Friday, April 22, 2016

After the Rain


Sunrise after rain
Morning dew upon the grass
Misty morning joy


After the rain fell
Blossoms appear to have wept
Not in sadness, joy

~~~^j^~~~

Cathy


Sunday, April 17, 2016

Springtime on the Ohio

It's been a wonderful weekend and as I was sitting at the computer I thought I'd just take some time to play with some photos!  Yesterday we took a walk to the river.  It was about 3:00 in the afternoon and the weather was incredible.  I got this photo as we were walking back home.   I'm not sure why, but there is a beautiful orb in the lower left.  Thought it was a problem with my camera or lens, but none of m other photos taken at that time have the same artifact.  At any rate, it was just the most wonderful day to walk!



So I took the above photo and thought I'd play with PicMonkey to see what I'd get.  Well, there is a new effect called Edge Sketch and the result is below.  That is the closest I will every get to "painting" an abstract picture.  And, it was fun!!




Along the way, I took some other photos of the Spring that has finally arrived here.  All of nature's most beautiful colors were on display!  Indeed, it was grand!



~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God!

Cathy


Today, I have a frivolous post to share with Mersad.  I invite you to join Mersad at Through My Lens.  There are wonderful posts there.  



Please visit Judith at Lavender Cottage for Mosaic Monday and share in the beauty offered there.

Mosaic Monday


I think you should take some time to visit Imagin-in-ing.  You're sure to enjoy it!

Friday, April 15, 2016

Sunlight and Serenity


Quiet and serene
A single beam of sunlight
Gives rise to comfort

Quiet and serene
Basking in its warmth and glow
Gives rise to comfort

~~~^j^~~~
Thank be to God!

Cathy

Please visit Rebecca at recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart. There is always more beautiful words  there to enchant and encourage!!! 



Finally, I am joining A Soulful Life for Soulfood Friday



Saturday, April 09, 2016

Roses In Bloom

 When we were in Baton Rouge a couple of weeks ago, we went to the Botanic Garden at Independence Park.    It was cold and not much was in bloom.  There were a few iris budding but not many in bloom.  And then we came upon the Rose Garden.  Bushes were in bloom everywhere.  Just being in the midst of this color and fragrance of the roses diminished the chill.  


My dad loved roses and took a great deal of pride in his garden.  I guess that is where I learned to love them, though I do not claim to be an expert in their growth and care.  There were so many varieties in the garden that day that I could not possibly know which was which.  All I know is I really enjoyed my walk through them that day. 

And so I ascribe to William Shakespeare's quote, "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet."  Is it enough to appreciate a rose and not know if it is hybrid or English rose?  I hope so.

~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God!

Cathy


Today, I share this post with Mersad.  I invite you to join Mersad at Through My Lens.  There are wonderful posts there.  



Please visit Judith at Lavender Cottage for Mosaic Monday and share in the beauty offered there.

Mosaic Monday


I think you should take some time to visit Imagin-in-ing.  You're sure to enjoy it!

Friday, April 08, 2016

Before Spring in Paris

Paris, before Spring
In the distance a tower
The Eiffel Tower

A panorama
Blue skies and people watching
A joy to behold

~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God!

Cathy

 recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart. There is always more beautiful words  there to enchant and encourage!!! 



Finally, I am joining A Soulful Life for Soulfood Friday


Saturday, April 02, 2016

The Saga of Super Pup

The Saga of Super Pup began with our trip to Italy in November. His traveling companion at that time was Buddy, already a world traveler and companion to my sister-in-law, Linda.

With our arrival home and the knowledge that Buddy could not stay forever I found that Super Pup had a cousin called Vagabond.  He too had been a traveler and would be a terrific companion for S-Pup on our next travels to France.


Meet Vagabond.


























We were so excited as we began our adventure to France.  They enjoyed their flight from Evansville to Detroit and were super excited to be in a big airport like Detroit.  They napped all the way to Nice, France, and were ready willing and able to begin the tour.  They enjoyed the view of the Mediterranean from  the heights and they had a ride on the Yellow Submarine.  

I think the best part of the tour was when S-Pup and Vaga met their Monte Carlo cousin Jean.  They got on famously.  We even toasted the day. . .with water.  

The pups became the highlight of the tour as everyone looked after them, and delighted in their tales.  There is more to come with a twist in the story.  

Stay tuned.

~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God,

Cathy

Today, I have a frivolous post to share with Mersad.  I invite you to join Mersad at Through My Lens.  There are wonderful posts there.  



Please visit Judith at Lavender Cottage for Mosaic Monday and share in the beauty offered there.

Mosaic Monday


I think you should take some time to visit Imagin-in-ing.  You're sure to enjoy it!

Friday, April 01, 2016

In Praise of Creation


When beauty arrives
Exquisite in its being
Praise the creator

Beauty is present
Precious is the life it shares
Praise the creator

Beauty is captured
Creation is of your God
Gentle on the eyes

~~~~~
Thanks be to God!

Cathy


 recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart. There is always more beautiful words  there to enchant and encourage!!! 



Finally, I am joining A Soulful Life for Soulfood Friday


Sunday, March 27, 2016

Antonia Plantation

Live oak trees, azaleas
The majesty and color
Beauty through ages
~~~~~~~ 
"God is the experience of looking at a tree and saying, 'Ah!'"
Joseph Campbell
~~~~~
There was a beautiful wedding here last night.  The glory of God's creation and the beauty of man's handiwork were ever present. Oh, the joy we all felt!

~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God

Cathy


 I'm here to play and invite you to join Mersad at Through My Lens.  Should be fun!




Please visit Judith at Lavender Cottage for Mosaic Monday and share in the beauty offered there.

Mosaic Monday


I think you should take some time to visit Imagin-in-ing.  You're sure to enjoy it!

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Holy Is His Name





Holy is His name
He is compassion and love
Always merciful

Holy is His name
He is father and brother
The family of God

Holy is His name
I must honor him in love
For he first loved me

~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God!!

Cathy



 recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart. There is always more beautiful words  there to enchant and encourage!!! 



Finally, I am joining A Soulful Life for Soulfood Friday


Monday, March 21, 2016

On the Rock, Mont Saint-Michel

Panorama from the heights of Mont Saint-Michel
~~~~~


Looking toward the monastery from the cemetery. 
There are 300 steps to the abbey.


The Cloister


The tide is out.

And, oh, so many doors.  They were all very different and all works of art in their own right.  I can only imagine how many hours it took to build a door without power tools.  The sweet beauty of them all created by hands that loved and caressed the wood.  And what is behind each door, a laundry, small chapel, a monk's cell?  They are treasures all.


~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God!

Cathy


 I'm here to play and invite you to join Mersad at Through My Lens.  Should be fun!




Please visit Judith at Lavender Cottage for Mosaic Monday and share in the beauty offered there.

Mosaic Monday


I think you should take some time to visit Imagin-in-ing.  You're sure to enjoy it!

Friday, March 18, 2016

Mont Saint-Michel


Mont Saint-Michel
 Normandy, France

~~~~~
I will build my church
For praise and glory to God
Redeemer be praised. 

Salvation is ours
Through death and resurrection
Of Jesus, the Christ.

And the rock still stands
Forever in praise of God
Holy is his name. 

~~~~~
Mont Saint-Michel took my breath away.  It is incredible!  I walked the streets, climbed the stairs to the abbey.  It is another masterpiece, created to the glory of God.  When you stand on the parapets, you cannot help but be touched by the immensity of the undertaking.  And immediately I recalled the words of our Lord, Jesus Christ in Matthew 16:13-18.

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Phillipi he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"  They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the Prophets.  "He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"  Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you Simon, son of Jonah,  for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father."  And so I say to you, You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld will not prevail against it.

~~~^j^~~~
And so I heartily say,
Thanks be to God!!

Cathy



 recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart. There is always more beautiful words  there to enchant and encourage!!! 



Finally, I am joining A Soulful Life for Soulfood Friday


Sunday, March 13, 2016

Monoco



I'm not sure what to say about these photos.  I was awestruck when I first saw the Mediterranean.  It is incredibly beautiful.  The palm trees, even with the chill in the air seemed unaffected by the cold.  Indeed, it was cold the day we were there, only 35 degrees and the wind was blowing.  The weather did not diminish the zeal with which we wandered the streets and byways.  It was grand!!   





France has been a wonderful adventure so far. I have enjoyed the countryside and the glory of the sea. And even walking all the steep streets has been good for me.

~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God!

Cathy
'm here to play and invite you to join Mersad at Through My Lens.  Should be fun!




Please visit Judith at Lavender Cottage for Mosaic Monday and share in the beauty offered there.

Mosaic Monday


I think you should take some time to visit Imagin-in-ing.  You're sure to enjoy it!

Wednesday, March 09, 2016






















The beautiful blue of the Mediterranean
in Monte Carlo
~~~~~

Frothy waves of blue
Washing over the shoreline
Bathing it in sun

It's so very blue
Crystal clear and shimmering
It's so very blue
~~~~~
Oh, but it is grand to be in France.  We've started on the Mediterranean coast and will be moving on to Lyon.  It's been a grand tour so far.  We still have five days until Paris, so much to see and savor before then.  

~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God!

Cathy

 recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart. There is always more beautiful words  there to enchant and encourage!!! 



Finally, I am joining A Soulful Life for Soulfood Friday


Sunday, March 06, 2016

The Road Less Traveled



The Road Not Taken
by Robert Frost
1874-1963

Two roads diverge in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And looked down one as far as I could
And took the other, as just as fair,
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
And having perhaps the better claim,
Though as for that the passing there
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads in a wood diverged and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
~~~~~~~

I immediately thought of this poem when I saw this road the other day.  Even though in high school we would never admit that we liked poetry, I have found that it  has served me well.  A lot of wisdom can be conveyed in a few words.

And so, we come to another Holy Door in the Year of Mercy.  This door is at Our Lady or Einsiedeln Archabbey Church at Saint Meinrad Archabbey, Indiana.  The door is designed by Brother Martin Erspamer, OSB 

Wishing all a blessed Holy Year of Mercy.

~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God!

Cathy


I'm here to play and invite you to join Mersad at Through My Lens.  Should be fun!




Please visit Judith at Lavender Cottage for Mosaic Monday and share in the beauty offered there.

Mosaic Monday


I think you should take some time to visit Imagin-in-ing.  You're sure to enjoy it!