Button, Button, Who's Got the Button

 I started making  face mask ear guards on April 16 and to date I have knitted 350.  I have donated them to one of the local hospitals and to the clinic where my son works.  The most difficult part of the project was getting buttons.  Friends and neighbor offered their buttons (I had none) and even my cousin from Oklahoma mailed them to me.  It's been quite an adventure.  One I have enjoyed but  wish I had never had to take.

Here is the finish product.  I can knit and crochet but I find  I like to knit better.  It has just made me so happy that I could contribute to the cause since I'm no longer actively engaged in nursing.  

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Here is the Pattern if you wish to pursue this.  And just call your local hospital's volunteer coordinator and I'll just bet she'll be happy to receive what you have to offer.

Yarn type:  Cotton

Needle size: 7

Cast on 20 stitches.  Knit across .  Repeat 5 more rows.  bind off.  Button size 1/2-7/16.  It takes about 15 minutes to knit.  I knit all I want and then put on the buttons.

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And, too, I'd like to wish all a special Memorial Day Weekend.  It is certainly different from all we've ever experienced.  Make your day one to be remembered.  For me I'm just going to be very grateful for my family and friends and that I live in one Nation under God!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!

Cathy

Please join me for Mosaic Monday, image-in-ing, and Our World Tuesday.

Roses Are Red

Just after the rain

She cradles water with care

Tender are her ways

~~~~~

I have been enamored  of roses since I was a child.  They always look dainty and elegant. What they don't want to let you know is how how strong they really are.  My dad nursed his roses with tender loving care (along with his begonias).  When it came time to work in the garden in the spring I had my own garden plot in which I was allowed to plant zinnias.  When I was old enough Dad taught me how to prune the roses and then was able to help him. . .I still had the zinnias.  And so my love of roses!

~~~^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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And the Rains Continue

The grass is green, the flowers are blooming and the weeds are thriving. It won't be long before we have to prune the bushes. . .when the spring rains stop.  Until then we'll enjoy the beauty that they bring.  

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!

Cathy

Well, I'm back home from my WordPress adventure.  I guess I’m so used to my home here that it was hard to adapt.  At any rate, I've returned and happy to be here.  Wishing all a grand week!

Budding Spring

Frost warning tonight

The rosebuds prepare to bloom

In spite of our fear

For all their beauty
They always look so fragile
They are truly strong

~~~^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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Oh, Friday!

Oh, Friday's sadness

Reminds us that our burdens

Are shared by true Love

Hoping all have a glorious Easter!

~~~^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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Florence Remembered Part 2

ACADEMIA GALLERY

Michelangelo's David

Academia Gallery or Gallery of the Academy of Florence is one or the museums of Florence.  It's best know as the home of David.  It does have so much more to offer.

There are so many beautiful works of art and sculptures that I could have spent days and days there.

UFFIZI GALLERY

Uffiza Gallery is a prominent art museum located adjacent to the Piazza della Signoria in the center of historic Florence.  After the Medici family died out their art collection was donated to the city of Florence. 

Today the Uffizi is one of the most popular attraction in Florence and one of the most visited in the world.  Another placed where I could have spent MANY MANY hours.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!

Cathy

Please join me for Mosaic Monday, image-in-ing, and Our World Tuesday.

After the Rain

After the rain falls

The true beauty emerges

Glory be to God!

~~~^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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Florence Remembered Part One

Pizzalle Michelangelo 

Piazalle Michelangelo is a square of a panoramic view 

of the city of Florence.  It's located in the Oltrano district of the city.

 Bronze cast of David facing Florence from the center of the square.

The glory of the city and its expanse.  From this point you can see the wonder of Burnelleschi's dome over the Florence Cathedral (Cattedrale di Santa Maria Fiore/Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flower)

View of the Ponte Vecciho and the Arno River from the Piazzlae.

As I looked at these photos I remembered the awe I felt when I saw the city of Florence from this advantage point.  There is such beauty in its antiquity.  I wonder about those who live there and in all of Italy as in the rest of the world at this time of world wide illness and deaths from the corona virus.  It's history has been full of plagues, epidemics, and wars, and yet it still stands.  

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

Please join me for Mosaic Monday, image-in-ing, and Our World Tuesday.

Peace Be With You

Mont Saint Michel

An Island of Peace

Appears in isolation

But peace is found there

In this time of uncertainty I find spending time with past memories fills the void with the absence of close friends and family.  I hope  you all are finding peace in your own way! Off to take a quiet and peaceful walk.

~~~^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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Nature's Love

Nature shows it's love

When the branches are entwined

Oh, the dance of love.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!

Cathy

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

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Saint Patrick's Day Eve

 On the Eve of Saint Patrick's Day I'd like to offer you a bit of the scenery I was privileged to see on my visit to Ireland nearly 6 months ago now.

Oh, to be on the Emerald Isle on Saint Patrick's Day. 

Wouldn't it be grand?

"May you always walk in sunshine

May you never want for more

May Irish angel wings rest right beside your door"

Irish Blessing

~~~^j^~~~

Happy Saint Patrick's Day to you all!!!

and

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

Please join me for Mosaic Monday, image-in-ing, and Our World Tuesday.

Roses Bloom in Joy

Oh, rose of beauty

When Irish eyes are smiling

My heart sings for joy

Happy Saint Patrick's Day

~~~^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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A Visit to Baton Rouge Louisiana

Visiting family is so grand!!  And so, before the weather got too hot  and we had the time my brother, Phil, and sister-in-law met us in Baton Rough, Louisiana to visit our brother, Tom, and his family.  It's a lovely city on the banks of the Mississippi not far from New Orleans.  So as always happens, we were given a tour of some of the  beautiful places in and near Baton Rouge.

 Old State Capitol Building

Baton Rouge Louisiana

The Old Louisiana State Capitol is an historic building, and now a museum in Baton Rough, Louisiana.  It housed the Louisiana state legislature from the mid-19 century until 1929-1932.  The building was added to the National Registry of Historic places in 1973.  It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1974.

Interior of The Old State Capitol

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Rosedown Plantation was built in 1835 by Daniel and Martha Turnbull, over the span of six months at a cost of $13,109.20.  This was a cotton plantation and consisted of 3,500 acres and 215 slaves.

They raised three children on the plantation, two sons and a daughter.  Their youngest son died of yellow fever at the age of 7 and their oldest son drowned in a boating accident at age 27, leaving their daughter Sarah as their only remaining heir.

Sarah married James Bowman from the neighboring Oakley Plantation, and together they raised 10 children, 8 girls and 2 boys.  Their 4 unmarried daughters inherited the property, living at Rosedown until the last  Nina Bowman died in 1955.  After the Civil War, former slaves became sharecroppers at Rosedown.  Sharecropping continued into the 1950's.

in 1956, Rosedown was purchased by Catherine Underwood of Houston, Texas.  Ove the next 8 years, Catherine had the plantation restored, opening Rosedown to the public in 1964.  The Underwood family maintained Rosedown as a tourist destination until 1994 when it was sold to a Georgia business man.  The state of Louisiana purchased Rosedown in 2000.

Statues are reproductions of original Italian statues.  

Purchased in the 1850's.

Fountains near the summer houses.

Azaleas and camellias in bloom

It was a beautiful place to visit and a grand way to spend time with family!  I'm sure everything is just exquisite later in the Spring, but I was happy to be there when we were.  It wasn't to hot or humid!  

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Catthy

Please join me for Mosaic Monday, image-in-ing, and Our World Tuesday.

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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Memories of Antonia Plantation

We were able to spend time at Antonia Plantation when my niece was married there four years ago.  It's really a lovely place.  The land was granted to Pierre Lebert in 1793.  The plantation still belongs to the family

I'm getting ready to travel again, this time to Baton Rouge to visit with my brothers and sisters-in-law.  So I'm offering a link as a preview of the trip!   Have a wonderful week!

Antonia Plantation

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!

Cathy

Please join me for Mosaic Monday, image-in-ing, and Our World Tuesday.

Grateful For Retreat

Glorious sunrise

Frost is on the ground

All's right with the world

Choir is singing

Praises rising to heaven

Grateful thanksgiving

~~~^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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My Time For Retreat

Saint Meinrad Archabbey is a Roman Catholic monastery in Spencer County, Indiana, USA, was founded by monks from Einsiedeln Abbey in Switzerland on March 21, 1854, and is home to approximately 85 monks. The abbey is named for St. Meinrad, a monk who died in 861. It is one of only two archabbeys in the United States and one of 11 in the world.  (Wikipedia)

St. Meinrad is a wonderful place for quiet reflection.  So, next weekend I'll be on retreat.  I will not be contributing to my blog until the following week.  Wishing you all a week in which you take some time for reflection.  It can't hurt.  Take time to rest in quiet peace this week.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

Please join me for Mosaic Monday, image-in-ing, and Our World Tuesday.

Happy Valentine's Day

It's Valentine's Day

The Day of Hearts and Flowers

Where love is in bloom

Sadly after this

Often the love is forgotten

The very next day

How I wish the love  and joy we feel on Valentine's Day would or could carry over to the rest of the year.  

~~~^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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The Zoo In Winter, Part 2

When we visited the zoo earlier this winter there were a lot of water fowl.  It was so cold I often wonder how they could weather this?  Well the goose below looks most unconcerned.  It also managed to make a collage for me just be reflecting in the lake. Thank you!

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The biggest surprise of the day was our excitement over seeing two turtles on a log.  We knew it was winter and knew it was unlikely that there would be any turtles around so we were so excited!  Imean there they were. . .Well, the excitement was short lived as we realized they were sculptures.  

 ~~~^j^~~~

Thank be to God!!

Cathy

Please join me for Mosaic Monday, image-in-ing, and Our World Tuesday.

Eastward Into the Sun

Early morning drive

Eastward into the sun

Anxious to visit

~~~^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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Oh, the Beautiful Alpaca

Beautiful old and wise tree, she is!

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods

The Alpaca at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods are treasures to be seen.  Their wool supplements their income and the alpaca allows one to visualize and witness calm.  Yes, calm.  Watching them brings about such serenity for me.  

Knitting with the wool spun from their wool is quite a pleasant experience, too.  Skeins purchased from the Linden Leaf Gift shop at The Woods is identified by the alpaca from which the wool came.  So you might have a scarf made from "Joey" around your neck.  

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!

Cathy

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