Watching

Silently my toes tap on the bare floor.

Quietly I stand watching through the window pane.

What is out there on this cold Autumn Day?

Have the hummingbirds returned?

I stand a sentinel always on alert.

Waiting, just knowing soon you will return.

In the meantime, as my side kick sips her tea,

I wait with a twitch of a whisker and a tail
 for that special sighting

that will bring me JOY.

Notice what you notice.

Take time to see the small things that bring JOY.

Happy Weekend, dear friends! 

A Tea Pet

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_zodiac
This is not the year of the Ox, but it is a friends tea pet.
You are asking, I just know you are.
What is a tea pet?
Well it is a tea mascot sometimes found on tea trays.
Tea pets, Zi Sha, are mascots.
The owner often will pour tea over them as they are serving
and after awhile the pet acquires the scent of the tea.
The tea pet can represent good luck or according to the particular figure
it can represent a plethora of meanings for the owner.
My tea pet is a turtle.
Why you ask?
Really I don't know, I was just drawn to the little guy when
I saw him sitting on the counter of Lin Ceramics in Taiwan.

Last Rose of Summer

 

One ray of sunshine still I have.
For the last rose of summer resides in my garden.
November is sliding into our memory,
but the last of of summer shines brightly just for me.
As the sunshine fades may you be filled with the light of a new dawn.
Move toward the light of twinkling stars on Christmas trees.
A candle will light the way.
For the last rose of summer shines in my heart
and I will savor until the dawn comes once more.

By the Light we Walked

The night was dark.
The moon only a sliver.
We were greeted by one candle
and then there were others.

We stepped into another time.
A time in the 1840's
when the blacksmith made the axe
to fell a tree.

We shared a cup of tea
with the ladies in the kitchen,
for it was there they toiled most days.

In the evening as the sun went down
there was time for chat by candle light.
Time to engage the needle for repairs
or to make a special embroidery to share.

Yes, in joining many candles together
our way was lite and the darkness no longer
daunted.

 

As the evening closed,
again we walked in darkness with
one candle to lead the way.
Our hearts were warmed by stepping back
and taking a time to join together
and share a time gone by.

Photos and event took place recently
at Fort Vancouver, Washington
A fort that was settled by the Hudson Bay Company
and used as a trading post in the 1800's.
Some pictures are not very clear as flash was not allowed.

One Word

 

Baking

Thankful!

 

Only one picture to share for gratitude this year.
This is my little grandson, born October 1st.
He is so precious to me and his family.
A real treasure for sure.
We are thankful!

Wishing you all a very special Thanksgiving!
May you be blessed with those you love surrounding you.
Time will be spent with this little guy and family.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Joy Found

 

I have found such joy in simple things; a plain clean room, a
nut-brown loaf of bread, a kettle as it sings; a leaf-laced square along a floor where yellow sunlight glimmers through a door. I have found such joy in things that fill my quiet days: a curtain's blowing grace, a potted plant upon my windowsill, a rose fresh-cut and placed within a vase. A table cleared, a lamp beside a chair, and books I long have loved beside me there.

~ Grace Noll Crowell ~


Where have you found JOY today? 

One Word

 

Grateful

Enchanted

 

 

 

 

 

This Fall I am enchanted by the light and colors of the season.
When the sun shines just right it just makes my heart sing.
Walking down the avenue near my home I love seeing the trees just shine.
Often struggling with this time of year I am trying to soak in the light.
It helps when I can notice the light shining in surprising ways.
It is pure delight.
The avenue here is considered an arboretum.
There are many varieties of trees.
On the days the sun is shining the colors just reach out and grab my heart.

Notice what is around you this weekend.
What is enchanting you?

Old Tea

 

Do you have tea sitting on your shelf that has been there for years?
Yes, you!  I know there is some there.
I have some too.
Are you asking yourself if it is still good?

Well in some cases, yes it is good and in some no.
Flavored teas have a shelf life of about a year.
Light oolongs should be enjoyed most often within a year.
My recommendation is to taste before you toss.
Then if it isn't good, toss it in the garden.
It is great for the soil.

When I first started getting into tea a friend recommended puer teas
to help lower my cholesterol.  Puer teas can be an acquired taste,
but I adjusted and began drinking it.  I did think there was only one kind of puer,
but have since learned there are varieties of even puer teas.
One thing that I like about puer is that it is aged and can improve
even as it gets older.  At the NW Tea Festival this year I had the opportunity
to taste some special puer teas with Jeffrey McIntosh.
They were quite delightful and I ended up coming home with a disk of a special
puer, which is now aging longer in my cupboard.

I love that there are teas aging in my cupboard and it is OK.
In the meantime I will be drinking up my flavored teas and my oolongs and enjoying.
What are you enjoying today?

Sneak Peak - This Year's Card

 1.  Cut sheet of 8 1/2 X 11 inch paper in half to make 2 cards
2.  Fold paper up enough to form a pocket horizontally,
 then fold vertically to form three sections.

3.  Cut ribbon about 27-28 inches long.
4.  Lay the ribbon across the front of card and glue in place with
either a special flat ornament or sticker.  I found these sparkly little
ornaments at Michael's and just removed the string.
5.  After tucking special treats inside, wrap the ribbon twice around the card and tie a bow.

That's it, another simple idea for a card that anyone could make.

Now what will I tuck in the three pockets.
Some Ideas:
 bag of tea
 special picture
 quote you love
 Christmas poem
 personal note
 fill it with hearts of love
even pictures from recyled cards

Any other ideas?


Enjoy!

Make a Card - Recycle

 

 

 

Most years I make my Christmas cards.
Two years ago I saved the sleeves from all the chai I bought at a local beverage shop
and also saved the cards I received the year before.
Then where you see the large heart I used the
cards from previous years to punch a heart from their cards
and affix it to the opening of my card with the recycled sleeves.
When the card was opened at the seam
I wrote this message:
May your holidays be wrapped in the warmth of the season!
Any message from you would be welcome.

It's a simple, sort of silly idea; but I loved the idea of recycling to make my cards.
Do you make your cards?
I have received some beautiful homemade cards over the years,
but I tend to keep it simple and when possible recycle.
Enjoy this simple idea and let me know if you use it someday.

One Word

 

Garden

Bella Flora, a shop for fairies

 

 

 

 

 

The fairy godmother, Elaine

 

 

I have written about Bella Flora in the past, but had to share again.
Bella Flora had been a neighborhood fairyland for many years
and recently had to move because the building she was in was being torn down to build apartments.
Can you believe that?
Contractors would tear down the place that fairies had resided for oh so long?

Well the fairy godmother found a new place, a sweet place too.
Don't you just love peeking in the window and walking through the shop?
The photos were taken at the grand opening of the new fairyland.
Stop by and say hi if you find yourself in the neighborhood.
Location:  2721 NE 7th Ave., Portland, Oregon

You will be delighted and enchanted.
If you come to town, I would gladly take you there.

Kill for Tea

 

Oh the images here, created in my mind. 

Quotes from A Week in Winter by Marcia Willett

Is it appallingly old-fashioned to say that I would kill for a cup of tea?
Tea first, A bath would be wonderful but tea must come first.
Well I will leave you to get yourself sorted out while I get the kettle on.

Do you feel that way sometimes?
What images do these words fill your mind with?

Sleeping in the Forest

Sleeping in the Forest

I thought the earth

remembered me, she

took me back so tenderly, arranging

her dark skirts, her pockets

full of lichens and seeds, I slept

as never before, a stone

on the riverbed. nothing

between me and the white fire of the stars

but my thoughts, and they floated

light as moths among the branches

of the perfect trees.  All night

I heard the small kingdoms breathing

around me, the insects, and the birds

who do their work in the darkness.  All night

I rose and fell, as if in water, grappling

with a luminous doom.  By morning

I had vanished at least a dozen times

into something better.
by Mary Oliver

Happy Tuesday dear friends!

One Word

 

Party?

Autumn Day

 

 

Sitting in the garden on an Autumn day brings Delight and JOY!
When I took the pictures there were still leaves on the trees.
In the past few days the ground is now covered.

 

Take a cozy blanket and a cup of tea and
celebrate Autumn there,
just sit in the garden,
find a comfy chair
and savor the day.
Soak it up, feel the warm glow of the sun
for soon the rains and snow will come
and then we will be sitting by the fire indoors.

Hope the sun is shining for you today.
Happy weekend!

Tutorial - Tea Wallet

Many of you know I sell sewing patterns for tea lovers at www.marmaladys.com
As we are heading into the holiday season I wanted to share a gift with each of you.
A tutorial to make a simple tea wallet or tote for carrying tea as you travel or to make as a gift.
Enjoy~

Cut 2 pieces of fabric (both the same or contrasting) 21 1/2" by 6 1/2"
Cut 2 light weight fusible pellon the same size. Make sure it is light weight,
otherwise it gets too bulky.
Iron on the fusible pellon to the back of each piece of fabric.
Note: My corners are already trimmed as I used a quilt batting the first
time around and found it wouldn't work.  Please trim the corners later after sewing the seams.

Cut 3/8" wide ribbon 36" long.
Fold in half and tuck inside the two layers of fabric with the fold peeking
out of cut edge just a little (see in picture on left), place 2" above bottom edge.
Then pin about a 2-3" space on the long edge as I have pinned at top.

Now sew a 1/4" seam allowance all around, except between the two pins.
Now trim corners at an angle and turn through the space not seamed, so you see the outside of fabric.

Make sure the corners are all the way turned and pointed in shape.
Press, then stitch the opening in the seam closed.
 Turn the long edge up 2" and press.
Also stitch the turned up ends closed (see where my thread is on left)

 

Stitch the turned up long side in place approximately every 3" creating
7 pockets.

Tuck teabags, packets of sugar, or other treasures in the pockets.

 

Roll and tie with ribbon to close.

This is my gift to you.
Happy First of November!