Sophie's Story

           This week started with the announcement that Pope Francis died. The news mad me very sad. I was happy when he was released from the hospital a few weeks ago, glad that he survived a few close calls. I had hoped he would recover at home and when strong enough return to more public duties.          Things turned out differently.          For the record, I'm not Catholic so the fact that I'm mourning the pope may seem strange to some. It seems strange to me too. While I have great respect for the work of Saint Pope John Paul II, I didn't mourn him like I do Francis.          I remember the excitement around his election. He was the first to take the name Francis, the first pope from outside Europe and the first Jesuit to be elected. He chose to live simply all his life and that did not change after his election. He seemed to eschew the trappings of his office in favour of pla...

           Last year I was visiting my friend, Dana. During the visit she offered me a cinnamon roll to try. She was pleased with how the batch had turned out and told me they tasted like the ones from Cinnabon. It was a very good roll and I told her so. I also told her I'd never had a roll from Cinnabon. She told me I'd have to try them sometime.          For those of you who may be reading this and are either not from the United States or have never been in a shopping mall, Cinnabon is a small chain bakery that makes cinnamon rolls. Many times you know you are walking near one by the smell of cinnamon and baking dough. They have cinnamon rolls topped with various things, small bite sized rolls and boxes of rolls to take home.          Most of the time when I've been in a mall, it's closer to lunch time. Since I believe cinnamon rolls are either breakfast or teatime treats I've never sampled one. I must adm...

           Turns out I was wrong about my amaryllis plants. This year we will enjoy two flowing plants.  The buds starting showing up early this week. One bud is showing part of a stem and the other seems to be deciding if it should peek out of the bulb. I'm grateful and surprised. Getting amaryllis to flower is not something I'm good at. I did not inherit the green thumb of my mother or father.          At this time of year I have an itch to put seeds in the ground. There is something about seeds that has always fascinated me. Seeds don't look like much. Sometimes they are small brown and dry. Sometimes they are tiny specks almost too small to see. I like acorns with their jaunty brown caps and maple seeds with their wings that help them to sail on the wind. I even like the black walnuts that fall off the tree in our back yard, unless I accidentally step on one. Those things hurt.          No matter wh...

               I started writing about the two pound ball of yarn that I have and my attempts to find something to do with it. Halfway through writing I realized that only those who do fiber crafts would care about this topic. Having erased everything I wrote and wanting to get something out before the end of the week, I wasn't sure what to do. Then I looked outside. It's nice out there. The sun is shining. The sky is blue and there is no snow on the ground. The tulips are coming up as well as some day lilies. A topic had presented itself, I will write about nice things.          I brought up the amaryllis plants a week ago. It looks as though I will have a crop of nice green leaves this year. I don't see any flower buds. What amazes me about these plants is the speed at which they grow. I'll bet if I sat and watched them I would be able to see them move and grow. Although it's nice to have a flowers, I can be content with...

           The last time we went to Red Wing the art store in the old depot was open. I like to go in there because they have shows of various types of art and a store that sells items made by local artists. There are all kinds of things there and I like to look at them. Most of the time I  purchase something as it helps the artists and funds art displays.               I looked around as always, There are so many neat things. I saw some interesting tea cups and some beautiful hand dyed silk scarves. I looked at the jewelry. I always like looking at jewelry not matter where I am.           I saw something bright and round as I walked past a rack of necklaces. I paused to look at it. It was a small, round gold pendant with a rose in the middle. The background had a beaten appearance. The shiny appearance made it stand out form all the other necklaces around it. The back of the pendant...

           Although members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints do not observe Lent, I do.  I didn't appreciate the Lenten season when I was younger and Lutheran, but I have come to appreciate it now. There is something about sacrificing something for Lent that seems to do something for me spiritually in a way that I can't really explain.           Now those of you reading this who might also be members of the Restored church will no doubt remind me that there is a monthly fast on the first Sunday of each month so the Lenten fast is not really necessary. I do not argue the benefit of the once a month fast, however there are also benefits from abstaining from certain things for longer periods of time.           This year my Lenten fast consists of staying off Facebook and not eating meat on Fridays. I know that one is not supposed to tell others that they are fasting or what cons...