An unintended compliment

This evening an open house was held at the Cathedral Rectory to celebrate the second anniversary of the rededication of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

Over the course of the evening I visited with several people and overheard many conversations.

At one point, I heard a woman say, "It is a false, false, rumor." I've no idea what she was speaking about, but it made me wonder: Is there such a thing as a true rumor? Aren't rumors false by definition?

Throughout the course of the evening I greeted visitors and as I was speaking with someone while standing in the middle of my sitting room, a man stepped into the room and this is what he saw:

 For whatever reason he only stepped through the doorway, looked briefly into the room and said to his wife (I presume), "This must be the library." I looked up and said, "Actually it's my suite," but he was already by then on his way down the hallway. I suppose my books didn't interest him.

I have said in the past that I intend one day to be my own library; it's simpler that way.

Other people, though, were very interested in my books and said several times as they browsed the shelves, "I have this book!" or "I want to read this."

All in all, it was an enjoyable event.  I hope our guests felt welcome.

A humorous Bishop

This morning I learned two valuable lessons before 8:00.

On Wednesdays, the Cathedral has exposition and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament following the morning Mass concluding with Benediction prior to the evening Mass.

When I took the boat from the server this to impose incense I opened the lid and found the boat completely empty; someone did not refill it with incense. First lesson learned: always check for incense.

Last evening I apparently left my coat in Bishop Paprocki's car when we returned from a Confirmation in Mount Zion. When I returned to my room, I couldn't help but notice this:

The knight who stands outside my door must have grown cold.

I must admit: I was both impressed and pleased.

Backyard help

This past week a few of my former students helped put up a fence in part of the backyard of the rectory, both so Claire (my puppy) has a place to safely play outside and so I have a peaceful place to read and relax.

They did a fine job with it (I'll post a few pictures tomorrow if it's a nice day) and now I find myself pondering what to put in the fenced in area. On the one hand, I'm thinking of a medieval theme and on the other hand I'm thinking of a Hawaiian theme. I can't decide which idea I like more, and I'm not too sure they'd go well together. What do you think?

I'm also thinking what flowers and shrubs to plant there, keeping in mind a puppy who likes to chew on lots of various things. Do you have any favorites you'd like to suggest (keeping in mind also the climate of central Illinois)? I'm tempted to get a couple of banana trees and plant them in large pots so I could move them inside (with help) in colder weather.

The changing of the chair

Before Mass this morning I sat at my desk checking the status of the world on the Internet (someone has to do it) when I sensed something did not quite seem right with the chair upon which I sat.

I could not quite be certain as to what, precisely, was wrong, but it quickly came to me. I shifted slightly in the chair and realized the back of it lifted up.

When I turned to investigate the back of the chair, the back simply lifted up from the base of the chair. It was then that I realized the rungs of the chair where not quite as stable as I should like.

Presently, the chair looks like this:

I am exceedingly happy the chair did not collapse beneath me. The chair has served it's purpose well these past many decades.

I suppose now is as good a time as any to journey down to the local furniture store and buy a new chair for the desk in my study (if I sort through a bit of paperwork this morning as I intend, I'll post pictures of the study this afternoon).

I am in search not of an office-type chair on wheels, but more of an armed-dining room chair. I've always found these more comfortable to sit in for periods of time. And they help me feel like a medieval magistrate.

New curtains in the living room

Today a couple of parishioners arrived bearing gifts of new curtains for the living room and stairway. The old ones were in sore need of replacing:

The new curtains are heavy and will help keep the warmth in and the sunlight out. They are also much richer in color than these pictures show; when the sun strikes them the gold in them shines. They're quite lovely:

The new curtains help very much to help the rectory feel like a home. Thank you!

New furniture

Courtesy of an anonymous benefactor, a new kitchen table and chairs arrived today for the rectory:

Last week I was told to go to the local furniture store and select a table and chairs for the kitchen and someone would provide them for the rectory. I am grateful to this anonymous donor; thank you!

I selected a high table and chairs - something like a bistro style - to help balance out the lack of counter space in the kitchen. Now when I need to slice tomatoes and combine ingredients for a pasta I will be able to do so with plenty of room at the table.

The sitting room

N.B.: For some reason, Blogger will not let me move these pictures. There were intended to go within the text below.

In the room just off the front entrance my predecessor kept his office. I attempted to do the same but the more I tried to make the room - which seems to have been intended as a sitting room - I simply could not make it work.

One day last week someone came by the rectory for spiritual direction. As I waited for her to arrive it suddenly dawned I me that I really did not have anywhere to sit and visit with directees, parishioners or even friends and guests. We talked at the dining room and I resolved to remedy the situation.

Upstairs my predecessor had set aside a room - that had been two rooms - as a library and study. Since the shelves and desk are attached to the walls I kept the room for the same use and have now moved all of my office into it (consequently, it is a bit disheveled at the moment). I decided to use the room just off of the entrance to the rectory as my sitting room, to visit with friends and guests, to watch television and play video games, and even read the occasional book.

Earlier this week I went to the local furniture store and chose a couch and two chairs to make the room both comfortable and stately. They arrived this morning so I've spent the majority of the day rearranging the house.

When the new drapes arrive which have been ordered the room will really take shape.

Presently I am tired of being in the house all day and am going for a swim. When I return I'll see to a bit of paperwork, work on a homily or two and call it a day.

The sunflower room

Currently, the kitchen in my rectory looks like this:

I have taken to calling it, "the sunflower room," but upon my return to Virden I will no longer be able to call it such.

One of the parishioners has very kindly offered to paint the kitchen (cabinets, walls and trim) during my absence in the Eternal City.

The currently yellow walls will be painted "dignity blue." The cabinets and trim will be painted "crewel tan." And the doors will be painted "curio grey."

If you've never played at the Sherwin Williams web site, you just might want to do so. You can select which room you want to paint and then choose a room that looks something like yours. Once you choose your colors the web site can add them to your room and you can get an idea of what it will look like afterwards.

I think I may start calling the kitchen the seaside room.