Letters from Ascension Hermitage and Sanctuary

Most definitely we are at the brink of Autumn - this clematis vine is in full bloom, the birds are molting, and the Virginia creeper is beginning to turn red. The mornings here are cool now . . . in the 50s, and then the days warm to mid 70s. It is a magical time of year really! The Sanctuary House cats are one hundred percent indoors, but even they know Autumn is coming - everyone is eating more. Food dishes that in the Summer only needed to be filled once a day are now completely empty every morning and again by mid-afternoon. We hope you are enjoying cooler days now, too!

 To all of my Sisters and friends in Christ who celebrate the Feast of St. Augustine a day early, wishing you every blessing of the day (today and tomorrow!). L ord God, the light of the minds that know you, the life of the souls that love you, and the strength of the hearts that serve you: Help us, following the example of your servant, Augustine of Hippo, so to know you that we may truly love you, and so to love you that we may fully serve you, whose service is perfect freedom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

Sammy the beagle loves wet paint - in the past he has been white, two shades of blue, red, off-white, gray, and now he has a dusty green patch on his neck!  He's taking a nap after the excitement of discovering that I had painted the newel post on my way upstairs. Even his collar and name tag design is called Wet Paint!  When the salesperson asked me if I really wanted this, I said "oh, most definitely!" We hope you and your "helpers" are having a great day. . . . . .  nap over - and there's a lot more green paint! Oh Sammy, what a beagle!

 With the end of Summer fast approaching, this weekend was the perfect opportunity to begin clean-up chores, and that included levelling the horse pasture. Low areas at the gate and in front of the run-ins have been filled in and the old hay area has been cleared. The horses now have a much better space for playing and for their hay. Many thanks to Jason Tawes who came with the bulldozer to make this job possible! And now we're dreaming of getting a two-bale "hay basket" to keep the hay off of the ground . . . a $600 dream from Tractor Supply! Definitely not in our budget, but the horses join us in the dream as the basket becomes a priority on our Wish List!

Duncan, aka Ducky, came to Sanctuary House yesterday afternoon. As with many rescue dogs, he has a sketchy background - he was "found" on a country road, no collar, no tags, and certainly no microchip. After his mandatory stray hold at our county dog control office, he came to live with us. He is about 8 years old and is being treated for some (hopefully temporary) eye and ear issues, as well as for two tick-borne diseases: ehrlichia and anaplasmosis. He almost certainly was a hunter's dog, but he was quite willing to come into the house and settled down for the night. So now begins the process of learning our routines and schedule - as with most hunting dogs, treats are an unknown, but if Ducky is like other dogs, he will develop a love of dog biscuits within two days!  

"Mom, what's that sound on the roof?" Simon was taking a nap, only to be interrupted by a little burst of rain.  No worries, I reassured him, it's just rain and it should be raining off and on all day today! If it's raining in your part of the world too, we hope you stay safe and dry, and have a marvelous day.  

 You just never know what the day is going to bring and yesterday was no exception. A friend who works at the local veterinary hospital called to say a man had found a kitten on the highway, and would I take her. Well, of course! The kitten is about 9 or 10 weeks old - she was exhausted and dehydrated, and very, very thin. Yesterday she ate and slept and wanted to be cuddled . . . this morning she is ready to jump and climb and run! I wasn't sure about her name at first. This morning, she told me (in the way cats do!) that her name is Maggie . . . short for Margaret - after my 2nd great grandaunt Aunt Mag (1829-1923), and Dame Maggie Smith (1934-2024).  Aunt Mag was a character in her own right and of course Dame Maggie Smith was one of the greatest actors ever, so I suspect that my Maggie will be amazing too!

Taking advantage of a slightly cooler morning, I said Morning Prayer outside . . . Mec watched me, no doubt saying her own prayers that I would think to reach into my pocket where there's almost always a stash of dog biscuits. Now, at noon, the temperature is back into the 80s, and with high humidity, feels like 97. Everyone is back indoors, and Mec's prayer was answered with a definite YES!  

Our Little Free Library now has a QR code! Visitors to the library can easily scan the code and download the Little Free Library mobile app - then they can always find Little Free Libraries nearby, share books, and spread the joy of reading!    "Little Free Library® and its logo are registered trademarks of Little Free Library, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and are used with its permission." 

"And just what are your plans for today?" Little Boy asked. Even though his plans include bird watching, cat naps, and delicious snacks, Little Boy likes to keep track of everyone else's activities, too. We hope you're having a great day, with someone to keep track of your comings and goings.  

Wikipedia  explains, " Chiara Offreduccio, known as Clare of Assisi, is an Italian saint who was one of the first followers of Francis of Assisi.  Inspired by the teachings of St.  Francis, she founded the Order of Poor Ladies, a monastic religious order for women in the Franciscan tradition.  The Order of Poor Ladies was different from any other order or convent because it followed a rule of strict poverty." This icon of St. Clare (from  Monastery Icons )  is in the chapel corner at Sanctuary House.  Among other claims to fame, St. Clare is the patron saint of television! But at Sanctuary House it is also a great day to celebrate another St. Clare: one of my great grandmothers, Emily St. Clare Moorhead Scott (1856-1894), and no, she was not named for St. Clare of Assisi, but for a friend of her father, Captain St. Clare (and for her mother Emily). She was born in Pewee Valley, Kentucky, and lived in nearby Louisville until my great grandfather, Willia...

Well, not quite . . . When Ascension Hermitage & Sanctuary purchased our property here in Somerset County, Maryland, we inherited the Hall Family Cemetery. There are 13 marked graves - and two unmarked ones. Some of the stones are still legible - others are very worn. I am beginning a clean-up project, because I don't want anyone here to be forgotten. I plan to clean some of the stones, and to add small markers for those that can no longer be read. This stone, the most worn one, is the marker for Emory G. Brindle who died in 1858. The original stone was standing, but it broke off at the ground. Emory was the son of a Methodist minister, the Rev. James A. Brindle and his first wife, Ann Catherine Parker of Worcester County [Maryland].  The inscription on the stone says:  Son of Rev J A & A C Brindle, d. Nov. 11, 1858, aged 10 years, 6 months. "[God] in his wisdom has recalled a precious boy his love had given & though the casket moulders him the gem is sparkling now...

Today, the Episcopal Church celebrates John Mason Neale, prolific hymnographer and translator of ancient hymns, and the founder of the Society of St. Margaret . One of his hymns is #672 in The Hymnal 1982 : 1 O very God of very God, and very Light of Light, whose feet this earth’s dark valley trod that so it might be bright: 2 Our hopes are weak, our fears are strong, thick darkness blinds our eyes; cold is the night; thy people long that thou, their Sun, wouldst rise. 3 And even now, though dull and gray, the east is brightening fast, and kindling to the perfect day that never shall be past. 4 O guide us till our path is done, and we have reached the shore where thou, our everlasting Sun, art shining evermore! 5 We wait in faith, and turn our face to where the daylight springs, till thou shalt come our gloom to chase, with healing in thy wings. [Words in the public domain. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.] [Note to Dana - wings!]

Micah was on the lookout for breakfast this cloudy morning. I took a quick photo . . . but I think it looks more like a painting! In any event, we hope you are having a beautiful day.