--Mosaic Monday~~Macro Monday~~

My what a grand time we all had!!!!

And then there is the hope and reminder of Spring!

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*****

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~~~~~~~

Thanks be to God!

Now visit Mary at The Little Red House and share in the beauty offered there.   Lisa at  Macro Monday  also has much to offer.  The pictures are grand.

Instead of taking an Adventure Tour this
week I thought it would be fun if you would
share holiday recipes you have that have
a history. So this Wednesday please
join me in offering Once Upon a Time 
Recipes, a story and recipe you
have as tradition at your house.

~~Mosaic/Macro Monday~~Month of Thanksgiving~~

   

Saint Mary-of-the Woods



ON HOLY GROUND

View from the foothills in Colorado

June, 2010

The words escape me today.  I have just returned from the dedication of a new church.  St. Clements.  It  has a history of 130 years and now it has a new place of worship.  Participating in the celebration of this members of this church I was in awe of the two thousand years of tradition that was extended through the people of God at St. Clements. 

As the bishop blessed the water I was reminded of my baptism.  As he poured the chrism oil on the altar to anoint it, I was reminded that it becomes a symbol of Christ.  He anointed the walls that the church building would be given over entirely and forever to Christian worship.  And again I was reminded of my anointing, first at Baptism and then at  Confirmation, and my call to be a temple of the Holy Spirit.  And oh, the wonderful aroma of incense reminded me that sacrifices offered in this holy space ascends to God in heaven.  It is also a sign that our prayers rise up pleasing and acceptable to God in the sincerity of our praise and worship. 

With guest priests gathered around this newly anointed alter the bishop offered Mass for the first time.   The choir sang in exaltation and I thought, "Heaven!"  Believing that I am part of a glorious tradition with a legacy that transcends time and space,  I am so grateful to have had the privilege of witnessing this event.  To the People of St. Clements I say congratulation and well done.  

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God! 

And, oh, the words didn't escape me for long...I also thought I'd share with you other places  today I see as Holy Ground.

Now visit Mary at The Little Red House and share in the beauty offered there.   Lisa at  Macro Monday  also has much to offer.  The pictures are grand.

If you would be kind enough to stop by Tamara's to offer your reason for thanks at Branch of Wisdom. She is hosting A Month of Thanksgiving I'm sure you will find some delightful and wonderful words of wisdom, praise and gratitude.

~~Mosaic/Macro Monday~~

This Gerber Daisy is no quitter. This plant is already lived two summer and Ron has already started preparing to give her and her sisters another winter of tender loving care. Until the care begins, she is still bursting forth in grand color.



Just as "Daisy" is not giving up the ghost of summer and fall, I too am having difficulty giving up the memories of this wonderful year!  I can only say how grateful I am for the privilege of experiencing the glory of God.

~~~^j^~~~

And so as part of the

Month of Thanksgiving

I say,
Thanks be to God!

I'd ask you to join Tamara at Branch of Wisdom offer what you are grateful for in these Days before Thanksgiving.  From October 24, 2010 to November 24, 2010 we are asked to share in this  journey of Thanksgiving.   Please stop by her blog and read more about the specifics. I'm sure there are no time constraints so you are welcome to begin whenever you can.

Visit Mary at The Little Red House and share in the beauty offered there.   Lisa at  Macro Monday  also has much to offer.  The pictures are grand.

I would also like to remind you that Wednesday is Adventure Tour Express.  Be thinking about the adventure you would like to share on our journey together!

~~Mosaic/Macro Monday~~

I found today in the garden a beauty that is spring. The petunias are at their pinkest and the roses are most delicate. Mums mingled with the rose brings meaning to the word community. The African Daisy and the little oak sprouts are so vibrant. You'd never know it was fall, but for the changing of the trees.  And the moon last night certainly gave no hint of the season to come.  Hanging on to the beauty of the moment for as long as I can.

~~*~*~~

~*~

The other day I took a walk and try as I might I could not find a single, whole acorn.  Now I'm sure there must have been some out there but I couldn't find one.  I know the squirrels gather them but the ones I found were caps and nuts so who will gather them.  Perhaps they just broke apart when they fell from the tree.

This morning though after church, Ron found this little fella.  I think he is handsome.  He carries himself with dignity and grace.  He doesn't seem to flaunt his color.  He doesn't seem to know how happy he has made some one. 

The lonely acorn

Master of his own destiny

Will be a  grand tree

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


Visit Mary at The Little Red House and share in the beauty offered there.   Lisa at  Macro Monday  also has much to offer.  The pictures are grand.

I would also like to remind you that Wednesday is Adventure Tour Express.  Be thinking about the adventure you would like to share on our journey together!

~Mosaic Monday~~

Sabers, Rifles and Flags

You are the music while the music lasts. 

~T.S. Eliot~

The results of the District Band Competition were not as we had hoped.  But that doesn't detract at all from the grace and the music performed.  Marching band requires skill in many areas and long hours of practice.  It means giving up time in the summer to practice.  If you are guard member it means learning the dance and maneuvering the saber, rifle, and flag with grace and this leaves me in awe.  I cannot tell you how much I admire these young people, all, who do their best and entertain as well.  

Memorial Tigers

Well Done!

And Kellie, especially, thanks for the memories!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Visit Mary at The Little Red House and share in the beauty offered there.   Lisa at  Macro Monday  also has much to offer.  The pictures are grand.

I would also like to remind you that Wednesday is Adventure Tour Express.  Be thinking about the adventure you would like to share on our journey together!

~~Mosaic Monday~~

When I tried to take pictures this week of the full moon and Jupiter I had no luck whatsoever.  Ron went out one evening a just sat patiently and this is the result.  There was no telescope and just the inexpensive Canon...Well done, Ron!!!!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Visit Mary at The Little Red House and share in the beauty offered there.   Lisa at  Macro Monday  also has much to offer.  The pictures are grand.

I would also like to remind you that Wednesday is Adventure Tour Express.  Be thinking about the adventure you would like to share on our journey together!

~~Mosaic Monday~~

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.  

~Albert Camus

~~~~~

The beautiful fruits of Fall!

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


Visit Mary at The Little Red House and share in the beauty offered there.   Lisa at  Macro Monday  also has much to offer.  The pictures are grand.

I would also like to remind you that Wednesday is Adventure Tour Express.  Be thinking about the adventure you would like to share on our journey together!

~Mosaic Monday~

I do love the beauty of the "Wild West!" There is so much "untamed beauty."

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Visit Mary at The Little Red House and share in the beauty offered there.   Lisa at  Macro Monday  also has much to offer.  The pictures are grand.

I would also like to remind you that Wednesday is Adventure Tour Express.  Be thinking about the adventure you would like to share on our journey together!

~~Mosaic Monday~~

The State Fair Alternative

Much to my chagrin, the State Fair adventure was rained out for us...So my Saturday took another twist.  As it turns out Annie had to go to school to work on her lesson plan for tomorrow morning.  She has  a meeting to attend and had to prepare the morning's lessons for the substitute.  We all went to see "Mommy's classroom" this year.  While the girls, Dad and Grandpa went to get Sandy from the "puppy groomer, " I stayed behind with Annie to help.  I got to color code the dominoes, sharpen the pencils, prepare a sample lesson and be in awe of her organization. 

So I missed the doughnut hamburger, deep fried twinkie,  corn dogs.  I missed the pigs and bunnies.  But Annie and I had a grand time just being together!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!

Visit Mary at The Little Red House and share in the beauty offered there.   Lisa at  Macro Monday  also has much to offer.  The pictures are grand.

I would also like to remind you that Wednesday is Adventure Tour Express.  Be thinking about the adventure you would like to share on our journey together!

~Mosaic Monday~

The Glory of the Clouds

 

There is such beauty and power in the glory of the clouds. From loveliness comes such tumult and fury. Oh, the wonder of it all! It cannot be harnessed or changed. And even with all the wonders of science it is still unpredictable! Man is still not in control!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Visit Mary at The Little Red House and share in the beauty offered there.   Lisa at  Macro Monday  also has much to offer.  The pictures are grand.

I would also like to remind you that Wednesday is Adventure Tour Express.  Be thinking about the adventure you would like to share on our journey together!

~~Mosaic Monday~

Then followed that beautiful season... Summer....
Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape
Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood.
-- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

There is still enough summer to be had by all.  But for the students who return to school tomorrow the season has waned much to fast.   To them I say enjoy renewing friendships in the "Halls of Ivy."

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Though Mary at The Little Red House is taking a break until August 18, Lisa at  Macro Monday  will still have her show. The pictures are grand and so are the pictures of others!

I would also like to remind you that Wednesday is Adventure Tour Express.  Be thinking about the adventure you would like to share on our journey together!

~~Mosaic Monday~~

Create a free picture collage

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

Please visit Mary and The Little Red House. Her pictures are grand and so are the pictures of others!

~~Mosaic Monday~~

The Walk of the Presidents

Rapid City, South Dakota is only 23 miles from Mount Rushmore and so I suspect it gets overlooked by those on pilgrimage to the "Mount." I know that until our last two trips to visit my mom in Montana, it was just a stop over on the way. Not so any more.

I really enjoy our visits to this city of the High Plains. Not a big city but is has an historic downtown where walking is a delight. There are lots of antique stores, wonderful restaurants, and the Presidential Walk. On nearly every corner in the downtown is a bronze sculpture of the Presidents of the United States.

Every President is represented except for the last three. There are the Founding Fathers, fathers with sons, and cousins. It really is a walk through history done by gifted sculpture artists and you never have to set foot in a museum.

If ever you have the opportunity to visit South Dakota, do it. There is so much beauty and history to be explored!

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

Please visit Mary and The Little Red House. Her pictures are grand and so are the pictures of others!

~~Mosaic Monday~~

As I was going through pictures I took when we were on vacation I was struck by the value each offers to our life. Today I think I'd like to contrast the beautifully fragile iris and the sturdy evergreen. Both are fragrant. Both most exquisite in their composition. Yet we only enjoy the iris for a short time in the spring. Because of the shortness of it's stay we mourn its passing, looking forward to it's rebirth next spring. The evergreen, because of its apparent strength we take for granted, yet every spring it puts for lovely "flowers" of its own. Without its special blossoms this bold tree could perish. In its strength there is weakness.

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

Please visit Mary and The Little Red House. Her pictures are grand and so are the pictures of others!

The Day After~~Mosaic Monday~~

Twas a grand and glorious Mother's Day!
Not only were gorgeous roses delivered to the door,
but the garden displayed her blooms is
beauty and grandeur!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Please visit Mary and The Little Red House. Her pictures are grand and so are the pictures of others!

Smiles~~ Mosiaic Monday~~

As I worked on the reunion cookbook this weekend and as I sorted through the picture archives available to me I so enjoyed comparing pictures. Here are just four of many, many that I have been privileged to see. There is such beauty in the smiles and the heritage they contain.

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

Please visit Mary and The Little Red House. Her pictures are grand and so are the pictures of others!