Spirit Whispers

"I hope you'll hear what I'm about to tell you.
I hope you'll hear it all the way down to your toes.

When you're waiting, you're not doing nothing.

You're doing the most important something there is.

You're allowing your soul to grow up.
If you can't be still and wait, you can't

become what God created you to be."

"When the Heart Waits" by Sue Monk Kidd

Photo taken a few days ago by my daughter, Jill, in Ashland, Oregon.
I thought it was beautiful.

Thanks Jill for sharing your picture.

Cleaning around your Castle

Tips from the book, The French Art of Tea

for cleaning with Tea in the Home (Castle).

To rid a frying pan of the odour of fish or onion,

rub it with damp tea leaves.

To clean painted woodwork, nothing is as

effective as strong tea.

To clean and revive the colour of carpets,

scatter them with used tea leaves-well drained-

then brush off.

To drive mosquitos from a room,

burn some tea leaves.

Silk garments, tatamis and other mats can be

washed with tea, which removes stains and odours

and give them a fine sheen.

Disclaimer: I have not tried these tips, but they

sound like they might be interesting to try.
If you do try any of them, let me know how it worked.

A Snowy Day

First Snow

The snow wipes out the writing of the year;

Its swift erasers softly, surely pass

Across the hieroglyphics of the grass

And clean the slate of summer, spear by spear.

Where was a tale of gardens there is now

A smudged and undecipherable scrawl;

And where illumined lettering of fall,

A dim-inked outline of an austere bough.

The hills depicted on the sky are blurred

As blackboards hid behind a cloud of chalk,

And fast as feet of pigeons write a word

It is obliterated from the walk.

An ancient picture script alone remains -

A panorama etched on windowpanes.

from Kitchen Sonnets by Ethel Romig Fuller

Now you might be laughing, but this is our first snow of the year.

I picked the daffodils in my garden yesterday,

then woke to snow this morning.

I am loving it because it is beautiful,

but also because we can still get out and about.

Granola

In the past year three blogging friends have given
me homemade granola.  I have become addicted to these wonderful
mixtures of yumminess.  Last year I started making our yogurt
and the granola was a wonderful addition.
Since I didn't think bloggers would continue supplying me with granola,
it was time to make it myself.
There is a cherry tree in our yard and I had dried cherries from the tree.
Granola would be a perfect way to use the cherries too.
Recently I found a recipe that included dried cherries at Tartelette
and I knew it was time to give it a try.  It was so easy.
Now why have I not made granola before?
Now beside this recipe, I will be trying other combination's too.

You can find the recipe here:  http://www.tarteletteblog.com/2011/01/recipe-pecan-coconut-cherry-granola-and.html

Enjoy!  I certainly am.

A House is a Home

No matter how ragged it looks if there is a heart
inside it becomes a home.
There are two homes represented here,
one a glass house put together by an untalented hand
and a grass house put together by the hand of nature.

Participating in The Dollhouse Project (see the link
on my side bar), this house was my challenge for February.
It was something I had never done before,
but through The Dollhouse Project I want to challenge
myself to make a different representation of a house
or home each month this year.

Spirit Whispers

In the Silence we will hear.
Listen to your heart songs.

To Think of Tea!

A blogging friend, Annie, recently surprised me with a book in the mail.
The title is To Think of Tea! by Agnes Repplier.
It was printed in 1932 and has wonderful stories about tea in England.
I am thoroughly enjoying it.

A quote from the book:

Venus her myrtle has, Phoebus his boys;

Tea both excels which she vouchsafes to praise.

The best of Queens and best of herbs we owe

To that proud nation which the way did show

To the fair region where the sun does rise;

Whose rich productions we so justly prize.

The Muse's friend, Tea, does our fancy aid,

Repress those vapours which the head invade,

And keep that palace of the soul serene,

Fit on her birthday to salute the Queen.

Fairy Wings, Yes I Believe

"And as the season come and go, here's something you might like to know ... 

there are fairies everywhere under bushes, in the air, 

playing games just like you play, singing through their busy day. 

So listen, touch, and look around -- in the air and on the ground.

And if you watch all nature's things, you might just see a fairy's wing."

Unknown

Join me for tea in the meadow, drinking from acorn caps and sitting at this lovely table.

Yes, I do BELIEVE in fairies.
Fairy wings are waiting, sitting here just behind the door.

Photos taken at Bella Flora on Fremont St. in Portland, Oregon

Music

"I have heard this music before, saith the body."

by Mary Oliver

Yes, I have heard it before,
the sounds of the sea
the call of the whale.
Each time my heart sings
and I am delighted.
It is my hearts music.

The Year of the Rabbit

 Last week I wanted to do a little celebrating of the Chinese New Year.
A walk through Lan Su Chinese Gardens was just what I had in mind.
The touches of the red lanterns just sang to my heart.
But this little sweetie made my heart fly.
She was celebrating with a walk in the garden with her mom and
graciously agreed to pose for a picture.
I think she is the perfect little bunny to celebrate the year of the rabbit.
Happy Chinese New Year!

I am learning to ask for pictures, something that has not been easy for me.

Sweetheart Cake

Sharing in the celebration.
Visit Koralee at Bluebird Notes.
Wish I could send you all a piece of cake today.
Happy Valentine's Day!

Spirit Whispers

Listen to your heart whispers.

Happy Valentine's Day

Hugs!

My Mom's Teapot

My mom's teapot has sat on my shelf for the past 8 years.
I am not sure where it came from or who gave it to her.
I don't think she would have purchased it,
as she was very frugal.
I do remember her pouring hot water from it
and serving Lipton black tea.
I have loved having it,
but it is time to move on.
My nephews bride loves tea and I know they will treasure
grandma's teapot as I have loved it.
Mom's teapot will soon make a journey to the next generation.

Do you have family treasures that you will one day pass onto the next generation?
I am quite healthy, but have many teapots.
I wanted someone in the family to have the teapot that I knew would treasure it as I have.

Valentine Greetings

Joey is sending loving greetings for Valentine's.
He thought this the perfect place to pose.
His heart is hung around his neck very close to his heart.

Oops!  He forgot to smile, so you will just have to imagine it.
But his little pink nose and his golden eyes are intent on sending you love.
Oh yeah!
He loves having his picture taken and sending it to you.

He says:  Happy Valentine's  xoxoxo

Put on your Party Dress

Put on your Party Dress
and get ready to dance!
Twirl in the sunshine
Laugh
Sing

Soon the flowers will shine
the sun will come out
Rejoice and be Happy

Do you have hearts hanging from your dress?
Do you have love sitting on your shoulder?
Enjoy each moment and Dance!

Celebrate Feb. 14th

LOVE is in the air
I can feel it everywhere
Just take a peek in any store
For sure you cannot ignore
For valentines, chocolate, and flowers
shine with dazzle before your eyes.
Red is the color of the season.
So dance and celebrate
the LOVE that sings and bubbles up with JOY.

What are you planning for your special Valentines?

Spirit Whispers

One way that I listen is through creating a collage.
Saving meaningful pictures from magazines, including words I see.
Then when the time comes to struggle through a particular issue,
celebrate a new year, set goals, or tell a story; I take all the
pictures and words I have been collecting.
Sorting through the pictures, cutting,
and pasting with a particular goal in mind
opens windows and thoughts I hadn't realized were there.
Some people add their own personal touches with ink, crayons,
or paints to make an art journal.

I am very visual and seeing this creation in front of me
definitely speaks to me in whispers and sometimes load shouts.
Do you use art to help you see more clearly?

Tea Goodies

A light oolong tea sits in my cup today.

Beside the cup sits a Girl Scout chocolate mint cookie.

Different teas call for different goodies.

I love a rich date or fruitcake during the winter holidays

with a rich black tea.

Often an Asian savory, such as a steamed bun

goes wonderfully with a special oolong.

Green teas encourage me to eat a lovely salad of lettuce or fruit.

In my humble opinion a lovely piece of chocolate or

a lemon tart goes well with many teas.

What tea and goodie do you prefer?

What combination makes your mouth say yummm?

Have a warm cozy weekend with a cup of tea

and something special sitting beside the cup.

Trees

Gorgeous Art Quilts at the Oregon Garden on Saturday.

The one just above was constructed of tiny 1/8" pieces of fabric cut

and layered on the fabric, then held in place by a fine netting.

It was quite beautiful.

Bare trees in the garden reminded me of the beauty

in nature reproduced on fabric.

Trees 

I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the sweet earth's flowing breast.

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray,

A tree that may in summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

by Joyce Kilmer (1886-1918)

French Crepes

Yes, these are definitely French Crepes.
Why do you ask?
Some years ago we had a French student, Stephane, stay with us for awhile.
He was only 13 years old, but he definitely knew how to make crepes.
I hadn't made them in a long time, but decided to make them recently.
Oh, are they good.  I had forgotten.
It won't be so long the next time.
We filled them with some berries and cream cheese,
with a sprinkle of powdered sugar.
My son put bacon and cheese in his.
Also love fresh squeezed lemon with a sprinkle of powdered sugar.
I think almost anything would be good inside.

Here is Stephane's recipe:
French Crepes

6 eggs
3 tablespoons cooking oil
Almost 1 2/3 cup of flour
Scant teaspoon of salt
2 cups milk
1 cup water

Mix and let rest awhile.
Then cook in crepe pan or rounded side skillet.

Enjoy!

Kaleidoscope

Taken through the small hole of my kaleidoscope.

Kaleidoscopes have always intrigued me.

Do you love looking through the small hole

and seeing all the beautiful colors?

Recently attending a quilt show

I noticed the kaleidoscopes of quilts.

Looking through the small hole of my camera,

the colors said "notice me"

The patterns, oh so beautiful.

It would be lovely to snuggle under

a kaleidoscope of color.