Tea Time Celebration

 Each year my sister and I celebrate our March birthdays by having lunch somewhere.

 This year we decided to have a picnic in the park, a tea time picnic.

If you have been visiting me here long enough you will know tea time outdoors

is a favorite of mine.

 

 We picked the day and met at Champoeg Park between Salem and Portland, Oregon.

After all one of us lives in Salem and one of us in Portland.

We each contributed to our tea time celebration.

My sister brought chopped black olive sandwiches, chicken salad sandwiches, and chocolate

cups with fresh berries.

My contributions was cucumber sandwiches, egg salad sandwiches,

cherry cookies, lemon bars, plus tea.

 We enjoyed an oolong and fig tea from Provence, Compagnie Coloniale.

What a lovely tea, a gift from a friend, to celebrate the end of our

birthday month.

The cups were a birthday gift from another friend.

Aren't they gorgeous?

They are Fern Posy, Royal Stafford, Made in England, bone china.

Of course flowers must be included in tea time.

We were surrounded by wild flowers, which were just beautiful.

Tea Time celebrations in the outdoors are the very best!

Monday's Quotes

A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds.

 A good deed is never lost; 

he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, 

and he who plants kindness gathers love.

~Saint Basil

Shall we sit awhile right here and enjoy friendship
in amongst the trees? 
Photo taken at Yosemite National Park.

Further Yosemite Adventures

  The chapel in Yosemite sits where once there was a whole village.

The surroundings were so peaceful, we lingered awhile.

  The Wawona Hotel has been here since the late 1800's.

Though it was closed for the winter we delighted in walking through the grounds

and peeking in windows.  How I would love coming in summer and sitting

on this veranda/porch.

The Ahwahnee Hotel sitting room just captured our heart.

The fireplaces were large enough to step into.

 I could imagine sitting here with my cup of tea on a cold, snowy day.

Tea is awaiting right here in this special place.

Will you join me?

What tea would you like today?

Tea is served at 4PM each day.

Time for dinner in the hotel restaurant.

Can you see me sitting there? Oh no, I am taking the picture with a full tummy.

The light, the soft piano music, the ambiance, the wait staff, and the food

was impeccable, just amazing!  Truly a once in a lifetime experience I will never forget.

I loved walking that red carpet and savoring the view through the windows.

Our time in Yosemite has come to a close, but the memories will linger for

the rest of my lifetime.

I may show another glimpse or two soon, but for now saying farewell to our

beautiful Yosemite National Park.

Happy Dreaming dear friends!

Have a delightful weekend.

Extra-Ordinary Miracles

My friend, Relyn, has been writing about Ordinary Miracles on her blog here.

Reading her posts this has sat on my mind as I think on Ordinary Miracles.

The visit to Yosemite, I decided, was more of an "extra" ordinary miracle.

A miracle of God's creation and beauty.

A delight for our senses.

Spotting this pair were definitely extra-ordinary!

 Redbud was beginning to bloom and brought memories

of a friend that loves this beauty.

 An ingenious raven finding his next meal off the grill of cars in the parking lot.

 California Laurel was blooming.

 The color of Redbud just made my heart sing.

 Bridalveil Falls delighted my soul.

As night settled in I could say God provided most extra-ordinary surroundings.

From the water falls, signs of nature, granite rocks, and Redbud too.

Half Dome Yosemite

 The first view of this awesome National Park, Half Dome in Yosemite.

 Yosemite was the first National Park in the United States.

 The grandeur of this place brought tears to my eyes to stand in such beautiful creation.

El Capitan to the left and Bridalveil Falls to the right.

 Hidden behind the clouds.

 Half Dome was such a symbol of Yosemite for me that seeing it was a dream come true.

The last little peek.

The view just took my breathe away.

Yosemite, a bucket list dream, finally achieved.

What is on your bucket list?

Unexpected Tea Time

 While driving through the Sierra Mountains in California last week, I had to return

to visit the Columbia State Park.  It is in the town of Columbia, but a few blocks

have been closed to cars.  The walk down what looks like a deserted town was a delight.

In the summer tourist season the streets would be busy with visitors.

It had been a long time since I had last been here.  My children were young then

and their pictures were taken in old time clothes here. 

 What a surprise when I spotted this teahouse.

Of course I had to go in and have tea, after all it was lunch time and I was hungry.

 I loved the way the cups were sitting in wait just for each of us to share a cup of tea.

 The food was just wonderful.

On my plate were three different sandwiches, cucumber, egg salad, and chicken salad.

Plus a lovely lettuce salad.

The tea in my cup was Paris and very good.

 Do you see the smile on my face?

A happy tea lady was about to partake in a delicious tea time.

On the menu were macarons.

The flavor of the day was lavender.

I must say their baker did a wonderful job making them,

they were delicious.

If you ever find yourself in the California Sierra's,

I can highly recommend having tea at Columbia Kate's Teahouse.

Across the street they have their own bakery where everything is made

fresh for the teahouse.

They also have a boutique nearby.

You can find them online at www.columbiakates.com

Unexpected tea times are the very best.

Monday's Quotes, Magnificent Trees

 The Sequoia's in Mariposa Grove, Yosemite

truly impressed my heart.

They were magnificent!

The first 5 photos are in the Grove.

 For the perspective of the root system.

 All the trees along our adventure were just stunning.

Even the Coastal Redwoods too.

Does a beautiful tree make your heart sing?

It truly does just that for me.

God's sense of beauty in creating a tree is awesome.

"Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life,

flowing from (the Creator)....on either side.....the tree of life."

~John of Patmos

 

I was touched by those magnificent trees,

the majesty of life.

First Day of Spring, JOY!

Happy First Day of Spring!

Oh the JOY of the daffodil in Spring!

They just make me smile.

Photos taken on Sauvie Island near Portland right before our

road trip adventure.

Enjoy the sunshine if not in the sky, then in your heart today.

Oh, pure JOY!

Dance and Sing for Spring has arrived.

Masala Chai

Masala Chai from www.goldentipstea.com is for sure a treat tea.

Having it with my breakfast made for a delightful start to the day.

It is delicious both with milk or without.

A sweetener such as honey could be added,

but I tend to like just savoring the spices included in this tea.

It was fun to take a peek and see the cardamon or 

other spices included in the package.

The real test of a good chai for me it that it is good straight up,

but also with milk or a sweetener.

I drink very few tea blends, but this is one I would enjoy often.

Due to camera issues I will continue some new posts on the road trip next week.
In the meantime, enjoy drinking a cup of tea.

Luther Burbank Gardens

The entrance to the gardens at the Luther Burbank home and greenhouse in Santa Rosa, California.

 

The Luther Burbank rose developed by Luther Burbank.

It was already blooming.

Along with the Shasta Daisy, which he developed.

It took him 19 years to develop the Shasta Daisy before releasing it to the public in 1901.

He developed the spineless cactus for cattle feed.

The Luther Burbank stop is always worth a stop for a quiet walk in the gardens.