Micah spent an evening at our house and endeared himself very much to both our cats and our children. This small kitten is now enormous and pushy but then, he was mere clay in the hands of Micah. I promised him I would put them up days ago (sorry!) so here they are. Enjoy. Read more

Excellent day at church. Hoards of angels and baby sheep roved over the church circus like hysteria during pageant practice. Matt preached his soul out. Emma continued her four year old death obsessed prayer over from last week that the Good Shepherd wouldn’t die and neither would the sheep. Aedan sat through the whole 10:30 service in amazing quiet.And baby, who is 4 months old today, was distractingly cute.Unable to gather thought of any kind so here is another bit… Read more

I wasn’t going to post a picture of our turkey because it looked so nekked and, well, homegrown. But Matt insists that Nigella (of Nigella Lawson’s Feast) says cook the bird breast side down for more even cooking and thereby succulent taste. Looks are sacrificed for flavor. I disagreed when I saw the bird emerge from the oven–Its got to be possible to have that level of flavor (and, by gum, it was the best turkey he’s cooked yet–juicy, golden,… Read more

Well, my good husband is complaining about the sun. It’s a beautiful day—clear, crisp—and we’ve had a good walk and a nice quiet morning, but it remains very sunny, contrary to his requirements for gray sleet like rain and clouds.I sent two pies to the neighbors yesterday. I had no business making four pies for the four of us (baby doesn’t eat pie yet) and it would have been even more sinful to keep them all. So we only have… Read more

I was intending to post my intelligent and witty sermonette (there were six of us preaching so we only got 4 minutes each, and I had to follow directly on Matt which is always unfair) from last night’s Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service, however, a very tiny, very old woman pinched my cheek at the end of the service and said, ‘I loved your cute little talk.’ So that’s gone in the garbage bin of my computer.Instead, here’s my secret to perfect… Read more

I was in the very middle of writing a brilliant and insightful piece on 1 Timothy 2:11, when KJS so providentially bestowed this and this upon us today. I would just like to hone in on that most excellent interchange:KJS: About 2.2 million. It used to be larger percentagewise, but Episcopalians tend to be better-educated and tend to reproduce at lower rates than some other denominations. Roman Catholics and Mormons both have theological reasons for producing lots of children. Times:… Read more

The water has subsided. Everyone is mopping up the mud this morning. I have had to take up the rug in my play room and everything off the floor in the basement. As usual, I’m wondering why on earth we all live here. Its a virtual flood plain, the economy is really not very good, and its gray and brown half the year (winter). However, I guess I can trust that God, in his good mercy, is trying to build… Read more

Meant to do a big long impressive post today but the flood waters are rising again. The church is filled up–metaphorically. I guess there are a couple of inches in the nursery, parish hall and kitchen. Had to cancel the Shepherd’s Bowl because of the water. So, late as it is, I ask your prayers for Binghamton–those who have already lost so much in the last flood, and for safety tonight. Hopefully the rain will abate and we can dry… Read more

I really ought not to be writing anything at this moment—can hear children baying in the distance like mastodons. But I just read this very interesting post from the English Muffin Blog which I read every few days or so. I find most particularly interesting the juxtaposition, or maybe collision is a better word—that seems to be occurring (or destined to occur) between the voiceless effaced woman of Islam who is every day more visible in American life (not on… Read more