Heirloom Roses

Heirloom Roses is located in the Willamette Valley of Oregon.

Isn't that pink rose over the arbor gorgeous?  It's called Eden.

Walking through their gardens is like being in Eden.

They have beautiful test gardens where you can walk and smell the roses.

Their gift shop carries Marmalady's jams and jellies.

I lost my husband here as he disappeared among the roses.  Not to worry, he was later found.
For Marmalady's jams you can visit their gift shop at 24062 Riverside Drive Northeast, St Paul, OR.
For amazing roses, visit their website: www.heirloomroses.com

JOY in Anticipation

I've been thinking alot lately and frustrated with myself.
I love creating and making things and yet I don't always do those things that make me happy.
I love gathering the materials together to create, but often that is as far as it goes.
It drives me crazy sometimes.
Then this week in my thoughts on this I realized what I really love is the dreaming and
anticipation of the project.  Knowing that there are the supplies just sitting there waiting
for me to create brings me JOY.
Do you love to dream and anticipate beautiful creations?
What makes your heart sing with JOY?
Am I the only crazy lady that receives JOY from the anticipation?

August Break

I am taking an August break and joining Susannah and others in celebrating the month of August by blogging in a different way.  We will continue to share a picture each day, but maybe only a word or two.  I know you would like to be outside playing and so would I.  You are welcome to join me, just let Susannah know at www.susannahconway.com/2010/07/would-you-like-to-join-me  It should be fun and I am hoping to find some special thoughts and pictures to share with you.  So starting Monday my posts may be brief, but I hope you will still visit me just to say hello.

Dancing

Somedays don't you just feel like dancing?

Picture taken outside the Portland Art Museum Friday night.
It was a free family night with music, food, and dancing.
The music just made me want to dance in celebration of summer.

Strong Women - Twyla Tharp

The flower reminded me of a ballerina's tutu.  Since I didn't have a picture of my Strong Woman, Twyla Tharp, I thought I would share my ballerina's tutu.

www.twylatharp.org/bio.shtml - for more information.

Quotes I enjoyed from Twyla Tharp:

I don't think politicians should be allowed into power who are not familiar with their bodies, because that's where our bottom line is. And I know that they would make totally different decisions if they felt responsible simply for their own bodies.

I have not wanted to intimidate audiences. I have not wanted my dancing to be an elitist form. That doesn't mean I haven't wanted it to be excellent.

I have the wherewithal to challenge myself for my entire life. That's a great gift.

I learned very early that an audience would relax and look at things differently if they felt they could laugh with you from time to time. There's an energy that comes through the release of tension that is laughter.

Art is the only way to run away without leaving home. 

Born in July, 1941, she is still creating today.

Twyla Tharp has choreographed more than one hundred thirty-five dances, five Hollywood movies, directed and choreographed four Broadway shows. She received one Tony Award, two Emmy Awards, nineteen honorary doctorates, the Vietnam Veterans of America President's Award, the 2004 National Medal of the Arts, the 2008 Jerome Robbins Prize, a 2008 Kennedy Center Honor. Her many grants include the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Fellowship. She is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and an Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
In 1965 Ms. Tharp founded her dance company, Twyla Tharp Dance. In addition to choreographing for her own company, she has created dances for The Joffrey Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, The Paris Opera Ballet, The Royal Ballet, New York City Ballet, The Boston Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance, The Martha Graham Dance Company, Miami City Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet.
In 1992 Ms. Tharp wrote her autobiography PUSH COMES TO SHOVE. In 2003 she wrote, THE CREATIVE HABIT: Learn it and Use it for Life. In 2009 she wrote, THE COLLABORATIVE HABIT: Life Lessons for Working Together both of which were published by Simon and Schuster.

The Amherst Rose and Tea Parlour Gift Shop

This "Painted Lady" is 165 years old and sat empty for 15 years until Mary Jane and Carl came to the rescue.

After a labor of love and much work it is now open by reservation only for tea.

Last Saturday there was a special 10 year anniversary tea party at The Amherst Rose and Tea Parlour Gift Shop at 937 Amherst Road N.E., Massillon, Ohio.  This was a group of friends that celebrate tea online at Yahoo Group, Afternoon Tea Across America.  What was fun about this tea party is that I was able to join the party for a few minutes to say hello on Skype.  Isn't technology amazing?

The other fun thing was they served my Marmalady's jam with the scones.
Mary Jane, the owner of this special shop carries Marmalady's jam in her gift shop.


I also understand the gardens are quite spectacular and Mary Jane takes a little time each day to work in the gardens.  That alone would be worth the visit. I know I would love to sit in the gardens and enjoy my tea.
The Amherst Rose serves "Dessert First "which is a miniature French Vanilla cupcake with Rosewater Frosting piped in the form of a rose served on a little plate along with a sparkling beverage.
Now who hasn't wanted to start with dessert?

Call 330-832-8502 for reservations.
You can also go online to read more about this shop at www.amherstrose.com
  Thanks to Ingrid in Toronto, Canada for letting me use her pictures.

Marionberries

Every year a friend calls and asks if we would like to pick marionberries.

Marionberries were developed in Oregon and are a cultivar of the common blackberry.

They are sweeter and maybe not quite as seedy.

They are oh so good!

Marionberries make the best pies and tarts.

Oh and the sorbet is yummy too!
Every year I think maybe I will make jam, but really I just love them in
my freezer for special treats during the winter.
Last evening I tossed a few berries in my chicken salad and the
flavor just made my mouth sing.
I wish you could all enjoy our Oregon marionberry, they are
truly delightful.
Do you have a berry that is unique to your area or one you just thoroughly enjoy?

Blue

 

Next to yellow, I love blue.
I especially love blue in nature.
I sometimes dream of having only blue flowers in my garden.
Do you ever notice the blue of the sky at different times of the day
and at different times of the year?
Even blue frosting on lavender cupcakes sing to my heart.
When you think of blue, what is the first thing that comes to your mind?
Is it sing the blues?
Or feeling blue?
Or the blue of the ocean?
May your heart sing today with the color of blue.

LETTERS TO JULIET - Trailer in HD

 

Letters to Juliet has been in the theaters for awhile, but I finally saw it this past weekend.  If you want a movie that just makes you smile, gorgeous scenery, and shed a tear or two; then this movie is for you.  I loved it and it brought back memories of traveling in Italy, just beautiful.

Strong Women - Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa, 1910 - 1997                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

The Missionaries of Charity 1950

Nobel Prize in Peace 1979                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Today I felt that just to share quotes by a special "strong woman" would suffice:

Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat.

Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired.

Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.

Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.

God doesn't require us to succeed; he only requires that you try.

Good works are links that form a chain of love.

I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world.

I do not pray for success, I ask for faithfulness.

I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.

I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much.

I want you to be concerned about your next door neighbor. Do you know your next door neighbor?

If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.

If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one.

If you judge people, you have no time to love them.

Simply Celebrating

 
I am simply celebrating today.
Celebrate with me.
Celebrate summer and a special birthday of a blogger over here.
Christina is celebrating her birthday.
What are you celebrating this fine, warm summer day?
I am celebrating with bubbles.
Do you see how some bubbles turned to plaid?
I am celebrating with white fluffy clouds and multicolored snowcones.
Fireflies, lady bugs, and hummingbirds are coming to the celebration.
There will be special pitchers of icy cold tea.
Come and celebrate the day
and a special birthday too!

Outdoor Liv'n

 

 

Last night my husband and I decided to sleep in the greenhouse.
It was comfy and cozy.
The only thing we both noticed is all the sounds of the city were loud.
I could imagine sleeping out in the country where the sounds are only nature.
We had trains, planes, and car noises.
This morning to continue the outdoor liv'n, the paper and morning tea were outdoors.

It had been a long time since we had been camping.
This was camping with comfort.
I loved waking up to the sun rising and the coolness of the morning air.
Now if those pesky trains, planes, and cars would just go away.
 When was the last time you went camping?
Was it comfy or was it the hard ground?
Sleeping in the greenhouse definitely is my style of camping.

Focus on the Good

Every week a newsletter comes in my email box from Cheryl Richardson.
Today I wanted to share this weeks newsletter with you.
If in the future you are interested in receiving her newsletters here is the link,

newsletter@cherylrichardson.com

The newsletter:

This week, after taking some time off to spend with a friend visiting from London, I was reminded of something important: I need to stay focused on solutions rather than problems.  One morning, after discussing the gulf oil disaster at length, I noticed that I felt exhausted and depressed for the remainder of the day.  When I thought about it, I realized that this has been happening more and more as I've watched the story unfold.  It's so easy to feel hopeless and overwhelmed by the enormity of the damage as well as the response (who actually thinks that pouring toxic chemicals - dispersants - into a vast ocean filled with living beings is a solution?!?).

I know many of you feel the same way.  These are challenging times and it's heartbreaking to see what's happening to our planet.  The foolish choices made by some with so little consciousness are infuriating at best.  But, it's important to remember that focusing on the problem, over and over again, just contributes to the energy going in that direction - toward the problem.  So, I decided to shift my attention to the fix.  Last week I started searching online for people who were creating solutions and I instantly felt hopeful.  I found several ideas and it was a great reminder that there are smart, committed, and conscientious people putting their energy to good use.

Where are you putting your attention?  Rather than get seduced by the frightening and devastating news of doom and gloom, let's collectively focus on good news, solutions, and what's working, shall we?  When we do, we:

Have more energy to do well in the world
Think better thoughts
Increase our level of personal power
Generate smart ideas
Begin to see good everywhere
Feel hopeful and empowered
Become a positive influence on others and on the planet

And, we open ourselves up to wisdom and insight so we, too, can become part of the solution.

To that end, I invite you to share your good news with us. 

-End-

If you go to the link, scroll down to the end and click on video.

I think you will enjoy it.

Her newsletter this week reminded me of the reason I write Delights of the Heart.

It is my opportunity to focus on the good.

JOY comes to me

Joy has come to me in many ways recently.

From sharing a meal in my back yard with special friends.

To seeing the first blooms of pink hollyhocks.

The seeds were given to me by a blogger friend, Deena, two years ago.

To receiving a beautiful note and JOY pin in the mail from Mary Jane, a tearoom owner in Ohio.

To a lovely photograph with JOY from another blogger friend, Adrienne.
JOY comes in many shapes and forms.
Thanks to dear friends that remember me with JOY.

Mary Jane also included this lovely quote on JOY by Rabindranath Tagore (Indian Poet)

And Joy is Everywhere;

It is in the Earth's green covering of grass;

In the blue serenity of the Sky;

In the reckless exuberance of Spring;

In the severe abstinence of gray Winter;

In the Living flesh that animates our bodily frame;

In the perfect poise of the Human figure, noble and upright;

In Living;

In the exercise of all our powers;

In the acquisition of Knowledge;

in fighting evils....

Joy is there Everywhere.

Strong Women - Isabel Allende

About 12 years ago a friend of mine attended a writer's conference where Isabel Allende was speaking.
I had never heard of Isabel Allende.
My friend recorded Isabel's talk that day and I have listened to it many times and been inspired.
Isabel began life in Chili, but with political unrest was forced to leave the country of her heart.
She survived starting over several times, an abusive marriage, and raising two children alone.
She ends up in the Bay Area, near San Francisco, meeting her future husband there.
In this talk she says he was to only straight man in San Francisco.
I love her sense of humor.
She does marry this man and you would think they walk into the sunset hand in hand.
Soon she is forced to struggle with her newly married daughter going into a coma
and dying a year later.  You can read her experiences in Paula, a very touching story of a mother's love.

The book Isabel Allende is most recognized for writing is The House of the Spirits.
She is a strong woman because she has followed her passion in writing and living.
When she begins writing a book, she always starts on January 8th. 
She encourages writers to write daily and be disciplined. 

Isabel Allende is definitely worth seeking out at the library or book store.

Flee to Tea

Though I cannot flee
From the world of corruption,
I can prepare tea
With water from a mountain stream
And put my heart to rest.
-Ueda Akinara

from the book Tea Wisdom by Aaron Fisher

Barefoot in Summer

My garden has gone wild.

Anyone for nasturtiums?  These are giants and the blossoms are ready for a salad.

Roses, roses everywhere.

Barefoot Days

by Rachel Field
In the morning, very early,
That’s the time I love to go
Barefoot where the fern grows curly
And the grass is cool between each toe,
On a summer morning – O!
On a summer morning!

That is when the birds go by
Up the sunny slopes of air,
And each rose has a butterfly
Or a golden bee to wear;
And I am glad in every toe –
Such a summer morning – O!
Such a summer morning!

This poem exemplifies how I feel this morning.
Oh to wiggle my toes in the grass
and feel the summer morning all around me.

Summer

Today is the first day it feels like summer here in Oregon.
The outdoors is pulling me to come and play.
I just want to lay in the back yard and get a lovely massage,
or play eye-spy, maybe curl up and take a nap, or
sniff the flowers.  Then again maybe lunch by the river would be lovely.
What calls you on a warm summer day?

Bridge of Love

 

Today I am participating in the Bridge of Love with Se'Lah at the Necessary Room.
We are encouraged to celebrate with random acts of kindness.
For some time I have been thinking of donating a tea gift basket for a fund raising auction to a very special program, Project Ed Bear.  This program provides comfort and need to pediatric oncology patients in Ohio.
A friend, Susan, has been involved in this program for a long time and I love
supporting her and the program.

What will your random acts of kindness be today?
Create your bridge of love today.

Comments are problematic today; so if you don't see it posted right away it will be posted when Blogger gets their act together and fixes it.

Strong Women - Susan B. Anthony

 

 1820 - 1906

Having celebrated the 4th of July yesterday I felt that Susan B. Anthony was the perfect Strong Woman for today.

Although most girls did not receive a formal education in the early 1800's, Susan B. Anthony's father, Daniel, as a 6th generation Quaker, believed in equal treatment for boys and girls. Consequently, Susan and her three sisters had the same opportunity for advanced education as her two brothers. Susan attended a private Quaker boarding school in Philadelphia.

The Anthony family was very active in the reform movements of the day. They worked for temperance (the prohibition of alcohol), the anti-slavery movement plus both of Susan B. Anthony's parents (Daniel and Lucy) and her sister Mary signed the "Declaration of Sentiments" at the Second Women's Rights Convention held in Seneca Falls, New York in 1848.

Susan B. Anthony dedicated her life to "the cause," the woman suffrage movement. The accomplishments of Susan B. Anthony paved the way for the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920 (14 years after her death) which gave women the right to vote.

The woman suffrage movement motto read, "Men their rights and nothing more, women their rights and nothing less."

Information taken from www.lkwdpl.org/wihohio/anth-sus.htm

Lin's Ceramics

This is May from Lin's Ceramics in Taiwan.

I met May when I traveled to the World Tea Expo a couple weeks ago.

It is always fun to put a smiling face to someone you have communicated with by email.

This year, beside the gorgeous tea ceramics, she was selling some lovely oolong teas.

I came home with a Honey Oolong which I am certainly enjoying.

But ceramics is what I wanted to see and they didn't disappoint.

I love all that they make and some day would like to visit them in Taiwan.

The soft green of the set above was just beautiful.

Have you ever dreamed of having a beautiful small tea set.

When people see the little teapot; they often think they are for children.

These little sets, however, are worthy of you using to make your tea.

They usually hold a lovely Oolong, which can be re-steeped several times.

What a treat it would be to share a small pot of Oolong tea with a friend

in a small teapot and cups.

Double click on the picture of May and you will see other lovely tea sets and utensils.

I would love to carry Lin's Ceramics on my website, www.marmaladys.com

and maybe someday I will.  I will let you know if that happens.