Wow! Moments

 "Honor the WOW moments in life!" and the Quiet moments too!

After looking through old pictures on my computer I realized the "Wow" moments come quietly, like the gentle way the sun shines on the petals of a flower in the garden or the water sparkles on the sea. Most often my WOW! moments are connected to nature or the arts, such as a beautiful painting, dance, or music.

Recently Instagram has decided I need more music in my life and they post things for me to notice. Some of the music has touched my heart. I find myself saying "Wow"!!!

Art always intrigues me. I wonder 
"how did someone actually do it and what was their inspiration?"

The light and darkness, the shadows delight.

How is it that the light just captures the three cups, yet holds the fruit in the shadow?

The sunlight enhances the petals of a flower.

I love chatting with the birds or animals that cross my path. This parrot enchanted me. But the cat that shows up on my patio at unexpected morning moments will pause when spoken to and I say "Wow" "you are comforted by my voice".

The water sparkles on a slightly foggy day.

Light guides the way. It says here I am, follow me, notice what you notice.

What makes you say "Wow"?

I am planning on some "Wow" moments in the next 2 weeks, as I adventure to Alaska. I am sure there will be some nature involved, but maybe even a song. How I would love to hear the songs of a whale, a bird, or the strum of a guitar.

Sending love,

Marilyn

A Week in the Life

 

Most often there are tea adventures in my life and this week was no disappointment. Cindy Chin from Wuyi Origins (she and her family are the growers in China) sends our group of tea lovers samples twice a year and we sit down for a tasting session. Whew! This afternoon we tasted 14 different teas. I wasn't sure I would be able to sleep that night, but somehow I did. Her teas never disappoint. They were all good, but I chose two teas to order, an aged white tea and a black oolong tea.

And of course I continue to notice the summer flowers around me. These hydrangeas are on the apartment grounds and so very beautiful. I will miss them when they are gone.

Then I walked in another garden and "noticed what I noticed"; which is always fun to take time to do.

I had to look up in the tree to find this one. There are also some on my apartment ground too.

Yesterday I walked through Peninsula Park in Portland. It is near where my house was located and I love any excuse to walk here. Isn't it beautiful? It is the oldest rose garden in Portland.

My tea group that meets once a month met under the trees. It was a gorgeous day for 20 tea lovers to share tea together. I shared a new to me tea called Forest Sprite from Floating Leaves in Seattle, a Taiwanese oolong with a hint of green.

And I keep reading, but often forget to share what I am reading. So here is what I have been recently reading:  Soulwork by BettyClare Moffatt, The Paris Assignment by Rhys Bowen, and A Dark and Stormy Tea by Laura Childs. I read Soulwork years ago, but thought it was time to refresh my memory and do a little internal work. It has essays to create personal evaluation and thinking when needing to do some self work. Then I always enjoy Rhys Bowen's adventures. I tend to like reading women's stories surrounding World War II and this was a good one. I have probably read about 20 of Laura Childs mystery books. Though I enjoy them, I am not sure I will read anymore as they seem a bit too much the same. The tearoom owner is a self appointed sleuth that always solves the mystery.

This week will be for rest and reflection before my summer heats up and starts filling with more adventures. How's your summer going so far? I hope you have time for rest and adventures, some days with gentle breezes that are neither too hot and too uncomfortable. Some slow days of meandering a country lane or walking by the seaside would be extra special too.

Sending love,

Marilyn

Paths

Gautama Buddha says: No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path. 

My word for this year is Adventure/Path. I find it fascinating to notice how many paths there are in life. Sometimes we get distracted and wander off the path in front of us, getting lost for awhile. Sometimes our paths are a bit rocky as we try to please others and lose focus on our own path. And then there are the paths that are smooth sailing and we forget to notice the beauty of the path.

 Hawaii

Camassia Nature Preserve

Elk Rock

Tiny Poetry’s “Twisting Paths”:

Along the twisting paths we tread,

Adventures wait around each bend,

With every step, a tale is spread,

New horizons beckon us to send.

Whispers of stories in the air,

With every heartbeat, we declare.

Along the twisting paths we tread,

New horizons beckon us to send tinypoetry.com.

Kellogg Park, not far from my apartment.

What's around the bend?

Iris in the Peony Gardens at Adelman's, a cloudy day

And even David Hockney included a path into the woods in one of his paintings. Sadly he passed away this past week. He has taken a path only he can take alone. Oh, the joy he has left along the way with his whimsical art.

Do you notice the path you travel? Does it sing a song of JOY to your soul?

No matter the path along the way, "Notice what you notice".

Sending love,

Marilyn

Focus on the Stars, The Wonders of the Season

 

Pull up a chair, let's sip a cup of tea and embrace this day of Thanksgiving. It can be a magical time of wonder or if watching the news, a time of terror. Let's hold on to the wonder of the season and be thankful. We will notice the warmth of sitting by the fire, wrapped in a cozy blanket and something warm in our hands. As we walk outside, we will notice the sounds of crisp leaves being stepped on or the sounds of the wind. We will tuck our hands in cozy mittens and our arms in a favorite warm coat.

Could this be the cozy coat or something simpler? Found at a local antique mall but didn't come home with me. I think I have simpler tastes. Just a quilted, puffy coat will do.

We will notice the simple things, like a paperwhite sitting on my kitchen windowsill.

Whatever path we take, always take time to notice those things of wonder and joy.

Sing a song of Thanksgiving and Rejoice at the simple, small things in your everyday life.

I am thankful for you and you. Thank you for stopping by. Have a most delightful week.

Sending love,

Marilyn

Focus on the Stars

 This coming Sunday I have been asked to give the "First Word" to begin the church service. My pastor said to think "Gratitude". In writing the Focus on the Stars this year I feel like it has been a nod to "gratitude".  Often we notice and focus on the big things, such as wellness/illness, food/no food, or the well being of those around us.

 In my church each Sunday people share requests and celebrations in offering prayer and it is the big things that often get mentioned.

I hope by "focusing on the stars" this year you have taken time to notice some of the small things, the things we often forget to mention. I know I am always thankful for food in the cupboard and good health. I am thankful for a full cup of tea, apple pie, and a friend to share it with.

I am thankful each and every day that I am mobile. I am thankful for beautiful nature, even when the trees lose their leaves. I am thankful that my tea plant on my patio is in bloom right now. I am thankful for a warm, cozy place to lay my head each night.

What small thing would you share?

Have a great week, dear friends!

Even though life is insane at times, let's keep focusing on the stars, the glimmers of light and hope.

Sending love,

Marilyn

Focus on the Stars

 

“You must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing star.”

— Friedrich Nietzsche (Thanks Corey)

Welcome Fall Equinox

Here we are on the first day of fall where night and day are equal in length for a very short time. We are headed into the dark nights with less light in our day. It is even more imperative that we notice the small glimmers of light. Hold on to the glimmers, celebrate them, and never let the darkness get you down.

Last evening I attended a fund raiser for a local organization called Growing Gardens. It was a celebration of growth and helping others. My "live in gardener" and I sat at a table of all Hispanics. It was fun to hear their involvement in the organization and their joy of gardening and honoring each other. Even though we didn't understand their conversation, they were kind to include us from time to time in conversation.

The watermelon bouquet was all edible, from the garden.

The cucumber/honeydew melon, kombucha was made of things from the garden.

Earlier in the day I attended a tea tasting.

That also was a joy, a sparkle in my day.

The green leaves were much of the tea we tasted.

It also came from someone's tea garden.

My friend, Ana, pouring the tea as we sat around the table in a friend's greenhouse.

And there were small flames and sparkles on Saturday night, where my church had a gathering on a farm to just celebrate being together as we enter fall.

As the sun goes down over the orchard in the country, I noticed the colors of the sky and they sparkled.

And the light of the fire made my heart happy.

Simply, I just keep noticing and sharing with you. May our spirits stay happy, sending love to each other in the dark night and chaos. We can be those "dancing stars" in the dark night.

Notice what you Notice!

Sending love,

Marilyn

Focus on the Stars

Sometimes I just need to focus on those things I love.

Teatime and flowers are often in my circle of loves.

This week there were opportunities for both and a little bit more.

I even visited the grand opening of a favorite chocolate shop. They have opened a shop and education room to celebrate chocolate at their factory. Their chocolate all comes from one estate in Ecuador. 

Then on another day I celebrated the start of the day with fruit, scones and tea.

My tea bush on the patio is beginning to bloom.

And then I visited the Lan Su Chinese Gardens where my friend, Eric, was doing a tea tasting. It was fun to sit for an hour and sip tea with Eric and others at the table.

Pomegranates growing in the garden.

And lotus too.

And just for fun, I had to toss in a teddy bear from the antique mall.

And a visit to the dahlia farm.

A bouquet brought home from the farm has delighted my week.

Sometimes we just have to take a break and enjoy those things that bring us JOY and light to our hearts because life can get heavy.

Hoping you have had a little JOY and light in your week.

On to a new week and searching out JOY and light.

Sending love,

Marilyn