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Happy Birthday, Beautiful…

America the Beautiful…

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For a Grand Old Lady she sure looks good at 240 years old! All decked out in spangles, stars, and stripes- Red, white and blue ruffled bunting- she’s deserves a party! She’s survived natural disasters, economic depressions and wars. One war came very close to dividing our country in two.. That one broke her heart. I wonder what she thinks nowadays about her bickering children? United we stand, divided we fall, y’all. She’s given us so much freedom. We must never confuse our rights and privileges with our duties and responsibilities to serve Old Glory.  We are free, we are independent yet- dependent on one another to remain strong. It means something to sing- ‘and crown Thy good, with brotherhood from sea to shining sea.’ Our loyalty to this beautiful Lady, America, must include all. Lady Liberty still stands on Ellis Island, beckoning –‘Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…’

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We show our gratitude best, when we respect one another, when we treat each other as family, when we debate without being disagreeable or rude. So, let’s throw a party for America and prove our love for this Grand ol’ Lady! Show your love for Old Glory by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance- ‘…One Nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all!’ Turn off the bad news, light some sparklers or candles, then sing about her Beauty ‘from sea to shining sea.’ America, may God continue to ‘shed His Grace on Thee…’

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Happy Fourth of July from Camellia’s Cottage!

Love y’all, Camellia

*America the Beautiful was written atop Pike’s Peak by a school teacher named Katherine Lee Bates in 1913

*quote from the Statue of Liberty- written by Emma Lazarus- image from the official Statue of Liberty site- https://www.nps.gov/stli/

My undying gratitude to Jeremy Miniard for one of my all time favorite photos- the Patriotic Porch- http://www.jeremy-miniard-fineartamerica.com – use only with permission

If you still need some inspiration- the ever famous iconic Southern boy, Elvis Presley singing- An American Trilogy!

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Miraculous Staircase…

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I have been in some of the great cities of this great country and always I go to the great Sanctuaries. Santa Fe is no exception, the St. Francis Basilica is gorgeous and inspiring- however, sitting beside the great cathedral is a small Gothic chapel, thought to be the first of that type architecture west of the Mississippi, the Loretto Chapel. Our Lady of Light Chapel was modelled after Sainte-Chapelle in Paris and was constructed in the 1870’s to serve as a chapel for the Loretto Academy for young women, operated by the Sisters of Loretto.

A serious design flaw was discovered after construction- the tiny chapel had not included a staircase to the choir loft. To install one would decrease the seating capacity and seriously affect the beauty of the design. It was suggested that the young women could ascend a ladder to sing, however this would have not been proper or safe.. The Sisters sought Divine Guidance by calling for a Novena to their patron saint, Saint Joseph, the Carpenter. For nine days they prayed. Upon the ninth day, the last of the Novena, a mysterious carpenter appeared, who called himself Jose. He said he had come to design and build a circular staircase to the choir loft.

He arrived with a donkey loaded with only three tools- a hammer, a saw and a T square; and tubs in which to soak the wood. The stairway has 33 stair treads in two full 360 degree turns with no center support, nor is it held with any side supports, the full weight rests on the bottom tread. Testing throughout the years has revealed no nails, no pegs and no glue were used in the construction. Further, as science as progressed- the wood has been tested; recent tests revealed- the staircase does not appear to be constructed of any known type of wood found in the entire world.image

Upon completion, the mysterious carpenter disappeared, without seeking payment. No records could be found by the Sisters for the purchase of the wood or any building materials. The carpenter was never found. Engineers, architects, scientists and historians marvel at the design, the materials and construction techniques employed; there is no known duplication of the design of the staircase-though extensive research has been done throughout the years. The only modification was to add a handrail ten years after construction. A movie was made of the.Miraculous Staircase and books have been written. Every effort seems to have been made to disprove the miracle.

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However, I have been there more than 3 times- though I am no scientist or theologian-I can attest to the fact that I have felt something holy, something miraculous, something undetermined by my human mind whenever I have seen it. The Chapel of Loretto is privately owned, it no longer belongs to the Catholic Church. For this staircase to have remained instead of being destroyed when it was sold, for it to have survived for almost 150 years and withstood the scrutiny of those who would wish to dispel it’s origins, is miraculous. To stand in awe of it, is to stand in the presence of what I have come to thoroughly believe is a true miracle, wrought by an Holy God through a mysterious Carpenter Who Heard and Answered the fervent prayers of His Own. I am blessed to have been a witness to the beauty of Loretto Chapel and the Miraculous Staircase.image

Weddings and Special Services are still held at Loretto Chapel, the staircase is roped off but was used well into the 20th century. All donations to the Loretto Chapel go toward the retirement funds for the Sisters of Loretto, the Chapel of Light. I hope you are inspired by these unretouched photographs of the Miraculous Staircase. Have a Blessed Lord’s Day. It’s a Day to believe in Miracles, I do…I hope you do too.

Love y’all, Camellia

Miraculous Staircase books and movies found on Amazon.com

http://www.lorettochapel.com for more information

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Doors of Alabama…

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Doors of Alabama … Wood doors, painted doors, old doors, new- Fine doors, screened doors, glass doors or metal- Closed doors, open doors, vintage or serene. Vines twining, paint peeling, wreathed in cotton or magnolia – Country doors, city doors or something in between… This is our sweet home in Alabama, can you guess which one is ours ?

Each one is a snapshot of inspiration… We hope you agree!

A huge thank you to Jeremy Miniard for sharing his personal collection of ‘Backroads of Alabama Doors’ and to friends and family who shared their doors with grace and good humor!

Love y’all, Camellia

*All photographs are from private collections and cannot be reproduced or copied without permission .

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Sanctuary…

 

Sanctuary:  sanc-tu-ar-y’ 1. Place of refuge, safety, shelter 2. a nature reserve, park,  forest 3. a holy place, sacred place, church, temple, shrine. Latin:  ‘sanct’:-sacred /’arium’- a container. That quiet calm refuge which holds our sacred treasure is most descriptive of sanctuary.

Our Sunday Inspiration begins with a quote from chapter 28 of ‘Four Days- the Lazarus Principle’ :

‘Noise can create a negative atmosphere; quiet stillness has power within our spirits. Muir Woods is a National Treasure near the San Francisco area. I recall vividly the silence of the coastal redwoods- the quiet of the massive forest was palpable- I could feel the silence. It is a sanctuary of stillness. To walk there is a meditative prayer.

We have some sanctuaries to share with you- the woodlands of Alabama, treasured sanctuaries of New York City, and Home.

‘Everybody needs beauty as well as bread. Places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike.’ ‘Come to the woods, for here is rest. There is no repose like that of the deep green woods.’       quotes by naturalist- John Muir

‘I never saw a discontented tree. They grip the ground as though they liked it…They are earth born companions and our fellow mortals…join the trees in their hymns and prayers…few are altogether deaf to the preaching of pine trees…their sermons…go to our hearts…hear the trees speak for themselves.’          John Muir

Sacred Treasures of New York City

‘No synonym for God is so perfect as Beauty…’     John Muir

Sanctuary: a place of refuge, safety, shelter. Everyone needs shelter, however, a house is not a home unless everyone inside is safe. Home should be the epitome of safe refuge.

Precious Lord, lead us to Your sanctuaries- be they woodland, marble or front porches. Grant to us that meditative walk, where we hear Your Voice in the stillness of the woodlands, in the hush of cathedrals or as crickets sing their happy songs beneath our shelters. How blessed we are, by Your Sacred Hands which formed the woodlands and seas, which prompted mankind to build and preserve places of worship and others who are keepers of safe homes where children play, friends are welcome and the weary return. May we never forget those who chose sacrificial duty and responsibility over rights and privileges so that we can live free in our homeland upon this earth, which spins like a blue marble through the vast star strewn universe. Ever and always we must return grateful, broken and melted down by the Cross of Christ and the Love that took Him to it. May we never forget Who bestowed upon us these beautiful earthly havens. Remind us often of our duty to act as worthy stewards- not as petulant messy children. Dress us now, in clean starched shirts and pinafores, fit for children of the King of Kings as You guide us safely through stillness to Your sanctuaries. Hear our prayers, as we seek to hear Your Voice. Amen.

We are so thankful to have the opportunity to share Camellia’s Cottage with you! We hope you find a sanctuary some place near you today-  have a blessed Lord’s Day! Now don’t forget- God loves you and…

I love y’all, Camellia

 

Of special note: St. Patrick’s Cathedral was opened on May 29, 1879- 137 years ago!

and Thank you to fellow blogger Snapshots in Cursive for her inspiring post ‘Gnarled Trees Speak Volumes- which inspired the shots of trees in this post! https://snapshotsincursive.com/2016/05/22/gnarled-old-trees-speak-volumes/ Go see the wonderful things she has been doing on her blog!

Quotes from John Muir are gleaned from The Sierra Club- https://vault.sierraclub.org/john_muir_exhibit/

Definition of Sanctuary was gleaned from Wikipedia- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanctuary

Quote from ‘Four Days- the Lazarus Principle’ by Brenda Wyatt- http://amzn.to/1U4csYm

Photographs are from our personal collection with the exception of the wonderful gnarled tree by still water, which is by Jeremy Miniard (the first in the second section of tree images) and cannot be reproduced without permission.

I couldn’t resist adding one more- from Santa Fe NM where we are on vacation ! Loretto Chapel- can’t wait to tell you about this sanctuary!image

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Swap Shop! You’re on the Air!

We’ve been travelling! On road trips, I amuse myself by looking out the window and commenting on the sights. My husband adjusts the radio depending on what he wants to hear of my commentary. This  road trip, back home from Orange Beach, I asked him to turn up the radio volume on a Swap Shop broadcast. The reception wasn’t that great- but the enthusiasm of the female broadcaster made up for it. Rural radio stations have been known to be attached to a private home- As far as I know she could have been in her slippers with curlers in her hair- broadcasting live…

‘Well, Good Morning everybody, Bennie and I are broadcasting from Atmore, Alabama! It sure has been a downpour this morning, hope you’re stayin’ dry -take an umbrella with you if you get out in this! Ok, let’s get started – first we’d like to thank EZ Pay Auto, Kut Above Hair Center and Three Brothers’ Arms- Gun Shop & Pawn for makin’ it possible to air Atmore Swap Shop!

First, we’ve got a few announcements for you- Brother Pat sure did do a good job on that sermon- ‘Don’t Condone What God Condemns’ last Sunday, he called and asked us to thank his deacons and the men of his church for removing that Fortune Tellin’ Gypsy Booth by the side of the road near the church. I saw it not too long ago, that Gypsy had an ol’ stringy black wig and a purple turban on her head,  the glass was broke out of the sides, the booth was wore out and the 10 cent sign was faded… nothin’ but a snake pit, I tell you what! Brother Pat said one of the men brought a machete to cut back some of the kudzu that was thick as thieves! They got the gypsy loaded up and took her to the dump. It sure was sendin’ the wrong kind of message… ‘took  the better part of the afternoon but those fellas aren’t gonna condone that mess – can I get a witness? You bet.

Moving on here, a short report on the two fishermen that won an astoundin’ six fishin’ tournaments, up in North Alabama! Don’t sell our ‘boys in blue’ short here- they been fishin’ all their lives- Six big wins raised suspicions with the Law. After some serious investigation it was ‘de-termined’ that those bad boys were taking  big ol’ fish on board with ’em and then using those self same fish to weigh in! Just in time to win all six, six mind you! fishin’ tournaments! Bennie said he heard the men in question were gonna be banned for life from tournament fishing, have to return the trophies and prize money- and their fishing licenses are being revoked. It’s good enough for them.

And one more thing, before these phones start lightin’ up- Tomorrow morning startin’ bright and early- there’s gonna be a huge, ‘Mul-Ti’ family yard sale over at the stockyard to benefit families of the prisoners up at Atmore Prison, so y’all be sure and run up there and help those folks out, it’s the right thing to do. (paper shuffle)

Bennie has just handed me one more announcement-let’s see- it says… Wind Creek Casino’s got an all new menu for their buffet starting this Sunday. Umhm, now you folks know we ‘don’t condone what God condemns’- but we’ve heard the buffet is no where near the rest of the shenanigans goin’ on in the rest of that place. Alrighty…Bennie, darlin’ thank you for answerin’ the phones while I’ve been making these announcements- let’s get started:

Swap Shop- you’re on the air! Bennie, the phone’s not working, honey! OK..

  • We’ve got a lady down near Loxley, lookin for a dog housee and chain link dog pen for a beagle. She needs these as soon as possible.
  • We have a fella over near the Grace Garland exit who has a 7×18′ car hauler for sale, will consider any serious offer.
  • Over by the Deer Processing Plant – they’re selling new potatoes just dug, green peppers, corn- they’ll shuck it for you- yellow crookneck squash, cabbage and turnip greens- and ‘we catch, you carry’ shrimp caught in the bay this mornin’ – and…it says here, look for the black pickup in that wide spot in the road over there.image
  • We’ve got a fella who’s lookin’ for 2 rims for a ’90 Mustang.
  • Free Firewood folks! Pecan wood, use it for smokin’ grillin’, bonfire, soakers, you name it. The wood is cut and on the ground, just come get it and haul it off.
  • Now, here’s a deal for you- a Massey Furgeson Tractor with front end loader, hay spear and hay forks for $7000
  • Somebody over past the prison has black and tan puppies, a large wooden swing set and 12 acres of land for sale- best offer for all or separate.
  • A lady’s looking for a couch and loveseat and possibly some matching end tables.
  • Somebody is in serious need of tractor tires, will take 1 or 2, tractor tires- y’all.
  • If you have a pecan cracker or butterbean sheller for sale- we’ve got a number here for you call-
  • Ok! We’ve got 3 bathroom cabinets with a marble top, used- for sale $300

Wait a minute, Bennie darlin’ can you clear this up for me? Is this an organ and a piano or a combo? Ok, while he’s checkin’ on that…

  • The caller said he has an organ and piano or it could be an organ/piano combo for sale and he.. is.. also.. lookin’ for yards to cut!
  • A- like new- Ninja motorcycle for sale, also, a size 13- all leather pair of men’s Harley Davidson boots, worn only a time or two for $35 and a brand new ‘in the box’ size 12 and a half, men’s all leather Brahma Steel Toe boots for $20
  • Over near Sardine Creek, they’ve got tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelons, worms and crickets for your fishin’ pleasure, honey, homemade jellies and jams and yard eggs for sale- will be there all day today, except from 2:30 to 5 when they have to do a school bus run, but all day, rain or shine on Saturday!
  • The big flea market down in Bay Minette has let us know, they have fresh produce as well as a wide selection cowhides and sheepskins and all kinds of merchandise new and used.
  • And last but not least, Bennie said to tell y’all that we have yard eggs too, duck and chicken- and baby chicks and baby ducks also, yes that’s right- here at the station.

What’s that Bennie? You’re gonna be the death of me! He just said to tell y’all that he’s got at least two boxes of chicks and two boxes of Quackers!! Lord, what am I gonna do with that man?image

Now listen, I won’t be here Monday mornin’ – have to go over to my favorite beauty parlor, ‘Hairs 2 Ya’ and then take Momma to have her partial plate adjusted at the new place right next door- ‘U Save Denistry’- so!  Bennie said he’d be here- but I’m gonna remind him of it- ’cause he’s like me, if it happened yesterday he’s done forgot it. So, y’all stay out of the rain…if you’re headed to the beach – watch out for that undertow and for heaven’s sake don’t get sand in the car!

I laughed all the way up to Bates House of Turkey and Priester’s Pecans over that Atmore Swap Shop! Crickets and Worms for your fishin’ pleasure? Box of Quackers…? In the meantime, we’re excited because the Skeeter Girls from Orkin sprayed today so we can get outside and do some yard work!

Have a great day… Love y’all Camelliaimage