GOD'S "OPEN HEART" IN THE HIGH DESERT

On the Way of the Cross at our Retreat House in Cortaro AR people put small rocks, and sometimes notes as they pray the way that Christ took to Calvary.  This one has small rocks in the shape of a rock.  I caught the message right away.  DO YOU?  It is the "open heart of God in Christ". Who would bother to make a Way of the Cross or do any kind of prayer if he or she did not believe that, despite the foolish and sinful things we might have done in our lives...God's heart is still "always open" to pardon us and love us.

Car "Washed in the Wash"

I do not know the story of this car which I discovered in a "desert wash" near Cortaro AR.  Washes are places where accumulating water from desert storms high up in the mountains can silently accumulate and suddenly whip across the road carrying whomever and "whatever" to unexpected oblivion.  For this reason the roads approaching where a wash crosses the road on a downgrade usually have signs similar to Railroad Crossings saying something like 'CAREFULL APPROACHING THE WAS".  And one had better!!

HISPANIC MEETING IN TUCSON, AR

My missionary group, the Redemptorists, have a very wonderful Retreat House off Highway 10 on the way from Tucson to Phoenix.  It is called Picture Rocks Retreat House.  Part of the complex, which is right in the Sajuaro National Preserve, is called Desert House of Prayer.  Since 1980 when I spent nearly three months there after my first 8 years in the Dominican Republic I have returned twice:  once in 2002 when I spent two months and last week.  I truly love the dry hot high desert air.  My "friends": the Cactus Wrens, Gambol Quail, Curved Billed Thrashers, Pyrolloxia (which are similar to Northern Cardinals) make it truly a birding paradise.  There are many interesting warblers, finches and sparrows that inhabit the "Washes".  I saw a Gray Warbler that I "think" is called "Gray Cheeked".  And I have still to identify various other birds. Below are some of my shots of the area around Ina Road which forks off  Interstate 10 about 20 miles from downtown Tucson.

'BIRDING WAY OF THE CROSS IN PICTURE ROCKS-CORTARO, AR

DESERT SHRUBS, FLOWERS, CACTUS IN PICTURE ROCKS- CORTARO, AR

Picture Rocks in Cortaro AR--Sajuaro Preserve

Desert Sunset in Arizona

The "Wash" at Picture Rocks Retreat House

MPH Sisters at Hispanic Meeting in Tucson, AR

COMMUNING WITH MY BROCCOLLI

THANKS TO KEVIN MURRAY

Last week my friend Fr.Kevin Murray was here.  Kevin works in Sarnelli House in Philadelphia which is a community of youth volunteers that live in community our Redemptorist life and go out to know, love, learn from and to serve the poor and needy in the Kensington section of Philadelphia near our Parish of the Visitation.  I took advantage of Kevin's presence here to put many marigold in my organic garden.  (We spent a good evening planting them.)  Marigold help keep away insects from the vegetable plants "without" the need for dangerous pesticides and herbicides. Thanks to Kevin I now have two rows of Leaf Lettuce, two of Redina "Red" leaf lettuce, two rows of carrots, two rows of broccolli, 16 nice Tomatoes plants which are a gift of the local Bruderhof community here in Ulster Park at "Maple Ridge".  Also my buddy John Affronti and Marty Roberge are seasoned garderners that have helped me a lot.  Marty suggested this nice sunny spot.  John spent a night helping me put in the fence and posts.  Yesterday John helped me adjust my two sprinklers so that they will cover the 30'  by  20' area that is the "Sylvester Feeley Abundant Life Garden"

MY FRIEND SKIP AND THE "SYL FEELEY ABUNDANT LIFE GARDEN"

I have given the name of "Syl Feeley Abundant Life Garden"  to this 30 ft by 20 ft plot that I will have seeded with spinach and lettuce tonight. Fr. Sylvester Feeley C.SS.R. was a wonderful Redemptorist confrere who greeted me as Superior of the Caribbean Missions in Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and the US Virgin Islands when I arrived there in January of 1967.  Syl was called Padre Roberto  by people in PR and the Caribbean.  He was a great man.  Now, besides "honoring" him with my garden's name....I expect some of his "help from up, out or over there in Eternity.....Pray for the garden, Syl.
Here are Skip Doyle, our Redemptorist friend and the fencing we have just completed.

DAD OUTSIDE GUARDING MOM INSIDE HOPING FOR OFFSPRING

One of the most hopeful signs of spring these days are our Bald Eagles who have finally overcome the threats to their existence and have returned.....But I would never disturb them.

MY FRIEND BEN AT MAPLE RIDGE

In all my posts about beginning to learn something about organic vegetable gardening  I forgot to acknowledge the help that Ben, one of my friends from the Maple Ridge Bruderhof community gave me.  Ben and Tim sent over one of their tractors and a good strong tiller and opened up the 30 by 20 foot plot that I now and preparing to grow vegetables.  The Bruderhof Community which came to the United States back when it was clear that Adolf Hitler believed very much in war which the Bruderhof do not.  And so their community went first to England, then to Paraguay and then finally back to England and to the United States.  They live a very hard working, God loving and service filled life.  Two of them, Eam and Janet work in creating a spirit of forgiveness, most especially in very turbulent schools in the Bronx, NY.  The picture here is of one of their community meals where all the families eat together.  (On Saturdays they also invite me and others from the area to join them in a joyous, song filled and prayerful meal.
THANKS BEN!!!

TASTY "FUTURE OCCUPANTS" OF THE BIRDER'S GARDEN

THE GARDEN EXISTS IN MY IMAGINATION FIRST

Back in 1994 I spent a half year in Brazil and met Ruvem Alves, a most wonderful man, educator, story writer and "gardiner".  He was showing us his beautiful flower garden and said something I found quite profound, Long before my garden existed here in Sao Paulo it existed in my imagination".  I find that this is true of all dreams.  But, of course, without the effort, labor, hard work, heartache sometimes....the "garden remains in one's imagination"....Hopefull mine here at The Mount will soon exist in reality with what I plan to plant: SWISS CHARD, SPINACH, RADISHES, TOMATOES, BEANS OF SOME KIND, SUMMER SQUASH AND PEPPERS, BEETS, CUCUMBERS AND CARROTS.  My friend John Aponti from Esopus is helping me as I am just a novice.

I'D SAY THERE WERE MORE THAN A THOUSAND ROCKS HERE!!!

I may live "or die" regretting this.  But the salad bar at The Mount will be counting on me to produce some "produce" for the meals and to make this more than a personal hobby.  Wish me luck tomorrow!!

HUDSON RIVER "ORGANIC GARDENER"....TOO!!

I have a plot that is about 40 feet by 25 feet and have begun as an "Infant Organic Gardener"...what I think should be called the "Battle of the Rocks"...Anyone in the Ulster County Area that would like to help just give me a message here.  You would be "most welcome".. The "Battle" begins!!

THE "BIRDER" AT BOG MEADOW IN SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY

BOG MEADOW IN SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY