Distribution to the Harbour Village list was in my inbox this morning, along with a picture, and while she was out yesterday Linda saw the truck: the first shipment of sliders has arrived. Every condo unit has sliding glass doors opening onto the porches, which are on the Bay side of the condominium complex. The doors were substantial already,  but storm-related failures brought about replacement of every door. Instead of the original regular height, the new doors take in the glass transom above the doors so that they are about 8 feet tall, and with more solid construction and installation that meets current building codes.  Everything that is being done to HV is making it better than ever, and though if we could go back to last October and vote, we'd never elect to suffer Category 5 Hurricane Michael, we are grateful that reconstruction and recovery are so well planned and executed here. Not only beautiful, HV is a good place to live, with pleasant neighbors and...

In the predawn darkness, no thunder yet, but massive cloud lightning off to the west. High in the east, one of those fast twinkling stable satellites. Sometimes it's opposite 7H directly out over the Gulf of Mexico, which I don't like because I know it means They're Watching Me, whoever They are and whyever They're watching. I mean, why are They watching me, I'm innocent. Well, so to speak, at least compared to you. It doesn't always happen because I don't always remember, sometimes I get distracted and the mind wanders; but when I'm up early and alone and my mind is on it, I do a bit of meditation. It doesn't always have to be the same, but one is with a four-step mantra, each beginning with "I" because it's me I'm wanting and allowing to change.  Another is with a mental picture of the Universe, looking at the edge of it from just outside of it. Which is not irrational, because if there was a Big Bang of a particle roughly...

Today is what, could be wrong as usual, but I think Wednesday, and a morning schedule that I seldom have. Including that Ray is to come over and bring Aunt Pink's Table up from the back of my car, where it was transported from BP PCB.  A footballer in highschool and at first in college, Ray seems never to have lost any of his strength, and it's not unlikely that instead of using a dolly/cart he'll carry the heavy table lifted and held overhead the third of a mile from the marina to 7H. Well, he's appreciated. First photo op sunrise we've seen since returning to 7H a couple weeks ago. I like the scaffolding actually, and the foreground pattern it adds to whatever pictures I try to snap. The garage is filled with scaffolding parts, material, there for the next stage to be erected, I suppose on the StAndrews side of HV so work can be done on the outside walls.  It's all good here this morning, most everything in order, Linda sees to that, I'm good with...

Okay, abecedarian: on one word.a.day site this morning's word is abecedarian, which has to do with the alphabet, systematizing, arranging things in alphabetical order (sound it out: a-b-c-d-arian, get it?, as in alef-bet-gimel-dalet). Going on 84, I don't really need abecedarian, neither the word nor the inclination, but more knowledge is better than less, so I'll take it. Maybe try to work it into a sermon along with a Hebrew word or two. Speaking of which, this blogpost is brought to you not by abecedarian but by the Hebrew word נַ֖עַר two syllables, na·‘ar, which can and may and does mean several things and this week means boy, youth, male child as Jeremiah modestly protests to y'VAH, "OMG, I can't be no prophet, I'm only נַ֖עַר na·‘ar." To which the Lord corrects him, You don't tell me, I tell you, and you'll do in accord with my dream for you.  I am not one who believes that God who put a red delicious apple tree out where Eve and...

At my big house, The Old Place, the best part of waking up from my Sunday afternoon High Priestly Nap was looking out front, through what at some point I'd changed from Pop's original door to a 15-light door for just this reason, at StAndrewsBay. Post-HMichael, at 7H, waking to the Bay is still or again the best thing about Sunday afternoon. A difference is that at the house the Bay view was largely blocked by trees until Hurricane Ivan took down a giant stretching, spreading and reaching hickory tree and several big cedar trees, leaving after HIvan just the remaining cedars, and now, there, stumps and desolation. Better, best here where there's nothing between 7H and the Bay but scaffolding that, in relief and gratitude to be home, I can appreciate and ignore.  Hurricane Michael robbed me of almost a year of life in this magical place, robbed thousands of other people too, and of even more, though I, we, had other benefits, mixing it all up in heart and soul and mi...

That was yesterday afternoon, only one chick home, quite windy, nest swaying, flapping wings into the wind. Right now it's pitch black dark there, can't see anything but the empty nest. While here at 7H of StAndrewsBay, open a slider to be hit in the face with warm muggy wind, close door quickly. Don't see any now, but for a while there was lightning. Hope is for a nice day at least until one or two, for our big day at church, lots of children, backpacks strewn across the chancel and up against the Altar. Those in public schools started their fall 2019 term last Monday, our HNES kids start school tomorrow. What with air conditioning it doesn't matter so much, but so ingrained my early years that it jest don't seem right for school to open before the Tuesday after Labor Day.  If they keep the camera turned on after the osprey family migrates, this year I'm going to check the nest from time to time to see if it gets any wildlife use or Fairgrounds mainten...

A birthday gift from Kristen to Nana, she stands outside on the porch looking out between layers of scaffolding over the Bay, Shell Island, and the Sea beyond, enjoying 7H, her new home, as much as we are loving being home at last, home at last, thank God Almighty, we're home at last. Saturday it is, come round again. Tomorrow one of our big biggie days of the year, Rally Day & Backpack Sunday at church, with a heavily laden table of Sunday Dinner, and the displays are up showing the dozens of ministries we are involved in. Mine is about Adult Sunday School, which I thoroughly enjoy, the 9:15 to 10:15 hour when, with whoever wants to come, we explore Whatever. Might be anything, something a class member brings on the spur of the moment, though most often about the Propers: the collect and lectionary Bible readings.  A theological mouthful, tomorrow's collect for Proper 15 Year C (Sunday closest to August 17) is this: Almighty God, you have given your on...