EASTER SUNDAY 2012, DAY'S END
ASTONISHING THAT my last posting was Fourth Advent Sunday!!!
How fitting that, this Easter Day, I report myself alive and well.  The Winter is past, no skiing to speak of, so 'Boo Hoo'.  On the other hand, a warm and pleasant Winter with Spring straining at the leash all of March.  I managed to get to prune some bushes early in March, just managing to get at them before the sap began to run.  My first time at these and I literally took seven years growth out of them.  Now they are responding well, all freed up for new and better growth.

Down Under, we do not really have much of a Winter other than up in the snow country, the High Plains of Victoria and New South Wales.  Of course, it is a bit out of whack even then, being six months the other way around (like Winter when it is Summer here in the Northern Hemisphere and so on).  Therefore, it is impossible to understand the Resurrection Story without the perspective of Winter becoming Spring, when all those things that seemed to have given up living all come back to live.  We too, who have drudged out way through the cold days, the Sun (when it made its appearance, getting up later and later and disappearing sooner and sooner, up to the Winter Solstice in December).  Then the days begin to get longer until the blessed Equinox and we are at the crossing point.  Our blood begins to flow once more, strength and vigor return.  Suddenly we have energy and purpose!

My day began routinely, awaking around six and relishing a 'sleep in' until seven, when the rising sun began to lighten my room.  Then two cups of excellent coffee (from my favorite coffee house, Heavenly Cup), the first with a little sugar, a shave accomplished while the coffee was steeping.  Coffee done, I fell to cutting up banana and apple to add to the raisins in the measured water for my oatmeal (plus the turmeric cinnamon) and  oatmeal,  wheat germ and ground flax-seed, to the water once boiling and the gas turned off once back to the boil.  This done, down to the lower level (where I am now, writing this post) for my morning exercise routine.  Back in the kitchen, I treat myself to oatmeal, done just as I desire.  Now just enough time to get ready to walk to Church on this beautiful, sunny morning, along the quiet streets, across the old bridge, into downtown Corning.

The church is full, the music wonderful...after the gospel, Father Charlie preaches the best Easter message I have ever heard.  And what fun, passing the Peace; up and down the aisle greeting all my friends!

I walk home, stopping by the local supermarket for hot chocolate and a chocolate doughnut.  Once home, I sit out on the deck, soaking up the sun while drinking a cool beer and then a nap.  Mid-afternoon, I get out my new/old road bike (recently purchased from a friend who was loth to let it go).  Dressed in my resplendent road gear, I manage twelve or so easy miles, getting used to the new saddle (a racy, Italian job but very comfortable).   Head wind out...tail wind back; what bliss!

My life seems to have been work, work, work on the house.  I am moved into my fancy bedroom, have almost finished work on the potting room, and am starting on the garden work (getting ready to sow down lawn where the earth moving wiped out the grass) and have almost completed my new compost frames.  My work shop is functional and made it possible to do the work on the frames in amazingly quick time.  I love my new toys!

More detail of the house coming up in the other Blog.  I plan to start the new blog (BeliefAccordingToRobero) this week.  You will be able to untangle how it is that I, an agnostic, have come so to love life at Church.

That's it for now.  Here is a pic of my new bedroom.  Still lots of work to be done, finishing trim and whatnot.  Lots of projects all going on at once.