Friday Delight

Do you remember recently I shared this photo of my calla lily.

I had won a give away on another blog.

Well the Friday delight comes today,

for Canvas Pop has offered one of my blog or Facebook readers

the chance to win their own print.
Click on: http://www.canvaspop.com/contest/win/uENnf/
to sign up for the give away.  They even pay for the shipping of your gift.
The gift will be one person receiving a 16"x20" canvas print of your own photograph.
This is open to anyone in the US or Canada.
I will announce the winner next Friday, June 5th.
In order to be in the drawing PLEASE go to the link to sign up.

Canvas Pop does a beautiful job and I have thoroughly enjoyed my photo on canvas.

I Can See More Clearly

When fog rolls in I feel like just curling up in a blankie with a cup of tea

and hibernating for awhile.

There is a special light that engulfs the soul and holds it in it's hand.

As the day turns toward afternoon the sun breaks through and I laugh

with the warmth that surrounds me.

Yes, I can see more clearly with the sunlight,

but the fog gives me rest.

Sometimes needed is the rest, the quiet time, the reflection time.

Then when the sun comes again, we can dance!

Come again on Friday as there will be a special give-away announced.

You won't want to miss this one.

From Where I Sit

From where I sit,

I can see forever.

Surrounded by the beauty of the day.

Reminiscing on the past.

Looking toward the future.

For today we can only count on.

Today I will look at the Beauty,

the JOY, and the Wonder of my Surroundings.

I will savor and take it in,

this one day and only this one day 

may it be a one of Delight.

Tea Time Thoughts

 "Now stir the fire, and close the shutters fast.

Let fall the curtains, wheel the sofa round;

And while the bubbling and loud hissing urn

Throws up a steamy column, and the cups,

That cheer but not inebriate, wait on each,

So let us welcome peaceful evening in."

~William Cowper

Peaceful evenings with a cup of tea.

Oh sitting in the solitude.

Savor, sip and take it in.

Moments of tranquility.

Reflect and remember the moments of the day.

Let the warmth and scents of the tea surround you.

Smile and be delighted.

~m.miller

Monday's Quotes

 "The way you show up matters. 

If you attempt or do something that inspires you, 

it inspires others to do what inspires them.

 Passion, drive, dedication, happiness and raw 

energy are all massively contagious".

 - S.Dinsmore

Walking Here

If I don't post a comment and share a story for a few days,

I will be walking here and sharing family time there.

You are in my heart and I will be with you soon.

Be prepared for next week I am thinking of a very special give-away.

Hugs sent your way!

Tea Time Sunday

Sunday I helped with a special tea time at my church.

It was a delight to share time with the ladies of the church

and send blessings to our pastor's wife and daughters who will soon be moving away.

It was a potluck tea.

What a lovely well balanced gathering of sandwiches and sweets.

The tea and scones were my contribution.

The tea served was Rama Tulsi for the herbal selection

and a Cream Earl Grey for those that didn't mind the caffeine.

Both were enjoyed!

The decorations were flowers.

The younger girls especially loved the candy and peanut jars.

How fun to share in the gift of tea with the women I worship with.

Monday's Quotes

Photos:  Beauty of the roses in my garden.  The fragrance is intoxicating!

"The best and most beautiful things in the world

cannot be seen or even touched.

They must be felt with the heart."

~Helen Keller

Random Thoughts

 Just as pretty on day five as on the first,

but look at the color change!

 Tapping at the door, this flicker was making quite a racket!

He delighted me as I walked by.

 How I love clay flower pots.

Now what flowers would we put in them?

Maybe pansies or violets to delight the day.

Sweet little faces.

What stories do they tell?

I think she is saying I dare you to kiss me!

Some days are just like this, to delight in the little things

and let our minds wander and rest.

Ritual of Living

 My WuWo preparation for the Tea Ceremony.

At the end of a Japanese Tea Ceremony.

Each of the above indicates to me a form of ritual.

A pleasant ritual and ones I have participated in.
Churches also have rituals.
My Quaker church was formed as a protest in England
toward the rituals of the Anglican church many years ago.
Yet there is still a ritual in worship.

Often I avoid getting dressed in the morning much too long, as

I don't want to face the ritual of my day.
Yes, days do come and go, but there is ritual to the way
we start the day and move through it.
I like making my bed, laying out my clothes, showering,
then dressing before I begin work around the house or an adventure
to the market.

Do you ever think when you are walking through your daily ritual
that you would like to shake things up a bit?
Do things differently?
Or is it just me that thinks this way?

Part of why I like going on holiday is that it is a break in the ritual of living.
What do you do to break things up a bit?  Make life a surprise?
 

Tea Time - A Bouquet Just for You!

The roses just shine in the garden now.

Tea time requires a special cup with flowers just for you and me.

Won't you join me in a cup of tea?

What will it be?

Maybe something to add a touch of sunshine or a floral sweetness to the day.

For me it will be a special oolong, Oriental Beauty, bitten by a bug

to add the touch of flowers to my cup.

The cup I am using, a gift from a friend, is Fern Posy, Royal Stafford,

Made in England.  I believe I have shared before, but don't they just

look perfect for a day celebrating the garden and delights of a floral tea?

Monday's Quotes

I've dreamt in my life dreams that have stayed with me ever after,

and changed my ideas:  they've gone through and through me, like wine through water,

and altered the color of my mind.

~Emily Bronte

I Wish YOU Enough!

"I wish you enough".

Have you seen that article that went around on Facebook recently?

Ever since I read it, I have been thinking about it.

A few years ago I realized the power of accepting that I had enough,

but this takes it even further in my thoughts.

It is a wish I send on to you, yes! each one of you.

I wish you enough tea in your cup.

I wish you enough JOY in your heart.

I wish you enough laughter in your soul.
I wish you enough dance in your step.

I wish you enough hugs.

I wish you enough time.

I wish you enough creative inspiration.

I wish you enough passion.

I wish you enough food in your bowl.
I wish you enough warmth on a cold winter's night.
Above all else, I wish you enough LOVE.

Happy weekend, dear friends!

I could have Danced all Night!

Most think of me as the tea and flower girl,

but I have always loved fashion too.

When the Italian Fashion show came to our art museum,

I knew I had to go.  Over all it wasn't the most thrilling show,

but that top photo (my favorite dresses) just made me want to dance.

Dance is also in my soul and a pretty dress just says "twirl".

In my heart I was imagining and dancing the Viennese walze in

Vienna, strolling the avenue in Paris, and tiptoeing along the canal

in Venice.

Does your heart just dance with JOY at seeing something pretty?

Do you love admiring a pretty dress?

I want to get close to it, examine it, touch it, see how it was made.

How I wanted to touch!

When you walk through the aisle at the store looking at clothing,

what strikes you first?

Is it the color, the style, or the feel?

Fashion in it's beauty definitely delights my soul.

What do you Do?

When you are walking that path of troubled waters, sadness, and mourning, what do you do?

Do you take a little breather once in the while?

A time alone to think, cry, laugh, and remember?

This is where I walked to remember and mourn the loss of my mother-in-law.

To rejoice that she was now at peace.

To release her to walk her own path.

Life is not only laughter, but sometimes tears.

We can delight also in the tears.

Celebrating the life of my aunt last Saturday

and my mother-in-law soon after.

They would both say they are resting in the arms of Jesus.

Jasmine Pearl - Delicious!

 Chuck, one of the owners of Jasmine Pearl, is making tea

for the grand opening celebration last week for their renovation.

When asked what I would like to taste I knew immediately.

I had heard their Yuzu Black was good and I really needed to taste it.

Oh my goodness! Delicious!

It is a Japanese Black Tea with Yuzu Citrus Fruit Peel.

"Both ingredients were grown by Nobuyuki Koni shi-san, 

a small tea farmer in Shizuoka, Japan."

Now I noticed it isn't on their website, but I am guessing you could call them

or email them to order some.  Here is their website:  www.thejasminepearl.com

It was fun to visit their teabar and browse in the shop.

There is a couple more pictures of the shop at www.beautifulPDX.blogspot.com

What's in your cup today?

Are you finding any special teas?

Happy Sipping!

Monday's Quotes

PS - Connie, You won the give-away last week.

Please contact me with your address.

If I don't hear from you by Friday,

I will draw another name.

Housekeeping Day - A long one!

And the winner is ..............

Oh no!  I have misplaced my live-in-gardener.

He usually pulls the name out of the hat.

I guess my back up lawn-mower-guy will have to do the honors.

But where is my live-in-gardener?

It's been a difficult past week for sure.

Not sure you noticed I missed a couple posts last week.
Last week my last aunt passed away and in the same day
my mother-in-law had a massive stroke and is not expected to live.
Normally I don't share the sad things in life here, but just to let you
know if I don't post a comment right away or stop by for a visit,
my plate is full. My live-in-gardener will return, he is taking care of business.
The flowers I have been posting help me still see the beauty of the day.

Also, I have been busy starting a new blog just for those that want to

know more about Portland, Oregon or are planning a visit here.

Introducing, TA DA!   www.beautifulpdx.blogspot.com

PDX is the airport signature for Portland, Oregon.

Today is the first day it is making an appearance.

Stop by and visit and leave me a comment.

Just for fun!  The Afternoon Tea Across America online chat group
just today began the new adventures of the traveling teapot.
The teapot will travel around America spending one month with a
different tea lover.  You can follow along at  http://ataatravelingteapot2.blogspot.com/ 
I have included a link on my side bar for future reference.

Lilacs for May 1st from the garden, sent to my dear children, Tim and Jill.
Have a very special birthday today.  Yes, both of my children were born on May 1st.

The photos above are the inside of Steven Smith Teamakers shop.

Oh yes, did you think I forgot, the winner is CONNIE.
Congratulations!  I know you will enjoy this special box of tea
that came right from that shop above and the teacup too.
Note to Connie:  Please email me your address and the gift of tea and a cup will be in
the mail next week.  marilyntea at gmail. com

Happy Friday, the first of May, now go out and smell the flowers.