May'd for Walking

One of the things I love about this time of year is being able to walk. Yes, I'm a wimp and can't (and won't) walk in the winter. It's way to cold for me!

I'm just country enough to love watching the corn grow. Here's corn from a field nearby. There are fields with corn that was put out earlier and it's looking real good.



Right now the honeysuckle is heavenly. Each morning when I step out my door I'm surrounded with the scent of the honeysuckle.

The kittens are just old enough to recognize people and know they mean attention. We've handled them since they were born and the teeter-totter toward us when they're out of the box. They live on the deck by the front door so they get lots of attention.

Our neighbors have a couple horses and cows. The cows are still a little camera shy, but they'll get used to me.

Ragweed. It may be a beautiful splash of color, but it plays havoc with sinuses--something many southern Illinoisans are blessed with.

Sinus problems are no fun, but I love the variety of the flowers.





While going for a picture of this common weed, I spotted this spider's web. I didn't see the spider until I got home and got the picture up on my monitor.

So tell me, what are some of May's sights that you're enjoying?

Easter Services

Each year our church does a big Easter musical.

Starting with the Triumphal Entry, we work our way through several scenes of Jesus' life, giving the children's choir a chance to participate--always a favorite part.

Then we come to the cross.
And it's powerful.
Moving.
Heart rending.

But thank goodness, the account doesn't end there, because Jesus' life did NOT end on the cross.

He arose!!

We'd love to have you visit.

So tell me, what does your church do for Easter?

*Pictures courtesy of Meridith, Holly and Jayma. Thank you, ladies.

Visiting Arizona

Last week I was in Arizona, visiting my parents, and we went to St. Anthony's Monastery. Talk about beautiful!! It's Greek Orthodox and was like stepping into another world. Except for the jack hammer at the front gates. LoL.

Before we could enter  the gardens, we had to dress appropriately, which meant skirts over our pants, long sleeves, and head coverings. They provided outfits for us. They were...

charming.
and hot under that Arizona sun.


It was beautiful even from a distance.

The pathways wound through the monastery gardens.

At the back of the garden was a small orange grove. If I could have, I would've rolled in the scent and brought it home with me. Heavenly.

There were chapels scattered throughout the garden, tucked away amongst the flowers and foliage.

Mom was fun to watch. She'd ease a door open and peek inside. Door after door.

Small chapels were larger, others were teeny-tiny. There were places to sit and pray--a chapel for individual saints.




The Bougainvillea was incredible, as were all the other flowers. Pristine and peaceful, with a surprise around every bend.

After the monastery, we went up on the hill to another chapel. The architecture was stunning against the sky.

From there we could see for miles across the bareness that surrounded the monastery. There were bells up there and I would have loved to hear them peal across the desert.

As much of a treat it was to visit St. Anthony's Monastery, going with my mom and two sisters was the best part.

The Winter That Wasn't

A few years back, the kids were thrilled when it started icing and then snowed. They shoveled off a sled run and spent hours outside. Every year since they hope for another chance to make The Sled Run and once again, they were disappointed. Here's why...

At the top...


And at the very bottom of the run. They shoveled from the grave yard there beside the weiney roast all the way down, across the drive way and stopped a little before the trees and creek. The shoveled snow acted as a somewhat soft barrier, keeping them from both the play ground (that my older daughter almost killed herself on!) as well as from the trees and creek--which made me rest much easier--for which I was very thankful for!!

 

The boys going back up for another run. The sun was out and the sled run sparkled because it was basically a sheet of ice. Since we live where it doesn't snow much, the kids used aluminum trays to slide on--they looked like penguins as they flew down the hill.


The kids swear that sledding at night is waaaaay better than sledding during the day--even if it IS colder. LoL.


I went down a couple times, but I wasn't dressed for the cold (dumb, I know, but I just wanted a few pictures!). The kids were thrilled I went down. It was fun, but I was really concerned about stopping in time and not hitting the trees...or going into the creek. Go figure! LoL

This is my favorite shot of the evening of night sledding. They all piled on the old commercial entry rug we had from who-knows-what and came down toboggan style. You should've heard them hollering! It was fun!


Southern Illinois doesn't get much snow, but the kids sure do savor (and remember) the times we do. Don't tell them, but I'm glad spring in springing! =)

For the Love of Fog

We've had some foggy mornings lately and I've loved every one of them...

Since I have a couple kids who are click happy (like me), I rounded them up and we took off...

This was my second trip out that morning and the fog was already lifting. The kids still loved it, but I hurried, knowing it would be gone soon...

One if their favorite places for bike riding led to nowhere. Seemingly.

There's something about the fog that softens the world, making it almost magical...

Right around two corners from that farm the fog had lifted. Amazing to see it vanish in the sunlight. These tracks are maybe half-a-mile from that farm and the fog was almost totally cleared.

But since we were out, we kept clicking and enjoying the morning. =)

The beauty of back roads is that you can stop in the middle of road, jump out, click some shots, jump the ditch to click a few more, then wander back to the car without worrying. If someone comes along you just smile and wave and if they ask if everything is okay, just let them know you're taking pictures.

I love living in the country, at the edge of the corn fields in the middle of nowhere. It's the best place to be.

In the Morning

We've had some beautiful sunrises lately and they've made me think of the song 'Give Me Jesus'. Such a simple song with such meaning when we stop and think about it...

You can take this whole world, but give me Jesus.

Can we sing that and really mean it?

Along the Way

We take several back roads on our way to church and there's a few interesting places along the way, one I've wanted to stop and take a few pictures of. Since I had a blog challenge, I made the time and stopped at "the cat house" to take some pictures...

Oops. Okay, so that picture is at the four way just before the Cat House, but still a shot I've wanted to take for years. LoL An empty barn or garage. The house is long gone.

Here's across the road from the Cat House...

A home with an old attached garage with the pick up still there. The door is ajar and it'd be so cool to tiptoe through the house. But I won't. Not only is it not our land but it's posted, No Trespassing. Bummer. I'll just have to use my imagination. hehe.

But this car is what I *really* set out to get a picture of. It just makes me smile.

Can you imagine the stories this car can tell? I want to know why it was parked at the edge of the yard and left. And when. And what was its last trip? So many stories, just sitting there...

In case you're wondering why I call it the Cat House--it's where all stray cats are welcome. This only shows three cats, but we suspect two dozen are in residence. The home owner is no longer there, but people faithfully come and feed the cats and make sure there's a cat house or two somewhere close by. There used to be a pair of peacocks, but I've not seen them for a couple years. They were gorgeous, but always startled me with their screech when I drove past.  They would perch on the peak of the small barn between the house and the car. Now it's just the cats and the car. This little place, off the beaten path, is a reminder to me that God takes care of His creatures, just like it says in Matthew 6:26... Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you lnot worth much more than they?

God takes care of all these cats, even after the home owner is no longer in residence. He will take care of His children!!

So tell me about a curious or interesting place near you...

While the Sun Shines

2012 blew in. REALLY blew in. High winds after midnight kept us awake, wondering what damage we'd find in the daylight. We were thrilled only one branch came down and it was easy enough to secure the metal the wind loosened.

The wind blew winter in and it's been cold since.

But hey, they sun is shining, which is weird for here in southern Illinois. Usually it's gray and downright dismal, but so far this year, all four days of it, have been sunny. I'll have to save my whine for later because you just can't whine when the sun's shining. Especially in January.

And I'm NOT complaining!

When I ventured outside on Tuesday, to grab some pictures of this wonderful sunshine, I wasn't surprised to see Puppers and Tippy snuggled together, soaking up the sun. Even in the sunshine, 25 degrees is COLD!!

Aside from the sun shining, the biggest surprise and treat I found was a dandelion! Actually I found two in the two minutes I took to walk around the house with my camera. How's that for weird in January? I felt sorry for the dandelion but sure did love seeing it there, hugging the ground, trying to stay brave and warm.

So tell me, what wonderful, weird things have you found so far this winter?