May...Month of flowers and Mary

Since it is the month of May and Mary,a lot of search was going on vigorously about flowers. It has been found that a great month to  to honour Our Lady and see various blooms.

It  was on my search of flowers that ended up with ideas of creating Mary garden this month as this is a month with lot of blooming flowers, beautiful scents, hovering flies. Many flowers like bluebells, daisies, pansies, petunias, tulips, blossoms are seen this time of spring

Did you know that many flowers have Marian names? Marigolds, Rose of Sharon, Rosemary, Lavendar etc.. That has amazed me with so many flowers and plants you know has Marian names.       You can even create Mary's garden in your own outdoor garden or indoor within a pot. Plants and trees with Marian names can be planted along with a Mary statue reminder of  great love of Our Lord and Lady and God's creation.

People saw reminders of Mary in their daily lives and found something special in many of these herbs and flowers, Book of Mary's flowers mention  as ancient legend says  fragnant flowers and herbs reflected Mary's spiritual sweetness and soothing .Mary's garden were very common in medieval times and the ideas has been originated in 5th Century. Lots of information are found in here starry mantle, fish eaters, pinterest, mommy erin, catholic icing and lookat him.

This has inspired me to grow a Mary Garden which just initiated, started planting some flowers and herbs in our front garden with marigold, petunia, fuchsia, thyme etc...

Some of the Marian names of the common flowers and herbs.
Marigold; Mary's gold
Petunia; Mary's praises
English Daisy; MaryLoves
Calendula; Mary's bud
Lavender; Flight  to Egypt
Daffodil; Mary's Star
Tulip; Mary's prayer
Rosemary; Dewdrops of Mary/ nosegay
Rose; Mary's rose
Thyme; The virgin's humility (Mary's Flowers...)


Yesterday we went to Fletcher park and Parsonage garden  in Didsbury started in 19th century, which was so beautiful with wide array of beautiful sweet scented flowers with various hovering bees sucking the nectar. Felt like a day in Garden of Eden and children just took some guides to learn the names of some flowers. Enjoyed the beautiful sunshine too.

 

 
 

Ge in the games club and is going to be one soon

Another beautiful thing of May is Crowning , which was done last week as a gesture to honour Mary. Children beaded crown and each of them got the chance to crown three of our statues.

Ad Jesum Per Mary

March 4 life 2016 & Feast of Pentecost

 It was a great experience for us family to be part of  March 4 life, saw thousands of pro-lifers walking in Birmingham streets to raise awareness of the hurt and damage due to abortion and protecting the life of unborn babies. Amazing experience to see people marching by singing and cheering their way passing the shoppers.

Kids enjoyed the day with face painting, carrying play card  'Life from Conception, No exception'.

On the next day was the Feast of Pentecost and Recomittment day for JY's. Children(Thomas family n Mundackal ) already baked some cupcakes and decorated with flames of Pentecost for fundraising

Bluebells..Ascension....Our trip

On Thursday we were reminded of Ascension of our Lord. However many diocese celebrates on Sunday. Spring is springing and leaves are unfolding and we could see bluebells  making a spectacular display in many woodlands. Bluebells transform the woodlands and garden with blue haze and the sweet scent. A few weeks before when you walk, there were only leaf less trees, now trees full of flowers and leaves. Jesus' ascension reminds us His greater plan and much hope in the coming of Pentecost.

On Ascension, we commemorate His return to the Father in heaven and every time we repeat Creed together '' He ascended into heaven''...Our Lord is waiting for us.The three days before the Feast of Ascension is called Rogation days as these days in Europe, people gang together and bless each fields they pass by and bless gardens too. Why don't you fancy going up to a hilltop and have a picnic with your family reminding Ascension. ?(A book of feast and Seasons).

We were in Southampton and Portsmouth last week. Bluebells in Southampton and Portsmouth.

May is the month of Mary 

when buttercups are golden

And daisies bright and gay

There comes a feast of Jesus

We call it Ascension Day.

Cruise in Southampton port.

Ascension cake
Waffles with some Sacred heart strawberries with some heavenly looking clouds of yum, reminds the Ascension of Jesus.

Day Out in Spring

Spring is in the air. April showers do spring May flowers.Spring is often marked by increased rainfall to water the infant seeds taking root in the ground. Looking at the fading daffodils and passing of deadness of winter, pondering on new signs of life, risen Lord, buds, baby animals , planting seeds and  brighter days seems great.

We thought to get out to enjoy today's wonderful sunshine, made a walk through our water park and took a step into the orchard. It was such a wonderful day for all of us, children are trying to build the den while me n Jobychayan were sitting and relaxing.

There are so many things to do with children in spring, getting out and enjoy fresh air, flowers, chirping of the birds, marvelous work of the master. Children took their guides , thread, scissors, magnifying glass, load up with some foods etc to do leaf identification and observation fun. Annu drew some experimental drawings by putting paper over the bark of the trees and rub crayons on top.

Some part of den was done and left home, probably will visit again soon to complete it as kids wanted to visit again.

Poetry Together Event

Poetry together event is organised by Manchester Children's Book festival and British Red Cross to encourage children , parents and grand parents to share ideas and create brand new poetry. We went for a workshop run by Poetry Together in MMU. Children were encouraged to write about their local area and what they liked and disliked about it.


It was a  great way to see how poetry is done with generations, writing poems using different senses. Very inspiring and children started writing some poems. Local poet helped with one workshop aimed at sparking your inner poet.

Divine Mercy Sunday

We attended our local church divine mercy devotions, chaplet and small reflection was there. There was mod podge of people from different churches.One of our friends visited our house , Annu n Theresu tidied up cassette shelf and Munnu made a carrot cake for today.

Carrot cake with strawberries and blueberries representing the red and blue rays from the heart of Jesus and picture with a toothpick.

Albert Bierstadt

This half term we are going to know more about the painter Albert Bienstadt. So nice to see misty luminance of his landscapes.

After reading his biography a little bit, we looked at his different pictures.Children were let to choose their own one, however they decided to chose one and Munnu made a bit alteration in his painting from the real one.

Using soft pastels children did the background first and then added the details, smudgy painting was done.