Thursday, January 6, 2011

Epiphany (Twelfth Day)

Epiphany, n. The festival celebrated on the sixth day of January, the twelfth day after Christmas, in commemoration of the appearance of Christ to the Magi or philosophers of the East, who came to adore Him with presents, or, as others maintain, to commemorate the appearance of the star to the Magi or the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles. The Greek fathers use the word for the appearance of Christ in the world, the sense in which Paul uses the word. Sometimes called Twelfth Day.
~*~
My #2 Daughter and I took a trip to Victoria, B.C. for a couple of days.
Along with window shopping in downtown Victoria,
we took a tour out to the Butchart Gardens to see the Christmas Display.

The Parliament Building, downtown Victoria.




Frozen Waterwheel!





Carollers!






Lighted trees.

The Gardens were decked out with scenes of the Twelve Days of Christmas!
(Please excuse the poor photos ~ I've lost my camera manual and don't know how to
take shots in the dark.)
Feel free to sing along as we discover each scene of the Carol!
~*~


On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
A Partridge in a Pear Tree!
~
On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me...


Two Turtle Doves
~
On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Three French Hens!
~
On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...


Four Calling Birds!
(You can't see in the photo, but each bird has a type of telephone!)
~
On the Fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Five Golden Rings!
~
On the Sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Six geese a laying.
(Couldn't get all the geese in the shot!)
~
On the Seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Seven Swans a swimming.
~
On the Eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Eight Maids a milking.
~
On the Ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Nine Ladies dancing.
~
On the Tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...


Ten Lords a leaping!
(Animated frogs were 'jumping' up from behind a wall ~
couldn't get them all at the same time!)
~
On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me...



Eleven Pipers piping.
(A long window display showed 11. I couldn't get close enough
to get them all and the darkness made them blurry. :~{
~
On the Twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...


Twelve Drummers drumming!
(Twelve lighted arches above the parking lot had the
last line of the song.)
~*~
Today is Epiphany!


"Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east, and have come to worship Him....
they went their way; and lo, the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them, until it came and stood over where the Child was. And when they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And they came into the house and saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell down and worshiped Him; and opening their treasures they presented to Him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh."
Selected from Matthew 2


Monday, January 3, 2011

Pulla!


New recipe in The Pantry!

Come check it out!

"Give us this day our daily bread."

Matthew 6:11

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Just Poppin' in to say "Hi!"

I am so sorry to be remiss in posting these last couple weeks. Our youngest daughter is visiting from New York and we are not missing any opportunity to enjoy each other's company!
I do miss visiting with you all, and do hope to be back with you soon.
Here are a few photos of some of our little jaunts ~ trying to work off some of those calories that multiplied during our Christmas and New Year's festivities!
~*~
Stretching our legs along Valley Rose Drive.

A mossy 'Do' on a fence post.
"And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man."
Genesis 27:11

A lonely boat on Hammersley Inlet.
"Turn to me and be gracious to me, For I am lonely and afflicted."
Psalm 25:16

Ferns marching up the tree trunks.

"LORD, when Thou didst go out from Seir, When Thou didst march from the field of Edom, The earth quaked, the heavens also dripped, Even the clouds dripped water."
Judges 5:4

Beauty and color found even in the weathered top of a piling.
"One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to meditate in His temple."
Psalm 27:4

Waiting, patiently!
"The LORD is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance."
2 Peter 3:9
~*~
A Winter Hike At...



The brisk air 'encouraged' us to keep up a warm pace!

"Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow?"
Job 38:20



Where once there was a footbridge, now washed out
by a raging river, only the foundation rocks remain.

Even...


in...
Winter, there is beautiful color peeking out from
the snowy white mantle!
"Shelter in a time of storm"
Isaiah 25:4

Gnarly, Dude!

Peace like a river!
Wishing you all His peace in 2011!
~*~
"He has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you
But to do justice, to love kindness,
And to walk humbly with your God."
Micah 6:8