A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, I let you all know about a little black kitten that came out of the woods one cold night, begging to be rescued. He was irresistible, and after many efforts to find where he came from, or find him a home, we ceased resisting. We named him Koda, and adopted him. Many of you have
On A Good Friday
ON A GOOD FRIDAY in which it seems there is more darkness than light in the world, with a horrific war, a lingering pandemic, and toxic politics amplified by ignorance and stupidity, it can be hard to think of hope. Light. Resurrection. Yet history and Nature and personal experience tell us it is always possible. Even probable. That within darkness
Every Day is Birding Day
WELL, IT APPEARS that I missed National Birding Day. And I’m sorry I did. But here at the Church O’ The Pines by the Mississippi, every day is Birding Day. We love and admire all the members of our congregation, but the feathered ones hold a special place in our Caretakers’ hearts. Sparky the Cardinal and his mate, and our
The Scene of New Life
ONE OF THE REASONS people often talk about a ‘return to nature’ is because it is essentially true. The natural world, the green and living Earth, the turning of the seasons, the rhythms of the primitive, of storms and sunrises, are all Home. This is the world from which we sprang, from which we have grown, to which we belong
Koda
SO A COUPLE of days ago, I posted about the 10 month old (?) kitten who adopted us one cold and windy night last week. The little fellow got something like 984 ‘likes’ and ‘loves’ which might be a record for this page. And thank you for the 200-plus loving comments, also another record. Well, now it’s official. We’re keeping
Adopted by A Sweetheart of A Stray Kitty
IT HAS BEEN an interesting few days at the Pine Point Cabin, as we have been adopted by a sweetheart of a stray kitty. Probably 9 or 10 months old, he called for my attention out of the dark woods one very cold and snowy night. When I answered, he came out of the shadows and rolled on the ground,
THE FIRST DAY of Spring
TODAY ON THE FIRST DAY of Spring it’s a poopy day in the Church O The Pines yard. For as the snow happily disappears other things reappear. Like deer poop, rabbit poop, fox poop, and most particularly granddog poop. So as the grandchildren pick up sticks the grandfather deals with other stuff. A small price to pay to listen to
Winter Has Returned
HERE AT THE CHURCH O THE PINES winter has returned. Which seems odd and unfair as we never got summer. And only a couple days of spring. But such are the vagaries of Minnesota weather. The geese are not confused, as having discovered an open water lead in the river channel, are flying up and downstream and floating by with
SPRING HAD SPRUNG
SPRING HAD SPRUNG but then retreated Our little Simon now feels cheated Into his bed he has repaired He stuck his nose out once, and dared To test the air and sniff the breezes Then, “Holy Hell, Good Lord, Sweet Jeezuz!” Or something like those words he uttered Turning inside-out at the door he muttered All the way back to
Find Ourselves Back in the Snow
HAVING RETURNED FROM FLORIDA with tans, or burns, or something in between, we now find ourselves back in the snow, in the little cabin under the pines. But things are changing quickly. The eagles are busy at their nest, just 100 yards from the cabin door. They have been carrying sticks, rebuilding and refurbishing. And Kathy thinks there is egg-sitting