We All Scream for Ice Cream

In Pictures from the BBC caught this great image. The caption says "Two nuns enjoy ice cream at the Aga Kahn Challenge Cup in Ireland's capital. There are more from the rest of the world here at the link.

Wild Life In the City

I've been exchanging comments with Jeff at Aun Estamos Vivos about this post, which is a must read, if we as believers are going to understand and engages in discussion with atheists and secular humanists.

But we started talking about coyotes in the comments. I don't think I posted these pictures here. But this is one of the breeding adults in the coyote pack that lives in my neighborhood. I think this is the male and the female was keeping watch. I was just out dog walking with only one of my dogs that night, I'd left Barkley home because it was late and I wanted to do a fast walk around the dirt trails in back of my house. My subdivision is all fenced in, which includes the turf of the coyotes.


There are a few more coyote pictures in this album, plus some other shots around my neighborhood. But this was my favorite shot from that night. It was getting late and we weren't too far away. He was surprisingly patient with us, considering my dog probably outweighed him by 30 pounds. He and his mate followed us a bit after we were done. We cut through their territory to get to the path and they didn't really care for that. Surely, they were protecting their pups.

My Lord and My God

Corpus Christi pictures to come to this space shortly. I took tons and tons. Some came out nicely. I like taking pictures of religious events but don't always feel "right" taking pictures. It's hard to be reverent and prayerful and capture a moment in time. So I did my best.

It was also a cold, rainy day and we stopped walking the procession after the fifth station, which was the altar set up by my parish.

I also heard the new bells ring at the Cathedral. They are gorgeous.

Today's Blessing of the Bells

Mom and I went to the Cathedral Basilca today for the Blessing of the new bells.

There are four bells, named for four female saints. St. Katherine Drexel and three others that I can't recall at the moment.

The Cathedral Basilica looks spiffy and clean. I didn't realize how red that stone was.

Detail of the Corbels below the South Tower where the bells will be.
I really need to spend time really photographing the church one day.

The new cross, it's a replica of the original, which includes a piece of the old one.


The school for she established here in Santa Fe was closed in the mid-1990s, but it was for Native Americans.

There were sisters from the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, the order she established on hand for the Blessing.


Blessed Kateri stands in the front courtyard of the Cathedral Basilica.
It's hard to believe just how much this church has changed through the years. Mom and I were talking about that today.

Journal North News story.
Santa Fe New Mexican Story

Silas The Squirrel One of God's Cute Creatures

For years I've had a squirrel living in my backyard.

I named him Silas.

Though, I'm not sure if it's a male or female and I'm not quite sure
if this is junior, grandchild or great grandchild, but it's Silas just the same.

So, this is Silas the Squirrel in my Olive Tree.

So, I stumbled upon this audio clip of Fr. James Martin, responding to questions about The Da Vinci code. It's an older clip, I guess he was interviewed just before the movie came out. As I said on the LJ, I've never heard him sound snarky before. I loved it. And sadly, he's right about how people have embraced the insanity of the notion that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married but not real church history about the era.

Ugh, when does "Angel and Demons" come out so I can go see something else that night? Surely, there will be some empty seats in other movies. Maybe the Hannah Montana movie will still be playing. I noticed it's coming out and I will take my little sister to see it when it does.

In other news, we're approaching Holy Week. It's going to be cold and windy on Saturday, so I've decided not to make the pilgrimage. I'll see if the parents want to go to Mass at the chapel though. I'm planning on doing the Stations of the Cross tomorrow and spend some time in Adoration afterward.

I took more pictures for my Crucifix series. I think I'm going to try to visit other churches in town during Holy Week to finish my project. Mom says growing up they'd visit churches either on Holy Thursday or Good Friday. I think it was Good Friday, so I guess in some way, that's what I'll be doing.

New Pictures...

Save me from myself. Now, I've come up with a new photo essay theme. I'm going to try to photograph all the crucifixes in the area that I encounter, which means, I get to play tourist in the days to come. Hey the economy still sucks, why not visit churches? Besides, it might be a really worthwhile Lenten activity.

Today I drove my mother to a funeral at the Cathedral. I had been wanting to photograph the new angels that magically appeared above the sanctuary one day. Maybe God painted them?** Eh, they were painted as part of the renovation project. Below I've posted the pictures I took today. Some are a bit blurry, as flashes are not allowed in the Cathedral and I didn't have a very steady hand because I was trying to be quick. It amazes me all the tourists that come into the Church during the day.

As always I have to get a few shots of La Conquistadora.

She's dressed rather simply and doesn't carry the baby Jesus in her arms.

This is the crucifix in the chapel with La Conquistadora.
It's pretty passionate. I forget if it's Mexican or Spanish. I think Spanish. I didn't jot down the history. I read it every time I go there, but always forget.

I caught an image of it, right behind La Conquistadora at Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve.

I think it really reflects the suffering our Lord felt on that day.

Detail. The agony on his face. The pain. The anguish.
Tidbit: it's real human hair.

This one is on the north side of the church. It is really above the choir seating. There was no information posted near it and so I don't know much about it. This was the best of the three blurry pictures I took.

This is above the sanctuary and the altar of the Cathedral Basilica. The sunbursts seem to be a new addition, I can't recall them before, but I think it helps it stand out. I believe the wall was painted white as well.

One of the angels that magically appeared one day. My picture fails to do it justice. I'll go back one day when I really have time to spend taking pictures. All of the angels are lovely.

There are a few more, but they're all gorgeous. It's amazing how bright the Cathedral looks inside. I don't remember it being so beautiful. Growing up, it always seemed dark inside. My older cousin and I were talking about this at a family dinner. When my family gathers we always manage to talk about our culture, faith and the Church. I guess Catholicism really does flow through my blood.

** Refers to the news about Secretary of State Clinton asking the Monsignor at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Basilica who painted the image of Our Lady on Juan Diego's tilma. I actually saw mention of the question in the mainstream news.

I know this is all about squee but tonight they broke me again. If only I could cut my class in half. Then I know I could teach them something and if only I could get rid of the problem kids. I'm going to have to talk to my religious ed director tomorrow and it's time to talk to parents. I hate to do it but if it's going to make things go better for me in class, I will.

So... this was me just after receiving First Holy Communion when I was 8. I thought I'd posted this here before, but I can't find the post. I found it and yes, I should tag my posts better.


Ah, yes, the St. Francis Cathedral in the late 70's. There was an article in today's paper (maybe yesterday's) about a bit of the history and styles. Of course, the author had to break up Willa Cather's Death Comes for the Archbishop. Grr! Argh. I hated that book.

The First Look at Fall in Santa Fe.

The weather is just lovely. I don't remember a fall quite like this in Santa Fe. It was nice last year for Halloween, but I think this year will surpass that. Today, I watered my lawn, my flower pots are still thriving in the back yard, the birds are still around and I'm hoping to have a mild winter. I'd love to have rain in the city and snow in the mountains. That's probably too much too hope for in this desert town. So, a few pictures. Hopefully, I can hit Canyon Road and walk along the river and get more.

This rose bush is in my garden, it's kind of growing wildly but loves this spot. It's got rose hips like crazy and they always look so pretty through the long, dark winter.

This stand of Cottonwood trees line the side of the road on St. Francis Drive. The Descanso below (the memorial cross) has been there since 1998. Or at least marks the death of someone who died on that spot in 1998.

I pass this stand of chile on my way to the office. Often there are other vendors on this street corner, sometimes they even have food. I'm not sure if the ristras are for the tourists or good enough to eat. I've never stopped to ask. But, you know it's fall in New Mexico when you see fresh red chile ristras or smell the green chile roasting.

The Museum of Fine Arts in downtown Santa Fe.

Changing Aspens on the side of the downtown Presybeterian Church, the name of which escapes me right now.

An old Colonial house, with lovely foliage in front.

In anticipation of the City's 400th anniversary, the Plaza is getting a face lift and the infrastructure is getting repaired, so that's why there is a fence in these pics. But I loved the contrast of the bark of the tree and the orangey-golden leaves.

The famous clock, people walking down Lincoln Avenue and a corner of the Fine Arts Museum.

Another shot of the Plaza.

Ristas hang from the side of the balcony on the Ore House resturant. These are dried as we use them for cooking. Though, I doubt these are very tasty, as I think they've been here for years.


Chamiso (aka Rabbit Bush) and Russian Sage in the circle in front of my house. My neighbors and I have a community garden and these really thrive there.

Holloween Decor from my front garden. Gotta get into the spirit of the holiday, you know.

Where Did It Go?

Today I went to town to have lunch with a friend. I took my camera with me and was shocked, seriously shocked to see this! The Cathedral is getting spiffed up for the City's 400th anniversary. It's quite something to see the most recognizable image of Santa Fe covered in plastic.

I've been carrying my camera with me in hopes of getting some lovely Autumn pictures of Santa Fe to post. I must admit I was inspired by the pretty pictures of Villanova Michael from Psalm 46:11: A Journey to Truth, has posted here and here .

The hues of Autumn in Santa Fe are mostly gold and purple, with touches of red and orange here and there. Hopefully, I'll get some good pictures. It's important to me to capture moments and so I'm trying.

Corpus Christi

So Mom took me birthday shopping. Ok, I drove, but she bought me presents. We walked around town and then we went to the services for Corpus Christi at the Cathedral. We didn't take part in the whole procession, we watched it as it got on the way. It was beautiful though and took some pictures
as it went by. Alas, I'm saving up my excitement for next week's procession for the Novena to La Conquistadora, whom is probably the patron of my journal.

This is a whimsical statue of St. Francis, patron saint of our Cathedral Basilica. It's actually a water fountain and has some lovely quotes carved on it, attributed to St. Francis.






I didn't arrive early enough to get a decent shot of the altar and how beautiful it looked. This was near the end of the service, when everyone was gathering together for the procession, but we really do have a beautiful church and we have such a strong and wonderful faith in this community. I truly love being Catholic and living here.






Coming out of the Cathedral. Leading the procession were First Communicants and other children carrying baskets of flowers, dropping the petals as they passed, (not pictured) then the parishes emerged and the various orders, the third orders, other groups and finally the clergy of St. Francis, the Archbishop and the Blessed Sacrament.













The procession begins. Clergy from the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis emerge from the front doors with Archbishop Sheehan carrying the Blessed Sacrament.

















The journey from the church begins.

The Procession leaves the church down Cathedral Place, just in front of the the La Fonda Hotel.












Following a trail of rose petals the Blessed Sacrament wound its way down town and back to the church.












(I took these photos yesterday and I'm still muddling my way with uploading pictures. In Quark or Photoshop it's easy. Here, it's not doing what I want. I wish I'd gotten better pictures but we were just there for a while. We didn't participate in the procession, though next week I will participate in the procession as La Conquistadora is taken from her chapel in the Cathedral to the Rosario Chapel for the novena in her honor.)