Simple Pleasures

Recently stated in the Romantic Homes Magazine:

"In the chaos of daily life, I make it a point to take time to create

a small sanctuary where I can indulge in simple pleasures.

A cup of coffee (for me it is tea) served in a beautiful cup....."

They go on to mention simple pleasures and changing seasons.

"my thoughts are free to wander and I can approach my day with

tranquility."

How wonderful to think of "simple pleasures" and tranquility with

the changing of the seasons.  For me in the past few days it is just

noticing the first red leaves, the hydrangeas have lost their brilliance, but

they are still so beautiful.  There are flowers still here and there.

Soon Autumn will arrive, I can feel it coming.
Our hearts can rejoice in another day of amazing splendor.

What are you noticing that is a "simple pleasure"?

Two Puerh's

Recently I had the opportunity to taste two puerh teas from Teavivre.com.

The first one was called Lotus Leaf Raw, Pu-erh Mini Toucha, from Yunnan, China.

The smell at first hit me as vegetable, it had a nice yellow appearance when brewed.

The taste was not as vegetable as I expected from the scent.

It is a hard one too describe in flavor as it wasn't particularly smokey or floral,

but more of a fresh mown field with a tiny touch of caramel without the sweetness.

A very straight forward, simple tea.

The second was Fengqing Zhuan Cha Raw Puerh, Brick Tea 2005 from Yunnan, China.

The leaves smelled a bit like spinach, but after brewing I could smell the smokey scent.

The color was lighter than I expected and the taste was smooth to the mouth.

This was my favorite beginning with the very first sip.

I loved the warm, cozy feel it created, like sitting by the fire on a cool evening.

This one is perfect for Autumn, but both are quite nice in very different ways.

If you are beginning to think Autumn/Fall both of these teas I would recommend.

Monday's Quotes

A Singing Heart

I woke up this morning

To a singing start;

I went about the live-long day,

A song within my heart.

"Sing before you breakfast;

Cry before you sleep,"

Is an old, old saying,

But never one I keep.

I sing, and I go dancing,

With music in my tread,

Until at length I've sung myself

To supper and to bed.

by Ethel Romig Fuller, Kitchen Sonnets

Photo of vintage dresses to dance and sing in.

Welcome to September.

I hope your heart is singing

and the month is a delight.

The August Break 2014 - love

Love is Delight

Love is at the center of JOY

Love is Family
Love is Special Friends

Love makes me smile

Love is what makes our world a better place

God is love

This is the end of August Break 2014
It has been fun
Hope your month was pure Delight and full of Love and JOY.

The August Break 2014 - soft

Soft is the morning light through the curtains.

I love the silhouettes of the flowers.

Joey and I watch for movement of the hummingbird or bumblebees

as I sip my morning tea.

Softly, oh so softly I wake to the day.

The August Break 2014 - nature

For anyone that has read my blog for awhile you know I love nature.

My first thoughts when thinking on nature are animals such as the elephants

 at the Elephant Nature Park in Thailand.

Maybe your thoughts go to forests and the force of nature, as mine also did.

But for everyday it is flowers for me; so I was thrilled when I came across

this u-pick field of flowers.

I had been dreaming of picking a large bouquet of sunflowers and

then have fallen in love with zinnias too; so I was singing the Happy song.

Did you notice the bumblebee in the sunflower too!

Oh JOY, my heart sings in nature.

The August Break 2014 - something new

The "something new" theme for today rather stymied me for a moment.

Then I remembered that yesterday I bought new shoes to wear for working out at the gym.

I love Nike Free shoes, they are soooooo comfortable

and with each pair they improve.

This pair has great extra protection on the big toe right where I usually wear them out.

They are so light, it is almost like walking barefoot.

So there you have it, that is my "something new" for today.

I didn't even have to try them on at the store, I just knew they would be perfect.

In the photo is the first time trying them on.

If you had to choose something new today, what would it be?