Saint Francis and the Wolf of Gubbio

Saint Francis is known to have tamed the wolf in Gubbio

Do you know Saint Francis of Assisi is sometimes depicted with a wolf by his side? The story has it that Saint Francis of Assisi was living in Gubbio when the village was assaulted by a fierce wolf. One day, a large wolf appeared and began terrorizing the village and its residents. At first, it began attacking the livestock and became a nuisance. As the villagers became more afraid, the wolf seemed to become braver and began attacking the villagers. It is said that many of the villagers faced their death and were sometimes devoured by this fierce wolf.

The villagers were desperate. It seemed no measure taken was enough to stop the wolf from causing harm to the village and its people. It was at this point that Saint Francis decided to meet the wolf and although the saint was advised against it, nothing could stop him. With God behind him, Saint Francis entered the gates of the village with a small group of his followers. This attracted the attention of the wolf and records indicate that the wolf rushed to attack Saint Francis with its jaws wide open.

Saint Francis was not afraid. It is said he did the sign of the cross and commanded the wolf to stop hurting the villagers. This seemed to take a dramatic effect on the wolf and it is said that the wolf padded up to the saint meekly and laid its head in the saint’s hands. The story has it that Saint Francis then broke out and asked the wolf why it was doing so much evil on the land and destroying and killing people. He asked the wolf then to make peace with the village and said that the villagers should no longer be afraid of it. This caused the wolf to bow its head in shame. Saint Francis then said that the villagers will feed the wolf from that day on in exchange for a peaceful resolution made that the village will no longer live in fear of the wolf.

On hearing this, the wolf was said to have placed one of its forepaws in the saint’s hand and the agreement was made. Saint Francis then walked the wolf to Gubbio where villagers watched in shock as they saw the saint and the animal which terrorized them, move side by side in harmony. It almost seemed as if the wolf had become the pet of Saint Francis. From that point on, the village of Gubbio was no longer assaulted by the wolf which soon became a peaceful part of their everyday lives.

The Belief in Saint Michael the Archangel

Saint Michael the Archangel

Many of us keep statues of Saint Michael to protect us. Saint Michael is the Archangel of Protection whose name means “who is as God” and is one of the seven archangels. He is loved and revered in the Jewish, Christian and Islamic faiths, and is one of the more famous archangels. In Jewish legend he stands besides Gabriel, Raphael and Uriel with God. The archangel which is often depicted in images as slaying a dragon is known to hold the energy of the color blue. Many people who have been saved by Saint Michael have sensed the color blue around them.

Most often, Saint Michael is depicted in art wearing the armor of the Divine, and very often a red robe or red lining to his cloak signifying his role as a Seraph. He carries the silver sword of righteousness. In Christianity, Saint Michael is seen sometimes holding the scales and is the angel who at the Last Judgment will weigh and balance good deeds against the bad. In the Bible, the archangel wears battle gear and heads an angelic army, holding his unsheathed sword and the scales of justice. He argues with the devil (Jude1:9) and is the slayer of the Dragon (Rev 12:7).

Most often too, Saint Michael is called the ‘Prince of Light’ and leads the battle against the angels of darkness. It is said that amongst the Dead Sea Scrolls were fragments of a book entitled Words of the Archangel Michael, in which Saint Michael revealed a vision to Gabriel. However, these fragments were not enough to decipher and not much could be deduced from it.

You can ask the Archangel Michael to give you physical protection when you are traveling simply by asking ‘Archangel Michael protect me’. Try to imagine his blue light of protection surrounding you and your space. You can also invoke the archangel by seeking both emotional and physical protection in time of confrontation. He is one of the most profound archangels and is the Archangel of the Sun.

The Truth of About Well-Laid Out Paths to Your Home

Statues can be placed alongside your paths to add a mystery and surprise

Well designed paths create an experience. Depending on the materials used and the way they are laid up, paths can help elevate a mood or a setting. They are also the widest paths to your home and are created this way to command attention. Try creating a path that allows at least two people to walk side by side to your house. The width of the path must feel comfortable and not too crowded. In fact, well-designed paths to the front door tell the guests the place you call “home” and straight paths from the garage to the front door tells how quickly you wish to get to your house.

The types of path you design all add up to the experience of walking that path. It is expressed in the way the path is laid out, the materials you use and how these materials are set forth to create the formality or informality of your path. This often is guided by the architectural appeal of your home. Generally, the more traditional your home, the more formal the path to your home becomes. One of the best ways of sprucing the landscape of your house would be to complement the path with the architectural appeal of your house. If you have a wood framed house, try seeding a concrete path with colored stones or adding some stain to complement the color of your house. A straight path means it is the easiest and least expensive structure to build while a curving path adds to some enchantment by encouraging your guests to enjoy the look of the surroundings as they walk the path.

Some people may choose bricks to design their paths and these come in many colors and textures. You can find yellowish brown bricks to those that get brown and deep red in color while textures may range with bricks being made smooth, stippled or matte. You can also find bricks based on their thickness. Bricks used for paths as an instance tend to be thick while those that are used for a wall or fireplace can be half the thickness. Some people may also fancy stone for the path like the flat and irregular shaped flagstone as an instance. Others may choose concrete pavers which can be versatile and durable since it can make way for creating paths which are patterned.

As you plan the layout of your path, think about how it should look from where it begins and ends. Experiment with the layout by changing the width or making the curves gentler or steeper. Shift the path in direction and consider the ease of accessibility to your home. Some may choose to have two paths to the house with one originating from the garage and the other, at the front door. The truth is a well-laid out path adds character and can complement the look of your house. It sets a welcome to your home.

Designing Your Courtyard

Accents can be used to supplement the courtyard theme

Courtyards are becoming a popular choice among many home owners and they come in all ways to suit the needs of the home owner. These outdoor solutions are also no longer confined to warm climate regions like California and Florida but have become increasingly commonplace across the country. Many look upon courtyards as mini outdoor rooms which allow the family and guests to congregate from public view. It is common to find walls, arbors and plantings and even hedges used as choices to provide relief from the hot summer sun and noise pollution.

The decision to set up a courtyard will very much depend on your tastes, budget, the architecture of your house and the time allotted. Most look upon courtyards as private areas for enjoying the outdoors. The courtyard is a place for relaxing after a hard day’s work, a place for reading the newspapers and can be even a spot for dining and entertaining your guests. Some house owners even include a water feature within its confines since the sound of water and light can add to a pleasing effect.

Designing Your Courtyard:

Add Colored Plantings To Soften the Look of the Courtyard

When designing your courtyard, think about how it will serve your purpose and ensure there is enough room to enjoy those activities. Those who enjoy having walls made of stone, brick and wrought iron as a way of screening your privacy, should consider if such structures will reduce the amount of sunlight coming to your space. One way to check on this is to create some tall stakes with string tied between them to match the expected height of your walls. Sit back and see how it feels. Imagine the views. Move your wall stakes if needed and change your string height to make any adjustments. But of course, the cheaper solution to all this would be to create hedges but even a fast growing hedge can take several years to happen.

When designing the flooring, a good rule of thumb is to ensure that the materials chosen would complement the surrounding elements of the courtyard like the ceiling and the walls. You would not want the materials used to compete with the other and result in the courtyard looking too hyped and busy. Choose plants to complement the look of the courtyard since they come in all colors and can be used to soften the look of the hard surfaces like the walls and the flooring. Vines are also a popular consideration since they can be used to add character to a wall or trellis. A water feature is also a perfect solution towards making your time in your courtyard a relaxing one since water can distract surrounding noise and offer a calming way of screening undesirable sounds.

The Importance of the Front Entry to Your Home

The front entry to your home is the place where your visitors should feel comfortable and remember the kind of reception given to them. And so, the front entry should be warm and inviting with details placed like a pot of flowers and a shiny brass knob to complement the front door so your visitors can appreciate them and feel more welcomed. Some homes even provide a shelter to wait at the front door. These can be expanded as gathering places depending on the space and act as an open invitation for your guests to commune with you over a conversation or two.

Add Front Door Hardware Which Communicate a Theme

Create your front door as part of your landscaping project. Where the front door does not appear to be obvious as part of the landscape as could happen with homes that are not designed to bear architectural symmetry, include strong visual points like the lighted pathways or include statues and potted plants lining the path to the front door. If your entry is small, you can create more attention by upgrading your front door hardware like its door knockers and handles or setting aside potted plants to add attention or better still, resurfacing your landing and steps with thin stone or brick pavers. You can also add character by adding vine covered trellises and hanging basket planters to accentuate the front door.

The bottom line is the front door is the gateway to your house. It is the place where you meet your guests and family, and where you set them off after the visit. You will want the best impressions made at such times and so it is important for the entry to your front door designed as a warm and inviting place. Small detail always add a lot more towards building the character of your front door and promotes the degree of hospitality expected once the visitor gets past the front door.

What Your Front Lawn Should Do for You

Statues like the Nakoma add Character and Structure

So many of us design our front lawns and hope that it will work for us but what should it really do? Well, a front lawn should be designed for those who will enjoy it the most and this usually means it has to work for the family who lives with it. For instance, it must work for the homeowner who needs to park and have the space to haul the bags of groceries to the front or back door of the house. And it must be designed safe for young children who use it during playtime. In short, a lawn must be functional and also aesthetically appealing.

Every home has its own set of cues which need to be addressed in the landscaping process. One of those is of course parking and finding extra room and space to house newer cars which can be larger and in need of wider driveways. If your home is close to a busy road, you may then consider designing walls and hedges to lessen the noise and hustle which comes from passing traffic.

Your yard does not have to look like the others. With a bit of creative style and a reasonable budget to lean on, you can design a project plan for your lawn and garden that works with the style and architectural inclinations of your home. Consider different approaches and get feedback from your family members when designing your project plan. Think through the changes you make. It is always better to erase and start anew with another project plan than to dig out a plant and move a walkway.  

Basics of Front Lawn Landscaping

Front yards boost the character of your home by giving your house its own personality and distinction. Where at one time, front yards or lawns were seen as utilitarian concepts, the front yards of today are now given a fresh impetus and seen as a way of adorning the home and giving it a fresh personality. The yard also boosts the warmth of your home and should be seen as a place for the family to congregate its own social activities.

Budget for Statues Which Convey the Character of Your Garden

Imagine landscaping a bare patch of land. With a little bit of creativity and imagination, you can adorn the garden the same way you would decorate your room. Give it a sense of style with an emphasis on shape, texture and a move towards your favorite colors. But before you purchase the plants and supplies, think about the following as a way of guiding you in the landscaping process:

The Lawn:

Study its physical terrain and the space you will work with and the general landscape it will work with as part of your neighborhood. Even though you may be anxious to start digging, do not rush until you are able to assess the situation with a critical eye. Pen a list of questions to ask as you study your front yard from all points of view. And always pen your observations for review later. Make a scale drawing and a site plan as needed.

The Money:

You have to know how much time and money you will put into your yard projects and the amount of time and money you will spend to keep the landscape maintained. This means you have to know whether you will do the work yourself or include hired help to do the job. Budget constraints occasionally may cause you to scale back your landscaping plans to what the budget allows. But this does not mean that you have to design your landscape all at once. Think about it as a long-term plan so you can better manage your expenses. What’s to say that a long-term plan would not allow you to appreciate the way your landscape is forging over time? In fact, a good plan stretched over time will only allow you to appreciate its results.

The Time:

You have to study the time frame, whether short or long-term, needed to realize your project goals. Trees and certain landscaping features like walls and patios may be installed first before the garden can be landscaped.

Landscaping is a practical and creative process. When you have reached a good solution, it simply means you have been able to combine your family’s needs and interests to create a garden that reflects the character and architectural elements of modern day living.