Yippee! and I've been Tagged...

As usual I've managed to load the photos in the wrong order, so my finished quilt is at the bottom of the page. This was meant to be at the end- the Hub dancing with Ben!

This is just for a laugh; its the contents of the Hub's trouser pockets on Saturday, ie a week's accumulation of detruitis. Is it any wonder he complains of having holes in his pockets? I don't know whether you can see, but there are a number of screws, nails, a line of connectors, and a USB there amongst the screwdrivers, stanley knife and maglight...

And herewith one small quilt finished, the whole thing, and then some close-ups. Its going to a friend at the end of the month as a wedding present- a teacher marrying a farmer.

Yesterday's Morning Service was quite intense as we had a celebration and a good-bye. Our Minor Canon, a non-stipendary member of the clergy, is moving to another Diosese as her husband's work location has changed and she found the commute to the west just too far, especially with the winter coming on, icy roads, storms, and all that. So reluctantly the Congregation bade her farewell. She has been with us two years and been involved in everything that's gone on, especially the preparation of the Confirmation Canditates.

The celebration was of another order: our Reverend was Ordained 25 years ago exactly! Our M.C. had unearthed a photo from the day, and he and his wife looked so young! The M.C., in preparation for Sunday had baked a cake and, with the Select Vestry, had organised a stay in a lovely retreat up North near Larne for the Rector and his wife during September. She preached from the Book of Joshua, as there are many well-beloved Scripture quotes from Joshua's exhortations to his men. The best known is probably:

'Choose you this day whom you will serve,...as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.'

Her point, of course, being that our Rector had chosen who to serve and devoted his life to serving. I played all the Minor Canon's favourite hymns and Canticles, and although the Congregation wasn't huge (due to one of Ireland's main Agricultural Shows being on this past weekend) the singing was mighty and I was able to really open up the Organ. It surely was a 'joyful noise unto the Lord', and everyone was wrung out by the end of the Service!

On Saturday there was a funny request from Dilly in Dublin: one of her productions in the Dublin Fringe needs an old travelling trunk as a 'prop' so could she please borrow my Dad's old school trunk? (which houses the Christmas decorations)...Hmmm...I am rather attached to that item, it has a long and venerable history. My Dad grew up on a remote farm on the then Mozambique/Rhodesia border. Getting to his Secondary School involved a five day train journey to and from Grahamstown in South Africa at the beginning and end of each term. Then he came to Ireland to University, by boat. Same trunk. Dilly promises they will look after it and added-'just think of the stories it can tell its grandchildren about being on stage...' Do trunks have grand-trunkie-babes?

This has become awfully long, so I'll continue tomorrow with the 'Tagged' answers!