Clouds of red leaves like startled sparrows

Clouds of red leaves

pause on the branches like

startled sparrows caught in mid flight

as beautiful as flames of gold and burnished bronze

in the summer's heat.

- Catherine Nicolette

With tribute to the garden poet Tassa Eida and Minoru
Japanese Gardens

Why not visit the gardens?

http://www.discoverireland.ie/Activities-Adventure/irish-national-stud-japanese-gardens-st-fiachras-garden/534

Paddling in the clear Irish water

Paddling in the clear Irish water

Children always know what to do.

On a clear summer day

When it's hot in Ireland

And the rain has unexpectedly gone in to rest

Everyone goes for a walk.

I hear the sound of cool water

gurgling over the rocks 

I go over to find

every child in the vicinity 

has bared their feet

and enjoyed the benison of

the cool water created by God.

Paddling in the clear Irish water -

what better way to

celebrate a summer's day...

*Photograph taken by Catherine Nicolette

The flame of flowers in the midday sun

The flame of flowers in the midday sun

*Photograph taken by Catherine Nicolette

Horses in midsummer

Horses in midsummer

*Photograph taken by Catherine Nicolette

A Little Foal

A little foal

*Photograph taken by Catherine Nicolette

Wild Irish Poppy

Photograph of a wild Irish poppy

*Taken by Catherine Nicolette

Peaceful swans on a lazy summer afternoon

Peaceful swans on a lazy summer afternoon

*Photograph taken by Catherine Nicolette

Red roses and wire fences

Bloom where you are planted

I saw these roses at the top of a low garden shed. They was standing gloriously against the eggshell blue sky, having made their way through wire fencing and along wooden posts. I couldn't help thinking about life - we all face challenges. Sometimes the fence, the wire and the harsh posts that symbolise our obstacles may  seem too daunting to face.


But, deep within each of us  is the ability to win out over life's odds and eventually become our full individual self. We have the ability to bloom, glorious and unique, against the great sky of the universe and under the kindly Eye of our Creator God.


His Grace is the kindly rain that nourishes us.
His Love is the soft sun that warms us.
His Energy is the seed that bears us.
His Compassion is the wind that cools us.
His Knowledge is our strength, the sap that brings us growth.


God does not make mistakes. Each of us is unique. Let us celebrate our gift!
There has only ever been one you.
There is only one you.
There will only ever be one you.
God made you, and you alone, for some marvellous purpose. Work with Him, and trust Him, on this one.
Find the reason He rejoiced to create you to this earth.




*Photograph taken by Catherine Nicolette. Please feel free to use copyright free for any worthy purpose

Glowing Irish flowers on Summer's Day

The glowing beauty of Irish flowers on a summer's day

*Photograph taken by Catherine Nicolette. 

Please feel free to use copright free

for any worthy purpose.

In the Irish countryside

*Beautiful Ireland in the countryside. Photograph taken by Catherine Nicolette. Please feel free to use copyright free for any worthy purpose

Japanese brush strokes of ink against the sky

As a child I had a wonderful book which my parents had given me as gift; it was a step by step book on how to learn Japanese brush painting. I spent many happy hours trying (unsuccessfully) to emulate the Sumi-e master's strokes of ink which created rivers; mountains; birds; fish; bamboo; chicks; flowers; and exquisite lettering. I never mastered the art though large papers littered my room, and saucers with dried ink and carefully washed brushes lay around bearing testimony to many hours spent trying to learn the art.


What I did learn was a deep love and appreciation for the wondrous art of Japan, and for the great Master Hiroshige and other masters of art. The great Monet, Whistler and Van Gogh took great interest in Japanese brush painting.


When I saw the brush of the branches and the growing cones against the pale summer cloud-filled sky, I wished I had a bamboo brush in my hand again with the ground ink I used to make, happily filling the paper with the strokes of the beautiful landscape portrayed by Japanese art.


Here is a link to a wonderful site about Chinese and Japanese brush painting, with woodblock prints by the Japanese print maker Hiroshige. Explanations of Monet, Whistler, Van Gogh and Hiroshige are given, and there are glowing landscape paintings by Ma Wan Yuan Dynasty, Tang Yin, Ni Zan and other artists. Printable handouts, projects, tutorials and animated film using traditional Chinese landscape painting techniques and music are on this link. Enjoy this wonderful world of the swish of the brush casting the needles and cones of the tree against the clouded sky ...

http://thehelpfulartteacher.blogspot.ie/2011/02/art-of-brush.html
*With thanks to the Helpful Art Teacher for this wonderful blog post
*Photograph taken by Catherine Nicolette in summer of Dublin. Please feel free to use copyright free for any worthy purpose

You are always the Hand Who created me

Within my heart I rejoice in the radiance of Your Creation, O Lord our God
 You Whom we know by so many different names
   In so many cultures and parts of our wondrous globe.
     Yet in the depths of my heart, in the sanctuary of my inner being,
       You are always the Hand Who created me ...
         Who watched me blossom into being
           As beautiful in Your Sight as
              The peach blossoms graciously rejoicing
                against the soft green of the leaves
                  of their wisdom and love.


Teach me to be worthy of You, dear Lord
  Teach me to love all whom I meet
    Teach me to forgive the ungracious
      To turn the other cheek of forgiveness by not seeking revenge
        Help me to be the best I can be
          Help me to graciously accept the limitations of the intellect and body you gave me
            Help me to share the essence of my God-created being with  others
              Help me to be faithful to You.


So that I may reach out to every person in my human family across our whole globe
  That I may be a symbol of forgiveness and love to all I meet
    That I may help each one in some way
      That I may inspire the lonely
        And help the sick
          And encourage the downhearted
            And teach the student in need
              And give alms to the destitute
                And ... above all ... to seek to follow Your Way


Of forgiveness; mercy; compassion; graciousness; justice; and LOVE.


Thank You for creating me, God,
  And giving me the change to experience your wonderful world
    Let me offer you the gift of this picture, the Japanese garden artist's gracious blooms
      Peach in colour, and soft green in background,
        As a thank you for all the gifts you have given me,
          The greatest of them the gift of life
             as a member of your human family
               created by Your Divinity


May I always praise and bless You
  May I never reject You
    May I always treat Your Name with reverence,
      O great and gracious God.
                                 Amen.


*Photograph taken by Catherine Nicolette

Nature poem of Tassa Eida and Minoru

The serenity of the nature poem of the garden designed by the great Japanese 

garden artist Tassa Eida and his son Minoru. 

The softness of the shaded leaves and brushstroked branches 

forming Japanese poems of beauty in the 

gentle Dublin summer heat paint a background

 to the pastel greys of the stone invoking peace and tranquillity 

in the foreground. The red detail of the door glimpsed 

to the left of the picture are a gentle reminder 

that after this peace and meditation, we once more 

must enter through the doors of busyness back into our lives.

However, we will return through the red painted doors into the 

bustle of our daily lives strengthened by 

the beauty and peace we have found,

 leading to inner strength in the garden.

*Photograph taken in the exquisite Japanese gardens in Kildare, Ireland

less than an hour's travel outside Dublin. Why not visit?

Swans in the summer

I sat watching these two swans for a long time in the

 afternoon slumbering heat 

of Dublin summer.

The colours of the exquisite Irish afternoon

 reminded me of the wonderful Monet brush strokes

in his canvasses bringing to life the soft muted light of 

Impressionist paintings of nature.  I could almost imagine 

these were swans chatting to each other as

 they readied to move onto the water lily pond

 near Giverny...

*Photograph taken by Catherine Nicolette.

 Please feel free to use copyright free for any worthy purpose

The Miracle of Motherhood

The mother nurtures her young

How wonderful is Nature

*Photograph taken by Catherine Nicolette in beautiful Ireland