Letters from Ascension Hermitage and Sanctuary

No jack-o-lantern here . . . our chickens wanted to eat the pumpkin right away! Remembering  Marion Weinstein , the Halloween Witch, and her wonderful cats who came to live at Sanctuary House. Safe and happy Halloween, everyone!

Martha the chicken is busy exploring her world - maybe there are bugs behind this little grate? Meanwhile, Possum has found a favorite toy - a whole roll of toilet paper! Oh joy, oh rapture, oh bliss! Have a great day whatever you're doing. . .

Remembering those killed in Pittsburgh yesterday: Glorified and sanctified be God’s great name throughout the world which He has created according to His will. May He establish His kingdom in your lifetime and during your days, and within the life of the entire House of Israel, speedily and soon; and say, Amen. May His great name be blessed forever and to all eternity. Blessed and praised, glorified and exalted, extolled and honored, adored and lauded be the name of the Holy One, blessed be He, beyond all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations that are ever spoken in the world; and say, Amen. May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life, for us and for all Israel; and say, Amen. He who creates peace in His celestial heights, may He create peace for us and for all Israel; and say, Amen. [Kaddish English text from https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/text-of-the-mourners-kaddish/]

Cindy took this picture of Willow inside the hay storage room . . .I suppose breakfast was too slow in arriving so Willow decided to help herself to hay! Possum had other ideas - after breakfast, he chose a toasty resting space near the bathroom heater. And  Buddy , the beagle, found a box of blankets - perfect bed for a morning nap!

Today was Rosie's first venture out to the pasture - she was calm and patient, although she might have liked to run in the mud puddles . . . that's for another day! Sonny and Titan greeted her gently. Willow was more interested in eating hay. Imagine was in her stall, probably a little annoyed that she could not chase Rosie . . . that's for another day, too!

Today is a big day for some of our younger chicks - they were able to go outside and join the larger flock! Cora (black and brown) and Dora (gray) stopped for a quick snack as they explored the chicken yard. Cora and Dora are Easter Eggers. Mitzi (below) and Martha (at the right), the brown Legbars, were more interested in looking for bugs. Louie thinks about baseball , although he's actually happiest playing with a practice golf ball or even a toilet paper tube.

Our cat Morley died early this morning. Morley was a big, gentle cat who loved other cats - he tolerated humans, but was most often curled up close to another cat. Morley and his brother, Nigel, came to Ascension Hermitage and Sanctuary many summers ago when they were tiny kittens. Being black kittens, without so much as a single white hair between them, there was no adoption-centered rescue that would even consider them . . . they needed a safe sanctuary, and we welcomed them with open arms. Nigel was smaller and not as strong as Morley - sadly, he died of cancer several years ago. Morley was an energetic runner and jumper - the only cat to have knocked down a cat tower with a sudden leap! He loved to sleep at the very top of the tower. It is hard to know if Morley was hiding his illness or if kidney failure came very quickly. He lost weight, although he was always eager for breakfast, and traded his tower resting space for a blanket on the floor. The other cats, especially hi...