Povey Prattle

    I hope that my endodontic surgeon  is better at  drilling than he is at spilling.   =============================================     The nearby Glen Oaks Estates folks are planning a Block Party. Why do they say "Please RSVP" ?   Isn't RSVP sufficient?   =============================================================================     ENOUGH of my silly sense of humour.   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   POVEY PRATTLE    will be on hiatus for Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Day.    Back again on Easter Monday

I heard today of the death of a wonderful Pittsfield parishioner and  friend, Alice McClintock. Alice and her husband Chuck were delightful parishioners at St. Stephen's, Pittsfield, MA.  They were devoted Christians, with a deep and quiet faith, never worn on their shoulders. They usually attended the Saturday evening Eucharist, and I called Chuck to be a Eucharistic Minister so that he could serve at that service.    He accepted my call, and served with prayerful distinction. On some Saturdays (after the service)  Chuck, Alice and I would decamp to a diner in the Coltsville area of Pittsfield for a bite to eat.  I would always order Liver and Bacon, with mashed potatoes, (and ask the waitress to make a "well" in the spuds for the gravy).   We'd mostly be there with another "Saturday evening Eucharist" couple -  Bob and Lois.   Chuck, Alice and I would be so amused, because Bob and Lois would insist on calculating our shares of the bill to the exa

My Granby, MA. friend Pam Bradshaw  is certain that she has found a photo' of my class in year/grade three or four. She swears that she can identify me.

My lunch today. 1, A cup or so of sea-food stock. 2, Pearl onions  (frozen, from Birdseye) 3, Celery  (maybe three cups).  If I have too much celery I cut it up, blanch it and then freeze it.  It's then perfectly fit for soups and stews). That's what I used today. 4, Six plum tomatoes, diced into about 1" squares ( much better than the canned ones). 5, Garlic to taste. Salt and pepper to taste. 6. And the crowning glory?  Frozen Mussels from Whole Foods: (they are already cooked and de-shelled). This   "mess" is simmered in a big pot for about an hour. Utterly delicious, if I may say so!  Such was my lunch today, and it will be so tomorrow, and on Thursday. ----------------------------------------------------------------- But not on Wednesday when my friends Fred and Diana will be at my home for a simple lunch. I will serve them my version of a sandwich which was one of my favourites at Samel's Deli in Pittsfield MA. Samel's

FIRST I was scheduled to be an assisting minister  at  the 11:15  a.m. Eucharist at St. Boniface Church on Siesta Key, SRQ  this morning. I rarely attend the 11:15 liturgy.    This is partly because I arise at 4:30 a.m. most days, so 11:15 a.m. is half way through my day. It's also because the St. B's 11:15 a.m. service usually features music from the English Cathedral tradition, which is not my favourite cup of tea. It has its place and is valued by some, but for me it is a tradition which takes music away from the hoi polloi in the pews, and assigns it to the "good or great singers". On the other hand, there is a place in which the somewhat great "Anglican musical tradition"  is deemed to be worthy of preservation. That place is valued at St. B's, hence the 11:15 Eucharist is led (in the tourist season) by a choir called the "Schola Cantorum"  which is " A choral group founded by Neil Page, Director of Music, in the Anglican