Thanksgiving Day

O most merciful Father, Who hast blessed the labours of the husbandman in the returns of the fruits of the earth; We give Thee humble and hearty thanks for this Thy bounty; beseeching Thee to continue Thy loving-kindness to us, that our land may still yield her increase, to Thy glory and our comfort; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The "fruits of the earth" this year were to have been tomatoes. There's nothing like them, right from the vine still warm from the sun. Except I didn't have the heart to move the purple lantana which took over the tomatoes' space in between seasons and looked so nice where the tomatoes were to have gone. So all our tomatoes this year were store boughten. Next year I and the garden shall be better prepared for tomatoes.

And I shall be better prepared for The Traditional Feast. Mary's part turned out wonderfully. I, alas, fumbled badly. I am the gravy chef. Failed to check the flour yesterday. Today: gone off. Unusable. No gravy. Lamentation was heard in the city.

On the plus side, the pie came out wonderfully. Naturally. I am not in charge of pie. Except for eating. Which I shall do when the kettle for the tea goes, which should be any moment.

It's also St Cecilia's day today. She is the patroness of music. Those who know about these things say that is because one of the antiphons for her feast, quoting the second nocturn, says Cantantibus organis, Cæcilia Domino decantabat . . . ." i.e., "While the musical instruments played, Cecilia sang to the Lord. . . ." "Musical instruments" is how St John's Abbey translated organum. Elsewhere, (Psalm 150 for example) organum is translated "pipes". Could it be bagpipes? Highly unlikely. But since no one seems to know for sure what an organum is. . . .I say let's go with bagpipes and pfui on the scholars.

If you're hankering for something more about St Cecilia, I liked this post.