I took this photo just outside Kanturk, Co.Cork and it is Kanturk Castle looking its best through the trees. The Castle was built for MacDonogh MacCarthy, Lord of Duhallow around 1601 as a defense against the English. Today the castle is a ruin but you can still walk in and through the castle. The main thing that strikes you is the beauty of the structure and the stonework. It was built to last and shows no sign of structural fatigue anywhere around this impressive castle.
On This Day
On February 21st 1916 during World War 1 the Battle of Verdun began. It led to an estimated 1 million casualties and became the longest battle of the entire war (9 months)
On February 21st 1995 American businessman and adventurer Steve Fossett became the first person to fly solo across the Pacific Ocean in a balloon. It was the first of his many aviation records.
Birthday’s Today
Charlotte Church (Singer from Wales) is 38
Sophie Turner (Actress) is 28
Saint For Today:
The Saint for February 21st is Saint Peter Damian
Interesting Quote for Today
Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.’ ~Albert Einstei
Did You Know
Did you know that there is a legend about Kanturk castle, that all the stonemasons happened to be named John, and so originally the castle was known as Carrig-na-Shane-Saor (the Rock of John the Mason).
Video for the Week🎥🎥
Thought For The Week
I have lovely displays of daffodils in my garden at the moment, many of them in pots and window boxes. I also share a photograph of some of the daffodils. They are rich and lush with beautiful yellow colours. I am sometimes asked how I get such a spread. This is what I do, and I do it faithfully every year. Once they have flowered, I give them plenty of Gee Up which you can get in any good gardening centre. And what is Gee Up? It is simply horse manure!!
Over the following weeks after they have flowered the ‘Gee Up’ nourishes the bulbs below allowing them to regenerate and store energy for the following spring. Because they have regenerated, the colours are fabulous.
I like to think that Lent is a bit like ‘Gee Up’. It nourishes and slowly releases all its goodness, not just in one day but over many weeks. Lent is not a one or a two-day event. It is for many days over six weeks. It is a journey, done slowly and patiently. Instead of trying to do everything, it is good to do the small things and do them well.
Lent is nourishing your spirit. Lent is not about shouting from the rooftop what you are doing, but doing it quietly, gently and slowly. Lent like ‘Gee Up’ works wonders.
It is a slow release of goodness and of love and of blessings. I hope this is your experience of Lent too this year.
(Thought For The Week is updated each Monday)
