I love Lent - just taking time to be a bit quieter and austere. This year my husband is composing a Stabat Mater that may be performed by a children's choir in Italy at Easter (fingers crossed), so Lenten music started early for us.
Well technically, it’s for the next 40 days, sans Sundays. In Maryland, settled by Catholics for Catholics, Lent was strictly adhered to in the 1950’s while I was growing up. My older sister was in charge of all religions folderol. She was a Catholic nut job during my youth. In our household, we fasted and churchified and followed all the Lenten rules. Ash Wednesday meant something more to her than me, kicking and screaming about Holy Days of Obligation. I’m a lapsed Methodist who identifies as Jewish now. I skipped Lenten lunch yesterday. Religion is very complicated. Biggies know better. They just practice Dog. AND THEY ALL GO TO HEAVEN!
Please tell Christmas Tree Julie congratulations!!! And, yes, I can relate to the feeling of standing out at a new church….especially when the singing of The Lord’s Prayer came around and the words were slightly different to what we sang at home!! As my dad would say, ‘Oh, those Presbyterians…’
Glad the Big Boo is feeling better!! Is Eli more of a toy nib-nib kind of guy, rather than a destroyer?? I learned rather quickly to give our juvenile delinquent the tough, seemingly indestructible toys after he mauled his poor Lambchop in a matter of minutes!!!
We had an amazing experience at the German celebration of Fasnet (or so it is known in the little villages near Switzerland in southwest Germany). On Wednesday we went to dinner with my cousin and he explained that nothing on the menu was available. The dinner items were written on a chalkboard: kassalat (cheese salad), French onion soup, vegetable ravioli, or escargot. Ravioli it was, then! I have no idea what kassalat might be, and I was in no huge hurry to find out, because it would be a long, hungry night with no other places open for dinner. There are literally no fast-food joints in the entire town, population 24,000, so far as we are aware.
It snowed allllll day on Wednesday, and it was glorious. Then it rained in the night and washed it all away. We traveled by train down to Zurich this afternoon, where I am currently sitting in the lounge awaiting my flight to Munich. (There are two teacup poodles or bichon frisées nearby.). It is snowing there, and should snow until around midnight. We will be off to Frankfurt then back to Houston on Friday. And I'm off to Florida to watch spring training with my dad next Wednesday!
We saw the news about the former royal, perpetual spoiled jerk this morning when we awoke. Nice to see one domino fall. I feel terribly sad for Ginny, "Nobody's Girl" as she titled her book, that she died before she saw this. Her entire life, she was failed repeatedly, and that had yet to change in the US.
Rats. Our flight to Munich was canceled, so we have to overnight in Zurich and fly to Frankfurt in the morning. The good part is that you have to be given all sorts of things if your flight originates in Europe. Plus we are insured. The bad thing is we wanted to hang out in Munich, especially since it’s snowing. Plus I have a marvelous hat…well, I still have my marvelous hat I guess but it’s just rain here in Zurich. Ah well. First world problems right?
Appears the rest of the world is taking their own to task, when those who are the most guilty, shrouded in the safety of political arms, stand free perched upon that beacon on a hill.
Auggie looks like a different dog and Eli so content with his elephant ear. 💚❤️
I gasped as well, albeit several hours after you. I've become numb to so much of the news that when you see something that seems true and just, I'm shocked rather than heartened. Onward with hope....
But it is not "true and just;" or more accurately, it is true and just that Andrew should be prosecuted for mishandling information but it is not "true and just" that there is nothing about prosecuting him for sexual misconduct.
Though I have been meaning to ask for a long time, this essay and the one about piano practice finally prompts me: Do you still sing at all? Community choir? Cantor in church?
I love Lent - just taking time to be a bit quieter and austere. This year my husband is composing a Stabat Mater that may be performed by a children's choir in Italy at Easter (fingers crossed), so Lenten music started early for us.
Oh, how lovely. I would love to hear it when it’s finished.
Your thoughts and words made me smile as do your wonderful, loving dogs.
Same here.
This post Ash Wednesday, love to the biggies and to all juicy elephants. (I hate Ash Wednesday since my youth, held onto throughout my life).
That was yesterday. It’s all over now.
Well technically, it’s for the next 40 days, sans Sundays. In Maryland, settled by Catholics for Catholics, Lent was strictly adhered to in the 1950’s while I was growing up. My older sister was in charge of all religions folderol. She was a Catholic nut job during my youth. In our household, we fasted and churchified and followed all the Lenten rules. Ash Wednesday meant something more to her than me, kicking and screaming about Holy Days of Obligation. I’m a lapsed Methodist who identifies as Jewish now. I skipped Lenten lunch yesterday. Religion is very complicated. Biggies know better. They just practice Dog. AND THEY ALL GO TO HEAVEN!
IMO, Dog is the best religion!
Yes, I gfully agree, Thanks Dog!
You know what? Spell Check is going to push me over the egg!
I've always thought that it's no coincidence that "dog" is "god" spelled backwards.
At least, in English....
I was speaking of Ash Wednesday.
I know! It’s black, and I’m complicated.😐🫥💭
What was in the NYT that made you gasp?
I’d giggle too if half the attendance was the choir.
Happy ear-nibbling, baby!
You’ll find the headlines everywhere
ahh, I was wondering, too, but now I know what you're referring to. Too bad we can't do something like that here.....
It’s coming.
God I hope so 🙏🏻
Ditto
One thing leads to the next…
I'm sorry, but I'll believe it when I see it.
Please tell Christmas Tree Julie congratulations!!! And, yes, I can relate to the feeling of standing out at a new church….especially when the singing of The Lord’s Prayer came around and the words were slightly different to what we sang at home!! As my dad would say, ‘Oh, those Presbyterians…’
Glad the Big Boo is feeling better!! Is Eli more of a toy nib-nib kind of guy, rather than a destroyer?? I learned rather quickly to give our juvenile delinquent the tough, seemingly indestructible toys after he mauled his poor Lambchop in a matter of minutes!!!
Eli’s a lover, not a fighter.
Our yard is full of lampchops
We had an amazing experience at the German celebration of Fasnet (or so it is known in the little villages near Switzerland in southwest Germany). On Wednesday we went to dinner with my cousin and he explained that nothing on the menu was available. The dinner items were written on a chalkboard: kassalat (cheese salad), French onion soup, vegetable ravioli, or escargot. Ravioli it was, then! I have no idea what kassalat might be, and I was in no huge hurry to find out, because it would be a long, hungry night with no other places open for dinner. There are literally no fast-food joints in the entire town, population 24,000, so far as we are aware.
It snowed allllll day on Wednesday, and it was glorious. Then it rained in the night and washed it all away. We traveled by train down to Zurich this afternoon, where I am currently sitting in the lounge awaiting my flight to Munich. (There are two teacup poodles or bichon frisées nearby.). It is snowing there, and should snow until around midnight. We will be off to Frankfurt then back to Houston on Friday. And I'm off to Florida to watch spring training with my dad next Wednesday!
We saw the news about the former royal, perpetual spoiled jerk this morning when we awoke. Nice to see one domino fall. I feel terribly sad for Ginny, "Nobody's Girl" as she titled her book, that she died before she saw this. Her entire life, she was failed repeatedly, and that had yet to change in the US.
Domino is the right word.
And safe travels. Munich is one of my favorite cities, and the airport is nice, too.
Rats. Our flight to Munich was canceled, so we have to overnight in Zurich and fly to Frankfurt in the morning. The good part is that you have to be given all sorts of things if your flight originates in Europe. Plus we are insured. The bad thing is we wanted to hang out in Munich, especially since it’s snowing. Plus I have a marvelous hat…well, I still have my marvelous hat I guess but it’s just rain here in Zurich. Ah well. First world problems right?
Appears the rest of the world is taking their own to task, when those who are the most guilty, shrouded in the safety of political arms, stand free perched upon that beacon on a hill.
Auggie looks like a different dog and Eli so content with his elephant ear. 💚❤️
Congratulations to Christmas Tree Julie! 😍
I gasped as well, albeit several hours after you. I've become numb to so much of the news that when you see something that seems true and just, I'm shocked rather than heartened. Onward with hope....
But it is not "true and just;" or more accurately, it is true and just that Andrew should be prosecuted for mishandling information but it is not "true and just" that there is nothing about prosecuting him for sexual misconduct.
So normal, so cheery - a bit of God’s grace to take with us as we move through our day! Thank you ever so much! ☺️
Of hope and elephants. What a lovely way to start my day.
Given the ugliness that seems to permeate the news these days, and worsening seeming conditions, this was a great pallet cleanser.
It snowed here, finally. It's frigid and beautiful. As my youngest daughter says, "Doesn't snow just smell beautiful!"
Yes. Yes it does. :)
Yes it does.
Enjoyed this-
Ideally, religion has two core purposes and benefits-
Guidance and comfort. You engaged (reciprocally)
in both yesterday-
and the givers and receivers both benefited.
A good day, indeed!
Took me a while to realize you were talking about Lent (your reason for going to church)! Tis the season . .
Lovely first read for me this morning, thank you. And that sweet, gentle giant of a pooch and his stuffy 😍!
He’s just giving the little elephant a massage!
Though I have been meaning to ask for a long time, this essay and the one about piano practice finally prompts me: Do you still sing at all? Community choir? Cantor in church?
Nope. It’s like being an athlete. If you’re not working out every day, you can’t do it well.
I have always enjoyed your writing but during these extremely dark times, you and @Charlie Sykes are the first ones I read on a daily basis. Thank yoi