Friday and the end of the work week for those that are actually going to work or have been able to finally return to work. It is another beautiful morning; currently 84 degrees and a boatload of sunshine. The birds and squirrels are happy because I filled the feeders yesterday afternoon. So this morning I have had a couple of squirrels out there, although I almost had a real battle because the wandering black cat almost caught one. It snuck up to within pouncing distance when the squirrel suddenly saw it and made the leap to the tree. That cat went right up after it for about five feet and then decided it wasn't worth the effort. I don't mind that cat because it does chase the squirrels and generally leaves my birds alone. Although it is welcome to eat a blackbird or two any time it wants.

Yesterday we went and ran the bulletins at the churches. We normally do that on Wednesday as you know, but I decided that I wanted to finish my sermon for this week on Wednesday so I delayed the bulletins. It really makes no difference when I go run them. My initial plan when I returned to the parish was to have Wednesday as an office day. I planned to do my visitations, run my bulletins, and do some sermon writing up there. But, this corona virus has totally eliminated those plans. We still can't do nursing home visitations or other visitations, no one expects me to be in the office nor has anybody asked me to be at the church for anything; and I can write here at home just as well although I did move a lot of my resource material up to the office at St. Lucas. And I bought several hundred dollars worth of office furniture for the office at St. Lucas that is nor being used. At least the office looks professional when I do want to use it. I may go back to my plan once we open up the church a little more and advertise that I will be in the office on Wednesdays for a certain amount of hours each week just in case some folks do want to come by to talk or prayer.

Today I need to go out and use the hoe around my garden plants and I need to water then stuff with some Miracle Gro to add fertilizer to the soil. The tomatoes are looking good as is the cucumber and okra. Jim and Julie are coming over next Tuesday and returning my tiller so I can work the soil again. But in the mean time, I need to take the "Hula Hoe" and clean around the plants up close. I also need to do something about the area on the north side of my house. It isn't a very big area; maybe 25 foot by 30 foot but it is a mess. When we first bought this place I worked it up real well and I put the "anti-weed cloth" down and covered it. over then with mulch. I planted several peonies in there that I had gotten from my mother's yard and I also planted a lilac bush there that was an heirloom that came out of my mother's yard but was a shoot off of one that had originally belonged my mother's sister who passed away many years ago. Over the years, the weeds and grass  took over and I let it because that area is on a difficult slant and hard to stand on. I eventually dug up the peonies and transplanted them around elsewhere in the yard. Tree sprouts have come up and one has become a really beautiful red-bud tree, I missed one of the peonies when I was transplanting so I need to get in there. Also there is a lilac that was already there at the edge of the house that has grown totally out of control and the limbs block entrance to the area completely now. So, I have a lot of work to do. I love having a beautiful a yard with all of the flowers etc. But, it is so much work and I'm just not able to do things that I used to do. Growing old is not for woosies.

Okay my friends. Time for me to quit. I pray you have a blessed weekend. Stay safe and take care of one another. Peace.