Awesome Predator guards west Redding gate

West Redding garden statuaryTold you it was awesome! This being guards the driveway gate to a west Redding home we once sold. It didn’t have the guardian at the gate back then, but it looks pretty cool now. Here it is, seen in context. You have to look closely to see it. Hope you see it before it sees you…

Happy Cows

Redding california pastoral sceneWildflowers near Redding CaHappy cattle, anyway.

Well presumably happy, standing there in a meadow of flowers, one achingly beautiful Spring day in Shasta County. Surrounded by bright green oaks and a fabric of clouds, they cluster for company.

I was reminded of a saying by a cattleman I know. “We provide a good life for them, followed by one bad day.” Something like that. This looks like a good day…
Cattle graze in Shasta CountyWildflowers in Shasta CountyFlowery meadow near Anderson CA
Fence to keep me from wandering over to join them in the meadow, to stand and gaze at the rolling waves of golden flowers. Wildflowers, it’s Really Redding.

Come out to the Redding Dragstrip for Kool April Drags

Yeah, it’s fun to watch the custom cars go around in the parade, but then come on out to the dragstrip for some action!
Kool April Jet carsI took these shots in 2010.
The Redding Dragstrip is the oldest continuously operating NHRA dragstrip in the known universe. They make most of their yearly operating funds on this one big weekend, so come on out and support this Really Redding tradition! Here’s a 3 minute video we did in 2009 of the jet cars, shot handheld with a cheep-o camera. Big flaming fun!

Drag Racing adds another level to Kool April Nites fun

It’s great to see the custom cars come from all over on display at Kool April Nites this week. And it’s always a blast to attend the parade on Friday evening, as the cars slowly drive by. But to fully experience the power of these machines full on, you should make plans to spend some time at the Redding Dragstrip on either Friday or Saturday. Especially after dark when the dueling jet cars light up the night. You’ll feel the heat!
Redding Dragstrip Kool April Drags
Kool April Drags. It’s Really Redding.

Sacred Heart Church in Anderson

Sacred Heart Church in Anderson CAThis lovely example of Mission Style Architecture is the Sacred Heart Church in Anderson California, a few miles south of Redding. The Sacred Heart Parish also operates a school of the same name at this site. A Catholic group, it notably posts information in both English and Spanish at their website.

Sacred Heart paintingAccording to Wikipedia, “The Sacred Heart (also known as Sacred Heart of Jesus) is one of the most famous religious devotions to Jesus’ physical heart as the representation of His divine love for Humanity.”

From the Parish website I learned that there is a a Labyrinth at the site, for prayer. Construction seems to be an ongoing project, funded through donations and built by community volunteers. It’s a spiritual walk that unfolds in three phases. This day in age, many parishes find that they heavily rely on donations to continue with maintenance on their churches. With technology from companies such as Tithe.ly, churches can receive donations from their congregation using https://get.tithe.ly/church-app or something similar. This can help them to raise the money to cover the costs of the church reconstruction. Whilst this reconstruction is currently being done by volunteers, the church could always get help from a church construction management company if they find that the work isn’t progressing as quickly as they’d like. Church reconstructions are a big job, so it’s surprising that the church isn’t using professionals. However, there are always services available if they need expertise for their reconstruction. Hopefully, the church will be ready soon.

Purgation: Letting go – the path inward.

Illumination: Clarity, insight, and openness to receive – the journey center.

Union: Integration of what is learned from the prayer experience into action in the world – the path outward.

Labyrinth

The Labyrinth Journey
You have only to enter and follow the path.
Open your heart
as your prayer filled walk embraces life’s journey.
It may be joyous.
It may be somber.
It may be used as a walking meditation,
a prayer of sacred movement
along your spiritual journey with Christ

Street Legal drag racing this Saturday night

Kool April Drags are scheduled for next weekend, but Street Legal racers will kick off the 2011 season this Saturday April 9 at 6 pm with a special “General Motors versus Ford” event. Musclecar racers get their street race on in a safe-to-speed, pedal-to-the-metal blowout! Click here for the Redding Dragstrip.

This week we’ll be seeinglots of Hot Rods here for the Kool April Nights event, but you can’t forget that these cars are really all kinetic sculptures that must be seen at speed to be appreciated. Imports, hot rods, ALL-OUT RACING VEHICLES PERMITTED! Admission just $5, and you can race for $10. Be there for the first Street Legal Event of the year!

Redding Dragstrip. The longest continuously operating NHRA sanctioned racing facility in the known universe!