Letters from Ascension Hermitage and Sanctuary

Well, we certainly need the rain, so no complaints here. Imagine says it's a great day to stay inside the run-in, especially since there is delicious hay - grain first, and then hay . . . good breakfast, good day!  

 "It's a well-known fact," Anya explained, "that cats have the prerogative to sleep late, even on Monday mornings - so if you don't mind, I'm going to stay right here in my bed, and you can bring my breakfast later."  . . . whatever you say, Anya kitty!

Time for a late afternoon snack! We hope everyone had a wonderful Sunday. From Common Worship: Daily Prayer  - In peace we will lie down and sleep; for you alone, Lord, make us dwell in safety. Abide with us, Lord Jesus, for the night is at hand and the day is now past. As the night watch looks for the morning, so do we look for you, O Christ. May the living waters of Christ cleanse us, may the Spirit descend upon us, and the blessing of God be with us this night and always.  

 One of my two recurring nightmares is driving on the causeway across Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana! I don't know why I thought of it today, but when there was snow in New Orleans, there was ice on the Lake Pontchartrain Bridge . . . from icy roads and bridges, good Lord deliver us! Of course, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel is (for me!) a nightmare too, but at least at only 18 miles long, it's six miles shorter than the Lake Pontchartrain Bridge. Stay safe, wherever you are!

 Another cold, cold day . . . but the sun is out!  Advice from Mouse, the cat? "Find a sunny window and a comfy blanket and take a cat nap!" We had a little snow last night - fortunately very dry snow that was easy to sweep off of the steps. And tomorrow the temperature may  get up to 34, with even warmer temperatures predicted for the weekend and next week. We're looking forward to that! Stay warm, stay safe.

 The day's first light and early morning visitors to the bird feeders shared the good news - the snow is melting! Sure enough, by early afternoon it's 41 degrees and sunny, and all water hoses are unfrozen. Hooray!

The first full moon of 2025, the Wolf Moon - this is how it looked just after dawn, about 7 a.m., when I went out to fill the birdfeeders. By 7:10 it was gone from sight.  This full moon gets its name from the wolf that howls at night. No wolves in Maryland - the last gray wolf here was killed in 1850. There are coyotes, but if they howl at the moon, I haven't heard them. Of course, beagles howl . . . my beagle Sammy howls, but not at the moon - he has been known to howl when he thinks I am too slow getting his breakfast!  The Wolf Moon will be full for two more nights - perhaps Sammy and I will go outside after dark tonight . . . who knows, maybe this will be the Beagle Moon!  

On this day when we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordon River, may we each remember our own baptism with thanksgiving for those who made it possible - parents, Godparents, friends, clergy.  If you were old enough to remember your baptism, may that memory be a blessing . . . if you were too young to remember (as was I), look up the details - and be especially glad for the one who baptized you and those who stood up for you! Baptism is, of course, a serious sacrament - the baptized person is changed forever. But less we - clergy and lay people - take ourselves too seriously, I include this drawing by my friend, the gifted artist Darlene James. Have a blessed day, everyone!  

 Imagine my surprise when I discovered that my little lime tree is blooming in January! I brought the plant in when the weather got cold and found a place for it in a south-facing window . . . now it has many new leaves and four blooms as well! It is still a very young tree, so I don't expect any limes this year, but the blooms are beautiful. May you discover the beauty in your life every day!

 Never mind the worm, as soon as there was light this morning the birds came to our feeder looking for safflower seeds and peanut suet . . . and yes, that's exactly what they found! Have a blessed day!

We did have a lot of snow overnight, but by noon today the temperature had risen to 30, and most of our snow has turned to slush . . . the doggies still think this is fun! More snow predicted for tonight and temperatures back down to low 20s, so no doubt this slush will turn to ice. If you must go out, be careful, stay safe! And because it is the Feast of the Epiphany, I share this blessing from The Book of Occasional Services : May Almighty God, who led the Wise Men by the shining of a star to find the Christ, the Light from Light, lead you also in your pilgrimage, to find the Lord. Amen. May God, who sent the Holy Spirit to rest upon the Only-begotten at his baptism in the Jordon River, pour out that Spirit on you who have come to the waters of new birth. Amen. May God, by the power that turned water into wine at the wedding feast at Cana, transform your lives and make glad your hearts. Amen.  

For reasons beyond my control, this remembrance from January 3rd, is being posted today.   Canon West was mentor to many of us in the Religious Life. May he rest in peace and rise in glory. May his memory always be a blessing. from Episcopal News Service . January 25, 1990  One of the premier liturgical scholars in the Episcopal Church, the Rev. Canon Edward Nason West, retired canon sacrist of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, died on Wednesday, January 3, from pulmonary failure. "Edward West was to the American Church what Thomas Crammer was to the Church of England," said the Rt. Rev. Walter Dennis, suffragan bishop of New York, at a requiem for West. Describing West as "a legend in his own time," Dennis pointed to his reputation as a liturgical expert as an example that he "could see in a moment exactly what could be done to reveal hidden beauty." . . .   As a scholar of icons and religious art, West was an important adviser in the design of churc...

 Well, the morning started with an early call from our gas company - our propane gas tanks were low, and we'd be getting a delivery this morning! It's always hard to begin the day with a large bill, but good that the company monitors our tanks, and quickly comes when we need a refill. And the other good news?  Two men came with the gas delivery - both wore woolen caps and hooded sweatshirts (it's cold and very windy today!) - but one of the men had a dark beard, so he must have dark hair on his head as well. And if we can assume the Scottish legend is correct (and why not?!) the first "guest" to enter our property after mid-night on New Year's was a dark-haired man and that means a year of good luck!  Yes, indeed, I have enough Scottish ancestors to believe that legend!