Sunday Salon...December 2

Weather: I see blue sky out on the horizon but right now it is drizzling rain here at the house. I should be able to take the dog for a spin around the block later today without getting too wet.

The day before yesterday: We attended the Seattle University Choirs Christmas Program at St Joseph Cathedral in Seattle. This is the first year that my daughter is part of the chamber group in addition to the main choir and the woman's chorale. She sings first soprano down to alto depending on the song and for this concert had a small solo on one piece. This concert in such a lovely setting prepares me for the Christmas season. The photos were taken at St. Joseph Cathedral.

Yesterday: I helped decorate the church for Christmas, though I haven't done anything here at home in terms of holiday decorations. I also washed several loads of bedding, a chore left undone after our Thanksgiving guests left, read a little, baked a cake, and did a bit of shopping.  Typical Saturday stuff. Today will be a similar day.

Today: Is the first day of advent, the four weeks leading up to Christmas. The church looks lovely with the greens, the poinsettias, and the twinkling lights. This is a very special time in the church year. During the church service today we were reminded that advent is a special time of waiting.  Waiting for the birth of Christ, but also waiting for an important message from God.  It isn't easy to wait, but it is a necessary thing for us to do.

Quote of the Week: "Celebrating advent means being able to wait. Waiting is an art that our impatient age has forgotten. Whoever does not know how to wait- that is, of hopefully doing without- will never experience the full blessing of fulfillment."---from the weekly church bulletin

Question of the week: Why do people who love to read balk at reading books that they "have" to read? I see this all the time with students and it happens with me, too.  I will have a book that I need to read for book club and I continually set it aside in favor of other reading selections that aren't required.

Books completed this week:

• Bomb: The Race to Build, and Steal, the World's Most Deadly Weapon by Steve Sheiken---I learned a lot about a topic that I knew bits and pieces of information about before. This book helped put all the pieces together. Written for a young adult audience I will still recommend it to any age reader who wants to learn more on this topic.

Book(s) I'm currently reading:

• The Brides of Rollrock Island by Margo Lanagan---a Mock Printz selection, so far I am captivated by the language but have no idea what is going on.
• Who the Hell is Pansy O'Hara? The Fascinating Stories Behind 50 of the World's Best-Loved Books by Jenny Bond and Chris Sheedy---I am a fan of this type of book. These types of stories really do fascinate me and I love reading books about books.

My current audiobook:

• Noah's Compass by Ann Tyler---Liam receives a serious blow to his head during a burglary attempt. This event changes the coarse of his life.

Scripture in church today:  Psalm 62:5 "For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from God."

Prayer of the week: For my friend whose husband has been brought home from the hospital with the help of hospice. For strength and courage during these last days of his life.  I pray for their daughters, also.

From the kitchen: A huge pot of turkey meat sauce and organic penne. The kitchen was a mess when I was done, but it was worth the effort.