Blessings Upon Blessings in a Weekend

Since this is the Lenten season, our focus is on Christ's gift to us; therefore, our activities tend to reflect this. Some days have gone over and above with blessings and encounters with some outstanding  people who live in service to our Saviour.

Saturday Morning:  

Catholic Women of the Chapel

Mary, Queen of Peace - Stations of the Cross

We followed John Paul II's Biblical Way of the Cross that

varied from the traditional Way.

Lani, our president, led the way!

Life-size nativity in a cave

Representing the risen Christ

Rather stark Stations with Etna in the distance

Sunday Morning:  

Little Sisters of the Poor

Acireale

celebrate their Patron, St. Joseph

Beautiful Mass
Overflowing  Chapel

First time meeting the new Bishop of Acireale

 

With the Madre and Knights of Malta

 

 

Sunday Evening:

Franciscan Missionaries Visit our

Immaculate Conception Parish Community

Father  Frank and Dana

 

 The Franciscan Missionaries

take vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.

Their mission is to evangelize, and they were in Motta to ring

every doorbell.

 Sister and Agata, translator

 

 

Joyful singing!

After the pot luck and getting to know one another

Another joyful song before we bid, 'Farewell!'

 

(Little did we know that we had quite a week ahead!

More to come!)

 

 

 




Brucoli Saturday

Although out of chronological order, some  recent comments have inspired me to attempt to catch up with the blog.  This Saturday is too beautiful not to share!

Fresh fish for sale!

Mt. Etna and the sea

Always a lighthouse picture when we run across one.

For David..... who

encouraged me to name the blog Rakins and Scrapins.

 

Enjoying the sunshine!

Our table

Anna, the resident dog

What a sweetheart!

Bruschetta with tuna and tomato

Marinated shrimp

Bread served in a white paper bag

Variation on the orange salad...this one with fennel

rather than green onion.

Spaghetti ricci

 

If there is an open church, go in!

 

 

Belated Valentine Gift Couldn't be Sweeter!

My Valentine gift was delayed, but it could not have been better...or sweeter! Nothing tastier than REAL honey from bees of Mt. Etna.  "High Mountain Chestnut" and "1,000 Flowers."

...

Farewell and Etna...or a Miscellaneous Weekend

4/5's of one of our favorite families (plus an extra child and Flint)

out for seafood in Capo Mulini.

Dear, fun people, and we're really going to miss them.

 

Even with poor lighting, the boys are too cute! 

Saturday Morning

 

An errand to run in Catania, then to Nicolosi

where we watched Etna puff away from two

vantage points. Although it's not visible, a perfect

smoke ring had formed to the right of the puffs.

 

 



 

Zooming  in!

 

 

A visit with a dear friend always involves something special.

 

An old hanger
The extension allowed one to reach higher
hanging spots.

Detail of an ancient Christening gown ~
beautiful, perfect stitches.

Summertime.....2013

                                                                        Rural Louisiana:  Dubach

                                                             Autrey Log House

 

Ruston Farmer's Market along with old cemeteries made

for a relaxing first weekend while hanging out with the nephew.

 

We enjoyed the company of many people who are not pictured or named, but

we are forever thankful for their hospitality and friendship.

And, we missed many as we didn't have enough time....

 

 

 

 Katha with one of CARLEY'S two new puppies we met.

These pups are book material.

Texas Touring

A trip to visit cousin, Kat, included Saturday in Dallas.

An honor to spend the morning at The George W. Bush Presidential Center,

I felt as if I were visiting one of my favorite public families.

 

Beautiful Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Gualdalupe in downtown Dallas

Cornerstone was laid in 1898.

With one of the dearest people to us in the world, our

friend Shirley, along with one of her grands.

Getting up very early, we drove to her house,

picked her up for church, then ate lunch before hitting the road again.

 

Lake Charles to Baton Rouge

After MANY years, I finally had the pleasure of meeting

Flint's Army buddy, Robin, his lovely wife, Kammy, and 2/3 of

their children plus pets.

 

 

Just part of Roy and Sandra's clan

I failed to immortalize Stephen and his growing family. 

Thrilled that Rebecca continues to call

me 'aunt' as I had not seen her since she was somewhere in the age-range

of her two older children. What energetic and wonderful little ones!

 Ruston Peach Festival

The Peach Festival always includes a quilt show

and an antique

car show.

I didn't realize it until later, but a cousin pieced and quilted the entry

on the right. All were beautiful and creative.

The overall winner just happened to be in the

shop and posed by her winning quilt.

Life-long friend Wanda

invited Posey and me over for

peach cookies and tea.

 

 

Love it when LA TECH friends Joe and Myra come to town!

It's a great excuse to overindulge at Rabbs if

a sports event isn't happening.

 Flint and my sister have this thing going. He always

picks her up....even if she says that her purse weighs too much or

her shoes weigh too much, etc.

Lovely, relaxing evening with Keith and Stephanie

Keith and Flint's friendship go back to Flint's

high school days and Keith's early Air Force days in

Yokota, Japan.

 

We interrupted more LA TECH friends, Joe and Becky, although Joe had just

exited the hospital. So glad we did since we saw the newlyweds

 and met Buckaroo!

Another Army connection

We knew Hondo in Germany. Now retired, we were

so happy to visit with him again and meet his lovely wife, Dianne.

 

(Looking back at the two Army pictures, isn't it odd that the

men's clothes 'match' in both?)