IN Carmel

                         Two of four banners are found in the west entrance.  Words are taken from the Messiah .                                                                       Also in the west entrance.  Well, today you might say it's more of the same as Tuesday and Wednesday.  I'll be out of the groove soon.  Maybe even tomorrow.  I told Doug that if the car takes me to church tomorrow it has the wrong program going.  In the alcove in the west entrance. The white nativity set has been moved and replaced with 26 small nativities.  The donkey and lamb have been with us for years made by two parishioners who were proficient in set making. The palms are from our Palm Sunday worship service. Many Advent Christmas events are found on the bulletin board. The banner over the open window holds the words Star Child taken from one of my favorite Advent hymns. Many stars formed from mirror pieces are a part of the banner.                                                        The c

 Are you all wondering what happened today?  Easy answer...the same as yesterday.  Yes, two days of work at North.   Poinsettia for the altar.  The hope is these will stay fresh enough for the first two Sundays of Advent. All of the home morning stuff was finished and I met Heidi at church at our usual time, 9:30.  This was the walk-through morning checking on everything more than once to see what needed another go at being perfect.  Well as near perfect as we could get.  That continued on till we left at 1:30.  Of course there were a few folks walking through from Shepherd Center and we stopped to talk.  And then the question was what needed to be moved to a better place for a few things.  We straightened some banner poles. Filled empty spots.  Hung more roping and bows outdoors. We added a few things to the west side entrance.  The space is ready for Saturday's Landmark event when many folks will enter the church as part of a four church tour. We are expecting many many folks. Ad

 Today's activities have been repeated every year for almost but not quite as long as I can remember.  Well at least for 40-plus years.  It's preparing the church visually for Advent and Christmas Tide.  And tonight I can say we are ready. The new church year calendar begins with Advent. We are ready. The day started with Eric on the bus and Noah to school.  Kat had an early doctor's appointment and Andrew was staying home sick. One more driver was necessary.  After the delivers were completed it was straight to church for me.  I always like to arrive before all the workers are expected. It keeps me from being behind I think. With so many workers, staying at least with them is good.  The work proceeded through the morning into early afternoon with 10 people finding plenty to do.                                         Found in many places in the church.  All 24 angels are out and about. Mid-morning Darren stopped by and Heidi and I took an Advent work break and heard about

               One of my favorite pictures with my youngest grandson Eli. He's an eighth grader.    My goodness, two posts in one day.  Forgetting more suggests that should happen.  So what do I remember about today?  I made an attempt to do a little cleaning.  That means the kitchen counters look a lot better.  They even have been bleached.  Then the patio got a sweep attempting to keep all that's brought in via shoes to stay outside.  Doug got the washing finished.  That's been his job for more years than I can imagine.  It's easy for him since he saw his father responsible for that job.  I am blessed.                                                                                                 Some Georgia color.  The dentist got a call and we met at 12:30 to discuss the tooth situation. That resulted in a 1 hour 30 minute reservation in the dentist's chair.  A small filling in one tooth and the second tooth prepared for a crown.  Well, there goes the Xmas mone

                                     A lasting memory and one of the three lakes on the monastery property.   Yes, it's morning and we're home again in Indiana.  Yesterday held a very long car ride and I'm thrilled it's over.  Long is hard to do in some cases.  We left the monastery at 8:10 and pulled into the Hillsdale Driveway at 7.  There was one stop for gas and that was all she wrote.  I didn't get out of the car so when I arrived in the home garage it was a funny sight.  I had to laugh at this decrepit body trying to walk again.  But the car was unpacked in record time with all put away also in record time.                                                         Doug's stash will last for a very long time.                                                                          The last purchase took about a year to disappear with the last very hard fudge sweetening the coffee. What's left is fudge and biscotti, leftover food, and a whole lot of new me

 Our last day with friends of the monastery.  It's been another great family friend's time.  Last evening and this morning we had visits from some of the monks who have become good friends. Mid-morning the abbot visited and Peter Damian was here.  Peter D the new abbot talor was back again in the afternoon.   As you can tell from yesterday's pictures, the south, and all its flora is fascinating.  I wish more things were hardier in the north but it's not to be. So I enjoy them when here.  One thing I love is seeing all the long, long pine needles on the forest floor.  So there was a good conversation about them and in the afternoon Jared, Kimmy, and I gathered two rather large bags to line the paths in the Carmel garden.  I am so lucky to have a family that will support all my gathering that has happened over the years.                                           Two big bags stuffed full of pine needles.  I'm the lucky lady.                                           

 The stuffing day is over and my body is a bit happier. It may be the diet of soup that needs to happen again.  The food is holding out in fine fashion.  We had a little rain early in the morning but at 9 a.m. all appeared to be in great shape for the day.  After the long ride on Wednesday, the grandsons all slept till noon yesterday.  It was a super day of all enjoying each other's company.  The one big plan of the day is to visit the monks in the process of baking biscotti.  Yum, Yum.  It's quite a process but what happens is the best biscotti found in Georgia for sale in the bookstore as well as online.  At another time of year, fruit cakes of many sizes are the product of the day. Add fudge with many flavors and now you have the big three!                                                   Just outside the door is this beautiful Holly bush.                                                                                                 Clipping a branch is almost impossible b

 First, you need to know that the internet in the guest house is S  L  O  W.  Really slow so I'm not sure how often I'll write.  But here goes for Wednesday late afternoon.I added more days toward the end of the week.  .                       Kimmy and Jared with a great kitchen clean up after the Thanksgiving celebration.   Starting with Monday.  We left home around 8:30 on our way to a leisurely trip to Georgia.  I was thinking maybe Berea Kent. or something like that.  What happened that the first day took us to Cleveland Tenn.  Almost to Georgia.  Doug was at the wheel of course and that's where the car stopped.  Our motel was the Douglas Inn in the process of a new renovation.  All good.                                                          There is always a lot of ice cream on the menu.   The second day Tuesday took us on a trip missing Chattanooga completely.  Why didn't we find this route a long time ago is crazy.  Anything is good missing that city.  Way too

 A wonderful church Sunday and you all should have been there.  We've had many good services lately with something special almost every Sunday that has blown me away with emotion.  Keep the Kleenex handy.  Can it get even better? yes.             A frosty morning with the soon-to-be-gone brown leaves outlined with white frost.  So pretty.  Today was our finance pledge Sunday getting ready for the new year.  What would make that more than good?  The sermon but more so for me the message that came from the music.  Today was no exception.  We heard Mark Hayes' version of the Te Deum, an ancient message We praise thee, O God: we acknowledge Thee to be the Lord.  All the earth doth worship Thee, the Father everlasting. Mark H added the notes that brought this more than alive for music lovers.           So many shades of brown with the bright green of parsley still with us shining in the morning sun.  Something happened. I sang this Te Deum years ago and when listened today to the ch

 Today was sort of a work day.  Connect was a complete flop with both Andrew and Kat making it a 100 % thing for them.  Wordle was better and the crossword was an OK.                          Hail, hail, the gangs all here.  That is except for Kimmy and Lela!  We were excluded.                                                                                         We didn't fit the criteria.                                                                                     The picture was taken outside the monastery church doors.2022 This was a turkey roasting morning.  It's all baked, packed, and once again in the freezer ready for the trip south.  That even includes the gravy which is a favorite for me but most of the gang will leave it be.  If I made dressing the rest feel just about the same.  So I'll let that be.                                    Here is a picture of the invisible roasted turkey ready for carving. I did some work on cranberry relish improvement.  Tha