The Wise Men Cometh

Wise Men traveled far

Searching for the royal one

Newborn King of kings

~~~~~~~

Christmas Day we challenged ourselves with this 300 piece puzzle. It was great fun and the start a new tradition. 

~~~^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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Winter Reflection

Winter has beauty

Often hard to visualize

I reflect on this

So with the New Year
Take time for reflecting
It's good for the soul

~~~^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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Merry Christmas To All

Happy Christmas Time

Blessings and love wished for all

And thanks be to all!

~~~^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 Cliffs of Moher

The Cliffs of Mohher sea cliffs at the southwestern edge of the Burren region of County Clare.  The cliffs rise above the Atlantic Ocean and at their highest they are 702 feet just north of O'Brien's Tower.

We traveled to the Cliffs of Moher on the sixth day of our tour in Ireland.  It was windy and cool on the day before this stop.  If it looked like rain on other days the storms seemed to pass us over.  It was not so when we arrive at the cliffs.  It was windy, cold and it was raining horizontally!  So what I did is resign ourselves to the fact the we'd not be getting any photos here.  Well, I was wrong.  After lunch and some time spent in the gift shop the storm died down enough so that we were able to walk out to the cliffs.  Yes, and photos were a lot of fun to take! 

Like many of the places we stopped in Ireland the sites were spectacular.  The Cliffs of Moher were no exception.  

O'Brien's Tower

O'Brien's Tower is  a round tower built near the midpoint of the cliffs, built in 1835 by Sir Cornelius O'Brien.  From the cliffs and the tower the Aran Islands, Balway Bay, and Loop Head can be seen.  

I was another grand day we had on this adventure!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

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

Mary and the Children

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods

Vision of Mary

Shepherds caring for their flock

Children of the Lord

Having been to Fatima and having experienced the beauty of the shrine, I was reminded of it when I came upon this to Mary and the Children of Fatima.

~~~^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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On Retreat

Saint Mary-or-the-Woods, IN

I'll be on retreat starting tomorrow at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.  I'll be back next week.  Pray for me as I pray for you!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

Jingle Rails

Jingle Rails is a Great Western Adventure in a G-scale model train wonderland containing nine working model trains that wind through a stunning miniature landscape.  The exhibit features miniature versions of local treasures of downtown Indianapolis, including the Eieteljorg Museum, Monument Circle, Union station and Lucas Oil Stadium.  The trains then head through the National Parks of the American West, passing legendary sites including grand railway lodges, Northwest Coast Native villages, and wonders both natural and human-made--Mt. Rushmore, Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde, Yosemite Falls, Old Faithful, and much more.

Every year for several years at Christmas time we would go to INDY to visit with Kid and Grand Kids and visit Jingle Rails.  Grandpa being a model railroad fan had the best time of all.

I have to admit I had a grand time as well, in awe of the talent of those who achieved this work of art.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!

Cathy

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

Oh, The Sunrise!

Happy is the morn

When the sunrise is glowing

Praise the Almighty!

~~~^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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In Dublin's Fair City. . .

Trinity College, Dublin

 Originally Trinity College was established outside the walls of of Dublin in building of the outlawed priory of the Catholic Church.  Though Catholics were admitted from 1793 there were restrictions.

The Library at Trinity College is the largest research library in Ireland.  Housed in the Old Library is The Book of Kells.  Along with the Long Room in the Old Library it is one of the largest tourist attractions in Ireland.  

It truly is amazing and though the Book of Kells itself was not on display, being replaced by a replica, it was still a grand experience.  

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

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

Oh, the Blarney

Blarney Castle

~~~~~~~

Wisdom shared in words

Enlightening all who hear

That's blarney foresight

~~~^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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Once Again In Ireland

"The Giants Causeway is an area of 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic fissure eruption.  It is located in County Antrim on the north coast of Northern Ireland about three miles northeast of the town of Bushmills."  (Wikipedia)

"According to legend, the columns are the remains of a causeway built by a giant.  The story goes that the Irish giant [Finn] MacCool accepted the challenge and built the causeway across the North Channel so that the two giants could meet.  In one version of the story [Finn] defeats Benandonner.  In another [Finn] hides from Benanadonner when he realizes that his foe is much bigger than he is.  [Finn's] wife Oonagh, disguises [Finn] as a baby and tucks him in a cradle.  When Benandonner sees the size of the 'baby', he reckons that its father, [Finn], must be a giant among giants.  He flees back to Scotland in fright, destroying the causeway behind him so that [Finn] would be unable to chase him down.  Across the sea, there are identical basalt columns (a part of the same ancient lava flow) at Fingal's Cave on the Scottish isle of Straffa and it is possible that the story was influenced by this." (Wikipedia)

Now that I've shared with you the legend and the geology in brief, I'd like to share my impression!  In a few words it was incredible, impressive, and awe inspiring.  It took my breath away.  Just witnessing the crashing of the waves, beating against the shore and seeing what the results of millions of years have done to sculpt this leaves one speechless!  Oh, to have been able to spend more time there.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

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

Return from the Emerald Isle

 Garden at Blarney Castle

Fall in Ireland

Foliage all green, orange and gold

End of the rainbow

~~~~~~~

I’m back from the Emerald Isle and it was the most beautiful time to visit.  The greens were so green and the gold so very gold. Maybe this is where the Garden Eden really was. 

~~~^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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First Time to Florida

Our path to the beach began here, an enticing opening to my first visit to the beach in Florida.  

It was certainly different than the beach in Carmel, CA.  We lived in Monterey, CA while Ron was in the military in 1970 and so we could go to the beach there often.  It was so different, though.  The waves crash there and the water is cold.  I remember surfers would wear wet suits.  

My first experience on the beach near Ft. Matanza on the east coast of Florida was so very different.  The water was much warmer, especially in October, and the waves lapped the beach.  I reminded me of the beach on South Padre Island on the Gulf.  It was most enjoyable.

~~~~~~~~

Gorgeous Yellow Hibiscus

The flora around the house where we stayed was so lovely and the palm tree was most regal.  And, oh. what fun we had sitting on the beach.  I especially liked the red umbrella.

All in all it was a wonderful 5 days of fun with family in a really lovely place.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

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

O Water Lily

Water lily floats

Unencumbered in its space

Free to be herself

~~~~~~~

I love the beauty of the water lily.  It always seems so free, floating ever so gracefully.  Offering peace and reflection when I come upon them.  

~~~^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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Florida Sunrise

To say I had a wonderful time in Florida would be an understatement.  The best part of the adventure was the time I spent with family!  You can never spend too much time with your kids and grand kids.  Again, life is good!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!!

Cathy

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

Footprints In the Sand

Footprints in the sand

How I wish to walk with them

Many and varied

And because I can walk on the beach, listening to and watching the surf I reflected on the many ways my life is good.

Life is good because God created it,

Humanity is good because God formed it,

I am good because God loves me.

~~~^j^~~~

Thank 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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Early Morning In the Vatican

The fountain

It's been three years since we visited Rome for the second time and I'm reminded of the awesome feeling I had when I first visited there.  It was like coming home.  My cousin, Pat, went in 1976 and regaled me of its glory!  Now I go to my photos and revel in them too.  

We arrived early in the morning in anticipation of our Papal Audience.  It was quiet and cool.  And the fountain was most calming.  I needed to savor the moment!

I still marvel at the beauty of the Michelangelo's Pieta, and the statue of St. Peter that has been touched by so many that it is smooth and polished.  And of course, there are those handsome Swiss guards.   Wanting to go back, but in the meantime will cherish the memories!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!

Cathy

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

Words About the Harvest

Silos at Sunrise

Securing the nations grain

Hope for the future

Living in Indiana I've been spoiled over the years to see the Fall come and the harvest begin.  Seeing the vast fields of corn, wheat and soy beans, melons and other fruit fills my heart with joy and hope.  I think everyone should understand the hard work that goes into farming and that we as a nation should never take it for granted!

~~~^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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Clouds

Clouds are so very lovely.  But being in the mountains and seeing how they cover the very tops of them it makes me happy to be in their presence,  The color contrast is, oh, so wonderful.  I wish sometimes that I were an artist with the skill to capture these clouds on canvas.  

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!!

Cathy

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

Oh! The Rainbow!

Niagara Falls

Rainbows offer hope

The color is beyond compare

In all their glory

~~~~~~~

A few years ago we made an autumn trip to upstate New York and Niagara Falls.  It was just incredible!  The color was exquisite and the Falls were incredible.  I'd return in a heartbeat.  It's just not on the schedule this 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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Autumn Arrives

See the autumn colors

Pumpkin orange, yellow and red

How they warm the soul

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

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

So Runs the River

Cool, clear mountain stream

With white capped  rapids running

So runs the river

~~~^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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