The Bucolic Scenes

The Bucolic Scenes

THESE BUCOLIC SCENES guide a weary traveler down the narrow lanes to the old cabin-in-the-woods. Also known as the Caretakers’ Cabin for the Chuch O The Pines. It is the scene of some Consternation and Commotion over the last few days, as the furnace went out on Friday night—outside temp about minus 5. But with space heaters, a kitchen oven

Congregation Surrounded by Beauties

Congregation Surrounded by Beauties

HERE AT THE CHURCH O THE PINES, the congregation arrives, surrounded by beauties. And, of course, contributing to them. It is a good way to live. And, for our humble members, it does not seem to require extra effort—to live a good and purposeful life—just the normal exertion of being who they are. Winter is often difficult and calls for

New Year’s Sunday Morning

New Year’s Sunday Morning

AT THE CHURCH O THE PINES on this New Year’s Sunday morn, the congregation is well dressed and well behaved. Mostly. The Gray Squirrels throw their stoles carelessly over their shoulders and squall from the church rafters. The Blue Jay clan, having ridden down from the hills in the back of a ’51 half-ton Chevy, whack away on banjos and

Beauty In All Things

OLD CARETAKERS’ CABIN

AT THE OLD CARETAKERS’ CABIN at the Church O The Pines, the Old Year fittingly bows out with a coating of hoar frost. Time for new days, new dreams, a New Year. But the frost reminds us, there is beauty in all things—old and new, up and down, all around. And a young adopted cat named Koda, child of the

The Basics

The Basics

ON A RECENT CHRISTMAS POST, there was a small case of mistaken identity. A few dispeptic souls mistook me for someone else—a sort of religious fundamentalist, perhaps, while others thought me more of a stone-hearted reductionist. Of course both were wrong. But in order to avoid further confusion, I will do this. I will tell you, my friends, exactly what

Translucent Wheat Shocks

Black kitten/Koda on the other side of the glass

AT THE CHURCH O THE PINES CABIN, it has been a cold stretch. The storm door has been frosted over in white. Today, with a change in temp and wind direction, the white frost is transformed into translucent wheat shocks. Lovely. It doesn’t hurt the picture to have black kitten/Koda on the other side of the glass.

So Cold Yet So Warm Christmas Day

Christmas Tree

AT THE CHURCH O’THE PINES on this Christmas Day it was cold. Below zero as it has been for 147 days and nights without relief. But in the old cabin, near the Christmas tree, it was warm, as Grandma Kathy served up a lovely feast including traditional favorites, perogees and ham and both strawberry and chocolate trifle. Our outdoor congregation

Retell The Old Story

Retell The Old Story

APPROXIMATELY 2022 YEARS AGO… an infant was born (skeptics who doubt that he ever really existed advance a weak case, with more faith in skepticism itself than in evidence) likely in a cave-like space under a simple stone dwelling. He was born to an unwed, teen-aged mother, delivered into poverty in a troubled corner of the world. About 33 years

Orchid Corner

Orchid Corner

THE RIVERSIDE FOREST at the Church O The Pines is cold, with more arctic blasts coming. Our small feathered friends gather hungrily round the feeders, and we make sure extra fare is put out. But in Orchid Corner of the writing office, tropical colors brighten the day. Happy Solstice!

Our Erstwhile Wild Kitten Koda

Our Erstwhile Wild Kitten Koda

OUR ERSTWHILE WILD KITTEN Koda, who came to us out of the forest one freezing night last March, continues to delight, amaze and entertain us. Black as midnight, confident, curious, playful, he is, Kathy says, an ‘opportunist,’ which she says he learned by surviving in the woods. He is always alert for an opportunity and siezes it unapologetically. He loves