Country Delight

 The sun came out this week.

It was a perfect time to adventure to the country.

New Chestnut Hill Farm was the destination

to find Jacob sheep and a couple llamas.

This mama was very curious to check out our little guy.

 And the little guy was loving the adventure in the country.

 The rams and their protector were curious to see us, seeing them.

 What we came to see were the 8 little baby lambs.

Lambs just speak of springtime delights.

They delighted us for sure.

It is definitely springtime in the country

and my heart soars with JOY.

Take a day off and venture to the country,

it will DELIGHT. 

www.newchestnuthill.com does have wool available

for wool crafts.  I see their website isn't quite up yet,
but come back to visit soon.

A Poet - Sandra McPherson

Singing Teakettle

Shiny and abject, it cannot sing at the gingham ruffle.
Because Pomida broke the voice off her new teakettle.
She did it deliberately.
With objects, you don't have to consider their feelings
Or feel that a stifled voice still burns on the fire.
She did it deliberately.
Everyone's had a songbird loose in their house,
She knows how uncontrollable--
Chasing it between the curtain rods,
Trying to show it the chimney.

Then why does Patrocenia whistle
As she slippers between rooms,
Or, still whistling,
 Carry whole walnuts out to the feeder,
Or water the black dust down on the terraces?
Even her grave will be a singing kettle,
Working, bubbling, in all memories that visit.

Pearl can see her face in the singing teakettle.
It will show if she is singing too.
She is deaf but can prime music like a choir leader.
All it asks is more fire, more water,
Like the garden that calls sun and rain to grow flowers
For her mother's name, her children' rooms.
From the kettle she knows a song comes
As long as you want it to: press, twist, fill.
~Sandra McPherson

Annie Dillard about this poet: "a miner's eye for translucent color
in the earth, and a painter's eye for the 'hard catchable light'
in the air.  Tough-minded and precise,
she has a genius of an ear."

In this month of March I have rekindled a friendship
with a friend from high school, many, many years ago.
I knew Sandra wrote poetry.
This week I received her book, Outline Scribe.
I am thoroughly enjoying her poetry
and thought you would enjoy this one too.

To find more of Sandra's poetry follow this link:

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/search/?q=Sandra+McPherson

Celebration

The colors of Easter just touch my soul.

Flowers and eggs found in magical places.

A chicken feeding trough full of flowers and JOY.

The table was ready with violets and daisy's.

Then to top the celebration, cake to DELIGHT.

Family and Friends celebrations are always the best,

but for me it is also the rejoicing of SPRING

and new life.

Monday's Quotes

From my garden today.

Radishes beginning to grow.

 Everything that slows us down and forces patience,
 everything that sets us back into the slow circles of nature, is a help.
 Gardening is an instrument of grace.
~May Sarton

Easter is in the Air

Easter always makes my heart sing.
It is just the pure JOY of Spring bursting forth.
New life in little bunnies and chicks.
Pastel colors tickling our hearts.

And rejoicing in the season and all the symbols
it represents.
The lentin rose (hellebore) and daffodils from my garden
sing to my heart.

Bunnies, nests, and eggs.

Even a chocolate bunny with a nibble on the toe.

Let us celebrate with a song in our heart,
a smile on our face,
and laughter in our soul.

Happy Easter, dear friends!

Adventure to the Sea

 A stop in Astoria by the sea we walked the grounds of this historic home.

Benches seemed to show up in several of my photos.

I love the image of sitting awhile to enjoy the day.

 Here was a couple doing just that, enjoying the day.

 It was cloudy, but overall just gorgeous!

 One of many lighthouses along the Oregon coast.

 Another bench to sit and dream on.

 Listening to the sea and watching for whales.

Did we see them?

Not sure, but I think I saw a fin or two.

Oh I do love a winter sea.

Do you?

Tea Cup Exchange

Recently I participated in a teacup exchange with

http://theenchantingrose.blogspot.com/
I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but I certainly didn't
expect to receive all of the above.
Isn't the hat box beautiful?
The artist is the one that got my name and sent me all of this.
She has an etsy shop where she sells her pretty artwork.

celestinamariedesign.com
I was amazed at the generousity.
I love roses and these roses are all so beautiful.
Thanks, Celestina Marie!

Tuesday is Tea Time

 Tuesday is generally tea time around here,

so off to the antique mall to explore new teaware.

How I love the yellow of this teapot.

 Some pretty cups.

 A sweet tea set.

 I also love white and the sun was shining on these pretties so beautifully.

Did I come home with a new teacup?

Well no!

My other weakness is apparel.

After all my degree is in Apparel design.

Don't you find new tops at the antique mall?

I love seeing what they bring in each season

for their seasonal events and linen is my weakness too.

  Loving the color.

It was fun exploring, taking pictures, and finding a new top for Easter

at the Camas Antique Mall.

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

Monday's Quotes

Photos snapped on the Dordogne River in France several years ago.

Just dreaming and thankful for adventures such as this.

Looking forward to new adventures.

"Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude.

Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness.

Thankfulness may consist merely of words.

Gratitude is shown in acts."

~Henri Frederic Amiel

Dear Friends, wishing you a wonderful week.

The Experience of Tea Time

Recently I have thought often about the experience of having tea.

Whether is it the sip while sitting alone or

the joint camaraderie of sharing time with friends.

Sitting at home, in a beautiful tea shop, or in the out of doors,

tea time is an experience not to be overlooked.

A time for sharing dreams and stories.

A time for reflection and meditation.

Let us lift our cup together.
Let us together take a sniff of the fragrance.
Sip the tea paying attention to the flavor.
Close your eyes and take a slow inhale.
Say, AHHH!  Breathe!
Are you feeling the warmth touch your center?
Quietly enjoy!
Be in the moment!
Tea time has a way of doing just that for me.

Walking Along with God

Walking along with God one day, I saw the wonder of the world around me.

The wonder of an artists hands in the puddles on the ground.

The talents of God's humans.

The grass, each blade, so bright and beautiful.

Oh and those trees towering above in majesty.

Walking along with God, hand in hand,

delighting my soul with the beauty of the day.

Dreaming of roads not yet taken

and roads completed behind me.

Time of quiet.

Time to reflect.

And time to think of you,

my dear friends.

Take time to walk along with God.

Have a conversation.

Savor the moment.

Totem Tea

Teapot envy for that little teapot in front.

Phillip and Dan, co-owners of Totem Tea.

A week ago I had the opportunity to attend the grand opening of Totem Tea.

Philip and Dan did a great job of serving tea and educating those in attendance.

Both of the teas I tasted just had a wonderful freshness about them.

The 2003 Aged Oolong had a nice roastiness that would delight any

palate that enjoys a bit darker tea than the normal oolong.

The Osmanthus Jin Xuan Oolong was so smooth and buttery.

It just delighted my tea loving soul.

If you go online and check out their teas,

also check out their teaware.

They had some sweet little teapots.

One of the teapots is on my bucket list.

Totem Tea is primarily an online business,

but they have a nice little shop to stop by for a tasting.

I would suggest if you are stopping by to contact them first.

Location:  756 N. Page St. #290 (just off N. Interstate), Portland, Oregon

Website:  TotemTea.com 
Definitely worth a visit to their website.

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

Monday's Quotes

In honor of Pie Day!

“A clock is a pie, and my piece is between 1 and 12. 
It’s always time to love—especially 
if it’s filled with cinnamon apples.” 
Jarod Kintz, Xazaqazax (from Brainy Quotes)

Amazing how many pie quotes are out there.
I found that the top icon sweet in the US
is chocolate chip cookies with 
apple pie a close second on the list.

One berry pie and one apple pie cooling on the
kitchen counter.  
Hope you find a pie today.

Spring Time at the Gardens

Spring time at Lan Su Chinese Gardens.
I love visiting the Gardens anytime of the year,
but Spring time just sings to my heart.

Happy Weekend, dear friends!
I hope Spring time is beginning to show it's lovely
face in your part of the world (or maybe it is Fall
for those down under).

I didn't hear from Blessed Brenda for the give-away,

another name has been drawn.

It is Lorrie of Fabric Paper and Thread blog.
Congratulations!  Lorrie!