Tea with Friends

A week ago there were tea friends in town and we

celebrated the gathering with tea, of course.

There were adventures out and about,

from Lan Su Chinese Gardens to Smith Teamaker's shop.

Laughter ensued as we did imbibe much tea.

The lotus blossoms were quite beautiful at the gardens;

so I just had to share one with you.

This is Julia of Bingley's Teas in Minneapolis, MN.

She stayed in my home and it was JOY to get to know her better.

On the left is Robert Godden of Devotea in Australia.

He and his wife were visiting Portland for the soul purpose

of drinking tea with friends.

On the right is Geoffrey Norman, tea blogger extraordinaire,

from the Portland area.

On Sunday afternoon we celebrated their visit with

a WuWo Tea Ceremony.

What a joyous occasion,

one I wish you all could have been there for.

Each of us in the circle was served

and then we sat in silence and savored the flavors

of each special tea.

Of course with tea we have snacks.

For this special gathering there was pie and other goodies to share

in the gardenhouse.

Iced water was in the urn, as it was a very hot day.

I didn't take a picture, but we even had wildlife to share with our visitors.

A raccoon had set himself above our heads in the big tree in the garden.

I do hope you are enjoying the outdoors of summer

with special times with friends.

I believe this is the best part of summer time,

time with friends, fresh food from the garden,

and delighting in the out of doors.

Note:  I will be traveling for the next week and a half,
so if you don't see your comment posted right away;
eventually it will show up.  I will be posting, but more sporadically.
Come by and see where I am along the road.
I love sharing stories with you.

Walk with Me - Off to the Farm

This farm I have visited before.

It is a special adventure I do a couple times a year with my grandson.

How he loves visiting here.

He tried to catch one of the little turkeys in the back,

but without success.

While he played with his cousin,

I walked through the new apple orchard.

How fun to see the apples ripening in clusters on the branches.

The sun was bright that day, but still I walked.

In among the apples I found the farmer pulling the weeds.

While one worked, the other one sat in their spa to cool off.

Yep!  That is Felicity sitting in the water.

What a fine pair the are.

They keep the weeds under control right there in the apple grove.

While the farmer pigs do their work, the little boy, August, is off

selling his eggs.  At the moment of our visit and walk in the

apples, he was busy playing with my grandson.

Oh the pair of two 4 year olds together on the farm is pure delight.

So this was my walk last week.

A walk with two 4 year olds and two very industrious pigs.

Dinner at the Farm

Have you ever had a farm to table dinner?

If not, search it out at your earliest convenience.

Last week Kruger Farms on Sauvie Island was the destination.

Just under that oak treat we joined others on a hot,

sweltery evening for dining and pleasant chatting.

This is the third year my "live-in gardener" and I have

ventured out to Kruger Farms.

The meal is always delicious and this year was no disappointment.

But the best part is meeting others that are looking for dinner under

the oak tree with other food loving people.

Each year we have met people from other parts of the world

or from other states.

I ask how they found this special dinner on their travels

and they tell me they go online, finding it there.

Isn't the internet amazing when it comes to connecting

in positive ways with others?

This year on one side of us was a couple from England

and the other side were four young women from St. Louis, MO.

Just a glimpse because I was too busy visiting

and eating Ahi Tuna, salad, roasted corn, veggies, bread,

panna cotta with fresh fruit.

A Delightful evening under the moon.

Yes, that little dot in the sky is the moon.
 For a hot summer evening, I can highly recommend
dinner on a farm.

Happy weekend, dear friends!

Summertime

Summertime and the liv'n is easy.

Well that is what I always think when we get to summertime.

Why do I think that, when everyone gears up to come visit'n, 

playing, and enjoying the outdoors?

Several pies have been made for visitors.

Tea has been sipped.

Oh! It has all been fun,

but you may have noticed me missing here.

Last weekend there was tea friends visiting,

tea in the garden, then adventures with my grandson.

Tomorrow is the last day of day camp at our church

and I am helping with crafts.

Soon I will return to my regular schedule, 

but first an adventure to California next week.

I will be ready to be home for awhile once the adventures

and summertime is completed.

In the meantime, carry on and enjoy Summertime.

Walk with Me to the Sea

Last week it was 106 degrees in Portland, 

so an escape to the sea was planned.

When our grandson was born I knew one day

I would take him to Gnome Beach.

Wednesday was it.

Our family has called this special place

Gnome Beach since our children were small.

Can you see why?

Gnomes for sure live in those trees.

Then as we reached the sea one more climb took place.

With the hike to the sea we finally arrived.

It was about 90 degrees and still warm;

but splashing in the waves helped our spirits soar.

This is my favorite beach in Oregon.

Welcome to Oswald West State Park and Beach.

It is one place that brings me JOY to walk to and from

and then along the waters edge.

Friendship Tea

Friendship Tea

Either for a lifetime or

Just a little while,

Some people need many friends.

Others need just one or two

Honest souls to walk with them

Along the way.

Whichever I am to you,

Or you are to me,

Let us take tea and

Enjoy our marvelous company.

by Earlene Grey

(Susan Patterson)

Happy weekend, dear friends!

Roses in the Garden

My "live-in gardener" and I have an addiction to

adding roses in the garden.

We particularly go for "old, heirloom" varieties.

There are three climbing roses on the trellis below.

They bloom at different times.

 Then in front of the house there are about 25 roses.

 Bouquets in the house this time of year always include roses.

 The heat we are having right now,

today is expected to reach 106 degrees,

does not make for happy roses.

But they are hanging in there

and for that I am happy.

I was looking for a poem about roses,

but instead found the following.

Enjoy!  Have a happy day!

A Child in a Garden

Once I had just half an hour

To frolic by myself;

Presto! By a lilac bush

I changed into an elf.

I whispered to a ladybird,

"I really am a child!"

But the disbelieving thing

Shrugged its wings and smiled.

A dusty bumblebee and I

Robbed the honey crocks

Of the Canterbury bells

And the hollyhocks.

And beneath a pansy plant--

A place no grown-up knows--

I pirouetted with an ant

On my elfin toes.

Then down the spice-pink-bordered path

Mother came for me;

The elf became a little girl

Ready for her tea.

~by Ethel Romig Fuller, Kitchen Sonnets