Stillness

Taking a photography class online that is about still life photos 

and embracing stillness into our lives, this photo was taken.

The roses shared here were already about a week old

sitting in a broken pitcher.

Somehow the brokenness and on the edge of death spoke to me. 

This week we were encouraged to think how we find stillness.

As I sat in the tire shop waiting to have my tires rotated this week,

I wrote in my journal.

Isn't it amazing how sometimes your pen takes you to a different

place than you expect?

What I found for me is that even if my home is empty of others 

where I find stillness is outdoors, walking alone with my camera,

taking photos of nature.  There I find stillness and it makes my heart sing.

I realized as a child I was never indoors, but growing up in California

this was possible.

When my mother would ask me to do cleaning indoors I would

barter with her to do yard work.

Laughing because I never learned to cook and clean, 

but I could certain wield the pruning shears. 

Heading outdoors to find my stillness.

Think about it, where do you find stillness?

Happy weekend, dear friends!

I hope you find stillness in your weekend.

Goodnight Moon

As I peaked out my window just days ago,

I found you dear Wolf Moon trying to shine so bright just for me.

With clouds all around,

I wasn't sure if you would come out to play.

Then to my delight you appeared between the clouds.

Yes, you were there once again to make me smile.

You were there to make my heart happy.

Oh the cycle of life right before my eyes,

howling in the night sky.

Now I can rest easy, sleeping in my bed,

for you have come once again shining so bright.

Goodnight Moon!

Your fullness wanes and disappears,

but next month when it is your time again

I will be looking out my window.

Come smile for me!

Let me dance in your light.

Dance, Celebrate!

 Dance!

 Can he really see through those beads?

 Fill your life with Music!

 Celebrate Life!

 This week was my "live-in gardeners" birthday.

There was dancing, music, and celebrating with family.

Smiles all around.

Dancing at an American Indian Pow-Wow.

Swaying in a jazz club with friends.

Turkey dinners at Portland's oldest restaurant, Huber's.

And smiles and hugs from family, as we celebrated life.

Happy Birthday to you, my "live-in gardener"!!!

ATAA, Joyce Wilkens the Artist

For quite a long time I have been part of a group online called Afternoon Tea Across America.

It was started as a Yahoo group and more recently has tumbled over to Facebook.

The Yahoo group remains a cozy, friendly group and the Facebook group has become much larger,

but a delightful group also.  Each group has it's own personality.

One of our newer members on Facebook, Joyce Wilkens, has authored two books,
TeaCup Art...And Reflections and Walking Sticks...Wanderings and Wonderings.

Both books are lovely coffee table books and can be found  at www.joycewilkens.com.

Either book can be purchased on the website or directly from Joyce 

for $16.99 plus $4. shipping (US) to Joyce Wilkens, PO Box 30942, Spokane, WA 99223.  

Specify which book you would want! 

Right now Joyce is in the process of painting and writing poetry for a new book that won't be

completed for a couple more years.  One of the pictures she has completed and a poem

she has written is about Afternoon Tea Across America.

I thought you might like a sneak peek at the painting.

What a delight to see myself sitting at the tea table with three other members.

Isn't this fun?

I loved that she put me in a striped shirt and denim skirt, that is so me.

How did she know I am not a flower dress girl?   Smiling!

You just never know when somewhere at sometime someone will get who you are

and there you will be, out there for others to see.

Please check out Joyce's books online.  I have her TeaCup Art book and do enjoy.

Playing with Bernideen today at http://blog.bernideens.com/

Monday's Quotes

Each preparation of the leaves has its individuality,

its special affinity with water and heat,

its own method of telling a story, 

the truly beautiful must always be in it.

~Okakura Kakuzo, The Book of Tea

Tea Time for the Doctor, Who?

 In celebration of the Tardis teapot arriving in California there was a tea party today.

The invitation arrived with delight.

There was Adagio "Tardis" tea and the doctor's favorites,

Jammie Dodger's and Jelly Babies!

 A miniature Doctor Who in training came for tea

wearing a scarf so long it touched the ground,

for you know a former Doctor Who had a very long scarf too.

 There was nibbling and sipping for Doctor Who must know how to do these things.

 Then the tea also served to warm the hands just right.

It was a delight this Doctor Who in training said.

Next time won't you join him in a bit of nibbling and sipping of tea.

Happy Weekend, dear friends!

May there be plenty of tea parties in your future.

You can find more of the story at http://ataatravelingteapot2.blogspot.com/

Steven Smith Teamaker's New Tasting Room

 About a month ago Steven Smith's Teamaker opened a new tasting room

and packaging facility in a transitioning industrial area of Portland, Oregon.

With the holidays and having bronchitis I hadn't gotten in to visit.

 This week I ventured out and was delighted by what I saw.

 Of course there were delightful scents and teas.

The fire was going and enticed me to sit awhile.

What fun to peek through the window just past the tasting bar

and see them packaging tea.

There is a spaciousness here yet it feels so cozy.

A good place to linger on a stormy winter day over a cup of tea.

It is located on SW Washington near the railroad tracks and river,

very easy to find.  Plus parking right in front of the shop.

I love it!

National Hot Tea Month

 Who decides what we celebrate each month.

Celebrating TEA in January seems like the very best thing.

 Though I celebrate TEA each month of the year,

the cold does entice us to bring on those warm steaming cups full of TEA.

 A little dreaming while sipping the TEA and nibbling is always a good thing.

 So in celebration of Hot Tea Month, pick up a cup of delightful TEA

and sip away.

Enjoy each day with a cup of TEA.

Playing with Still Life photography for a class.

Always sipping TEA even while taking a class and celebrating!

Happy National Hot Tea Month!

Linking to Bernideen at http://blog.bernideens.com/

Monday's Quotes

You cannot get through a single day

without having an impact

on the world around you.

What you do makes a difference,

and you have to decide what kind of a

difference you want to make.

~Jane Goodall

Photo taken on a friend's farm some time ago.
I just fell in love with these sweet cows.

Search for Spring time

 Do you like strolling outdoors with your camera?

For me it is a meditation and time to breathe and a time to notice.

So yesterday I took my camera outdoors in search of spring.

Do you search for spring at this time of year?

Well I found it!!!!!!!!!!

I couldn't believe it!

There it was, right in my own backyard.

Daffodils poking through the grass.

Crocus wrapped in tissue paper thin beginnings

and shining through the dried leaves of autumn.

I know for many of you, these signs won't show up for quite awhile yet.

But I just had to share the hope of spring time to come.

In the meantime, just the search and a deep breath will give us peace.

Notice what you Notice!

Focus on the Light

What do you notice?

The light or the darkness?

Breathe in the light
Push the darkness away
Be enchanted by the light
Let it surround you with Love
Breathe
Inhale
Laugh
Smile
Sing

My computer just left the house to get some much needed help.
For awhile I will be here from my little laptop.
I must remember to breathe and know it will be better down the road.
In the meantime I will focus on the light and smile.

 

Tasting Flowers

 Each month through the cold winter months the WuWo Tea Ceremony

group tastes tea.  This month the theme was flowers.

We tasted varieties of tea blossoms, jasmine, osmanthus, and lotus.

 In this pot dried tea flowers were beginning to steep.

Some of the flowers we tasted were just plain flowers and

some were mixed with tea.

Interestingly and to my surprise I most often liked the straight flowers better.

I had never tasted dried tea flowers before.

For me it had a back note of anise or licorice, which I found fascinating.

I do believe I will start drying my tea blossoms this year.

The jasmine we tasted plain and then as a jasmine pearl.

Both were quite good.

Osmanthus flowers and the lotus, both I preferred with just the blossoms

to get the full flavor of the flowers.  We did try both of these also mixed with oolong teas.

Have you sipped flowers?

Do you have a favorite?

Something fun on a cold winter day.

Monday's Quotes

Sitting by a warm winter fire, TALKING and LISTENING.

"When you talk,

you are only repeating what you already know.

But if you listen,

you may learn something new."

~Dalai Lama

A Cup of Tea for you

The candle is lit.

The tea is made.

Sending it along on a cold winter's day.

May it warm you

and delight you.

May a smile come to your face.

Let your light shine.

Let those around you feel the warmth.

For even on a cold winter day,

we can feel the warmth of each little flame.

I see something Red!

 Do you see the red on this beautiful bird?

 The hummingbird doesn't mind all the colors, including red.

 A red toadstool.

 Red flowers.

Recently when chatting with a friend she said she never wears red.

She just feels it is too bold.

How do you feel about touches of red?

Do you wear red?

Do you gravitate toward red?

or do you avoid red?

I never thought of myself as a bold person, but I do like red.

Just a touch of red makes me smile.

A tee shirt and my car are red.

They make me so happy. 

Is it just another color to you?

Let's embrace red and run with it,

for we all need a little boldness in our lives.

PS - computer problems this week, so my posts may be erratic.

Monday's Quotes

As we let our own light shine

we unconsciously give other people

permission to do the same.

~Marianne Williamson

For 2016 - Let us all let our lights shine!