party.

Lucy with her Nanny.

 

Beautiful family shot.

 

I’ve been creating.

Over the past week my creative juices have been flowing and I’ve completed a few projects.

For my dear friend Nicole’s daughter Malory’s bridal shower gift  I put together a wooden tray with a few fall goodies. 

Monogrammed Napkins in wooden napkin rings

A monogrammed burlap runner and six cute birdie tea light holders with warm spiced apple candles.

A little sign with the cute couples wedding date and last name.  I’m so happy with the way this came out.

  In the tray I also included a cute wine basket and a bottle of wine.  I think she liked it.   Congratulations Malory I’m so proud of the woman you have become.

I also made this burlap runner with copper fleur d lis on it for a very belated birthday for my friend Missy.   Missy  how does it look on your buffet?  I think I need to make one for myself now. 

I’m patting myself on the back for the crafts I accomplished this past week along with going to a wonderful family reunion, hosting a party for 18 of my kids friends and attending the lovely shower.

Blog Giveaway

There is a great $75  Amazon gift card giveaway over at Seens From The Backs Of My Eyelids.  Go on over a leave a comment and win.

Wednesday’s Goodwill Finds/ Thrifty Thursday

I’m linking to these Thrifty posts.  Go on over and find out what other thrifty shoppers are finding.

http://lbratina.blogspot.com/2009/11/thrifty-thursday-41-plus-tablescape.html

http://www.homebodyholly.com/2009/11/thrift-store-thursday-1105.html

Yesterday was Goodwill’s $2 skirt day, so after I drove to Broussard to unlock Andrew’s car ( he locked himself out at work) I stopped at the Goodwill there and found a few goodies.  I found 5 skirts for the girls.  Really cute skirts mostly spring  and summer skirts but a couple they can wear now.

Here’s my haul a couple of  jack o lanterns, 4 gold glasses, 2 diamond shaped dishes, white architectural piece, silver tray, fake grapes, 2 brass sconces, christmas apron and a gold decorative key.

 

Cute glasses and I now have 4 of these pretty little dishes.  I know someone who just bought a couple of these.  She should sell them to me then I would have six in my collection.  

I’m going to put this on the patio wall. 

 

Apron on headless model.  I love it!  Brand new tags still on it.

 

These are going to get a makeover and will probably end up in the master bedroom. 

Cute

 

Tray before polishing

 

Tray after polishing.  It says Happy 40th Willliam and Millie.  You can’t tell from the picture but it’s footed. 

I finally learned how to do it.

 

After almost 18 years of being a momma to 4 girls I learned how to make a ribbon hair bow.  I’m so proud of myself.

 

I learned how here.

Just think of all of the money I could have saved over the years.  Oh my, I don’t think I want to think about that.

Sunday Supper with Friends

Last night we had the Barras and Patrick and Angie Dunphy over to visit and enjoy a meal with us.

 

The little kiddoes.

 

  Yummy S-mores Brownies

Agnes enjoyed a little of the topping  on her own. 

For dinner I served green salad, smothered round steaks w/gravy, rice, corn maque chou, lima beans w/tasso and fresh yummy rosemary dinner rolls.  We also enjoyed a couple of glasses of  Woodbridge Merlot.  (I forgot to take a pic of the main course.)

Good Food Good Friends Good Times

It was a great All Saints Day

 

Three Blue Guys, a Silver Guy and a Cute Chick

Upon our return from Trick or Treating this is what we found in our house.

Andrew, Gary and Matt dress as the Blue Man Group. 

 

Patrick was a super cool Silver Guy

Angie had some fine dreads.  What a cute girl.  Love the blue lips.

Love the Gary and Pat poses. 

They went out down town and met up with a few scary characters.

Dominic and Josh are just way too scary.