SNEAK PEAK

 

Mrs. Robin is very much in residence.  I see her beady little eye watching my every move as I go up and down the deck stairs.  And when I peek through the slats in the fencing I see her fluffed out over the whole nest.  And she just sits there and watches me.

She must have taken off for a while to grab something to eat so I got a quick peak over the top of the fence into her nest.  Three beautiful eggs.  I'm watching and waiting.
 

OOPS!!!

 

It was a perfect day in Connecticut.  For church, for yard work, for pruning of the overgrown Japanese Holly that resides next to our back steps.  As you can see I am only two thirds of the way finished because I ran into this: 

A VERY big oops.  It looks like kind of an old nest -- very weathered and grey, no new stuff in it.  Like maybe it has been there for a few seasons.  The three blue robin eggs inside, however, cannot be old.  I am feeling pretty awful.  Like having invaded someone's most intimate, personal space. 

I left off the pruning and went away from the nest out further into the yard to do other work.  I worked until tired and then retired to the deck for a beer and my book.  I was aware of birds NOT being around.  I sat there for a while recouping my energy and, finally, w a y  out back a robin started flitting around in and out amongst the branches.  Did not come anywhere near the deck, however.

We are inside now.  Perhaps they will feel a little more secure as time goes on.  Maybe not ...
 

EASTER AFTER

 

I thought that this might be a 'let down' day.  You know, that feeling of depletion upon the culmination of a huge event.  Easter at Grace was marvelous is so many ways and every service pulled together in such fantastic coordination.  Two baptisms at the Easter service and a grande luncheon afterward were just the right finishing touches.

And today -- sunshine and warmth and the first of the wild violets in the lawn.  So the 'after' of Easter is getting back into the routine but on the warmer side and into the growth of spring. 

Alleluia!

 

THE GREAT VIGIL OF EASTER

The splendour of the Easter Vigil and I don't even have a picture.  No picture would have done it justice anyway.  It was a festive occasion in our newly created space. 

 The dancing flames in the Narthex started off the celebration.  The Pascal Candle was carried in by our new Deacon as we each carried our newly lit candle..  The 'table' was placed central to all of us and was covered with blank paper.  As we told the stories we drew them onto the table with crayons and markers, added our names, and this  became the Fair Linen for our Eucharist. 

The waters for baptism were blessed and we renewed our Bptismal vows and then for the Peace we splashed one another with the water of baptism.   We each wrote our own prayers for Prayers of the People on colored shapes and placed them on the new  Fair Linen.

Eucharist Rite III -- WOW!

THE LORD IS RISEN, INDEED!!

WERE YOU THERE .....

 

Were you there when they crucified My Lord?  As I was leaving for the evening service I said that this is the traditional hymn for this service and that it always really gets to me.  Plus, given the blogs that I follow, I was just about Good Fridayed out, didn't know how much more of it I could handle.  I had read a kazillion different interpretations of the crucifixion -- and given that this is the year that we liturgically have John as the main gospel, made it all the more difficult.

Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?  I was the reader for Isaiah this evening.  A very prophetic writing from a very prophetic, well -- prophet.  The new space in our church allowed the word to resonate.  I love how God takes over when I read.  I hear the reading new and alive.  God speaking. 

Were you there when they pierced him in the side?  After the second reading we did the Passion.  Was it the same Passion that we did on Sunday?  Didn't seem the same.  I was hearing a LOT of different stuff.  And that's a good thing.  That is why we do these things over and over so that we can feel them at different times, in different ways and make them our own.

Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?  And this is the point of Good Friday, after all, isn't it?  Yes, Jesus is in the tomb.  And at the Vigil tomorrow evening all of creation will witness the glory of the resurrection.
 

SUBDUED

 

At the Maundy Thursday gathering this evening, people kept asking me what was wrong.  Well, nothing, I am just feeling subdued.  Maybe even pensive.  Not quite with the program.  Just a few more days until Easter and then I will be fine again.
 

THIS IS RELAXING???

 

Soooo, the rhythm is -- knit, two three, purl, two three, knit, two three, etc.  A nice easy rhythm.  Nothing complicated.  I can do this and think of other things.  I know that on each row I knit the knits and purl the purls, and I know how the stitch to be worked looks like. 

I am working on two pieces.  I work on one for a while, read for a bit, and then work on the other piece.  The underneath piece above is worked with that funny kinky yarn.  A knit stitch does not always look like a knit stitch, nor a purl a purl.  It gets confusing.  I have to rip back frequently.  This is NOT relaxing.

The other piece, however, is worked in just plain worsted type yarn, a little thicker than four ply worsted.  Smooth.  Easy to work .  THIS is relaxing.  I think I am going to put the kinky yarn piece  away until AFTER Easter.  A challenge will be okay then.  For now just knit, two three, purl, two three and do some reading.  Relax.  Ease into Easter calmly.