Winter's End, Pictures from Last Evening at Twilight

'Man is like a tree, bodily asceticism is the foliage, interior vigilance the fruit. According to that which is written, "Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be cut down and cast into the fire" (Matt. 3:10) it is clear that all our care should be directed toward the fruit, that is to say, guard of the spirit; but it needs the protection and the embellishment of the foliage, which is bodily asceticism.'

St. Agathon

'Your soul needs a brief winter. The winter purifies the air and the earth of foul vapors; it even invigorates the human body. If it strips the trees of their leaves, it is only to the end that they take deeper roots. The spring comes afterwards, and clothes them again with verdure and blossoms.'

St. Paul of the Cross

'Blessed Francis Patrizi, who had the greatest devotion to the "Hail Mary" used to recite five hundred a day. Mary announced the hour of his death to him, and he died as a saint. After forty years, a beautiful lily grew out of his mouth, and on each of the leaves was written the "Hail Mary" in letters of gold. This lily was afterwards taken to France.'

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

The winter here was long and hard, the hardest here I've had. It is surprising to me how some old weeds and flowers have not fallen down through it all. The ivy is still green. The new bamboo.. has faded to tan, it was green through most of the winter, but the very end of it was too much and it gave out.

The Lord is gracious, hard winters and easy, long and short.. It is all in Providence, all in God's good time.

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Fawns in the Rain

The fawns which visited not too long ago returned during the rains the other day. There's flooding down by the river, but I am on a safe incline. I hope and pray the poor folks down by the river come out of it all without harm.

Images of Young Fawns

Three fauns came to visit for the entire afternoon. Here are some inspirational reflections. '"Walk before Me and be perfect." (Gen. xvii. i.) Let everything recall to you the presence of God. If, for example, you go into the garden and see some flowers, ask one of them. What are you? It will not reply, I am a flower. No, but it will say to you, Ego vox - I am a preacher; I preach the power, the wisdom, the goodness, the beauty, the prudence of our great God. Imagine that the flower makes you this reply, and let it penetrate your heart and teach you a lesson of divine love.' St. Paul of the Cross 'All that God gives us and all that He permits in this world have no other end than to sanctify us in Him.' St. Catherine of Siena A prayer. . . Act of Love from the Small Roman Missal As the hart panteth after the fountains of water, so my soul panteth after Thee, O God! "My soul hath thirsted after the strong, living Go...

Swissonic 88 Keyboard and Unique MIDI Controllers

Well my new keyboard has arrived in the mail, the Swissonic 88. It is intended to replace the Keystation 88 as the main keyboard I use. It's my hope that the sliders and aftertouch will give me some added control over the instruments. So far I am happy with the feel of the keys, and can say it's a solidly made device. The Yamaha FC-7 pedal I have works with it, with the polarity reversed, unlike the Keystation. The touch of the keys is just slightly heavier than the Keystation which is a light touch keyboard. I prefer a light touch. The Keystation keys, are comparatively loose and light, the Swissonic, solid and light. The same can be said for the modwheel. Overall the Swissonic being made of metal and a significant degree heavier than the Keystation gives a more reliable impression. I'd prefer aesthetically the Swissonic to be white or black, rather than pewter gray. The Keystation also takes up less space. It took me some time to get the Swissonic's sli...

White Piano

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