Weather report: Turn On The Fan

Keoni's friend Nathan came over this afternoon to play soccer with Aidan, have supper with us and watch the pre-recorded USA vs. Belgium game. Nathan has played soccer since pre-school age. What a champ to come over for a game with Aidan. We love having him visit. He is life-guarding and teaching youngsters to swim for his summer job before starting college course-work at summer's end.

We miss you, Keoni!

Aidan was thrilled to see the UPS truck pull up this morning with his new, official, World Cup, soccer ball that Nana Betsy got for him. There are soccer fields in all the parks now. There are a phenomenal amount of parks everywhere. All nice, too.

Sunday was a different day for me since I took part in one of the six or seven mornings per year that our church volunteers provide a meal for the homeless At St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church in Norristown which has been providing a Sunday meal for more than 20 years.

I didn't get a chance to capture this when it was out on the sidewalk as we came into the church.

In addition there was coffee, yogurt, hard boiled eggs and lemonade. We also had milk for children.

Mark has led this operation the whole 20 years. His words and prayer at the beginning of the meal were  concise and to the point.

By the time we carpooled back Lea (left front) and I had become friends.

I worked on cutting up the watermelon into 160 portions (for two each) and helping fill the plates. After some of the people finished eating they would come by the kitchen to say, "Thank You". A poignant moment happened for me when I looked up to see a boy Aidan's age and his father sit down together at a table and begin their breakfast.

Chaplain Andy gave the newcomers in our group a tour of the church itself which has a long history. The reason it came into existence was to accommodate the newer immigrants and working classes who weren't as comfortable (and vice versa, no doubt) at St. John's where the landed people worshipped.

Alter in the sanctuary.

And in the adjoining chapel.

Detail.

This one is for Keoni who never lets a piano sit idle.

And JM.

It has taken a day or two for me to assimilate the sad news that my old friend Susan is going into Hospice. She has been a fine friend and has made such valuable contributions of her abilities and time working for others. We did fun and memorable things together, too. I will miss her.

Valerie and Tim are now in Albuquerque. The first day, yesterday, they were in residence that welcome event was overshadowed by the loss of their suddenly very ill family dog Nandi; a surprise diagnosis of extensive cancer and she had to be put down.

The first load of the next-door neighbor's hay was already stowed away in the barn followed by part of this load before it went on to another barn. Wendy has enough pasture grass for the entire '14/'15 winter season. The smell of new-mown hay lingered into the next day.

One lane traffic in front of the house on Ridge Road as the tree growth was trimmed away from the electric wires.

Three rigs in all.

The things that fill my days, ordinary and extraordinary, become precious as I finish today contemplating what lies beyond the dust fuzzies.