Adventure or Not to Adventure?

Picture taken a few days ago in Port Townsend, Washington

I have an adventurers heart, my "live-in" gardener, not so much. I love it when I find a friend that likes to take adventures with me. My "live-in gardener" loves to be snuggled in his chair, reading. Now nothing wrong with that for sure, I like that too. But I do anticipate adventures from time to time.

The dictionary says an adventurer is "someone who seeks dangerous or exciting experiences: a person who looks for adventures".  Not all my adventures are dangerous for sure, but I do occasionally like a bit of a thrill.

A few years ago, as my grandson, arrived at an age that I thought he might like an adventure, I started planning one special adventure each summer. The first one was to fly to California and do a bit of swimming (even with a swimming dog). Then there was white water rafting. He was a bit terrified until he did it. Then he wanted to immediately go back and do it again. Then there was ziplining. Again "terrified" but loved it. In 2024 was a Big Foot boat excursion down the Willamette River and Columbia Rivers. This past year was a hot air balloon ride at dawn.

Those are all a bit "terrifying", but fun. This is just what my adventurers heart loves. As a young girl I would do crazy stunts on my bicycle or climb a tree and swing from the branches. This terrified our neighbors. They were sure I was going to kill myself.

There are those "terrifying" type of adventures, but some adventures are more of solitude or time spent with a friend. I consider my drives and tea times under the apple tree branches as an adventure, an adventure in friendship spent together. Or I might say "come along with me for a drive to the beach".  

Do you have an adventurers heart or would you prefer being tucked by the fireplace with a good book? A good book can be an adventure for sure. Right now, I am reading a book by Joyce Maynard, The Bird Hotel, and it has taken me to a lake by a volcano in Mexico. Oh, how even a book can whisk us away on an adventure.

Sending Love,

Marilyn

Seasons of Friendships

  In the Bleak Mid-Winter

In the bleak mid-winter

Frosty wind made moan,

Earth stood hard as iron,

Water like a stone;

Snow had fallen, snow on snow,

Snow on snow,

In the bleak mid-winter

Long ago.

    This past week I took the time just to "be", to think, and to be tidy at my desk. It was time in this "bleak mid-winter" to just sit with my thoughts. Tax season will be here before we know it, and it was time to get my papers in order. In doing so, there was time to think. I thought of people I have known and know. What hit me was the seasons of friendship. Some friends come into our lives for a short time and some for a lifetime.        

"Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart"   Eleanor Roosevelt
The flowers showed up in a friend's garden, and they felt like friends themselves. Hello little snowdrops, Hello hellebore!

Then on Saturday a dear friend that I have known since high school passed away. He will be missed, a lifetime friend, a dear friend.

Then this week I exchanged phone numbers and a message on my phone with a new neighbor. I wondered, would she become a confident, a close friend, or just for a season a friend that says, "how are you doing?".

Often, I burn a candle on these bleak winter mornings. I read and I ponder.

The book I am reading this week is 101 Teas to STEEP before you die. Fascinating to think like that. The book is a good primer of tea and even though I have learned a lot in the past, there is always more to learn.

So, I sit here with my tea this morning, pondering the mysteries of friendship.

A friend for a brief season made the cup. A friend I love dearly gave me the glass pitcher.

Again, for a season we find friendship in many forms.

Sending love,

Marilyn

A Week that Was

These days I love noticing "supermarket flowers".

The hellebore is in full bloom at the market by my home.

I just couldn't resist capturing one in my lens.

Watermelon Portraits by Christine Miller was found at the Portland Art Museum this week. Now for some this would not be picked as a favorite, but it touched me. The watermelon has been historically stereotyped to represent Black people and culture. The fruit was domesticated in northeast Africa more than 4,000 years ago and as a symbol of African American freedom. For the artist, the seeds symbolize Black resilience.

Another part of the exhibit. I went to the Portland Art Museum to see modern art by Rothko, but this separate exhibit of black artists drew me in. Being open to surprises is part of following a path to adventure.

From my kitchen window. Do you see the little one so close, but with the barrier of the window between us? My "live-in gardener" and I are soooo excited to see the hummers discover the feeder.

January is National Hot Tea Month

I finished reading The Last Letter of Rachel Ellsworth by Barbara O'Neal and really enjoyed it. Love reading with my morning tea.

“Do you want an adventure now…or would you like to have your tea first?” Peter Pan

I thought this quote was perfect for my year of adventure.

Next month my tea group will celebrate Chinese New Years, the year of the horse. We bring a small gift for everyone. This week I made tea brewing counters, but they could be for counting anything. What do you count?

 So that was the days that transpired last week. Looking forward into a new week with new adventures. Right now, it looks like paperwork, ugh! But I am hoping for some surprises.

Sending love,

Marilyn

Next Year's Posts, My Word!!!

Welcome to 2026.

Since I am posting mostly once a week, I decided not to have a Monday theme, but just to share "a day in the life" or pictures from an ordinary life. 

As I shared in my last post, I do have a new word for 2026. The pictures remind us of a path with twists and turns, deep waters and roadblocks; but still a path most often forward. An adventure of life goes something like that. Though my word will be adventure, I will be also focusing on the paths it takes. Sometimes the adventure is simple and straight, while other times there will be unexpected turns, detours, roadblocks.

"Adventure isn’t just about reaching a destination — it’s about the stories you collect along the way, the people you meet, and the ways you discover yourself. Whether you’re scaling mountains, getting lost in city streets, chasing sunsets, or stepping outside your comfort zone, adventure calls to the wild heart in all of us." Road Rider

 

I have always had a bit of a "wild heart". I think that is why I love photographing paths and nature. It's time for me to embrace it, travel with it this year.

“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.”

― Eleanor Roosevelt

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." – Ralph Waldo Emerson. 

This photo was in my last post, but even a stream with roadblocks can be a path. It might rush by or be quite deep and treacherous. If we persevere, hang in there, we will make it to the other side.

I can't wait to see what the path/adventure will teach me this year. Join me on the journey!

Happy New Year!

Sending love,

Marilyn

A Word, The End of a Year

 

As you know if you have been following me for a while, I have a word I embrace each year. I have done this for much longer than I have been blogging because I realized resolutions just didn't work for me. But focusing on a single word, I could do that.

This year (2025) my word was HOPE. At the beginning of the year, I just knew I would have to hold on to hope because I felt strongly it was going to be a rough year in our world. It has been and continues to be rough, but hope has helped me persevere. 

Often when I embrace a word I start the year out with good intentions, but sometimes throughout the year I sort of set it aside. I don't think of it every day. The word I choose is usually for me alone to do the internal work and then I get distracted. 

Hope did hold my attention and often I would post on Instagram to hold on to hope in the dark night. For I do believe we are in dark times.

Now I have come to the end of the year and surprising to me I am still learning about my word. Like I said, it is usually internal work; but interestingly just a couple days I was reminded it also can be external. I came across a post on Instagram that said many things it hoped for others. The more I have thought of that the more my heart has grown, for I do hope also for others.

I hope for you that life is always "enough".

I hope for you that you will have peace.

I hope for you that your heart will feel joy.

I hope for you that you will be well.

I hope for you that you will always feel safe and cared for.

and

I hope for you that you will always have a full cup of tea.

The song that comes to mind is "Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me". Hope soothes the rough edges and can give peace.

The picture above is a hint to my word for next year, which I will post on another day. It was taken at Multnomah Falls, a tributary, just this week.

Do you choose a word, or do you make resolutions for the new year?

Sending love,

Marilyn

Merry Christmas!

May you be blessed with the hope and joy of the season.

This song was sung recently at a Christmas concert I attended. It touched my heart. It reminds me of the dream of peace on earth, a song we hear at Christmas time.

 Someday at Christmas, men won't be boys

Playing with bombs like kids play with toys

One warm December, our hearts will see

A world where men are free

Someday at Christmas, there'll be no wars

When we have learned what Christmas is for

When we have found what life's really worth

There'll be peace on Earth

Someday all our dreams will come to be

Someday in a world where men are free

Maybe not in time for you and me

But someday at Christmastime

Someday at Christmas, we'll see a land

With no hungry children, no empty hand

One happy morning, people will share

Our world where people care

Someday at Christmas, there'll be no tears

All men are equal and no men have fears

One shining moment, one prayer away

From our world today

Someday all our dreams will come to be

Someday in a world where men are free

Maybe not in time for you and me

But someday at Christmastime

Someday at Christmas, man will not fail

Hate will be gone and love will prevail

Someday a new world that we can start

With hope in every heart

(Someday all our dreams will come to be)

(Someday in a world where men are free)

Maybe not in time for you and me

But someday at Christmastime

Someday at Christmastime

Songwriters: Ronald N. Miller, Bryan Wells. For non-commercial use only.

Merry Christmas!

Sending love,

Marilyn

Focus on the Stars - Celebrations

 Christmas time comes with celebrations to cherish.

The beginning of the month of December I picked up a friend and off we drove through the countryside to a farm for tea.

And then I invited my women's group to my apartment for teatime.

I served sandwiches with cucumber, another with smoked trout, and then my favorite black olives. There were also fruit skewers, mince pies, and stollen, plus cheeses and crackers. And of course, there was tea.

My "live-in gardener" and I went out for French onion soup and a sweet. I was enamored by this restaurant Christmas tree.

Our realtor has a party every year where they give a freshly cut tree, greens, or a wreath. Plus the party has soup, hot drinks, and cookies/donuts. Since we used this realtor 23 years ago when we bought our house and then they sold the house for us at the beginning of this year, we are a long-time client. We love their annual party. The past 3 or 4 years we have enjoyed a wreath, but before that we had many trees.

A friend and I traveled to Salem, Oregon for the next celebration. Teatime at a historic house, Deepwood Estate. They had a storyteller sharing the story of Dickens and the Christmas story.

The tea was a rose scented black tea. Isn't the cup pretty?

There were trees decorated throughout the house.

I got to say hello to my little girl. She told me she was happy in her new home.

She was my doll for over 50 years and now lives at the museum to greet visitors.

This desk reminded me of my grandfather's desk. I could picture sitting here writing you a letter and sipping my tea.

There are also early morning personal celebrations just sitting on my green velvet couch with candlelight and tea.

A Christmas concert to enjoy.

Cookies to be baked.

And finally, a church program to attend.

Here is my "live-in gardener" reading The Night Before Christmas.

Christmas season is a time for celebrations, and I love them all.

Hoping you have had moments of celebration in the season of JOY.

I know sometimes there are challenges and sadness that go along with this time of the year, but for me I try to focus on the JOY and HOPE.

Sending love,

Marilyn