Spring in Paxton Bush

This is a young great horned owl that is lodged in an old tree in "the Bush".  Covered in down, he's not ready to take flight.  He (or she) is still fed by mom & dad, as in rabbits, for instance.

Here is another "creature" I spotted in an old tree in the bush.  Nice smile, very friendly.

There's not much colour in the bush, but note the lovely reflections.

New Fallen Snow

Martin took this nice picture after a recent snow.  I like how he placed the lamp post in the foreground. The sun reflecting on the snow  was so bright, we  almost needed sunglasses.

Patience & Grace

We all suffer at times.  When I fell and broke my arm seven weeks ago, I began a journey in suffering that involves chronic pain, a new experience for me, a new opportunity.  Opportunity?  Yes, because I have been given this opportunity to learn patience and grace.  Here is a quote from St. Therese of Liseaux, "Everything is grace, everything is the direct effect of our Father's love.  Everything is grace because everything is God's gift.  Whatever be the character of life or its unexpected events, to the heart that loves, all is well."  The grace I've experienced is that I have a lot of support from Martin in this trial.  He always is sensitive to my pain and encourages me.  Another grace was evident this weekend when I went to Cursillo.  The pain did not totally leave, but it never distracted me from this magnificent time of learning and being with other Christians.  Patience, patience in immersing  myself in the processes of healing.  Healing takes time.  As we begin the Lenten season today on Ash Wednesday, I will think of it as a season of healing as we prepare for the joyful celebration of Christ's resurrection.  Sigh. . .I'm not very good at suffering and my patience wears thin; Lord, give me the grace I need for today.

Togetherness

I love this view of our churches'  'Rose' window!  The choir loft is located on the inside of the window.  Today we sang with the funeral choir for a special funeral.  The funeral Mass was for a married couple, both in their 90's, who had died on the same day!  Their names were Harry and Mary.  Mary died first, in their home.  Harry died later, in the hospital.  They had been married for 71 years.  The church was nearly full with their family and friends; many people had sat around their table over the years.

A Winter's Afternoon Tea

We filled a thermos with hot tea, bundled up in our warm jackets, and took the short drive over to Mitchell's Bay to check out the ice fishing scene.  It was a cold and cloudy Sunday afternoon.  I am walking across a portion of frozen lake where the

ice fishermen park their vehicles.  The camera is pointing towards shore.  Looking out over the bay over Martin's shoulder, you can see four fishermen walking towards us.  The black dots in the distance are dozens of people fishing through holes they

have a dug in the ice.  Br-r-r-r!  We were glad to go back to our warm truck and drink some hot tea.  It was a very nice outing.  The delicious smell of fish frying could be detected in the air, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.

Physical Therapy

It's been a month since I fell on the street and broke  my arm, near my shoulder.  The orthopedic Doctor took me out of the sling last week, studied my CT scan, and said surgery is not necessary! He prescribed physical therapy  for the next three weeks, when he will x-ray the arm and pronounce me healed, I hope.  The PT is quite painful (now I know why Audrey calls them "physical terrorists"!) but my range of motion increases daily.  I've never had this type of injury before, and did not realize what's involved in living with pain and a handicap.  It's been a very humbling and enlightening experience.  The exercise in the photo was impossible for me to do a few days ago;  all I could do was lay on the floor and cry.  Now I can do it well, without any tears.  Progress!  I'm amazed at the way God has made our bodies to heal so well after they are damaged.

Anniversary Bouquet

We celebrated our wedding anniversary by going out to lunch and buying some flowers at the Purple Pansy Flower Shop downtown Chatham.  Instead of cut flowers, we spotted a tub of sprouting bulbs, and have been enjoying watching them open day by day.  It's our bit of colour and fragrance during these short cold days of winter in Canada.