The End of Winter

[Shin]

Just around twilight tonight. . .

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'Man is like a tree, bodily asceticism is the foliage, interior vigilance the fruit. According to that which is written, "Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be cut down and cast into the fire" (Matt. 3:10) it is clear that all our care should be directed toward the fruit, that is to say, guard of the spirit; but it needs the protection and the embellishment of the foliage, which is bodily asceticism.'

St. Agathon

'Blessed Francis Patrizi, who had the greatest devotion to the "Hail Mary" used to recite five hundred a day. Mary announced the hour of his death to him, and he died as a saint. After forty years, a beautiful lily grew out of his mouth, and on each of the leaves was written the "Hail Mary" in letters of gold. This lily was afterwards taken to France.'

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

'Your soul needs a brief winter. The winter purifies the air and the earth of foul vapors; it even invigorates the human body. If it strips the trees of their leaves, it is only to the end that they take deeper roots. The spring comes afterwards, and clothes them again with verdure and blossoms.'

St. Paul of the Cross


The winter here was long and hard, the hardest here I've had. It is surprising to me how some old weeds and flowers have not fallen down through it all. The ivy is still green. The new bamboo.. has faded to tan, it was green through most of the winter, but the very end of it was too much and it gave out.

The Lord is gracious, hard winters and easy, long and short.. It is all in Providence, all in God's good time.

[Shin]

I've forgotten what some of these plants are they look so different in winter. When they start showing greenery again and if I look back at my old pictures I'll figure it out again.

[Shin]

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The robin family has returned for the moment.

'Anxiety arises from an unregulated desire to be delivered from any pressing evil, or to obtain some hoped-for good. Nevertheless nothing tends so greatly to enhance the one or retard the other as over-eagerness and anxiety. Birds that are captured in nets and snares become inextricably entangled therein, because they flutter and struggle so much. Therefore, whensoever you urgently desire to be delivered from any evil, or to attain some good thing, strive above all else to keep a calm, restful spirit, - steady your judgment and will, and then go quietly and easily after your object, taking all fitting means to attain thereto. By easily I do not mean carelessly, but without eagerness, disquietude or anxiety; otherwise, so far from bringing about what you wish, you will hinder it, and add more and more to your perplexities. "My soul is always in my hand, yet do I not forget Thy Law," David says. Examine yourself often, at least night and morning, as to whether your soul is "in your hand;" or whether it has been wrested thence by any passionate or anxious emotion. See whether your soul is fully under control, or whether it has not in anywise escaped from beneath your hand, to plunge into some unruly love, hate, envy, lust, fear, vexation or joy. And if it has so strayed, before all else seek it out, and quietly bring it back to the Presence of God, once more placing all your hopes and affections under the direction of His Holy Will. Just as one who fears to lose some precious possession holds it tight in his hand, so, like King David, we ought to be able to say, "My soul is always in my hand, and therefore I have not forgotten Thy Law."'

St. Francis de Sales

[CyrilSebastian]

                         On Saturday I saw some snowdrops fully in bloom. There were also some additional snowdrop buds.

[Shin]

I have yet to see the first crocus, there are still snow showers. Not too much longer. . . A few weeks?

Snowdrops would be great to see!

[CyrilSebastian]

The snowdrops that I saw were quite close to the cellar foundation of the house.