A Peaceful Place

 

Sweet dreams dear friends.
This is a peaceful place recently discovered.
Where the frogs croak away until you step nearby.
A place where I could sit for hours and dream.
Do you have a peaceful, dreaming place?
Take the memory of this special place,
close your eyes,
listen as the water softly trickles over the rocks,
and the frogs sing their song.
What do you picture in your mind when going to sleep?
This peaceful place is an image that helps me to relax and sleep.
I can feel the cool night air and the whispers through the trees.
Rest and take care.
Happy weekend to you all.

Transferware Teapot

 

 

 

 

From wikipedia:

Transferware is a style of ceramics including pottery, dinnerware, and other delicate items. It uses transfer printing, a decorative technique which was developed in England in the mid-18th century, particularly around the Staffordshire region.

I fell in love with Transferware about a year ago and began collecting teacups
in different patterns.  Only one teacup per pattern.
But something was missing, a teapot.
On our road trip I started looking for a teapot, but didn't find one that wasn't
damaged, wrong color, or too spendy.
After arriving home I searched on etsy.com
and found just what I was looking for.

On the bottom it says "Made in England".
The castle is Farnham Castle in 1792.
Those are the only markings, but then
I don't buy for markings.
Long ago I decided when I buy it is just because I love it.
That is my personal philosophy when I visit an antique shop
or any other shopping.  I really must just love it.

Stairway to the Sun

 

These stairs will take you to a beautiful grassy meadow in the sun.
Today take some time to step up into the sun and savor.
Sit down on the grass and feel the coolness there.
Is the grass damp or is it baked by the sun?
How is your day going today?
Savor and take some time for you!

King Tut, a Visit to Seattle

 Let's step into the tomb of King Tutankhamun.

Howard Carter, a British archeologist, stepped into

the tomb for the first time in the 1920's and stated

there were wonderful things there.

The above is a replica of the tent and table where he worked.

As a tea lover, notice the transferware teacup and the teapot.

Click on picture to look more closely.

On a recent adventure to the Seattle Science Center I was surrounded by golden and alabaster beauties
of another time.  A time long ago when "The Boy King" reigned.
For a moment in time we could imagine and step through the four rooms of King Tut's tomb.
Included in this exhibit were artifacts from others that had reigned in Egypt.
The golden shoes, magnificent jewelry, King Tut's bed, and a chair.
If you have the opportunity, this is a don't miss show.  I thoroughly enjoyed visiting King Tut and his friends.

Calla Lillies

 

Growing up in California calla lillies were quite common.
I didn't really like them.
In recent years I have grown to really enjoy their unique beauty.
They just sing to my heart as a trumpeter heralding a new day.
Last year I was given some tubers from my sister's garden in California.
They have thrived in my garden.
No these are not in my garden, but soon very soon my calla lillies
 will shine like the beauties you see here.

Calla Lily Ballad

The 'calla' is exquisite
To peer 'pon with delight.
Its thick-green stem
Is a unique sight.

A favorite, it lends
Its touch to all:
Boutonnière, centerpiece,
Paintings for the wall.

A gorgeous flower,
The calla lily is.
A gorgeous flower,
The calla lily is.

Its beauty—endless—
Is never remiss.
A gorgeous flower,
The calla lily is.

by Walterrean Salley

Shall we Chat?

 

On Wednesday I had a chat with my little friend, the tree frog.
Today I would just love sitting here with you.
We could sit and just enjoy the view
or we could catch up with the news.
Isn't this a lovely place to take our tea
and share some time together.
Come join me please.
I will bring the tea.
What will you bring?
This view is too precious to not share with a friend.
Come along and join me here.
Sit awhile.
Ahhh!  The peace and quiet is delightful.
Just the perfect place for you and me.

The view is up on a bluff looking back at Portland, Oregon
and down on the Columbia River.

What's in your Cup?

In the silver bowl is the largest rose I think we have ever picked in our garden.
Yes, that is one rose open wide and enjoying the morning sun.
In my cup is Harney's Titanic tea.
A lovely blend of Keemun, Assam, Ceylon and Oolong.
The Titanic tea blend was created by Harney & Sons
in memory of the launching of the RMS Titanic and its maiden voyage.
5% of the proceeds from the sale of this tea will go to the
Ocean Conservancy and its efforts to preserve one of
Earth's most valuable resources, our oceans.

Sadly, this was my last cup of a lovely tea, a gift from a friend.

What's in your cup today?

A Friendly Conversation

 

It seems like only yesterday that you and I had a conversation while sitting in the sun.
Do you remember the warm sun and how it felt sitting there?
 We dangled our toes just below the surface of the water.
We sang songs to each other.
And we admired each others lovely coloring and the texture of the skin.
Oh you beautiful little friend.
Sitting there with you this particular day brought such joy to my heart.
How I miss our time chatting and soaking in the sun.
We must remember, savor, and thank God for the time we had in that very moment.
I hope you have found other friends to sit and chat with.
Are you still enjoying the sun?
Take care dear friend and savor each moment.
Remember to dangle your toes in the water, tip your head back,
and savor the glow, the warmth, the light of your surroundings.
Have a spectacular day!

Rose is a Rose

 

When the roses shine with their beautiful blooms my heart just leaps for JOY.
The large single petal rugosa bloom with the morning dew is from my garden.
I had not picked a bloom from this rose before, but just thought it was so beautiful I couldn't resist.
Then a walk at our Rose Gardens up on the hill revealed the other gorgeous blooms.
They do make my heart sing with JOY and THANKSGIVING today.
I am profoundly thankful that we have this beauty surrounding us.

One Word

 

Helper

Walking in the Light

Have you heard the terminology "Walking in the Light"?

Unless you are a Quaker/Friends, you probably haven't heard this.

It means to walk in the light of God and

the light will guide your path.

I think it could also for today mean it is time for me to

take a walk in the sunshine.

We have had so little light lately

and the sun is shining so beautifully.

I have found this labyrinth here and now

I will be combining the two.

I am off to walk in the light of the sun

and the light of meditation with God.

Have a delightful weekend, dear friends.

Take time to walk in the light however you translate that.

Morning has Broken

Early this morning as I woke at the camp grounds

where I have retreated to for a few days, a walk was on my agenda.

This view as the sun was rising sang to my heart.

With the peacefulness of the morning, I had my small pot

of Oriental Beauty as I rejoiced in the day.

Morning has indeed broken and is beautiful.

Click on the picture to enlarge and enjoy.

The Road

 

Following the road, you never know where it will take you,
but in the end it takes us home again.
The road trip was a special time of connecting with our own
country and especially connecting with family and friends.
It often takes us from the shadows of life.
It opens into new life views and teaches us life lessons by those that cross our path.
I always say that with each trip I grow and learn more about my world and my heart.
I hope each of you reading my travels have seen something
that touches your heart and you have grown.
As long as I can I intend to keep on traveling and sharing.

The next few days I will be on another short adventure and may
not post your wonderful comments as quickly.
I always love hearing from each of you and hope when I
return to my computer there will be touches of you.

Photo taken near Pueblo, Colorado

Room in Waiting

While traveling my artist son painted our grandson's (due in September) room.
He did an amazing job and the room turned out to be such a special place.
It has a peacefulness about it and so much love went into this creation.


The chest of drawers was mine when I was a baby.
My husband painted it in colors that would fit into the room

The rocker in this picture, I rocked my babies in.
While we were away a new seat was put into it.
Don't you just love that sunshine/moon?

 

Curtains and a baby are missing still, but I just smile with JOY thinking
about the little guy coming soon and all the love that will be added here.
Hope you enjoyed the tour of my grandson's room in waiting.
To see the details, click on the picture to enlarge.

One Word

 

Wildflowers

Hotchkiss, Colorado

 

 

 

 

Never having traveled through western Colorado, I decided it was about time.
My mother lived in Hotchkiss, Colorado as a child and I wanted to see
where she had grown up.
It isn't very big and there didn't seem to be much there,
but it touched on my hearts cord.
Yesterday having lunch with my aunt I showed her these pictures
and got more of the story.
Most likely my great grandfather built the church, he
was a stone mason here.  I didn't find the family's home, but
what I found was the beauty of the surroundings here and
pictures in my mind and heart of the place my mother lived.

Someday I would love to come back to this part of the country and explore further.
There is so much of nature to see from the mountains to rafting on the river.
Is there someplace like this your heart draws you too?

Bernideen's

 

 

 

As we began our travels through Colorado I realized we would
be driving right through Colorado Springs.
A blog I visit from time to time is written by Bernideen
and she has a sweet gift shop in Old Colorado Springs.
I went online, got the address, and just showed up
at the door of her shop when she opened that morning.
How fun to meet Bernideen face to face and see all the
beautiful things there.
The whole neighborhood if full of delightful surprises
and definitely worth a stop.
I love the twinkly lights that greeted us as we walked up
to the front entrance.
Take a look at the ceiling in her shop, it is pure vintage
and gorgeous.
There was so much to look at from a lovely variety of tea,
tee shirts, books, teapots, and gourmet food items.
If you ever find yourself in that part of the world
for sure stop by and say Marilyn sent you.

Here's a link to her blog:  http://bernideensteatimeblog.blogspot.com/

Colorado Highway 50

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leaving Pueblo, Colorado we traveled along Highway 50.
It was breathtaking!
The clouds were spectacular.
The fresh leaves on the aspens were beautiful and just quivered in the breeze.
The majesty of the mountains sang to my heart.
This day we did stop by the road for a picnic,
just to enjoy the day in all it's glory.
It was a simple picnic and a simple day of just driving and riding
in the car with stops to take in the view.
Isn't it beautiful?

Bishop's Castle

Could I really finish my road trip without visiting a castle in the US?
Totally amazing and still in progress, Jim Bishop began building a family cabin
near Rye, Colorado in 1969.
After someone commented it looked like a castle with the stone construction,
he just kept building it into a real life, folk art castle.
He has done all the work himself, except for the stain glass windows.
Traveling through America on our road trip we enjoyed the oddities
of folk art from a castle in Colorado to the world's largest ball of string in Kansas.
Is there something unusual in your part of the world?
Something you would say to friends, you just have got to see this?

What makes road trips fun is just this, finding the unusual and stopping to enjoy.

One Word

 

Buddies

Final Images from Kansas

 

So many images of our visit sit in my mind.
Among the images are of the little red schoolhouse, which sat across the
road from where we once lived.
Towns that are becoming deserted with empty building sitting there.
Grain elevators sitting in the middle of town.
Old limestone buildings.
Old farm implements just sitting there deteriorating.
And the small town of Nicodemus where the first settlement of blacks settled west of the
Mississippi River many years ago and now only has about 9 residence.
Farewell Kansas!

Next week there will be a few peeks of Colorado before the return home.
Happy weekend to you all.
Get out and enjoy the sunshine and the sights.
There is beauty all around you.