A variety of things

Here we are at October 31st, Halloween! We just had a trick or treat visit from Eliza and Sarah Bergh, with the girls, Phoebe (in a "Tigger" costume), and Maggie (in a bear costume). Ellen was forewarned (we never get trick-or-treaters - too far off the beaten path), and had made up two special bags to hand out  with candy and her own chocolate chip cookies (worth the trip any day!). I forgot to take pictures.    : (

Earlier today I was transcribing my latest conversations with Jerome Holland,  the African-American man at the Guilford Church with whom I have been meeting to create a booklet that will tell the story of his life. I am recording my interviews with him and transcribing them. It has been fascinating! And he is excited that it is happening. I've just created a time-line of his life, based on our interviews,  and we are now going over it and filling in gaps. He is not well, so we are both hoping that we can get it done!

Jerome Holland

Mike Flynn was going to come today to work more on the deck, but we got 2-3 inches of snow and it didn't melt, so I called him and we're now aiming for next Wed. or Thurs. when it will be in the 60's. I will feel a real sense of relief when that job is done and we are back to "normal" with everyone safe and sound. 

Friday morning I had a Zoom meeting with the Windham-Union Association Executive Committee, to plan publicity for the Fall (Zoom) meeting, Nov. 15th. That is the event for which I secured the participation of Dr. Stephen Ray, President of Chicago Theological Seminary (my alma mater, Class of 1957). We would never be able to have him under normal circumstances, but a Zoom meeting makes it easy. Given the uncertainty of the national situation by then, we are asking him to address the question What Now? He is very articulate in matters relating to living out our faith in the "public square," so that should be very interesting. 

President Stephen Ray, Chicago Theological Seminary

Thursday I had an appointment with Dr. Liebow, Podiatrist. I have had a problem with my left foot - heel pain and some swelling - for about a month. Primary thing - stop wearing slippers! Must wear a good quality sneaker indoors as well as out. Maybe also compression socks. It's all about support.  I can start walking again with the sneakers (I had temporarily suspended my daily walk). After my appointment, I went to Sam's Dept. Store in Brattleboro, but they had nothing in a narrow sneaker (I am size 11 1/2 AA but I usually settle for 12 B, which is fine). They kindly put me in touch with Ted's Shoes in Keene. They can supply a New Balance  sneaker in 12 B. They have to order it, however. So next week, I'll have it. They sent a picture:

NB sneaker

Thursday evening was our Swarthmore Course on "Short Stories." This week: Joseph Conrad's The Heart of Darkness. What a story! The writing is "overheated" to say the least. The basic plot: Marlow's (an old Victorian-era British seaman) journey up the river to the heart of the Belgian Congo in search of the mysterious and elusive station master and ivory merchant, "Kurtz." A critique of imperialism, a study in Victorian racism, a metaphor for the relation of civilization to nature, etc., all kinds of resonances with today. This is one of those classic "must-read" stories that I had never read. I learned that the movie Apocalypse Now is based on this story. Did you know that? 

Joseph Conrad

And a while back - did I already write about this? - Katie Tolles accompanied Brendon in his performance of a song that he wrote for a First Church, Amherst,  service (via Zoom). It was powerful and touching.  I can't upload the video, but here is a photo:

Katie and Brendon

That's all for now. 

A Fall Foliage Gallery

 Here is a gallery of photos taken in this past week or two - what a beautiful fall season we have had!

Along the Connecticut River in NH

River Road in Chesterfield, NH

Another river view

.....and another

...and another

The maple next to the church shed

At our house

Another view of east of the house

A particularly brilliant red oak this year

Ellen's garden is still lovely in late October 

Ditto

So lovely

Ditto!

All decked out!

Today was Sunday, but it was a work day for Zach Grover and Mike Flynn - they put new underpinning under our deck. It is quite a transformation, as you will see below in the photos. They arrived during our Guilford Church virtual service, but they knew what to do without help from me, though I eventually went down, of course, and made sure they got their questions answered. They made pretty quick work of it - Zach is an artist with a backhoe. They had to jack up the deck, put in temporary support posts, take out the existing posts one at a time, dig out the cement sonatube  piers that were in the ground under the posts (they were part of the problem - they had tilted over the years) and put in new piers - of new design, more like a pyramid than a tube - and put in new support posts (6"x6" instead of 4"x4" which is what the originals were) the new ones all pressure-treated wood. It all went pretty smoothly. Here are some photos:

A pile of new lumber

Mike is jacking up the deck and putting in temp support posts

An old cement tube pier

The new cement piers

Digging a hole for a new pier

Zach and Mike putting in the pier

The completed new pier and 6"x6" post

How it looks now!

Later this week, Mike will come back and start replacing joists with new ones. 

What a day!

I guess this is Indian summer! It's in the 60s and it is just a perfect fall day in late October. I'm sitting in a beautiful blue Adirondack chair behind the Dummerston Church next to the fire pond. The church's WIFi reaches out to this spot - what could be nicer? Yesterday was beautiful too, and we took a little trip up to Allen Brothers, where we got donuts, and to Ocean State Job Lot, where we got a nice metal fire pit to use on our deck to extend the seasonal use of the deck a bit. Then we had a beautiful drive down through New Hampshire, taking the road that goes along the Connecticut River - what a treat! I took lots of photos, but they are all on the phone and it's back at the house. I forgot to download them onto the computer before coming up here to the church. I'll get them on here later today. Later this afternoon we are driving to Saxton's River to take a meal to Kathy Michel, a member of Hallowell who is recuperating from knee surgery. Tonight is the Swarthmore Course on Short Stories - Stories by Chekhov (The Lady and the Dog) and by Tatiana Tolstaya (Date With a Bird). More on that tomorrow. And of course, the last debate is tonight. God help us!

Here are a couple of views from my chair:

Behind the church

The fire pond 

Some news

We are going to get some work done on our deck! Our neighbor, Zach Grover, and his brother-in-law Mike Flynn, are going to rebuild it. Zach is going to put in new piers and support posts, and Mike is going to replace all the joists with pressure-treated lumber. Some of the joists are rotted, creating soft places in the deck. We’re going to keep the cedar decking, which is in good condition. We will also keep all the railings which are in good condition too. Mike came by yesterday, took down the metal sheets which are under the deck, exposing the joists. Then he could take measurements and compute how much lumber he’ll need. So that is exciting.

Meanwhile, the recent rain did not bring the level of the spring up very much. Maybe a couple of inches. So we’re still hauling water. I’m wondering how long this is gonna go on!

Sunday afternoon, we drove down to the Guilford Church for a drive-by birthday party for Lila Gregg,  a member of the church who just turned 90. She and her friend were sitting by the driveway, and people could drive by and wish her happy birthday. There were large photos being displayed by friends, there was a place you could leave a card, and they were handing out cupcakes. And there were lots of balloons. 

Lila and friend Al

                                            

                                                         Lila Gregg -  Happy 90th Birthday!

Blessed rain!

It's raining steadily today, and is supposed to continue all night. Surely, that will restore our spring - don't you think? Here's hoping!

I'm at the church doing WiFi business. Ellen dropped me here while she delivered a meal to an elderly couple. 

Despite the rain, the foliage is still beautiful!

 

Dummerston Center 

What a gorgeous day!

Wednesday was just a perfect fall day!  It was delightfully warm and sunny, there was a light breeze, and there was  brilliant foliage. The foliage is lasting longer than usual this fall. Our day started (after we got going) with an outdoor poetry group at Kathy and Tom's place. There were only eight of us, sitting around a fire. It was  inspired by Louise Glück winning the Nobel Prize in Poetry. None of us knew her poetry intimately, but we felt we should get acquainted and honor her. We each selected a poem or two by her, and we found that she is "un-sparing," as Ellen put it, dealing with hard truths and realities, not a comforting poet but a demanding one. We had a lovely time; Kathy had prepared two soups and Tom made quesadillas over the fire which were perfect. Mary Alice also read Susan Browne's Buddha's Dogs, which is very funny - very different from Louise Glück!

This is a poem by Glück that Ellen shared:

"I'll tell you something: every day
people are dying. And that's just the beginning.
Every day, in funeral homes, new widows are born,
new orphans. They sit with their hands folded,
trying to decide about this new life.

Then they're in the cemetery, some of them
for the first time. They're frightened of crying,
sometimes of not crying. Someone leans over,
tells them what to do next, which might mean
saying a few words, sometimes
throwing dirt in the open grave.

And after that, everyone goes back to the house,
which is suddenly full of visitors.
The widow sits on the couch, very stately,
so people line up to approach her,
sometimes take her hand, sometimes embrace her.
She finds something to say to everbody,
thanks them, thanks them for coming.

In her heart, she wants them to go away.
She wants to be back in the cemetery,
back in the sickroom, the hospital. She knows
it isn't possible. But it's her only hope,
the wish to move backward. And just a little,
not so far as the marriage, the first kiss."

Louise Glück (b. 1943)

We drove directly from Kathy and Tom's down to Shutesbury to Katie and Savanna's, basically to take showers but also to visit, of course. We sat outside under a blazingly colorful maple tree, Katie was suffering a lot of tooth pain and may need a root canal job. Our hearts go out to her - root canals are no fun! We ended up staying and having pizza with them - at separate tables! 

Today (Thursday), we had lunch outside with Tom and Nancy Ragle at their home in Guilford. It was beautiful there. We each brought our own sandwiches. Tom and Nancy had a great deal to do, 44 years ago, with Shirley becoming the minister of the Guilford Church, and I worked with Tom for several years when I was Executive Director of the Vermont Higher Education Council and Tom was President of Marlboro College. Ellen has come to enjoy them very much as well, and we always have a lot to talk about. We also enjoy watching movies together, but that will have to wait. With all these visits we are not feeling at all cut off. We are always wearing masks and maintaining a distance, but it is very social. 

Peter and Mary Alice Amidon at Tom and Kathy's - see the fire?

Katie under the amazing tree

Full view

               Separate Tables

Still low on water

We checked the well yesterday and it is still at a very low level. So we'll continue to haul water for dishwashing and flushing and go out for laundry and showers. There is rain in the forecast for next week - fingers crossed!

Way down there!

The well with cover on...

...and cover off

Zoom session to honor John Nissen

This morning, we participated in a Zoom session with the Anderson-Nissen family to honor the seventh anniversary of the death of John Nissen, who died October 6, 2013. His wife, Mary, was in Bennington, his daughter, Erica, and her family (husband, Tom, and children Julian and Clare), in Capetown, South Africa; and his son Mark in Denver (with his partner, Jen), and Tom's mother, near Boston. And of course, Ellen and myself in Vermont. The wonder of the Internet, which makes a small world! 

We started by each lighting a candle and singing "We are marching in the light of God," and then each sharing a memory of John, and finally just "checking in" as to how each of us is doing. It was a very nice occasion, made extra-special for me by Tom's sharing how much I had influenced his life! (I was the minister for his and Erica's wedding). I hadn't realized he felt that way, and I was quite touched by that. He mentioned a poem by Robert Frost which I read at their wedding, Two Look at Two:

Love and forgetting might have carried them 
A little further up the mountain side 
With night so near, but not much further up. 
They must have halted soon in any case 
With thoughts of a path back, how rough it was 
With rock and washout, and unsafe in darkness; 
When they were halted by a tumbled wall 
With barbed-wire binding. They stood facing this, 
Spending what onward impulse they still had 
In One last look the way they must not go, 
On up the failing path, where, if a stone 
Or earthslide moved at night, it moved itself; 
No footstep moved it. 'This is all,' they sighed, 
Good-night to woods.' But not so; there was more. 
A doe from round a spruce stood looking at them 
Across the wall, as near the wall as they. 
She saw them in their field, they her in hers. 
The difficulty of seeing what stood still, 
Like some up-ended boulder split in two, 
Was in her clouded eyes; they saw no fear there. 
She seemed to think that two thus they were safe. 
Then, as if they were something that, though strange, 
She could not trouble her mind with too long, 
She sighed and passed unscared along the wall. 
'This, then, is all. What more is there to ask?' 
But no, not yet. A snort to bid them wait. 
A buck from round the spruce stood looking at them 
Across the wall as near the wall as they. 
This was an antlered buck of lusty nostril, 
Not the same doe come back into her place. 
He viewed them quizzically with jerks of head, 
As if to ask, 'Why don't you make some motion? 
Or give some sign of life? Because you can't. 
I doubt if you're as living as you look." 
Thus till he had them almost feeling dared 
To stretch a proffering hand -- and a spell-breaking. 
Then he too passed unscared along the wall. 
Two had seen two, whichever side you spoke from. 
'This must be all.' It was all. Still they stood, 
A great wave from it going over them, 
As if the earth in one unlooked-for favour 
Had made them certain earth returned their love.

Erica and Tom at their wedding

Ellen, Mary and Erica a couple of years ago

Mark and Me

Mark, Erica and Mary in Boulder a few years ago

...and, our beloved John

Short Stories

 Tonight we had the third session of our course on short stories being offered by Swarthmore College. The two authors featured tonight were James Baldwin and Lucia Berlin. The stories were “Sonny’s Blues” by Baldwin and “Toda Luna, Todo Ano” by Berlin. All the sessions have been good, but I think maybe this one was the best so far. Baldwin’s story is particularly powerful.  If you’ve never read it, you should. The two stories could hardly be more dissimilar, but they both dealt with suffering and healing. “Sonny’s Blues” was first published almost 70 years ago, but still resonates today.

James Baldwin

Lucia Berlin

Oven adventure

Today we installed the new bake element in the  oven.  The "repair video" said it would be an easy 15-minute job, but it wasn't. More like an hour and a half. But there were some special issues. Of course, the first thing we had to do a few days ago was get a new element. That involved figuring out the parts #. We could see some writing dimly on a metal plate at the back of the oven, and I finally was able to photograph it to get the #. Then I could go online and put in that # and -  Voila! - the correct part came up. It cost $73!  But that is cheaper than calling a repair person. The new element came in two days.  It came from a GE Distribution Center in Louisville, KY. 

Today, to get the job done, I had to kneel in front of the oven (the oven door having been taken off), with my head in as far as it could go, to see what I was  doing. I had trouble maneuvering, so Ellen helped.  We needed a flashlight to see, but that proved difficult and eventually we used a work light. You then had to take out two screws that attached that metal plate I mentioned above to the back of the oven - that was easy. The wires from the element went through that plate. When you pulled the plate off, that exposed a very small opening packed with insulation - and two wires went into that opening. The opening was so narrow, you could barely stick your pinkie into it. When you pulled out the wires, you found that a crimped gizmo slid onto a flat metal post attached to the element. In order to remove the old element, that crimped gizmo had to be wiggled off the post with a pair of needle-nosed pliers.  The problem was that  the wires that the gizmo was attached to were being pulled out with some force, and as soon as you wiggled the gizmo off the post, they disappeared into the insulation! We got the two gizmos off their respective posts, but the gizmos disappeared and there was no way to dig them out of the insulation. What to do? Nothing for it but to pull the range out of the counter and see if one could access those wires from the back of the range. When we pulled out the range (which we hadn't done for many years) we found the mice had been very busy. Under the range were many bits of insulation mixed in with pistachio nuts and lots of nesting material. So that all had to be cleaned up. And both sides of the range were filthy with stuff that had fallen down into the crack between the range and the counter.  That all had to be cleaned too. (It didn't have to be cleaned to fix the element, but we weren't going to put the range back filthy). 

But that was tangential. The essential question was - could we access the wires that had the crimped gizmo soldered to them?  There was a kind of metal box that seemed to cover them, and I found two screws that when unscrewed, allowed that box to be removed (with some effort). That did make the wires accessible, and I could stick my finger into the insulation and feel the narrow opening they had to go through. So it was a two-person  job: I pushed the wires through the hole, and Ellen grabbed them (she now had her head inside the oven)  and worked the gizmos on to the posts on the new element. We finally got the job done, and got everything back into place again. That included cleaning the oven and the oven door. And putting the range back into the counter. That all took a while. Then the moment of truth - turn the circuit back on and see if the element worked. It did! It glowed red! Yay! We felt very proud of ourselves. 

The plate with the parts # on it

Oven without the door

The Kühn Choir of Prague

Who would have thunk it! A very fine choir based in Prague, the Kühn Choir, founded by Pavel Kühn, has just released a CD which contains a performance of a hymn, Colorado Prayer, with lyrics written by my father, Barney Crockett, during his participation in a Retreat for Ministers in Sylvandale, CO in 1941! No one could have imagined that was possible back when he wrote that hymn!

Here are the lyrics he wrote almost 80 years ago:

God our Creator, builder of the mountain

‘Stablish our courage, as the hills eternal.

Should care overwhelm us, may thy towers 

Direct us, O Lord, our God, to Thee.

God our Creator, spirit of the river,

Cleanse our impurities by thy living waters.

Freshen our spirits by thy cooling 

Showers, O Lord, we wait on Thee.

God our Creator, ruler of the tempest,

Thy face the lightning and thy voice the thunder.

Speak to our longings, sanctify our

Yearnings; Hear us, O Father.

God our Creator, from the highest heavens,

Sun, moon and stars shine, to illume our pathway.

Be Thou our leader, give to us true 

Wisdom, so may we follow Thee.

Barney C. Crockett, 1941

Sylvandale, Colorado

How did it happen? Well, it's an interesting story.  Dad originally set his lyrics to the hymn tune, INTEGER VITAE. ("Father Almighty, Bless Us with Thy Blessing"). Dad used it in services in Texarkana, AK and in Anamosa, IA, and probably in Onawa, IA as well. When he died, I found the hymn in his files and used it in Dummerston and Guilford. I actually have a recording of my brother, Stewart, and I singing it as a duet in Guilford during a visit my brother made to Vermont in the 1980s. All of that is quite to be expected. 

In 2003, for my 70th birthday party, I put together a songbook to use at the party for a singalong. I included this hymn in the songbook. After the party, I sent a copy of the songbook to a former Lawrence student, Deborah Anderson, who is a composer who lives in WA near Tacoma. I knew she would be interested in the collection. (Deborah is the composer of a song we use frequently in Hallowell: Gaelic Blessing). Deborah was inspired by my father's lyrics and felt they deserved their own setting, so she sat down and composed a new setting, and titled it Colorado Prayer. That gave the hymn a new life. She published that (with my permission) and somehow it came to the attention of the Kühn Choir. Deborah has traveled in Eastern Europe and I suspect has some contacts in Prague. Anyway, they liked it, and included it on their CD along with another of Deborah's works, Windows. Here is the CD cover:

The Kühn Choir CD

Back Cover

Tracks 7 and 8

Another interesting feature is that the recording of this particular track, Colorado Prayer, was made in a beautiful church in Prague, a Brethren Church called The Chapel at Korunni. I found it online:

Two views of The Chapel at Korunni

And here is a portrait of the Kühn Choir: 

The Kühn Choir

And, finally, a picture of Deborah Anderson, from her website:

Deborah J. Anderson, composer of Colorado Prayer

Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be a way to upload an audio file onto this blog. I'll look more into that.