Two Kinds Of Cathedrals

Edifices dedicated to commerce and religion.  Behind, the former regional headquarters of the Shell Oil Company in a style that borders on art deco. It is still an operating office building if a bit down at the heels. Right foreground, the gothic tower of Christ Church Cathedral, the seat of Episcopal practice in STL. Another first experiment with the Fuji X-T2.    

All Creatures Great And Small

.

On Sunday afternoon, Christ Church Cathedral held its annual blessing of the animals. The chief Episcopal church for our area invites everyone and everything, as long as it won't try to eat the clergy. Mostly it's dogs but there were cats and a chicken in boxes, a guinea pig or two and this beautiful owl. I've met him at the event before. He is so experienced to being in public he doesn't even mind camera flash.

Big night tonight. It's the Midwest regionals for How Sweet The Sound, the competition to find the best church choir in America. STL DPB was invited to cover the event and I have a back stage media pass. I'll be out late so first pix probably on Thursday.

More Blessed Animals (And Gratuitous Cuteness)

.
I haven't had this much cute stuff on the blog since I don't know when. Next thing you know the clergy will be blessing bunnies. Well, actually, they did. One elderly and infirm rabbit (according to the owner) was brought to the cathedral's priests for a benediction. Maybe we'll have that tomorrow. In the meantime, this is pretty darn cute, too.

Blessing Of the Animals

.
Sunday brought the annual blessing of the animals at Christ Church Cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri. For the second year, I was invited to come shoot the event, sharing the pictures with the church. It was a beautiful day and there was a big turnout. Lots and lots of dogs, but also an owl, a rabbit, a guinea pig and a chicken.

A Hoot

.
As I mentioned yesterday, the dogs attending the blessing of the animals at Christ Church Cathedral were generally well behaved. One other member of the congregation, though, soon had all it could stand. This beautiful owl sat silently on its perch for some time but then decided it had had enough. I think I've heard owls hoot in the countryside but this one had a screech. The sound was remarkable, always holding the same pitch and volume, threatening to shatter the stained glass windows until the owner took it outside. Amen.

WHAT'S AT THE END OF THE TRAIL TODAY: a cozy corporate hotel at Dallas-Ft. Worth International Airport.

TOMORROW: and now for something completely different.

An Episcopal Cathedral Gone To the Dogs

.
My invitation in this blog's sidebar to shoot community events paid off. Christ Church Cathedral, our city's largest Episcopal church, invited me to photograph its annual blessing of the animals. I'd never seen a dog in church before except service animals but the Cathedral seemed to have a full kennel operation going. The hounds and other miscellaneous critters were remarkable well behaved. After the service (kept brief for animal attention spans), the congregation and pets were invited to the front, where several priests blessed each and every one. It was great fun. My sincere thanks to the Cathedral staff for inviting me.

WHAT I SHOULD BE DOING INSTEAD OF FOOLING AROUND WITH THE BLOG: packing. We'll be away two weeks. Where is the time going?

TOMORROW: hoot.

Dancing In the Street: Attack of the Giant Ostriches

.

For the second year in a row, the Grand Center Arts and Entertainment District sponsored Dancing In the Street to kick off the fall season. During the day-long event, the area's main street and several side streets are blocked off. Stages are erected for non-stop dance and music performances. The top act was Neighbourhood Watch Stilts International from Newcastle Upon Tyne, England. I missed the performance but this odd bird is part of their bit of agitprop street theater, Les Oiseaux de Lux. Young ladies of St. Louis no longer dare walk about in broad daylight.

WHAT'S ON FOR SUNDAY: Not a day of rest! I do some volunteer photography for community organizations. Today I'm shooting the annual Blessing Of the Animals at Christ Church Cathedral, the Episcopal cathedral of our city. And I want to get some pictures at our Soulard neighborhood's Oktoberfest. Then dinner with the family to celebrate my son-in-law's birthday. Then a performance of musical political satire by the uproarious Captol Steps. Check their web site for some audio clips. Can't wait to see what they do to Palin. Speaking of which:

TOMORROW: It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas..