A Winner!

 Waving a flag!

 Sending a Smile!

 And a Bouquet of Flowers just for you!

Sit and sip a cup of tea because we have some winners.

As you all know each and everyone of you is a winner in one way or the other.

Tell me what makes you a winner.

For me being a winner is:

Receiving my grandsons hugs.

A smile from a friend.

A hello from a stranger.

Being able to enjoy the soft cool breezes of the early morning

coming through my window as I talk and share with you.

Being surrounded by those I love.

Just the fragrance of a flower.

Oh yes, I am a winner too.

The winners of the book give-away:

Teri - Tea at Glenbrooke and Taking Tea

Cheryl - Tea Party  (I see there is no way to contact you,  please email me)

Barbara Shaw-Black - If Teacups Could Talk

Maribell - Time for Tea and If Teacups Could Talk

I will contact each of you for your addresses soon.

Stay tuned in the fall there will be one more tea book give-away.

Happy weekend, dear friends!

Picnic Time

 Picnics or a cup of tea outdoors makes my heart happy.

Here are a few glimpses of times spent outdoors recently.

In my own backyard the table is ready for a cup of tea with a friend.

 My sister and I meeting in a park for lunch and tea.

We each brought one savory and one sweet to share.

 Sitting and enjoying nature in the mountains with a cup of tea.

Then sharing an evening time with dear friends

at a concert delighted my soul.

Note:  I keep these sweet bottles of water in my refrigerator for picnics

or to bring to the table.  Also just discovered at World Market is

the deliciousness of this sparkling juice of White Grape and Elderflower.

Perfect for a summer day picnic.

In the book, The Perfect Picnic, by Anita Louise Crane, she says,

"Everyone loves picnics; and when we get the opportunity

to dine with fabulous views, unusual sounds, and enticing smells,

we are not only eating for physical nourishment, we are feeding 

our souls.  Finding that perfect place and adding a few special touches

awakens the senses; and it is an occasion like this that builds

relationships and brings about memorable conversations."

She went on to say that a picnic can even be inside by just moving

where you eat or sip your tea to a different spot in your home, such

as by a sunny window or in my case sitting by the fire on a rainy day.

Happy picnicking, dear friends!

Don't forget to leave a comment for the give-away on Tuesdays post.

The drawing is tomorrow.

We are Blessed!

 Cleaning some of my teapots yesterday I found this teapot on my shelf.

It reminded me of the bounty of summer time and our very own plum tree in the garden.

 We are blessed with what comes from the gardens in summer.

“Do not ask your children to strive for extraordinary lives.Such striving may seem admirable, but it is the way of foolishness. Help them instead to find the wonder and the marvel of an ordinary life. Show them the joy of tasting tomatoes, apples and pears.Show them how to cry when pets and people die. Show them the infinite pleasure in the touch of a hand. And make the ordinary come alive for them. The extraordinary will take care of itself.” ―William Martin

Yes, the "extraordinary" does come alive.

Please don't forget the give-away on the previous post.

I would love to share a tea book or two with you.

Tea time Give-away!!!

I am downsizing my tea books and have some to give away today.

You can see the names of each in the first photo.

Tracy Stern's book is signed to me, if you don't mind.

Robin Gunn's book is autographed.

I have two copies of If Teacups Could Talk.

Please leave a comment on this post stating which two you would love having.

I will announce the winners on Friday.

****NOTE:  It is very important that I can get in touch with the winners.

The last few give-aways I have ended up having to redraw because I couldn't

find the winners.   So if you don't have a blog I can leave a comment on,

please leave your email address.

Notes from the Garden

 Lunch time did include a special tea.

 My friend, A, invited me to sit in her garden.

She can be very proud of this garden that she built from

bare land.  The amazing array of birds thank her each day

by coming to delight and feed right there in her garden.

Taking time to sit in a friend's garden is

 a true delight to the soul.

Mad Tea Party 2016

Let the tea party begin.

Serving:

Bread and Butterflies

Jello Pinwheels

Nutella and fruit sandwich

Egg Salad with tomato butterflies

Blueberry Rooibos tea

Chocolate cake

The guests have arrived with wings intact.

Real boys wear pink wings and butterfly tattoos.

More tea please.

Yes, we were on our best behavior.

We even poured the tea.

Yummmm!

More tea?

Some tea for me.

Let the games begin, our tummies are quite full.

This is how we roll at the end of tea party time.
Thanks, Joanne, for this last photo, I love it!
Oh what fun we had.

I am linking to Vanessa at http://afancifultwist.typepad.com/a_fanciful_twist/

Happy Birthday, Beatrix Potter

Sheep nearby.

Peter Rabbit's garden.

It's Beatrix Potter's 150 birthday.

She was instrumental in bringing in sheep to the Lake District.

These sheep are on her property now which is part of a Land Trust.

It was springtime and the apples were in bloom.

With Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle I was dreaming of having tea by the fireplace.

How special to visit here in May and yes, I am sharing again

because after all I am celebrating her birthday today.

Happy weekend, dear friends!

Go out and celebrate!

I am linking to Bernideen today at http://blog.bernideens.com/