INDIANA RESPITE

My time here in Indiana with my sister, Jacq, is coming to an end.  We are both feeling a little sad.  It will be a year, or at least fifty weeks, until we are together again.  We keep in touch daily through e-mails and we chat on the phone every week or so.  The time actually being together is the best.  We talk and laugh, reminisce, share stories from the recent past that were too involved for e-mail or phone, lament some of the things that are currently happening, and generally just enjoy being with each other.

Distancing myself from the usual routine of my life has been a good thing.  No meetings, no time tables, no deadlines, no responisibilities, no pressure.  Time for knitting and reading and crossword puzzles.  A few days of this and I begin to relax.  Jacq and I cook family favorites and try out new recipes and, of course, keep up with the abundant garden produce.  And walk.  We have walked almost every day, on the picturesque walk along the Ohio River or through some of the residential neighborhoods of Madison. 

Oh, and in addition there's my new buddy, Kitty.  The family here calls her Peanut but she doesn't answer to that.  She answers to 'Kitty' and she greets me with a meow first thing every morning and hangs around where I am most of the day -- nosing into my face as I read, grabbing at my knitting yarns, nuzzling my fingers as I try to type on the computer keys.  I am NOT a cat person but Kitty has definitely warmed her way into my heart -- she crept up onto the foot of my bed last night and kept my feet warm.

Has the distance and time diminished my intense sense of involvement in home and family and church and work?  Not at all.  Have I gained some great sense of perspective or insight into the controversial issues?  Not at all.  Am I renewed? Yes.  Am I less anxious? Yes.  Am I ready to return and delve into the complexities of my life? Yes.  Sisters are the best!

REQUIEM FOR MY WANNA-BE ROBINS

 

Mrs. Robin sat on her beautiful, blue eggs all weekend as we came and went.  I said hello and good-bye each time.  She seemed facing a different way each time so I assume she was adjusting her warmth and rotating her eggs.  She watched me with her beady, little, suspicious, fearful eyes.  She was there when last I walk Gabriel Sunday evening.

This morning when I went out.  No Mrs. Robin.  No eggs.  Nest askew in the branches.  I am heartbroken.  My would-be grandchildren are no more for this season.  At least not from this laying.  Was it a squirrel?  A cat?  Some other nasty creature?

And, of course, I am feeling guilty because of the bush trimming that exposed her to begin with.  Sorry, Mrs. Robin.  Although there is no sorry that is enough for an unborn child.  It is a grief too deep even to be shared.  Sorry, Mrs. Robin.  Sorry.  Sorry.  Sorry.
 

CHALLENGES IN ROBINVILLE

 

Some kind of freak, fierce, forceful wind visited our domain whilst I was at work today.  Rubbish bins were scattered into the yard and the main, nest-sheltering top of the Japanese Holly bush was blown over ...

 .... leaving a gaping hole ....

... exposing the nest and gestating eggs of Mrs. Robin.

  

AND the maternal instinct of Mrs. Robin prevailed.  Thanks Be To God!



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!!