Halloween Today!

 In the Dark of the Moon

In the dark of the moon,

Beware! Have a care!

Of the ring at the door

And nobody there.

 Of the soap hieroglyphics

On a clean pane;

Of hushed, ghostly giggles;

Of steps down a lane.

 Beware! Have a care!

Of the small shape in white

With a pumpkiny lantern,

Its features alight.

No use to be looking

Stern, staid and sober-

Better turn goblin

This night in October.

~Ethel Romig Fuller from Kitchen Sonnets

Don't you just think that looks like a ferocious 

mouth on that grill of the old Ford?

Happy Halloween, dear friends!

Share a bit of silliness, laugh,

and delight in the day.

Don't forget the give-away on Friday.

Sign up for a chance to receive two Christmas tea books.

I would love for you to win them. 

Walk with Me - Autumn Delight

You danced for me.
Your colors delighted me.
You twirled.
You spoke to me in the flutter of your voice.
You sang in the softness of a crisp Autumn day.
Autumn you enchanted.
In the crispness of a cold walk down the road,
 my heart sang.
I sang your song with rosy cheeks
and puffs of breathe filled the air.
Autumn, so full of leaves and one last song
before we sleep in the winter and
sip tea by the fire.
One last hurrah before we curl into a quilt,
my walk in the Autumn days.

~m.miller

Keep on walking, dear friends!
Don't forget to leave a comment on Friday's post
for the Christmas tea books.

Give Away for Christmas

Recently I realized I hadn't had a give-away in way too long.

I still had two books from my book shelf I wanted to give to someone.

With Christmas coming I knew the time was now.

Yes, the end of October and I am beginning to think of Christmas.

If I don't do it now I don't get to enjoy the time when December arrives.

I like to have cards and gift buying done by Thanksgiving;

then I can play, go to tea, and bake to my hearts delight.

And listening to Christmas music!!!

Have you started?

I adore Christmas music and December is just not enough.

So yes!  I am listening on my IPod when I walk on the treadmill at the gym.

The holiday bazaars start in November and there

is one I particular love; so I will be there with bells on

and my camera ready.

Just leave me a comment to be in the running

for the book give-away.

I will announce the winner next Friday because then it will be November.

You can also email me and I can enter your name 

if you don't leave comments.

Very important!!!!  Just make sure there is a way to find you

and let you know you are a winner.

Quote found in The Twelve Teas of Christmas:

The rooms were very still while the pages were softly turned

and the winter sunshine crept in to touch the bright heads

and serious faces with a Christmas greeting.

~Louisa My Alcott, Little Women 

Happy Weekend, dear friends!

International Artist Day

Do you consider yourself an artist?

What does it take to be an artist?

 I always wanted to be an artist,

but it is a hard thing to call myself.

 Right now my art is through the eye of the camera.

 Sometimes with a little embellishment.

 No, I am not Georgia O'Keeffe, but I can dream and enjoy her art.

 I can play in the garden and create little touches of JOY.

 Or play in the studio (gardenhouse).

 Do you dream of being an artist?

 Dreaming and appreciating others talents is also a gift.

 Did I say "gift"?

Yes, we each have our gift of creativity.

We can appreciate the gift of God in nature.

Maybe it is the special touches we make to a meal

or the gift of friendship to someone in need.

Little touches of art and creativity sing to my heart.

So happy International Artist Day to each of you.

Go out and enjoy art in your soul and all around you.

You might not be able to tell, but each of the photographs 

has been changed in slight ways, except for the one

of Georgia O'Keeffe.

October - National Book Month

This is my reading chair,

but more than likely you will find me in bed

each evening reading.

I have become so addicted to reading 

I can't go to sleep at night without reading for awhile.

Reading comforts me, educates me, inspires me,

and entertains me.

This is where I am reading each evening, this very spot.

Did you know October was National Book Month.  I didn't either.
But in an email I recently received from Bella Grace that is what they said.
They included a list of some of their favorite books. 
It made me start wondering what your favorite books are? 
How I would love to hear.

What are you reading right now?

Next to my bed this week you will find:

The Italian Matchmaker by Santa Montefiore
The Dance of the Dissident Daughter by Sue Monk Kidd
When Wanderers Cease to Roam by Vivian Swift
Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach

“I do believe something very magical can happen when you read a good book.” — J.K. Rowling

Happy National Book Month!!!

Walk with Me - IKEA

It was a rainy week, but I needed to walk.

IKEA is nearby and it always seems like quite a walk

to walk through their aisles; so off I went for an indoor walk.

 Up the escalator to a bin of pandas.

Already I was seeing there were going to be temptations,

but I must keep walking.

Touching was allowed.

 Dreaming was allowed.

 Even spotting tea time along the way was allowed.

 Oh there is Marilyn too!

 But I kept going, following the arrows.

 Nice kitchen.

 One of my favorite things at IKEA,

their red striped towels for 79 cents.

 Does anyone use these french presses for tea?

Just wondering, moving on.

 A pause at the kiddie section.

Love this tent.

 And a soft, plushy smile.

 Light fixtures to delight.

 And even a garden of flowers.

 To end the walk there was Christmas.

 Even Santas wrapped in cushy plastic.

 Now where did I leave my car?

What a fun walk just yesterday with a rainy day.

Where do you walk when it rains?

Oh I resisted any purchases,

even walked through the check out empty handed,

then couldn't resist a few cookies in my bag at the food station.

Cookies you say!  Well cookies are good with tea for

an afternoon break, aren't they?

Just justifying with a smile!!

Flowers when I went for Pumpkins

Just the other day I went to take pictures of pumpkins,

but the flowers captured my attention.

Oh the colors of fall flowers just sings to my soul.

Do you hear them singing?  Zinnias, sunflowers, and cosmos,

oh MY!!!

The cloudy sky just magnifies their beauty.

But stepping into the farm shed these candy apples tickled me.

Oh there were indeed things, seasonal

beauties to make me smile.

And there were pumpkins!!!

So many pumpkins!!

Pumpkins awaiting each and every one that came visiting at the farm.

Do you love the colors of Autumn/Fall?

Are there pumpkins and flowers on your radar?

Do you love them as much as I do?

I hope so!!!

Happy weekend, dear friends!

Adventure to Sauvie Island

 An adventure to the country always touches my heart;

but especially when it involves a historic apple orchard.

 Apple orchards are part of my DNA.

I just love wandering under the trees.

 Searching for apples, but alas they were too far gone.

 Looking for the best one to climb.

 Or maybe to sit in awhile.

Wouldn't this one be fun to just sit awhile,

I think I could do it.

 The apple orchard is part of a historic farm

on Sauvie Island, just outside of Portland.

 Though you don't see them there were many children nearby 

enjoying the farm, picking pumpkins, and laughing.

Oh those clouds just made for a beautiful day.

Have you taken an adventure nearby you recently?

Fall/Autumn is the best of time to get out and take an adventure.