I am Enough

There are times I wonder if I am doing enough

to make the world a better place.

I ask myself am I enough?

What more can I do?

That word "enough" just sticks in my mind.

Do we have enough?

Do I give enough?

Do I love enough?

And then I came across this quote this week

and it just resonated with me.

Yes, our little bits of good are enough

and all we can do is do our best.

"Do your little bit of good where you are;

it's those little bits of good put together

that overwhelm the world."

~Desmond Tutu

 Pictures were taken when out and about recently.

Sometimes I think just a little cabin in the woods

would be enough.

Update: A nice road trip was had by me and my

"live-in gardener". We are home now and looking forward 

to connecting soon with you again.

I Spy along the Trail

 Memorial Day was a perfect day to escape for awhile

and go for a walk.

 The weather was just perfect

and the trail was comfortable to stroll and view the sights.

 The gate greeted us at Steigerwalk Lake National Wildlife Refuge

near Washougal, Washington.

 Can you see the turtles shining in the sun on the log?

I went to find the turtles and I did!

I was thrilled.

 There is one turtle in this picture, but hard to see.

 There were magnificent birds too,

but they are so fleeting I couldn't capture with my camera.

Just one tiny black spot sitting on the bridge rail.

 From this view I could see the Columbia River (easy) and the tip of

Mt. Hood (not so easy to see).

It was a meadow for purple martins.

The little white dots on the pole were martin houses.

There were several along the trail.

 At the far end of the trail we came across another gate,

as we turned to head home;

but there was still a bit more to see along the way.

Some metal sculptures along the trail delighted me.

 But this completely caught me by surprise

and I just had to stop and chat awhile.

Two sitting on a bench enjoying the day with tea!

Can you believe I found tea along the trail?

They were drinking a nice Gaba Oolong

steeped in their little pot.

What a perfect way to enjoy the trail

and a beautiful Memorial Day.

 Of course I was watching for flowers too.

There was no disappointment there.

It was a day full of delight!

"In order to see birds it is necessary to become part of the silence."

~Robert Lynd

Elderflower Cordial

From the garden I took some elderflower heads and a lemon

then mixed them with water, sugar, and honey.

Something delicious happened in my kitchen just this weekend.

Elderflower cordial happened.

I had never tasted elderflower cordial, but quite delicious.
In the glass I mixed the cordial, which was a bit sweet,
with ginger ale and a splash of apple cider vinegar.
I will try it on ice cream, a splash in iced tea,
maybe a sorbet; but the treat will be mine.
Many years ago I was served elderflower fritters,
now I can still remember really loving them too.
Ahhhh! The possibilities for savoring my elderflowers.
The following link is the recipe I used.

https://www.jamieoliver.com/.../how-to-make-elderflower.../
What fun to enjoy something from the garden in a different way.
Sipping with JOY. 

PS - I just realized I am not being notified when you comment.
Sorry for not responding or posting them sooner.
I will watch this closer going forward.
Have a good day!

Monday's Tea Quote

Come along inside.....
we'll see if tea and buns can make the world a better place.
  ~from Wind and the Willow

One of my favorite tea quotes.

May we pray for the world to become

"a better place".

In memory of those that have fought

for "a better place".

How Time Flies By

 Spring is just taking my breathe away.

Each year I am more amazed by it's beauty.

After the dark days of winter I rejoice in the color,

in the festivity of it all.

 Above is the elderflowers in my garden right now.

This weekend I hope to do something delicious with it.

 The mountain laurel returns so consistently beautiful each year.

 Allium so briefly is here and then it is gone.

For some reason my "live-in gardener" tucked it in

the garden where I sometimes miss it.

I must go looking and there it is in all it's glory.

 And finally roses!

Wow!

They are enchanting me right now.

The garden is full of their blooms

and I am in love with them.

Though with the new life of Springtime

I see how fleeting it is.

Life speeds along so quickly.

I want to hold the beauty of Springtime in my arms,

embrace it, and tell it to stay awhile.

Step out this weekend and savor every moment of Springtime,

dear friends!!!

Create memories of the beauty in your mind for those dark

nights of winter.

Happy weekend, dear friends!

Tea Time in the Gardenhouse

 Tea time in the Gardenhouse just yesterday.

Ready, Set, Go

My live-in gardener even pitched in to help.

 The food was ready.

Calla lily sandwich

Smoked salmon with cream on an endive leaf

Egg salad sandwich

Coronation chicken on croissant

Cucumber sandwich

 and

Cream Scones with marmalade

 Several tea friends always miss out on tea festivities

because they work on the weekend;

so a party was planned in the middle of the week.

What fun we had talking tea and nibbling.

 There were cupcakes

Lemon tarts with a raspberry

Chocolate dipped strawberries

Lemon shortcake cookies

And there was tea.

We started with Castleton Moonlight Imperial Darjeeling, 2018 first flush.

Then moved to an old growth Darjeeling that is not available to the public.

And we topped it off with Black Magnolia from The Mississippi Tea Company, also rather dear and difficult to acquire.

What fun to serve connoisseurs of tea to a special afternoon tea.

We may sip tea together, but this was a first for us

to enjoy afternoon tea with all the food.

Find time to savor friendship even in the middle of the week.

A bit of tea, here and there

 This morning as I sat on my back steps savoring nature in the early

morning with a cup of tea in hand I was reminiscing about a

 past trip to visit Taiwan tea farms.

In my cup was the end of the tea I had brought home,

a 27 year old Buddha Hand Oolong.

Then my mind turned to the past week with tea.

 There was a tea party at a retirement center near Portland

where I was the guest speaker.

Not my usual thing to do and I had never talked to

a group in a retirement center.

 Not sure I did very well, but I told myself if nothing

else "it was good for me". 

It looks like I was singing here, but nope I was just talking

about tea and the history of tea in England.

 

 And then as I shared yesterday another picture from tea by the river.

This past weekend was time by this river and a few moments of

solitude with a cup of tea.

Probably my favorite time with tea.

 Then yesterday a small group of women friends met out in nature

for a potluck, friendship, and a sip of tea.

The view and the day were spectacular.

 The flowers were blooming and though you can't see it, as the clouds

parted we saw three volcanic mountains in the distance.

If I count sipping tea on my back steps there were

four very different experiences with tea.

Each one touched my soul and delighted my heart.

Eventhough I love sipping many different teas and

in many different cups, 

It is the experience of the tea that most enchants and delights me.

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

Monday's Tea Quote

The sun, Lord of the East, grinds the fragrant dust of tea.

Bejeweled nectar on the teeth, revives me.

A pure wind envelopes my body.

The whole world seen in a single cup.

~Kohan, translated by V. Dixon Morris

Yes, this was a single cup of tea while sitting in

reflection along the river just yesterday.

The sun warm on my skin.

The silence and time alone quite beautiful. 

Have a good week, dear friends!

Rest and Be Thankful

 Morning shots in my garden.

Did you rise early this morning to watch the Royal Wedding?

Were there scones and tea?

Now time to rest, dear ones!

"Rest and be Thankful"

~William Wordsworth

Have a restful weekend.

Black Magnolia Tea

 Strolling down a country trail on a sultry day in late spring.

Smelling the grass as it bakes in the sun.

 The tea in my cup reminds me of a smooth summer day.

A day to languish by the river,

letting it flow gently down my throat.

 By no means is it bitter.

A light flavor until it hits the back of the throat

and then it sits there, light caramel/fruity, not sweet but romantic.

 Do you ever have this romance with a cup of tea?

Does it tingle in your thoughts like a sultry day in late spring?

 Do you just want to savor the day?

Well Black Magnolia Oolong Tea from The Great Mississippi Tea Co.

is such a tea. I have waited a long time to be able to savor this tea

and savoring it I am doing.

On the package from The Cultured Cup in Dallas, Texas,

it says "This hand-plucked tea is complex with notes of apricot,

honeysuckle & honey." "The best USA grown tea!"

I would agree!

How exciting to finally get my hands and then my taste buds

on this special cup of tea.

Good job to the growers at The Great Mississippi Tea Company.

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