Maravilla: September 2012

Monday, September 24, 2012

Mary The Font Solitude 2012

"These things you have given me

without my asking:

the sky, the light,

my mind, my body, my life."

-Tagore

Carolina Buckthorn

The Stream Was Dry.

Found Item #1

Found Item#2

Found Item #3

Boneset

Found Fossils

My time of silence was last minute, but needed. The weather was beautiful and the birds were plentiful. I saw Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Blue Jay, Wood Thrush, Red-Headed Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, and Barred Owl.

I re-read Life and Holiness by Thomas Merton. I also enjoyed reading the poetry of Rabindranath Tagore, a Bengali poet who was born in 1861.

"That you protect me in danger-

this is not my prayer;

Let me not know fear

when in danger.

I do not ask You to comfort me

in the heat of sadness,

in an aching state of mind.

Make me victorious

over sadness.

Let not my strength break down

when i find myself without refuge.

If I suffer any worldly loss,

if I'm repeatedly frustrated,

let me not consider this

harm irreparable.

That you come to save me-

this is not my prayer;

I ask for strength

to overcome.

You need not comfort me

by lightening my load;

I ask for strength

to carry my burden.

On days of joy

with humble head

I will remember you.

I will recognize you.

On a dark, sad night,

full of frustrations

O then may i not

doubt you!"

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Our 1st Before and After!

Justin has been working hard to strip the paint from the butler's pantry in the downstairs bathroom. It is complete! The window that had the brick through it has been replaced with a glass block. The rotten wall and ceiling were removed and the new ones are in. The peeling vinyl is now hardwood. The stained hobo toilet is fresh and white. The sink was upstairs and we brought it down. The original cabinet hardware was "cooked" in an old crock pot with TSP, and now they are beautiful. The door with a brick sized hole in it is long gone and so is the curtain that replaced it. (The brick on the peeling vinyl is also gone.)
With a serious look on his face, Jasper innocently inquired, "You know, don't you think we should work on getting, you know, some of the other things done, you know, like the more important big things?" He is thinking a floor, stove, shower...
And yes, i feel the same way. But we still haven't finalized the loan, and in the mean time, we are doing what we can. For Justin, it was stripping the butler's pantry.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Zoo Expansion Plans

Good news for our home on Graham Street, which is part of the zoo's expansion plan.
http://nextstl.com/what-should-be/what-should-be-river-aquarium-and-brt-station-at-forest-park-hospital-site
I am excited that the hospital didn't stay empty for too long. It was CREEPY at night! In the end, only a few psych beds were open.
An aquarium, pedestrian walk-way, more zoo parking, long-awaited dog park...super exciting. We do miss walking to the zoo every day. Plus, their landscaping is superb and well-cared for. A huge asset that beats a hulking mass of parking garages/lots,weeds, and old buildings.