Bringing back a memory

For many years my parish has offered a weekly service of Holy Communion at a retirement facility in our community. I volunteer there and am scheduled to help on the fourth Thursday of each month. I look forward to this time - I love being there. There is something very special about being a part of this ministry that I treasure.

This past Thursday we were celebrating Palm Sunday (which is really today, but each Thursday we use the readings for the upcoming Sunday). Of course, we had palms to give to everyone.

Marianne, the Chaplain at Bayleigh Chase, took a palm and said, "Remember how as kids we always made crosses with the palms?" We started recalling the different kinds of crosses we all made.

Yes, I remembered making crosses! The ones I made were done with knives...they were cut in precise ways and then a crossbar was slid into the center part. Unfortunately (or fortunately) I do not carry a knife with me so I couldn't make 'my' crosses.

However, Marianne had made hers by folding the palm branches. She began making crosses, the memories came flooding back and before long ... she had all these lying on the table!

I know, it's not something I painted, but I love the image ... maybe someday, I will paint it!

Sir Arthur Chadsworth

Many years ago, that is - back in the 1970's, I was teaching preschool. The mother of one of my 3 year old students told me that their family was moving to Hawaii. That sounded exciting, except that they would be unable to take their dog with them. Apparently, household pets brought to the island would be quarantined for 6 months before they could rejoin their family. This family did not want to do that to their dog so she was looking for a new home for him.

She explained that the dog was about a year and a half old, well behaved and loved children. My children were 3 and 5 years old at the time so I thought it might be fun take the dog. We went to meet him...

His name was Sir Arthur Chadsworth. He was an Old English Sheepdog and he was enormous! We put him in the back seat to bring him home and he took up the whole seat.

As I looked through old photographs recently, I found several of Arthur - this was one of my favorites.

I began with a graphite sketch, just to get a beginning idea.

Yeah, he is a BIG dog!

I transferred the sketch to watercolor paper, did a watercolor underpainting and added some pastel.

We always wondered how he could see - and yes, his tongue really was that big.

Arthur became a special part of our family. Just seeing him sitting on the porch - his bottom on the top step and front feet on the step below - was comical and intimating. We felt very safe and comfortable with this loving friend.

Puerto Rico...After Maria

We have recently returned from five weeks in Puerto Rico. As it says on their license plates - Isla Del Encanto - it is an island of charm and enchantment. It is also an island of resilient people and plants!

The island was hit with category 5 winds last September as Hurricane Maria stuck and devastated trees, plants, houses, bridges, businesses and the electric power grid. Many months later, about a third of the island is still without power, The stories we heard were of concrete buildings shaking, windows blowing out, the frightening noise of the hurricane winds and the many hours duration.

We also heard stories of communities coming together and helping one another - of hundreds of 'helpers' from other places who arrived (and are still coming) bringing aid of various kinds.

We spoke to FEMA workers, Army Corps pf Engineers workers, and electric workers - all of them tell stories of being thanked by the people of Puerto Rico.

In past years I have posted sketches of the graceful palm trees and lovely scenery. Here are just a couple from my sketchbook for 2018.

The palm trees that withstood the storm are coming back. There are new fronds atop those tall spindly trunks. The larger trees of various kinds lost all their leaves and many of the smaller branches, but their resilience shows as clumps of new leaves appear!  The island is becoming green again...

Puerto Rico's economy depends in part on tourists. Go and see for yourself - new life and energy on this amazing island!