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The Betts have a Palm Sunday without (fresh) palm branches, are cutting their own hair, and pondering the effects of self-isolation on the kitchen ninjas. Plus contemplating how our priests miss us and that while we’re all in a Good Friday of lockdown, an Easter Sunday of freedom is inevitably coming.

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Since outdoor exercise has been deemed an essential activity, the Betts ventured out to enjoy some nesting herons and other birds. They’ve also spent part of Lent enjoying a virtual retreat with Boston’s Cardinal Seán and were completely enraptured by Pope Francis’ Urbi et Orbi message.

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In the midst of this crisis, the Betts stop to ponder what positive effects on faith and culture can result from weeks or months of society-wide quarantine. They also discuss how the family is praying through this time, as well as a fun creative social activity they’re engaged in.

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The Betts deal with the current crisis using a blend of humor and level-headedness; discuss the unprecedented restrictions due to the coronavirus; how they’re praying without going to Mass; having solidarity with Catholics who’ve historically been without Mass; and express the value of obedience to our bishops.

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The Betts this week deal with a cascade of kitchen plumbing messes; enroll in Merit Badge U; race in the Pinewood Derby; review Spenser: Confidential and Knives Out as well Eifelheim and The British Are Coming; and have some more great recipes that are good for Lent.

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This week, the Betts are handwashing dishes for Lent (for now), ranting about the clock change, doing a Polar Challenge, discussing their favorite Lenten Friday recipes (best tuna salad and their naan pizza), making fasting bread, and talk about dragons in the garden and hungry Jesus in the desert.

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The Betts are easing into Lent with the family, rather than racing out of the gates and sputtering early this year. Plus Blue & Gold, a walk in the woods, a birthday, coffee vs. tea, behind the scenes of The Mandalorian, and virtual recreation of chant in the Hagia Sophia.

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Dom and Melanie Bettinelli discuss why some people always seem to get summonsed for jury duty; winter farmers market; Pinewood Derby; scallops, mushrooms, and muffins; Mythic Quest and Toy Story 4; Dresden Files and the Silk Road; and Mother Sophia on our responsibility for our brother’s anger. Plus feedback.

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The Betts visit the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and then come home to no power in the house. Melanie makes sure the power outage soup won’t kill the family and then shares a couple of recent kids’ book acquisitions. Dom sous vides some dinners and talks A Quiet Place and McMillions.

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The Betts get out of the house on gray February day, contemplate a presidential cage match, Dom reveals his pancake secrets, Melanie talks about Tom Sawyer, and they discuss why they had to decline a nice invitation to the family.

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The Betts deal with the legacy of the quickie renovations done by their home’s previous owners; bribe their kids to do school; discuss what happens when dinner goes wrong; and talk about pop culture’s idea of heaven without God. (We apologize for the audio quality; we had a technical glitch.)

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The Christmas season ends for the Betts; Dom and kids spend a day in the bitter cold for a Klondike derby; Melanie keeps perfecting okonomiyaki; they watch Groundhog Day, 1917, and Raising Dion; and then discuss the “fake it til you make it” way of becoming a saint.

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While Dom is puzzled by why the delivery drivers won’t put the parcels in the delivery box, Melanie is on a cooking binge, making some amazing meals. Plus an awkward moment at Mass with the kids, our impression of the live-action Aladdin movie, and why Dirty Dancing was so culturally significant.

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New Year, a birthday, Star Wars, Epiphany, and a Scouting event mean a busy week for the Betts as Dom and Melanie relate their Epiphany gift-giving tradition; talk about how a family outing to see Star Wars made Lucy’s birthday; and share an awesome homemade coconut chicken soup.

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The Betts wish you a Merry Christmas as Dom and Melanie relive Christmas Eve midnight Mass and Christmas Day, including several great meals, which they give you tips for; plus re-reading for comfort when you’re sick and the awesome readings from the Feast of the Holy Family.

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Christmas is here (or almost, as we recorded) and Dom and Melanie reveal how their Advent has gone and what the plan is for Christmas Eve (including the Feast of Seven Fishes); talk about a great audio course on language; and discuss what to do when one person has seen the Star Wars movie and the rest of the family has not yet.

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The Betts discuss an unusual game the kids play during cleanup times involving the fictional Lord Cromwell; Melanie and the kids ditch an afternoon of school to walk in the snowy woods; Dom wants a bigger Christmas tree; and they recall the beautiful homily about Gaudete Sunday.

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The Betts get their first snow day of the season and Dom discovers he doesn’t have to do all the snow clearing any more. The kids go Scouting for Food, while Melanie re-discovers her baking mojo, and then they discuss when the Immaculate Conception is not the Immaculate Conception.

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It was a great Thanksgiving for the Betts, but then Dom ended up in urgent care, while making a turkey leftovers soup. Meanwhile, Melanie wants to know what other people cook on the weekdays before Thanksgiving. Plus a low-key start to Advent.