Povey Prattle

I've met Tucker, a one year old black German Shepherd dog a few times as I have walked in Arlington Park.  We met again today. Fortunately I had remembered to carry my 'phone/camera. He is a gorgeous boy, still a pup really.   His owner is training him well to be well disposed to other dogs and to humans.  Zion and Tucker interact beautifully. The owner has had five black German Shepherds, each with the same name,  so the official name of this one is Tucker Five. As Zion and I left the park we met another dog who is new to us. This is Saul. He is a three years old Golden Retriever.  Zion and Saul get acquainted.  Saul,  so beautiful and gentle.(too bad that his owner is wearing a N.Y. Yankees Cap!)

. ...... laugh at me. I was walking out with Zion eight evenings ago and encountered my friends Rick and John as they walked with their dogs. They began to laugh and pointed out that my shirt was hopelessly mis-buttoned.  I joined in the merriment and told them that I was not surprised for I had once shown up to Church wearing mis-matched sneakers. The next night was Ben's Bar  (a weekly gathering of friends of the late Ben Morse).  I buttoned my shirt with care, and arrived at the host home announcing loudly to Rick and John that I'd got it right this time.  I hadn't.   More hilarity, this time with the whole gang. 'Twas Ben's Bar again tonight.  I stood before the mirror at home and buttoned my shirt with care. I walked with my dog to this week's hosting couple.  I boasted of my skill to the assembled guys. All well and good,  except that they were quick to point out that I had neglected to zip up my fly! Maybe I need a valet,...

As well as our Friday visits to a memory unit at Anchin Pavilion in Sarasota,  Zion and I also have a weekly visit to another retirement community.  With an eye to privacy I cannot and will not name this place. We are there to visit a good friend who used to live nearby. After that visit we go to a common room where the residents sit in a circle for a sing-along. With the permission of the song leader we walk the circle. Zion sets the pace.  He knows which residents want a bit of dog time and those who do not One woman has a special fondness for my dog. He knows it. They are simpatico. The song leader took these photo's  the other day. Zion is also fond of this gentleman It's called the ministry of the laying on of hands.

When I moved to Glen Oaks Ridge in 2006 the planting circle between my villa and the next was in poor shape apart from four good palms. The ground was covered with some way past their best junipers, weeds, and grass. I took a year to improve it by planting oyster plants, prostate porter weed, hibiscus and mexican fire bush (as well as a rubber tree plant which was languishing in a pot just outside my front door). I helped to create a circle of beauty, not just for me, but for the neighbourhood and maintained it by weeding and trimming as necessary.  I do not have a "before" picture save for this hibiscus in all its glory. I came home today to find that apart from the palms every single bush and planting had been removed by the so-called landscaping company. The vandalism of beauty. Who authorised this?  If the board member for grounds did this without consulting the entire board then his authority must be questioned. No one person in a commu...

Many Republicans are saying this about a white skinned man, a nominee for one of the highest offices in the land, regarding alleged bad behaviours  when he was a student at a super-elite Preparatory School. Would they say the same were the nominee a black or brown skinned man who attended a Public School?

That Bishop.  Yes the Presiding Bishop of the American Episcopal Church,  the one who preached at the wedding of Harry Windsor and Meghan Markle at St. George's Chapel, Windsor U.K. That Bishop will be in Pittsfield MA  (my happy hunting grounds for sixteen years) on October 21st 1018 for what is being dubbed as a  The event is sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts.  It will take place at Pittsfield's First United Methodist Church, an auditorium style Church with a lot of seats. Here is how the Diocese describes the Revival Already in the works... We are taking a deep dive into God's Word. A great preacher is coming. We are praying for God to revive us. To be sure, the Episcopal Church is long overdue for renewal and revival. Could this be fanned in the Berkshire Hills of Western Massachusetts? I can't be there but I hope that they will sing Doris Aker's great hymn "There's a sweet sweet Spirit in thi...

My friend from Church Rick P and I went out for breakfast this morning. We were at a chain joint which sadly claims to be a Diner. No names, no pack drill, but there are two Sarasota branches of the chain, which originated in Jacksonville FL.   It bears no resemblance to an authentic Diner, it's no more than a run of the mill Cafe, with indifferent food. Rick and I chose the same breakfast.  (The pics below are stock photo's, not the meals we ate this morning). Croissant with bacon, egg and cheese with Hash browns Our food this morning didn't even look as good as the same items in these stock photo's. And it was not good.  I would describe it as indifferent, or merely O.K. (To be fair it is a crime against France to serve Croissants with a bacon, egg and cheese filling.  Croissants  should be freshly baked, fresh from the oven and still warm, and smothered in top grade butter, or home made Black-currant, Raspbe...