Burning Bushes

For the past few months I've been reading books by Barbara Brown Taylor, an Episcopalian priest and writer who discusses many issues I find interesting - both in her autobiographical accounts and in her sermons.

I am currently reading Mixed Blessings, a collection of sermons that date back to her early years as a parish priest. One entitled "Uncommon Light" has given me food for thought. In it she speaks of Moses' encounter with God at the burning bush in the Sinai Desert.

Quoting the poet, Gerard Manley Hopkins, she says that, in noticing details in nature, the poet (Hopkins) "...saw everything and in everything he saw God. "The world is charged with the grandeur of God," he wrote at last. "It will flame out, like shining from shook foil." That is something the poets among us have always known. "Earth's crammed with heaven," wrote Hopkins' contemporary Elizabeth Barrett Browning, "each common bush aflame with God. Yet only he who sees takes off his shoes. The rest set round and pluck blackberries." ... Or run errands. Fill in your own blank. Then stop, if you are willing. Stop and take off your shoes, knowing that wherever you are is holy ground. Risk getting burned, looking foolish, being wrong. Drop what you are doing and turn aside, to look into every bush, every face, every event of your life - the big and the small, the hoped for and the feared, the bad and the good - look into every one of them for God's presence and call...

Finally, if you are still willing, go the last step. Once you have gotten the knack of seeing burning bushes everywhere, consent to be set on fire yourself, to be for someone else the presence and call of God..."

The Church "Grows"

A new church is being built at the end of our street. I pass it whenever I visit my mother.

I have never seen a building go up quite like it!

When Styrofoam forms were used to create the basement walls, I assumed that wood or steel framing would go up next.

But no, it appears that the walls - all the way up - will be cement encased in Styrofoam, too.

I've never seen anything like it.

I wonder if it's a faster way to build!

Phlox in Bloom

Passers-by often comment on the colorful phlox blooming at this time of year in our garden.

I originally bought four plants purple, pink, white, and two-toned pink.

Over the years, the plants have thrived, so I've divided them, moving offshoots to various parts of the yard...

Their bright colors never fail to cheer me up!

Birthday Party!

My mother, together with all the nursing home residents born in July, celebrated their birthdays last week.

Each resident with a birthday was given a crown to wear! The crowns had been made by visiting children.

There was singalong music and a big birthday cake.

My mother always enjoys this special event.

I so appreciate all the volunteers who make these events possible!

Yellow Flowers

This is the season of yellow flowers in my garden!

This day lily came from a friend. This year it has more buds than ever before - but each only lasts... one day!

This little flower has been in our garden for quite a few years now... I've divided the plant several times and transplanted bunches to different parts of the yard, so we have them all over. (I think it's a coreopsis verticillatas, or "tick seed" which, according to Wikipedia, is a North American flower.)

The brown-eyed Susans have sprung up in different parts of the yard. Some neighbors consider them weeds, but I like them.

Here is another small yellow flower that has sprung up in our front garden bed. Not sure what it's called - or if it's a weed! One year I planted some "wild flowers" in this bed, so maybe it's one I planted then. It's pretty but too small to make much of a show.

Visiting Manotick's Mill

Not many Canadian communities can boast of having a working grist mill...

But we have one in Ottawa, in the village of Manotick - now within our city limits.

It's open in summer.

Flour is milled and sold...

... and a popular by-product sold as duck chow.

A mill is a dusty place, with flour and chaff in the air.

This gives summer workers - dressed in period costumes - work to do, trying to keep it clean.

Christmas in July

On July 25, Terry and I headed to Manotick ...

... for the annual "Christmas in July" turkey dinner at  the Miller's Oven (a cafe where seniors volunteer as servers. and profits go towards activities for seniors).

I'm always ready to eat a home-style turkey meal!

Wonderful turkey dinner, I complimented as I left.

You should have Christmas in August, September, October, as well. Why not the 25th of every month?! 

I'm sure it would be a popular event.