daylily

Sepia Saturday

2012-02-24T22:15:00.000-05:00

Sepia Saturday

With

our

host

Alan

Pvt. John C. Jones

Circa 1914.
He served in Germany in WWI
This was an official army photo.

My shoes circa 1938

My maternal grandmother in the center at her last attendance at a public family celebration.
Nice lace ups, very practical with a little heel.
All of her grandchildren present.
She was 84.
I am the oldest at 31 here somewhere in the back and the youngest Harriett is 14 on the right end.
The white cane belongs to my blind uncle.
My grandmother walked as straight as could be and never used a cane.
She died at age 96.

Go here for more Sepia Saturday.

Friday Shoot Out-Theme movement

2012-02-23T20:44:00.000-05:00

Well since I am using still photos I will only show the movement in a still msec. or whatever.

Well, they were in motion or the results of.

Go here for more Friday Shoot Out.

Sharing the joy of family and hand crafting

2012-02-22T22:04:00.000-05:00

Share the Joy Thursday

and

Tea Talk with Ruth
Having,,,,,,decaf coffee in a white tea cup.

Just thinking ,,,,,,,about spending time with my family gives me much joy.
Feeling........ like the luckiest mom and grand in the world.

Celebrating a beautiful granddaughter 's birthday is always a fun time.

We have been doing this for years and as the grands get older they choose more fine dining as opposed to MacDonald's when they were little.

Mozz's Mozzorella Bar and Supper Club.

Lamp made of glass

In house made bread

Farm to Table program

Fresh things that can be bought locally.

Cheeses made on site.

This was a hors-d'oeuvre with
Juniper & citrus roasted garlic olives
Rosemary-Roasted wild mushrooms
Vine ripe tomatoes-Basil Burschetta
Eggplant Vegetable Carponata

and two of their cheeses.

Thinly sliced strips of Italian Cold Cuts.

and more bread.

My Entree

Scallops "Pesto"

Seared Scallops
Jalapeno-Mint-Pesto wide and thin noodles
Golden Raisins
Pine Nuts
Marcona Almonds

Out of this world.

Let the wine flow.

No wonder we were all smiling.

Birthday girl with blonde hair to my left.
Daughter Rachel, Beth, Julia, me and daughter Jennifer around the table.
Her daughters behind her
Cindy, Jill, Nikki

Go here to check this restaurant out
Well worth traveling a few miles to dine there.

Mozz on Market St. in Louisville, Ky.

"LORD, you understand; remember me and care for me... When your words came, I ate
them; they were my joy and my heart's delight..." (Jeremiah 15:15, 15:16 NIV)

Go here for Share the Joy

Go here for Tea Talk with Ruth

Doing a little hand crafting too.

These were made from vintage wooden spools that had belonged to my mother.

I recently found them in her old sewing box.

I painted them blue and glued the candle holders on then trimmed them in blue, green and yellow for Easter.
They were my gift for my gd making them her great grand mother's vintage spools.
Of course these cannot be bought anymore.
She loved them.

Ash Wednesday

2012-02-22T00:00:00.000-05:00

Remember that thou art dust, and to dust thou shalt return.

—Genesis 3:19

Ash Wednesday, in the calendar of Western Christianity is the first day of Lent and occurs 46 days before Easter. It is a movable fast, falling on a different date each year because it is dependent on the date of Easter. It can occur as early as Feb. 4th or as late as March 10.

According to the canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus spent forty days fasting in the desert before the beginning of his public ministry, during which he endured temptation by Satan.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of this forty day liturgical period of prayer and fasting. Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of adherents as a sign of mourning and repentance to God. The ashes used are typically gathered after the palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday are burned.

This practice is common in much of Christendom, being celebrated by Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians and some Baptist denominations.

Courtesy of Wikipedia

Fat Tuesday

2012-02-21T11:16:00.000-05:00

Happy Fat Tuesday to everyone out there.
Ash Wednesday tomorrow.

Going out tonight but to celebrate one of the Princess's birthday.

Time's have sure changed.
When I was growing up Lent was void of anything that was considered celebratory.
Weddings were not performed in the Catholic Church at my house my grandmother did not allow us to play cards during lent or any of the other things we did for pleasure.
Of course no TV anyway so did not have to give that up.
There was a lot of church going.
No movie going except maybe on Sunday.
No eating of meat any day of the week and only one big meal a day.
We all got slimmer back in those days.
Do you think we were more holy?

Mosaic Monday-Berries, Berries everywhere

2012-02-19T23:12:00.001-05:00

Mosaic Monday

Wow, we need some more color around the place.

There are berries for sure.

Had to search through my archives to come up with some outdoor color for today.

Several days of dreary sunless days make color very important.

Go here to see more MM posts.

It is very inspiring.

Might make you want to join in.

Sunlit Sunday

2012-02-19T00:00:00.000-05:00

Sunlit Sunday

Lavender in my kitchen window.

About 1 1/2 years ago on Mother's day, one of my daughters gave me lavender seeds.
I keep them in the sun and indoors until the past summer when I put them outside in the sun until it got hot.
They have been in this window now for about 6 months.
I am hoping for blooms by this Mother's day.
My info says it takes about 2 years to get blooms from seeds.
I have a place waiting for them outside as soon as they are strong enough.

Love the lavender.

"My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment
and discretion; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. Then
you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble. When you lie
down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet." (Proverbs
3:21-24 NIV)

Go here for more Sunlit Sunday.

Friday Shoot Out-theme-hearts, things close to the heart.

2012-02-16T22:08:00.000-05:00

Friday Shoot Out.

I found this to be the hardest theme to find in my town.

I did not grow up here.

There is no one in my family who lives in this town so I found it hard to find things close to my heart in my town.

I like and am proud of my town but no place in particular.

So I just had to do as some others do; find hearts around my home because that is where my heart truly is.

Home of my heart.

Addendum

I do not know why I failed to include this place in my list of where my heart is at such peace and joy.

St. Vincent de Paul chapel on the campus of
Nazareth
Home of the Sisters of Charity.

Maybe because I have shown it so many times and talk about Nazareth so much I thought folks might get tired of seeing it.
But this is my blog and I would never shy away from my true feelings here.

This is where I worship.
Where I am loved
educated
entertained
give of my time to help the poor.

This beautiful heart was made and sent to me in a Heart Swap by
Deb at Mosaic Magpie

This was a Blissfull ATC swap card I made.

I think Deb made this one too.

Go here for Friday Shoot Out.

How I poke my muses or stirring the cauldron

2012-02-15T12:46:00.000-05:00

Just read a blog were one of the artists admits she starts something and then sometimes switches to another project.

I found myself doing the same thing.

I get stuck on a project that is new to me or is more of a challenge than I expected and I get so exasperated that I just have to walk away.

Now I have one skill that I really am good at.

Crochet

So I always have something going on that I can pick up anytime.

I have been able to work every pattern that has ever come my way.

Now sometimes it takes a lot of uncrocheting to get that project done.

But the confidence that I have when it comes to crocheting is unwavering.

So whenever I am stuck on something, I just leave it alone, maybe in the middle of a stroke, if painting and head back to my comfortable place crocheting.

I have made dresses, hats, gloves, scarfs, flipflops and anything that can be made.

I made an evening gown one year and wore it for a New Years Even gown.

Being made of yarn it got very hot and started to sag.

Yes, I made it two piece and had to roll the skirt up at least 4 inches to get through the night.

Well I was the talk of the evening.

So that is how I stir my muses and get the juices flowing.

On my work table right now.

A personal card with my favorite flower, hydrangea.

Plarn totes with Journey Beads for the Journey Bead website for Charity.

Can't get the colors I want with the beads.

Struggling with the pocket in the lining.

Paper beads.

I have a hard time getting the tips of the paper to stay down even after gluing them.

Any ideas out there?

Working on ATC cards.

I just go from one to the other.

Is this consider hoarding?

No I guess it is clutter.

But I know I will finish these projects and as soon as one is done a new one will take its place.

Wish I could get those muses to even out the ideas instead of bombarding my brain and then just letting me down.

LOL

Happy Valentine's Day. Storing up for a snowy day

2012-02-14T08:06:00.001-05:00

More birds outside our window

I love these soft fluffy mourning doves.

I have to take the photos through the window as they will scatter as soon as I try to go outside.

Snow birds on a snowy day, MM

2012-02-12T21:04:00.000-05:00

Mosaic Monday

following

blustery

snowy

day

I know these are not good clear photos but they do reflect what I did for a time this week-end.

The birds were busy around the feeders all week-end.

I wanted so bad to catch a male and female cardinal in the same shot.

But

these were taken from inside through the screen on a windy day with the snow whirling around so they reflect the way I saw them.

Not great photos but this mosaic sure sets the stage for a cold, windy, snowy week-end in central Kentucky.

Thank goodness it was warm and toasty inside.

Go here for Mosaic Monday

Sunlit Sunday

2012-02-11T21:43:00.000-05:00

Sunlit Sunday

Two of my most favorite things.
Sunshine and citrus fruit.
That grapefruit looks good enough to eat.
Good enough to try to paint. Shadows, highlights all the things I need practice on.

This is my 2nd week of joining
Sunlit Sunday and I have enjoyed all my visits to other sites.

I found myself looking for sunlit shots all week.
Lifts the spirits to spot the sun coming in.

Blogging has gotten me to be more observant and appreciative of all things around me and have I ever learned a lot.

But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life, and thanks to a benevolent arrangement the greater part of life is sunshine.
Thomas Jefferson

Go here and find you some more sunshine.

Sepia Saturday Feb. 11, 2012

2012-02-10T21:31:00.000-05:00

Sepia Saturday
Theme
Pictures with or about books

I am presently reading

"Impelled by the Love of Christ"

History

Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, Ky 1924-1936

The sisters are currently organizing and publishing their archives based on the dates of the leadership of the community.

This photo was one shown in this book as the Archbishop of Louisville at the time of the Mother Superiors highlighted in these years.

As soon as I saw it I knew it would one day end up on Sepia Saturday.

John Alexander Floersh (October 5, 1886-June 11, 1968) was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. Becoming Bishop of Louisville Ky. in 1924, he was elevated to the rank of Archbishop in 1937 and served until his retirement in 1967.

John Floersh was born in Nashville, TN the 4th of 8 children of John and Minnie (nee) Alexander Floersh.

His father was a cigar manufacturer. He began his studies for the priesthood at age 16 and earned his Doctor of Philosophy (1907) and Doctor of Divinity (1911) degrees from the Propaganda College in Rome.

(The Roman Colleges, also referred to as the Pontifical Colleges in Rome, are institutions established and maintained in Rome for the education of future ecclesiastics of the Roman Catholic Church. Traditionally many were for students of a particular nationality. The colleges are halls of residence in which the students follow the usual seminary exercises of piety, study in private, and review the subjects treated in class. In some colleges there are special courses of instruction (languages, music, archaeology etc.). but the regular courses in philosophy and theology are given in a few large central institutions, such as the Propaganda, the Gregorian University, the Roman Seminary, and the Minerva, i.e. the school of the Dominicans.)

He was ordained a priest in Rome on June 10, 1911. Returning to the United States, he did pastoral work in the Diocese of Nashville for a year before coming secretary to Archbishop Giovanni Bonzano, the Apostolic Delegate in Washington, D.C. He was named a Monsigner by Pope Benedict XV in 1917.

I was born in 1937 in Nov.

He was appointed the first Archbishop of the new Archdiocese of Louisville in Dec. 1937.

The first time I met him was in 1945 when I received the sacrament of Confirmation at my parish church in my home town.

He was a wonderful man and truly a holy man.

What does this have to do with books?

He was a man of books.

We always had books in my home when I was growing up.

They were not our books.

I got them from the local library.

A standing Saturday visit I made to the library.

Go here for Sepia Saturday stories.

Friday My Town Shoot Out-Theme wood, metal, stone

2012-02-09T20:28:00.000-05:00

I don't have to go far to get beautiful scenery to photograph in my town.

The beautiful Nazareth Campus is just about 4 miles from my house.

Wood, stone, metal

all in one shot.

This bell was the original bell used to call the workers from the fields at Nazareth when the community grew their own food and ran a large cattle farm.

The bell was in the original Motherhouse and was placed in this beautiful place of honor just a few years ago when the old gym was torn down.

Every bit of the wisteria has been cut away from the lattice as it was so overgrown it was attracting snakes.

A shot of it last summer with all the wisteria in full bloom.

Go here for Friday Shoot My Town.

Share The Joy and Tea Talk with Ruth

2012-02-09T10:03:00.000-05:00

I am always glad when Thursday comes as I do have to spend time, sometimes, as we all do, concentrating on the joy in my life.

I am well aware it is there but on days like today, misty, cold and no sunshine, I need reminding.

Share the Joy is my prompt for that necessary pondering for the day.

The cute little fairy-like girl in the front row on the left is my beautiful gd ELF.

(The photo is a little blurry as I cropped it on Picnik)

No kidding those are her initials.

She and her friends were dressed silly to play ball against their teachers the other day at school.

She sent me this photo because she knows I want to know everything fun they do.
I was at her house the day she came home with this outfit on.
She knows I love dress up and we were acting silly and I was doing my YaYa Sisterhood dance and we were having a ball. Her mom even joined in and we just danced and danced and danced.

What joy these loved ones bring to my life.

Tea Talk with Ruth

Having............Hot Folger's in my cup. My cup that I purchased when they had the set at Kroger's and one could buy a few pieces at a time until the set was completed. Good heavy everyday dishes. That withstand the knocks and bangs that come with day to day living.

Thinking...........how great it is to have strong dependable things in my life. My faith, family, fairly good health and dependable everyday dishes.

Pondering............this decision I have to make to control my numbers with diet instead of medicine.

I have made some changes in my diet and will wait for several weeks to see how effective that is.

My cholesterol is up and I have been able to bring it down with oatmeal.

Thought for the Day

"Just like the sun is always there even though rain clouds may try to hide it, God
is never gone from us even though the storms of our lives may sometimes make it
seem so."

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him

now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy" (1
Peter 1:8 NIV)

Go here and Share the Joy with Meri's group

Go here to join the discussion with Ruth's Tea Talk.

Well this is what we got.

2012-02-08T11:57:00.000-05:00

Well it did snow last night but this is what we actually got.
Reference to yesterday's post.

It is now 11:30 AM and every bit of it is gone.

When I was practicing on trying for macro shots again yesterday this is what I found in my flower pot from last spring.

Pansy.

They don't mind the chilly weather as long as the sun is shining.

That is how I feel.

Got a surprise call from my MD office yesterday.

I forgot some of the lab tests have to be sent away so I was surprised when they called and told me my cholesterol and triglycerides were elevated.

Not totally surprised, after all nearing 75 is getting on and the diabetes is just one of several things that can mess up as one ages.

She wanted to put me on two different medications and because the values were not out of sight I pleaded to try to manage without meds.

You know diet and exercise.

I do hate to take medicine.

So here I am on my oatmeal etc, again.

On to something more fun.

I am making totes decorated with Journey Beads to sell to raise funds for the missions of the Sister of Charity of Nazareth.

If you follow my blog you have seen totes I made for the summer picnic and the ones made from the brown and blue plastic bags were the best sellers.

I call this bag Peanut Butter and Chocolate because the trim reminds me of peanut butter.

The bag

The lining and preparing the inner pocket.

This material is like suede but as little as I paid for it I doubt if it is suede.

This is the trim I made for the tote.

Not sure where I am going to put it.

Probably on the flap as it needs to be heavy enough to stay down to keep the tote closed.

go to Journeycrafts.com

My items are not on there yet but as soon as I am finished with two they will be featured.

Waiting for the big one

2012-02-07T20:30:00.000-05:00

Well here we are.

Into the second week of February and 51 degrees.

I would love to go outside tomorrow and see

this.

But according to the weather person, this

is probably what we will see.

If so we will go on about our business and do what we usually do when it snows.

Go on about our business.

Of course, the schools will probably be closed.

Days will have to be made up at the end of the year.

Be safe out there folks, if you must get out early to go to work.

I remember in 1960 in March, before our wedding in April, it snowed about 8 inches one day.

I did not make it the 10 miles from my work to my home.

Had to leave my car at my office and hitch a ride home with some men who worked in the same town.

I would rather it snow now than in March or April.

Of course, we have all seen snow on Easter Sunday.

Have you seen snow on Easter Sunday?

Hooked again and frost on the lawn

2012-02-06T21:02:00.001-05:00

Well I can't hardly believe it.

I am hooked again.

At least 20 years ago I got hooked on

Tetris.

With my new Kindle Fire

hooked

again.

Oh well I said I wanted to keep my brain moving.

It is moving and so are my fingers.

WooHoo

Frosty mornings but sunny afternoons.

I like that.

We keep bread crumbs and berries here for the birds.

Finding my way through confusion with the help of scripture and nature

2012-02-06T10:13:00.001-05:00

Mosaic Monday

This past week-end was a very important one for me.

I have been struggling with feelings about my church and even been unable to attend.

I searched and searched for answers and of course prayed and cried a few tears.

It had nothing to do with faith in God of that I was sure.
There was just something about religion that I was finding to be contrary to what I felt Jesus wanted of his church.

Three times a years the associate group I belong to with the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth hold a spiritual retreat.

I had not been able to attend for a couple of years but I knew this retreat was one I needed to attend.

The speaker was Michael H. Crosby a Capuchin Franciscan with degrees in economics and New Testament spirituality. He is the author of many award-winning books, including The Spirituality of the Beatitudes, The Prayer that Jesus Taught Us, Do You Love Me?, Jesus Questions the Church, Finding Francis, Following Christ and his latest Repair My House.

After talking with my director I knew this man had some answers that would help me understand my situation.

A a cradle Roman Catholic I am not alone in this situation.
What does economics and The New Testament had to do with each other.

Money and the teachings of Jesus?
I now understand my conflict.

I am in Exile.

In exile from the organizational church but not the Mystical body of Christ.

He explained this.

But don't give up at this point.

We as the Mystical Body of Christ

will repair this.

Well thanks for listening to that.

As I entered the campus Friday night at about 6 PM it was rainy and misty.

Here are some scenes from that beautiful holy place.

I left that retreat with answers to my many questions and some ideas on how to resolve my fractured heart as related to my religion, no problems with my faith.

We are one and all equal in God's eyes. No one is to be in a position of power to hold others back from their universal call to holiness.

Go here for more MM.

Sunlit Sunday Feb 5th.

2012-02-04T20:59:00.000-05:00

Sunlit is Sonlit

I found a beautiful new, to me, Sunday party.

Sunlit Sunday.

What a great idea since I many times just leave a quote from the Sunday Gospel for my post on Sunday.
Weather wise the sun may not be shining but the Son light in our hearts will always be bright.

"You are the light of the world.A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on it's stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."
Matt. 5: 14-16

Bright and uplifting

This is by far one of my most favorite bible quotes.

I thought of this as I was preparing this post, even before I looked for the readings of the Gospel for this Sunday at Mass.

This is amazing, as this is exactly the bible quote I thought about when I ran across
My Home and Garden blog.
Had a beautiful retreat this weekend studying the
Universal Call of Holiness.
My light is shining now.

Go here to share the sunlight with others.

Friday Shoot Out Theme Macro

2012-02-03T00:00:00.000-05:00

Theme

Macro

Well I know I cannot shoot macro but I remember when we had that theme before.

I read about it and one of our lead photographers explained how to do it with a simple digital camera.

I found a great explanation on the internet but did not get the address.

I sometimes get one but don't have any idea how I did it.

It is more or less tricking my little faithful Kodak.

The way I understand it the first photo is more macro than the others.

Sort of clear up close and blurred in the background.

Go here to see more FSO

Share the Joy and Tea Talk with Ruth

2012-02-02T14:22:00.000-05:00

Joy

There is always something to inspire joy and it is so true that one must be aware to those inspirations.

Sometime the pain can yell louder than the joy.

It is our choice which yell we hear.

As I mentioned in yesterday's post I went for my 3 month DM check up.

I said I did not expect any surprises.

I knew my fingersticks were a little higher and I had gained back 10 lbs of the 20 I had lost.

I was on no meds. just control with diet.

Well surprise my AC1 was good.
Had been elevated a little during Thanksgiving and Christmas but leveled out.

No need for meds. per my MD.

Surprise------- my BP was pretty high.

First check up since new Rx for the PVCs and BP.

I knew I was out of breath when I got there.

I had walked fast on purpose for the exercise.

I will just monitor my BP at home.

My Joy at learning I am doing pretty good for a new learning to live as a diabetic, is what I want to share today.

Having .....Passion, Herbal infusion caffeine free by
TAZO in my favorite china cup with pink roses on it.

Feeling.......relieved about my good check-up yesterday and that Rebecca is feeling better.
When I first started blogging I was drawn to an online Christian group of women and it has been a blessings ever since.
As I moved through the blogesphere I found life minded folks from every walk of life and culture, adding to the amazing mode of communication.

The sharing, compassion and downright caring among every one I love to visit with is beyond any expectation I could ever imagined.

There are many caring and faith sharing men in that list too.
Living to care and caring to live.

Art by Rebecca

"Rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn."

Romans 12:15

Here for Share the Joy

Here for Tea Talk with Ruth

Dull and sometimes just too usual. Poke myself and get over it.

2012-02-01T14:04:00.000-05:00

My usual life and those unusual uplifting moments.

To use a Facebook term
I need to poke myself.
Lets talk about.

SAD

Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Cabin Fever
Whatever you want to call it, it can creep up on you.

But I can turn to my loved ones, who are plenty busy, and my blogging buddies and find one short comment that can lift my spirits.

Lab work done early this morning and MD appointment this afternoon.
I know what is going on, so no surprise this afternoon.

It is something that I can handle and only I can make the choices that keep my health on track.
But how wonderful to have such loving thoughts come across cyberspace to help keep my focus on the life in the "Golden Years."

Having a hard time getting over hump day this week.
I miss working.
I miss being that nurse that I worked so hard to become.
Lord help me see my place in this pecking order.

For Rebecca

2012-01-30T21:25:00.001-05:00

Please read Rebecca's story.

I was having problems dealing with my diabetes this week and just today read about what our beautiful and loving Rebecca is dealing with.

How winpy can I get.
Rebecca always reminds me, with her beautiful words of hope and inspiration, to hold back my shoulders and say
"Lead me Lord."

We are all people needing people.

For the Beautiful and loving Rebecca's story.

http://corazon.typepad.com

http://musclewalkmda.org/phoenix2012

Mosaic Monday- All about Steampunk

2012-01-30T12:28:00.000-05:00

Mosaic Monday

Oh the things you learn from blogging.

I started doing ATC (art trading cards) swaps over a year ago.

Up to that time I had never heard the word

Steampunk

I had during that year run across the term and did one based on Google research.

The month of January our hostess Wendy had a

WTA

(winner takes all)

and I was the first winner of the draw.

I had chosen Steampunk for my preference of cards.

8 folks signed up.

That meant I would receive 7 swap cards from the other artists.

Decided to use those cards for my mosaic this week.

Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction, fantasy, alternate history, and speculative fiction that came into prominence during the 1980s and early 1990s.^[1] Steampunk involves a setting where steam power is still widely used—usually Victorian era Britain or "Wild West"-era United States—that incorporates elements of either science fiction or fantasy. Works of steampunk often feature anachronistic technology, or futuristic innovations as Victorians might have envisioned them, based on a Victorian perspective on fashion, culture, architectural style, art, etc. This technology includes such fictional machines as those found in the works of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne, or the contemporary authors Philip Pullman, Scott Westerfeld and China Mieville.

Courtsey of Wikipedia

I think I understand Steampunk Art now.

There is also a market out there with

Steampunk jewelry.

Go here for Mosaic Monday with Mary and all her faithful participants.