Historical setting: 589 C.E. a cottage between Annegray and Luxeuil Maybe Pagan magic was left in the fragrant wood I’ve gathered for our fire here, or maybe it is the warm spirit that is a Christian thing about this season. But today, celebration seems overwhelmed with the Creative Spirit of love. The only wordsContinue reading “#39.9, Weds., Dec. 21, 2022”
Author Archives: J.K. Marlin
#39.8, Tues., Dec. 20, 2022
Historical setting: 589 C.E. a cottage between Annegray and Luxeuil I prefer the scent of Ana’s room and the comfortable smell of wool with all her spinning on-and-on. The bags of combed and washed wools, donated to the monastery were delivered to Ana for spinning and now, she has wound all the yarns intoContinue reading “#39.8, Tues., Dec. 20, 2022”
#39.7, Thurs., Dec. 15, 2022
Historical setting: 589 C.E. Luxeuil The workers at the new monastery are hanging the bell in the belfry even as the support is being constructed. I have one of the guidelines in hand ready to help steer what the mules will heft. The tower craftsmen are up top, ready to harness the weight ofContinue reading “#39.7, Thurs., Dec. 15, 2022”
#39.6 Weds., Dec. 14, 2022
Historical setting: 589 C.E. Luxeuil The old Roman baths at Luxeuil, like the well I found behind our cottage, had been nearly hidden in overgrown vines and scrubby trees sprouting on tiny stems between the immovable Roman stones. Stems of saplings, fed by the sun above and the waters of earth became an untendedContinue reading “#39.6 Weds., Dec. 14, 2022”
#39.5, Tues., Dec. 13, 2022
Historical setting: 589 C.E. the path to Luxeuil Wearing winter fleeces now, I make my way down the hill coaxing the mules through the drifts of snow on the zig-zag path, down, down to the hard-frozen creek bed. The wind is nearly at my back, sending snow dancing in swirls and twirls of outContinue reading “#39.5, Tues., Dec. 13, 2022”
#39.4, Thurs., Dec. 8, 2022
Historical setting: 589 C.E. a cottage between Annegray and Luxeuil Colleen asked. So I bring out the little cradle I’ve been carving to make a gift for Ana and the baby; but now Colleen flatly rejects it. She says it will never serve under the circumstances. I needed to carve it from a muchContinue reading “#39.4, Thurs., Dec. 8, 2022”
#39.3, Weds., Dec. 7, 2022
Historical setting: 589 C.E. a cottage between Annegray and Luxeuil The skies threaten a winter storm so the Luxeuil workers who travel the creek path with the mules come up here now to find shelter for the mules. Here our stable is a perfect place for… well, not just for hiding the lust ofContinue reading “#39.3, Weds., Dec. 7, 2022”
#39.2, Tues., Dec. 6, 2022
Historical setting: 589 C.E. a cottage between Annegray and Luxeuil Colleen returned from meeting Father Columbanus in a far better state than when she left. He has that gift. She, who is usually stoic and unrattled by circumstances, seems nearly cheerful. Ana asks if the worry over sin is settled. Colleen won’t yieldContinue reading “#39.2, Tues., Dec. 6, 2022”
#39.1, Thurs., Dec. 1, 2022
Historical setting: 589 C.E. Cottage between Annegray and Luxeuil I set a fire in the pasture for smoking the deer and I took some portions to the cold cellar dug under the wall of the cottage, where now I can hear Ana and Colleen inside arguing. I’ve never known them to disagree, much less,Continue reading “#39.1, Thurs., Dec. 1, 2022”
#38.14, Weds., Nov. 30, 2022
Historical setting: 589 C.E. Cottage in the Vosges This brittle morning I find easy success in hunting a buck for our winter stews. It falls so near our cottage that I can dress it right here, and don’t have to coax the donkey to drag it on a sledge back to the house. Continue reading “#38.14, Weds., Nov. 30, 2022”
Lazarus Ink 