Autumn Tea Time

One final tea time in the garden.

 Celebrating Autumn with a cup of Yunnan Gold, black tea and fig cake. Figs from the garden.

In the basket is bounty from the garden.

https://therosemaryhouse.blogspot.com/2013/09/fresh-fig-upside-down-cake.html  
Thanks, Nancy, for the delicious cake recipe.  What a perfect way to use my surplus fig supply.

The teapot belonged to my mother-in-law

and the thermos holding the flowers belonged to my grandfather.

Enjoy a special Autumn weekend, dear friends!

Sip a cup of tea and delight in the changing colors.

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

Flock and Fleece

Sunday on impulse my live-in gardener and I hopped

in the car and attended the Flock and Fleece event at the fairgrounds.

This booth particularly touched my heart as I use to take

spinning and natural dye classes there when we first moved

to Oregon in 1975.

Now that is a long time ago.

I went on to a career in the world of apparel 

and didn't keep up with all the creative pursuits.

Fast forward many years and my spinning wheel sits idle.

But my heart still yearns for creativity.

Aren't these colors amazing?

It was a bit over-whelming to see how the woolcraft industry has progressed.

The colors sang to my heart.

Yes, I came home with some wool.

I couldn't resist.

And look at these amazing sheep and goats.

That bag of wool just came off.

Hope he/she doesn't get cold with autumn coming.

This one is looking at me very suspiciously.

Judging was underway.

I thought this sweet one was smiling for me.

Isn't this wool amazing?

Well beside buying a bit of wool,

I signed up for a winter workshop in December.

Now I can't wait to get that wheel whirring again.

I am a Photographer, A Bit Long

Last night I dreamt that I was starting college

and settling into my dorm room.

It was similar to what I did experience

at a small "Christian" college.

As I was settling in my roommate wanted me to

meet some guy from her church.

He came into the room and said he and my roommate

had been praying for me.

He wanted to know what I was going to study,

was it secretarial, a teacher, or to be a minister's wife?

My answer was "I am a photographer 

pursuing all things creative.

This didn't fit into his image of what a woman

should be and he turned and left.

The night before this dream I began reading

a book by Sue Monk Kidd, The Dance of the Dissident Daughter.

A quote from that book, "Stories give us hope, a little guidance,

and a lot of bravery."

My word for this year is "Story"

and this is part of my story.

The dream was very true to what I was as a young woman,

but I wasn't brave enough to say

"I am a photographer pursuing all things creative."

It has taken me a long time to be able to say that statement

and it came out in my dream.

Life is continually growing and learning

and for that I am thankful.

I am sure as I travel through this book there will be more growing

and more stories to share.

What do you still hunger for?

How do you continue to grow?

Walk with Me - Silver Falls State Park

 It had been quite a few years since I walked here.

Silver Falls State Park is just east of Salem, Oregon.

As you will see it is quite beautiful.

When my sister and I started walking on this paved trail

I thought, oh this will be easy.

 By the time we reached the south falls it was no longer paved,

but we continued on.

Isn't it gorgeous?

 The trail takes you under the rock cliff and

behind the falls to the other side.

 Old growth trees surrounded us.

 When we reached this second falls I wasn't sure if I

should turn back or go forward.

Each way was climbing down steep stairs and

then having to climb back up a steep trail.

 We kept moving forward and under another falls we went.

  Finally we made it back to the beginning where we sat by this creek

for a much deserved lunch.

 This is the park lodge, which looked very welcoming.

All in all it was about 2.5 miles of beautiful surroundings

and perfect weather.

You can't see from my pictures, but there were many people

out enjoying the early Autumn at the park.

Again I encourage you to keep on walking.

The way may be rough at times, but oh so worth it.

Welcome Autumn!

Autumn in my garden means pumpkins.

There are pumpkins everywhere.

In the garden, in the garden house, and in the house.

Inside the season is changing with the last bouquet of the season.

The hummingbirds are fattening up for the winter.

Are you ready for Autumn delights,

like pumpkin bread, apple pie, or a spicy donut?

Maybe squash soup is on the horizon in your plans?

This morning I brought out a loaf of apple bread to nibble with my tea.

Jack-Be-Nimble

Summer is a candle

In a golden stick,

A yellow, yellow candle

With a poppy wick.

A yellow, yellow candle

That burns a lovely while,

Till autumn comes a-running

Down a purple mile.

Till autumn comes a-running

With a windy shout,

And vaults the golden candlestick,

And blows the poppy out.

~Kitchen Sonnets by Ethel Romig Fuller 

Happy Autumn to you, dear friends!

I encourage you to show kindness to each and everyone.

International Day of Peace

O bless this people, Lord, who seek their own face

Under the mask and can hardly recognize it

O bless this people that breaks its bond

And with them, all the peoples of Europe,

All the peoples of Asia,

All the peoples of Africa,

All the peoples of America,

Who sweat blood and sufferings.

And see, in the midst of these millions of waves

The sea swell of the heads of my people.

And grant to their warm hands that they may clasp

The earth in a girdle of brotherly hands,

Beneath the rainbow of thy peace.

~Leopold Sedar Senghor

And my prayer today is

Peace in the World.

We can only pray and do our part.

Everything Tastes Better Outdoors

Do you like to walk in the garden and forage for food?

What would you find there?

In my garden I walk each day watching for ripe figs.

So far they are ripening one at a time,

just right for a nibble as I walk.

But sometimes I just love sitting at a tea table with a friend.

Tea time in the garden is so extra special.

It is fun to incorporate food from the garden into tea time delights.

Radishes with goat cheese, yummmm!

 

Or fresh sliced tomatoes with a leaf of basil on a baguette slice.

Then of course, who can resist just eating a tomato in the garden?

 

What is it that makes eating outdoors just taste better?

Fresh air, peaceful surroundings, and yummy garden produce!

How I love time in the garden, sipping tea and nibbling.

As our rains have returned this week and it is beginning to

feel like Autumn/Fall is in the air,

I am feeling the draw to pull on a sweater

and slip outdoors just one more time for a sip of tea,

a nibble on a fig, or a munch on a tomato.

Walk with Me - Washington Park International Rose Test Garden

 Last week my "live-in gardener" said he needed to get out of the house.

We wanted to see the roses one more time before they were gone.

So off the Washington Park's International Rose Test Gardens we went.

 The sky was blue with scattered white clouds.

A perfect day to walk in the gardens.

  This rose was my favorite of the day.

 My "live-in gardener" did quite well I must say,

for only having had knee replacement the week before.

Rain has now come to the gardens today,

but we will always have our pictures and memories of

a walk in the rose garden.

Are you walking, dear friends?