Sights from an Evening Walk

A few sights from my walk this evening.  I love the birds.  The deer were a special surprise.

 

 

 

Colby Cat was awaiting my return.  See how vigilant he is.

Drought in California

California is facing a drought of historic proportions, and while individuals are being forced to reduce their water usage, Nestlé is bottling the scarce resource straight from the heart of California's drought and selling it for profit.

Nestlé -- who extracts water from California for its Arrowhead and Pure Life brands -- is bottling from at least a dozen natural springs throughout California, including one located on a Native American reservation in one of the most drought-stricken areas of the state, free from oversight by local water agencies.

Click here to sign a petition to tell the California Water Resources Board to shut down Nestlé's bottling operations during the fourth year of one of the worst droughts in California history.

Great Horned Owl Cam

Young owlet flies at the Cornell bird cam this morning.  Here's a clip.  Fledgling and family haven't been spotted at the nest since shortly after these pics.

Lenten Eco-Fast - Recycled TP

"We have, in a sense, lorded it over nature, over Sister Earth, over Mother Earth. I think man has gone too far. Thank God today there are voices that are speaking about this."

-Pope Francis, January 16, 2015

Use recycled toilet paper. Many of the Felician Sisters’ Care Centers and Central Convents are already doing this.

Lenten Eco-Fast - Compost

"Custody of Creation is custody of God's gift to us and it is also a way of saying thank you to God."

-Pope Francis, May 21, 2014

Composting has many benefits. It reduces the amount of waste that ends up in your garbage can and decreases the amount of methane in the air. Methane is a much more damaging greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Sisters in Kingstree have been composting next to their garden for several years (see picture.)

Ephemeral Vandalism

The destruction of this crucifix from vandalism brings home the Cross in a ephemeral way that drew me in and made the reality of my faith so poignant and real.  It is strangely beautiful in its destruction.  This cross was almost life-size.  It was at the Shrine of the North American Martyrs in Auriesville, NY. 

 Daily Post photo challenge.

 

Lenten Eco-Fast - Recycle Electronics

"For the most part, it is man who continuously slaps down nature."
-Pope Francis, January 15, 2015

Recycle electronics.  Electronics contain brominated flame retardants, lead, and PVC.   When put into the trash, electronics such as cell phones, printers, monitors, keyboards, remote controls, and VCRs leach lead and other hazardous materials into the environment.

Lenten Eco-Fast - Earth Hour

t to Sustain God's Creation

"Nurturing and cherishing creation is a command God gives not only at the beginning of history, but to each of us. It is part of his plan; it means causing the world to grow responsibly, transforming it so that it may be a garden, a habitable place for everyone."

-Pope Francis, June 5, 2013

Earth Hour - Earth Hour is observed globally March 28 from 8:30-9:30 p.m. local time. Individuals are invited to shut their lights off to raise awareness about climate change. 

Click here for interfaith prayer resources on Care of the Earth.

Ephemeral - Photo Challenge

The morning dew highlights the amazingly artistry of the spider's web.  So many things went into making this picture possible.  It's beauty is unrepeated ephemeral.  This week's Daily Post photo challenge to show something ephemeral.  Here are a few more.

 

  

 

Bird Cam - Texas Barn Owls

The Texas Barn Owls are pretty cool too - live on  Cornell's Bird Cam. 

Bird Cam - Great Horned Owls

Watch the Great Horned Owls live on Cornell's Bird Cam.  Day time view is like watching a movie, so clear and colorful.  Night time not so much.

Lenten Fast to Sustain God’s Creation

"Please, I would like to ask all those who have positions of responsibility in economic, political and social life, and all men and women of goodwill: let us be "protectors" of creation, protectors of God's plan inscribed in nature, protectors of one another and of the environment."

-Pope Francis, March 19, 2013

The Global Catholic Climate Movement (GCCM) has organized a Lenten hunger fast as a response to our present climate crisis. Catholics and other Christians in a different country each day during Lent have committed to fast.  The GCCM 40-day fast encourages participants to fast from food as well as the use of oil, electricity, plastic, paper, water, and toxins during Lent. For more information on the Global Catholic Climate Movement, please click here.

What is Purgatory?

What is Purgatory? How can we understand it?  Suppose one day the door opens, and a splendid being appears, extremely beautiful, of a beauty that has never been seen on earth before. You are fascinated, overwhelmed by this being of light and beauty, even more so you discover that he is madly in love with you -- you have never dreamed of being loved so much. He has a great desire to draw you to him, to be one with you. And immediately the fire of love is ignited in your heart.  You want to throw yourself into his arms. But then you realize at this moment that you haven't washed for months and months, that you smell bad; your hair is greasy and matted, there are stains all over your clothes. So you say, "No, I just can't present myself in this state. I have to go and wash, and then come back."  But the love that burns in your heart is so intense and so strong, that the delay is almost unbearable.  Purgatory is exactly this, a delay caused by our impurity.  In Purgatory, this burning desire and longing for God is what cleanses and purifies us.  By celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation we can shorten or even eliminate the time we are delayed in Purgatory.

Click to read more from Maria Simma and the Souls in Purgatory.

Lenten Fast to Sustain God's Creation

"All the peoples of the earth, all men and women of good will, we must raise our voice in defense of these two precious gifts: peace and nature - Sister Mother Earth, as Saint Francis of Assisi called her."

-Pope Francis, October 28, 2014

Turn off water while brushing your teeth and save one gallon of water every minute.

Truth and Consequences

Did you ever notice that consequences aren't something we look at very often?  Tv, movies, the internet seem to have only one mode - green for go, go, go.  Ads show us steaming hot fries or pizza with thick gooey cheese but not the consequences of eating too much salt, fat or greasy foods.  Exercise ads target our vanity, but not the consequences of improper footwear or poor form.  I think it's because their goal is to sell a product not care for our health.  But the Church is different.  She cares about the consequences.

Lenten Fast to Sustain God’s Creation

"I wish to mention another threat to peace, which arises from the greedy exploitation of environmental resources."

-Pope Francis, January 13, 2014

Every year, 2 million barrels of oil go to making plastic water bottles used in the United States and Canada.

Choose a reusable bottle, like the green Our Lady of Hope Felician Sister’s water bottle.

Lenten Fast to Sustain God’s Creation

"Even if "nature is at our disposition", all too often we do not "respect it or consider it a gracious gift which we must care for and set at the service of our brothers and sisters, including future generations."

-Pope Francis, January 13, 2014

Choose tap water vs bottled water when possible.

Watch "The Story of Bottled Water" by clicking here.

Fresh Growth Leading up to Easter

Here's an update on the Resurrection Gardens we planted several weeks ago - the grass is doing great.

Lenten Fast to Sustain God’s Creation

"People occasionally forgive, but nature never does. If we don't take care of the environment, there's no way of getting around it."

-Pope Francis, April 22, 2013

Plastic bags do not biodegrade, they break down into small toxic bits that contaminate soil and waterways and enter the food chain when mistaken for jellyfish. Therefore, you may eventually ingest a part of the plastic bag you threw away a few years ago!

Lenten Fast to Sustain God’s Creation

"Respect for the environment means more than simply using cleaner products or recycling what we use. These are important aspects, but not enough."

-Pope Francis, January 18, 2015

Recycle aluminum cans.  The energy saved from one recycled aluminum can will operate a television set for three hours.  If you do not recycle, the can will still litter the earth up to 500 years from now.

Re-Freshing History

Fresh clay.

Making fresh beer.   

Freshly heated

Sewing fresh soles on handmade shoes.

Offering a fresh perspective on American history, these pics were taken at Genesee Country Historic Village & Museum in Mumford, NY.   This week's Daily Post photo challenge, expressing something fresh. 

Lenten Fast to Sustain God’s Creation

"In destroying Creation we are saying to God: 'I don't like it! This is not good!'"

-Pope Francis, May 21, 2014

Avoid buying products that have lots of packaging.

Choose loose products and buy refillable containers where possible.

Wildlife at Maryville, MI

Click for more pics.

Lenten Fast to Sustain God’s Creation

"God our Father did not give the task of caring for the earth to money, but to us, to men and women: we have this task!"

-Pope Francis, June 5, 2013

Use cloth shopping bags instead of paper and plastic.

Lenten Fast to Sustain God’s Creation

"All the peoples of the earth, all men and women of good will, we must raise our voice in defense of these two precious gifts: peace and nature - Sister Mother Earth, as Saint Francis of Assisi called her."

-Pope Francis, October 28, 2014

Turn off water while brushing your teeth and save one gallon of water every minute.

Who’s Under Your Carbon Footprint

Join Catholics taking action in our families, parishes, schools and communities to reduce our carbon footprint, care for “the least of these” (Mt 25) and raise our voice on behalf of Creation and the poor.

PRAY and reflect on the duty to care for God’s Creation and protect the poor and vulnerable.

LEARN about and educate others on the causes and moral dimensions of climate change.

ASSESS how we—as individuals and in our families, parishes and other affiliations—contribute to climate change by our own energy use, consumption, waste, etc.

ACT to change our choices and behaviors to reduce the ways we contribute to climate change.

ADVOCATE for Catholic principles and priorities in climate change discussions and decisions, especially as they impact those who are poor and vulnerable.