TODAY KATHY AND I BADE GOODBYE to one of the proud, old deacon pines here at the Church O’ The Pines. Tall and straight, 120 years of age and weighing scores of tons, it had become infested with bark beetles. So, to protect its neighbors, we made the sad decision to have it removed.
ON THIS BEAUTIFUL SUNDAY AT THE CHURCH O’ THE PINES, our sermon deals with loss. Very near our cabin is a straight, tall, Deacon pine, 120 years of age. Still strong and green, it is infested with bark beetles and this week we must take it down and remove it—to protect the cabin and the forest. Several hundred yards away
AS POSTED YESTERDAY, MINNESOTA’S GREAT MANDOLIN MASTER and composer Peter Ostroushko has passed away. In June of 2019 a group of wonderful musicians donated their time and talents to a fund-raiser for Peter and Marge. At the end of the concert a number of folks took the stage to close out the evening with Peter’s exquisite “Heart Of The Heartland.”
HERE IN THE PINEY WOODS BY THE FATHER OF WATERS, it is warming up fast. Only 497 degrees below zero this morning.
ON THIS COLD WINTER DAY, as the Father Of Waters lies frozen beneath an icy blanket, here is an excerpt from my summer essay, The Stick Throwers, from the book, “Deep Woods, Wild Waters.”
HERE AT THE CHURCH O’ THE PINES IT IS COLD. 540 degrees below zero. The trees pop and the river booms. The sun hangs at the same point on the horizon, there for 3 days now, as it is too cold to move. At certain points in the blue dome overhead, we begin to see cracks in the sky, as
TOYING WITH THOUGHTS OF PERSPECTIVE on a troubling, historic day, I just came across a story about Stonehenge, and the incredible journey of those ancient rocks.
KATHY WAS ON A ‘SPRING’ CLEANING BINGE today, and in a little, tucked-away spot found a very interesting item.
HERE AT THE CHURCH O’THE PINES it is a grand and glorious day. Except for being cloudy. And gray. And gloomy. And February. Nevertheless we know the sun shines brightly above the clouds, and our church choir—particularly the chickadee soprano section—sings brightly as well. This time of year they sing more and more often their little, two-note song, “Spring’s here!”
KATHY AND I WERE ON OUR WAY to an appointment in south St. Cloud, driving on busy, 4-lane Roosevelt Avenue, when I spotted this poor fellow along the roadside.