tao1776

Coop almost complete. The "girls" moved in yesterday and were quite ecstatic over their new digs. I plan to paint the coop to match the house. Chesterton Buff, white trim and black doors. Gardens soon to follow. TaoSpring. A place of peace and respite.

There's a resurgence in the number of people taking an interest in Freemasonry. I am witness to it. And as the numbers began to show signs of increase, I made a decision to take some time off. In June of 2010 I stepped down from the appointed position of Chaplain and later, in September, I offered my demit. (petition to resign from the fraternity) Flash forward to April 2011 and I find myself slowly returning back to the Lodge. It is hard to stay away. Many of my friends are there. I admit that my return is not without some difficulty. My return is tentative. I look within to find my source of angst. I'm not placing blame or offering criticism toward the Lodge or the Fraternity.  I'm looking to unravel a very palatable, heels dug in, resistance. Theron Dunn used to say, "Freemasonry: It's not about me changing them, it's about me changing me". So wherein lies the rub ? 1)   "Lighten up, Francis".    No one has to tell me that I take many

This is the extent of my progress. Four Pallets per side, covered with OSB, trim is rough cut spruce. Interior measures 7/1/2 by 8 feet. Enough room for 15 chickens. The "girls" are now three weeks old and have quadrupled in size. We have 6 Barred Rocks, 3 Golden Comets, 6 Aracaunas. With all the rain and so many days spent on other high priority projects it has been difficult to find time to complete this project. The top (between the sides and roof) will be securely meshed with chicken wire. The bottom secure from the inside using 1x3x8" pine slats with the other end overlapping the outer 2x4's. The roof will hold it taught. I'm going to lay 3 4x8'  OSB to create a 12x8 roof. This will ensure adequate overlap and protection.

   Once upon a time in the Soviet Union, people who held views in opposition to "The Party" were thought to be mentally ill. They were sent for "treatment" until at which time they could show that their understanding would prove to echo completely that of the party manifesto. The changes in the American manifesto which seem to ebb and flow like fashion (remember those awful hairdos of the eighties?) have me feeling on more than one occasion "mentally ill". I often feel that I see things in such opposition to that of my peers and of my community. I feel so isolated.    In my small community during the first Gulf War, a small group erected a "peace tree" and held signs asking that we think before we leap before we as a country send our troops into Kuwait. Several other members of the community (some were firefighters) decided that the protesters did not have this right and they assaulted them. Years later, against overwhelming evidence and testim