Fred, the Belgian Draft, Headshot.

There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.
~Winston Churchill

Today's Joy (Part II): Watching the Family Share What They Love Most.
Reader, today was a wonderful opportunity for me to follow on foot and photograph my family & friends participating in the Homecoming Celebration at St. James Farm. What a honor for them to be asked to show their horses and ponies for the public and in honor of this amazing facility, which has hosted innumerable world-class equestrian events over the years.

They were all having such a good time, I wanted to capture every moment! Below are a few of my favorite shots from the day. More highlights of the Homecoming Celebration are available here.


Uncle & Fred in the royal blue buggy.


Little Man, Priscilla & Cousin resting before the parade.

Aunt, A Driving Portrait.

Aunt Chef & Bibiena, one of the original St. James Lipizzans.

A little love before we go in the arena.

The horse is God's gift to mankind. ~Arabian Proverb

The lovely Grace & Sarah, the Suffolk Punch.

Feeling down? Saddle up. ~Author Unknown

Little Man, Priscilla & Cousin demonstrate Lead Line for the crowd.

Aunt makes a very pretty picture driving Super Charge, her welsh pony (2006 Roadster Pony of the Year).

Even an E-type Jaguar looks merely flash beside a really smart pony and trap.

~Marion C. Garretty

Cousin warms up her American Quarter Horse mare, Decka, for the barrels & flags demonstration.

To me, horses and freedom are synonymous. ~Veryl Goodnight

At four years old, Little Man is already riding Priscilla, the pony Santa brought him for Christmas, all by himself.

The incomparable Grace dressed to the nines and showing off her custom-made wicker cart.

Uncle & Fred, the Belgian Draft, showing off their moves.

Aunt & Charge working for the crowd.

Aunt Chef long lining Bibiena. Purchased by Brooks McCormick as a two year-old, Bibiena was part of the celebrated St. James Farm Lipizzan four-up for many years. Now semi-retired, Bibiena enjoys a leisurely life & the occasional show with Aunt Chef.

Julie & her Arabian mare, Breezy, represent their favorite discipline, Competitive Trail Riding.

Little Man leaves the arena after demonstrating his newly-acquired riding skills.

In my opinion, a horse is the animal to have. Eleven-hundred pounds of raw muscle, power, grace, and sweat between your legs - it's something you just can't get from a pet hamster. ~Author Unknown

Cousin exits the arena after wowing the crowd with her barrel pattern & flag run. Her 16 year-old AQHA mare, Decka, routinely performs a 7-second flag run.

Grace & her husband Peter enjoy visiting.

Kelly & her Clydesdale-Morgan cross, Toby, move out for the crowd.

Cathy & Harry, Kelly's parents & lifelong horsemen, enter the arena as part of the Fox Valley Saddle Association & Hub Club contingent.

Horse Quotes courtesy of The Quote Garden.

A breath-taking sight: Andalusian stallion with his handler.

Today's Joy (Part I): The Horses & Varied Disciplines Exhibited at the St. James Farm Homecoming Celebration.
Reader, after attending & photographing this amazing equestrian event with my family, I looked over all the images I captured (nearly 600 in total) and decided that one post is insufficient to pay homage to my loved ones & their horses as well as all of the other participants. So, Part I of today's joy includes just a few shots of the various breeds, riding disciplines and showmanship demonstrated on May 29th, 2010 at St. James Farm.

Many of the shots below feature a traveling performance troupe of Andalusians & Friesians. They were a sight to behold. SO gorgeous! I couldn't whip my camera out fast enough to capture their dramatic and skillful demonstrations. For more highlights from the St. James Farm Forest Preserve Homecoming Celebration, click here.


Andalusian stallion headshot.


A gorgeous pair.

Riding Demonstration.

Andalusian stallion bows for the crowd.

Andalusian in harness.

Andalusian pulling a cart.

Another gorgeous Andalusian.

A beautiful Dressage demonstration.

Demonstrating the concentration & precision required in Dressage riding.

Dressage Movement.

Girl & Friesian demonstrate Spanish riding.

Mario & his traveling troupe waiting to perform.

Spanish Riding & Long Lining Demonstration.

Mario demonstrating Spanish horsemanship and long lining from the saddle.

Mario & Andalusian pair bow for the crowd.

Member of Miniature Horse Drill Team.

Vaulting Demonstration.

My Garden O' Galoshes, May, 2010.

Today's Joy: Watching Things Grow.

A crazy, hectic day, Reader. Came home from work and dove right into helping the family get ready for their big day at the St. James Farm Forest Preserve Homecoming Celebration tomorrow. With the announcer's script written and emailed, a fab gourmet lunch packed for tomorrow and my camera gear ready to catch them in all their show-fabulousness, it's nearly midnight and I am pooped!

Realized I forgot to water my flowers this morning, so I popped outside to check. Sure enough, they're a little dry. Will remember to water them extra well tomorrow. They sure are growing well though, and bursting with vivid blossoms. Hard to believe they've grown so much in less than a week! Isn't it amazing how life continues to work its little miracles every day?

When I think about all the energy in our bodies and how all the mysterious processes of life are constantly going on to keep us alive, upright and breathing, it really is mind-boggling. Especially when you multiple that by all the processes going on in the plants and animals around us--and around the world! What an awesome, complicated, well-orchestrated system of cycles and neurons firing...however God does it, it's a beautiful thing to behold.

Cousin & I at the beautiful St. James Farm Forest Preserve in Warrenville, IL, May 2010.

Today's Joy: Going to a Fancy Party.
(My apologies, Reader, for the late arrival of this post. Have gotten a little behind on my daily entries with it being Memorial Day weekend!)

Was so ecstatic to be invited along tonight to the gorgeous St. James Farm Forest Preserve in Warrenville, IL for a swanky reception! It's been a long time since I've had an occasion to break out my favorite white dress, high heels & fancy-party handbags. I even curled my hair! Yup, this girl felt fancy.

The reception was organized by the St. James Farm Conservation Committee as a thank you to the exhibitors who will be showing their horses and demonstrating various types of riding at this weekend's upcoming Homecoming Celebration. St. James Farm, once the retreat of the McCormick family, founders of International Harvester, is now part of the Forest Preserve District of Dupage County and after several years of renovations, will now be open to the public.


Invited to Exhibit at the St. James Farm Homecoming Celebration,
My Family Attends the Appreciation Reception.

Reader, if you're familiar with my blog, you know that my family members are avid horse enthusiasts who often drive and show their horses and ponies. They've also been blessed, through their equestrian contacts, to receive one of the original four St. James Farm Lipizzans. So, they were honored when asked to exhibit at the Homecoming Celebration & attend the Exhibitors' Reception. As their resident photographer, I was also invited to attend and photograph all related events. Woo-hoo!


One of the Buffet Tables at the St. James Farm Reception.

The reception was fabulous! Held under a cluster of pavilions centered around a large water fountain with three dolphin sculptures, we were beautifully situated to view the grounds and the property's unique octagonal show barn. The hors d'oeuvres were delish and laid out in a lavish buffet that meandered through the pavilions. We ate and laughed and oggled the amazing facilities while a trio of flutists played in the background.


The Divine Ms. "M" & Little Man.

It was so much fun to see everybody all gussied up and having a good time! They even got a chance to scout out the grounds a bit--and I got a chance to get a few fun, candid shots of them enjoying this beautiful place.


Cousin Gives Little Man a Piggyback Ride.

Aunt Chef & Uncle Looking Fabulous.

Having a Ball!

Today's Joy: Just a Good Day.

There's nothing spectacular or particularly noteworthy about today, Reader. It's a rainy Wednesday in late May. I went to work this morning--a typical four-hour shift at my store. I quietly helped a few people, made some money and freshened up several vignettes around the store. I was in a good mood, shared that with others and was aware of God being in my heart all day.

After work, I picked Mom up and saw her safely home, then headed home myself. Sang along to K-Love the whole way. Once home, I petted the cat, got the mail and half-heartedly scolded the poodles & dalmatian for tracking mud through the kitchen. Then the rain let up for a minute so I popped out and got this great shot of one of my gerbera daisies.

Yup, a totally peaceful, ordinary day. Ahhhh. Hope yours was too.

The best things in life are nearest: Breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of right just before you. Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life's plain, common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life. ~ Robert Louis Stevenson

Quote courtesy of The Quote Garden.

Every happening, great and small, is a parable whereby God speaks to us, and the art of life is to get the message. ~ Malcolm Muggeridge

Today's Joy: Time Spent with God.
Had the day off today, Reader. I fell asleep last night after reading a few chapters of The Shack, by William P. Young. This is my second reading of this amazing book. So it felt only natural, upon waking this morning, to stretch luxuriously in bed and then pick up right where I left off. I read for a bit, absorbed some more deep and wonderful ideas and then got about starting my day.

After attending to the daily duties of living, I found myself drawn back to the book in the afternoon. So, I read some more. And passages that hadn't resonated with me during my first reading popped up like beacons of understanding this time around. There are several questions I've been pondering in regard to faith. Questions that my readings & discussions with spiritual advisors have not entirely answered. I'm sure you have a few such quandaries yourself, Reader. So, you will understand when I say that I really struggle with some of these faith roadblocks.

Mostly, they have to do with the rules of written teachings feeling incongruous with what I know in my heart about God & love.

In The Shack, Sarayu (my favorite character) advises, Don't look for rules and principles. Look for relationship--a way of coming to be with us. She further refers to responsibilities and expectations as subtle forms of these rules--words that were once live verbs (response & expectancy) but which we humans have turned into dead nouns. In essence, routines, rituals & obligations, which take away from our live relationship with God.

God is a verb, not a noun proper or improper. ~ R. Buckminster Fuller, No More Secondhand God, 1963

In The Shack, over and over, Papa, Jesus & Sarayu (the three faces of God in the book) all reiterate that they want to be in relationship with us. They want to live inside us, to be a part of everything we do--not just a chore to be completed on our daily to-do list (did the dishes, picked up the kids, prayed to God, etc).

When I think of the healthy relationships around me, I know a hint of that togetherness & acceptance. That understanding that no matter what your flaws, someone loves you unconditionally. Of course, with God, it's on a scale more infinite than anything I can imagine. But I see snippets of His love in my love for others and in the way they love me. God is the ultimate form of that--more than I can comprehend and more than I'll ever need. I like the idea that he's there with me every moment, seeing all that I do, celebrating triumphs & drawing close in times of sorrow.

The feeling remains that God is on the journey, too. ~Teresa of Avila

I love too, that he has extended this offer of relationship to everyone, regardless of race, color, belief or persuasion. He longs for fellowship with each of us. He is "especially fond" of all his children, whatever their circumstance, wherever they have been. He always offers them the chance to come to him in fellowship. As I progress in my own faith & relationship with Him, I can't imagine life any other way. Tonight, I can't wait to return to my book and see what other revelations I will find. What an amazing journey! Dear Reader, I hope my little musing gets you thinking--maybe even curious enough to pick up Mr. Young's book, or better yet, God's. Or, hit your knees and talk to the Man, Himself. I'm sure he'd love to hear from you. More revelations to come!

People see God every day, they just don't recognize him. ~Pearl Bailey


Quotes courtesy of The Quote Garden.

Sedona Rose

“I want creation to penetrate you with so much admiration that wherever you go, the least plant may bring you the clear remembrance of the Creator. …One blade of grass or one speck of dust is enough to occupy your entire mind in beholding the art with which it has been made." ~ St. Basil the Great (329-379)


Today's Joy: The Amazing Variety in God's Creation.
While going thru the photos I took when Mom & I were out exploring area garden centers this past weekend, I found a bunch I wanted to share with you, Reader. These were taken at either The Planter's Palette in Winfield, IL or at Heinz Bros. Greenhouse in St. Charles.

There are some real beauties and an incredible variety of shapes, textures and hues. We had such a wonderful time marveling over plants and clever landscaping. Looking at the images I captured with my camera, I feel blessed to be surrounded by such beauty. It also reminds me that our trivial, human attempts at dabbling in hybridization don't even begin to scratch the surface of what God is capable of creating. A sobering thought.

“Love all of God's creation, the whole of it and every grain of sand. Love every leaf, every ray of God's light! Love the animals, love the plants, love everything. If you love everything, you will soon perceive the divine mystery in things. Once you perceive it, you will begin to comprehend it better every day. And you will come at last to love the whole world with an all-embracing love.” ~ Fydor Doestoyevski (1821-1881)

Of course, Doestoyevski is right. In the end, it's all about love anyway. God's love for us. God's love for Creation. God's wish for us to love each other as He loves us. That love includes stewardship of all the amazing, breathing beings around us. Two-legged, four-legged, six or eight-legged, even millipedes! And those beings that have no legs at all.

All are part of that great something we all long to touch. Funny, isn't it, how we spend our lives searching for the one thing that will fulfill us, only to find out we had it within us all the time. Actually, we're made of it. How's that for tangible love?

“Earth is crammed with heaven
And every bush aflame with God
But only those who see take off their shoes.”
~ Elizabeth Barrett Browning


If Chunk Were Made Of Stone...


Mom surrounded by hanging baskets, The Planter's Palette


Fairy Garden in Wheelbarrow, The Planter's Palette



Ornamental Kale (?)

Gerbera Daisy

Rose

Love & Peace Rose

Sedona Rose

Rose

Rose

Marigolds

Ornamental Onion

Perennial Cornflower

Peony

A swirly whats-it that caught my eye...

The Planter's Palette

Red Velvet Rose, Heinz Bros. Greenhouse

Rose

Rose, Heinz Bros. Greenhouse

Rose

Rose

Poppy, Heinz Bros. Greenhouse

Columbine

Cherub

Creation Quotes courtesy of Climbing For Christ.