When our lives are sifted like sheaves of wheat in the wind all that remain is the love.
COHolley

Grandaddy's Catawba Worm Tree

Catawba worms are actually not worms at all, they are the larvae of a moth that only eats the leaves of a "Catawba" tree. They only "show up" on Catawba trees seasonally and only on certain trees, making them extremely hard to find. Catawba worms make for some real good fishin'.

My grandaddy sold fishing bait. I only remember one occasion when someone stopped  to buy some worms. It seemed to be something he started years ago and it became part of his routine. On the far side of the property, in what use to be the chicken yard he had large wooden beds of Red Wiggler worms , also excellent for fishin'. I use to reach down in the dark black soil and grab as may worms as my hand would hold. My grandaddy sure new his stuff about raising worms , those were some mighty fine looking worms, as far as worms go.

In the old weather beaten smoke house he had several large wooden boxes full of crickets that he also sold for bait. Going in the smoke house to look at the crickets was always a delight. The large wooden boxes were on legs so they were at a good seeing and reaching level. The tops of the boxes  had screen over a wooden frame that made for a lid. Hanging in each box  dangling from a cord was a light bulb that stayed turned on all the time.

There were thousands and thousands of crickets. The sound of all those crickets in one small smoke house was fun for the ears.

My grandaddy had a very large Catawba Worm Tree on the back side of the garden.

M.r Stone lived next door and he had a Catawba worm tree too.

Mr Stone was a thin wiry man. He wore overalls all the time. He had a plump wife that always wore an apron. They reminded me of "Jack Sprat could eat no fat, his wife could eat no lean."

Mr. Stone walked around on his property with a shot gun and occasionally you could hear him firing off a few rounds trying to kill the birds that were eating his Catawba worms.

I wonder if he really cared that much about the worms or if he just wanted to shoot that shot gun. As a child I didn't have kind thoughts about Mr. Stone, I didn't like the idea of him shooting all those birds. I figured there were plenty of worms for the birds and Mr. Stone to have all they wanted. My grandaddy never shot the birds and his tree was slap covered up with worms.

I have never seen another Catawba worm tree since those days and have never heard mention of one either.

Its just one of my memories that linger when i go back to being that young girl walking  the property of my grandparents home on a hot summer day, stopping under the large Catawba worm tree to gaze up as the sun lighting up the bright green leaves making silhouettes of Catawba worms crawling all over.

photo by COHolley

 

You don't have to live in a sanctuary to have peace, or live in harmony. You can carry the essence of sanctuary within yourself at all times. Its a wonderful place to dwell, focusing on what is good and letting go of everything else. Being a light of hope and encouragement to all. Be a sanctuary.
 

Spring is in the Air

I went to the grocery store this morning and I was in my own little world gazing at the frozen peas when I looked up and a georgeous man flashed and equally georgeous smile at me and said "Good Morning!"....I gave him my sweet southern smile back and said "well....good morning!" as I casually moved over to the frozen green beans. he said " its a beautiful day out today isnt it?" I said " yes ...it really is." he said "it's suppose to get up to 80 degrees today." I said well thats a bit much for a fat girl." he said " ohhhhh nooooo youre not fat your just right!!!" I paused in sheer delight and said " well thank you Dahlin" and sacheted away from the frozen food isle...ahhh yes...spring is in the air !

Life can't come and rest easy on your shoulders unless you are still enough to give it a place to land.

The Monastery of The Holy Spirit

The Monastery of The Holy Spirit is in Conyers GA. is about 35 minutes from where I live. It is one of my favorite places. I started going here about 2 years ago and return often to take in the tranquility and peace and comfort that I receive every time I visit.

This beautiful church was built by the Monks that lived here. The monastery was founded in 1944. The massive walls, columns and structure were created one wheel barrow of concrete at the time.

There is a lot that can be said about the abundance of nature that surrounds the Monastery, the tranquil moments I have spent by the lake watching the wild life and letting my spirit mingle with the green foliage that displays itself so proudly. But the treasure lies within each encounter I have had with  the Monks who live here. The Trappist Monks have a heart and a love that drifts from within them  right into your being and you take it with you when you go.

They have a wonderful book and gift store where you can purchase items made by the Monks such as fudge, fruit preserves, honey, coffee, fresh breads and southern fruit cake to name only a few. Carl is a Lay Cistersian who works at the store, his spirit displays a love for others that I could only hope to achieve in my own life. Carl also is an author of 12 books and  teaches and speaks at retreats, churches, monasteries and seminars and has a wonderful Blog.  http://www.carlmccolman.com/
The book and gift stores are a wonderful place to make gift purchases and at the same time support this beautiful Monastery. I buy most of my books here, there are many that will inspire you and feed your soul.
Take some time to view the Bonsai trees that are lovingly cared for by the Monks and to tour the heritage center that tells the history of the Monastery and the Monks who live there.

Most important of all, take a moment to sit in the quiet Holiness of this church. Lift up your heart to God, let all your cares drift away and let go of the things of this world and and just be in His presence.

They also have retreats where you can take some time away to reflect, meditate, heal, pray, and breath deeply.

My prayers go up daily for this beautiful place and the people who live and work  here.

To all my friends in Georgia I hope you will visit and it will become one of your favorite places as well.

http://www.trappist.net/

Peace and Grace,
COHolley

Holding on to You

I loved you long before I met you.
I held you in my  dreams.
I walked down long alleys,
  dark places,
    cold walls,
      waded through steep streams.

Then you appeared before me
  and I began to see
    far beyond the dreams I had.
I held on to you and me.

I have you in my memory
  years after you are gone.
I close my eyes and I see you.
  Every part of you
    I've ever known.

I want to send a note to you
  on the string of a balloon
    or the beak of a bird
      or and envelope with perfume.
A note that says ~ I still love you. ~
  My heart longs to let you know.
    To tell you, though you walked away,
     I never let you go.

I loved you before I knew you.
I love you long after you are gone.
I will love you until I float to the sky.
I will kiss you goodbye on my way home.

by COHolley

Catchers Mitts

It is true that some people run through this world with a catchers mitt on both hands. I don't believe we were called to live our lives grabbing more than we need and sometimes even more than we want. Perhaps we should consider the possibility that we are not here for ourselves but for others.

How Do You Want Your DayTo Be

When you start your day take a moment to think about how you want that day to be. See yourself going through the day , just as you would want it to flow. Then try to stay on that path, in that place, and not be moved. Fill your heart with joy, thankfulness, and all good things and do not let the thief of adversity come and steal from you what is rightfully yours.

Lavender dresses

I saw something particularly endearing yesterday at Wal-Mart. I fell into line at the cash register and before me was a little old lady. A real little old lady. I was glad she was slow about removing her things from her cart ,it gave me time to watch her and take in every detail of her appearance. She looked like a grandmother from a story book.
She had on a lavender floral dress, white ankle socks and black comfy shoes. Her white hair was pulled up in a bun with two filigree hair combs securing the sides, a hair style that her fingers had performed for many years without thought, just twist turn and tuck, if you looked close you could see a hair net over it all, keeping every hair nice and neat. She wore old wire framed glasses and no jewelry. She was a sight to behold.
My heart was truly smiling as I watched this sweet lady. I say sweet because I watched her face and she had a kind face, relaxed and peaceful. Then..... I received my gift............ she lifted her eyes from her things, turned and looked in my eyes and I smiled...and she gave me a beautiful smile back.
What a moment of pleasure this dear woman was to me, her sweetness, the freedom she had being just who she was, no airs about society fancy clothes fine jewelry. She was all about the spirit and little to do with the things of this world. I wanted to talk with her, ask her how she felt about things, I wanted to know the hardships she had endured in her life and how she over came them. As she walked away I was so pleased to have witnessed her kind spirit and thankful for the fleeting moment of endearment that my heart felt.
Life brings such wonderful heart treasures all we have to do is slow down and look, they are before us waiting to be taken in.... wonderful moments that give our hearts a pause in such a hurried "me first" world.
My spirit desires the peace that comes with lavender dresses, white neat hair buns, and comfy shoes.... a place of peace that comes from knowing that the things of this world are of little importance and that the things of the spirit are the most import of all.