Musing Mondays (Mar. 17)

Musing Mondays asks you to muse about one of the following each week…
• Describe one of your reading habits.
• Tell us what book(s) you recently bought for yourself or someone else, and why you chose that/those book(s).
• What book are you currently desperate to get your hands on? Tell us about it! 
• Tell us what you’re reading right now — what you think of it, so far; why you chose it; what you are (or, aren’t) enjoying it.
• Do you have a bookish rant? Something about books or reading (or the industry) that gets your ire up? Share it with us!
• Instead of the above questions, maybe you just want to ramble on about something else pertaining to books — let’s hear it, then!


I love Musing Mondays, so many things to ponder! So, I will jump right in.

I have just finished reading "The Quilter's Legacy" by Jennifer Chiaverini.  This is the fifth of the Elm Creek Quilt series that I have read and it was delightful.  All of Chiaverini's books contain a bit of history, a bit of quilting and a bit of mystery.  It is a perfect combination.  I have already started another book but when it is done (it is very short) I will begin the next in the Elm Creek Quilter's series -- "The Master Quilter".  

I am currently reading "The Great Gatsby".  Why have I chosen this book, you might ask?  Well, I joined in on a conversation on Facebook about books read in high school and my much younger counterparts thought it was ridiculous that I hadn't been required to read this work.  I suddenly felt that my education was somehow lacking and so I went to the bookstore and bought a copy.  I did remind them, however, that MY required reading involved works like "Beowulf".  So, there, youngsters, let's compare educations if you must.   

That, clearly, brings me to my current read which is "The Great Gatsby".  So far so good.  I will let you know when I am done.  I guess I will have to start another Facebook conversation about this book to see what the "youngsters" thought about it, reading it in high school.  I am sure that when I was in high school I would have found it boring.  I think. Probably better than "Beowulf" however.

I went to Barnes and Noble the other night just to have some place to go (pathetic, isn't it) and I happened across two books that I felt compelled to pick up.  The first -- well, what can I say -- caught my eye because it is a classic and I don't feel that I have read enough classics and the cover -- oh yes, the cover.

Also, I snatched up "A Place at the Table" by Susan Rebecca White.  The cover wasn't outstanding but the synopsis appealed to me so it will be on my soon-TBR list.

The book that I am waiting rather impatiently for is "Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good" by Jan Karon.  Even though Karon thought she was done with the Mitford series and progressed on to the Father Tim series, I guess she discovered there was more of Mitford to tell so her new book is a continuation of the Mitford Series and I couldn't be more thrilled.  I have read, and own, all of her books and I love them.  I can sit down with one of them and no longer be in Fort Worth, Texas but rather Mitford, North Carolina and be totally engrossed.  I can't wait for this new book. What a wonderful fall read it will be!!

So, there you have it for my Musing Monday. Happy St. Patrick's Day! 

Happy St. Patrick's Day!


From Catholic Online we learn this about our beloved St. Patrick--


St. Patrick of Ireland is one of the world's most popular saints.
Apostle of Ireland, born at Kilpatrick, near Dumbarton, in Scotland, in the year 387; died at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland, 17 March, 461.
Along with St. Nicholas and St. Valentine, the secular world shares our love of these saints. This is also a day when everyone's Irish.
There are many legends and stories of St. Patrick, but this is his story.
Patrick was born around 385 in Scotland, probably Kilpatrick. His parents were Calpurnius and Conchessa, who were Romans living in Britian in charge of the colonies.
As a boy of fourteen or so, he was captured during a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep. Ireland at this time was a land of Druids and pagans. He learned the language and practices of the people who held him.
During his captivity, he turned to God in prayer. He wrote
"The love of God and his fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and my soul was rosed, so that, in a single day, I have said as many as a hundred prayers and in the night, nearly the same." "I prayed in the woods and on the mountain, even before dawn. I felt no hurt from the snow or ice or rain."
Patrick's captivity lasted until he was twenty, when he escaped after having a dream from God in which he was told to leave Ireland by going to the coast. There he found some sailors who took him back to Britian, where he reunited with his family.
He had another dream in which the people of Ireland were calling out to him "We beg you, holy youth, to come and walk among us once more."
He began his studies for the priesthood. He was ordained by St. Germanus, the Bishop of Auxerre, whom he had studied under for years.
Later, Patrick was ordained a bishop, and was sent to take the Gospel to Ireland. He arrived in Ireland March 25, 433, at Slane. One legend says that he met a chieftain of one of the tribes, who tried to kill Patrick. Patrick converted Dichu (the chieftain) after he was unable to move his arm until he became friendly to Patrick.
Patrick began preaching the Gospel throughout Ireland, converting many. He and his disciples preached and converted thousands and began building churches all over the country. Kings, their families, and entire kingdoms converted to Christianity when hearing Patrick's message.
Patrick by now had many disciples, among them Beningnus, Auxilius, Iserninus, and Fiaac, (all later canonized as well).
Patrick preached and converted all of Ireland for 40 years. He worked many miracles and wrote of his love for God in Confessions. After years of living in poverty, traveling and enduring much suffering he died March 17, 461.
He died at Saul, where he had built the first church.
Why a shamrock? Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Trinity, and has been associated with him and the Irish since that time.
In His Footsteps: Patrick was a humble, pious, gentle man, whose love and total devotion to and trust in God should be a shining example to each of us. He feared nothing, not even death, so complete was his trust in God, and of the importance of his mission.

And yes, I have quite a bit of Irish heritage.  I talk mostly about being Welsh but I am as much Irish and am currently trying to learn more about my "Irishness". 

Meet my great-grandfather, Henry Patrick Conn -- he is only one of my relations that bears an Irish name. 

Even though he was born in the United States I think his attire looks a bit Irish, don't you?  The hat?  In any event, I am proud of my Irish heritage and even though I identify with my Welsh ancestry more, I am learning and forging a kinship with my Irish clan and am proud to be a part of it.

Erin Go Bragh!