Where did spring go?

Sea BreezesOK, what happened to spring? I was just starting to bask in the cool spring breezes, then, wham! Summer showed her hot face this weekend and took over. My grand babies in Statesboro played in their baby pool. Thanks for the pictures, Katie. Kennedy Susan has her broken arm splinted safely in a plastic bag to keep it dry. Nothing stops that girl! Whit had a blast in the two inches of water he was allowed. Be patient babies, you have MeMe swimming lessons this summer, and I will turn you two into the ducks you were meant to be. MeMe and Pops headed to the St. Simons beach. I threw in a picture the King and Prince Beach. Boy,was it hot.We are now tan. Does 88 degrees seem like spring to you? That is summer weather here on the Georgia coast. Spring has been tossed aside like an old shoe. I adore summer, the hotter the better. We hung new ferns on the front porch and got the garden tilled. I washed one dirty dog. I bought two new swim suits, in smaller sizes, thank you very much. We bought new sunscreen. Summer, here we come. The boat is almost ready. I can almost smell the salt air over on Lighthouse Beach on Sapelo Island. That is our first destination in the Minnow. Is it crazy to be in love with where you live? I love summer that comes during spring. I love that I have a real island complete with a lighthouse in my own county. I still marvel at the Spanish moss that dangles from our old oak trees. I sit each night on the screen porch and feel a chill when the sea breeze kicks in and brings that lovely hint of sea salt with it. I love that we have palm trees in our neighborhood that are green all year. I love when friends call to "meet them on our beach" and I know right where they mean. So here is to summer, sand and sea, swimming, beach combing, school vacation and grand babies. Life is precious here in southeast Georgia.

He Is Risen! Tell It Out With Joyful Voice!

Sea BreezesEaster Sunday was lovely. The end of Holy Week culminated in beautiful sunny weather and the sweet smell of Easter lilies at church this morning. Here are some of my favorite memories of Easter Morning at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Darien.

Christ is risen.
The Lord is risen indeed.
Alleluia!

Blessed Is He Who Comes in the Name of the Lord

Sea BreezesPalm Sunday this morning dawned sunny and warm. As we gathered as a parish congregation outside our little white clapboard church with its cross atop the bell tower, I marveled at the beauty of this spring day. A breeze stirred the gray Spanish moss hanging from ancient oaks, the last pink camellias of winter were bursting into bloom, late azalea blossoms danced their turn in the breeze, and I watched. We all held our palm fronds and listened to the Liturgy of the Palms. As Father Ted called to us "Let us go forth in the name of peace" the people responded "In the name of Christ. Amen." We then began our procession into church, singing with vigor "All glory, laud, and honor to thee, Redeemer, King! to whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring." Like so many bodies of believers across the world, this morning we processed waving our palm fronds, singing our hosannas and remembering our Lord's triumphant procession into Jerusalem on that first Palm Sunday. Our service quickly took over the solemnity and sorrow of the Passion of our Lord. We sang this hymn this morning, and I wept.

"Ah, holy Jesus, how hast thou offended"

Ah, holy Jesus, how hast thou offended, that man to judge thee hath in hate pretended?
By foes derided, by thine own rejected, O most afflicted.
Who was the guilty? Who brought this upon thee?
Alas, my treason, Jesus, hath undone thee.
Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied thee, I crucified thee.
Therefore, kind Jesus, since I cannot pay thee, I do adore thee, and will ever pray thee,
think on thy pity and thy love unswerving, not my deserving.

As we walk through this Holy Week following the Passion of our Lord, may we remember that love went to the cross for our sake. Twas I denied thee, twas I crucified thee. Today, I hang my head in shame. Father, forgive me.
Amen

Dreaming of... Chickens?

Sea BreezesI can hardly stand it. The Easter bunny has brought us more lovely fresh eggs. Aren't they beautiful nesting in the hay? I said hello and thank you today to the lovely hens who laid these beautiful eggs. Also, thank you to my friend Steve who owns these girls who can really lay some pretty eggs. Can you see the green ones in there? I am in love with chickens. When I was a girl, my Aunt Gert had chickens and a coop she kept spotless.I have found memories of gathering eggs. I am trying to talk my husband into some chickens. So far, I haven't got very far in convincing him that we need some fine hens around here. He says we have enough animals with the two old fat fart dogs and the spoiled porch cat. But Harold, think of the rooster crowing in the early morn and the chickens darting in and out of the azaleas. I can dream.