wall painting from the catacombs in Rome

ElGreco Cleansing the Temple

Jesus heals the blind man : Jesusmafa

G.K. Chesterton (1874–1936) The Donkey When fishes flew and forests walked And figs grew upon thorn, Some moment when the moon was blood Then surely I was born; With monstrous head and sickening cry And ears like errant wings, The devil's walking parody On all four-footed things. The tattered outlaw of the earth, Of ancient crooked will; Starve, scourge, deride me: I am dumb, I keep my secret still. Fools! For I also had my hour; One far fierce hour and sweet: There was a shout about my ears, And palms before my feet. Chesterton captures Palm Sunday from the perspective of the donkey that Jesus rode. can't you just imagine it ?!

Day of Reflection...

today, being one year since the first Coronovirus lockdown began, has been chosen as a national day of reflection... suggesting that we share a minute of silence at midday to reflect on and give thanks for the lives of all those we have lost during this year...whether from the virus, or not... see the marie curie website ... www.mariecurie.org.uk

dancing leaves seriesof etched glass panels : janet driver ... 1) dancing lime: deep blue antique glass on yellow background glass [see my website for page on acid-etched glass "www.janetdriver.co.uk"

East Window, St Martin in the Fields, London... looking into the church from outside, after dark...interesting use of clear glass and leading to make a design that reminds one of the Resurrection... now look at the window from inside the church...

www.churchmissionsociety.org has stories about inspirational women who have worked with CMS, so if you wish to celbrate International Womens Day why not begin there...

Canterbury Cathedral: stained glass window by Erwin Bossanyi

world day of prayer

African Mirage : etched, painted & stained glass : janet driver

photos : Margaret Howard : early saffron-centered crocus

Our Almond tree looks beautiful with its early blossoms like bright stars against the dark hedge down the garden...it is still very young and rather straggly though, so another pruning job on the horison!... I'm just wondering if its a bit too cold for any bees to be around for polination... there have been fewer and fewer bees and butterflies compared with when we retired and moved to Wivenhoe...we planted a whole lot of lavender in our front garden and in the summer the bushes used to be full of bumble bees... until last year...how many of us have been unwittingly using neonicotinoid insect sprays that have been killing off the bees ? I was horrified when I got home and read the small print on a hand spray I had hurredly picked up from a pile near the checkout of a large local garden centre...I couldnt believe they would be selling this stuff at all, especially marked up at sale price just by the exit...so now I stop worrying about the insects and leave them to all the small birds flying around searching for food...and never touch that awful spray !