My time in Sandpoint, Idaho

April 23, 2008 Freda's Blog

Here I am in Sandpoint, Idaho, just a few days before I will be heading back to Spring Quarterly this weekend. I have had a rather restful time here. I have not been outside since last October, when I made an appearance at the final Farmers Market, "Harvest-Fest''. The children loved me there.

But I am getting ahead of myself; let me tell you about my experiences over the last 6 months!

Coming to Sandpoint last Fall after Quarterly was very pleasant. Our drive East was on a lovely day, and we stopped a number of times to rest and view the scenery. I saw a lot of people stop and look at me as I sat in the back seat. When we arrived at the Sandpoint Friends Meeting House, I was carried inside and set on a low table covered with a lovely fabric, just inside the door so I could greet people as they came in.

A few days later, my hosts held a '' Welcome, Freda!" reception for me, so I got to meet some folks here. That Sunday, I was placed in the middle of the circle so I could be a part of Worship. Early in October, I was taken to the Farmer's Market that I mentioned before.

It has been fun to see the different groups that have come into the Meeting House for gatherings. So many people have come up to me to '' pet'' my feathers, to read my ''Peace'' messages, and to look through my notebook. Some of the children drew pictures for me, after they talked about me in First Day School. One member, who is totally blind, created a ''new feather'' for me in Braille that of course, said ''Peace''. Braille is a ''language'' you know.

On Christmas Eve, again I was placed in the middle of the circle for our Candlelight Worship Service. The pretty silver and gold garlands around my neck sparkled as they reflected the light of all the candles around me. Once again, the message of PEACE ON EARTH was spoken in Silence and in Words, and then they sang.

Then, the snow started! It snowed, and snowed, and snowed all winter. There was so much snow everywhere. I heard my hosts talking about record amounts of snow this year! I am so glad I didn't have to go out in the cold. Carrying me would also have been difficult, so it was decided to keep me safe inside. A few weeks ago, there was another fun event here in the Meeting House when folk-singer Tom Rawson came to visit us for a benefit concert. He was surprised to see me there and said ''Hi!" to me as he petted my feathers!

So now, I am getting ready to head back to Quarterly for my next visit to another Meeting. Where will I go next?