Letters from Ascension Hermitage and Sanctuary

It's a cloudy, chilly February day, and the roofers are now putting shingles on the new roof! Most of the chickens and ducks have gone back into their coop, but these three Plymouth Rock hens stayed out to see what's going on. If the work gets too loud they'll probably go back inside too.

This is the birthday of Giambattista Bodini, an engraver and publisher, born in Italy in 1740. He designed over 200 typefaces. This is a still-popular Bodini typeface. Wink, the little duck, says "yes, I knew that!"

Casper climbed to the top of the bathroom cabinet . . . it's raining outside, but dry up here thanks to our new roof! I'm hoping Casper will dust that top shelf while he's up there!

The Weather Channel says snow. Well, it's cold, wet, slippery, smells like slushy snow, but no - this is NOT snow by Eskie standards!

We at Sanctuary House are delighted to welcome three new hens to our small flock! They are Barred Rocks and needed to move from their former home in Easton. Happily, today is sunny and not too cold, so they were able to explore their new home. Barred Rocks are also called Plymouth Rocks - they are an American breed first seen in Massachusetts in the ninteenth century. They are a friendly, docile breed, so we are hoping for a gentle transition into our flock.

It was with much sadness that we learned today that our beagle Little Mary died yesterday. Little Mary had lived at Sanctuary House for many years until she moved to Penny Angel's Beagle Rescue in New Jersey in November 2017, when my leg was broken. Because she was already a senior and was with her beagle friend Lucy, we decided to leave the two girls in NJ. Joan and Ken welcomed the two girls into their family, and I know Little Mary was happy with them. Little Mary's longer story is recorded in The Dogs of Sanctuary House . Godspeed, girlie, until we meet again at the Rainbow Bridge. Our glad news of the day is that Benji the beagle is going to be adopted by our friends Jordon and Alan. Benji never lived at Sanctuary House, but failed as a hunter and was turned in to Somerset County Dog Control where our friend Cindy works. Benji is so frightened that he might be considered unadoptable, but he is fortunate to have been found by people who know and understand that he needs...

 Dolly sat high on the cat tree, watching for St. Nicholas . . . Louie interrupted his washing to say, "Not today, Dolly. St. Nicholas is also Santa Claus - he'll be coming to our house on the very last minute of Dec. 24, to leave us presents for Christmas Day."