My Word!

 

Oh my word!
The genies out of the pot!
It is bubbling up in an explosion of Delight.
I am reminded that certain things are good for our health.
And this word should do the trick.
For 2014 my word will be:
Laugh
Something we should do everyday
and I know it is lacking in my days.
So I will have laughter in my life,
oh yes I will.

Tell me, have you picked a word?
Oh I would love to know.

Monday's Quotes

“Do not lose hold of your dreams or aspirations.
For if you do, you may still exist but you have ceased to live.”
 ~ Henry David Thoreau

Merry Christmas!

 

Oh, JOY!
Feet up sipping tea and playing with my little "D".

Merry Christmas to each and everyone of you.
Be back next Monday with thoughts for the new word for 2014.

Best Part of Christmas

The best part of Christmas is spending time with special people.
Steph of Steph's Cup of Tea and I had the opportunity yesterday
to take a pause in the busyness of holiday preparations to have tea.
What a lovely way to spend a couple hours right before Christmas
with a dear tea friend doing what we like to do, drink tea.
Oh there also was a quiche, savory hot pepper jelly tart,
cucumber sandwich, roast beef with cheese sandwich,
and a delicious chicken salad with almond sandwich,
plus scones, fresh fruit, and two sweet treats.
We sipped 2 pots of Yorkshire Gold tea with milk.
Here is the link to the tea shop:  http://teasme.net/ 

Are you taking time with special friends or family to just enjoy the season?
I hope so.

Happy Christmas Eve dear friends!

Monday's Quotes

 

Like Strands of Shining Tinsel

Like strands of shining tinsel,
Hope will ever weave
Through his sorrow, who remembers
Candles Christmas Eve.

His tongue will not grow bitter
Who learns in youth the glory
Of the old sweet Christmas carols
And the manger story.

Nor love and faith quite vanish
For one with memories
Of dreams come true on laden,
Star-tipped Christmas trees.

So fill the house with fragrance
Of cedar boughs, with laughter--
These are gifts a child heart
Will keep forever after.

~Edith Romig Fuller
Kitchen Sonnets

Tea Time

 

The packages are wrapped.
The baking done, well almost.
The house is shining with glitter and bows.
Time to put the feet up and sip.

Have you gotten to that point?
What is in your cup?
This morning it will be a spicy Dragonfly chai
with a cookie and mandarin orange.

Enjoy the weekend.
May there be moments of sipping,
a cookie or two,
and music to dance.

My Home

A peak into my home at Christmas.

 

And the stockings were hung.
The quilt is a very old family quilt, which is too fragile to use.

A vintage shop rounder, which normally holds
my collection of vintage children's clothes.

Click on the smaller photos to see a larger version.

Happy 2014 and Merry Christmas!

What Christmas is About

 

Children are what Christmas is About.
Delightful!
Exasperating!
Funny!
Joyful!

My church is very small, so all ages participated in the Christmas program.
We couldn't help laughing at the one in the front row on the left side.
My husband said "there is always one" and he definitely entertained.
That is what Christmas is all about.
Hearing the laughter,
seeing the smiles,
and listening to the Christmas music.

Touch of Whimsy Tea Time

Each year since Lily was 4 years old I have prepared and served
afternoon tea to Lily and her family.  I have missed one or two years,
but for the most part it has been every year.
Now Lily is a junior in high school.
The theme this year was a Touch of Whimsy.
The flowers had just a touch of whimsy with bubble gum on the table,
the creamer had white flowers flowing from it, the ice cream Sunday
had red carnations with straws, and the egg cup had white carnations
encircling one yellow flower in the middle.

A few years ago my women's group decided they wanted to join
in on the fun; so I do a trial run on Friday evening for them and
then Lily's family on Saturday afternoon.
This table was ready for my women's group.

Then this table was ready for Lily and her family.

There was egg salad in puff pastry cones.

Cucumber with pecan cream cheese.

Ricotta with dried apricot and pistachio pesto.
Also not pictured were crab stuffed tomatoes
and scones with jam and cream.
The tea served was a nice Darjeeling with the savories
and flavored teas from David's Tea with the sweets.

Gingerbread stars, which could sit on the handle of the teacup.
Oops!  Didn't get a picture of that either.

Lemon cookie cones filled with cream and sprinkles.

Oreo surprise pops and jelly roll cake.
The jelly roll cake recipe came from a small handmade cookbook for
a church tea party Lily's grandmother attended many years ago.

Fruit Salad

Smoked salmon rolls.

 

 Lily and myself.
Oh dear!  She is taller than me this year.
It is one tea party that I plan for all year long and just plain enjoy doing.

Hope you enjoyed a brief look into my home and tea with Lily.

Monday's Quotes

You will find the baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.
Luke 2 - the story of The Birth of Jesus

Colors of the Season

 

On visiting my local antique mall recently,
I was struck by the beautiful color here.
Do you decorate with traditional reds and greens
or do you like to venture out?
Maybe all white?
Silvers and golds?
Here is another color palette, just beautiful!

It's beginning to look like Christmas around here.
Have a wonderful weekend, dear friends.
Enjoy the moments of the season.

Sometimes

Sometimes in the midst of the hustle and bustle
life gets a bit crazy and this happens.

It's time then to stop in the midst and take a break.
Enjoy the quiet, the outdoors, nature, and sip a cup of tea.

 

 

And watch from the window as the snow gently falls.
Have you ever noticed how the sounds of the earth are
so quiet when the snow is on the ground?
It wraps it in a glorious white blanket of silence and a pause to take note.

One Word

 

Shine

SHINE, My Word this Year!

 

My word for this year is SHINE.
As I think back over the year I am not sure SHINE resonated for me.
I do know I love seeing the sun SHINE in unusual places
and on the faces that SHINE, but did I feel SHINE in my soul?
Sometimes when I pick a word and pay attention it does the
opposite of what I want.
There have been times when that little black cloud just
rested over my head and there was no sign of shining anywhere.
Maybe seeing that little black cloud and having the word SHINE
did push the cloud away a little quicker.
I am dedicated to the word until the end of the year
while beginning to think on a new word for 2014.

Are you finding a word for 2014?
I do recommend it, as it gives focus to your heart.

Monday's Quotes

 

The tea party is a spa for the soul.  
You leave your cares and word behind. 
Busy people forget their business.  
Your stress melts away, your senses awaken.  

~ Alexandra Stoddard

In the cup this morning is Celestial Seasonings
Candy Cane Lane. 
 A delicious decaf green tea for the holiday.

Baby It's Cold Outside

My view from my window this morning at breakfast.
The hummingbird watching and wanting breakfast too.
As you can see it is frozen.

We had two little birds looking for food.

So we took the feeder and sat it on Christmas lights to thaw.
One happy little bird found it and drank with delight.
The other one has yet to find it though he is fluttering about.

Hummingbird no food
Oh so very cold outside
Come, warm by the lights.

My haiku for this mornings adventure.

Happy weekend, dear friends.
May you take time to notice what you notice.

A Loving Heart

 

This is my grandson, 14 month old "D".  He is stepping out of his play house.
I am prejudice, I am sure; but he has the sweetest heart, a loving heart.

There is a 12 year old boy we see fairly often and "D" keeps trying
to get his attention to come and play.  The 12 year old has autism
and doesn't talk or engage with anyone.
A few days ago the 12 year old was lounging on the floor and
"D" wanted him to come and play.
He patted him on the head with both hands, but had no response.
He stepped away briefly and decided to go back and try again.
This time he sat on his hands and leaned into his chest to sit with him.
Still no response.
Briefly he left again and then turned and tried one more time.
This time he wrapped his arms around this 12 year old boy,
put his head on his shoulder, hugged him, and gave him a kiss.
The 12 year old sat up and had a small smile on his face.
"D" had done his job by showing love to someone
that is closed within himself.

Witnessing this just touched a grammy's heart.
The heart of this little one can teach us all lessons of love.
Now isn't that what the season of Christmas is all about?
Love!

Gentle is the Morning Light

 

All nature sings
and I rejoice!
The light of the morning
sings a song of gentleness.
Sweet light abides in my heart.
Waiting for the snow and the crisp
morning air.
REJOICE!
Shine!

Sing!

JOY of the Season

 

Are you feeling the JOY of the Season?
Or is your head swimming with sugar plums, packages to buy,
cookies to bake, and cards to send?
Oh how I want to just sit in a snowy scene by the fire
and sip wonderful cups of tea or hot chocolate
while surrounded by beautiful Christmas music.
I will let you know when all that makes an appearance,
but for now I must dash.

Let's each make a pledge to set aside some time
for what is important in the holidays.
A time for quiet moments.
A time for friends and family.
A time to celebrate the reason for Christmas.
Take care dear friends and soon we will feel the JOY.

Monday's Quotes

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, 
and behold, everything is 
softer and more beautiful.  

~Norman Vincent Peale