Lady Peony

The beauty of Spring continues with the arrival of Lady Peony.

One of my fondest memories growing up in Colorado was the arrival of the peonies my mother nurtured every Spring.  She had the most beautiful range of colors in white, pink and a gorgeous burgundy.  Well, I can say I have not the variety of my childhood, but just having them bloom in my garden each Spring is just invigorating.  

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!

Cathy

Please join me for image-in-ing  and Mosaic Monday  It's great fun!

 

Spring With the Dogwood

A dogwood's blossom

Wonderful and beautiful

She announces Spring

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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!!!

Beauty In Pink

We've lived here for nine years now and every spring this lovely tree blooms.  It's kind of funny.  Before it blooms it looks half dead and I wonder (every Spring) if, indeed, it is dead.  And then near the end of April she blooms.  The thing is, I have no idea what the name of the this tree/bush is and would love to know that.  Please help me.  

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I do love this beauty.  I just wish she had a name.

 ~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

Please join me for image-in-ing  and Mosaic Monday  It's great fun!

Glorious Pansies

Glorious pansies

Happiness, beauty of spring

Hardy in the sun

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When you are blessed with a weekend on retreat, time for reflection is offered in many ways.  For me the pansy is a gorgeous and hardy plant.  It survives in cold and heat and yet it maintains its beauty!  For that I am truly grateful.  Lasting through the summer and fall the pansy is a lesson in perserverence.

~~~^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!!!

 

Weekend Retreat1

Isn't she lovely?  It's always a wonderful weekend when I can spend time at The Woods.  Well, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.  I've had a relationship with The Woods since 1974.  This is the mother house for the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.  It is also the campus for Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.  The sisters, under the guidence of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin, began an academy for girls in 1841.  

Part of the curriculum for the college is its equine studies degree.  And so at a quiet time during the retreat I took a walk to the stable area to commune with the horses.  They are so very beautiful and were so intent on eating they hardly noticed me.  

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

Please join me for image-in-ing  and Mosaic Monday  It's great fun!

The Great Sand Dunes

View of Great Sand Dunes

In the Distance

God moves quietly

It's a rocky mountain high

That heals a tired soul

~~~

It's been years since I've visited the Great Sand Dunes National Park.  It is truly amazing.  It's like being in the Sahara Desert, but when you look up you see the mountains, glorious and majestic.  Oh, the glory of God's creation!  

~~~^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!!!

On the River

Newburgh Lock and Dam

Because the Ohio River's water levels were so unreliable and this made it difficult for goods to be transported up and down river a series of locks and dams were built along the river from Pittsburgh to Cairo, Illinois.  The Army Corps of Engineers was and till is in charge of the system.  In 1923 the first lock and dam was begun and completed in 1929.  As watercraft got larger  the  locks also needed to be larger.  So in 1962 the new lock and dam was constructed.  The new lock and dam began in 1969 and was completed in 1980.  It's important to note that the locks and dams on the river are not involved in flood control.  

It is grand living on the river.  There is so much to see and do in a rivertown and living on the Ohio Rivier is no different.  

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

Please join me for image-in-ing  and Mosaic Monday  It's great fun!

Agony In the Garden

Garden of Gethsemane

Agony's garden

While Peter, James and John slept

Jesus prayed and wept

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While we anticipate the joy of Easter, we must also share in the agony our Savior experienced.  For it is for us that He suffered and died.  Only because of Good Friday can we celebrate our salvation on Easter Sunday with our Risen Lord.  

~~^j^~~

Happy Easter 

and

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!!!

Rivers Up

 For the last 3 weeks we've had nothing but rain, torrential rain.  There have been tornado warnings and sirens in the night.  My how our weather pattern has changed.  Today though it's a pretty nice day!  No more rain  until tomorrow.  Spring is here in southern Indiana.  That's life on the Ohio River.  It is a grand place to be.  

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

Please join me for image-in-ing  and Mosaic Monday  It's great fun!

Holy Anticipation

Glory in the light

Wonder of our salvation

Glory be to God

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As we begin the holiest week of the year on Palm Sunday, let us thank God for sending his Son to die for us and thus gain for us eternal life.  I have always loved this week of the year, even more than preparation for Christmas.  From Holy Thursday, Good Friday to Easter Sunday I have an opportunity to be with my Savior again as He journeys to Calvary.  He died and rose for me, for you!  Take this time to be thankful!

~~~^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!!!