Monday

 Today was NOT one of those pokey days.  Pokey passed me by.  I did some sewing and then I was off to church to meet Heidi to get a jump on visuals for Advent.  You know me...plan ahead and be happy when the gang gets there. Panic is good.  And I mentioned that when I'm charting a new path, it has a better chance to succeed when all is quiet.  Today there was some charting to do.  Ten o'clock was the starting time and we left church at 2.  Yes, a lot happened.  

We worked on the new nativity set, placing the driftwood as well as succulents and then all the fun fantastical pieces of the Patience Bruster nativity set. 

                                            Did you notice that the camel is wearing shoes?                                                                                It would seem that one of the wise men arrived on an elephant.                                                             If memory serves me correctly, they came from the east.  Perhaps India.

We unpacked everything.  Played with succulent placement and really had a lot of fun with everything that came together. 

                                    What a gift and what a treat for the congregation to experience. 

 

                         The goat is almost at the top of the driftwood piece ready to take a leap.
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There was a little reluctance to move on, but we needed to.  There were miles to go before we left.  

We packed away some stuff that needed packing and then unpacked Advent Candles moving one set to the altar in the chapel and futzing with ribbon, greenery, pinecones and more.  The chapel will have nativities added Sunday and then it will be declared finished for the year 2024.  Pregnant Mary has arrived in the chapel standing high where all can see her.

We worked a bit in the sanctuary but that will really need three more short sessions, Nativities and banners come Sunday, Thanksgiving on the altar will disappear at the end of next week and Advent candles will be added Saturday Nov. 30th for the December 1st service.  Nothing is easy when so many different things happen with different needs in the same space one right after the other.  

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Hidie and I took a spin up Meridian Street to where I saw Osage Oranges lying on the ground beside the road.  I wanted some for decorating and we filled a couple of bags with bright green balls.  We'll use them in the Gathering Center mixed in with roping that is on the windowsills.  It's something different and just my kind of thing.  I'm so happy to have friends who give me space to do what some might call crazy.  Doris sits on my shoulder often saying...keep it fresh.  

The O Oranges are sliced right now and are drying in the oven being prepared for parlor decorations.  We'll also use them with the green balls among the pinecones and seed pods. They smell so good.

Honey locust pods.  A new shape and another gift from nature we'll poke into the greenery in the Gathering Place along with the Osage Orange and Pine cones.

We declared today's church work over at 2. That did not include a lot of texting to friends with pictures of the morning.  What fun to share new visuals that can be found during the coming season at North.  

I stopped at Goodwill and found another flannel but left it at the store.  That was crazy!  It wasn't such a hot piece and probably will be there when I visit again. Aldi's had a can of corn I needed for Corn Chowder.  Then on to a place called home.  The chair looked really good and felt even better.  I added the corn to the soup and walla...Corn Chowder.  I think it needs a little bacon to really perk the taste buds.  

Eric needed a pick up at Broadripple.  He changed a bike tire last night and thinks he twisted the inner tube in the process.  It didn't feel right this morning, so he was a bus rider.  We would have missed this glorious scene had we elected to stay home tonight.  

                                                    The sky started out looking this way. 

                          Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts.  Heaven and Earth are praising thee.                              I am more than grateful for words that come back to me from my childhood church days. 

It's time to sit for a spell.  There is Monday night football.  I'm ready and I hope the players are.  I would like to see a good game.  I imagine the players would like to play a good game.