The last evening in Florence

Here's your initial post card, folks. I am sorting through about 1200 photos so give me some time. Also there is jet lag. We had a great time, saw about three churches and/or museums per day, walked everywhere, and both came down with colds at the end. Tomorrow: The Mikado at Popejoy here in Albuquerque. I may suffer a surfeit of culture.

For those who missed it on Facebook, I made the comment to Bill that if I see one more effing Madonna I'm gonna puke. One can see too much Renaissance art at one time.

Lots to remember and ponder. We ate well, consistently, and came home with a few extra pounds. I want to cook more, so that part of the inspiration worked. There were statues that made us weep.

Before any more posts on the trip to Italy, discussed for three decades and finally taken, I want to thank two of my high school teachers who spurred the interest and gave me the background to appreciate what I saw. Thank you Betty Wiley and Alan Amend, Latin and humanities, respectively.

That I could view Bernini's statue of Aeneas bearing his father Anchises as his son Ascanius tags along, leaving the ruins of Troy for an unknown future, I could quote lines from Vergil's Aeneid in Latin and feel the tears streaming down my cheeks. Mrs. Wiley arranged it so Joel Steinberg and I could take Vergil in our junior year by passing Latin 2 as a do-it-yourself summer course. The seeds she planted took root.

Mr. Amend, if I remember correctly I had to do a presentation on Hans Memling and was not that excited about him. One portrait in the Uffizi undid me and I humbly repent. Thank you for teaching us about Renaissance art and how to even conceptualize and discuss art.

--the BB

Heart thread - Epiphany 2011

A call to prayer from David:

beloved Giants
I've just had news that Paul has brought Mark home from the hospital after early morning surgery on the damaged eye. (retina torn twice since Christmas Eve and immobility of the head since then). Mark as you might remember is one of America's finest poets with what's got to be close to a dozen books published. Paul, his spouse is a excellent writer with two volumes (one novel, the other essays) published, and the two of them are both gifted, generous teachers and beautifully thoughtful men. I'd ask your prayers for both men please. Mark is in quite a bit of pain this evening, and it will be sometime before the outcome of the surgery is known.

Prayers for Frank and Carol as they continue their daily treck to and from the hospital to beat what for Frank is a life-threatening fungus in his lungs.

Prayers or healing, strength and energetic restoration for dear Paul the BB, who underwent serious sinus surgery at the beginning of the week. Thankfully Paul is at home recovering; but here too the outcome of the surgery is still to be determined.

Prayers for the people of Haiti, as they continue to suffer while waiting for their government to 'get real' ( please see today's Oxfam report on the Hatian government inactivity http://oxfam.qc.ca/sites/oxfam.qc.ca/files/Haiti%20Briefing%20Paper%204%201%2011_FINAL.pdf )

thank-you Beloved Giants

love always-always Love

David@Montreal

Thank you, David, for keeping us updated and inviting us into deeper connectedness.

I think my sinus surgery is actually deemed routine rather than serious, though when one signs consents the risk list is always scary. I believe #14 or 15 was "death." Well, yes. One of my aunts never emerged from an operating table conscious. But we assumed this would be reasonably simple and except for some heavy, but not too threatening, bleeding it was straightforward.

This morning I shaved for the first time since Saturday. That felt good. I have managed to remove the "nose bag" as blood has mostly stopped draining. I am taking pain pills but I am not hurting. I breathe more easily each day. Kathy and Bill both came by to see me. I watered my back yard (some of the bulbs are sticking up their little noses already). Bill helped me do some January organizing, since I am not allowed to lift or bend over. I got about seven hours of decent sleep last night (interrupted by three hours of wakefulness in the wee hours). This is huge progress and gives me hope for catching up on rest. Michal Anne and Gail sent me a cookie basket (can't eat flowers, ya know) and the palliative and restorative effects of therapeutic cookies is well known. Tonight I will finish up the lovely chicken soup Bruce made.

And every day I get so many lovely notes here and on Facebook and in private e-mails. I could not feel more supported. My love and gratitude to y'all.

--the BB

Reporting back on the day at Our Saviour, ABQ

The full report is on the church blog. Then, as I came home and began to rest my weary body (though I was not doing the heavy lifting, all those other folks were), I got an e-mail that Integrity of the Four Corners offered Evening Prayer today and took up a collection and are sharing part of that with Our Saviour, Albuquerque. Remember how, in the early church, offerings were shared about the Eastern Mediterranean by personal messenger? Well, this gift will be brought in person to Our Saviour a week from tomorrow.

I don't know about y'all but it makes me very aware, and humbled, to feel in continuity with the early church.

Comforting and disturbing thoughts flit through my head. Today I was carrying a hammer from my car back to the church. My new hammer is at home but this is an old one. It was one of my father's hammers. He was a builder and his father was a builder. They helped build schools, churches, houses, and mountain cabins. I felt a link with them for a few moments, though I am anything but "handy." A few moments ago, following on this memory, I thought of Jesus' words to Francis: "rebuild my church." It was not, of course, a physical building that Francis helped rebuild but the larger church. Feeling linked to something that awesome is, well, kind of terrifying. Of course, we are talking about the Episcopal Church in the South Valley, not the church universal. But every part of Christ's Body is equal to every other part and affects the whole.

Feeling kind of small tonight. But hopeful.

Peace be with you all this night.

--the BB

Yes, I'm spoiled, your point being...?

Good friends, good food, good wine. A lovely evening (and a nice interlude in a truly crappy week at work, in the lives of my friends, and the world could do better too).

Homegrown garlic and peppers (both roasted) with goat cheese on great rich-in-various-grains-and-seeds bread.

Homegrown cabbage in the lightly dressed coleslaw and homegrown cherry tomatoes and basil.

Homegrown eggplant, sliced, basted with olive oil, and grilled; homegrown corn on the cob; grilled salmon with a salsa of diced cantaloupe, homegrown New Mexico peppers, homegrown mint (?), and lime juice.

Clafouti of raspberries and homegrown figs.

Maggie's Reserve Zinfandel from Rosenblum (thank you, Steve!).

Summertime, and the livin' is easy....

Chatting, then dining in the front courtyard with the fountain at my back, the zinnias in bloom, Jupiter shining in the heavens.

Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Bill and Kathy. Thank you, Steve. Wopila, Ina Maka, Ate Wi, Tunkasila Wakan Tanka, and all my relations.

--the BB

Say thanks to a Nurse this week

It is Nurses Week.

My niece Jannita is a NICU nurse and the Hoff family has a nice tribute posted to all the nurses who have kept Katie and Jeremy's twin daughters alive and healthy. Now let's see, what is it Katie did before having the girls...?

Have you thanked a nurse lately?

--the BB

No blood clot

I very much appreciate all the prayers and kind words from all around the world. I feel very blessed and loved.

Now that we know it's just an infection that is already being fought I am heaving sighs of relief. Onward!

--the BB

This little cottage blog...

... is certainly not one of the big dawgs (nor one of the episcopal ones - thank you, Jesus - they do it well without this bear).

But at some point today we passed 25000 page views since last October 7. Thanks to all the guests and regulars who come here, share stories, play, make friends, and enrich my life.
--the BB

They bring God to us

God clearly has an amazing sense of humor. All we have to do is look around at God's odd children (thanks to Maddie at OCICBW for his midwifery of a question.)

Padre Mickey has nominated this silly spot for a most gracious award. As you read the blurb below you may well wonder how anyone so cantankerous and given to public rants and demonstrable lack of charity could be named for an Emmanuel Award.

Well, the answer is grace. And the blessed and astonishing fact that God comes to us in all our oddness, sin, stubbornness, folly, and illusion. Our sacred tradition is replete with tales of failures and scoundrels and fools through whom God brings saving grace.

The award, so far as I can tell after back-clicking a few times, originated with Marie and Ginny, and how very gracious it was of them to encourage us this way.

On behalf of reprobates and fools for Christ everywhere (if I may make so bold), I say, Thank you, Padre Mickey. Thank you, Sweet Jesus. Thank you, God. Thank you, Lifegiving Spirit. Thank you, Mary, Mother of believers. Thank you Cuthbert, Guilhem, Julian, Magdalen, Raphael, and all the communion of saints. Thank you, all blogging friends (saints here on earth) for visiting, commenting, sharing, and companioning me on our journey.

Emmanuel Award
"God With Us"

In a consumer society it is a blessing to read blogs where the writer's main focus is God. Where they express their love for their faith so visibly and joyfully.In a cynical world it is refreshing to see so many blogs which are generous, giving, who care about others and demonstrate what being a Christian is about, loving God and loving our neighbor.


Through their faith, lives and spirituality, they bring God to us, they in essence make God visible, 'God with us.'

This Award goes to all the faith filled blogs who make evident 'Emmanuel'- God with us, with Joy in their hearts.

Please share this Award with Christian blogs that focus on the real meaning of Christmas, the birth of our Savior.

Peace, JOY & Merry Christmas

As we are beginning to write into a new cliché, one wants to nominate one's blogroll (except mine is a bit too eclectic for all this piety, though they belong too). I am forced, by nascent tradition, to name two.

Jesus comes to me through many but assuredly through Mimi and Tobias. So I nominate for the Emmanuel Award Grandmère Mimi at Wounded Bird and Fr. Tobias Haller, BSG, at In a Godward Direction. My thanks to them for their thoughtful posts (and for Mimi's comments here) and to all my blogging companions.
--the BB

Thanksgiving 2007

For the infinitesimal point that exploded into the universe
I am grateful
For the eons of unfolding that led to this moment
I am grateful
For the miracle that anything exists
I am grateful
For the wonder of continuous creation
I am grateful
For the glory of the cosmos
I am grateful
For this amazing and beautiful planet
I am grateful
For the emergence of life
I am grateful

For reflective consciousness
I am grateful
For the surprising fact that I am alive
I am grateful
For all the wonders I have experienced
I am grateful
For all the love I have received
I am grateful
For every act of kindness and compassion in the world
I am grateful
For the myriad species that populate the earth
I am grateful
For every newborn and each unfolding flower
I am grateful
For air to breathe and water to drink
I am grateful
For light and warmth and the energies of creation
I am grateful

For stories and song and dance
I am grateful
For the sharing of meals and laughter
I am grateful
For companions on our journey
I am grateful
For every gentle touch and warm embrace
I am grateful
For Light and Word and Truth and Wisdom
I am grateful
For faith and hope and love
I am grateful
For the entire fabric of existence
I am grateful
For all of it
I am grateful

--the BB

Photos: V838 Monocerotis Light Echo-October 2004 (Hubble Telescope) courtesy NASA; Puddle near the railroad tracks, Hercules, California, January 17, 2003 (PES); Herminia Ramos, bereaved Salvadoran mother (source uncertain).