The Father of Waters

OUT ON THE FATHER OF WATERS for the first paddle of the year. Skirting the ice shelves, dodging a few ‘bergs,’ unintentionally scaring the Bluebills and Goldeneyes, listening to the whistle of their wings.

A Good Day to be Alive

HERE AT THE CHURCH O’ THE PINES, IT IS NOT ENTIRELY CLEAR THAT ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE CONGREGATION distinguish the Sabbath Day from other days. They seem to treat pretty much every day as simply a Good Day to be alive. In that spirit, we post this Church Bulletin on a Thursday and hope that you, our adjunct congregation,

Migrating Goldeneye Ducks

SO ENTRANCED WAS I BY THE BEAUTY OF THE MIGRATING GOLDENEYE DUCKS ON OUR MISSISSIPPI today, that I went down and caught one and brought it up to the office.

Promenade Day

TODAY IS PROMENADE DAY AT THE CHURCH ‘O THE PINES, as the church moat (also known as the Father of Waters) is shedding its ice and the migratory waterfowl are returning or passing through. Beauties like the Hooded Merganser pictured here gather in two’s and four’s and seven’s and float downstream on the strong spring current past the church grounds,

A Bundle of Contradictions

CHURCH O THE PINES: CHURCH BULLETIN AND A SERMON… Today the Church O’ The Pines is a bundle of contradictions. Spring is here! But although it felt like it earlier in the week, it does not today. The river is open!

Bonsai of the Day: Mame

BONSAI OF THE DAY: Bonsais symbolize peace, harmony, and balance, the tenacious fight of a tree against the elements, thus creating a miniature replica of all we admire in nature.

Bonsai Corner at the Church O’ the Pines

FROM BONSAI CORNER at the Church O’ The Pines, where out the window the jaybirds and Sparky the Cardinal and the eagles are all hollering, and little Simon the Cat strolls the deck, and where the first open water lead has appeared across the river, and the geese are gabbling and gossiping… Good morning! Good morning! It’s grand to be

Cold Sabbath Day at the Church O’ The Pines

HERE AT THE CHURCH O’ THE PINES IT IS COLD. The sunshine and increasing daylight hours say Spring, but the air temperature insists on arguing. The Father of Waters is still ice-locked.

Daylight Savings’ Sunlight

THIS MORNING AT THE CHURCH O’ THE PINES, the ‘daylight savings’ sunlight streams through the stained glass windows. It illuminates the aisles and pews and the entire sanctuary.