Thanks to readers and PENJING REPORT

I want to extend warm thank to readers who have used the donation button or how have sent thing via my amazon wish list.  I am remiss in expressing gratitude.

Among those who have garnered my appreciation are WH, of course, for sending Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking.  I have used it, as you know, and it is a fine resource.

Someone, I don’t know who, sent Angelo Paredi’s book on St. Ambrose, which will be very useful.  Actually, two books came!  One in English and the other in the original Italian.

CS of OH sent Michael O’Brien’s new novel Theophilos.

I have been enjoying the coffee sent by KS every morning.  Thanks! 

DS of CA sent Scott Hahn’s Covenant and Communion: The Biblical Theology of Pope Benedict XVI.

I belong to a literary group now reading T.S. Eliot’s works.  Therefore I was pleased to receive Russell Kirk’s Eliot and His Age from KO of PA. I am sure it will be interesting.

I am very grateful to all of you who have helped. 

I regularly, daily actually, pray for benefactors, which is a privilege and duty. 

NB: On Pentecost Friday I will say Holy Mass for the intention of those who have used the donation button or sent things.

Penjing has not been doing well.  As a matter of fact I thought this tree was a goner.  However, it is sloooowly coming back, leaf by leaf.

Someone, I don’t remember who, suggested applying a little coffee!  I thought that was a little weird, but – given the state of things – I thought I might as well give it a try.  Penjing the Fukien Tea Tree perked up after that a little.

However, Penzai the Chinese Elm is now losing all its leaves, though I see tiny buds.  And Irohamomiji the Japanese Maple, which I suspect was dropped on its head as a sapling, is slooooowly unfurling leaves and moving out of its twiggy barrenness.

The bottom line is… they look dreadful.  We shall see what warmer weather and time outside will do for them.