It's Beginning!

 

It's beginning to look like Christmas
everywhere I go.
And so the shopping has begun,
cookie are being baked,
carols are beginning to be heard.

Do you delight in this time of year or is something you avoid?
What is your favorite part of the holidays?

No shopping for me this weekend, but a few cookies will be baked.
I think I will start the celebrating with a massage,
then out come the bins of twinkling stars and shiny balls.
Oh I love seeing them again and remembering past Christmases.

Happy weekend, dear friends!
May the festivities begin!

A Day of Thanksgiving

 

A day to be Thankful!
A day shared with family and friends.
For those of you celebrating today
and all my friends around the world,
I am thankful for you and wish great blessings
on you as you celebrate each day
with Thankfulness.

My morning is starting quietly,
as I sip my cup of Darjeeling Turzum Clonal Delight,
a first flush from 2012.
I am thankful for these quiet moments with a good cup of tea.

Sigh, Peace

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the midst of the week, take a sigh.
Enter into a quiet time.
Experience Peace.
Be still.
Pause.

Sending a quiet heart to you today!
Love!

Gifts and Happiness

 

To receive a gift
I delight
I embrace
I treasure it
I hold it tight and laugh with glee.

They say to receive the gift of happiness is to give.
I see God's happiness in the gifts received,
the delight in me.

In turn I give of the gifts
In the giving 
I delight
I laugh
I dance in God's delight
I am happy.

~m.miller

photo taken under the big tree in my garden

Monday's Quotes

Today, why not ask for the creative and physical energy
you'll need, not just to survive The holiday season,
but to enjoy it.

~Sarah Breathnach

Leaves in Autumn

 

You danced for me.
Your colors delighted me.
You twirled.
You spoke to me in the flutter of your voice.
You sang in the softness of a crisp Autumn day.
Autumn you enchanted.
In the crispness of a cold walk down the road my heart sang.
I sang your song with rosy cheeks
and puffs of breathe filled the air.
Autumn, so full of leaves and one last song
before we sleep in the winter and
sip tea by the fire.
One last hurrah before we curl into a quilt,
my walk in the Autumn days.

Happy weekend, dear friends!

HOPE

 

Some days in the darkness and gloom we feel buried in the sand.
Drowning under the surface.
Gasping for breath.
Then HOPE takes us in it's grip and JOY bubbles forth.
It takes us by surprise and lifts us up above the grime.
Once more we can laugh.
Once more we can dance.
For HOPE has met us there at the center of despair.
So look for the small things, the things that delight.
Let HOPE grasp you and lift you and hold you up high.
.

A Walk in the Park

 

Walking in the park is one of my loves.
Just walking in my neighborhood delights.
If you have been reading my blog for awhile
you will know that I love to walk where I live.
My problem is that I get so busy with life
that I don't take the time to walk in the park.
Do you do this too?

Today the challenge is on for you and for me.
Let's take a walk where we live and delight in the day.
Find those umbrellas, mittens, hats, warm coats, and walking shoes
and go walking.

Enjoy and Savor!

WreathMaking and Play

Recently on the blog, Cabin and Cottage,
she shared a wreath she had made out of only
a wire hangar and pages from a book.
I loved it and thought I could do this.

This is my first wreath.
I found an old book at Goodwill and with the first rip
of trepidation there was ripping aplenty.
Even Joey admired when the final results were hung or was it the
ribbon he was wanting, hummmm?

 

So with a church retreat at the coast this past weekend we made wreaths.
It was a great way to sit, chat, and play.

What I found is my first book the paper was a little heavy, but
then I found an old dictionary at a vintage shop and it worked very well.

For instructions and more delights visit Cabin and Cottage at http://getcottage.blogspot.com/
By all means just PLAY.

Monday's Quotes

 

For God has not given us a spirit of fear,
but of power and love
and of a sound mind.

1 Timothy 1:7 - from the Bible

My Neighborhood

 

Loved this reminder just the other day.
Some days it just needs to hit you in the face,
be front and center, a reminder for the heart.
My neighborhood has a plethora of reminders
and delights for the eyes.
It is eclectic and amusing,
a place where we can dance in the street
and find oh so good food.
One day there is a vegan bakery and the next day
it is The Sugar Cube, full of delights and butter.
Yet just next door the vegan restaurant sits in great success.

If you ever visit my city, Portland of the West,
be sure to let me know.
I would love walking with you here.

Lower photo is lunch at The Sugar Cube with a delightful
quiche, shortbread cookie, and kombucha to drink.

Have a wonderful weekend, dear friends!

Cranberry Time of Year

 

It is cranberry season and oh how I love cranberry bread. 
This recipe has been in the family for a long time
and we love it with a cup of tea for an afternoon snack
or for a breakfast treat.

Cranberry Bread

2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup butter
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon grated orange peel
3/4 cup orange juice
1 1/2 cups raisins (light are nice if you have them)
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries, chopped or whole

Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in a large bowl.
Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly.
Add egg, orange peel, and orange juice all at once,
stir just until mixture is evenly moist.
Fold in raisins and cranberries.

Spoon into a greased and floured loaf pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes
or until toothpick comes out clean when inserted.
Remove from pan and cool on a wire rack.

Enjoy!

Tulips in November

 

Walking through the market a few days ago I saw tulips in November.
What a surprise to see them there.
How did they trick these tulips into blooming in Autumn?
They came from California, but still some magic had to happen.
The magic happened in my heart to see yellow tulips in November.
A hope for Spring one day again, for dreaming and believing.
No, I am not expecting Spring anytime soon,
but in my heart yellow tulips send me a warm glow of HOPE.

My November Garden

The hydrangeas have changed their color, no longer blue.
A beautiful magenta.

The last blossom on the tea plant.
Did you know tea was in the camellia family?

Roses seem to last the longest in our garden.

This rose in particular may bloom most of the winter.
It is called The Poet.

 

Dahlias still gracing the garden.

A profusion of chrysanthemums cascade from the flower box.
Oh how I love going exploring right in my own yard.
When we look closely, what beauty can be found.

Monday's Quotes

 

The most successful people are those who do all year
long what they would otherwise do on their
summer vacation.
~Mark Twain

Come Away with Me

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1ktAkH6C-w
Music for getting started with the weekend.
Come away with me.
Dream of mountain tops, golden seashores, or walks in your neighborhood.
Come away with me.
Snuggle in with a quilt, a cup of tea, and a good book.
I am reading Broken Paradise by Cecilia Samartin.
Dance in the moonlight.
Sing songs in your heart.
Come away with me and dream.

Happy weekend, dear friends!

Delight of the Day

This morning the wind began whipping around my house
and the rain came pouring down.
It was the kind of morning you just want to wrap in something warm
and sip a warm cup of tea.
Much to my surprise the electrical power went out
and just now it has come on.
I had just made my tea and the toast had just finished toasting.
I relished the quiet of the house in simple pleasure.
Perfect timing!
My delight for today was 2 hours of quiet with a warm cup of tea.

What is your delight for today?

Photo taken at a vintage show not long ago.

Little Red Riding Hood and Tea

 

Recently I felt like Little Red Riding Hood as off
to visit my aunt in the care facility.
She hasn't felt very well lately and I wanted to cheer her
with a basket of tea, a piece of chocolate, and a cookie.
I thought others of you might like the idea.
She wasn't able to drink the tea, she did enjoy sucking
on a sliver of chocolate as I sipped tea.
She asked me to wash her face and the warm
tea water was perfect for a face washing.
Such a simple gesture, but one that delights someone in need.

All you need is a basket, a thermos of warm water,
cups, teapot, napkins, tea, and a goodie or two.
The teapot isn't necessary if carrying teabags,
but have some way to dispose the teabag after it is steeped.

I would love to hear if this inspires even one of you
to do a simple gesture of taking tea to someone in need of a visit.

Travel Dreaming

Reminiscing!
Dreaming of travel in the world.
Missing my adventures in France.

 

Missing this beautiful apartment in Provence.

Dreaming of walking once more in little villages.

Stopping for a cup for of tea with this view.

 

And coming here during lavender season.

Oh how the travel bug does prevail in my soul.
I believe the more you travel,
the more travel is desired.

If you could choose to travel anywhere right now,
where would you go and what would you do?

Monday's Quotes

 

Put your ear down close to your soul
and listen hard.
~Anne Sexton

November Welcome

 

 

 

Welcome to November!
Let's have some tea.
Remnants of October still remain,
but rainy weather is on it's way.
My tea choice this morning is something bold.
Bold is what is needed to face the cold winter months.

On the package of my tea it says:
Sou Chong, Choice Selected China Tea
From time immemorial, Tea has been the  national drink of the
Chinese people.  From their point of view.  Tea is everybody's
drink and indispensable at any time.  It's strength has a
sweetening influence, its flavour is subtle and enchanting.
It has beneficial effect on body and mind.
"SOU CHONG" is best of China Teas for foreign taste.

So this morning I am having Sou Chong, not smoked, tea.
It smells of a bonfire and reminds me of times in the
past on a cold evening sitting outside under the trees,
warming myself by an open fire.

Welcome to November!
Sit awhile and have a cup of "bold" tea.