Friday, April 10, 2009

Happy Easter


To me, Easter always brings thoughts of renewal and restoration.
I simply adore this photo of a Vatican nun repairing a tapestry
designed by Raphael. It is so rich with symbolism. The subject of
Christ, the gentle, loving hands of the nun, the gold threads of repair,
and even the pierced heart shaped pincushion; all lovely reminders
of what Easter is all about.

This photo was taken by James L. Stanfield and is included in the
National Geographic book, Inside the Vatican, 1991.

Happy Easter Wishes to you and yours, dear bloggy friends!

83 comments:

  1. and to you too Madam Willow !
    great photo !

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  2. Happy Easter to you, too!

    I really like that photo of the nun repairing the tapestry. It reminds me of when I was in Washington, D.C. and saw the artisans repairing the original Besty Ross flag. Those people were incredible as they worked on the flag literally thread by thread.

    Take care.

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  3. This is such a lovely understated expression of what Easter is about.
    May the blessings of the season fill your home with much joy and peace!

    Love,

    Kat

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  4. Happy Easter Willow - gorgeous photo

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  5. Happy Easter to you too! Lovely photo too!

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  6. Happy Easter to you also, willow!

    I love this photo you offer...and the wonderful sentiment along with it:)

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  7. Great photo, great symbolism!

    Happy Easter
    Jane

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  8. A beautiful, simple picture! Happy Easter!

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  9. The photo gives me such a feeling of quite peace, I love it!
    Happy Easter to all at Willow Manor!

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  10. You post the most beautiful photos Willow. Thank you for your beautiful blog!

    Happy Easter

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  11. Happy Easter Willow - have a wonderful weekend, xv.

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  12. Happy Easter, Willow. The photo is lovely and most appropriate.

    I also forgot to say how much I like your new header with the oil lamp!

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  13. Happy Easter to you! Love the photo.

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  14. And same to you Ms. Willow.

    The works of the masters are exquisite, it would be a dream to actually see just one up close and personal. Powerful works, powerful symbols indeed!

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  15. Beautiful description of easter both visually and through your words. hope that your easter brings a newness.

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  16. willow, of every image i've seen for easter, this one is the most meaningful. it evokes a gentle and emotion in me. thank you.

    happy easter to you...
    :)

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  17. Such a stunning photograph --
    all the best for a lovely Easter to
    you & your family!

    Jjj

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  18. Happy Easter to you! Fantastic your new header and great this post!

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  19. Such a wonderful photo! Edward and I wish you the most delightful Easter ever, Willow! Lots of joy, lots of chocolate!! Lots of love!

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  20. Happy Easter, Willow and family!

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  21. Happy Easter to you too.
    Love the new photos, including the daffodil, and header.
    The Easter photo is beautiful.

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  22. So beautiful - so spiritual. Have a wonderful Easter.

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  23. When I first saw this in my reader, all I could see from the thumb-nail was His head, so I thought it was the Shroud of Turin. I know, I'm tired but had to get over here. Wonderful post, Willow. And like the new header pic of your lamp. What pics you can take! Enjoy the week-end!

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  24. HaPPY Easter! What a delightful photo, nuns at work in the reparation, with a pin-cushion heart on their side.

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  25. Happy Easter to you, Willow.

    Thanks for visiting me.

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  26. I like the new header too, and am so grateful to Derrick for pointing out what it is! (duh) The tapestry photo is beautiful also. Thanks for sharing. Happy Easter to everyone at the Manor.

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  27. Happy Easter Happy Spring Happy Happy Everything!

    Mum sent us a card with that sentiment once and it stuck with us.

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  28. The photo is such a rich composition. Just beautiful.

    Happy Easter!

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  29. Willow,
    Here's to renewal.
    Happy Easter.
    rel

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  30. Happy Easter! Lots of chocolate for u! :) I have to say that you have a keen eye to select pictures like this one! Wonderful!

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  31. Beautiful! Have a wonderful Easter! ~Lori

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  32. Happy Easter Willow - have a peaceful weekend.

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  33. oh willow,
    i hope you have an easter filled with love.

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  34. This is a breathtaking photo! Happy Easter! Roxanne

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  35. Every detail so distinct..lovely photo, so much going on.
    Happy Easter Willow, to you too!

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  36. Your new header is so chic and modernissimo.
    Totally love it.
    HAPPY HAPPY EASTER, dear Willow.

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  37. That is a really beautiful photo. Happy Easter!

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  38. Happy Easter to you and yours - living and otherwise ! And hooray for renewal

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  39. Happy Easter, Willow! :-)

    Greetings from London.

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  40. And a happy Easter to you too!

    -S

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  41. Beautiful photo, we saw magnificent tapestries last week at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, they are truly great pieces of art. Happy Easter to you ...

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  42. Yes, Happy, happy Easter to all of you at The Manor! That photo is gorgeous...love all the symbolism...perfect for Easter!

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  43. Happiest of Easters, Willow. Beautiful photo, yes!

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  44. A happy Eastertide to you and your family Willow.

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  45. And a very happy Easter to you! May you find the golden egg in your own backyard!

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  46. Love the photo, Willow; most appropriate to the spirit of Easter. A blessed Easter to you and yours.

    I'm off to the Easter market with two grandsons this morning.

    LBx

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  47. Beautiful!

    And thank you for stopping by my poetry post. Hope you've had a blessed day.

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  48. and the same right back you and your family, willow! have a wonderful weekend!

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  49. Gorgeous picture indeed. You say it all so eloquently. I love it. Happy easter from ireland

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  50. Happy Easter sweet Willow.

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  51. I really enjoyed reading this feature today. With so much of the talent concentrated in the church, is it any wonder that so many people stayed involved and devoted? It is sometimes unbelievable to me the generations of families that may have been responsible for the work on just one cathedral over two or three hundred years. God bless the hands that sewed those tapestries and those which so lovingly restore them. May Easter morning bring blessings for you and your family.

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  52. Happy Easter, dear Willow. Very nice post ... so poignant.

    Lizzy

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  53. That is just gorgeous, Willow. You always know how to pick or take just the right photos.

    Happy Easter to you, my friend.

    You changed your banner. I liked it. That is how I found you. I saw a gal holding a camera in her hand on someone's post and had to find out who was holding it. And what a treasure I found.

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  54. It is a very touching arrangement.

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  55. I agree, the photo is beautiful and powerful and about the renewal of Easter.

    Happy Easter to you.

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  56. A picture that speaks to my soul! Wonder what is going through the mind of the nun as she is working.

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  57. Happy Easter to you and yours.

    The photograph is beautiful, such subtle colours, I wanted to see it in close up.

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  58. Happy Easter Willow -

    I appreciate this beautiful picture and post.

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  59. happy easter and may the spring bring you new growth and beautiful flowers.

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  60. Willow,
    Happy Easter and thanks for this image and your sentiments - it is indeed, a lovely textured photo- it conjurs up a recent article I read about the Shroud of Turin: http://www.shroudstory.com/slides/slide90.html-
    Enjoy!

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  61. This is just stunning work.

    And for the inspiration I sometimes get in regular doses when I come here, I added a bit about you and your blog on my Brookville Daily Photo blog post for today (Saturday). I hope you don't mind. I don't even know you name so I left it as "willow."

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  62. That IS a beautiful photo. Happiest Easter to you, Willow.

    Love your new header. Looks like the spin cycle!

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  63. What a beautiful picture-- yes, the pin cushion is remarkable in the photo. Happy Easter.

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  64. And you as well, darlin'! Thank you for opening my mind to new and beautiful things, from the art and poetry you share to your wonderful movie reviews and recipes.

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  65. Beautiful post! Happy Easter to you too! Do it well...

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  66. Happy Easter to you dear Willow, One of my favorite film scenes of all time is of Judy Garland and Fred Astaire singing Easter Parade. Just lovely.

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  67. Hello there, thanks to Abe Lincoln I have just discovered your absolutely wonderful blog. I love this post and I am going to read several more. Incredible photograph here, thank you so much for sharing it. Happy Easter!

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  68. Such a lovely photo.
    Happy Easter to you dear Willow.

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  69. Love to you and WT and your three bunnies! I hope The Manor is wrapped in joy and springtime. (And choccies and Easter eggs would be fun as well!!!) Peace, my friend. x-o-x

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  70. Happy Easter Willow!

    Love this photo!

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  71. Happy Easter to You!
    All the best!;)

    -Marius

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  72. Great picture, rich with beauty as you said, thanks for sharing it on this weekend!

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  73. And here is another Happy Easter to you Willow.

    That is a great picture of the repairing of the tapestry.

    I like the new header, just was not sure what it was until I read the comments. A whole new angle of the lamp.

    God bless.

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  74. I have to agree with everyone, it is a stunning photo just infused with symbolism and love.

    Have a Happy Easter

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  75. sorry so late! Hope you had a happy Easter!

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  76. Wonderful - a posting that can appreciate the spiritual side of Easter that doesn't make me want to run away and hide in a little atheistical hole! - and thanks also for the tip about the book, I think my father would love it.

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  77. Really nice.Hope you had a great weekend!:)

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  78. I can always rely upon you, Willow for an original and uplifting post. Happy belated Easter. I love your Blog so much! xx

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Inject a few raisins of conversation into the tasteless dough of existence.
― O. Henry (and me)