Sext or noontime

An ancient hymn of the church from St. Ambrose for the Noonday office can be found at this website.
http://www.preces-latinae.org/thesaurus/Hymni/RectorPotens.html

The holy reading and study is now done and NOW is the time for my body to celebrate the dance of work, order and cleaning through the blessing of daily chores. Warm clean water to wash up dishes and clothes. Scent of orange blossoms in the dish soap. Picking up mugs and plates and bowls to discover again clutter undone by wonderful empty counters. Hum of the vacuum as it gathers pet fur and dirt dragged in by happy paws. The uncovering of the glow of ancient wood from its cloak of dust. Stripping of the bed linens so we cuddle into lavender scented flannel tonight. Stopping to enjoy a shared joke and the joy of petting dog and cat.

And then out into the almost icy air to distribute potting soil among the tubs and plant bulbs of peony and bleeding heart, and peas a dream beyond the musty smelling soil and fibery roots to the fragrant pink blossoms to decorate our table in summer. (After all, this is President's day. A time to celebrate fruit trees, and patriotic myths about not lying about cherrys). If there is yet time, pruning willow whips to weave into fencing in a diamond pattern.

Thanks be to God for blessing of sun, home, life, imagination, pets and a beloved partner.

Terce

The heart, that's the thing that trots around, delighting in the first jolt of brisk morning air in lungs now accoustomed to house warmth. And then drawn by movement to the feral cat, which now warily surveys the yard to assure herself that no dog is present to harrass her with barking as she follows her morning rounds. There is so much to love in the country.

• The dense tapestry of 'silence' which allows the ear to notice the sound of fir needles clapping softly in the wind.
• The mustard ochre of dangling seed pods on the top of the tree whose species is as yet unidentified.
• The dense branching of moss covered alder soaring 40 feet toward heaven
• The little elderberry shrub which will soon be covered with flowers, then berries, and then the birds feast until they are all gone.

Today I will plant at least one apple tree to start our Belgian fence. I never before noticed that the apple bark of young trees has a rowan tinge and is freckled with tiny yellow or greenish dots. But now I've looked and truly seen. More than a billion gifts of creation in a brief few moments.