Monday, July 27, 2009
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Just who do we think we are . . .
This morning for breakfast I sauteed some golden chanterelles given to me by a neighbor. She had found them in the local woods. I then added them to some scrambled local cage-free eggs with some raw milk, chopped chervil, and shredded Cabot cheddar. How very localvore and gourmet, right?
I had to chuckle as I cooked it up and ate it with our house in total disarray. Who eats golden chanterelles in their eggs while his son's carpet is still wet with urine from an early morning accident?
But man those eggs were good.
Can't wait for church tomorrow.
I had to chuckle as I cooked it up and ate it with our house in total disarray. Who eats golden chanterelles in their eggs while his son's carpet is still wet with urine from an early morning accident?
But man those eggs were good.
Can't wait for church tomorrow.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Ordination
These are the only decent pics that I have from the night. My hands were full with a cranky 3 year old boy who only wanted his momma. It's nice being wanted.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Thoughts on Parenthood
Baby Miles is wearing one of our old onesies in this picture and when I saw it I just started to bawl! It brought back memories of my newborns who are no longer babies and never will be again. It also brought the realization that there will probably be no more baby Tates on the East coast. But being on this side of parenthood (post diapers)has it's shares of blessings as well. We are now approaching a time where we can discuss scripture, literature and life in general with our older girls. I feel as though we are walking through life with our kids now instead of making sure they survive it (Obie being the exception). It's parenthood on a whole new level but just like bringing a newborn home it's still exciting and scary all at the same time.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
And then there were two
This being a family friendly blog we're not posting any pictures but I will tell you that I have "processed" seven of our nine geese, "processed" being a euphemism for "clumsily butchered."
It did not go as well as I would have liked. We will not have any roasting geese as the pin feathers were beyond anything I might have imagined. But we have a refrigerator full of breasts and legs.
And though it didn't go as well as I would have liked it wouldn't have gone at all had it not been for Tim Elliott's equipment and assistance.
And I'm relieved that it's done.
It was a hard day for Elisabeth, though. That girl has been wonderful with the geese and it pained me to see her so saddened, and all the more so because she bore her sorrow with such great restraint.
But we've decided to name the remaining two Adam and Eve, unless they turn out to be two ganders in which case we will call them Adam and Steve, our Vermont geese.
It did not go as well as I would have liked. We will not have any roasting geese as the pin feathers were beyond anything I might have imagined. But we have a refrigerator full of breasts and legs.
And though it didn't go as well as I would have liked it wouldn't have gone at all had it not been for Tim Elliott's equipment and assistance.
And I'm relieved that it's done.
It was a hard day for Elisabeth, though. That girl has been wonderful with the geese and it pained me to see her so saddened, and all the more so because she bore her sorrow with such great restraint.
But we've decided to name the remaining two Adam and Eve, unless they turn out to be two ganders in which case we will call them Adam and Steve, our Vermont geese.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Kayaks
We were invited out to Timouth Pond to celebrate a friend's birthday and the girls discovered kayaking. They loved it!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
We Love Miles Bradley Paulson Tate!
Miles Bradley Paulson Tate was born on July 14, 2009 weighing 8lbs, 5oz and 201/4 in. long! Congratulations Josh, Sarah, Bowden, Lucy, & Jack!
Monday, July 13, 2009
The Great Perplexer
I'm haunted this morning by the line from Mark 6:20 to the effect that when he heard John preach, Herod was greatly perplexed, but he heard him gladly.
I have it fixed in my mind that complexity is offensive to the mind of my neighbor.
But what if it isn't?
What if I gave my friends and neighbors credit for being able to be intrigued?
So much of Scripture is written in riddles and obscure parables that it feels like a betrayal of sorts if all of our preaching is characterized by the insulting simplicity of advertising copy.
And if perplexing things make some walk away in disgust we must agree that no one can follow Christ for long without running into the perplexing things in time. When reading the gospels it often seems like Jesus is brusque and unneccesarily off-putting with strangers. He speaks to the woman at the well (a complete stranger) in a way that is both alarmingly direct and very mysterious. His talk of living water and true worship might have put her off with confused indignation, but it had the opposite effect. What looks like rude directness on Jesus' part is really a sort of noble consideration.
I have occassionally, to my shame, invited Christine on a hike where I declined to mention ahead of time some of the obstacles we would run into well into the hike. Jesus always had the courtesy to invite people to climb the mountain with him before he took them on any strolls through the meadow.
So here's to perplexity and mystery.
I have it fixed in my mind that complexity is offensive to the mind of my neighbor.
But what if it isn't?
What if I gave my friends and neighbors credit for being able to be intrigued?
So much of Scripture is written in riddles and obscure parables that it feels like a betrayal of sorts if all of our preaching is characterized by the insulting simplicity of advertising copy.
And if perplexing things make some walk away in disgust we must agree that no one can follow Christ for long without running into the perplexing things in time. When reading the gospels it often seems like Jesus is brusque and unneccesarily off-putting with strangers. He speaks to the woman at the well (a complete stranger) in a way that is both alarmingly direct and very mysterious. His talk of living water and true worship might have put her off with confused indignation, but it had the opposite effect. What looks like rude directness on Jesus' part is really a sort of noble consideration.
I have occassionally, to my shame, invited Christine on a hike where I declined to mention ahead of time some of the obstacles we would run into well into the hike. Jesus always had the courtesy to invite people to climb the mountain with him before he took them on any strolls through the meadow.
So here's to perplexity and mystery.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Family Photos
The Limners, missionaries through Wycliffe, came over for breakfast yesterday and took these photos of our family. It's amazing how few photos we have as a family.
Obie thinks he's posing for the cover of a U2 album.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Small Town Living: 4th of July
Lucy did not trust the sparklers.
Obadiah loved the sparklers . . . no fear.
My children are easily amused.
Running from the rain and hiding under a tree.
Street urchins.
Waving to the fire truck. Obie was talking about the fire trucks on our way to the parade.
A visit from Hilary Clinton & President Obama.
Chittenden Fire Department
Large man in small car!
Keeping dry.
The Queen of England?
Miss Vermont
This is one serious bull!
The Prophets
The Chittenden commune.
Red-white-blue pops!
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