Category Archives: Animals
On Jane Austen
On the appeal of Jane Austen: But while Austen’s sharp prose, ironic wit and vivid characterisation are all key to her appeal, Robens believes that it is the romantic entanglements of her strong-willed heroines that draw so many to the … Continue reading
Sharing the Same Graves
From an article on the evolution of dogs from wolves: Human-tolerant — if not fully domesticated — canids may have existed as many as 33,000 years ago. Archaeological remains reveal dogs and humans sharing the same graves 11,000 years ago. … Continue reading
Ducks Bathing
We had ‘coffee talk’ this morning at our friends’ farm. We watched a pair of ducks bathing in front of their barn. It’s a pretty barn.
Me and Jane Austen
Jane likes to lay on the back of the chair in the evenings as I read the paper. It is a narrow space, but she manages to balance herself there. Speaking of our paper, The Daily Telegram, this has to … Continue reading
Having Four Cats
A month ago we gave our cat MJ away to a student at Kent State University. She was harassing another of our cats, who had taken refuge under our bed. Our hope was that if MJ lived alone she’d be … Continue reading
Montaigne’s Cat
How to Live: Or A Life of Montaigne in One Question and Twenty Attempts at an Answer. Sarah Bakewell. This is a Montaignesque biography of Montaigne, the 16th century French nobleman who wrote a book called Essays and coined the … Continue reading
Cat on Prozac
This is a cat on Prozac. Our vet suggested it because MJ is attacking another of our cats, Louisa May, who is living under our bed, afraid to come out. We make sure she has food and water, as well … Continue reading
Deer Crossing
E took this picture of a doe crossing in front of our church last night.
Can You Eat Mercifully and Eat Meat?
Laura Hobgood-Oster makes we wonder: In the U.S., where approximately 75 percent of adults identify as Christian, the lives of many animals are miserable and short. According to statistics provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in 2010 almost 10 … Continue reading
Solo, 1992-2011
This picture shows Solo looking over our bathroom remodeling a few months ago. All of our cats had to check it out. With Solo gone, we have four remaining cats: Socrates (the elder statesman), Jane, MJ and Louisa. Solo died … Continue reading
MJ and Jazz
MJ (the cat) is looking at Jazz. What is MJ thinking? My guess is… “I just want to be your friend. Will you be my friend?” But Jazz is trying to ignore her.
The Lord Is My Shepherd
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s … Continue reading
The Divinity in Animals
A friend of ours is a friend of animals: Laura Hobgood-Oster, professor of religion and environmental studies at Southwestern University in Georgetown, spent her childhood summers admiring wild ponies on Assateague Island in Virginia. At a young age, she volunteered … Continue reading
Jesus and the Donkey
[This sermon doesn't follow a typical structure for me. It's more a collage than anything. And I preached using only the briefest outline. So the message delivered was a little different than the full manuscript. But the delivery flowed well. … Continue reading
Longest Night Altar
C and A created this altar for our Longest Night Service on Monday. We hold the service before Christmas each year for people who may be grieving the loss of loved ones during the holidays. I’d never seen a deer … Continue reading
Blind Wonder Cat
Gwen Cooper adopted a blind kitten who lost its eyes because of an infection. She wrote about what happened next in Homer’s Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale, or How I Learned About Love and Life with a Blind Wonder Cat. … Continue reading
All I Need To Know About Salvation, I Learned From My Dog
We walk our dog on Broad Street past Second Baptist Church, and along the way someone often asks, “What kind of dog is he?” “She’s a rescue dog,” we say. “Her name is Jazz. She’s part Basenji, with lots of … Continue reading
Caesar and the Great Dismal Swamp
The Great Dismal Swamp straddles Virginia and North Carolina, covering 111,000 acres south of Norfolk. The land once belonged to George Washington. Today its wetlands and wildlife await hunters and nature enthusiasts. Washington fell off his horse one day trying … Continue reading
Blogging Nap
This blog will rest till August. Note the new Favorites tab above. Grace and peace to you all. ADDED: It turns out blogging will just be spotty depending on computer availability while we travel. Regular posting will resume in August.
