Hi Folks!!
We apologize about the unplanned little blog break, but I had a really busy week with schooling and getting ready for an event I was hired for, for this past Saturday night, and I just never got to blogging! I was a little stressed about it, to tell you the truth. I was praying the event would go smoothly and successfully, and it did, so I praise God for that, and breathe a sigh of relief that the big part is behind me.
Today has begun Holy week, so as we move through it, I am sure it’ll slow down around here a bit once again, as we help bring our children, in a mindful, prayerful and heartfelt way, through the most significant events of Jesus’ life, which led to the willing sacrifice of His own life, for us.
Part II of the Michael’s Wood Stove Bench Project is really coming up on the blog here soon, but in the meantime I wanted to share another little mini-project of his in relation to Palm Sunday. Last year on Palm Sunday, Michael took the fistful of palms we brought home from mass, and created a big cross with them for our home.
Our family has enjoyed it so much throughout the year, that the kids and I wanted him to make another new one with the palms we brought home today. So as he did, I took photos, with the thought that maybe some of you may want to create one this way as well, with your own palms, for your own family home. It is a difficult thing to explain, so I am hoping the photos help you understand the manner in which he does this.
First, he takes 3 sets of 2 palms each, and at least one good palm whisp.
In the area the intersection of the cross is, he put the ends of one set of palms alternately layered in between 2 of the others, going in the opposite direction of course.
Then he takes the last set, and layers those for the other side.
Pinching it all together at the intersection, he takes one side of the palms and makes a loop with them to the back.
He secures that with his fingers to the middle as well, and then does the same with the other side.
With the formed cross in hand he takes the whisp and starts wrapping the intersection of the crossed pieces, to secure them tightly.
The below collage, to be viewed left to right in rows top to bottom, is not every single move. It just gives you a general idea of how he wraps it around, crisscrossing, and going up and down as well.
When he only has about 2 inches left, he turns the cross over, and places it on the table, and holding the wrap tightly, he takes the remaining end and feeds it under the wrap a couple of times, and then just pulls it tightly. The front of the middle of the cross then looks like the last square in the above collage.That’s it!
We’re sure you all have found various ways to make your own beautiful crosses with palms as well, or perhaps you just stick them behind the crucifix of your home, as we have done for many years as well. We would love for you to share how you do display your blessed palms in your home, what you may make with them, or any traditions you may have for Palm Sunday in your family.
We hope you had a happy and peace filled Palm Sunday .
My oh MY you are all so QUIET today!
Nobody wants to share what they do with their blessed palms?
we did the same. well, actually my husband did. he made all the kids crosses. i am thinking of putting them in a basket on the table, kind of like a centerpiece…….
Hi! I’m here and I’ll join in, though a few days LATE….I usually make small crosses for each of us in just the very same way every year. HOWEVER, this year we all picked up kind of “odd” palms that were not really able to be shaped well so they all ended up tucked behind our crucifix. I was not paying attention to make sure we picked up nicer palms for making good crosses because the kids got to carry signs to put up on the alter at mass, so we were all a little distracted at palm picking time! In a very blessed way!