Remember

Every week we walk to the front
to Remember how the blood poured out.
We take the cup and lap it up
to the last warming drop.
But this week you reached for Grace
with jerky hand and juice spilled down
your dress upon the floor.
For a moment there was a commotion
of paper towels and quick fingers
whisking mess away.
And your eyes looked down and back
and you forgot that we were there for Grace.
Your knees dropped to the floor as you
buried your face in my quiet whispers.
But kneeling renewed your strength,
they brought you another cup,
and together we took communion kneeling.

on spoken word / rap

Is this music or is this the news?
- Songbird

some more photos from the visit of the visiting professors of art and astronomy

bro was very ill for most of the visit. spontaneous sleeping was a regular occurrence. 

what bro loved most about the ferry was that there were cars on it. and also the hydraulic ramps at either end.

Mom! got a live one here!

seals!

try not to get too excited

beautiful eulogy

If you're intrigued by gospel hip hop, check out the free downloads at Humble Beast.

Here is a taste:

all the way to mercury

[snuggling in the bed last night  . . . ]
Bro: I love you all the way to mercury [comes out more like "melculry"
Papa: all the way to mercury?
Bro: yeah.
Papa: I love you all the way to Neptune.
Bro: I love mama all the way to earth. I love Songbird all the way to Venus. I love Marit and Graham all the way to the moon. I love Granjan and Papa RJ all the way to the sun.


This was Bro's adaptation of the story of Little Nut-Brown Hare with new insight gleaned from our visiting professors of art and astronomy, Granjan and Papa RJ, who were here for 10 days and were a whirlwind of solar system lessons, walks, laundry and dishes and stories. It was a lovely visit. Kelly & I squeezed in not one, not two, but three (!) afternoon dates, which provided much-needed catching up for us. And the weather was off-and-on rainy, but still that glorious northern New England autumn.

Some photos from the visit.

maine maritime museum

apple picking

Androscoggin River

wolfe's neck woods - photo credit songbird!

harpswell

looking out for giants at the giant steps

looking for sea glass

Harpswell little beach

Portland Head Light

Casco Bay Lines Peaks Island Ferry

Thanks parents/in-laws/grandparents!

Late September Visit IV

These posts are in reverse order, so this was earlier in the week, while the rain poured down, and let up for moments here and there.  We searched for things to do outside the house, and found free tickets to a crowded (yet fun) children's museum.  After catching a misty walk, we headed to the Old Guage train station and museum to take a 40 minute trip along the bay.  We practically had the train and the museum to ourselves, and there couldn't have been a better way to pass a rainy day.

Late September Visit III

The path in Harpswell, and then to the Lands End to search the little beach for treasures of sea glass. This was the beginning of the breaking of the fog and mist.

Late September Visit II

It was amazing, after several rainy, cooler days, how the sun broke out in all its majesty, allowing for this beautiful morning at Fort Popham. So glad Hubry put aside his work for the morning and came along. We even saw three seals eating lunch in the tides just beyond where we were playing. Sweet conversations. All around thankful.

Late September Visit

When the voices of children are heard on the green,
And laughing is heard on the hill,
My heart is at rest within my breast,
And everything else is still.

(Excerpt from William Blake's Nurses Song)