~~Mosaic Monday~~

This picture collage personalized with Smilebox

Taking a walk in the garden after the rain offers us a variety of beautiful attractions.  After this particular rain, because of the high humidity the dew lingered long enough for us to enjoy the glistening of the water drops left behind.  They bring to mind the waters of baptism.  The crystal clear beauty as the sun reflects its light through the drops.  That newness of life they reflect!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Please visit Mary and The Little Red House. Her 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!

~Bad Haiku Friday~

It's that time of year when the wonderful fresh fruits and vegetables are arriving at the Farmer's Market. Oh what a treat it is to peruse and pinch the palate of color set before our eyes. Her are two haiku poems that express my feelings about these treasures.

Plump red tomatoes
Oh, how tasty and juicy
Mouth watering good.

~~~~~

Bing cherry delights
Dark in color and so sweet
Just forget the pits

Laura at Catholic Teacher's Musings is sponsoring Bad Haiku Friday. This weeks topic is Food and Drink. Jump right in!!! The water is fine!

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

~~Tea Talk~~

But I try to steal other moments. Sometimes I get up very early in the morning and enjoy a quiet house and cup of tea before the craziness begins. Other times, I'll take a quick walk on the beach. You can find peace in a few minutes.
Cindy Crawford

I'm having...Original Good Earth tea. It is a refreshing tea on this very humid morning.

My teacup is...a treasure. It was found in some boxes when cleaning the garage last week. She has three lovely sisters.



I'm feeling...rested. My grand son, Neil, helped me yesterday as we prepared for our dinner guest, Fr. Dave last night. He dusted all the furniture which was a tremendous help. Then he and I went to see Toy Story 3. We had a great time and on my did we eat popcorn!

On my mind...the upcoming weekend. I am so glad I have all the laundry done. This is our Saturday to work at Mother Teresa's Treasures. Then after that we will be shopping for the Gibault School picnic. Every summer Ron's K of C council has a picnic for the kids. So on Sunday we trek up north to visit with and feed the kids.

Finally...here is Sam the Cat In the Sack. Don't know how he did it without tearing it but look at that look of satisfaction.

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

Now won't you join me and visit Ruth at Celebrate Friendship is hosting Tea Talk at her house? Share a cup of tea or a cool refreshing drink with us.

~Adventure Tour Express~

Madam Butterfly
By
Giacomo Puccini

I was invited to my first opera when I was 16 years old. My cousin, Pat, took me to the performance of Don Giovanni by Mozart at the Central City Opera. The opera was performed then as it is today in this lovely, rustic opera house "built in 1877, [by] citizens of Central City [who] organized a fund raising drive for a grand new opera house befitting the gold mining town's reputation as 'the richest square mile on earth.'" (Wikipedia) The opera that I really love the most of the ones I've been privileged to see over the years was here in Central City. It was so lovely and the costumes so beautiful. Yes, Madam Butterfly. The music will bring you to tears in its beauty if not in the love story it tells.

Much to my delight, when we visited Central City this summer and though we had no plans to go the opera, I found that once again Madam Butterfly was being performed. It brought back a flood of memories. As a young lady, I remember sitting in the dark wondering what it was like to live in the late 19th century and attend the opera here. I remember pictures of ladies in their finery and the gents in their frock coats. It must have been grand, oh so grand!

Take some time today and journey back to those times that drew you close to family and friends. The time when you were younger and that day you have filed away in your memory. Go to that place, sit quietly, and ponder your day on the Adventure Tour Express.

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

If you wish to join in the adventure today and share one of your memories simply copy and paste the button into your post and allow us to travel with you on your Adventure Tour Express then link to your journey through Mr. Linky. Thank you for visiting and join me again any time.

Catholic Prayer Meme

My friend Esther at Catholic Mom in Hawaii tagged me for this Catholic Prayer Meme. So here are the guidelines.

"Name your three most favorite prayers, and explain why they're your favorites. Then tag five bloggers - give them a link, and then go and tell them they have been tagged. Finally, tell the person who tagged you that you've completed the meme... The Liturgy and the Sacraments are off limits here. I'm more interested in people's favorite devotional prayers."

There are many prayers I pray daily. Often stopping to pause at work to gather myself by offering a simple ejaculation. The prayers I pray the most are these.

1. The prayer to the Holy Spirit. Ever since I was a child, my father taught me that in order to find peace of mind and a sense of calm, praying to the Holy Spirit was important. In times of stress and even in joy, I often ask in prayer, "Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love..."

2. I pray the rosary. Though one could argue it is a group of prayers, when I pray it I see it as unifying prayers into one source of reflection and devotion. I pray most often the scriptural rosary as I am able to contemplate the life of Christ and the fullness of His blessing He has bestowed on me and my family.

3. Finally, I call upon Saint Michael the Archangel. One should never enter the day without being prepared to do battle against the forces of evil and who better to assist in that than Saint Michael himself.

There are oh so many others I pray each day but these are the most prominent.

Now five to which I offer this gift.

1. Laura
2. Abbey
3. Bia
4. Lisa
5. Lee

Please visit these and others to learn about their prayer habits. This can only bless us all and offer new insights into prayer!

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

~~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!

Quiet Saturday...

A free picture collage by Smilebox

First weekend in many weeks that is quiet. No plans...Missing the smiles!
Loving the memories!!!
~~^j^~~
Thanks be to God!!

~~Simple Things~~

Simple things are
A beautiful butterfly
and lovely flowers.

Happiest of birthdays, Christine!!

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

Birthday parties are grand and an invitation to celebrate should not be refused. So all are invited to Christine's place at Soul Aperture. Offer your congratulation along with others who are visiting.

~Adventure Tour Express~



Picture slideshow created with Smilebox

No family reunion is complete without a baseball game. We were lucky to be in a city for our reunion where baseball is the name of the game. These pictures were taken by Ron. I personally enjoy the pictures of the St. Louis skyline. The pictures are all pre-game. That's because on an adventure like this one, if you are to enjoy it, you watch the game, cheer, have a beer, and heckle...ya don't take pictures. So what you see is what you get. You get the referees, the grounds crew (they don't get enough praise!), Fredbird, and a few celebs...OH! St. Louis was playing the Oakland A's and St. Louis won 11-3.

It's apparent that a good time was had by all!!!

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

To join in the adventure simply copy and past the button into your post and sign in with Mr Linky! So All Aboard!!! Share your adventure. We're looking forward to joining you!

~~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!