Happy New Year - 2017

Silently the days

In the cold night of winter

A new year appears

~haiku, m.miller

As if by magic  2016 has come to an end.

I breathed in each day and exhaled to let it go.

Always with hope the new year begins.

New stories to live.

New stories to tell.

May you be blessed beyond your wildest imaginations.

Dance in the day, each and every day.

Thanks for walking with me, dear friends!

Let's continue the walk into 2017.

Put on those tutu's along with me,

for we only can make it better by spreading our love and JOY.

Brush away hatred.

Embrace JOY.

Celebrate!  Happy New Year!

My Word - 2017

 Artwork at T Project, cast iron forms.

In the hands of an artist, a story to tell.  ~m.miller

Can you believe it will soon be 2017?  Wow! Where did the time go.

My word for 2016 was Breathe.

It definitely helped me get through all the political upheaval.

Back in October my word suddenly appeared to me for 2017.

My first thought was that it was rather a strange word to be given.

As I thought on the word and moved through my days it became

very clear this was the word I was to grasp and run with for the next year.

I have been taking an online photography class since the first of September

and I began thinking I wanted to take a step back from taking pictures

and blogging to rethink this new word and really embrace it.

Then a video arrived in my inbox from Alicia Keys.

Yes, it was a political video, but she had so much more than that to say.

She talked about negativity and how we needed to tell our story with love.

Then as November 1st came along our assignment for the photography class

was to take pictures telling a story.

There is that word, story!

The one that kept choosing me.

So friends, for 2017 my word will be STORY.

Some days I might not have a story to share, but other days

the story will fall from my heart as a gift to you.

Let us always be free to share our stories. 
Has a word picked you to travel with it for 2017?

What's in your Teapot?

   There are thousands of different teapots in shape,

style, and size. 

Ones for different seasons and celebrations.

 Some are designed for English tea times

and some for more Asian tea times.

Each serves it's purpose.

Often a special tea is designated for a particular teapot.

 Some drip more than others.

Each has it's unique flare, a touch from the artist.

 Some are tiny and some are huge.

Some are better just sitting beautifully quiet on the shelf.

Their style delighting the eyes and heart.

A teapot in many forms does delight my heart.

I love photographing them.

I love picking which teapot I use for which tea I am drinking.

So what tea are you putting in your specially chosen teapot today?

The middle photo was my tea this morning.

A black tea called Yunnan Noir from Adagio Teas.

A gift from a friend this Christmas season.

A nice, uncomplicated black tea,

perfect for a foggy morning of tea sipping.

Happy tea sipping, dear friends!

Quiet Moments of Winter

 The lights on the Christmas tree through squinty eyes.

 The snow quiets the world around me

and I send out love to those that walk there.

 Sip a cup of cocoa and maybe a favorite tea.

 Light the candles and sit in quietness for just a little while.

 The softness of the winter light,

it dances just before me.

A single candle light or a multitude

of lights.

They soothe my soul.

I take in the quiet times between

a celebration or two.

Savoring the darkness,

I light my candle

and sip a warm cup of something sweet.

These small things are what carries 

me through the darkness of winter.

And I BREATHE,

just the softness of my breathe,

the silence,

the music in the air of the quiet

surrounds me.

Take time, dear friends,

delight in the breath, the light,

and blanket your heart with JOY.

Notes from the Garden - A Winter Garden

 Pictures from my garden in winter.

I will be taking a hiatus from Notes from the Garden.

I hope you have enjoyed each week throughout the year.

Another series is stirring inside my head and

hoping to materialize in the new year.

May you be blessed with great JOY as we approach 2017.

Notice what you notice.

Christmas Blessings!

 Time to sit and sip a cup of tea.

Take a moment to savor the moments with celebration in your heart.

May your Christmas be all of that, plus PEACE in the world.

That is my prayer for Christmas and the New Year.
May it continue in our hearts all year long.

The angels, shepherds, wise men, Mary, Joseph, and the Babe gathered together in song.

A few nibbles to go along with your tea.

Small bits of fruitcake with dried fruit and pistachios in the bowl.

Christmas wreaths of toast, cream cheese mixed with chopped bell pepper,

then decorated with pomegranate seeds and oregano leaves.

They were delicious and quite festive.

Then this song touched my heart as I sat in concert just last night.

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would one day walk on water?

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters?

Did you know
that your Baby Boy has come to make you new?
This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will give sight to a blind man?

Mary, did you know
that your baby boy will calm the storm with His hand?

Did you know
that your Baby Boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little Baby you kiss the face of God?

Mary did you know.. Mary did you know

The blind will see.
The deaf will hear.
The dead will live again.
The lame will leap.
The dumb will speak
The praises of The Lamb.

Mary did you know

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy is Lord of all creation?

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would one day rule the nations?

Did you know
that your Baby Boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
The sleeping Child you're holding is the Great, I Am.

Mary did you know.

Enjoy the spirit of Christmas and hold it in your heart.

Sending Love from me to you!

Happy weekend, dear friends.

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

Solstice Light

Solstice Light

Enter in

Crave 

Open Arms

Shine for me
Wrapped in your Warmth

"The winter solstice celebrates the return of HOPE to our land as our planet experiences the first slow turn toward greater daylight. Soon we will welcome the return of the sun and the coming of springtime. As we do so, let us remember and embrace the positive, enriching aspects of winter's darkness. Pause now to sit in silence in the darkness of this space. Let this space be a safe enclosure of creative gestation for you."  
~The Circle of Life by Joyce Rupp and Macrina Wiederkehr

How do you sit in the darkness of the shortest days? 
What do you do to add light to your world?

I sat by this light just two nights ago and dreamed of the light surrounding me.
The warmth of a cup of tea in my hands,
candles burning,
and friends sharing love and a warm embrace.

Gingerbread Day

The awe of gingerbread day with my grandson.

Pure Delight!

And then a cheesy smile!

Oh he loved the gingerbread day.

Making special cookies for his friend.

The finished house.

How long can we pull the wool over his eyes

that the house is for decoration only?

He told the gingerbread boy he loved him.

There were songs on his lips and JOY in his heart.

If was a day that warms a "Mimi's" heart.

Teatime spent with Friends!

Gathering a couple friends into share tea time

at Christmas is pure JOY.

The living room was rearranged, so we could sit by the fire.

Quiche, Caesar salad, sparkling juice was served.

Noel tea and sweets were nibbled.

Christmas time or any time is special when spent

with friends.

Do you enjoy sharing tea with friends?

Are little sandwiches served?

This time I decided to keep it fairly simple.

All that counts is the gathering of friends.

Notes from the Garden - Oregon Zoo

The glow of the lights turned us all green as we walked through the wreath.

The dinosaurs were a favorite of one little 4 year old grandson.

 Oh the wonder of a little one and all those lights.

Sending love on a cold night.

I couldn't resist the full moon too.

It lite the way through the maze of lights.

Mr. Snowman was at the end of the walk.

He waved with a fond farewell.

Are you enjoying the lights of the season?

They twinkle and just delight me.