community

 Community comes from the Latin communio, for which the Oxford English Dictionary gives two derivations. Communio as a verb comes from munio - wall - and means "to build a wall around". So a community is defined by the wall - symbolic or otherwise - around it. Everything inside the wall is the community, and everything outside the wall isn't.

That was a good definition of the community of Laguna Honda. You were a member of it just by being inside its wall. Because the hospital did have a wall, a real wall of polished rocks, piled up and shellacked by patients long ago. And we were a community simply because we were behind that wall and stuck with one another - doctor, patient, nurse, administrator, and budget. We had to do the best we could with what we had.

But communio as a noun derives from munis - gift, so communio also means "those who share a gift in common." That was true of the hospital's community, too, though it was not as obvious as the wall.

                                            -  from God's Hotel, by Victoria Sweet

a confession

 Last year at the library, another plant appeared near the sink in our workroom. There were two, actually, in an ugly gray wood box. And I waited for someone to tell me where it came from, who gave it to us, and ask if I would add it to the list of plants I try to take care of. No one ever said anything, nobody knew anything about it. 

Time went on, and it stayed in that spot; I would feel the thick, oval-ish leaves and wonder if it was even real - I wasn't sure. I never gave it one drop of water.

Probably three months went by. It never drooped, the leaves always looked the same, green and - well, the same. I was annoyed that no one said anything about it to me - someone must have taken it from the donor, but they weren't telling me. 

Then one day I was watching a youtube video - the Daily Connoisseur - and she watered some plants. Her orchids. I was struck by the thunderbolt, so to speak - those blasted things were orchids! Fussy orchids, exotic orchids, and I was ignoring them for months, without a drop of water!

I knew I had to mend my ways. And I remembered that my all-time favorite blogger, Anna, of Pleasant View Schoolhouse, had orchids, and she had a method of caring for them that worked for her. 

So it's maybe been two months? And one of them has bloomed! 

Here it is in the sink. What Anna did was to take each and run it under a lot of water. Then, give it another quart of water with fertilizer in it, three times per month. This is what I've done, and a couple of weeks ago I also moved them to a spot with less direct sun. Here is Anna's post, from 2008, Orchids without Fear. It works.

a little hysteria

 To continue last night's post, I came home from work today to find the same yarn I used for the mitts, all over the house.

Starting in the kitchen, into the living room (above), down the hall and into the spare bedroom, before ending in my bedroom.

Well, that must be backward, because she found the yarn in my room, so you have to reverse it, but that's the way I found it. 

I was laughing, actually, maybe a little too much. What next?

finis

 I am finally done with these hand warmers; well, I have to weave in the yarn ends on one of them. But, that's it! A very late Christmas present, just in time for the warm weather.

this is May

 I awoke this morning to such pleasant sounds: a car going by, a crow cawing, and conversation in the forsythia hedge. I don't know if the catbirds are back yet, but it didn't seem like finches talking. My neighbor's apple is blooming beautifully, and I'm looking for orioles but haven't seen any yet. However, I keep getting whiffs of something sweet; it's too soon for roses, so I looked up apple blossoms, and yes - they have a scent. It's lovely! It will be in the seventies this week and really feels like spring. May is probably the greenest month, since when the heat comes the grass loses some color. 

the apple tree next door

Our own apple tree has loads of blooms, too. We'll see what that brings

a birthday story, no pictures

 Yesterday was Tabby Cat Day and today was Daisy's birthday, according to the vet's calculations. She's a year old, but I'm not sure a bit wiser.

My brother began his day by getting up at five thirty and going to the basement to clean the litter boxes. Why, you may ask? Why so early? Well, he said, because the two were bothering him - it's light by five thirty now, and they are getting active at that time. He couldn't sleep because of them, so he gave them some food, and went downstairs. 

And that's where he noticed it - rather than describe it as a large, brown area, which might alarm you - I'll explain that we've got a couple of bags of potting soil down there, and one of them was not small and was closed with a rubber band. The band appeared yesterday upstairs, and we wondered where from. This morning the potting soil was all spread out - around a large area down there. It was so much, that it couldn't be vacuumed up, so he had to scoop it until it could be vacuumed. 

Incredible. So that's how Daisy's birthday began. 

cats and sheep

 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

Room 8

 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.

sharing plants at the library

 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.

a catch-up

 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! 

They're right in the middle of the picture. And way over in the corner of the back yard is another ornamental cherry, like the one in the front yard, the Brave Little Cherry Tree. It's declining - the blooms are there, but it's not filled with them. :(  The new one in back is doing well, though.

The other two trees, a linden and a kousa dogwood, are later starting, but they look well. 

In other news, I got a new ironing board cover -

the fabric I'm pressing is for a blouse I'm trying to make, and this fabric is a ruffle at the bottom of the sleeves and at the hem. The body is a green cotton, like a broadcloth of some kind. I hope it turns out all right; I've never worked with sheer fabric before. Cyndi had given it to me years ago and I'm finally using it. 

Speaking of Cyndi, her brother had her funeral service on Tuesday, like she asked him to, one year after her death. It was strange after so much time. 

Back to the home front, I'll bet at least some of you have seen the youtube videos of cats who unroll the toilet paper. You know where I'm going with this - ours is now hanging in a crocheted bag on the bathroom door hook. 

Beth gave me this years ago, and it's sure handy now! I'll have to write and thank her again - I don't see her around anymore. 

the (ir)responsible party - and it was definitely a party for her!

I've been reading God's Hotel - a Fantastic book about the Laguna Honda hospital in San Francisco, written by a doctor who worked there for twenty years. She writes so well, the story gently flows along and with all the necessary and interesting details included. The author, Victoria Sweet, got a doctorate in the study of the methods of Hildegard of Bingen for treating patients, and she used some of these methods at the hospital! It is truly fascinating, I'm not exaggerating. The book is not new, and if you follow this link, you'll see the hospital is in trouble. I don't know what will happen, but it seems to me that we've long passed the point where such a place can exist, and that is lamentable. There was a time when money and profit were not the main concerns, where insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies did not control, as they do now, the doctor-patient relationship. If you have ANY INTEREST in this subject at all, i.e., any interest in the way medicine is going, in the old-fashioned doctor/patient dynamic, in a true story well written, in the way things used to be, in Hildegard von Bingen - READ THIS BOOK. Sorry, I'm not trying to shout. It's a chronicle of a lost age. I'm old enough to know that. 

I'm also reading The Code of the Woosters, and it's some very welcome comic relief. 

Easter Thursday

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!)

clothed in the light of glory

 The weather's been sunny, beautiful. Easter-ish.

On that fair day of Paschal joy

The sunshine was without alloy,

When to their very eyes restored

They looked upon the risen Lord.

Easter Sunday

 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

by Mikahil Nesterov

anticipating

 

 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

all things, once more, are good

 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                 

like a June day

 April fourth, and I think I can keep the bathroom window open when I shower tonight. 

"the grandeur of life"

 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

warm and happy

It was warm today; I looked out and the daffodils were happy. 

 I thought it was too late, but no - it was the blue hour - I ran out.

soup dupe

 

I thought the frost was a little much this morning - a little too white - but then I realized it was snow. Not much!

I didn't have a plan for supper today; I've been making soup almost every day during Lent - and then I got an idea. Pacific brand makes a red pepper and tomato soup in a carton, which is Very Nice. Late last summer I froze whole red peppers and fresh from the garden tomato wedges, and they've been in the freezer all this time. I would look at them and not know what to do. But I thought I might try to copy this soup. So I defrosted them, simmered them with two cups of vegetable broth for forty minutes, and smoothed it all out in the blender. I added some cream, basil and a bit of honey because the peppers did give it some bitterness. But, with a tuna melt sandwich, it was dinner! 

a good idea

 Last month at the library, we wrapped up some of our books in white paper, with a heart sticker and pink labels with room for a book review. A blind date with a book, we called it. It wasn't our idea, but Suzy Q wanted to try it. It was not a total blind date - we also pasted short paragraphs from the books on the outside, so folks would get some idea of what might be within. And to anyone who checked out one of these, we gave a baggie with Valentine candy. It was more popular than I expected! Some of my co-workers chose popular fiction to wrap up, but I grabbed a lot of non-fiction and some older novels. 

Today I saw a review I hadn't read, for Random Harvest, by James Hilton. He was a favorite of my father's, so I wondered if anyone else might like it. The reviewer said she realized she must be a lover of older books, because she loved it!  We're going to have a drawing soon. 

not related to the library

fur and foolishness

 Can you guess what this picture reminds me of?

I think it was when I saw the "ribbons" hanging down the side -

Lizzie's, of course, is much more elegant.

quiet trust and faithful labor

 It's the feast of St. Joseph - a day later than usual because Sundays take precedence over saint's days.

Almighty God, who called Saint Joseph to a life of quiet trust and faithful labor,
grant us the grace to imitate Christ's foster father, that we may be pillars 
of patience and integrity in our homes and places of work, through Christ our Lord.

- from Magnificat, March 2023

open windows

 A fresh-air kind of day. 

greening

The snow has vanished - it's fifty one degrees. Tomorrow is the feast of St. Patrick, and the grass is suddenly green!

another snow day

The weather people said a big snowfall was coming, from Monday, through Wednesday. It would start with rain, then snow mixed in, until the real snow began - six to ten inches predicted. 

After raining most of the night, snow was supposed falling around eight this morning and continue heavily all day. Our town offices decided yesterday afternoon to close for the day.

I waited all morning for the snow to commence, for that cozy feeling to come. But Accuweather kept changing the snow times: to eleven, twelve, then two. I couldn't see any whiteness in the sky that always precedes a snowfall; it was just rainy, gray and overcast; I was not convinced we'd have snow at all! Finally it did begin in earnest around three thirty. 

The ground is very wet, and it's a few degrees above freezing; it isn't likely we'll get six inches. The businesses which closed could have stayed open. Other parts of New England did get hit hard. But here, it was nice to have an extra day off.

I made some rye bread, and did a bit of knitting. It was restful and quiet, and I appreciated it.

the real thing

My brother actually has a customer who works for Kerrygold. And at Christmas the man gave him ten or so coupons for the cheese and the butter -  Free Coupons - did I say that? Some for cheese, some for butter.

I didn't want to wipe out the store, so I used two each week until they were gone. We ate the cheddar, but the butter is safely in the freezer. 

like a child at home

The sure provisions of my God
Attend me all my days;
O may your house be my abode
And all my work be praise.

There would I find a settled rest,
While others go and come;
No more a stranger, nor a guest,
But like a child at home. 

-  Isaac Watts

signs of life

 I went outside looking for new life.

some buds on the crabapple

the rhododendron

the daffodils! It's a little soon, isn't it?

"It isn't quite a dead garden," she cried out softly to herself. "Even if the roses are dead, there are other things alive."

                                                      - from The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett

surprised by three books

 I finished The Middle Window. It was a very compelling story, well written, as all her work is. But it took a turn and went into the past, to two young lovers not unlike the modern-day ones in the earlier part, and there was sort of a thing going on where the couple from the past - the husband of which was involved in the Battle of Culloden - they and their vision for their land were living on in the later, modern era couple. For a brief time the present-day (well, not exactly, the book was written in the 1930s) couple's minds were taken over by "memories" from the past. It was a little far fetched and fanciful, even for me, and I certainly didn't expect it from this author. 

Sarah Clarkson's book for this month is The Secret Garden, which I've read once, a few years back - not as a child. I didn't actually read a lot of classic children's books as a child, but I'm happy to make up for it now and then. Anyway, I'm surprised at how much I am liking this, more than I did the first time. And Beowulf! I never imagined I'd want to read that, but there's a category in the reading challenge for an epic poem and for some reason this is what came to mind. And I actually like it! I've got the Seamus Heaney version from the library. 

the blessed desert of Lent

 "God is very present in the deserts of our lives. It is in the desert that God revealed himself to Abraham. It is in our dryness and desolation that God is often working the most marvelous transformations. Let us rejoice in this blessed desert of Lent where Christ reveals himself."

                                                -  Magnificat,  March 2023

bark from the brave little cherry tree

burrowing

 Our pretty snowfall melted on Thursday, as always is the way in March. But more came today, with some sleet mixed in, It wasn't as bad as it could have been; it didn't get cold enough to be icy. But it looks nice.

Indoors, I made this cake and froze it for Easter Sunday dessert. Today, though, I used a gluten-free flour and sugar substitute - not erythritol! bad stuff! - but an allulose/monk fruit mixture I've used before. The only sugar in it is from the chocolate chips I put in. I like to experiment with recipes I'm very familiar with, to see if we still like it with other ingredients. 

Meanwhile, Daisy continues to get into everything. This afternoon she tried to burrow underneath a throw on the back of a chair; I didn't move fast enough.