THE FAIRCHILD FAMILY PAGE

NEWS: April 27
Easter has come - and gone! Spring has finally arrived, not only by calendar, but in the buds and blossoms and the wonderful - or should I say unique... - smells that always herald spring's arrival in a farming community. The consolation is that the sinuses do get cleared and the crops sure do grow quickly!

My major project since Easter has been the creation of a page called Under The Juniper Tree. It grew out of the wonderful friendships I have made on the net with Peggy Bohanon and Barbara Sanders (and joined recently by Franziska Santschi of Bedford-Acton Vale Pastoral Charge of the United Church of Canada) and has led to some very exciting exchanges of meditations, poems, recipes, and prayers, many of which you can get to from this page.

NEWS - APRIL 27
Hectic times indeed - but rewarding. It seems that the process of finding / being called to a new pastoral charge is almost complete. On May 4th a congregation will be voting on the recommendation of their Joint Pastoral Relations Committee to extend a call to me to be their pastor. We are very excited by the prospect - it is an answer to a lot of prayer - and to some personal dreams of ours. For now all we can say is that we will be moving West to the mountains that we love if all goes as we believe God wants it to. We are looking forward to a new ministry but will find saying "Goodbye" here very hard. We have enjoyed our years in Springfield-Corinth Pastoral Charge.

A project of mine since the New Year has been United Online - a grassroots network and page for the United Church of Canada. It is going very well and is proving to be a rewarding ministry to the whole church. Sermons & Sermon - Lectionary Resources remains as one of the driving forces behind Kir-Shalom however. For several weeks now it has been in the top ten of the top 1000 Web Sites in "Webside Story". I am so grateful that it is meeting a clear need in the world of cyberspace among ministers of the gospel.

The picture to the left is by my son Michael who lives in Maple Ridge just outside of Vancouver, B.C. For many years he has shown himself to have inherited the artistic talent that runs in the family. His grandmother Pat is a talented portrait artist who in recent years has specialized in pictures of family pets (mainly cats) and his grandfather John is not bad at sketching cartoon figures of people, ships and other things. Michael's talent skipped a generation - all I have is a critical eye for form and layout - but no ability to actually draw things like Michael has. Anyway, the picture was sent to me by e-mail by my beamish lad and I just wanted to show it, and him, off a little bit. It is called "Dragon Birth" and was composed in 24 bit color (BMP)and converted to a small JPG by yours truly. Say 'hi' to Michael at this address.

Thai has just been to the Vet for some necessary surgery. He's been "fixed" as they say in some quarters. This minor sugery has been the occasion of a little bit of humour among our online community of friends - the Pot 'O Pastors. Posted for your amusement (and ours):

A sonnet to Thai --

Although you really would rather die
My cats all bid you a really big "Hi!"
What's gone is gone, what's past is past
Now it's just the memories for you that will last.

-- Robert Henry Wadsworth Poe Shortfellow (aka The Stalled VW)

Remembering Thai

Once a man among men
in the realm of kittery
now he sighs in the den
and purrs only intermittently.

-- Grant MacDonald of Grant's Graceland

Ode to Thai

Indeed its sad, and yet to see
a cat crippled, fundamentally
We do not claim to know the best,
But kitties many will get a rest!

-- Geoff Clarke of Geoff's Home Page

Yeah. Me too. (For Grinch - Thai's friend in misfortune)

Roses are Red
Violets are Blue
They're taking my "manhood"
and all 10 front claws too!!

-- Karissa of Karissa's House

Karissa talked me into it....
I am not a "cat" person.. but here is my four liner.. From Thai's point of
view or the lack of it....

"A Cool Cat's Lament"

I use to roam to find a "Hon"
cause I just like to tie one on..
Now the other tomcats laugh and scoff..
cause Charlene had them thai one off

-- Anon (aka Ed Rutherford of Orange Hills Assemblies of God

A sonnet from Thai:

I'd rally a bit to give you a word
Say thanks and all, say I've heard
Your good wishes for me to restore
But quoth the Raven, "It's nevermore!"

-- Thai (x - his mark)

We, the Fairchild cats, would like you to get a feel for the Basic Rules for Cats Who Have a House to Run that we swear by. We recommend this site to all our feline friends on the Web. We are still looking for Cat Computer Rules, though. But we have found a link for those with the misplaced intentions of giving cats a bath. Cat Bathing As A Martial Art is sure to put a damper on your desires!

Also, note that while "surfing the Net" recently we have found a few other things for cats and their people. Here's a poem we found quite complimentary to cats. While we're here, are you in need of some relaxation? Do you need some catnip? The next time you're on the computer drop in to The Herbal Cats & Relaxation Express for a break. And a vet we might even like Dr Roen writes a weekly column on cats and - dogs! Enjoy our finds!

For John & Pam

The Castles of Wales

HMCS Athabaskan

For Peter Fairchild

Grand Marnier: For the collector in you.

For Michael

The Royal Canadian Mint

Chen Style Tai Chi

For Mark Ashe

Cookies & Bars

Treats Recipes