Monday mashup & links I love

                                                         A gathering of thoughts, 
                                                   links, news, highlights, funnies,
                                                                      and / or

 the latest goings - on here at the blog.

Sort of a weekly dumping ground of updates and features.........:

Here goes: 


You know we love travel around here....
when we're not actually out and on the road, 
the next best thing is reading about it...new places, old places.
Doesn't matter.

I've recently fallen for Kristin Hannah's latest,  The Great Alone,


based on her real life experiences living in Alaska!
I'm a huge huge Kristin Hannah admirer, but this, 
when paired with Krakauer's Into the Wild, is a perfect match.
The latter title's about a young man from a 
wealthy family who ditched his life, donated tons to charity then burned his cash
 determined to adventure through nature much like
his heroes, John Muir and Jack London.



I won't give away more of the plot, but it is a must-read.


I've seen this gem in a few places on social media
and since I love it and believe it,  had to share here!:

I've a giveaway coming up for this wonderful 
sacramental prep book.
It served both my kids well as they prepared for confirmation years ago
and I'd be delighted to offer a copy to one fortunate reader 
lucky enough to win!
Once "sacrament season" is upon us, after Easter, I'll be posting!
So come on back soon!   😉


Since we entered Holy Week yesterday,
I thought I'd share my post from the archives on 
making all sorts of lovely palm crosses, rosettes and more.....✝️

Baby chimp = adorable co-pilot!
Pilot Anthony Caere transports sweet little Mussa from
poachers in the Democratic Republic of Congo to the
Lwior Primates Sanctuary....Watch here!


photo credit: Animal Planet

Thank you for spending some of your precious time today

here at my home on the web! 

Have you signed up to receive my posts in your email inbox?

   If not, just click here to 

subscribe to Campfires and Cleats by email 

quickly and easily  so we can be in touch regularly!

You might wish to follow on Facebook as well.....

If you are shopping at  amazon and Target. 

why not consider clicking through my link? 

In this way, I will receive a small commission on the purchase.....

at no cost to you.

THANK YOU!

Until next time,

~Chris

BTW, I'm offering photo services and customized

photo packages for your blog or business!
< Subscribers receive a deep discount! > 

Friday Flashback & Weekly Wrap

A weekly walk through the archives

where past posts re-emerge!

I feel like I wrote these only recently and for some, 

it's been years.

A month ago on the blog:

Authenticity and Loss in the Blogosphere ~ 
Rest in Peace, Denise

A year ago on the blog~~

Defeat, Endurance, Loss: The Stuff of Lent

Two years ago on the blog 

"Surprise" ~ Five Minute Friday

Three years ago on the blog~

The 5 Best Moments: Doctor Who Season 1

Four years ago on the blog~

 Glow in the Dark Eggs, St Joseph's Feast Day & the Annunciation: 
"And the light shines in darkness..." 

Five years ago on the blog~

Artful Friday: Yeats, Joyce and Watercolor
 with a Little Vivaldi Thrown In!

                    

             

This week on the blog~

 What's Your Jerusalem? 

Monday mashup & links I love
'


Lengthening Shadows:  Adirondack Haven

📓 What's on my night table ~ 

...and with Holy Week almost upon us, you might like to visit my
Palm Crosses, Rosettes, Knots and Scripture Verses  from the archives!
Enjoy!



Thank you for spending some of your precious time today

here at my home on the web! 

Have you signed up to receive my posts in your email inbox?

   If not, just click here to 

subscribe to Campfires and Cleats by email 

quickly and easily  so we can be in touch regularly!

You might wish to follow on Facebook as well.....

If you are shopping at  amazon and Target. 

why not consider clicking through my link? 

In this way, I will receive a small commission on the purchase.....

at no cost to you.

THANK YOU!

Until next time,

~Chris

BTW, I'm offering photo services and customized

photo packages for your blog or business!
< Subscribers receive a deep discount! > 

What's Your Jerusalem?

Who else has had such a lasting,  such an enduring 
effect on civilization ??
Of all the leaders? Royal figures?
All those names bolded in history texts...
Napoleon? Victoria?  Lincoln?
 All those  we know so well.... 
none hold a candle to the One who led by
kindness and  forgiveness, not by reprisal and arms.

From a distance  of 2000 years,
 it’s easy to forget the shouts of the crowds....
...... that it was not the weight of the cross
 but the weight of our sins that caused Jesus to fall.
 Not once, not twice….three times.

Was it a comfort to Him to know SOMEONE was heart broken? 
That some were there for him?

That despite the Romans’ shouting and torment and threats and beatings,
despite admonishments to not wipe His face,
 not help  Him, touch Him, offer water to Him…
that they were there?
Strong and unwavering in their support were 
these women of Jerusalem.

These women paved the way. 
They were the hands feet and heart of Jesus…
the last He spoke to before He died and the first when He rose.

This.
This is Feminine Genius. 

What a gift we have in them. 

When in your life have you been at the well….as Jesus was?  
What people, what situations have caused you in your life to say,
 “I have nothing left to give.”

When, in the past decade….the past year…..
heck, the past month?

When there’s nothing else left to do, what do we turn to? 
Prayer, of course.
As women, we are the vortex of the family crises 
as well as  family celebrations. 
 We’re used to taking the lead on the heavy emotional lifting.
 Just as the women of Jerusalem took the lead,
the Passion...gave the support.

<My youngest, as Jesus, in our parish living stations>

We've each lived challenging seasons.
Looking back do you wonder how you got through?
How many times you've leaned on the Faith
to simply survive, never mind thrive?
Have you had a  New Years Eve or five when you've said, 
"Oh Lord, let this year be better than last...please?
I just can't keep doing this."

< Crucifixion art > 

But you can and you do because.....

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

 the Father of compassion who comforts us in all our troubles,

 so that we can comfort those in any trouble. 

~2 Corinthians 1:3-4

We are our wounds.....

those women, without knowing, are our compass.

We move through the days, the years, the sometimes tough-times

and we know it's a gift....this life.

And whatever path we choose.

whatever vocation,  we are affirmed through our faith 

that we "can do all things through Him who strengthens me."

Philippians 4:13

Thank the Lord for the  role models we have in them.

I'm linking to a couple of wonderful hops!
Please visit Allison's  and Laura's homes on the web  for some
Catholic inspiration and  ideas!

And by the way that book I mentioned above?

Best book on the topic, and written by a good friend of mine, too.😉

                                            

Thank you for spending some of your precious time today

here at my home on the web! 

Have you signed up to receive my posts in your email inbox?

   If not, just click here to 

subscribe to Campfires and Cleats by email 

quickly and easily  so we can be in touch regularly!

You might wish to follow on Facebook as well.....

If you are shopping at  amazon and Target. 

why not consider clicking through my link? 

In this way, I will receive a small commission on the purchase.....

at no cost to you.

THANK YOU!

Until next time,

~Chris

BTW, I'm offering picture services and customized

photo packages for your blog or business!
< Subscribers receive a deep discount! >

Monday mashup & links I love

                                                         A gathering of thoughts, 
                                                   links, news, highlights, funnies,
                                                                      and / or

 the latest goings - on here at the blog.

Sort of a weekly dumping ground of updates and features.........:

Here goes: 

How's this for "pro life"  ~~~~

An entire four-storey building has been donated as housing for

100 pregnant woman, at a time,  who find themselves homeless.

There is help for those in difficult situations who choose life.

Contrary what many assume.

Here's more info on pro life help

Direct from the 1880s!!

Oldest message in a bottle found on Western Australia beach

I know weather . com tends to be sensationalistic,

but I stumbled on this while searching an upcoming storm in my area recently~~

Go find YOUR state's "spot!"

Most Unique Place to Spend the Night in Every State

I have to brag~ in our travels, 

we've stayed at 14 of the places mentioned!

A touching, heartwarming commercial.

Maybe you saw it already?

(My Dad in the Philippines ~ WWII Army Infantry 1943 )





And for you LOST fangirls and guys~~
I found this -
-one of my most favorite scenes in the entire series for oh so many reasons.

Go watch~~~!!

 We saw this movie recently..... 

 I've been wanting to watch it for 20 years, literally. 

Wow, poignant or thought provoking, heart breaking.  Oh my Lord. Prophetic.

One of those movies that just stays with you.

Have you seen it? How did it strike you?

Thank you for spending some of your precious time today

here at my home on the web! 

Have you signed up to receive my posts in your email inbox?

   If not, just click here to 

subscribe to Campfires and Cleats by email 

quickly and easily  so we can be in touch regularly!

You might wish to follow on Facebook as well.....

If you are shopping at  amazon and Target. 

why not consider clicking through my link? 

In this way, I will receive a small commission on the purchase.....

at no cost to you.

THANK YOU!

Until next time,

~Chris

BTW, I'm offering photo services and customized

photo packages for your blog or business!
< Subscribers receive a deep discount! >