Sealed With A Kiss

THE ROYAL COUPLE

Prince William and Princess Katherine

Disturbing Weather

I am very tired this morning. I didn't go to bed till about 3:30 because I was glued to the weather channel. We had several storms move through our area and we were under a tornado warning. Those wicked storms deep in the south were moving our way and I could only hope they would weaken along their route. I couldn't keep the peepers open any longer, so I gave in and turned it off and went to bed. Fortunately, all is well here. The devastation in the states that were hit with tornadoes yesterday and last night is sad and horrible. I am so grateful that our storms were minimal. It is hard to imagine what lies ahead for the people who lost their homes and their businesses. There are no words to console those who lost loved ones ~ 213 deaths in five states. It seems there is more disturbing weather to come today ~ I hope things will calm down after that. This makes me very nervous because my son will be traveling to Mississippi over the weekend on a business trip.
Tornado season has roared into our lives this year. I pray the worst is over.
Mother Nature has certainly become angry over the years. I don't remember these terrible weather patterns when I was growing up. In the summers, there would be one or two thunder storms. There was little lightning. We would walk in the rain and play in the puddles along the road. These days, if it rains, there is terrible lightning, and there is almost always a tornado warning somewhere. Just one of the many changes that have taken place over the years.
Be safe.

Wordless Wednesday

"IF YOU JUDGE PEOPLE,

YOU HAVE NO TIME TO LOVE THEM."

~ Mother Teresa ~

Tree Cocoons

One of the trees in the woods next to us has cocoons in it. This is a photo of one of them. I have seen them in trees along the roads, but this is the first I noticed any close to us. I sprayed the cocoons, hoping to stop the caterpillars or worms inside from coming out and eating the tree. I would be so sad if we were to lose any of the trees that provide homes for the birds and the squirrels. The trees provide a beautiful setting next to our home, as well. Many evenings, I sit out back and let a little relaxation set in as I look out at the mountains and the trees. I once saw a red fox back there and the deer used to roam around in the distance, but they have taken up residence elsewhere it seems. I will keep watch to see if there is any activity at the cocoon site.

Easter 2011

Sing a joyful Alleluia, sing to Christ the Risen Savior. "He is not among the dead! He is risen as He said."

Then the angel spoke, addressing the women:

"Do not be frightened. I know you are looking for Jesus the crucified, but He is not here.

He has been raised, exactly as He promised. Come and see the place where He was laid."

Matthew 28: 5-6

Bunnies

Earth Day 2011

EARTH DAY is a holiday to promote conservation and concern for our fragile environment. Let's do our part EVERY DAY to keep our Earth clean and beautiful!

The Death of Jesus

Tomorrow is GOOD FRIDAY, the day on which we commemorate the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, the act that brought salvation to all who believe. I have read many descriptions about the death of Jesus, but this one was hard to read and brought tears to my eyes. I cannot imagine the suffering He endured for us.
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THE DEATH OF JESUS

At the age of 33, Jesus was condemned to the death.
At the time, crucifixion was the "worst" death. Only the worst criminals were condemned to be crucified. Yet it was even more dreadful for Jesus ~ unlike other criminals condemned to death by crucifixion ~ Jesus was to be nailed to the cross by His hands and feet.
Each nail was 6 to 8 inches long.
The nails were driven into His wrist. Not into his palms as is commonly portrayed. There is a tendon in the wrist that extends to the shoulder. The Roman guards knew that when the nails were being hammered into the wrist, that tendon would tear and break, forcing Jesus to use His back muscles to support Himself so that He could breathe.
Both of His feet were nailed together. Thus He was forced to support Himself on the single nail that impaled His feet to the cross. Jesus could not support Himself with His legs because of the pain, so He was forced to alternate between arching His back then using his legs just to continue to breathe. Imagine the struggle, the pain, the suffering, the courage.
Jesus endured this reality for over 3 hours.
Yes, over 3 hours! Can you imagine this kind of suffering? A few minutes before He died, Jesus stopped bleeding. He was simply pouring water from His wounds.
From common images, we see wounds to His hands and feet and even the spear wound to His side. But do we realize how the wounds were made in His body? A hammer driving large nails through the wrist, the feet overlapped and an even larger nail hammered through the arches, then a Roman guard piercing His side with a spear. But, before the nails and the spear Jesus was whipped and beaten. The whipping was so severe that it tore the flesh from His body. The beating so horrific that His face was torn and His beard ripped from His face. The crown of thorns cut deeply into His scalp. Most men would not have survived this torture.
He had no more blood to bleed out ~ only water poured from His wounds. The human adult body contains abuot 3.5 liters of blood ~ just less than a gallon.
Jesus poured all 3.5 liters of blood. He had three nails hammered into His members. A crown of thorns on His head. A Roman soldier stabbed a spear into His side.
All this without mentioning the humiliation He suffered after carrying His own cross for almost 1.242 miles, while the crowd spat in his face and threw stones.
Jesus had to endure this experience to open the Gates of Heaven for us. There is no stronger love.
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Take a few minutes tomorrow to think about Him and the suffering He endured.
Sunday will be a day for celebration ~ Easter ~ the day He arose from the dead.

Trees

"IF YOU WOULD KNOW STRENGTH AND PATIENCE,

WELCOME THE COMPANY OF TREES."

~Hal Borland

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This tree is about five minutes from my home. It is majestic in its height and beauty.

This big bright colorful balloon is being released on my blog in memory of Gypsy. Gypsy's daughter, Dana, has asked us to celebrate Gypsy's birthday today by releasing a balloon. Gypsy would have been 85 today and would love that we are doing this. She was a lovely lady and a talented artist. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Gypsy!!

"The moments of happiness we enjoy take us by surprise. It is not that we seize them, but that they seize us."

~Ashley Montagu, anthropologist

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I purchased this adorable post card the other day. It is by Rose O'Neill ~ From the KEWPIES AND THEIR BOOK, 1911.

I thought it very fitting of the quote.

Water, Water, Everywhere

Yesterday was a gorgeous, sunny day. This morning we woke to dark cloudy skies, gloom, and rain AGAIN! It has rained most of the day, very hard at times. We have flood warnings in our area and many severe storms have been going on around us. Tornadoes have touched down in North and South Carolina and it's not over yet. There are tornado warnings all over the place. I tend to glue myself to the Weather Channel when severe storms are in our area or the Carolinas. The wind has picked up here, but the rain has stopped now. North Carolina is getting battered right now with a tornado racing through the Raleigh area. I will be happy when this is over. Stay safe, everyone.

For my SKULL LOVER Friends

I love this photo! And I know all my skull lover friends out there will love it, too. I took this last week while in downtown Roanoke. I just happened to drive down the right street and I'm lucky I didn't crash because when I saw this huge skull on the window, I couldn't pull over fast enough to grab my camera. It's hard to get the feel for how big this skull is. Trust me ~ it's a LARGE window. How great is this? Do you love the reflections showing in the window?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Lisa !!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Maria !!

Ominous Clouds

When I look out my studio window in the front of my house, I see one of the mountains in the range of mountains that surround our area. This morning I looked out to see these very ominous clouds. I wasn't sure what to expect ~ they were moving quickly. Fortunately, all we had was some wind, heavy rain and a little lightning.

Yipes!

The really dark clouds have moved on, but we are still having very cloudy weather. The rain has stopped for now ~ we've had our fill and we would be happy to see some sunshine. The sun is trying hard to peek out from under these grey clouds.

This is the view from my living room windows in the back of the house. Those ominous clouds rolled right over the house, gifted us with large heavy sheets of rain, and left puddles behind for the birds to play in. I like a friendly Spring thunderstorm, but when I see clouds that dark, swirling above, almost in my front yard, I get a little bit nervous.

Thankfully, all is well.

Laughter

LAUGH OFTEN, LONG AND LOUD ... LAUGH UNTIL YOU GASP FOR BREATH. AND IF YOU HAVE FRIENDS WHO MAKE YOU LAUGH, SPEND LOTS OF TIME WITH THEM.

Happiness

"HAPPINESS COMES OF THE CAPACITY TO FEEL DEEPLY, TO ENJOY SIMPLY, TO THINK FREELY, TO RISK LIFE, TO BE NEEDED."

~Storm Jameson, writer

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Linda !!

A Precious Human Life

Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to have woken up, I am alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it, I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others, to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings, I am going to have kind thoughts toward others, I am not going to get angry or think badly about others, I am going to benefit others as much as I can.

~ XIV Dalai Lama

Art

"Art is a staple, like bread or wine or a warm coat in winter. Man's spirit grows hungry for art in the same way his stomach growls for food."

~Irving Stone

A Pretty Purchase and A Little More Spring

This happy colorful little work of art arrived yesterday. I purchased this sweet little work of art from my friend Constanza of POR AMOR AL ARTE. Constanza is busy crocheting, embroidering, or using thread and fabric to make banners and more just about every day. She is a lovely person who appreciates the beauty in the little things of life. Stop by her blog for a visit to see the beauty she posts.

http://www.poramoralarte-folklorista.blogspot.com

These dear little chickadees visit my yard daily.

Beautiful orange tulips.

This is Patrick's rose bush. I am so happy to see it doing so well. Patrick planted it last Spring during his visit here. I can't walk past this rose bush without thinking of him. It has been six months since he left us. Tears still fall ~ I really miss our talks. I know that time will ease the pain and memories will always be close to my heart.