D and I had fun browsing through the Stillwater Antique Mall to look for Christmas lights, ornaments and decorations. Our favorite finds were the singing dolls. For our Christmas tree, we had one fresh tree cut down at the Lockwood Christmas tree farm in town.
We had a typically cold, stormy and snowy New England winter in January, February and March 2026. As befits the external weather and landscape, my emotional life was bleak and tumultuous. D and I had marriage troubles and I worked so hard to try to work out what went wrong and how to save our family from disintegration. It was for me a winter of despair.
Early Spring was still very cold and my life still felt unsettled as I continued to have health and other problems after both D and I had succeeded in saving our marriage. However, some evenings were enlivened by beautiful sunsets and the faithful moon.
After a traumatic and exhausting winter and early spring, I became depressed and severely anxious. As per my tradition every time I felt physically exhausted and emotionally helpless, I turned to God and consecrated religious people for help. I went to Portsmouth Abbey in April for a retreat. There, so as to uplift my heart to God, I joined the monks at Lauds, Mass, Midday Prayers, Vespers and Compline. To sooth the wounds in my spirit, I sat on a rock at Narragansett Bay for one whole morning. I also visited the cemetery to cry and lament at Father Paschal’s tomb. I tried to commune with God and nature anytime I could during my short stay at Portsmouth Abbey.
We came to Portsmouth Abbey for Mass after Spring has reached its peak in floral glory and has imperceptibly begun its descent.
Now Spring is gradually giving way to summer. Here are some images of the early morning sun in late Spring.
Bold, Slow and Intentional 