Friday Lists used to be a regular feature of this blog. (Blogging used to be a regular feature of this blog . . . ) 

10.       When the National Weather Service states the time of the sunrise and sunset for a given location, from what location does it have in mind?… Read full post »

Yes, this Sunday I will watch the Super Bowl, joining millions of other Americans in the mid-winter national holiday, when we try to see glimpses of an actual athletic contest hidden within the orgy of corporate greed, network self-promotion, and league arrogance. But my heart won’t be in it. N… Read full post »

One of the things that always charmed me about The Fantasticks was the frank desire of Luisa’s Act I pleading declaration, “I am special. I am special.”  

Who, indeed, does not wish to be special? When I was younger, so much younger than today, my attraction to that statem… Read full post »

As we looked to the south this morning, we could see only gray. A soft cloud cover gauzed the sky, not the ominous white-gray of impending snow, but a dull gray that simply daubed all color away.  

The gray sky blended with the light frost on the roofs across the street, further… Read full post »

Yesterday was Epiphany, and I had one (well, what passes for one for me). Epiphany is, of course, the feast day celebrating the appearance of the Wise Men in Bethlehem to pay homage to the newborn Jesus. It also  marks the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas. (Shakespeare, anyone? What you… Read full post »

One Sunday a few weeks ago, before going Christmas shopping, Mrs. P and I went first to the park for a stroll. The day was mild for December, and the sky was blue crystal, a flawless gem that sparkled with sunshine.  

The park was largely deserted: everyone was out shopping or… Read full post »

Friend, lover, partner, co-parent
Spirit guide, confessor, counselor
Teacher of Spanish and (ah, Cuban time) patience
Sharer of laughs and tears, of baseball and Beethoven

Rescuer, years ago and years later
Keeper of the family flame
Parallel worker and office mate
Accepter, not judge (most miraculous of al… Read full post »

I couldn’t show pictures of our town without treating you to some of its trees, since the Arbor Day Foundation has named it a “Tree City” (which means it has a government body devoted to tending trees). 

Now the trees have lost their foliage, but when I took these pictures at… Read full post »

My first post on our hometown was about its history and contained several photos of significant or interesting structures. But as I was walking through town taking pictures, I was also very struck by some of the details in and around these buildings. Come along for a look-see. 

&nb… Read full post »

In late October, Little Kate treated us to some photographs and history of her home, Lismore, in New South Wales, Australia. She invited the rest of us to pile on, and I thought I’d oblige with a little tour of our hometown, Newtown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.  

Newtown was founded b… Read full post »

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, . . . it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the [autumn] of hope, it was the [autumn] of despair. 

We have twice now had the most magnificent Bradford pears on the… Read full post »

“Heavy, heavy, heavy, hanging over your head. What are you going to do with it?” Thus we annually chanted as children, holding the birthday child’s gift over his or her head (or, when it really was heavy, forcefully pressing the thing down on the his or her skull), until it was… Read full post »

Something a little more pleasant than the post-storm photos.     

Have a good day.  

Words and pictures © 2011 AtHome Pilgrim.

All Rights Reserved.   Read full post »

Not surprisingly, the surprising pre-Halloween snow storm was more than just a freakish visitor; it was also a destructive house guest. Trees still in leaf hold more icy snow than do bare branches. I don’t really know anything about trees (along with all the other things I don’t know anyt… Read full post »

It’s not even Halloween yet, for heaven’s sake!!!    

Oh, well, at least I wo… Read full post »

As a teen, my uncle became a Lutheran because a particular church had the best local baseball team. It’s not clear to me that he ever actually set foot in the church, but I’d be willing to bet anything that he never missed an inning. 

As a retiree, he started playing… Read full post »

And so I labor under uncertainty here at the keyboard, torn between describing this dark night of the soul (ah, you should read those discards—very moving, very clever) and trying to use words to nudge myself toward the light, between baring my sorry soul and trying to bear my spirits upwards,… Read full post »

If the eight position players had the guts of Doc Halladay, we’d have swept.

Hell, if two of the eight position players had the guts of Doc Halladay, we’d have swept. 

If Cliff Lee hadn’t blown a 4-0 lead, we’d have swept. 

If I’m Ryan Howard, I’m buying… Read full post »

First, though, an appreciation. Four weeks ago, everybody was lamenting the absence of a compelling pennant race, except in the NL West, where the San Francisco Giants were jockeying with Arizona Diamondbacks and, mildly, in the AL West, where the Wherever-They’re-From Angels had a ghost of a c… Read full post »

I don’t usually post videos, but I couldn’t resist with this one. The piece is short—just three minutes—and, I think, sweet. A teaching for the day, with a bit of humor and a lot of wisdom. Not heavy, but profound. 

“Why do I spent so ma… Read full post »

It is a gray day, the sky absent of color—a 10-percent gray screen, the kind that makes a bland one-color book printed on cheap paper look even duller because by smudging the crisp edges of black type, not a good strong 80-percent sky, promising rolling thunder and a cleansing rain (then,… Read full post »

Morning fog hugs world
Still air envelops branches
Burned by rising sun

War fog crashes loud
Tumult, jagged edges, pain
Burned by raging fear
 

Confusion of mind
Jolts, rocks, assails, unhinges,
Burned by nagging doubts

      Words © 2011 AtHome Pilgrim.

All Rights Res… Read full post »

Two years ago today, my brother died. Today, he speaks; hear his voice.  

Souvenirs
Across the sea to keep ‘em free; send the first team in.
Won’t take long; them Viet Cong ain’t never gonna win.
Home-grown boys with deadly toys, trained to fever pitch;
But dressed in b… Read full post »

Now comes new season for no good reason,
Indian summer days just made to tease ‘un.
Yes, fall has colors bright and slanting light,
Tempting playoff delights deep into night.
Autumn, withal, makes Pilgrim’s spirits fall
When acute shadows fall across the wall,
When closed window locks confi… Read full post »

10.       The wild turkey. Not the drink, the bird. I mean, a football on legs with a featherless head for a handle? You gotta have a sense of humor to create that. Well, OK, the ostrich. The only creature more bizarre looking than the wild turkey. And penguins, the marr… Read full post »