Welcome to Carrots! I'm so glad you're here. This is where I share thoughts on liturgical living, faith, parenting, culture, and an extra dose of Jane Austen. You can sign up for my email newsletter here to stay in touch, or look me up on Instagram!
Happy weekend, sweet friends! Thank you so much for sharing your prayer intentions with me last week in comments, emails, FB messages, etc. I’m sorry that I haven’t been able to respond to every email and message, but please know that I prayed for you as promised at the Shrine of Our Lady of La Lechein St. Augustine on her feast day and lit a candle. The requests from those suffering from infertility and loss brought me to tears. Not just what you’re going through, but that SO MANY of you are carrying this burden. Y’all, there were hundreds of prayer intentions about infertility. Hundreds. You are each in my heart.
And speaking of St. Augustine, our trip was amazing. I’m gonna devote a whole post to it later, but so much pirate fun was had and so much Catholic fun was had.
And the kids had a blast. Just look at Mr. Wrinkly-Nose! And I tried out my new glasses c/o Firmoo. I won’t pretend that I wasn’t trying to channel Christy with her trendy specs.
And we discovered that two adults and three kids in one hotel room CAN work for those of us who can’t afford two rooms. The big kids shared a bed and Daniel concocted a pretty fantastic mini-room for Baby Gwen (who CANNOT go to sleep if she can see other people) out of comforters, lamp stands, and an ironing board. So, if the hotel room bathroom is too small for a pack n’ play (our usual trick), it can be done! And we wore the big kids out so much that there weren’t rowdy enough to wake her up after lights were out.
As part of my post-trip with three kids recovery, I’ve been doing a bit of binge-watching of Lark Rise to Candleford. I MAY have signed up for Amazon Prime purely so that I could watch it.
I loved watching The Paradise a couple of months ago, but LRtC really blows The Paradise out of the water. It’s been recommended to me a few times, but why didn’t someone say, “NO REALLY. Drop everything and watch it…..NOW.”
The Quotable Daniel:
Daniel: “What’re you watching?”
Me: “Lark Rise to Candleford!”
Daniel: “I have no idea what you just said.”
Since then he’s referred to it as, “Larkspur upon Cranford” “Langford to Crandleton” and “Larksly from Crumpleford.” We’ll get there someday.
The Quotable Kids:
Lucy: “Benjamin is throwing pine straw at me!!!!”
Benjamin: “Well she came over and said, ‘hey!’ So, I thought she wanted some ‘hay’ thrown at her. Get it?”
Lucy: “I am not having fun with this game!”
Benjamin: “Hey, mama. How about we watch a little movie and you wash all the dirty dishes?”
He really knows how to make a girl feel special!
The Liturgical Year:
Don’t get stressed, because that’s not what Advent is about, y’all! But I’m just now starting to think about preparing for Advent (after Hallowtide, everything snowballs into holiday craziness if I’m not careful to think just a bit ahead). So get ready for a beautiful Advent candle giveaway for you coming soon AND I’m thinking about using the Holy Heroes Advent Adventure Activity Book with the kids this year.
Links:
The Great Catholic Cave-In that Wasn’t: George Weigel for the National Review Online
Celebrate St. John Paul the Great’s Feast Day: A Knotted Life
Nigerian Archbishop Denounces West for Imposing Contraception: Aleteia
You Can Say No to that Nasty Orange Drink During Pregnancy: Kitchen Stewardship
A Beginner’s Guide to Dr. Who: Sarah Bessey (I got stuck after episode 2 of Dr. Who but I think this post has convinced me to try again and make it through the first season. Any Dr. Who fans out there?)
This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Carrots!
Oh! And in the survey, readers seem split down the middle about TWM. I’m interested to hear in the comments how you feel about it! Some of you really love the weekly links and quotables, and some of you would rather I sticked with more meaty topics. Chime in! 
Sponsors:
Be sure to give some love to this month’s sponsors! They keep the lights on around here.
- Ignatius Press
- Angel in the Waters (Sophia Institute Press)
- Holy Heroes
Lots of love,
Haley
P.S. You can follow me…
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I don’t always read TWM, but when I do, I always enjoy it wholeheartedly.
Haha! Sounds like that meme! <3
I read frequently, but chime in rarely. Your question about TWM posts have me rushing to comment- please, please don’t stop them! I look forward to Friday each week because I know a TWM awaits. I love the family updates, love the quotable kids, and adore the links to posts that interest you (I work full time and don’t always have time to surf the blogosphere. Your links have turned me on to every other blog I follow!) and so, I’m begging you- please don’t stop. I will forever spend Fridays crying if you do. Keep up the great work, mama!
Noted, Caitlin! I feel like they’re a fun way to stay connected to my readers and let them know what’s going on in our little corner of the world. And I always love reading links curated by my favorite bloggers, because we’re often interested in the same thing. Thanks for chiming in! <3
I second everything Catilin said! I rely on TWM to edit the internet for me – ha. You’re great at it, and we have loads in common so I tend to enjoy the same things you do.
I third it! I especially love reading your kids’ quotes and conversations
Haley, Whatever you do, do not skip Series 2-4 of Doctor Who. You can’t miss David Tenant as the Tenth Doctor. He is incredibly brilliant and the whole reason I fell in love with Doctor Who. I totally understand being skeptical after two episodes. I felt that way too. The ninth doctor is not my fave. But you will like the tenth doctor. I promise. So skip part or all of season 1 if you must (the empty child was really good but terrifying, so don’t watch it right before bed!), but don’t skip series 2-4
Ok Whovian rant done.
Ok, that may be just what we do. Skip the first season and start with the second. Thanks, Megan!
I totally agree with Megan! We really didn’t understand why people liked Dr. Who so much when we first started watching. But we are so happy we stuck with it! One note of advice if you do skip the first season: they do tend to reference back to old episodes so you might be a little lost if that happens. Happy watching!
I really like TWM! Keep it up.
Thanks, Lauren!
I enjoy reading TWM. It is perfect for the weekends, especially when I have a lot of family activites and not juch time for blog reading. I can read as much or as little as I want.
I am huge fan of Doctor Who. I started with the reboot in 2013 and watched all of the episodes in about 6 months. The first season almost caused me to abandon it, but about halfway through that season it got so much better. And then the 10th doctor came along and I was sunk
I hope you can get into it!
Good to hear that, Sarah! I’ll keep you posted about Dr. Who
I love, love, love Lark Rise to Candleford. I haven’t seen it in years. Now I want to watch it all again! You should try Cranford as well if you can get hold of it. Very entertaining. We live in England and I am kicking myself that I keep forgetting to watch Downton Abbey each week. The new series is on and for some reason I can’t remember to watch it. What is wrong with me?!
It is SO good! I love Cranford. And…I hope it’s not blasphemous but I kinda like the miniseries better than the book :/
I totally understand. The book wasn’t funny like the miniseries. Elizabeth Gaskell’s house has just opened in Manchester as a museum, and I really want to go. But not with 3 children 5 and under.
TWM and any posts about your family are usually my favorites, don’t stop! You must give Doctor Who a second chance. Many of the episodes can be watched out of order, which is a really great thing about it. I think I started watching it with an episode with the 10th Doctor and Martha when they were on the moon…
The first season is best saved until you like it….the re-runs for it are rarely shown on BBC America. The earlier ones of the reboot are a lot campier than the newer ones…which may make them harder to watch but personally, I miss it in the current season.
Good to know, Courtney! Thanks!
Twm is so fun and also great for connecting to other great blogs/articles. Plus it’s so fun to eat quotes from your kiddos. Please don’t stop them! (Twm not the kiddos lol.)
I like doing TWM, so I was hoping to hear that y’all don’t want me to stop
Thanks, Marissa!
These are my favorite posts – I always look forward to seeing what’s happening in your family! =)
YES! Keep TWM! I read every one. Looks like I’m not alone.
Thanks, Shauna!
I love TWM! Keep ’em coming, please!
My first TWM, but I enjoy this format and I will be sure to check them out each week!
Keep them! The quotes and personal info help us get to know you and the links are great. Almost every week I discover something new to me. I’ll be looking up the lark candle business next!
Just be sure your calendar is cleared a week after you start “Larksouth for Cranberry” <--Daniel's latest attempt.
We love TWM at my house! I usually let my kids see the pictures as we eat breakfast because they love seeing pictures of what other kids are up to. My older daughter always asks the names of the people in the pictures and its gotten to the point that any time she sees someone wearing nice red lipstick she says “Is that Haley?”.
Anyway, I love seeing what you have been up to and I enjoy the links that you post at the end too, so I hope you keep up with it!
Aw! So cute!
I love TWM! Keep them coming!
I LOVE TWM! I say, if people don’t like it, they don’t have to read it…but if you take it away then the people that love it can’t enjoy it! Do it, do it, do it, do it.
I read every post, but rarely comment. That’s how important it is (obviously a life and death situation here).
I LOVED Larkrise to Candleford! Sooooo good! Did you know the actress that plays the postmistress is also the same actress that played Lydia in the 6 hour BBC Pride and Prejudice?
A good mini-series is Bleak House. Have you tried it?
I love TWM. It’s a little glimpse into your day-to-day and the quotables always put a smile on my face!
I love TWM they’re one of the main reasons I visit so regularly.
I, too, love TWM! But I really wanted to mention: if you have Amazon Prime, and need a great kid’s show, try TumbleLeaf. It’s an Amazon exclusive, and my kids love it (they asked for nothing else for at least 2 weeks). It’s educational, but it’s subtle. It’s more about encourage kids to explore and solve problems with different items (a magnet, a balloon, a mask, etc.). I love listening to my 2-1/2-year-old say “Let me figure this out!” I wouldn’t recommend any of the other Amazon exclusives for kids, but that one is awesome.
I love TWM!! I love getting a sneak peak into your family life and seeing that your just one of us moms. Please don’t stop doing them!!
If you enjoy sci-fi even a little bit, would love Doctor Who. It’s all about friendship and sacrifice and loneliness and wonder and knowing that in the scope of the universe you’re completely insignificant and at the same time irreplaceably important. (The first couple episodes are a bit rough/primitive, but I promise it gets way better.)
Oh, and I like TWM.
Love TWM! I will resort to guilt-trips and/or threats if you ever stop.
Is Lark Rise to Candleford similar to Downton Abbey? Better.or.not as good? I started to watch Downton Abbey a few months ago given everybody’s love for it, but just didnt love it enough to complete the first season…wondering if Lark Rise is similar so I shouldn’t bother? I know I could test it out myself, but with baby #3 coming in 4 days, I don’t want to waste any time! Thanks!
Oh-and I love TWM! It’s your blog too–if you love it, what’s one day a week for a few readers not to enjoy it?
Oooooh, we just had a family vacation this summer to St. Augustine! I have wanted to post about the Our Lady of La Leche Shrine, but it hasn’t happened yet. It was beautiful!
I love TWM, especially the quotable kids! They are guaranteed to bring a smile to my face :-). I think you do a really good job balancing the more in-depth posts with the lighter ones. It makes this blog feel more like a conversation!
I also encourage you to continue with Doctor Who (tip: it’s apparently anathema to use to abbreviation for doctor). I skipped the first season and powered through all of David Tennant, who I LOVE, but I kinda regretted skipping season 1 in hindsight. It makes some things a lot more meaningful. It is much more campy and hard to get into though, so maybe watch season 2, then 1, then go back to watching them in order.
I love TWM!!! This week it was my reward for finishing edits on a family session. :D. Seriously, I finished edits in record time so I could read the post! Thanks for the motivation!
You might also want to check out Zenni Optical sometime. I might have spent a ridiculous amount of time trying glasses on my selfie before I settled on this pair, which I love!: http://www.zennioptical.com/womens-full-rim-acetate-plastic-cat-eye-eyeglass-frames-186725.html.
Stupid technology…..I posted twice on accident…..
I love Doctor Who! You can skip the first couple seasons. I started with Matt Smith, then watched some David Tennant to understand the references, and just read about the rest in Doctor Who books. But it just depends on who you like and what you want to do.
I love TWM. Your children are too adorable not to share (both pics and quotes)! It’s a really fun wrap-up each week and I love reading them.
And, being an avid Doctor Who fan, I suggest perseverance for Season 1. It take a little while to get going, but once it does it’s great. Season 2 is even better.
I really enjoy reading This Week’s Miscellany posts.
Don’t you dare quit TWM.
It is so nice to hear someone else puts their pack n play in the bathroom at a hotel. We’ve always done this because our kids are awesome sleepers when they are babies as long as they have their own space and can’t see us. Usually when we tell people where they sleep we get a very strange look. I’ve always been proud of the places I’ve managed to fit that pnp!
I enjoy TWM and all the family cuteness, so I hope you’ll keep it!
I know alot of people don’t like the 9th doctor but I thought he was great! Although I agree that it got better as it went. Even as a kid I thought the show was campy (part of its appeal of you ask me). It is one of the shows I watch while my husband works on his evening career, iconography.
Oh, Haley, please give Dr. Who another chance. We’ve been watching it since spring (we just started season 6 this past Friday!!). I was told to give it a good 5 episodes. And, yep, by the third or fourth one I was a fan. It’s a great combination of fun, camp-y, suspensefulness that I love. We watch it every Friday with our 11 year old and she’s just ga-ga over it.
So, yes, I’m totally a Whovian now.
Okay, HOLD UP. I saw in some earlier comments that people are telling you to skip the first season of the reboot and jump right into the David Tennant or Matt Smith seasons and Haley, I am begging you, do not skip Christopher Eccleston. The first episode or so is a little bit slow but there is so much character development and so much important stuff that shows how the Doctor grows as a person before he turns into Matt Smith that you’d miss. Far too many people skip the 9th doctor and they miss a lot of development. It would be like skipping the first two Harry Potter books because they aren’t as exciting – you miss character development and plot set-up.
Also, I too enjoy TWM greatly – especially your quotable kids!
These are my absolute favorite posts of yours
I love TWM! A little of this, a little of that, pictures, quotable kids, links. Often, I have been working hard all day and have just gotten the baby down for a nap when I put my feet up and log on. I’m not necessarily into reading too much, or thinking too deeply, in that moment, and really enjoy a light and fun TWM. Keep ’em coming! (I feel like there are way too many commas in this comment.)
Don’t get rid of TWM. I love it!
For those that don’t like it, is it really that hard to skip over it? It’s not like we are paying you to blog.
Seriously though, I love it! I love the links, the cute kid pics and quote, and the occasional cute Daniel quote.
I may have been someone who said they love everything you do, because I do, but TWM great! I love your “meatier” posts, but sometimes I just want some lighter reading that is still inspiring, or thoughtful and that is what TWM is, IMO.
Haley please, please, please keep on doing TWM!! It feels my heart with joy and my soul with laughter hearing what your kiddos are saying and how a Catholic family can survive in this crazy world! Keep up the great work!
Your links are so good! Don’t stop!