Tuesday, March 30, 2010

A Spring Photo Shoot

Yesterday was a beautiful spring-like day, with breathtakingly blue skies and bright sunshine. There was a chill in the air as lingering March breezes made their presence felt, but I took advantage of the pretty weather and went exploring with my camera.

I began my adventure at the Old Court House Museum in Vicksburg. The dogwoods are in bloom, but haven't quite reached their peak yet. Can you believe that sky!

I had company as I rambled around the grounds. The "Court House Cat" joined me, and I captured him with my camera when he stopped to rest at the base of one of those huge columns ...

Isn't he beautiful!

I also captured this huge Iris.

When I changed to my macro lens to get a closer look, I was amazed by what I saw. It looked as if there was a candle glowing deep within its petals (you can click on the pictures to enlarge them if you'd like to see the details).

I've discovered that so much of God's glory is hidden within the petals of a flower or under a leaf, and I feel so blessed every time I get a glimpse of it through my camera lenses.

After saying 'goodbye' to my little cat friend, I left the Court House and drove over to the National Cemetery, which is located in the Vicksburg National Military Park. The cemetery is one of my favorite places to photograph in Vicksburg, and this beautiful Redbud tree immediately caught my eye ...

I couldn't get close to that tree, but found another Redbud on a country road that was easy to reach and captured these close-up shots.

As you can see, it was one of those days when you can't help but think, "How great Thou Art" ... and it was a very memorable way to celebrate the beginning of this Holy Week.

The Days of Holy Week

Holy Monday was when Jesus overturned the tables of the money changers, saying to them: "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer'; But you make it a den of robbers." [Matthew: 21:13]

Holy Tuesday of Holy Week is the day when the incident between Jesus and Pharisees is thought to have taken place. This was when the churchmen tried to trap Jesus into making a blasphemous, or, anti-God remark. This day is also significant as the day Jesus discoursed to his disciples on the Mount of Olives about the destruction of Jerusalem and the signs of the last day.

Spy Wednesday: The day Judas betrayed Jesus.

Maundy Thursday: The day of the Last Supper. In the words of Matthew: Jesus took bread, and blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is my body." And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you; for this is my blood of covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."

Good Friday: The Crucifixion

Holy Saturday commemorates the day Jesus Christ's body lay in the tomb.

Easter Sunday: The day of the Resurrection.

8 comments:

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Janie, this is SO pretty. I'm racing around trying to leave, but I wanted to drop by and take a few minutes to enjoy your photos. And I did. Immensely.

Much love and a very Happy Easter to you and yours...

XO,

Sheila :-)

Marjorie (Molly) Smith said...

How beautiful, Vicksburg is such a beautiful old city. I want to come to the Cemetery to take pictures soon, just need to get my Sister or Hubby interested in the trip...lol..DH thinks I'm getting to old to "run" upand down the road by myself.....poosh...I'm not old and don't plan on getting that way.
Hope you have a great week and Happy Easter
Molly

RachelD said...

There IS a light inside that iris!! You can see the glint of the little anthers like sparks rising from a campfire.

The purples have always been my favorites, and this one---I may get Chris to enlarge just the heart of this one, and frame it.
It just SAYS something to me, this Spring morning.

And the redbuds! Seeing those punctuating all the haze of green of the horizon is a sure sign of Spring.

Thank you.

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Beautiful photos. You inspire me to get out there with my camera!

Merisi said...

The 6 o'clock bells were ringing, calling the faithful to pray the Angelus, just as I was looking at your latest images of a beautiful Southern Spring! I can see that you are quite a bit more to the South, as the dogwoods in the Washington area do not come into full bloom until the end of April, beginning of May. I miss them dearly here, there are a couple of white and pink ones at the Botanical Garden of the university adjacent to the Belvedere, but they are not common here otherwise.

Wishing you a good Holy Week,
Merisi

Tonja said...

Ah! Springtime in the South! Nothing can be as pretty! I imagine that there are lots of those gorgeous trees in Heaven! And, I LOVE deep blue iris!

Donna said...

Beautiful pics! I love spring with the trees and flowers blooming! The iris is gorgeous!
Blessings,
Donna

willowbird35 said...

Love your photos. Signs of spring are popping up all over Murfreesboro, TN - where I live. I see Bradford Pears blooming and yellow bushes (don't know what they are), buttercups, and these pinkish trees with big blossoms that look like tulips. Any idea what these trees are?