Late apples

Wednesday 30th November 2016

Yesterday's last picking of apples (Red Falstaff) in the frost

Advent to Christmas

Tuesday 29th November 2016

After feeding the dog and the horse and saying Morning Prayer in church, I was back in time to turn the horse out in the paddock (above) before churchwardens came for  preliminary planning of Thorneyburn's Carol Service.  Then off to Bellingham First School for an Advent assembly and back to the Rectory in time for a meeting with the Deanery Development Officer.  Quick horse exercise at lunch time 40 minutes), delivery of some Advent calendars to families who have had children  baptised this year, Evening Prayer in church; and the evening at Corsenside PCC.

Births and deaths

Monday 28th November 2016

It's been a week of travelling around in connection with funerals and baptisms.

Where is my marriage certificate?

Thursday 24th November 2016

Spider's web on a frosty morning

I couldn't find my marriage certificate until I asked my husband who had filed it away years ago!  I needed it for formal identification at a school where, as a governor, I had to have a DBS check for safeguarding purposes.  Nor did I know my National Insurance number, but I was able to ring the Church authorities from the school office to ask what it was.  This took up the time between this morning's celebration of Holy Communion and a bereavement visit.  Next appointment: a possible candidate for Confirmation, coming for a conversation about the Christian faith.





Mourners in the mud

Tuesday 22nd  November 2016

After the funeral I went to ask the farmer to bring a tractor to tow a car out of the mud.  It was a good service in St Cuthbert's  at Corsenside which has no electric power supply, so  no lighting, heating or organ.  The church was lit by candles and we sang  four hymns accompanied on a trumpet, as we thanked God for a life which we now entrusted to God's eternal care  --  and then went away to get warm!

Winter sets in?

Monday 21st November 2016

Walking to church for Morning Prayer in the frost was the calmest part of the day.
After that, it was rushing from one meeting to another all day ranging from planning a Middle School Carol Service to sharing ideas on a heritage exhibition for 2018.

Winter Wonderland

Winter Wonderland is launched at Leaplish beside Kielder Water with the arrival of Santa Claus in a sleigh pulled by reindeer...

... and the making of Christingles representing the Light of Christ illuminating the darkness of the world:

 

 

 

Seasons changing

Friday 18th November 2016

The frost has come, the leaves are gone, and we're moving forward from autumn into winter.

Remembrance Sunday

Sunday 13th November 2016

Almost too good to eat: the poppy-decorated cake served after Messy Church in Falstone where the children had done Remembrance themed crafts and shared in making a frieze representing Jesus the Good Shepherd of Psalm 23

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death...thou art with me..."

Season of Remembrance

Friday 11th November 2016

Down the valley

Tuesday 7th November 2016

Down the valley to Hexham for an evening session of school governor training

Waiting for a friend

Wednesday 2nd November 2016

Molly and I met a friend on my day off for a short outing together on a bright autumn morning.  Returned to the Rectory for all the things that are saved for a day off, like gathering windfall apples before the last grass mowing of the year.  Didn't get as far as making the apple jelly.