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"Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. ... There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature — the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter." `Rachel Carson, Silent Spring

"We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, 
how they move in silence... We need silence to be able to touch souls." 
~ Mother Teresa ~

“The goal of life is to make your heartbeat match the beat of the universe, to match your nature with Nature.” —Joseph Campbell.

"In this world it is not what we take up but 
what we give up that makes us rich."
Henry Ward Beecher

all photographs are the property of cathcart photos
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We were visiting my brother Bill and his wife, Bettie. Upon our arrival Bill, who was at work, said to make ourselves at home but cautioned that his two dogs always have to "warm up" to strangers.

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While we were waiting for our hosts to come home, our 3-year-old daughter, Adrienne, fearlessly placed her hands on the dogs several times.

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Concerned, I asked her, "What are you doing?"

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"Finding out if the dogs have 'warmed up' enough to play," she said innocently.