It is but a plant.

But I've witnessed a powerful deed.

Out walking with an elderly friend, we spied a lush cactus in a neighbor's window. "Isn't that beautiful." Yes I replied. I could see she wanted a plant for her own apartment.

I having a cactus, at home, in need of a sunny window, and she having a sunny window - it was a heaven's match.

Yesterday when I watched her moving the plant from the coffee table to the window. I asked, "Why do you move the plant from the windowsill at night?"

Her reply, "So it doesn't get cold."

A simple plant brings life and purpose.

We Are Called

We are called, to act with justice.

We are called, to love tenderly.

We are called, to serve one another.

to walk humbly with God.

David Haas

Are you feeling the pull of Palm Sunday?

Easter is earlier this year. For some it is sneaking up. For others it's the trumpet of a horn. Screaming prepare ye the way of the Lord!

Prepare Ye The Way of The Lord!

Everyday; All Day

God whispers. Silence conveys His message. Your heart knows.

Every Cloud

Has a silver lining. We often don't see them at first. Falling sullen and grey. But God reveals them with faith, hope and love.

I'm not a manager

but... at the parish breakfasts, it is my role to see that all the pieces are in place for the crew to shine. This past weekend they out did themselves. Serving 150 people in 2 hours.

It's amazing to watch them move as one. It's like a watching a dance. Or sunflowers tracking the sun... Elegant.

One Question

"Won't you make God your friend?" Gurumayi

Our Weekend Walking Guide

No Worries

Our ship will come in. I was reminded of a post I wrote in 2007 regarding patience. What struck me initially is that five years later I'm still seeking patience. Still realizing that life with it's twists and turns is full of blessings. Blessings and opportunities that shower down upon all of us, without cost.

Life is full of blessings. Be patient. Our ship is at the dock.

Life

Life is an ocean of opportunities. No fishing pole required.

Smile!

A Friend

Gurumayi says, "A friend will only want sweet things for you."

Dear One thank you for the maple syrup.

The Advice is Bountiful

Remember to read the small print.

Just say No

Was it Mrs. Nancy Reagan who came up with the statement, "Just Say No?"

Well it is advice we could all take to heart not only with addictions, which are never handled that easily, but with life. Just because you are not busy for the next 10, 20, 30 minutes. Or even 1, 2. or 3 hours, doesn't mean you are available to volunteer, to pitch in. (Did I really type that?) It's true. Just because you are resting does not mean you are not busy.

Gurumayi Chidvilasananda in her talk: Abide In Silence, expounds upon the importance of the rests as well as the notes in any piece of music. In life, as in music, the rests are important. If our lives are full of noise we will never abide in the silence.

Ever Have ONE of Those Days?

Like today? And I ask myself, since this is my day, what happen to set you off?

Clients? No.
Other work stuff? No.
Home? No.
The girls? No.
Today's schedule? No.
Future schedule? Yes.

Next weekend is booked solid and still the requests are coming in. I feel like I'm drowning and everyone is asking if I need a glass of water. :-)

Breathe In. Breathe Out. Go for a bike ride. Yes.

Mass at the Cathedral

Celebrating the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts.

A Blessing?

Last November our dear friend had a medical episode that resulted in him losing his license for six months. A crushing turn of events both medically and personally. And as we hiked for 3 hours at the Boy Scout Reservation yesterday, for that brief moment when both conversation and laughter waned I wondered if we would have hiked with him almost every weekend if that had not happened? The answer was: Probably not.

Yesterday's walk also resulted in talk of a mission project and doing the Walk For Hunger. God wastes nothing.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Celebrate, celebrate hike to the music. What better way to enjoy life but to be out for a hike. Great woods, great friends, great times.

Without all the pieces

It's tough to grasp the bigger picture.

Just exactly what does progress look like?

Learning, weight loss, project completions, every day tasks, all work best with the mantra - slow and steady. Slow and steady with an eye to the prize.

By the way, do you see whom I see?

From Disorder Arises Order

From a vision emerges a plan. From scraps unfolds a master peace.

Boston Brain Tumor Ride

It's another spring and another opportunity to ride in honor of my mother-in-law, Memere, who died from brain cancer. For years I supported the efforts of other riders and last year, decided to put my pedals to the metal and ride the ride for myself, for Memere.

So if you are so inclined, feel free to select this link and make a donation. If you're not in a financial position to make a donation, no worries, but I will take a prayer or two for me, for the other riders in this event and especially for those persons who are fighting brain tumors.

Thanks,

Patty Hebert

Trusted Tools

As I was finishing what looks to be the last batch of maple syrup for this season, I reflected on the tried and true tools that have been here season in and season out. Our big pan has seen eight seasons. I picked it up after our first season when my bath tube sized Le Crueset pan could not hold the volume for the task. Though the LC is the pan of choice to finish the syrup, see photo. The hydrometer and cup have been here probably 7 seasons. Now there is no guess work in determining the syrup density. Next to the pans it is the most expensive piece of equipment and highly guarded against breaking. The wooden spoon with the burn mark on the handle is perfect for tasting and for measuring boiling sap depth. A solid one piece of wood spoon that stands up to the steamy conditions in the shack. Having a previous life in my kitchen it must be 15 years old, and still going strong. The ladle and canning funnel are standard kitchen issue. Nothing fancy but highly functional and would be sorely missed.

The new tool on the block is the thermometer. For probably 6 years I've gone without. Having difficulty finding one that seems to work I would guess when the syrup was ready to be tested with the hydrometer. Sometimes it would get a little too thick. But what's thick syrup among friends?

The boil is done. The syrup, three quarters of a gallon, brings the seasonal total to 2.75 gallons.

Last Day of the Season

The pan is lit as we boil down what will be the last sap of the season. The predicted warming trend will cease all flow making this the shortest season, 3 weeks in total, of our 9 years.

The party is over.

They...

Set up
Prepared
Cooked
Served with smiles
Cleaned up
Dried and put away the dishes
And then said, "Thank you for the opportunity."

Feed My Sheep

Soup Night
Tonight at St George Parish Hall. 74 School St., Framingham, MA. Come share a simple Lenten meal right after the 4 PM Mass. My Religious Ed. Class will be making the vegetable soup. Where each student is donating a vegetable. It is their mission to feed the hungry.

Donations of non perishable food items will be accepted at the door. As the students plan is to Pay It Forward.

No advanced reservation required.

Sweet Rewards

What spring nights are made for.

What spring evenings are made for.

What spring mornings are made for.

When quiet speaks volumes

The more insecure some people are the louder they talk to/with you. Self confidence equates to a calm quietness. When you are comfortable with yourself you don't have to pump yourself up with your voice, or any other bravado.

Would I walk the beach if it were close?

It a question I asked myself, but it applies to any opportunity that we take for granted.

Houses line the shore, but very few people were out enjoying the sand, the surf. Though one little girl and her mother did dance with the skimming waves. They were more daring than I. Who sought out the drier sand, as the rain came down. Why? For the sake of drier socks...

Again I ask, if the opportunity were but a block or two away, would I yearn for it as I do one hundred plus miles away? I pray the answer is yes. What are your backyard opportunities that you take for granted? It might be time to pursue them.

Two types of dolphins?

In our (my sister in law and I) walk we saw two(?) types of aquatic mammals. Again, these pictures are not pretty, but they are interesting. We walked for an hour and a half, partly in the rain, coming across about a dozen corpses. All the while, enjoying each other's company, conversation, and the happy (birds) and sad (death) of nature. Life's balance.

How far would you go for a walk?

Five miles, ten miles, one hundred or... two?

To the beach, to walk, to rejuvenate, and to see what nature has deposited upon the winter sand. It's not always good; but it is always interesting.

The care and keeping of Mii

Over a month ago, January 30th to be exact, I started Wii'ing, (Wii Fit) as it is called in our house. What changes have I seen?
1. Shed a few pounds. (It's fun watching Mii shrink.)
2. Clothes fit better.
3. Irregular heartbeat gone? (At least I'm not feeling the effects anymore. YEAH!)
4. I really enjoy the Wii Fit challenges, especially what I call the seek and find activities. Totally cool exercising the brain and body.
5. I'm really loving Wii bowling and golf. (After throwing my back out... I don't challenge my daughters to Wii hoola hooping contests anymore...)

Sweet Rewards

Paradise

This beach was made for walking and that is just what I'm going to do. One of these days these feet are going to walk all over you.

Frozen Sap

The beauty of frozen sap is two fold:
1. It doesn't spill over.
2. The sugar is concentrated in the unfrozen liquid in the mild of each chunk. So I break open the chunks saving the concentrated sap, and discard the frozen water. Discarding the water reduces the boiling time.

Wet and Cold

Cold shoulders, wet noses
Warm hearts, puppy dog tails