Nature Studies

Have you been doing your Nature Studies?

We took a little break from watching the Owl Box constantly during Holy Week.  I tuned in this morning to find that Molly's owlets are huge!  They've grown so much!

The 5th egg still hadn't hatched when we last watched.  Evidently, the last (6th) egg is a dud, but I see that it is still there today.  They say she ate the first one she laid because it was bad, but she hasn't eaten this one yet.  I wonder why?

Her 4 babies are so big, I don't see how she can even sit on them all anymore!

You've got to tune in for a little while to watch...We keep the pop-out open most of the day so we see the owls, but not all the ridiculous chat-room stuff, most of which is not very edifying.

We saw her cough up an owl pellet once, which was fascinating, yet disgusting at the same time. And did you know that all that nesting material is the fur from the animals she has eaten?  After she coughs up the pellets she tears them apart to line the nest.

Nice.

But fascinating anyway.

Happy Easter Monday

It was a beautiful Triduum, and a beautiful weekend.

And it was looonng.

I spent all last week finishing the spring cleaning and trying to fill my 40 bags.  I didn't quite get to 40; I hope that means that my house isn't very cluttered.

I also had an extra-long choir rehearsal on Wednesday, followed by singing Holy Thursday, attending Good Friday services, praying the Stations of the Cross at our parish's gorgeous Way of the Cross in the 80+ temperatures, cleaning and cooking all day Saturday (a double-batch of PW's Cinnamon Rolls!).  I was so tired Saturday afternoon that I wanted to cry and I wanted to hurry up and get to the Easter Vigil so I could relax.

Yes, a 30 minute rehearsal followed by singing a 2.5 hour Mass is much more relaxing than what I had been doing.

Then I was up until almost 2 a.m. visiting with KT who got home very late, and up again early Sunday to sing at the 10:30 Mass.

I think we finished eating Easter dinner around 3:30, and by then I was totally done (in).

It was a glorious Easter celebration.  I was so busy living it that I don't have a single Easter photograph to show you.  I'm still exhausted, but it's a good tired.

I wouldn't trade it for the world!

Happy Easter!

Good Friday

I grew up with a mother who was a very faithful Christian (God rest her soul).  We went to church regularly: twice on Sundays, Wednesday nights, and Vacation Bible School every summer.  Skipping church was never an option, except maybe on vacation.

Nevertheless, I grew up with absolutely No Idea what Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday were all about.  I saw them on the calendar year in and year out, but I never knew that they had any connection to Easter.  It just wasn't talked about in any way, shape, or form that I can recall.

There was no arc to the year.  Just the same routine, week after week, with the year punctuated by Christmas and Easter---which, of course, only lasted one too-brief day.

So, on this Good Friday, I am thrilled to be a part of this beautiful Catholic faith which Christ founded.  I am grateful for the institution of the priesthood and the Eucharist which He established on Holy Thursday at the Last Supper.  I love to hear the readings all through Lent which lead up to this time culminating with His resurrection at the Great Easter Vigil.  And then we get to celebrate Easter for a full 50 days before we return to Ordinary Time.  Of course, it all starts again with the other penitential season that is Advent.

I am so grateful to be a part of this Church that is part of my life every day with something different to celebrate.  Every day we may take part in the sacrifice of the Mass in which His eternal sacrifice is re-presented.  He died for all of us.  He died so that we might live.  He died for all those who love Him, for all those who despise Him, for saints and for sinners.

It is a Good Friday.

Soul of Christ, sanctify me,

Body of Christ, save me,

Blood of Christ, inebriate me,

Water from the side of Christ, wash me

O Good Jesus, hear,

Within thy wounds hide me,

Never permit me be separated from thee,

From the evil enemy defend me,

In the hour of my death,

Call me and bid me come to thee,

That with thy angels and saints I may praise thee,

forever and ever.  Amen.

(inspired by Barbara to post this, my favorite post-Communion prayer)