Povey Prattle

Yesterday my pal Bob gave me a big bag of those "baby cut" carrots,  ( see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby_carrot  ) Bob always had a good store of them in  his home because his sweet Westie "Maggie"  (full name Margaret Rose -  after Q.E. II's sister) would eat one or two each evening as a bedtime snack.  Sadly to  say Maggie is with us no more after her health rapidly declined,  as a result of kidney failure. Today (Friday) I grated some of them and made a cold carrot salad with raisins, finely chopped pineapple and a bit of mayonnaise.  Went down well with some salmon which I had poached earlier in the day and then ate cold, and with some good tomatoes which I lavished with fresh basil. I dressed the salmon with a simple sauce which I made with mayonnaise and sweet pickle relish. Tomorrow (Saturday) I shall make some ginger carrot soup. May the food gods grant me patience as I peel and grate the ginger. (I hate wasting fo...

Bob lives in the neighbouring community of Glen Oaks Manor. I see him often as he, in an electric wheel-chair, walks his (Airedale?) Terrier "Scout" around the pond. Bob has a very loud voice  (as I have previously noted, like the sound of a Corncrake ). Scout , an otherwise friendly dog, has taken a strong dislike to my Penne, so Bob and I have learned to maintain a safe distance. 'Twas about two months ago that Bob invited me out for lunch.  We went to our local "Alma's Kouzine", and enjoyed Alma's fabulous savoury crepes. ------------------------------------------------------------ Every now and then I get a craving for certain foods.  For instance, just a few days ago I wanted to tuck in to some good fish and chips .  My body and mind longed for this "British National Dish". ------------------------------------------------------------ Soon after my return from England I saw Bob one morning.  He yelled across the pond "ca...

He was restless and talkative - a new guest at the Prayer Service which I led at Resurrection House this morning. I gently asked him to listen and not to talk. His wife spoke up  "He is brain-injured" she said. My stupidity made me want to crawl under a chair. He moved across the Chapel to where another guest was holding a huge floppy bible. He took the bible and returned to his seat.  He thumbed through it, and then asked his wife to find Psalm 13.   She did so, and he took the bible back to its owner and said "please read Psalm 13". Here is the psalm (as printed in the Episcopal Church Book of Common Prayer).     1 How long, O L ORD ? will you forget me for ever? *     how long will you hide your face from me?     2 How long shall I have perplexity in my mind, and grief in my heart, day after day? *     how long shall my enemy triumph over me? ...

(1) Please pray for my Palestinian friends in the diaspora:  Wafa, Leila, Hani (1), Hani (2), Nejwa, Matthew and Eric.  Their hearts are aching, their minds are numbed. (2) Maggie was a sixteen year old Westie, the beloved dog/friend/companion of my pal Bob (and of Bob's departed partner Keith. Maggie had to be "put down" today because of complications from her kidney failure.  That's tough for Bob (as all other dog owners will understand). (3) My junior cat Adelaide has in recent days been yowling persistently by the back door  - her way of telling me that she wants to go out of the house. I have occasionally given into her pleas and let her out, thus violating  the rules of our Condominium Association (and the rule of common sense - "think about the birds") I gave in to her cries and let her out yesterday evening. (She  cuts a fine figure as she explores the great outdoors). Then off I went to bed with never a thought ...

On my way home from the Dodge Store and Gas station yesterday [see "Life's good moments (1) ] I stopped by my local Publix Supermarket to pick up this and that. I entered the Supermarket and saw that my very favourite clerk/cashier, a woman named "Lowie" was on duty. In truth she saw me first,  and greeted me with her usual joyful enthusiasm. I said "when I have shopped I will come to your check-out even if it has the longest queue". As it happened her line was very short so I was able to keep my promise. She asked "Do you remember Kyle"? Of course I do, he was a High School kid who formerly worked at this Publix Store. He was an inspiration for he worked with energy, skill, enthusiasm and general bonhomie.  His good mother Barbara also worked at this store, and she became one of my favourite staff members. In due course Kyle graduated High School.  He opted for a career in the Air Force. 'Twas about nine months ago that Barbara ...

When I got home from Church and from sharing Holy Communion with an at home parishioner this morning I noted that my car's gas/petrol tank was moving towards "fumes". Certain as I was  that every gas/petrol station in the world would be closed on Monday morning, I drove out at 4:00  to get twenty bucks' worth at my local "Dodge's Store" petrol/gas pumps. (Best prices in this neck of the wood, and wonderfully friendly staff). I entered the store since  I was being extremely old fashioned and was  paying by cash. Another customer, an apparently fifty-something man, greeted me with warmth, enthusiasm, and a big handshake. It took me a minute or so before I realised that we knew each other because he had been a guest at Resurrection House (Sarasota's Day Shelter for Homeless people).   To be truthful I would never have recognized him, but he knew me. Turns out that he is now back on his feet, and has had a full time job for a number o...