Letters from Ascension Hermitage and Sanctuary

Last evening Cindy called about a kitten - the day before he had been found by her daughter's hound, Nash, hiding under the front steps of their house. It was raining and the kitten was drenched. They couldn't keep the kitten, but no worries, we welcomed him to Sanctuary House. He's a tiny, long weekend surprise! We tried several names, but he let me know that his name is Winston, after Winston Churchill . . . so of course, I will also be calling him Winnie or Win. He will be a wonderful reminder of my beagle Winnie who died many years ago, and of my several ancestors named Winifred and Winnie.  I am eager to see how this little Winston grows into his name! And on this Memorial Day, I remember my cousins who went to war in service of our country and never came home - Higdon S. Tarver (1921-1944) and Christopher R. Huestis (1951-1971). May they rest in peace and rise in glory. If you too lost family and friends in wars, please remember them today. The Book of Common Prayer  ...

  Wishing you every blessing of Pentecost! If you have time this evening, I invite you to listen to the Whitsuntide concert from Christ Church Cathedral in Houston, Texas. The live performance begins at 5 p.m. Houston time. Watch Live | Christ Church Cathedral - Houston 2026-05-24_WORSHIP_Leaflet_5pm_Whitsuntide_concert_v3.pdf  

The mulberry tree near our door is a male tree, so no berries . . . but the mulberry tree that hangs over the chicken yard is a female tree and it is full of unripe, still white berries. The chickens sit under the tree ready to snatch any berries that fall, and I watch the tree ready to pick the berries I can reach as soon as they turn purple.  But late this afternoon cardinals and tufted titmice flew into the tree and began eating berries. I'm not at all sure that there will be any berries left for the chickens and me!  

The bumblebees are very happy now that the clover is blooming in the wildflower area! There are so many "weeds" growing with the wildflowers that I keep thinking of the man in the Bible who had tares growing in his wheat field. Sometimes I'd like to mow the whole area, but I'm sticking to Jesus' advice to let everything grow together. In the Autumn, I'll cut it all down and we can start again! Want to read the Bible story? Matthew 13:24-30 Have a blessed day!  

Today is National Little Free Library Day! And the celebrations continue for a whole week. If there is a Little Free Library in your neighborhood, this is a great time to visit. Borrow a book or contribute one of your own to the library. It's a wonderful week for reading!  

First let me  share this prayer from the online Church of England Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus, divine Son and eternal priest, inspire us with the confidence of your final conquest of evil, and grant that daily on our way we may drink of the brook of your eternal life and so find courage against all adversities; for your mercy's sake. Amen. I took these photos early this morning - wild Japanese honeysuckle is growing along the fences near our birdfeeders. Yes, it's invasive and I'll eventually cut it back, but in the meantime the hummingbirds love it! And I too find it a beautiful decorative addition. Blessed Ascension Day to all.

Marigold, our little Polish hen, really likes the rain no matter what it does to her head feathers!  

 This little clump of Sweet William came up totally unplanned! But I love all of the flowers that bloom in the Spring . . . they remind me of The Mikado , but that's a different story! Hope your day has some beautiful flowers as well - and Happy Mother's Day to all who have children (human ones as well as the others!).

I am very thrilled to say that the indigo buntings have returned! Yesterday at dusk there were three of them and today they have been back to the bird feeders several times. Yesterday, two male hummingbirds flew and chased each other, each one wanting to claim our feeders as his own. This morning the territorial winner returned to a nearby tree and his feeders! We actually have three hummingbird feeders and many roses blooming nearby, but hummingbirds like to claim an area . . . I wanted to explain to the birds that we keep the feeders full all summer so there will be nectar for everyone, but I suppose this little bird has his family on his mind. The female hummingbird comes often as well. Maybe I should feel flattered that they have chosen my yard as their home!  

Piper and I went to Cambridge for her vet wellness check-up this morning. We only had a few minutes wait, but she watched the door - she loves Dr. Spofford but this morning she was equally interested in watching for Mowgli, the office cat! Mowgli tried to block the door when we arrived this morning and Piper doesn't take kindly to cats who interrupt her plans! As we prepared to leave the building (i.e. stopped to pay the bill), Mowgli was again sitting at the door. He hissed at Piper and she jumped toward him. He then jumped onto an information display sending papers flying in all directions!   I'm pretty sure the office staff was glad to see us go! Piper's health report? Perfect!