I’m hoping the few sprinkles we had were enough to set into motion that old saying that goes, ‘If it rains on Easter, it’ll rain on the following seven Sundays.’, and I think I mentioned some years ago where I actually counted the rainy Sunday’s after Easter’s rain, and wouldn’t you know, that saying spoke the truth.
I was up and out much earlier for a Sunday, and mostly because I had to go and do an initial inspection of a home that was vacated yesterday, and unfortunately, there was more damage than I was expecting, so there’ll have to be some work done before a new tenant moves in.
After making that initial inspection, I headed back to office to get my Sunday morning contemplative session started, just so I wouldn’t be rushing to get over to St. Paul Lutheran. It was another welcome relief to have all that mental/spiritual ‘gunk’ washed away from this past week, and refreshed enough to take on another one.
My arrival over at St. Paul was about a half hour earlier than normal, and only because I wanted to get some practicing done on their vintage pipe organ since I’d not played it enough these past months. I’d already alerted their Pastor regarding my playing several of their hymns on it, as two of their members point-blank asked me several days ago if I was going to play it, which sounded more like a demand, rather than a question, so at least I was able to fulfill their wishes.
As many weeks I’d been fretting over my accompanying those two clarinetists, both of the hymns went off far better than I was expecting, which had me believing their members were just as delighted over them as they were the last time we played. Since I do a head count every Sunday I play over there, I was pleasantly surprised after counting 97 people in attendance. If I’m not mistaken, that was the largest head count I’ve had since I began playing over there. Good for them!
I didn’t stay for their brunch because I’d made other plans for the remainder of my day, and the main one, was to get a garden spot tilled for some blueberry bushes I’d ordered which will likely be arriving this coming week. I’m doing everything by the book with them as far as site selection, soil composition and PH level, and since that garden spot’s PH level was far higher than it should be, I added the recommended amount of sulfur powder to lower it, and then tilled it in before the rain arrives this week. From all the reading I’ve been doing on growing blueberries, the most important in the beginning, is to get the soil’s PH level suitable for their normal growth. Another bit of information I didn’t know, is the fact that they’re really not up to speed with bearing fruit until they’ve gone thru three growing seasons. I’ll have to keep you posted on my progress. I dare say, I personally don’t know of anyone here in North Iowa who’s growing market blueberries.
Nearly my entire afternoon was taken up with getting that garden spot readied, and what time I did have left, I went around and started picking up more sticks around my yard. I’d done it once before, but these terribly windy days dropped just about as many as I’d already picked up.
After I finally finished, I noticed a text message on my cell phone which was from one of St. Paul’s members saying how beautiful the music was this morning which gave me a warm feeling. I’m still in shock over how thankful and grateful some of these church members I play for are for the little bit I do for them.
Not much else was happing on my side of the fence today, so in closing, I’m hoping and wishing all of you, the most delightful moments with family and friends during our Easter of 2024!
Tonight’s One-liner is: Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.
