This week-end I have had two house guests, my daughter/son-in-law's two pet dogs. One is part chow with the turned back, twisty fluffy tail. The other a Pomeranian with the same type tail. Two very different dogs in temperament, but they are friends by circumstance. Cujo the small dog has been in the family for many years. He was a comfort after they lost a much loved sheltie named Bruno. As Cujo aged they thought it wise to have a companion so they found a rescue dog in much need of love and attention. She was nursed back to health with medical help and human love. I recall conversations about what to name this new pet. I heard, "Girl" first, then it was Rocky. Why Rocky?, well she looked like Rocky Marciano, the boxer.
On this particular Saturday afternoon, when it was sunny and mild, I decided to have a visit to the deck at the top level. I invited the dogs to come along, but only Rocky accepted. The sun being in the southern sky late in October, most of the deck was in shade. The plastic deck chairs were turned around and leaning against the wall of the house, in order to prevent dust, etc. from collecting in the seats. I took my chair over to the southern end of the deck where I could sit in the sun. By turning the chair to the north, I could enjoy the sun on my back.
It was a pleasant place to be. The warmth of the sun on my back, the gentle intermittent breeze on my face and occasional distant roar of an airplane all made for a lazy feeling. Rocky's behavior was one of exploration by observation. She went to various railings to stick her head out to the east, south and north. I could almost read her mind. "It looks different from up here", "I wonder if I could just step down there", "oh, if only I could get that yellow butterfly over the hill", "I will try this other spot", "nope, still too far away", "maybe if I just lie down and rest it will help".
The most interesting thing about being up high and in the open is being able to see the tops of the trees from this angle. The dogwood at the top of the pathway is leaning toward the house, not close or dangerously, just to show it is seeking more sun. I can see how crowded the camellia is making it for both the dogwood and the holly bush, also the gardenia and the azalea. There is much competition for rain and soil. I am looking out at the English Ivy which I foolishly started 15 years ago. It has made it up the hill and went beyond my expectations. It just naturally wants to climb and every tree on the hillside knows it. I make a mental note to find time to cut back this beautiful but damaging vine.
As my mind is wandering over the tops of the trees, a plane flying low brings me back to my task at hand. I had brought out my lesson for next Thursday to read and digest before our circle meeting. We are studying Revelations and the lesson is on the symbols of strength which various nations have used over the centuries. In this last book of the Christian Bible it is vividly comparing these symbols to the most powerful yet mildest symbol, the lamb. Quite a contrast with much food for thought.
Rocky is scratching at the door, his signal that his reverie is over and he is ready to leave this strange observation post. So, gathering up my materials and replacing the chair, I reluctantly leave this sanctuary for enclosed spaces.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
The Top Drawer
The furniture in my bedroom was purchased in 1939 by my oldest sister and her husband. They used it every day of their married life, for 42 years. They both died in 1981, six months apart. The furniture was made from solid maple and once had a mellow,golden tone. Since my sister Katrine was an artist, she had a tendency to surround herself with color. She painted this furniture gray and gray it is today. A number of years ago I researched having it refinished to the original hues. But the timing never seemed quite right. So, now it is still gray but worn around the tops of the two posters at the bottom of the bed. That is where hands over the years have used it for guidance, while walking in the dark.
There is a chest of drawers with this furniture and it holds some of my garments. In the top, short, drawer however, it holds a myriad of objects having not much to do with clothing. It is not opened very often and when I do open it - as I did this morning - I am reminded of many things.
The first thing that caught my eye was a picture of the first quilt I ever made. It was made without me knowing one thing about quilting. It fit snugly in a little dolly cradle which I had purchased for Ann Hunter Keaton, my second husband's grandchild. Along with it was a picture of a quilt that I commissioned to be made many years ago by Lydia Organ. Lydia was an elder in the First Presbyterian Church in Harlan, Ky. She and I became acquainted when I drove her home to Harlan from Lexington, Ky. She had been staying with Katrine during her last days in St. Joseph's hospital. It was a cold, snowy, December day, just a few days before Christmas in 1981. It was a bad day to be driving, but we both wanted to get back to home base. I think my driving in a little blue Ford pinto - with manual shift - on those roads made a better Christian out of Lydia. It was on that trip that we talked about making a quilt for me. I wanted it be interesting, with primary colors.
Over about a year's time Lydia did make the quilt and she used the "around the world" pattern. The back is just as pretty as the front as she quilted around each block which was set "on point". She made the entire quilt by hand using material she had on hand. Quilters always have material on hand! Each time I went to visit I would pay Lydia more for the quilt. The total price was $ 250.00. I dearly love this quilt. It is not quite large enough to cover the bed as far down as I would like, but that does not matter. It may have been the last quilt that Lydia made as she became ill later that year, and died of colon cancer.
Next my eye fell on a beautiful Christmas tree ornament made by my daughter-in-law, Jayne. She used to do that as a hobby and it is very intensive close work which is tiring on the eyes. I do not put up a tree at Christmas anymore but this elegant ornament draws me in to inspect it each time I see it.
I had placed some small boxes in the drawer. The first one I opened had two small metal pins from the presidential campaign of Richard Nixon and Dwight Eisenhower. I was one of those "I Like Ike" people back then. Ike was a popular hero at the end of the war in 1946.
I had other little boxes in the drawer. I had forgotten what was in them so I opened the first one and the contents sparkled and "spoke" to me. What I saw was a rich blue and silver necklace, which my daughter Bonnie had made for me. It is the sort of jewelry you want to wear to a party. Since I had no party on for today I decided to put it on anyway and also the earrings she made to go with it. Now why would I do such a thing! Maybe because I do not go to many parties anymore which call for elegance. But after a shower and a new attitude, it seems like a fine thing to do. I know this will be a day of staying indoors as we are having storms and a tornado warning is upon us. If a storm does come by, blow my house down, and I am lucky enough to wake up like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, I will soon be feeling very elegant in my blue and silver neckace and earrings.
There is a chest of drawers with this furniture and it holds some of my garments. In the top, short, drawer however, it holds a myriad of objects having not much to do with clothing. It is not opened very often and when I do open it - as I did this morning - I am reminded of many things.
The first thing that caught my eye was a picture of the first quilt I ever made. It was made without me knowing one thing about quilting. It fit snugly in a little dolly cradle which I had purchased for Ann Hunter Keaton, my second husband's grandchild. Along with it was a picture of a quilt that I commissioned to be made many years ago by Lydia Organ. Lydia was an elder in the First Presbyterian Church in Harlan, Ky. She and I became acquainted when I drove her home to Harlan from Lexington, Ky. She had been staying with Katrine during her last days in St. Joseph's hospital. It was a cold, snowy, December day, just a few days before Christmas in 1981. It was a bad day to be driving, but we both wanted to get back to home base. I think my driving in a little blue Ford pinto - with manual shift - on those roads made a better Christian out of Lydia. It was on that trip that we talked about making a quilt for me. I wanted it be interesting, with primary colors.
Over about a year's time Lydia did make the quilt and she used the "around the world" pattern. The back is just as pretty as the front as she quilted around each block which was set "on point". She made the entire quilt by hand using material she had on hand. Quilters always have material on hand! Each time I went to visit I would pay Lydia more for the quilt. The total price was $ 250.00. I dearly love this quilt. It is not quite large enough to cover the bed as far down as I would like, but that does not matter. It may have been the last quilt that Lydia made as she became ill later that year, and died of colon cancer.
Next my eye fell on a beautiful Christmas tree ornament made by my daughter-in-law, Jayne. She used to do that as a hobby and it is very intensive close work which is tiring on the eyes. I do not put up a tree at Christmas anymore but this elegant ornament draws me in to inspect it each time I see it.
I had placed some small boxes in the drawer. The first one I opened had two small metal pins from the presidential campaign of Richard Nixon and Dwight Eisenhower. I was one of those "I Like Ike" people back then. Ike was a popular hero at the end of the war in 1946.
I had other little boxes in the drawer. I had forgotten what was in them so I opened the first one and the contents sparkled and "spoke" to me. What I saw was a rich blue and silver necklace, which my daughter Bonnie had made for me. It is the sort of jewelry you want to wear to a party. Since I had no party on for today I decided to put it on anyway and also the earrings she made to go with it. Now why would I do such a thing! Maybe because I do not go to many parties anymore which call for elegance. But after a shower and a new attitude, it seems like a fine thing to do. I know this will be a day of staying indoors as we are having storms and a tornado warning is upon us. If a storm does come by, blow my house down, and I am lucky enough to wake up like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, I will soon be feeling very elegant in my blue and silver neckace and earrings.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Comfort Foods of Yore
I have just reread a book by the late humorist, Lewis Grizzard, of Atlanta. I used to have all of his books but must have shared them out over the years. This book is entitled "If Love Were Oil I'd Be About a Quart Low". He tells of how his mother would comfort him by making fresh squeezed orange juice for him when he was feeling low.
This started my chain of thinking about my own mother doing things to comfort us. Yes, fresh squeezed orange juice is what I think about too. I well remember that, what my sister Ruth remembers is biscuits and gravy at breakfast. Today my breakfast is cream of rice in memory of my mother. With ten to feed she would do what was easiest and quickest for all. Fresh squeezed orange juice was not on that list but white rice was. I liked the taste of it with sugar and milk. I still do but it takes too long for me in the mornings with only one to feed (me). So, the new product I found is cream of rice and it suits me just fine.
When I was sick and could not handle regular food she would give me canned tomatoes with saltine crackers. That does wonders for you when you are recovering from the flu and it is just acidic and salty enough to satisfy. I remember the time in my teens when I had a good old fashioned case of flu. I recall the doctor coming in to see me. I had been put in a separate area in a wide hallway upstairs - possibly to quarantine me from my siblings. I do not believe flu shots were available or I would have surely not been sick. This was around 1941.
With so many to feed, it meant there were many clothes to wash. This required a day long effort, with all the beds, towels, etc. By then my mother had an electric washing machine, before that, well the old scrub board had to do the job. She still had to feed us on laundry day so a huge pot of beef, vegetable soup filled the bill. But to comfort us on these days she actually had time to make pies. One lemon and one chocolate. I well remember peeking under the meringue to see which one was lemon.
While my mother could handle the activity of washing and cooking, it drove her up the wall to stand and iron. So, a little lady named Mrs. Elmore would come on ironing day and our clothes were turned over to her. I think she liked to talk too as I recall an old inside family joke "and Pascal said well.......". Pascal was Mrs. Elmore's husband. Apparently he had a limited vocabulary as she always ended her stories with that phrase "and Pascal said well...".
After my father was diagnosed with diabetes our meals took on a more balanced nature.
The deserts disappeared. If we wanted our accustomed sweet at the end of a meal she suggested we put jam on our bread. She had a formula for a balanced meal- something sour, something sweet, something red, something green.something hot, something cold. It is not a bad idea. For Sunday meals she used a drip-drop roaster. The food all went into that and when we came home from church the Sunday dinner was almost ready. I suppose it could be called the forerunner of our crock pots of today, except the crock pots are electric.
My mother did not lecture. Her advise was given calmly and succinctly. She said what she had to say and you were free to take it or suffer the consequences. This in it's way is a comfort. No excess verbiage to cloud the issue. Probably she developed this tactic as she had no time for anything else. We knew she valued us and showed it in many ways, comfort foods was just one aspect of her parenting.
This started my chain of thinking about my own mother doing things to comfort us. Yes, fresh squeezed orange juice is what I think about too. I well remember that, what my sister Ruth remembers is biscuits and gravy at breakfast. Today my breakfast is cream of rice in memory of my mother. With ten to feed she would do what was easiest and quickest for all. Fresh squeezed orange juice was not on that list but white rice was. I liked the taste of it with sugar and milk. I still do but it takes too long for me in the mornings with only one to feed (me). So, the new product I found is cream of rice and it suits me just fine.
When I was sick and could not handle regular food she would give me canned tomatoes with saltine crackers. That does wonders for you when you are recovering from the flu and it is just acidic and salty enough to satisfy. I remember the time in my teens when I had a good old fashioned case of flu. I recall the doctor coming in to see me. I had been put in a separate area in a wide hallway upstairs - possibly to quarantine me from my siblings. I do not believe flu shots were available or I would have surely not been sick. This was around 1941.
With so many to feed, it meant there were many clothes to wash. This required a day long effort, with all the beds, towels, etc. By then my mother had an electric washing machine, before that, well the old scrub board had to do the job. She still had to feed us on laundry day so a huge pot of beef, vegetable soup filled the bill. But to comfort us on these days she actually had time to make pies. One lemon and one chocolate. I well remember peeking under the meringue to see which one was lemon.
While my mother could handle the activity of washing and cooking, it drove her up the wall to stand and iron. So, a little lady named Mrs. Elmore would come on ironing day and our clothes were turned over to her. I think she liked to talk too as I recall an old inside family joke "and Pascal said well.......". Pascal was Mrs. Elmore's husband. Apparently he had a limited vocabulary as she always ended her stories with that phrase "and Pascal said well...".
After my father was diagnosed with diabetes our meals took on a more balanced nature.
The deserts disappeared. If we wanted our accustomed sweet at the end of a meal she suggested we put jam on our bread. She had a formula for a balanced meal- something sour, something sweet, something red, something green.something hot, something cold. It is not a bad idea. For Sunday meals she used a drip-drop roaster. The food all went into that and when we came home from church the Sunday dinner was almost ready. I suppose it could be called the forerunner of our crock pots of today, except the crock pots are electric.
My mother did not lecture. Her advise was given calmly and succinctly. She said what she had to say and you were free to take it or suffer the consequences. This in it's way is a comfort. No excess verbiage to cloud the issue. Probably she developed this tactic as she had no time for anything else. We knew she valued us and showed it in many ways, comfort foods was just one aspect of her parenting.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Passing Through
Early morning is my favorite time of day. It is quiet and free from distractions. When Bonnie and Bruce were very young I would waken one hour before they were up. That was what I called my golden hour. At that point in my life I was not rushing out to work, or as now, eager to get out and walk early. The time was taken up with usually writing letters or writing in my journal. I have a stack of them going back to the day I married on August 15, 1949. There are skips in the years however as it can be very busy when children are young, and sick, or just needing attention.
Today I am focusing on this fall day in October,the 12th, 2010. I awakened early and after a few daily tasks - I used a few minutes on the computer to say good morning to Bonnie, Bruce, Jim and Ruth. Drinking grapefruit juice as a quick pick me up is a daily must have. Then on with the shoes and jacket to walk up to the mail box, 1,000 feet on a gravel road. After placing a letter in the box to go out, I was pulled to the vineyard and began counting my steps as I went down between the first and second rows. After 53 steps I lost count as the grapes still hanging on the Higgins vines looked so inviting. I had to pick one to taste. It was a nice reward so I did it again on other vines.
Looking to the second vine on my right, the praying mantis eggcase that I had tied on a high horizontal branch looked different. I stopped to investigate and saw that it had indeed hatched. I had thought it was a "dud" but apparently it did send out some of it's progeny. I have yet to see them, but they must be about somewhere.
Going further I began to notice the patterns on the leaves. Some still as green as could be but most of them had turned yellow. They were not without blemish however, as some looked lacy from caterpillars eating into them. Most just had spots turning brown. A few in one general area had brown lines which looked to be drawn with an ink pen. They resembled the going up and down again in a pattern. Perhaps some errant snail found his way up there and did the decorating. Actually there must be a scientific reason for these markings.
Coming back toward the gravel road I counted the vines in the first row, 14. On the second row I counted 8. In the third row only two of Bob's vines. Then there are the vines running north to south alongside the gravel road. That will be a lot of pruning, if I get to all of them. Some of the less desirable vines will go down as being dispensible when the men come with their chain saws.
A walk-a-bout would not be complete here without a visit to the raised beds. Walking across the centipede grass I collectd quite a few of the seeds from the grass. They showed up as sand on my white shoes. I saw something new today, it was a black capped chicadee ( I think). I do not ever remember seeing birds in that garden. He was flying into the tomato cages but did not stay. Some of his friends were flying about also. I once again decided to leave the green tomatoes on the plants as I can see the last rain has made them larger. There is plenty of time to gather them later before any frost. They can ripen indoors quite nicely.
The stone mountain daisies have sent out an evangelist into the blackberry bed. It is blooming brightly announcing it's intention of permanent residence. I may have to help it find another home come next spring. That bed was made for blackberries, not daisies.
Another sign of fall is the seed pods on the redbud trees. They hang brown and ugly until winter winds tear them loose to find fertile ground in which to send their roots. I tell myself that the centipede grass Jim started here was a good choice for it never needs fertilizer and is sure to crowd out all weeds brave enough to enter it's domain. I have never had to fuss over that grass, it is well suited for the south and knows how to take care of itself !
This has been a nice morning pass through of the lake property, all is well, fall is doing what fall does best, close down the summer.
Today I am focusing on this fall day in October,the 12th, 2010. I awakened early and after a few daily tasks - I used a few minutes on the computer to say good morning to Bonnie, Bruce, Jim and Ruth. Drinking grapefruit juice as a quick pick me up is a daily must have. Then on with the shoes and jacket to walk up to the mail box, 1,000 feet on a gravel road. After placing a letter in the box to go out, I was pulled to the vineyard and began counting my steps as I went down between the first and second rows. After 53 steps I lost count as the grapes still hanging on the Higgins vines looked so inviting. I had to pick one to taste. It was a nice reward so I did it again on other vines.
Looking to the second vine on my right, the praying mantis eggcase that I had tied on a high horizontal branch looked different. I stopped to investigate and saw that it had indeed hatched. I had thought it was a "dud" but apparently it did send out some of it's progeny. I have yet to see them, but they must be about somewhere.
Going further I began to notice the patterns on the leaves. Some still as green as could be but most of them had turned yellow. They were not without blemish however, as some looked lacy from caterpillars eating into them. Most just had spots turning brown. A few in one general area had brown lines which looked to be drawn with an ink pen. They resembled the going up and down again in a pattern. Perhaps some errant snail found his way up there and did the decorating. Actually there must be a scientific reason for these markings.
Coming back toward the gravel road I counted the vines in the first row, 14. On the second row I counted 8. In the third row only two of Bob's vines. Then there are the vines running north to south alongside the gravel road. That will be a lot of pruning, if I get to all of them. Some of the less desirable vines will go down as being dispensible when the men come with their chain saws.
A walk-a-bout would not be complete here without a visit to the raised beds. Walking across the centipede grass I collectd quite a few of the seeds from the grass. They showed up as sand on my white shoes. I saw something new today, it was a black capped chicadee ( I think). I do not ever remember seeing birds in that garden. He was flying into the tomato cages but did not stay. Some of his friends were flying about also. I once again decided to leave the green tomatoes on the plants as I can see the last rain has made them larger. There is plenty of time to gather them later before any frost. They can ripen indoors quite nicely.
The stone mountain daisies have sent out an evangelist into the blackberry bed. It is blooming brightly announcing it's intention of permanent residence. I may have to help it find another home come next spring. That bed was made for blackberries, not daisies.
Another sign of fall is the seed pods on the redbud trees. They hang brown and ugly until winter winds tear them loose to find fertile ground in which to send their roots. I tell myself that the centipede grass Jim started here was a good choice for it never needs fertilizer and is sure to crowd out all weeds brave enough to enter it's domain. I have never had to fuss over that grass, it is well suited for the south and knows how to take care of itself !
This has been a nice morning pass through of the lake property, all is well, fall is doing what fall does best, close down the summer.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
The Changing Seasons
My neighbor across the road always calls me when the mail carrier comes down our road. I am so far from the road/mail box that I would never know when to go to check it. She has a good view of the road which is very close to her house. I appreciate these calls as it saves me unnecessary trips. Today she called before 11:00 which is early for our mail to arrive. Recently it came at 5:30 in the evening.
I planned to walk up and get in some exercise but I chickened out and hopped in my handy dandy golf cart. I did have a lot of mail and put in under my leg to prevent it from blowing away. The vineyard looked inviting so I rode down, not looking for anything in particular. I rode up to the bluebird house that my brother Gene had made for me. I have had it for a long time and it has a new door. The squirrels like to chew the 1.5 inch opening and gnaw it into a larger hole so they can winter over in the box. I do not want to have to replace this door again so I disengaged the large nail which holds it closed. It did indeed have a nest in it so I had to clean it out and left the door hanging open. The squirrels can just nest in the hardwood trees which are plentiful here.
Backing down from that end of the vineyard I noted which vines we will cut this winter. I really hate to part with any of them but those in the shade will not produce in that location so they may as well go. I saw other vines which had been cut years ago but sprang back up and are now a mass of vines and weeds. I wondered if they were trained might they produce the black grapes so many people like to use for jelly and wine. We have plenty of the pink Higgins and only two of the dark black almost seedless grape vines. My friend Bob planted them years ago. They are my favorites. I do have a grape called niagra which is showing promise. It will have green seedless grapes, much like the Thompson grapes. It was moved up in the vineyard from near the road, to give it richer ground.
While on this tour I looked for a short cut down to the kiwi vines, but they had all grown over with yellow goldenrod. I learned recently that goldenrod does not trigger allergic reactions as once thought. I had to go the long way around the pear trees to get to the kiwi. The crop this year is lean indeed. I will be lucky I think to get 30 kiwi. That is very disappointing but they had been severely pruned. One which Jim pruned is putting out growth again. It is really hard to put a good man (or kiwi vine) down. When I neglected those vines they produced heavily!
I then ventured to the raised beds with the electric fence around them. This was not a good summer for tomatoes for me. The best producer I had was a volunteer. It is now loaded with green tomatoes, but without the proper sun I have no great hopes for them to ripen. Still, it could happen.
Everywhere I rode today the purple ageratum was waving to me. Some plants just like to spread to other areas. Fortunately they like to go to areas where I am not planting other things, as along the east fence line and on the hill which is covered with ivy anyway.
One of the flowers which delights me is pink cosmos. Last year I cast some seeds around the oriental lillies out back. the seeds were varied and the only ones that grew were the pink cosmos. Now they have produced seed pods.I picked the dried ones and scattered them along the edges of the woods. Maybe some will take root and give me splashes of pink along with the goldenrod.
It is just the nature of nature to change and make us change with it. New activities, new projects, different foods and what I like most in the fall is the grapefruit season. So, there is much to look forward to even as the warmth of summer leaves and the cool winds of winter approach.
I planned to walk up and get in some exercise but I chickened out and hopped in my handy dandy golf cart. I did have a lot of mail and put in under my leg to prevent it from blowing away. The vineyard looked inviting so I rode down, not looking for anything in particular. I rode up to the bluebird house that my brother Gene had made for me. I have had it for a long time and it has a new door. The squirrels like to chew the 1.5 inch opening and gnaw it into a larger hole so they can winter over in the box. I do not want to have to replace this door again so I disengaged the large nail which holds it closed. It did indeed have a nest in it so I had to clean it out and left the door hanging open. The squirrels can just nest in the hardwood trees which are plentiful here.
Backing down from that end of the vineyard I noted which vines we will cut this winter. I really hate to part with any of them but those in the shade will not produce in that location so they may as well go. I saw other vines which had been cut years ago but sprang back up and are now a mass of vines and weeds. I wondered if they were trained might they produce the black grapes so many people like to use for jelly and wine. We have plenty of the pink Higgins and only two of the dark black almost seedless grape vines. My friend Bob planted them years ago. They are my favorites. I do have a grape called niagra which is showing promise. It will have green seedless grapes, much like the Thompson grapes. It was moved up in the vineyard from near the road, to give it richer ground.
While on this tour I looked for a short cut down to the kiwi vines, but they had all grown over with yellow goldenrod. I learned recently that goldenrod does not trigger allergic reactions as once thought. I had to go the long way around the pear trees to get to the kiwi. The crop this year is lean indeed. I will be lucky I think to get 30 kiwi. That is very disappointing but they had been severely pruned. One which Jim pruned is putting out growth again. It is really hard to put a good man (or kiwi vine) down. When I neglected those vines they produced heavily!
I then ventured to the raised beds with the electric fence around them. This was not a good summer for tomatoes for me. The best producer I had was a volunteer. It is now loaded with green tomatoes, but without the proper sun I have no great hopes for them to ripen. Still, it could happen.
Everywhere I rode today the purple ageratum was waving to me. Some plants just like to spread to other areas. Fortunately they like to go to areas where I am not planting other things, as along the east fence line and on the hill which is covered with ivy anyway.
One of the flowers which delights me is pink cosmos. Last year I cast some seeds around the oriental lillies out back. the seeds were varied and the only ones that grew were the pink cosmos. Now they have produced seed pods.I picked the dried ones and scattered them along the edges of the woods. Maybe some will take root and give me splashes of pink along with the goldenrod.
It is just the nature of nature to change and make us change with it. New activities, new projects, different foods and what I like most in the fall is the grapefruit season. So, there is much to look forward to even as the warmth of summer leaves and the cool winds of winter approach.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Christian Fellowship
On the first Sunday of each month we have communion at our Presbyterian church here in Gainesville. We take communion by intinction. That means we line up to take the bread and the wine ( grape juice in our church ) from the first pew in front to the back. When I was a child and until adulthood the preferred method was for an elder to prepare the juice in small glasses which held about one tablespoon . These little glasses were placed into a large silver, deep plate with a cover which had lots of openings for the glasses to rest in. The elders served the congregation as they sat in their pews. First however, they served everyone with small squares of bread or wafers, then the wine. Some churches have the participants hold the host (consecrated wafer) until the wine is served. In other churches this sacrament is called the Eucharist and real wine may be served.
The celebration of Holy Communion has always been an emotional time for me as I am remembering the many times my father served communion to me. For as long as I can remember he served as an elder in the same church, which is still alive and well back in Harlan, Ky. It took a little adjustment on my part to become comfortable taking communion by intinction.
Today my friend of long standing, Lou Germain was sitting in front of me with her husband. She was in line in front of me today and I could not resist tapping her on her shoulder when I stepped into line. She had gone before me and did not know I was there. She turned her head and smiled at me, as only she can smile. Lou is one of the true blue southern ladies of the church and she came all the way from Michigan years ago to become a true southern lady. It gave me great pleasure to take this sacred ceremony right after Lou. You see, we have a bond of long standing. We taught first graders for years in the same school, on the same hall, and right across the hall from each other.
Our friendship grew from that time we spent working together for the training of the young charges given to us each year. One day she told me that she was planning on moving to the area where I lived. I told her that if she would join the church where I worshiped we could see each other every week. Well, bless her heart, that is just what she did. She has been active in our church in the choir, teaching our circle class and engaging in many more activities.
Lou has a wonderful way of telling stories and when something is amusing she has a delightful giggle to accompany the story. Most people just "guffaw", or at least I do, but Lou has a little girl giggle and it is most pleasing. I once saw a picture of Lou and her husband when they were very young. He was in a sailor uniform from the second world war time. I could see why he fell in love with her. She was petite and pretty and no doubt had that little girl giggle.
A lot of emotions came to the fore this morning for me . Remembering past communions, past experiences with Lou and being with a body of fellow Christians. to make the morning even better, as I was leaving the sanctuary a friend came over to me and said she had something for me. It was green tea someone had given her, far more than she could use, three tins of it. So she was sharing it with me. When I got home the first thing I did when I entered the house was to put on fresh water to boil. I had a choice of tea pots and I picked up one which makes individual cups of tea. It was given to me by a hostess at Alexis Gardens at Toledo, Ohio where my sister was living. It made a fine cup of green tea which I enjoyed immediately.
The other thing that made enjoying this tea special was the tea cup I used. Years ago, my friend who had just given me the green tea, had given me a special cup. It has pretty flowers painted on it and bees flying around with the words on it "if it is to bee, it's up to me". That is a great message to adopt as a mantra. So often we think we need someone else to take the first step in a friendship.
It is said that a smile is contagious. I think that is true. Only this morning I was in the nursery when our newest member, three months old,was brought in by his mother. He was looking all around and his eyes fell on me. I smiled my biggest smile and said something soothing to him. He burst out in a huge grin and wiggled his whole body. That is another happy moment to complete my day of Christian fellowship.
The celebration of Holy Communion has always been an emotional time for me as I am remembering the many times my father served communion to me. For as long as I can remember he served as an elder in the same church, which is still alive and well back in Harlan, Ky. It took a little adjustment on my part to become comfortable taking communion by intinction.
Today my friend of long standing, Lou Germain was sitting in front of me with her husband. She was in line in front of me today and I could not resist tapping her on her shoulder when I stepped into line. She had gone before me and did not know I was there. She turned her head and smiled at me, as only she can smile. Lou is one of the true blue southern ladies of the church and she came all the way from Michigan years ago to become a true southern lady. It gave me great pleasure to take this sacred ceremony right after Lou. You see, we have a bond of long standing. We taught first graders for years in the same school, on the same hall, and right across the hall from each other.
Our friendship grew from that time we spent working together for the training of the young charges given to us each year. One day she told me that she was planning on moving to the area where I lived. I told her that if she would join the church where I worshiped we could see each other every week. Well, bless her heart, that is just what she did. She has been active in our church in the choir, teaching our circle class and engaging in many more activities.
Lou has a wonderful way of telling stories and when something is amusing she has a delightful giggle to accompany the story. Most people just "guffaw", or at least I do, but Lou has a little girl giggle and it is most pleasing. I once saw a picture of Lou and her husband when they were very young. He was in a sailor uniform from the second world war time. I could see why he fell in love with her. She was petite and pretty and no doubt had that little girl giggle.
A lot of emotions came to the fore this morning for me . Remembering past communions, past experiences with Lou and being with a body of fellow Christians. to make the morning even better, as I was leaving the sanctuary a friend came over to me and said she had something for me. It was green tea someone had given her, far more than she could use, three tins of it. So she was sharing it with me. When I got home the first thing I did when I entered the house was to put on fresh water to boil. I had a choice of tea pots and I picked up one which makes individual cups of tea. It was given to me by a hostess at Alexis Gardens at Toledo, Ohio where my sister was living. It made a fine cup of green tea which I enjoyed immediately.
The other thing that made enjoying this tea special was the tea cup I used. Years ago, my friend who had just given me the green tea, had given me a special cup. It has pretty flowers painted on it and bees flying around with the words on it "if it is to bee, it's up to me". That is a great message to adopt as a mantra. So often we think we need someone else to take the first step in a friendship.
It is said that a smile is contagious. I think that is true. Only this morning I was in the nursery when our newest member, three months old,was brought in by his mother. He was looking all around and his eyes fell on me. I smiled my biggest smile and said something soothing to him. He burst out in a huge grin and wiggled his whole body. That is another happy moment to complete my day of Christian fellowship.
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