St. Casserole

Yesterday was so beautiful I spent the day running out into the yard grabbing weeds into bags. I was in heaven. Bug-free, cool weather with low humidity in May?

PEOPLE! MAY HERE IN THE DEEP SOUTH IS LIKE LATE AUGUST IN THE SOUTH SOUTH.

Today my right arm and shoulder, yea unto my entire right side is sore.

I needeth to learn to weedeth with both arms.


Just happy to be here,

St.Casserole

Labels: caring for the Earth, My life

Former President Jimmy Carter and Mrs. Carter are down here to build houses for Habitat for Humanity. The plan is to build new homes, re-hab homes and prepare pre-fab parts for building later. Volunteers converged from everywhere to work.

The Rev. Mr. Bird Dog is leading devotions for the group.


Thanks, President and Mrs. Carter, for helping us.


St. Casserole

Labels: disaster recovery, Katrina, the Zone

*Verbena, the toad, lives in the verbena pot in the courtyard.I changed Verbena's genus to "toad" after I took a good look at her beauty.


*Mr. Adventure, aka Fish, escaped last night.He remained outside until I got up at 2 a.m. to bewail his loss.He sauntered into the house happy and tired.


*The black flat seeds I picked up from the ground near the door of the C. of P. (Jesus Meets Hogwarts) are growing.Suspiciously like wisteria,I'm sure these seeds are an uncommon variety.



*Sister the Dog needs a Spa Day.She has "flavor" according to the cats.



*Hibiscus,Passion Vine,Verbena,Begonia,Petunias and others are growing and lovely in the Courtyard. I'm looking for more plants at the garden shop.


Contentedly,

St. Casserole

Labels: Why I live here

LD's cell phone disappeared last week in the hands of a teacher. LD knows she isn't to use her phone at high school but did, and well, she's been without a phone for days.

She borrowed my phone and I noticed a text message from a Tennessee area code.

"Who is she texting in Tennessee?", I asked Mr. C.

"I don't know but I got one of his text messages on my phone, too."

"What did he say?"

"The text was 'I am falling for you in a big way.'"

"No kidding???"

"I thought about texting back 'Don't text me again, you a***hole."


We parents are entertained easily.


St. Casserole

Labels: LD, My life

Great day! Mr. C. and I drove LD to new student orientation at Art School!She's going to fly the nest for her junior and senior years to study theater.We are proud of her but sad to have her leave home early.

The school is beautiful with a combination of old college buildings restored in pleasing ways along with a new towering building of modern architecture. Wish my college had dorm rooms as large and gorgeous as these.Wish I'd had the opportunity to study art in such a place!

She's delighted.We are happy in a proud parent manner with dashes of bittersweet regret that she'll be away her final two years of high school.

Her drama teacher here told her that everyone is accepted to the school.Why he said this,I don't know. Truth is, less than half of those who apply are accepted.

Proud parent here.

Ready to preach the Acts and John passages this morning.

St. Casserole

Labels: LD, Mr. C., My life

The world is full of surprises. Take this for example.


St.Casserole

Labels: Signs and Wonders

From the local newspaper's obituary page:


Everyone is invited to bring a "cold one" because if it were you, he would.


You can't make this stuff up.


St. Casserole

Labels: Obituary Troubles, Why I live here

*kind emails from pals


*resident frog in the verbena


*wiring a lamp


*preaching on the Ascension again


*beautiful clear blue day without humidity or heat


*covering Moleskine journals with children's book pictures


*knowing I have a great power drill


St. Casserole, at the ready

Labels: My life

nightmares all last night about being in a house with rising water breaking the house in pieces searching for my family and cat carriers while trying to remember what to carry with me to safety trying to keep everyone calm worrying that the people who won't leave will get swept away by the waters because they have loyalty to the area

St.Casserole

Labels: Why I live here

Carol Osborn, The Art of Resilience, Three Rivers Press. 1997 Rather like having a kind friend stand over your shoulder while you get your hope on.

Hiroko C.Kataoka, Japanese Cultural Encounters and How to Handle Them, Passport Books. 1991 Looking at the world with different eyes. Enjoyed the book.

Labels: 2008 Books Read

Our friend, Rev. Books, has a new appointment HOURS FROM HERE. He'll MOVE in June to a great parish. BUT THIS MEANS HE WILL NO LONGER DRINK COFFEE WITH US ON TUESDAYS. He's been our calm and intelligent colleague for years in the Preacher Coffee Drinking Group Every Tuesday.

I will sure miss him.

He's the one who stayed with his people, despite all miseries, after Katrina. He took care of survivors, grieved the lost and cared about the community with such fierce devotion that no one will ever forget him who lived through those terrible days.

Mr. C. loses a golf partner. I lose a compassionate pal who understands if a gal is depressed or doing well and treated me with respect regardless of my mental state.

We will miss him.

When you think of a pastor who exegeted his community so that he could provide ministry, think of Rev. Books.

We met Tuesday to eat shrimp po-boys at Lil' Ray's. It's not our last meal together but each time we meet, I know we are counting down until he moves north.

I'm happy for his new appointment. He will be a blessing to them. I'm happy we kept him for this long since his system does this weird thing of uprooting and moving preachers every few years.

He says he'll begin blogging. My goal is to see him as a full member of the RGBPs.

Yours,


St. Casserole

Labels: Katrina, ministry

In a few days, Mr. C. and I will celebrate our 27th anniversary. According to him, the gift for year 27 is sculpture. This stymies the gift-giving impulse mightily. Sculpture? Does the great St. Francis yard statue from several years ago count?

He's given me gifts over the years: making me laugh, surprising me with the variety of his interests, patience, pleasure in my achievements, his steady belief in my gifts as a person. The man has entertained me for 28 years. Not an easy task. If it didn't sound very sappy, I'd say, you, Mr. C. are the gift.

I salute you, Mr. C.! And, I am so glad you don't comment on my bloggage because I can't imagine what you'd say about putting up cats in costumes as the pic for our anniversary post.

St. Casserole

Labels: Mr. C., My life

*people using toothpicks anywhere in my vision path


*whistling tunes off or on key


*drivers who ride bumpers of other drivers


*people who chain their dogs to a stake all day everyday


*beets, brussel sprouts and creamed green peas


*mosquitos, gnats and flying roaches




St. Casserole

Labels: gross

Who is going to the Festival of Homies this year?


I'll be there.



St. Casserole

Picture is from the 2008 Festival of Homiletics website.

Labels: Meetings, Preaching

What to do with old people in your congregation who get on your nerves?



A colleague north of here says he is hurt by the older people in his congregation who get in his way, criticise him and overall, make his work difficult.


I suggested that he think through his feelings, identify his goals for his congregation, then move in closer to those who get on his nerves.



Not easy to do, of course. You get your feelings hurt by people who dismiss you and let you know they think you aren't capable of the work you feel called to do.


Now, read that sentence as how the older people feel about how they are treated.


We preach the importance of being involved with the Church. We want people to do the work of the church, attend often and give of themselves to the Body.


What happens when people feel that they are no longer welcome to participate?


For many older people, the Church is the last place they feel their gifts, developed over a lifetime, are valued. Everywhere else they see signs offering them sausage biscuits discounted for senior citizens.


How to make peace in this situation? Move in closer to your "offending" people. Find a place to meet them where they are comfortable to talk about their lives and interests.


Nothing is sadder to me than to discover that that old guy in the over sized blazer who toddled into the sanctuary for years, was, according to his obituary, the author of three books on normative digestive patterns of the American Wolf. Now I find this out? I missed out on discussing this with him! How did he do his research? Where did he live? What was it like doing this work?



Put your feelings aside, please. Allow the older people the dignity of their last years. Do not coddle them. Do not talk down to them. Do not put them in the box marked "UNINTERESTING".


Exceptions to this are those people, of whatever age, who delight in upsetting anything going on at the church. With those people, quietly find out what is going on with them by getting to know them. Keep them close to you. If you discern, without discussing your dislike for them with everyone else, that they are damaging, go see them with your closest elder/church board member. Talk with them respectfully and if things aren't resolved with this conversation, go see them again (with a church officer) and let them know you will not allow them to do damage. You better pray yourself into a stupor before this step because if you don't, you can do great harm to them.


Let's not be remembered as the jerky pastor who told an older parishioner, "You are an old woman! Get out of my way!" Believe me, she recalled this incident to the last days she had on earth. I think of her every time I see the arrogant, now old man jerky preacher.


Yours,


St. Casserole

Labels: ministry

After Church today, I walked through T.J.Maxx looking for new porch furniture cushions. I replace cushions every year it seems because both Andy and Sister like to sit on the love seats. When you come over, I'll try to brush off the cat and dog hair, OK?

A pretty red-haired woman turned around in the aisle to say, "Do you know me?" I looked at her face. She looked as familiar as all people do as Children of God but "know" her? Nope.

She said, "How about this: That would be me!"

This did not help. I started thinking about Cheesehead. She'd say something like this.

After explaining that I had cotton balls for brains on Sunday afternoons, I admitted I couldn't say her name.

Turns out that I did her wedding 15 years ago.

When she and her husband showed up to look at the church, then meet with the preacher, they asked for the preacher. I replied, "That would be me." This reply stayed with them as a humorous moment.

I'm glad I saw them. Both are happy people, happy with each other and delighted with their work.

Note to Self: Push legislation that every person in my path wear a name tag at all times.

Love,

St. Casserole

Labels: My life

*First, good pickings early this morning at estate sales. I have a new rug for my study. Good thing I found one because the stop-gap World Market rug gets on my nerves. Bad news! The Garage Antiques on 25th Street in Manhattan is rumored to be closing in November. Double Rats! I've shopped the Garage each and every November for the past 10 years. My favorite sterling flatware dealer and vintage jewelry sellers table there.

*The Johnbell conference at Jesus Meets Hogwarts ended Friday. Our travel home went well. While many on the BE cruise felt the ship for days after, I hear Johnbell's voice in my head today. He is a wonderful speaker.
Go see here for Johnbell's understanding of private worship in a public space. Thanks, Ice Flue!

*Dubby the kitten is biting people and cats with tiny nippy teeth. No one knows how to make him stop. What is the gentlest way to get this kitty to change his behavior?

I missed you all. Glad to be home with my people. Looking forward to worship tomorrow with my People.

St. Casserole

Labels: cats, Estate sales

I'm coming home tomorrow. Our tickets aren't on American so I hope we can get home without incident or delay.

Reports came in about the cats. Whistle and Fish took off their collars to race around nekkid. Whistle got outdoors. Unusual circumstances because Fish is modest and does not take off his collar. I don't worry about Whistle escaping because he is a faithful indoor kitty. Dubby, except for putting his big paws on Mr. C's sleeping face, has behaved well.

I am needed at home.

The conference exceeded expectations. I love this setting, too.

Time for me to come home.

Traveling mercies for us tomorrow, if the Lord says the same.

St. Casserole

Labels: cats, My life

Dear St. Casserole,

Last Saturday, I went to Mr. Cruthird's Cut n' Curl for a new perm.
His new girl, Fern, put the wrong solution on the rods and I look like trash. She kept saying that I needed a new look which I do not. You can tell from my picture that my usual perm is just fine.

I told Beulah Lynch where you are. She said, "DON'T TELL ME that niece of yours is out-of-town again!" She gets such a charge out of you! She worries that Mr. C. and that little one of yours won't know who you are when you get back home.

I know you are enjoying being on the Big Church grounds, singing with your preacher friends, eating food you didn't cook and acting like you belong up there.
Don't forget where you are from and what you are about. When your Mama passed, I promised to keep my hand on your shoulder so you'd have a wise woman to watch over you. My dear, it's been a pleasure and I'm proud of you. Now, go home.

You've got plenty to handle in your own part of the woods without skipping off to see your pals and learn new songs. You can learn plenty just by being at home and keeping your eyes open. I saw the pile of books in your study and on your bedside table when I dropped by to give Mr. C. the rest of that chocolate pound cake we had at the Ladies' meeting.

I've got to run. I've got a chicken salad to make for the Smith's. Her sister-in-law's brother is about dead over at the hospital. We are all worried sick.

Lovingly,

Aunt Bostick

P.S. One of your friends wrote to ask if I'd get my own blog. Maybe in the Fall, I'm too busy now.

Labels: Aunt Bostick

You can't get here from there. Northwest shuffled us around, gave us wrong info and made a mess of our travel day. Two drink vouchers and an upgrade improved nothing, not even my disposition.

I am here at Beautiful Place Rather Hogwartian.

John Bell is a well-spoken teacher with humor, insight and power.

Stacey and LMK's Mom are with me. Love seeing them.

Where else can I stay in a tiny room which smells like a grandmother's home, share a bathroom with 4 other women and go to Bethlehem Chapel everyday? The food is excellent here, too.

I called Rev. Mutha to ask why she wasn't here. Seems like she should be with us for this conference.

Spring shows all over the grounds here with blooming plants and shrubs. I saw a black squirrel early this morning as he ran to prayer.

Doing fine here. Wish you were here, too.

St. Casserole

P.S. None of the preaching small group members appear to be deaf. Rats!

Labels: travel

I'm off to the College of Preachers Monday to hear John Bell. I'll preach two sermons to people who I pray will be gentle, kind, and deaf.


You are thinking that I'm doing AN AWFUL LOT of Continuing Ed. these days.


Correct. I'm making up for about ten years of staying home with children and going to nearby events like the Turnip Preaching and Mule Pull Festival or the Karaoke Bar and Grill Homiletical Hash Run. I can't forget to mention the Delta Blues and Bible Thumpers Conference, either.

Up at the Hogwarts Meets Jesus building, I'll be grateful to see Stacey and another favorite blogger who has a cat with extra toes like my Dubby.

Wish I'd see you, too.

Love,

St. Casserole

Labels: anxiety, Preaching

Mr. C. says, "you haven't blogged in a long time." I say, "I'm the only BE attendee who hasn't blogged about the BE. I just can't yet."

I will TALK with you about the BE. Glad to. But WRITE about it? Not YET.

I loved the BE. That's all I'm saying now.

St. Casserole

Labels: My life, RGBP BE

Aunt Bostick here.

I've got my feet up. Easter Service went just fine. The preacher hollared until his face got red. The Chancel Choir did three special pieces and held in there until Old Dr. Hammer got wheezing. Even then, the sopranos did well except for Lolly Parks who got a hot flash under her choir robe and looked like someone sprayed a hose on her.
By the time we got to the Five Fold Amen, I was ready to go home.

The family came for lunch. I'd gotten the ham out of the oven and put the Splenda into the iced tea when they all drove up in the driveway. The girls helped me put the asparagus, tomato aspic and potato salad on the table. We had Harris-Teeter ice cream for dessert. My coconut from scratch cake days are over until I get this tennis elbow under control.

This is my last post in the "View from the Pew" for my niece. I'm worn out and ready to just watch my soaps while I knit for awhile. I've got a Reader's Digest to get through and I need to finish hemming the downstairs bathroom curtains. Enough is enough.

As St. Casserole said to me this afternoon, "Christ is Risen and the Boat is about to Dock". I know you understand what that means.

Glad to be with you girls.

Aunt Bostick

Labels: Aunt Bostick

Aunt Bostick here.

I've been in church so much this week that my purse is filled with bulletins.

I went by Parson's Nursery this morning to get bedding plants. We plant or buy plants on Good Friday down here. I'll put them out in the side yard tomorrow if the weather is clear.

Tonight, I'm just worn out. I'm thinking about all you gals who've churched yourselves into a stupor this week. Chin up! Sunday is coming!

Aunt Bostick

Labels: Aunt Bostick

Aunt Bostick here. I'm not posting my picture today. I feel every single year this morning and I need a perm.

This picture of the Old Rommny Church in the UK will do. I'm thinking about water today.

The mid-West flooding and the up East heavy rains are just perfect for Holy Week. I'm sorry for those people. Too much water ruins and kills. Too little ruins and kills. You can't cry all the time although I've tried this week.
I cried the other day most of the day. We had a good rain here even if it doesn't make up for all the dry days we've had for the past six months. Cleaned off all the plants then set them growing lickety-split.

Holy Week gets me thinking of grief. Grief makes me cry. I'm just a hanky clutching mess until Sunday. You preachers think we'll miss the boat without all the Holy Week going into Easter things but those of us who know the Story don't. Going from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday is for newcomers. The rest of us understand.

They turned my dang water off at the house. I sent my bill in by electronic computer days ago but it takes ten days or so for the Bank to send a check to the Water Department then the Water Department eats bon bons for a few more days before posting my check. Came home from pruning roses in the Church memorial garden to find a bright yellow tag on my front door. Couldn't flush. Couldn't wash my breakfast dishes left in the sink.

Water, tears, floods, rain, Baptism. Holy Week. Foot Washing. Salted water for the parsley at the Seder Meal.

I nicked my finger pruning roses. Blood ran out, not water but I'm made of water.
I've got a pitcher of filtered water in the refrigerator. I drink it all day after I've had my coffee.

We are all together in this even if we don't know we are.

Time for "The View". Those ladies crack me up.

Aunt Bostick

P.S. The Iraq War is 5 years old today. I can't celebrate.

Labels: Aunt Bostick

Aunt Bostick here.
I was a bit teary yesterday. The tears started yesterday morning when I took my coffee to the back porch. I sat down to watch the birds and think about the day. I was fine until I started thinking about Jesus carrying his cross to Golgotha. Thinking about that boy carrying a heavy cross through a crowd who hated him made me cry. You just know that his mother and family were devastated.

This made me think about betrayal. Jesus loved people enough to tell them the truth about life and God and then then he was murdered.

If you live long enough, you know what it feels like to be betrayed. Hurts like the devil! Crying out for justice or fairness won't work in these situations. You get hurt no matter what you do.

I heard about how Sen. Obama talked about his preacher on the news yesterday. The think that amazed me was how Sen. Obama was not going to betray his pastor by throwing him aside. The issue of Pastor Wright's comments while preaching wasn't an either/or situation for the Senator. He stood with his pastor while saying he didn't agree with his pastor's comments, even if he understood why a Preacher would say things in righteous anger.

Sen. Obama could have betrayed his pastor, even though his pastor baptized his children and celebrated his marriage. I can't recall the last time I witnessed a public figure act as well as Sen. Obama.

I got a bit teary over how it must have felt to be Pastor Wright and Sen. Obama as they looked for a way to honor each other despite disagreements.

Writing about this makes me need another hanky.

Aunt Bostick

Labels: Aunt Bostick

Aunt Bostick here.
While I was talking with Myrtis about Wednesday Night Bible Study, I told her about being your guest blogger. I phone all the ladies on Monday night to remind them that we have Bible Study on Wednesdays in the Church Parlor. Our Church organized in 1912 and except when we had the black-out nights during WW2, we've met on the same night in the same place at the same time. Still, as Hospitality Chairwoman, I don't want the ladies to forget. Besides, since Ethel Blanchard got the high sugar, I have to remind everyone to bring a sugar free dessert every now and then.

Anyway, Myrtis and I discussed Holy Week. She said that when Rev. Christian did that foot washing on Maundy Thursday several years ago, all she could think about was how she needed her toenails cut and didn't want anyone to see her feet. She said that she wished that one year the Church would send somebody out to the older people's homes and nursing homes and cut their toenails. "I don't need for someone to wash my feet. I understand the Servant symbolism of re-inacting Jesus washing feet. What I really need is someone to cut my toenails!" She's right. You young people do not know what it is like to not be able to cut your own toenails.

I'm glad we are in modern times where I can write about toenails. No one should be ashamed of what they can't do anymore.

Think about it.

Aunt Bostick

Labels: Aunt Bostick, ministry

Aunt Bostick here, St. C. offered posting responsibilities to me for Holy Week.

I'm going to tell you straight out what it is like to be an older Believer sitting in the pew as you young people pastor us. When I fall short of ideas, I'll phone Beulah Lynch and get her opinion, too.

First off, about Palm Sunday: I know children are wonderful and if we don't include them early in worship, we miss the opportunity to disciple them. I like hearing the children sing and participate in the Service. I do not care much for letting them talk during the Children's Worship Time because they get "cute" and distract from worship. However, this post isn't about the place of children in worship.

Please remember that most mainline type churches are filled with women like me; older, widowed, living alone or in assisted situations, often far from our families.
We'd like attention, too. You may be young but you won't (God willing) be always. We can teach you a thing or two if you'd slow down and pay attention to us.

First off, Holy Week speaks our language. We know what it is like to live with impending death. We are closer to leaving this life behind than young people. We think about it all the time. When Beulah's Buick engine blew, it took every single one of her friends to convince her she had the time to get a new car and time to enjoy it. She just wasn't sure it made sense to get another car if she was going to join the Church Triumphant in the next ten years. She's in her 80's with 20/20 vision and the strength of a 40 year old woman from bossing the Ladies Drum Corp. all these years. Who do you think loads the drum cases into the Church Van? Those things are heavy.

Second, we know what it is like to face an ambiguous future as Jesus did. We've been there and done that and it's about time Cafe Press printed a tee-shirt for us.

Third, don't you young people understand that although we've heard the story of Holy Week many, many times, that we hunger for the hope Jesus Christ offers us in our time of life?

Push the eggs n' bunnies out of the way this Holy Week and love us, your older people.

Aunt Bostick

Labels: Aunt Bostick, ministry

Lovely service at Little Church today. Plenty of palms to wave, happy children in worship, blue skies and an ordination and installation! God blessed us with two new Elders. I love Little Church.

Did I tell you one of my parishioners named a baby lamb for me?

Blessings to you this Holy Week,

St. Casserole

Labels: Little Church

My dear Niece,

You have not posted in four days. I know you well enough to realize that you are thinking about the BE Cruise all the time. Dear, tomorrow is Palm Sunday. Next week is Holy Week. Dear, please pay attention. Focus your thoughts on Cross and Holy Week. If I could see you right now, I know you are staring at your toes trying to decide what color polish to get for your Cruise Pedicure.

I understand that you are worried about getting a small, non-liquid gift type thing for all twenty of your gal's swag bags. You've seen what Cheesehead is giving as her swag and now you feeling competitive and crabby. Please. Bring an inexpensive swag gift for each conferee is optional. Then, no one wants anyone to spend a bunch of money on the swag. Really, you should just calm down. The cruise is about self-help and with Holy Week and Easter, you gals don't have the time to be worrying about gifts for everyone. I believe Cheesehead said this to you earlier. What about a simple paper bookmark with your blog name on it? What about a bag of hard candies, a small bag? What about a bulletin from your church?

You are worrying what to take in your luggage. Remember that you will want to be comfortable. I believe your cruise director, George, said that no one dresses up anymore and for the "fancy" night dinner if you just wear clothing rather than your tiger striped bathing suit from the thrift store, you will be fine. People will either like you or not and your clothing won't make a difference. Besides, don't people like you usually?

You are worrying about people complaining if things don't go well on the cruise or if some of the planning had rough spots. Dear, have your revgals ever planned one of these before? Thought not. Help everyone to go with the flow and put on their big girl clericals or church suits and just have fun.

Really! You young people wear yourselves out with worry and competitiveness. Chill, as we used to say.

What are you to focus upon? Jesus and him crucified! Keep your heart and mind there.

Love,

Aunt Bostick

Labels: Aunt Bostick, RGBP BE

Martha-Lee and I will be on the road for three hours this morning traveling to the funeral of a great Churchman and friend. Our friend served us well here after the Storm and we will miss his wise counsel.

What better memory to leave behind than years of faithful devotion to God through the family of faith in the Church? He was wise, visionary and kind. His death ends a 50 year marriage to a creative woman who moved down here from Maine. In addition to his service to the Church, he was a birder, gardener, and friend to many.

We'll drive to the North East portion of the State, thank God for his life then rush home to mark our Primary ballots.

You could call us before 11 a.m. CDT or in the afternoon. Just saying.

St. Casserole

Labels: church

Gadzooks! The Presbyterian Outlook ditched the hideous black and white covers for color!

Ben Spark's article about the 1983 Reunion of the Church and Montreat is excellent.

Didn't finish reading the magazine. The phone rang. The dog barked. People came to the door.


St. Casserole

Labels: reflection

I have Lent in my heart but Easter! on our mantlepiece.

St. C.

Labels: My life

Elizabeth George, A Great Deliverance Inspector Lynley Mystery

Matthew Pearl, The Dante Club Very Clever

Susan Isaacs, Any Place I Hang My Hat Delightful Main Character

Caroline Alexander, The Bounty the True Story of the Mutiny on the Bounty Fascinating, well written

Labels: 2008 Books Read

St. Casserole, what are you doing RIGHT now?

I am hosting a Cat Nip Party in my study to keep the kitties out of the kitchen. Mr. C. is making gumbo. He wants to cook alone.

Labels: My life

Magnolia sapling for $89.00. Just bring a shovel and get one from our yard instead.

Many Amish men building a porch on a restored hurricane home.

Dubby the Kitten trying to get Andy the Alpha Cat to play with him.

Swarming fire ants upset because I stuck a stick in their mound many many times.

Tiny little birds at my kitchen window feeder.


Wish I could see you,

St. Casserole

Labels: My life

Woo! Woo! LLS visits this week! Cannot wait to see her!
I wish LSiL could come see us, too!

St. Casserole

Labels: Family

Ginger, one of my favorite Southern Bloggers, has this
recipe for you.

Please, make it and tell me how it tastes.

Donuts, oh donuts! you are my downfall.

St. Casserole

Labels: recipes

The Mayor of Contiguous City declared this week that seven more years are needed to recover from Katrina. The first two years were clean-up the debris years. The third and fourth years are re-build the infrastructure and the next six would be building housing and businesses.



Imagine what it is like to be a pastor down here.




The debris may be cleaned up in most places but not all. People's spirits and sense of themselves are fractured still. Admits to the psych hospital, behavioral programs and, even the medical hospitals are up. What is inside comes out.




You may be exhausted with my story of life here. I imagine I seem to be mewing endlessly.



My work is nurturing pastors and caregivers around me. This is what I do until I can't face people myself.



St. Casserole, counting the days until the BE

Labels: Katrina, My life

Excellent Women, Barbara Pym Enjoyed this book.

Labels: 2008 Books Read

Many, many thanks to those of you who sent donations for Little Church. I'm in the dark about who you are unless you've told me. I do know that your response is generous.

We are ready to start with repairs. We don't have all the money we need but we are beginning.

Thank you!

Love,

St. Casserole

Labels: Katrina, Little Church

Labels: Presbytery Today

Dear Captain,
What should I know about going on a cruise?
---Confused

Dear Confused,



The most difficult part of a cruise is getting on the ship and off the ship. You wait in line for a good while to have your identification papers approved and enter the ship. Once there, you go to your cabin. The staff brings your luggage to your cabin. There is an emergency drill time where you put on a smelly life jacket (from your cabin), go to your assigned area, learn how to wear the jacket and what to do if the ship has a problem. This drill frightens some but just live through it. After it is over, you take your jacket back to your cabin and resume having fun.




Getting off the ship takes time, too. You are told what time to have your luggage packed and outside of your cabin on the departure date. You sit around doing nothing until your number is called, then you stand in line declaring purchases and sins for customs to re-enter the States.




Your travel agent will have luggage tags for you to place on your luggage for admittance to the ship.




Here's an important tip: your cruise costs are paid before you board the ship. Except!!!! Any alcoholic drinks, sodas*, gee-haws from the onboard shops and tips for staff are not included. Your cruise card (given when you go through processing) is used to pay for alcoholic drinks, salon visits, gift shop purchases). You don't carry money or credit cards.




Drink purchases include a tip for the server.




Coffee, tea (iced and hot) and powdered fruit drink stuff is available for no charge. You PAY FOR DIET COKES.




Some cruises include the staff tips in the cruise price. Other cruises expect you to pay a per diem tip for your cabin steward, wait staff and, for some reason, the Dining Hall King. If you don't have cash, you can charge these tips.




The Captain, no picture this time, you girls got too delighted with the last post + picture!

*soda is yankee for "soft drinks"

Labels: RGBP BE

Dear Captain,

I've never been on a cruise before. Does the ship move much? Will I get seasick?

---Rev. Daunted

Dear D.,

Cruise ships are quite large. You may feel some motion but the anti-roll thingies keep the ship steady. People wear those dots behind their ears if they feel as if they will get sick. Bring some with you because trips to the ship's doctor cost extra.
The best thing to do is to get on the ship and have 1 drink, not 47 tiny-umbrella-fruit-juice-I'm-on-a-Cruise!!!! drinks. It's fun to watch people climb up the plank and race to the restaurant to eat as though they've never eaten before, then hit the bars and drink until they are stupid. I think those people get queasy.
I get a tad peaked when I go sailing with St. Casserole and she is at the rudder. She is a faulty sailor, at best. I think you'll do fine on the big cruise ship.

Captain

Labels: RGBP BE

Labels: Aunt Bostick, RGBPs

The proper homiletical accountrement for sermon writing:



in Winter, the pink bathrobe with coffee stains and big pockets. In Spring and Summer, the beltless blue seersucker thrift store robe



highlighters and theUniball gold pen with teeth marks



quiet, no phone calls



cats, only if sleeping and off papers



coffee, iced tea or diet coke unless one is drinking water during Lent



do not brush your hair*



Bibles, exegetical research materials, books of poetry, P.J. James and a newspaper**



St. Casserole

*if you brush your hair, you may be tempted to run out of the house
**you-know-who suggested this

Labels: Preaching

Labels: My life

Here's what I've heard since Friday:

I've gained 25 lbs. since the Storm. I guess we were denied for so long that we keep "treating" ourselves. ---BSL resident

We've had another "Katrina Spike" at the hospital. ---hospital administrator

I went to the Coast. I can't go back, it's too sad. How can you live there? ---lawyer upstate

I can't cry. I can't eat. My stomach hurts. ---friend

I know I have PTSD. I just try to go on with it. ---friend

This is my life and the life of those around me for miles and miles. Everyday, we cope with the aftermath. The above comments aren't complaints. Just stating the facts.

St. Casserole

Labels: Katrina

Labels: My life

Happy Mardi Gras!

We celebrate Mardi Gras big-time here. Kids are out of school Monday through Wednesday to go to parades, balls and stalk the streets.

The grocery stores are stripped of beer, cokes and King Cakes.

Three parades roll in Biloxi today. One or two in Gulfport, I think. Up and down the Coast people are catching throws at parades, drinking too much and eating as much party food as they can stand.

Some park and walk to the parade routes. Others put RVs on the route then spend the night holding their place. Most of 90 in Biloxi is cordoned off by the police to protect the route. Best seats to see the bands and floats are in front of City Halls where the bigwigs invite the powerful to catch beads, eat and drink.

Our Mardi Gras is smaller than New Orleans and, maybe, a bit quieter. I hope so because the big truck parades and famous New Orleans parades are fun if you have a safe place to view but horrendous if you are in a jostling crowd of drunks.

My favorite New Orleans parade places to watch are either from the front yard of a St. Charles Ave. home or from the balcony of the Boston Club. Here on the Coast, let me have a place at one of the City Hall stands.

Today, my favorite viewing place is right here at home.

I've enjoyed Mardi Gras for many years and this year, I do not give a hootie about any of it.

LD and Mr. C. are out getting new cell phones and trying (again!) to get LD's learner's permit for driving. Last phone call from Mr. C. said they were #120 in line. The last number called was #89. If Mr. C. is lucky, LD will be distracted by the learner's permit and he won't have to take her to a parade. Mardi Gras isn't the setting to let 15 year olds wander parentless at a parade.
Shoot! I don't want to wander without an escort at the parades either~!

Looks like I don't have to worry about this.

We are going to C. and P's to watch the Super Tuesday returns tonight. This means we can miss the night parades, too.

Eat, drink and be merry, y'all. Tomorrow is Lent.

Call me a curmudgeon,

St. Casserole

Labels: LD, Mr. C., My life

Good News!!!

E is the THE MAN!!!

Rev. Bird Dog and his congregation return to their Sanctuary!!! First time back in re-built facilities since the Sunday before Katrina blew through!!!

Mardi Gras parades today!!! Weather will hit 80 degrees!!! Eighty Degrees!!!

Happy as a Cat in the Sunshine,

St. Casserole

Labels: My life

Dang! John Edwards has dropped out of the race to the White House.

Edwards, educated and smart, intrigued me as a candidate and was my #1 choice.

He earned his money rather than inheriting it.

He married a smart woman.

He cares about poor people.

I am so sorry to lose his voice in this endless campaign.

St. C.

Labels: My life

Labels: My life

Some people say they don't know how to pray.


If they pray prayers written by others they wonder if God hears them.



Or, if the written prayer is beautiful, will the prayer be able to speak so well when she prays her own words. Does God require prayers to be in formal language?

What do you do if you aren't sure your prayer is o.k. enough to pray?