Cutting, Chatting, Cultivating, Cleaning, and Cooking

 


We received a request for help with an overgrown lawn and bushes from one of our Sydney Branch members.  Everything from the lawn to the lilac bush was overgrown.  It took 2 days to get everything cut down to where it will make it through the rest of the season and through the winter without being unmanageable.  Sister J works her usual artistic pruning skills on a large lilac bush.  She trimmed about half the growth out and reshaped it nicely.  It will be beautiful when it blooms next spring.  Too bad that we won't be here to see it.



Sister Joann and Sister Johnson plan discuss and plan the rest of the work.  And of course chat about the stuff that Sisters chat about it.  Sister Joann is entertaining, funny, and a faithful member of the Branch.  We are happy to get to know her.


In the middle of the lawn there are some small rosebushes.  Sister J makes sure they are all trimmed up, surrounded with mulch, and ready to grow next year.



Sister Joann's house is an older but well kept "gingerbread house".  It was built by a German family in the 1930's, and had a lot of decorative trim, most of which has been removed in subsequent remodels, but a little of it is still visible under the gable.



Off to another project.  We get a call that two cats have been left in a vacant home for nearly 3 years, and poorly attended.  Yes, it was a bad as you can imagine.  After many hours we got things scrubbed down and cleaned.  Still more work to do, but the house was liveable.  We're taking a break during the cleaning, and lucky Sister Johnson got to do a bit of work outside.

Our Friday morning are spent at Loaves and Fishes, a kitchen and food pantry in downtown Sydney.  Every day - that is every day of the year - between 80 and 120 meals are prepared and served.  It is run by dedicated volunteers under the direction of Marguerite, who runs a tight ship kitchen.  Every week it's something different.  Today I'm mashing mass quantities of potatoes with an industrial-sized potato masher.  This is just one of several trays that we're preparing for today's meal, along with other items.  We love being able to serve in the Sydney area, and this is one of the highlights for us.


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