Black Rose

In my daughter's cactus garden, there is a large plant, about four feet tall, with dark purple leaves that almost look black. She called it her Black Rose plant. This year, for the first time in years, she told me that a bloom had appeared. The bloom, to me, looks like a  small Christmas tree and it sits on the top of the black plant. It has tiny yellow blooms in among the lime green leaves.What a contrast that the bloom is so green when the body of the cactus is so dark!

In researching the plant I found out the the name of the plant is Aeonium Arboreum, Black Rose or Zwartzkop. Once it blooms it dies and I will have to text my daughter to let her know that her beautiful large plant may have seen its best days! "The Zwartzkop is a winter blooming succulent and will bloom yellow flowers in winter," came from an article on the Internet. With such nice and warm daily weather in California, I wonder how the plant knows it is winter?

To think that I was satisfied seeing the black leaves and did not realize that I would see the Black Rose bloom in February. I consider myself lucky to have experienced seeing the yellow blooms on the black plant!

Winter Blossoms

 

I remember when I would travel to California to babysit with my granddaughters and now I go to babysit with Luna, their dog! As I was pulled through the neighborhood by Luna, I marveled at the beautiful flowers. I took pictures of some of them and even though Luna was not happy when I stopped to take a picture, I was! Such beauty on our walks and the weather was perfect! I know I got more exercise than I get in Colorado even though on one day I got lost in the neighborhood. I know it sounds impossible, but somehow I had no idea where I was or how far I was from the house.

My mistake was crossing a bridge over a golf course and ending up far away from the house. I thought it would just be a matter of a few blocks and I'd be back to where I started. How wrong I was! When I finally saw a park that I recognized I knew where I was but still quite a distance from the house.  Luna seemed in good spirits but I was tired, thirsty and hot.

Two hours later, we made it home. I don't know how far we had walked yet it was far enough to make my ankle give me some pain. After we both drank some water, she stretched out on the cool floor and I fell into bed for a nap.

Even though the walk took a long time, the blooming flowers gave me some consolation as I trudged along on that long, tiring walk!

A Morning Greeting

As I walked into my front room this morning, everything had an orangy tinge to it. The sunrise was coming in through my window and somehow, I felt as if it was a "welcome home" morning. I had been away for a week and this was my first morning at home. The sight this morning erased the thought of moving to a place that is warm and sunny. The blue skies, flowers blooming year round and where some of my family lives faded into the background. After the beautiful greeting of this morning, I feel quite at home right here in my own home!

Even though I see the picture on the wall every day, this morning it looked extra special. My daughter painted the picture depicting my dreaming about the children in Mexico.

 "Every sunset gives us one day less to live, but every sunrise gives us one more day to hope."

Ritu Ghatourey

Christmas Place Mats

In December, the tables for the Young at Heart group from Spirit of Christ Catholic Community dinner were decorated with beautiful place mats. Some persons wanted to know how the place mats were made and on February 10, 2015  a few persons, gathered in the Holy Family room to learn how to make them.

We were told that materials needed would be black contact paper,  (works best), scissors, pens, a pattern of a petal and old Christmas cards. I was shocked when I saw the collection of cards, each in its own category, in two large boxes. I found out that the leader of the decorating committee has been collecting cards for years. I would say this is recycling at its best!
 

Using a completed place mat as a model, it is placed on the contact paper to outline the scallops. After you decide on the theme you wish to use, which can be trees, angels, nativity, candles, animals, teddy bears or children, whichever you prefer you will be ready to make your mat. Pick a card for the center and using the petal stencil cut the pictures from the cards. It is important to have pictures on the cards facing in an organized way. Arrange the cards until you have them how you want them to be and begin sticking the pictures on the contact paper. The final step is placing a clear contact sheet over the mat and trimming.

                                                     And there you have it, a
beautiful place mat and the satisfaction of having created the mat with your very own hands!




I thought that the mat might be fun to make by using photographs and maybe, sometime in the future, I might try it with photos. Today it was enough that I took some photographs and when I left, the group was cutting, sticking, and completing their own creative place mat!

I Once Knew A Runner

Looking through an old brief case of mine I found some interesting items. The case was filled with information and supplies I would take to Mexico when I volunteered at Santa Maria Del Mexicano, a place for neglected and orphaned children. Strange how the case sat in a closet, gathering dust and forgotten until today.

  I found books, flashcards, paperclips, wild animal pictures, calculators, hole punchers, a ruler, a pointer and many items I would use while teaching the children. An envelope addressed  "A Quien Corresponda," (to whom it may concern) made me curious. Inside the envelope was a photograph of a runner and a letter of introduction to the Mexican authorities on the border. The letter stated that I volunteered in the State of Queretaro, and to assist me to get to my destination.

Someone had given me the name of Arturo Barrios, a runner who held records in Mexico and had run in the Olympics. Maybe, I was told, a letter from him might make my entrance into Mexico easier. I remembered calling Arturo Barrios and driving to Boulder, Colorado, to get the letter he willingly said he would write. His  letter of introduction from him might allow me to enter Mexico without any hassles.
I remember being questioned at the border and being asked what and why  I was taking a jeep full of items with me into Mexico. I explained it was for the orphanage. The border patrol was not very friendly and I asked to speak to their supervisor. I explained why I had boxes filled with books, clothes, and equipment and was told I would have to pay a high tax or I would have to leave my supplies and enter Mexico without them.

I pulled out the letter and after reading it, I was allowed to enter Mexico but the parting shot of the officer was, "You know Barrios is famous here in Mexico but did you know he is applying for citizenship in the United States?" I told him I did not know that fact, but was thankful I was able to enter Mexico with no further problems.

I am finding out that the saying of  "It's not what you know, but who you know" is very true! Especially trying to cross the border!

Mass on Television

Flipping through the channels around seven in the morning, I stopped on EWTN. Mass was being celebrated and I found it interesting to watch as the camera zoomed in on different parts of the mass. I believe that if one has any questions about the mass, watching it on television will give a closer look of how the mass is celebrated.

I realize now that all the time I was recuperating from my ankle or it was too icy to drive, that I could have heard the mass on television. In the back of my mind, buried under a crease of my brain, I had heard of ""Mass for Shut-Ins," but never paid much attention to it. All the time I was convalescing I never thought of watching a mass on television. I read where a priest said, "In place of missing mass, I think t.v. mass is a wonderful devotional thing to do."

 Later, on the same station, the rosary was being prayed from Lourdes, France. I enjoyed seeing the many photographic shots of the area. I was in that very spot or I walked down that path, I thought. EWTN is not a channel I watch and this may have been my third time clicking on the channel. It seems that the only time I watch the religious station is when Our Lady of Guadalupe's day is celebrated on December 12 and many famous singers come to sing the Mananitas to her at the Basilica in Mexico City.

Since there were four inches of snow in my driveway, I was contemplating not going to mass this morning but God had other plans for me. I just looked out and my driveway is clean, thanks to a nice neighbor, and I can see dark pavement on the street. There is no excuse for me to not go to mass so I will end this blog and get ready for church!

"For each and every mass 

we hear with devotion 

during our lives, Christ sends 

a saint  to comfort us in death."

 St. Gertrude, The Great

A Winter Storm

 "A snow day

 literally and figuratively

falls from the sky, 

unbidden, and seems 

like a thing of wonder."

Susan Orlean

Odd, how after a storm it is so peaceful. The world, well maybe not the world, but Arvada, is covered in white this morning. This morning, when I opened my front door, a beautiful scene was before me. The evergreen tree was flocked in snow and the yard looked so pure and white. As I saw the whiteness a thought entered my mind. Without snow the yard looks gray and brown but after a snow fall, the yard turns white. I suppose it is much like our souls are turned white after receiving Christ in the Eucharist!

Even though I find that the older I get, the less I like cold and winter weather, the scene this morning made me appreciate the wonder of living in Colorado. We have four seasons and I prefer fall with its Indian summers; spring with the awakening of seeds and trees turning green; summer if it is not too hot; followed by  winter. I suppose I am lucky to be able to experience the four seasons, though lately our weather seems to be a bit screwy. Like last week we had a summer day  of 79 degrees in the middle of January.

Today appears to be a regular winter day in Colorado and from my front door it looks so calm and quiet! As long as I am indoors looking out, I will enjoy the day!

"What good is the warmth 

of summer, without the cold 

of winter to give it sweetness."

John Steinbeck