Sunday, February 23, 2014

Sunday Evening

Folks, it's been a long week for us here at Calamity Acres. 

My brother's death and all that went with it... we are worn out, and I admit it. 


But things are getting back to normal. 

Life goes on. 


Yesterday, it was a sunny, bright winter day to lay my brother to rest.  I filled the duck pond
for the third day in a row... and they had such a good time cleaning themselves. 


Today was a different story, however, and the ducks got to wade around in what I poured from their pool.  I won't fill it for the next few days, we are going to be down in the twenties and thirties again, with teens at night.  In fact, I went out just now and poured out the plastic water fountains in the old henhouse so I won't have to bring them in in the morning to that them.


Yesterday, I took the lids off these cans and took them outside and washed with the hose all the nasty poop off the top.  It smells dreadfully, in case you are wondering.  It's starling poop.  And while I am not having hundreds of invaders this year, the score I have had has been enough.  Tonight, this is how the lids looked. 

Ugh. 

I went in the house and we had our dinner, and when I went out... the plastic waterers were nasty again.  

Double Ugh. 

I have emptied them for the night, because we are dipping below freezing. 


And while I was working, Speedy, the smallest rooster, got his tail whapped by one of the Elvi, and came running out the front door of the henhouse, which I had propped open.  I let him peck around for a while... he never did notice the flock that was on the other side of the yard... Ferdie's flock from the henspa, and after a while, I took the net and caught him and put him up on the closet, so he could get a drink and eat something and get back up into the rafters.  I'll be so glad when they can all go out in the sun for a few days, like earlier this week. 

I'll try to get back on a normal schedule of posting now.... 

And close today with a view of the beautiful church in which I grew up.... my family lived just a block away, and I went to school here, and church until I was 20...


That's Keith and my brother Pete standing down below.  I had fun going up to the choir loft, where I sang hundreds of times while in grade school.  Our children's choirs sang in parts, even at a young age... and were quite beautiful. 

We were the first ones there. 


The steps down from the choir loft... they show the footsteps of hundreds of people over the last century. 


The organ.  This is not the organ of my youth.  This organ had been dismantled at some point, and a large organ sat on the left side of the loft in this picture... and that was what we used when I was young.  I was given lessons on that organ, until the teacher contacted my mother one day and told her it was 
useless.  She was right, I was just not musically inclined as far as playing. 
This organ and it's pipes (you can just see the top of the organ) take up most of the loft now. There is a riser in back of it, and a kneeler along the inside.  I got a sense of vertigo looking down to take the picture of my brother and Keith.  I don't remember that happening when I was in grade school.  There is a storage office off to the right, you can see the door.  

Everyone have a wonderful Sunday night... I am going to tape the Downton Abbey finale, and watch the Olympics closing ceremony with Abbie, cuddle on the couch!

10 comments:

  1. I hope the coming week gives you the physical and emotional respite you need, Mary Ann!

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  2. It has been quite a week for you indeed. It will be good for you all to settle back into some normal days. It's going to get colder here too this coming week. Your church is beautiful and you have some wonderful memories there. I'm going to watch Downton Abby now. I've not kept up with the Olympics at all.

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  3. The church is, indeed, beautiful. I pray the Lord gives you peace, rest and spiritual comfort.

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  4. what a week for all of you! please try to relax and take care of yourself! we are about to get frigid again.

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  5. Mary Ann,

    The week has been very stressful for you and your family. I'm sending you a hug (((((((Mary Ann)))))))) in hopes things will be less stressful, and more relaxed for you. Keeping you and your family in my prayers.

    Please stay warm, this arctic breeze is a bit much. Hurry up Spring!!!

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  6. I know it's been a stressful week for ya'll. Wow, an amazing church.

    I'm so ready for warm weather....

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  7. We were thinking of you all weekend, that is a very beautiful church. Gonna be another cold week.
    stella rose and momma

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  8. Oh my gosh, that church is breathtaking! Glad your organ teacher came to her senses so you didn't have to continue lessons. I too, have no musical talent (unless you call singing in the shower talent).

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  9. Sorry to hear about your brother. The church is beautiful. What a lovely place to say good bye to him.

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  10. Weather up, down, here we go again. It has dried out enough down here that can walk across the driveway anyway!

    That church is so pretty. The church I grew up going to is now listed as an "oratory", a holy place where people can go and pray. It is still used sometimes for funeral Masses and occasionally a wedding, and they have the Midnight Mass there as it supposedly holds more than ours here in town and also it is in between the two parishes our priest takes care of. I remember singing in the choir loft - never one of the stars, that is for sure. Sister Mary Catherine made us practice, practice,
    practice.

    Get some rest!

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