catching up

Okay, so Sue said that New England cottontails don't dig burrows like European rabbits do. I looked it up, and found this. And after several days of not seeing any, I did see one today. The grass is longer, and we think that's maybe the reason. My brother had cut the lawn and the clover was mostly gone for a while. It's all a guessing game to figure them out.

hydrangeas are blooming everywhere now

Today was the feast of the first martyrs of the church, just about thirty years after the death of Jesus. A devastating fire broke out in Rome and Nero blamed the Christians, about whom little was known but too much was speculation. How quickly things can change in this world, as we all have been seeing lately. 

Next week we open the library to the public. We've been working together, our small group, through these three and a half months, through the trepidations, the confusions, the distancings, the trying-to-figure-out-how-to-serve-the-public discussions, and now it's time to see what happens in the next step. We are still going to offer curbside pickups, and we've tried to think of everything. I think we're going to be extremely busy. And we've got to wear those blasted, stifling masks all day. Sorry, I just had to say that - I don't look forward to it; it's bad enough having the thing on at the supermarket. 

But anyway, I made brownies today to bring to work, to sort of mark the end of this phase. I took them out of the oven too soon and had to put them back in. Twice. They seem fine now. 

Sweetie has been bothered by a problem with her mouth for a couple of months, which we couldn't figure out, but today the traveling vet discovered that she's got a growth in there. So, a biopsy is planned. 

no Mr. McGregors here

We noticed a rabbit inside the garden again a few days ago. So now we think they have an entrance (or exit) to their warren inside the garden, in the middle of the bean patch. Of course, when you start a garden you try to make it so nobody can get in and mess up your intentions, but once they get in, well - we were both thinking the whole idea of rabbits living in the garden is kind of cute. But it's funny that since then, we haven't seen a rabbit. So I googled the behavior of wild rabbits.

For weeks, I would see them every day, late afternoons usually, across the brook, in the back yard between the shed and garden, every single day. But then Diane's cats started hanging around on the hot days, laying in the cool grass, and they must have seen the rabbits. The day my brother was showing me the bean patch, one of the cats was sniffing the garden fence - he knows they're around. They felt safer before, and now are being more cautious.

I did read Watership Down years ago, but until I saw this article wasn't really thinking about their whole underground life. I suppose putting up a fence around a garden would never deter a rabbit - they don't need to get through the fence to establish themselves there; they can just dig up into the space from underground.

I find them too cute to be angry with them. But we'll see what transpires now. It's a good thing we have a kitchen garden close to the house!

Midsummer's Day

I didn't hang out the sheet till six o'clock, but it still had time to dry.  And I ate the rest of the strawberries. (No freezer jam this year.)

Midsummer Eve

I love to make a big deal out of Midsummer Day if I can. I am working tomorrow, but tonight it's the eve, so I thought I'd try making ice cream sandwiches for a treat. I bought the cookies and made the ice cream with some of the strawberries. I also was going to try and make it without the ice cream machine, as the freezer is rather full of other stuff, but they always say you can just keep stirring it until it's stiff, in order to keep ice crystals from forming.

It's nice, and very refreshing, but there are ice crystals. And I took it out to stir vigorously many times. I suppose if I try this again I could use the blender, or the mixer? Not as simple as they say. And it took too long to harden, so I ended up just having some with a few cookies. I need to start way in advance for this project. Next time.

Anyway, I never got to the freezer jam. I hope the strawberries keep.

lost it

Well, I just deleted all the photos I took this month. By accident, of course - the whole folder for June 2020.

except this one

This morning I put our Dolly in my bedroom window and she saw something which interested her. I looked out - a rabbit inside the garden!  My brother went out and discovered an opening near the bottom so he closed it up. Later, the bunny came back with a baby! They contented themselves with the clover flowers rampant in our grass. This was at the heat of the day, and a very humid one, in the nineties. I didn't know they moved around at that hour. I did have a picture of the clover. Gone.

I had a photo of farmer's market strawberries, with which I hope to make freezer jam. Lost that one. I found some instant pectin around the house, but it's not the low-sugar kind. I'll use it anyway, and it will be sweeter than I care for. And I will buy the other stuff next time. Actually, these strawberries, which are soft and so juicy, are not sweet. So, maybe it's not such a bad thing to have the wrong pectin this time! 

homeland and culture

"If they had lost the dearest country on earth [England], they had no choice but to create another dear country in its place."

                                            - from Those Who Love, by Irving Stone 
                                      (a historical novel about John and Abigail Adams)



"Culture may even be described as that which makes life worth living."

                                 -  T. S. Eliot

three pretty things, and one ridiculous

Have you ever seen anything so ridiculous?

She was actually dozing in that position.

I looked out and saw a contrail lit up near the morning sun - it was prettier than this -

I've had a problem with my British Country Living subscription lately; I decided to cancel getting it through Amazon, and re-subscribed directly from the magazine. So I was excited to receive one today - it was the May issue. This is leftover from the Amazon problem; here's hoping July's will arrive in better time. I gave up on June and am re-reading the one from last year.

The orphan, sleeping in her cutely normal way.

Corpus Christi

Today was the church feast of Corpus Christi, which refers to the Body of Christ. There is an irony in this, since the churches were closed for three months and still aren't open for Sunday Mass, so there was no communion for us today.

Lauda Sion

Laud, O Zion, your salvation,

Laud with hymns of exultation.

Christ, your king and shepherd true:

Bring him all the praise you know,

He is more than you bestow.

Never can you reach his due.

Special theme for glad thanksgiving

Is the quick'ning and the living

Bread today before you set:

From his hands of old partaken,

As we know, by faith unshaken,

Where the Twelve at supper met.

Full and clear ring out your chanting,

Joy nor sweetest grace be wanting,

From your heart let praises burst:

For today the feast is holden,

When the institution olden

Of that supper was rehearsed.

Here the new the old effaces,

Truth away the shadow chases,

Light dispels the gloom of night.

What he did at supper seated,

Christ ordained to be repeated,

His memorial ne'er to cease;

And his rule for guidance taking,

Bread and wine we hallow, making

Thus our sacrifice of peace.

This the truth each Christian learns,

Bread into his flesh he turns,

To his precious blood the wine:

Sight has fail'd, nor thought conceives,

But a dauntless faith believes,

Resting on a pow'r divine.

Here beneath these signs are hidden

Priceless things to sense forbidden;

Signs, not things are all we see:

Blood is poured and flesh is broken,

Yet in either wondrous token

Christ entire we know to be.

Whoso of this food partakes,

Does not rend the Lord not breaks;

Christ is whole to all that taste:

Thousands are, as one, receivers,

One, as thousands of believers,

Eats of him who cannot waste.

Bad and good the feast are sharing,

Of what divers dooms preparing,

Endless death, or endless life.

Life to these, to those damnation,

See how like participation

Is with unlike issues rife.

When the sacrament is broken,

Doubt not, but believe 'tis spoken,

That each sever'd outward token

doth the very whole contain.

Nought the precious gift divides,

Breaking but the sign betides

Jesus still the same abides,

still unbroken does remain.

Lo! the angels food is given

To the pilgrim who has striven;

See the children's bread from heaven,

which on dogs may not be spent.

Truth the ancient types fulfilling,

Isaac bound, a victim willing,

Paschal lamb, its lifeblood spilling,

manna to the fathers sent.

Very bread, good shepherd, tend us,

Jesu, of your love befriend us,

You refresh us, you defend us,

Your eternal goodness send us

In the land of life to see.

You who all things can and know,

 Who on earth such food bestow,

Grant us with your saints, though lowest,

Where the heav'nly feast you show,

Fellow heirs and guests to be. Amen. Alleluia.

Dagnan-Bouveret's Last Supper

next door

Yesterday I got lots done early, and when it got too warm and humid, Dolly said she wanted to go out. So, we did.

The trees are done, but the rhododendrons are everywhere in bloom.

in the sewing room

I made another mask today. My brother took several to his workplace, and there they are; I have three, but I'd rather have a few more than that.

Meanwhile, I've been poking around in my pinterest boards, and this caught my eye. It's an old photo from an etsy shop. I thought I'd try and make one and was looking through the fabric scraps, when I found a ready-made log cabin square - I'd forgot I made it. I looked online for a bird silhouette shape, re-drew it, and I guess I'm ready to go.

at least one

Feeling the breeze come in, I seized a pleasant opportunity to wash a window. I'll focus on the one clean. Rather than how many are dirty.

little things

The past two days have been August-like, meaning that I lost all my stuffing and kept sitting down to read in between doing things which had to be done. The dew point was 70 yesterday; it really was uncomfortable. Then there was a thunderstorm, the wind came up and the temperature dropped. The air eventually got drier, and today was downright cool in comparison - really too cool but I dare not sound like I'm complaining. At this moment, the dew point is 45 degrees.

Meanwhile, I'm focusing once again on food that's nice to eat in warm weather, and more importantly, doesn't take long to cook. I'm always pleased when I find discover a reliable method for cooking a certain cut of meat, and I happened upon a good way for cooking skinless, boneless chicken thighs. It comes with a recipe containing bacon, mushrooms and a bit of cream sauce, but in the heat none of that interested me, just the method.

So, you put your chicken thighs in a bowl, and mix them up with a teaspoon of paprika and as much salt and pepper as you like, and maybe even some more paprika. Heat up oil or another fat in a skillet on medium and cook the meat for four minutes. Then, flip the pieces over and into a roasting pan and bake them at 400 F for twenty five minutes. Comes out perfect - I've done it twice.

I cut them up here with some cuke and tomato, then made a minty dressing for it - a cool dinner. I am relieved to know exactly how to cook this meat so it's perfectly done - don't have to think about it. It's the little things.

Last week I made scones, and some were still in the freezer. They were kind of like shortcake, so today I defrosted some frozen strawberries and blueberries, added sugar, whipped up a cup of heavy cream and that was dessert.

a sweet song

Yesterday and today, I've been hearing the sweetest singing out my window. You can ignore the scenery - you've seen it before.

I think it's the catbird, but am not sure. Whoever is singing, it's delightful! Nice and loud, and right outside my bedroom.

"for trials and for life"

My God, I bless you in your great good works,

For your gifts, your marvels, and all your kindnesses,

For the treasures of your love, peace, and hope

That shed trustfulness upon my days of trial.

For the immense blue sky and the soft breeze

And the radiant sun that makes the flowers bloom

Lord, I bless you for trials and for life.

                                                               - Marthe Robin,  excerpted from Magnificat, June 2020