And the winner is

The winner of my Vintage Give Away is: Britt-Arnhild of Britt-Arnhild's House in the Woods.

If you haven't visited her blog, I thoroughly enjoy learning about Norway through Britt-Arnhild's blog.

Tea Remembered

Tea on a bench overlooking the Pacific Ocean is one of my treasured memories. What a special day feeling the sun shining on my friend and I, watching the waves of the ocean hit the shore, eating lovely cookies and cupcakes, and sipping tea. Tea can be as informal as having tea on a bench. The surrounding were spectacular. Enjoy tea with a friend today, even if it is on a bench in the park.

*****

Don't forget to sign up for the give away mentioned on Monday's entry.

Friendship

FRIENDSHIP

It is the awaited hour

over the table falls

interminably

the lamp's spread hair

Night turns the window to immensity

There is no one here

presence without name surrounds me

~Octavio Paz

translation Charles Tomlinson

Note: Don't forget to comment on Monday's blog for the give-away.

Vintage Final Day

Little pink felt baby shoes, probably from the 1940's or 1950's.
I love this little cotton dress, see the details of the print below.

I would guess the dress is from the 1940's or 1950's after looking at the print.

I remember when I was little how popular rick-rack was on little dresses.

For the final Vintage series day I have a give away.

It is a dear pattern of baby clothes I once made for my babies and a pair of sweet knitted booties. Now if you don't sew or don't want to use the pattern to make baby clothes Dawn at The Feathered Nest had a great idea for old patterns. She suggested using the patterns in place of tissue paper in gifts. What a great idea and wouldn't be so fun to receive a gift wrapped in an old pattern.

Just leave a comment on this Vintage Final Day entry before Saturday, January 31st, to enter for the give away. Please leave your email address; so I can contact you for your address.

Chinese New Year

January 26th - Happy Chinese New Year!

Celebrate by having a cup of tea and sharing with a friend or two.

Red is one of my favorite colors and I think it is

so appropriate for celebrating the New Year.

What tea will be in your teacup today?

Mine will be a lovely, floral Honorable Mention Baozhong from

www.floatingleaves.com

Be Still

Be still, enjoy the silence.

***

Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence, and I learn,

whatever state I may be in, therein to be content.

~Helen Keller

Daughter in Ramallah

When my daughter was in college, she and a group of college students joined together to travel to Palestine to help repair a Friends (Quaker) School and Church in Ramallah.
They worked hard.

The young women also took time to stand with the Women in Black in Jerusalem.
Do you know about the Women in Black? I had not heard of them until my daughter told me about them. They wear black (of course that is where they got the name), and stand silently to protest the occupation.

They also took some time to explore. Here they are having tea at a small shop.

********

I think of my daughter's trip to Israel and Palestine so often when I hear of the violence taking place there. I am thankful there is a cease fire for the moment. I think often of those there that were kind to my daughter and took her into their home and served her tea. Are their homes still standing? Is the Friends School and Church still there? Please pray for peace in the hearts of the people of Israel and Palestine. They must find a way to coexist in peace. I am so proud of my daughter and the time she took to get to know the people of Palestine and then to open my eyes to a different way of seeing the people of the world.

A New Era of Change

The new President of the United States - Barack Obama

****

My heart is touched today as I watched the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States and listened to his words.

****

His words give hope:

We have chosen hope over fear

We must pick our self up, dust ourselves off, and begin the work of remaking America.

We must meet the demands of a new age.

The ground has shifted beneath us.

We must do business in the light of day.

America is a friend to all nations and we are ready to lead once more.

We will not apologize for our way of life.

Our heritage is our strength.

There is a new era of peace.

We will be judged on what we can build.

The world has changed and we must change with it.

There is a new era of responsibility, which we seize gladly.

"Nothing but hope and virtue can survive." George Washington

******

Rejoice in the new era of change

Grandma's Bonnets

Ruby, my husband's grandmother, wore these bonnets in the garden while she worked. They hung by her door ready and waiting to be worn. She knew the value of not getting the sun on her face and neck. They have slats in the front, so that the brim doesn't droop into her face. To me they are reminiscent of what would have been worn on the wagon trains going west. I can picture the women of old wearing these outdoors. What do you wear to keep the sun out of your face?

6th Picture Meme

La Tea Dah of Gracious Hospitality tagged me today; so back to Christmas we go.

Here are the rules to the photo meme: 6th Picture Meme!

1.Go to your Picture Folder on your computer or wherever you store your pictures.

2.Go to the 6th Folder, then pick the 6th picture in that folder.

3.Post that picture on your blog and the story that goes along with the picture.

4.Tag 6 other people that you know or don’t know to do the same thing and leave a comment on their blog or an e-mail letting them know you chose them.

******

My picture story:

On my Christmas tree I hang these two tea ornaments by Margaret Furlong. Margaret is from Oregon and has been going through a divorce the past few years. During this time she no longer produced her beautiful shell ornaments. I was thrilled this year to find her again producing her lovely white ornaments. These two are called "Tea for Two" and I have enjoyed them for several years. My daughter doesn't decorate a tree at Christmas, but she also loves to collect Margaret Furlong ornaments. She hangs them in her window. They looked very pretty there this year.

******

Today I'm tagging these friends from blogland:

1. Denise at Uniquely Tea

2. Annie at In My Dreams

3. Nancy at Rosemary's Sampler

4. Stephanie at Steph's Cup of Tea

5. Angela at Tea with Friends

6. Linda at Friendship Tea

Mr. Putter & Tabby

Mr. Putter & Tabby Pour the Tea by Cynthia Rylant

is a precious children's book. It is about Mr. Putter being lonely. He finds Tabby, an old creaky cat, just like Mr. Putter. They have tea every afternoon together. I enjoyed the story.

Book Mark Collection

For many years I have had a collection that doesn't cost me anything. It is a simple collection that comes to me in the mail, at the store as a free hand-out, in a magazine, or a friend gives to me. They don't take up much room, but can be enjoyed. I keep them in a small basket by my books because that is where I often need to grab a bookmark. In grabbing a bookmark last evening I realized it had the story of Ti Guan Yin tea; so I looked to see how many tea related bookmarks I had. I found 7 tea bookmarks. What a fun, inexpensive collection.

The Ti Guan Yin story on my bookmark is as follows:

One legend of Ti Guan Yin came when a tea grower from ancient China dreamed of Guan Yin, a lady ascended master in China representing Mercy. He was guided in his dream to search for some trees (later known to be tea trees) near his house. After he woke up, he immediately approached the spot and found the trees that Guan Yin showed him in the dream.

Tea made from those tealeaves was totally awesome. Proper Ti Guan Yin must be made from certain tea trees also named Ti Guan Yin and follow a lengthy process of tea making, easily up to 100 hours for any given batch of fine Ti Guan Yin. Its refined aroma is in a class by itself.

The bewildering scent of Ti Guan Yin brings with it a very powerful essence of fruit and flower mix. Dry tealeaves of Ti Guan Yin are of beady rolled shape with a green and brownish color. The liquid of Ti Guan Yin is best without a charcoal burnt smell.

For those who adore to maturity and sensitivity that comes with tea, Ti Guan Yin is definitely a must to have!

*****

Now see what I learned on a bookmark.

National Hot Tea Month

Tea Forte White Ginger Pear Tea

***

In celebration of National Hot Tea Month I sipped a cup of a very good Tea Forte White Ginger Pear Tea. The green color of the cup reminded me of growth. I could visualize the tea plant, plantation, and the lovely ladies plucking the tea just for me and you. Let us lift a cup of tea in celebration and to honor those hard workers that bring this second most drunk beverage to us. The first most drunk beverage is water. Enjoy a cup of tea today.

Color comes again

Camilla's are starting to bud.
The iris are sending shoots up out of the ground.
The chrysanthemums are beginning to grow.
************
I am excited!
Color is returning
I can see the signs of growth
Rejoice with me!
*********

Even in the darkness, every color can be found.

And every day of rain brings water flowing to things growing in the ground.
Joss Whedon, Zack Whedon, Maurissa Tancharoen, and Jed Whedon

Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog, 2008

Boy's Like Fashion Too!

Boy's cotton shorts with crisp white cotton shirt. I love the embroidered stars on the bib.

Wool shorts found in an antique shop in Oregon. The shorts button to the boy's ruffle white cotton shirt found in Massachusetts. What a cute vintage boy's outfit.

Cotton rompers were popular about 100 years ago. Isn't it clever the way the back opens to change diapers?

The front of the rompers look like a one piece garment. The embroidery on vintage children's clothing is so fun.

******

I will run the vintage series through January and then in February will start a new Monday series with another love of mine - quilts. I hope you are enjoying seeing some of my vintage children's clothing.

Peace

The Peace Rose

My heart is heavy this week.

The people of Palestine and Israel are hurting.

Please send a prayer for peace their way.

There are better ways to resolve differences then by killing and violence.

This rose is only a symbol, but one we can focus on

and pray for hearts to be softened.

In the book Three Cups of Tea they talked about helping people to improve their lives will also bring peace.

"We must learn to live together as brothers (and sisters) or perish together as fools."

~Martin Luther King Jr.

Monochromatic Day

Have you ever had a monochromatic day?

Last week I had such a day.

At the end of the day I said it felt like there hadn't been any color in my day and if felt sort of depressing. It was like holding my breath for the day and hoping the color would return. I wondered what to do when we have a day such as that. Today I was reading about finding happiness inside ones self. Do I stop, take a deep breathe, and sing a song that makes me happy? Do I stop and "smell the roses"? Most of all do I just stop and take note that the color has faded and acknowledge it? By acknowledging and noticing it I can turn my day back to color. I think the next monochromatic day, I will stop, pick out a colorful teacup from my shelf, and put something special into the cup and sip. A cookie would be nice too. I think I have a cookie in my freezer with a red cherry on top. Don't you think that would be the perfect addition to turn my day into color?

What I Love

Laurie at ButtonsnLace tagged me last week.

www.buttonsnlace.blogspot.com

I am to list 8 details of my life, so here goes with things that make me happy.

1. I love chocolate and tea

2. I loved my career as an apparel patternmaker, but now enjoying retirement.

3. I love water of all kinds from swimming pools, the ocean, lakes, rivers, ponds, and even birdbaths. Two recent water shots taken with my camera. I also swim two nights a week.

4. I love the outdoors, especially if it includes water and tea.

5. I love to fly and as a child dreamt I could fly. I even use to try flying off the roof of our garage and would climb the tallest trees hoping to be able to fly from them like a bird.

6. I love to read. I started reading Simple Abundance for 2009 again and hope to make it through the whole year. Also reading a good Nora Roberts romance novel.

7. I love to sing Happy Birthday, even if it isn't anyone's birthday.

8. Creativity makes my heart sing.

Now I am suppose to tag some others, but since I tagged many of you not to long ago I won't tag anyone. I just thought it would be fun to share some of the things I love and that make my heart happy. What makes you happy?

********

Just to let you know Marmalady's has changed shipping charges. Shipping will be free for retail orders over $20.00. Visit www.marmaladys.com

Grandpa's China

The family story has always been that my Grandpa bought this set of Haviland & Co. Limoges from a lady in the mountains of Colorado. That she painted the design on a blank set of china for my Grandpa. I love the china and have looked for more pieces in antique stores. Several years ago I found a couple pieces in an antique shop in Wyoming. This is the only place I have seen pieces with this pattern. After researching in china books and talking to the antique dealer in Wyoming I found that the family story was not correct. The china pattern was created for the Burlington Railroad and in fact is not hand painted, but a decal. I still love the violets and daisies, but it has a new story to tell.

Come sit a spell and have tea with me. We can share stories of time gone past and learn more of what makes our heart sing.

This china now belongs to me and when the holidays come each year my family enjoys our holiday meals on violets and daisies.

Vintage 1917-1920

For anyone interested in the fashions in 1917, this book is full of great pictures and descriptions of the details.
Now wouldn't these dresses be fun to wear to tea or a tea dance?

Not to leave the little ones out, this is a page out of a pattern book from the early 1920's.

More dresses perfect for tea for the little girl's.

I love this era.

Christmas Dinner

One final Christmas note, then I will move forward with the new year.

Several of you have been curious about our family Christmas dinner tradition.

About 10 years ago my two adult children decided we needed a different Christmas dinner tradition; so they decided to take over the meal on that day. Each year they keep it a secret until we sit down at the table. The theme is different each year and is usually a menu from a different country. Some of the menus have been Ethiopian, Middle Eastern (twice), American Prairie (buffalo), Italian, Spanish Tapas, and this year the theme was an Obama Christmas. How they come up with these ideas is amazing in itself. They research online and try all new recipes each year.

*********

For the Obama Christmas this year we had:

Carrot Curry Soup from Thailand

Chicago Deep Dish Pizza

Vegetable recipe from Kenya (greens and tomatoes)

Hawaiian Fruit Salad

Maryland Crab Cakes (for Washington, DC)

Dessert representing Kansas where Obama's grandparents were from.

The dessert was cookies from a recipe I had started making when we lived in Kansas.

This represented Kansas to my two adult children.

******

An unusual Christmas dinner tradition, but fun each year and I don't have to cook on Christmas Day.

On Wings of an Eagle

As we enter 2009, fly with me on the wings of an eagle.

Rejoice in the flight.

Let your spirit soar.

Take heart and know this will be a good year.

Laugh and Love

Take Joy!

Happy New Year from me to you!

***********

Picture taken December 29th in Pt. Ludlow, WA.