A Friend for Tea

It's as simple as one, two, three.

Invite a friend for tea.

It might be simple

just to tipple,

but one, invite them

then two, make tea

and three, enjoy the pleasure of their company.

~m.miller

Such a simple concept, but how often do we do it?

Happy weekend, dear friends!

Invite a friend for tea.

Ahhh, The Fragrance of a Flower

The fragrance of a flower is the sweetest thing of all.
Several of you mentioned lily of the valley and sweet memories.
These lily's just brighten the whole house with beautiful fragrance.
Old roses are a favorite of mine.

And who can resist walking through a field of lavender?

I am reading Anne of Green Gables right now.
"Anne gathered some sprays of pale honeysuckle and put them in her hair.
She liked the delicious hint of fragrance, as of some aerial benediction,
above every time she moved."

Doesn't Gods creative spirit shine through the fragrance of a flower?

"The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind. 
But the goodness of a person spreads in all direction."
~Chanakya~ 

I have thoroughly enjoyed thinking of fragrance this week and hope you enjoyed also.
Loved your stories!

Fragrance II

Lapsang souchong and Russian Caravan teas remind me of

sitting by a campfire.  The smokiness of the tea just permeates the air.
They are rich black teas that have been smoked over a wood fire.
A dear friend loved this tea and each time I sip this tea I am reminded of her.

Grandpa's tobacco smoke resonates so strongly in my mind.
When I inherited his roll top desk and opened it the first time,
the desk still had the fragrance of my Grandfather.  I still sometimes
expect to smell it when I sit down at this desk, instead I smell chocolate. 
Smiling, as this is where you will find my stash.
oh hello, Joey!  sweet fragrance of you cuddling in my lap each morning at the desk.

The fragrance of cinnamon and nutmeg brings images of apple pies shared so often and made
by my aunts, cousins, and myself over the years.
There was a friendly competition as to who made the best pie.

Oh the nuzzle of sweetness when you hold a newborn baby, there is nothing like it.


Then there is the fragrance of the heart when you first embrace someone you love or receive a special smile.
Some people just permeate a fragrance by their gentle spirit and smile.
Fragrance and memories walk hand in hand.
Sweetness to my soul.

Loving your shared stories of fragrance and memories.

Fragrance

No man can taste the fruits of autumn while he

is delighting his scent with the flowers of spring.

~Samuel Johnson

Someone recently mentioned a fragrance of a particular tea recently

and I began thinking of fragrance.

What fragrances bring memories to you?

Fragrance plays a large part in our memories.

As I think on fragrance this week,

I will take time to share with you,

but for now I would love to know your memories.

Then let's all take a moment to smell the flowers.

Monday's Quotes

 "Today, I accept my tears of grief as the life-giving rain that fosters new growth."

 ~ Julia Cameron

Tears

My Aunt Arlene passed away today.

I was blessed to have her nearby and to spend some of her last days sitting by her bed.

She inspired me to be creative and a hostess to guests that entered our home.

She loved chocolate and flowers, working many hours in her garden.

I stayed with her family a couple summers while I was in high school

and we all had to pitch in to help with the amazing, blue ribbon dahlias

she entered in the California State fair.

Last Spring she bought a packet of delphineums and planted them in paper cups

on her window sill at the retirement home.

I have three of those plants growing in my garden now.
Recently I asked her if there was anything I could bring her
and with a twinkle in her eyes she said "chocolate".

The photo was taken two years ago as we shared tea together.

She was 93 years.

My Aunt Arlene was a dear presence in my life.

I will miss her dearly.

Yes, there will be tears, but she is at peace.

Tea Time on the Road

How many of you take tea when you travel?

How do you carry your tea supplies?

This is my travel basket for road trips.

Under the purple cloth are my small handle less cups.

The long narrow section holds my tea, a spoon, and most

often a cookie or nibble.

A handy basket, a one of a kind.

Where shall we stop for tea?
In a shelter along the road,
a park in a little town,
at grandma's house,
or at the beach
Stopping for tea breaks make travel so special.
Carry hot water in your thermos and
you will be ready for tea.

Ranunculus Love

When standing and smiling in the flower stall

Small buds I did observe

They didn't really entice me

Scraggly, twisty, and rather scrawny

Should I take a chance?

Would anyone love these little buds?

A chance I finally gave them

Home they came

As I watched them unfurl and shine

I fell in love

Oh, Ranunculus, how beautiful

Like a sweet ballerina's skirt, so sweet and lovely

in the morning sun

Red Lanterns and Dancing Lions

Lan Su Chinese Gardens was full of light in celebration of Chinese New Year's.

As night time approached the lights just twinkled on the lake.

As the evening lights approached, my challenge was taking pictures in the dark.

Oh what fun I had taking pictures in the evening light.

Light in many forms just makes my heart sing.

Does it sing for you?

Then how can we not smile to see dragons dancing to the beat of the drum.

And the lanterns hung throughout the garden as I stood and smiled.

Everywhere there was light and I felt like the lights were shining just for me.

Dancing lions, color, lights, and floating flowers of light on the lake.

A celebration of a new year, the year of the horse.

Did you celebrate Chinese New Year's in your part of the world?

Such a happy time of light and laughter.

I had hoped for a cup of tea as I viewed the lights and yes there was tea;

but hot apple cider just hit the spot while strolling through the evening lights.

Yes, sometimes I do sip something besides tea, but now I must go back and have my tea.

Happy Wednesday, dear friends.

Sending Valentine's, Looking for Monsters

Right before Valentine's I stepped into the post office.

There before me were about 20 pre-school children waiting to mail their Valentine's.

It was a delight to see each one step up on the steps and order one stamp.

One by one they went to the counter.

The postal worker would ask them what they wanted

and they would say "a stamp".

One little boy when asked what he wanted,

stated "a monster".

It just made my day.

A smile was on my face and in my heart all day long.

He knew exactly what he wanted and it wasn't a stamp.

What do you want today?

Photo taken of part of the group, just not that particular monster loving boy.

Monday's Quotes

Sweet Fragrance

What sweet fragrance do you hold today?

It flows from earth to body, to fingertips,

to the tea leaf.

Knowing how to move within that is to live,

knowing all is one and the same.

~Shelley Richardson

Each step of the way we learn and become

the sweet fragrance of life.

Snow Angels

Snow angels cloaked in snow.

Dreaming dreams of tea in the garden.

Do you see them?

Daffodils peaking through the snow,

not yet blooming.

Oh dreaming is taking place right here,

but in the meantime a bit of angel craft is happening.

In my cup today to warm this angel's wings,
Stash Tea Cherry Almond Black Tea.
It's just the right delight for celebrating a special day.

Happy Valentine's to you, dear friends

Charmed, I am sure!

Each time a family member has a grandchild I have made a charm such as these

with the grandchild's picture, name, and birthday.

These are to be hung on the Christmas tree or wherever they wish.

Well this past Christmas I had 8 to make and just didn't get them done.

Yesterday they are finally in the mail, whew!

Maybe they are Valentine gifts, I hope they are for sure.

Well I decided since I was making 8, including one for me,

I would make a few more to share the JOY.

Here is a sampling of the ones finally finished this week.

It is a fun process, but so many steps.

Now for another year until this coming Christmas I am finished.

One more grandbaby for my sister is on it's way in April, will there be more?

I know my soldering iron will be doing something creative again in the fall.

Who knows where those extras will go, but how fun to have them ready

when something little is needed for a gift.

And maybe, just maybe one day I will have a give away

and one will come flying your way.

Stand and Smile

 As the snow started to fall last Thursday I ran to the market for provisions.

Remembering that I had mentioned here recently that sometime it is

good to just "stand and smile", I did a bit of that and took my camera along.

 Visiting two markets that day, I took time to "stand and smile"

in the flower department.  Oh how it warms the heart!

If you need a bit of cheer and a happy heart don't forget

this doesn't cost a penny but your time.

I often do this just for pure JOY.

And for today, I hope the pause to just "stand (or sit) and smile" brought you JOY.

Savor the Day with Tea

Mailman coming through the snow.

Is there a Valentine just for me?

Sitting here with my love, sipping tea.

Looking forward to a week of hearts.

Will you come and share a cup with me?

Valentine and winter white a perfect combination.

Notice what you notice and enjoy the day.

Celebrate and savor each and every way.

Happy Valentine's Week!

PS:  The tea cozy, teapot, and tea glasses (only two sets left) are Marmalady's products.

They can be found at www.marmaladys.com

Linking to Bernideen at Bernideen's Tea Time blog

Monday's Quotes

Snow was falling,
so much like stars
filling the dark trees
that one could easily imagine
its reason for being was nothing more
than prettiness.

~Mary Oliver

A Snow Day

The view from my breakfast window this morning.

Yes, the Christmas lights have returned.

The hummingbirds are thrilled,

as it lights and warms their sugar water.

Very unusual for us here.

Snow does delight.

We had about 3 inches of snow and more

expected later today.

I am thoroughly enjoying the view.

Soft hush of the snow

Footprints on the covered walk

The beauty enchants

Hummingbird delights

Sitting, Sipping in the light

Red, Green, Blue so warm

In the Pink!

Pink, pink, you stink!

Did you ever say that as a child?

All the girls when growing up loved pink;

so just to be different I chose yellow.

Yellow was quite maligned and out of favor.

It was a happy color just for me.

As I have gotten much older

I am learning to enjoy Pink.

I can't even believe I am saying that,

as I ignored Pink for way too long.

But, yes!  All of a sudden I am liking Pink.

It surprises me still.

Pink is beginning to appear on my tea table

and in my china cupboard.

Tea time is a delight of the color Pink.

What is your favorite color?

Has it changed as you have gotten older?

I still love yellow, don't get me wrong;

but Pink can stay around and tickle me with delight.