Spring With the Dogwood

A dogwood's blossom

Wonderful and beautiful

She announces Spring

~~~~~~

Having been raised in Colorado, the dogwood was a rare sight.  I'd really not experienced her beauty until we moved to Indiana.  And here, when spring arrives, the whole of the state blossoms.  She is in my neighbor's yard, along the highway, and on every hillside.  Spring becomes a joyful season for me when I see her blossoms!  

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

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

Spring Wildflowers

Wildflowers in the spring

Nature's carpet of beauty

Pleasure for the heart

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!

Cathy

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

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Serenity

O tranquility

Beautiful serenity

Rests on the water

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God

Cathy

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

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

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.

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

Big Thompson River

Big Thompson River

Estes Park, CO

Two years ago this month this, what appears to be, little river flooded Estes Park and tore down the Big Thompson Canyon flooding the cities of Ft. Collins and Boulder along the way.  It took eight lives and caused billions of dollars in damage.  The canyon has a history of severe flash flooding, but I am always in awe of the canyon beauty and its river, but I am reminded that the serenity I experience now can change in a heartbeat when severe weather comes.

A gentle river

Hides a frightening secret

It's a strong torrent

Beauty in the sound

Serenity and quiet

Become a torrent

The gentle river

Make peace and understanding

Give respect due it

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

Cathy

I'm joining  Little Things Thursday.  Drop by by and visit!

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

Mosaic/ Macro Monday

Desert Beauty 1

Being here in Tucson has offered me the opportunity to reflect on those things I take for granted and the things I learn to appreciate.  

I have taken for granted the diversity of peoples and the ways they live.  I forget that all that is created by God has value and worth, even the cactus and the dry earth. Never must I forget these things and become so complacent in my environment that I allow these insights to lose their importance.

The desert beauty

Under the winter sun gives

The hope of New Spring

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!!

Cathy

Stop by  The Little Red House and offer words of encouragement to Mary.  Mosaic Monday is postponed this week due to the devastation in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.   Visit Macro Monday,  too.  Lisa has a wonderful time planned for you.  The pictures all are an inspiration!

Joy in Haiku

Today I join Meri for Share the Joy Thursday.   For I believe we need to find it in my life every day no matter the realities in which we live.  God is Good in so many ways even in times of trial.

Joy comes in many forms.

And this day has the potential of
being just as grand as

God's palate

I must be open to it!
~~~~~~~~~~

God of Majesty
He rises in the morning
Prevails in all things

~~~^j^~~~

Will be at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods this weekend on a retreat/gathering of Providence Associates.  Pray with us!!!

Thanks 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!!! 

Then Joy in Tea Talk

There is a great deal of poetry and

 fine sentiment in a chest of tea. 

 ~Ralph Waldo Emerson, Letters and Social Aims~

I'm having...English Breakfast tea.  It's eye opening.

My teacup...my little halloween mug unpacked from its box for the season.

I'm feeling... refreshed.  It has been a grand week.  The kids here last weekend, The three day Parish Mission on forgiveness, and last night the  White Mass for physicians and healthcare workers offered by Bishop Thompson.

On my mind...Simply preparing for today.

Please join Ruth at Tea Talk today.

~~~~~~~

Today I also join Meri for Share the Joy Thursday.   For I believe we need to find it in my life every day no matter the realities in which we live.  God is Good in so many ways even in times of trial.

Lower Yellowstone Falls

The mist, it rises
The falls in beauty thunder
We all stand in awe!

~~~^j^~~~

 Thanks be to God!!!

 Cathy

Haiku My Heart

When beauty appears 

It's a delicate treasure 

Worth its weight in gold

Today I am posting my 1000th post!  Who would have thought 4 1/2 years ago I would still be playing here on the playground.  It's been soooo much fun.  Thanks for all your visits and generous remarks over the years.  Celebrate!!!  Life is grand!!!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!!

Cathy

Visit also Rebecca at recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart.

~~Haiku My Heart~~

The sun's risin'

A glorious sight to see

Praise God Almighty!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

  Visit also Rebecca at recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart.

aiku My Heart

~~Mosaic Monday~~

May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun
And find your shoulder to light on,
To bring you luck, happiness and riches
Today, tomorrow and beyond.
~Irish Blessing

~~~~~~

This weekend we visited the gardens of some very dear people who allowed me to take pictures in their gardens.  This is the just a sample of the beauty I found there in.

~~~^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~~

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!

Sunrise Over Carter Lake

Carter Lake, Colorado, 2009

At the risk of being accused of Photo Overkill, just one more. And I wanted to share this Bit-of-Wisdom by Saint Bonaventure.

If there is anyone who is not enlightened by the sublime magnificence of created things, he is blind. If there is anyone who, seeing all these works of God, does not praise Him, he is dumb. If there is anyone who, from so many signs, cannot perceive God, that man is foolish.

~~~^j^~~~

I must admit that I totally agree with the good saint.

Thanks be to God!

Glory Be To God, It's Saturday!

Alleluia, Alleluia

This is the Day the Lord has made
Let us be glad and rejoice in it.
[Psalm 118:24]

Alleluia, alleluia.

(From this day's Liturgy of the Word)

~~~^j^~~~

Indeed, thanks be to God!!!

The road to recovery is sublime...

As the sun was going down this evening on my way home from work, I noticed the glow of the trees in all their glory. It seemed their color alone could light the way. That, the Glory of God.

Tonight as Duchess and I went outside for a few minutes while she sniffed the fresh air and scouted the back yard, rising was not only the moon, but also Venus and Jupiter. That, the Glory of God!

Healing has come. The throat is less sore and the cough less frequent. Today the beginning of antibiotic therapy. That, the Glory of God.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!!

Canadian Fall

I'm back home from the wedding festivities and what a grand time we all had. There is nothing to compare with the gathering of family and friends on such an occasion. The sharing of love and hugs is the best gift one can receive.

I'm going to take some time to recuperate and gather my thoughts, but in the meantime I am offering these pictures that were sent to me as a gift. Enjoy!

Canadian Fall

FALL AT BUTCHART GARDENS , VICTORIA , B. C.,

CANADA

IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE ANYTHING

COULD

BE THIS BEAUTIFUL..

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!

Thank you!

Ron is the one who took the picture of the Peace rose now on my blog. He did such a wonderful job I just thought it deserved a place of honor. This rose is one of my favorites. If the world could just appreciate the beauty that can come about when we live in harmony with each other just like the Peace rose

Wishing you all a day of love and peace.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Gifts of Words, Music and Flowers.

I was given this beautiful gift today. The words hopeful, the music restful, and the pictures reflective. It's for all who dream and hope and love. It was given in friendship and mutual concern for ponds and waterlilies, but it is also wonderful because of the gift itself. So to SMA at A World of Beauty, I say a most sincere, "Thank you!" I also say, "Thank you," to you all and please enjoy!!!

~~~~^j^~~~~

Thanks be to God!

Coffee Art!!!...one more time.

This is not meant to cause those who gave up coffee for Lent any extra penance, but to perhaps appreciate even more the beauty in "that cup" each day. It is sent to be my a friend and I just had to share it...Here is hoping that this time I will be able to do so.

There is a restaurant in Vancouver...actually three...where they dress up the lattes....you get to watch them create the pictures. Just see what can be done with coffee, cream, milk and imagination...Too good to drink?

~~~~~~~

For the talent and gifts to create these works of art

Thanks be to God!!!