Corn!

Hi dear friends. What a great few days we have had in Rochester Minnesota. We had a tour to Lanesboro (a small art community) and 4 Daughters Winery with lunch.  The vineyard broke up the corn plots.  With the miracle of modern science, farmers are able to grow vines that withstand winters of 20 to 40 degrees below zero.  Next day we went on a tour of a nearby Amish community and a farm. I am so spoiled!  The farmer drew us into the barn to talk about livestock, and it was all I could do to listen and look interested as I dodged cowpies and flies and tried to breathe! Life lived simply is hard. … The Amish youngsters and women live bare footed, with hats and long sleeved blouses, they don’t seem to notice the smell of manure or the flies. The children seem small to me… we talked to two 14 year old boys who are finished with school and already working the fields and work shops. They seemed so small, but the men are bigger.  The farm wife cooked a meal for us and fed about 60 sailors and brides lunch in her front yard under trees. She fed us full and then brought out 5 kinds of dessert and home made ice cream!  Some of the women and I noticed her feet and ankles (we would have our mothers in the emergency room due to the purple veins standing out on her lower legs)… then my cohort reminded me she had probably had 14 children and maybe was in her late 50s…  yikes are we spoiled. We visited a wheelwright and buggy maker, and all I can say is God bless them for trying to live a simple life so as to be closer to God.  It got hot and we were overcome (96 degrees).  That evening Chuck and I walked through a street festival where he bought me two hand made ceramic angels and a beautiful cross. With a cold beer (ice in mine) we walked over to Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial for the Tolling of the Boats. We looked at the Honor Bell that Rochester women have refitted and carry around Minnesota to memorial and patriotic celebrations and then settled in to remember 65 lost boats that are considered to be on eternal patrol. Submarines represent about 1 1/2 percent of the total Naval force, but percentage wise they lost more boats while sinking great quantities of enemy vessels. A young lady from the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, Minnesota on the Mississippi led the flags in carrying a large bald eagle on her arm. The ceremony was prayer, the National Anthem, the Pledge of Allegiance and the naming of the boats and bell tolling with each name and the number of men lost. We closed with prayer and Taps. Today (Friday) I was able to get to Mass again and then we jumped on a bus and went to the National Eagle Center and then to a paddle boat ride on a big lake in the middle of the Mississippi River. Dave called to say the Univeristy of Miami played a football game while we were out, and … well I hope they won. Tomorrow I might get up to the Franciscan sisters retreat center with some ladies. I slipped into the ladies luncheon after Mass and listened to a sister of 60 years in the convent talk about "Family." Basically her message to us is try to create a space in life in which we live the Gospel. Accept one another in gladness (conscious of our own weakness and need for healing – welcome others). Give praise to God by being conscious of the gifts of the earth (she tends bees and gardens and helps with causes such as defense of women against sexual and labor slavery). Strive to bring about change for the good. How do we do good things? Every day, receive the day and bring about good. Keep faith growing and love flowing.  So what better way to close this night?  God bless you dear readers.