Apparently, it was National Tabby Cat Day.
Right before I took this picture, she had her head entirely in the pitcher.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
for years to come.
- from Psalm 23*
*It was also Good Shepherd Sunday
I'm going to interrupt this program to link a story which I have heard before, but forgot about. And since I don't want to forget it again, I'll put it here and share it. If you like cats, or just want to read something very heartwarming, here is the story of a cat called Room 8.
Wednesday, a woman called the library - she was dividing her black-eyed susans and wondered if we wanted any; she was sure it was a silly idea, but asked anyway. She'd previously given a bunch to the Senior Center but they weren't sure if they wanted more. Knowing my boss, I said "yes!" Sue likes to be open to things.
After a while, the lady's husband came along with three flat containers and lots of plants and dirt inside. He showed us photos of her flower garden on his phone, and also a bobcat who'd come along one day, through the garden and in their driveway! In broad daylight!
Anyway, we have some small-ish ziploc bags for crafts and things, so I separated the plants and put them in bags, made a sign and put the lot in the vestibule on a small table we snitched from one of the copiers.
Sue took a couple, I took a couple - but there were lots! - and I wondered if enough people would come in and find them. It was about 5pm. Well, they were gone by the time Thursday morning came along! Now Sue is wondering if we should do a plant swap, since we've already been doing a seed swap for two or three years. It's a nice community thing.
Two weeks just passed by, and I thought about posting several times, but I often was tired or felt blank. I have to say that I'm glad it's spring, and the trees are so beautiful, but I think I'll feel better when they're done blooming and things are a bit warmer. That's usually how it goes.
But speaking of trees, I went around the yard to look at our five young trees which we bought last year. The white crabapple is just filled with blooms! And it's right by the road.
Isn't it wonderful! The one behind it is our neighbor's rose-colored crab. I noticed over the winter that the crabapples didn't all get eaten; there was a squirrel in the tree one day, and birds now and again. So maybe I can do something with half of the fruit, while leaving the rest for our small neighbors. But I'm not interested in jelly. It must be a good source of vitamin C, wouldn't you think? Because they are so tart?
The purple leafed plum tree is the largest of the new ones, and all the leaves are out, but I spied two small blossoms - so, I guess we'll have two plums later!
The morning kindles all the sky,
The heavens resound with anthems high,
The shining angels as they speed,
Proclaim, "The Lord is risen indeed!"
I found a new podcast, from First Things, and today they're speaking to a Lutheran pastor. One of this week's sponsors is an online music station called Lutheran Public Radio, and they are playing music for the 50 days of Easter, going up to Pentecost. It seems to be traditional hymns and classical-type music, and I'm going to tune in now and then.
I picked up another Brother Cadfael mystery, because Cadfael and most of the monks are good company, and I love the Middle Ages. I am also knitting a pair of hand warmers for a co-worker. For Christmas. No, not next Christmas, but the recent one. It has not taken me four months to knit two mitts, but I have had more setbacks of all kinds for this project - well, I could never begin to relate, but it's been strange. Anyway, I ended up buying her something else so I could continue knitting in some sort of peace.
I'm almost finished! Just in time for the warm weather. (It was around ninety today, and will be again tomorrow!)
The weather's been sunny, beautiful. Easter-ish.
Can there be any day but this,
Though many suns to shine endeavour?
We count three hundred, but we miss:
There is but one, and that one ever.
- George Herbert
On Holy Saturday the Church waits at the Lord's tomb in prayer and fasting, meditating on his Passion and Death and on his Descent into Hell, and awaiting his Resurrection.
The Church abstains from the Sacrifice of the Mass, with the sacred table left bare, until after the solemn Vigil, that is, the anticipation by night of the Resurrection, when the time comes for paschal joys, the abundance of which overflows to occupy fifty days.
Holy Saturday is a day of profound mystery. Christ is dead and yet he remains busy at work, descending to the underworld to free the righteous held captive in the chains of death, awaiting the One who could open the gates of heaven. The mournful suspense of Holy Saturday is thus imbued with the hope of the Resurrection. Though death continues to intrude into our earthly life, claiming friends and family - and eventually ourselves, too - we know that our longing to exult in the fullness of redemption is not in vain. The Son of God himself has passed through death to rob it of its apparent futility. In Jesus, life wins.
all of the above from Magnificat, Holy Week, 2023
From lips cracked with thirst, the voice
That sounded once over the billows of chaos
When the royal banners advanced,
replied through the smother of dark:
'All is accomplished, all is made new, and look -
All things, once more, are good.'
Then, with a loud cry, exhaled His spirit.
- from Golgotha, by John Heath-Stubbs
During this morning's homily, Father said, "Truth without love is dangerous." What an interesting remark.
"Let us be amazed by Jesus so that we can start living again, for the grandeur of life lies not in possessions and promotions, but in realizing that we are loved. This is the grandeur of life: discovering that we are loved."
- Pope Francis
