Word Magic

 Happy Labor Day

This week's word is LABOR

Definition: verb: work hard; make great effort. "they labored from dawn to dusk"

 

This picture was taken a couple days ago as I sat on a coffee shop patio sipping a chai latte. I just appreciated the beauty around me that was provided by the people that run the coffee shop. There was labor in their creating beauty.

When thinking of LABOR most people, including myself, think of those people who get up each day and go to work. It might be to build a house, climb a ladder, clean a sewer, write a story, or run the government. It is all labor. We do the labor, then we go home for another day. We may labor over the stove to prepare a meal when we get home. 

Not a lot of labor went into my breakfast this morning, but the jam on my muffin was made by a friend and a gift. I enjoyed the fruits of their labor. The person that grew my tea and processed it was laboring to make a beautiful thing to go in my cup.

Another thought came to mind of a mother-to-be going into labor to birth a child. She is doing the work to bring forth the child; so again a good name is labor.

 

My daughter birthed this beautiful grandson and for that I am thankful.

An artist may labor to bring forth a beautiful piece of art too.

There are so many forms of labor; some are hard work and some bring us great joy. Often there are rewards for our labor. It might be a pay check or just a smile on someone's face.

So whatever you are doing today to celebrate LABOR, simply enjoy!

Happy new week, dear friends!

The Grotto

 

 

Yesterday my "live-in gardener" and I had plans. I was excited, but scared all at the same time. We were going to take our grandson, D, zip-lining for a fun end of summer celebration before school starts next Tuesday. Our D ended up coming down with Covid yesterday and plans were changed. So far he is doing OK and I pray that continues to be so and he will be ready to return to school soon.

I felt like my "live-in gardener" and I should get out and walk. The Grotto is about 5 miles from us and we had been many times to the lower grounds, but had never taken the elevator up the bluff to the upper gardens. It was a rainy day, so we bundled up.

The Grotto is a Catholic retreat center that is open to the public. People come here to meditate, sometimes for concerts, to see the decorations and lights at Christmas, and just enjoy the beauty. The first picture above is the main area where they hold mass and people come to pray.

Let's walk through the upper gardens.

The next few pictures were shrine's representing different countries in honor of Mary.

This was Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Beautiful carvings.

The trees were stunning throughout the walk. Here was a labyrinth, which was the perfect place to walk and meditate. I prayed for many as I walked.

There was also a Peace Gardens we walked through, which took us by the monastery.

 

This sweet little chapel would be a lovely place for a small wedding.

 

There was a small walk where there were Sorrow and Joy plaques.

 

And finally before heading home we sat for a little while in the leather chairs of the Marilyn Meditation Chapel. Yes, It was donated by someone named Marilyn. It was stunning just at the edge of the cliff and overlooking the surrounding area.

 

Not exactly zip-lining, but just perfect for the day. We both said, "why has it taken us over 40 years to come to this part of the garden".  It was so peaceful and the perfect walk on a drizzly, rainy day.

Happy Weekend, dear friends!

Always be flexible to change plans when needed, it is so worth it.

Word Magic

 The word for this week is CHANGE

definition:  the act or instance of making or becoming different.

 

 Change of seasons

Yes, that is definitely worth noticing. Yesterday it was about 91 degrees here and felt hot. Today it is 69 degrees so far and feels like fall is just around the corner.

There are often changes in our world from climate change to political change.

Making change or changing a dollar for four quarters.

As we drive down the road, both in actuality or figuratively, do we sometimes change direction?

Growing and learning, do we sometimes have a change in our perspective?

It seems like change is part of life and to tell you the truth I am not sure I would be happy living without it.  I sort of like it. How about you?

Does change scare you or do you embrace it?

Small Ceremonies of Tea

 "Pouring out a proper cup of tea from a china teapot is a truly soothing experience that seems to engender a disproportionately high sense of well-being for what is such a simple act." from an article called Time for Tea in The English Home magazine.

I know, I know - tea again!

Tea is indeed a ceremony, sometimes a meditation, a time to share with a friend, a group, or alone.

Here I am sharing tea with a friend outdoors in a park. It was a small ceremony of friendship.

 

The tent is ready for a large gathering to celebrate tea with others. This was my British tent at the TeaFestPDX last year. The cup below was what each attendee sipped their tea.

The next three pictures are the WuWo Tea Ceremony from Taiwan. 

You can find a video of the ceremony on the website, www.nwwuwotea.com

 

 This tea time was the sharing of dear friendship.

 A friend shared making tea over a charcoal burner in her own backyard. What a treat to be honored by this ritual of tea.

 

 

Tea in my garden/green house is also a ritual or ceremony of friendship over cups of tea.

 

Sometimes the tea is served in different ways. Here is a teatime at the Chinese Gardens, served from a gaiwan.

This was a tea offering to our ancestors. A ceremony in the Chinese Garden.

 

Another teatime celebrated in the apple orchard, celebrating friendship and a quiet time.

A Japanese tea ceremony taking place at the Camilla Festival this year.

 

A celebration of the season. Easter time and the renewal of the earth.

 

A Russian teatime.

 

The samovar is the center piece of a Russian tea celebration.

 

 Do you celebrate with tea? or another drink? Do you often feel it is a ceremony?

It can be a time to celebrate the simple things of life or a more elaborate celebration.

 

Have a terrific weekend, dear friends!

Celebrate each day!

Word Magic

 

The word this week is French, joie de vi·vre

noun French. a delight in being alive; keen, carefree enjoyment of living.

 

The yellow chair sitting in my garden makes me think of this word. It sits there beckoning me to sit in the garden and just delight in the day.

 

The flowers in this field do the same for me. They just make me smile.

 

In writing this post I am realizing for me the color yellow and the outdoors give me that feeling of joie de vivre.

 

And going to places where I can dream of adventures.

Can you picture just sitting at the end of this dock and dangling your feet in the water? Would that delight you? On Pinterest I have a folder for pictures such of this, it is called "Sitting and Dreaming too". This is where I would do just that with Joie de Vivre. I would be dreaming of adventures, soaking in the late summer sunshine, and watching the birds swim by.

Where is your dreaming place?

Where or what gives you that feeling of Joie de Vivre?
 

Happy new week, dear friends!

 

This week's Adventure

Have any of you watched Pinocchio on Netflix? I tried to watch it, but found it a bit scary and dark; so I didn't finish it. This week for my adventure with my grandson, D, we ventured to the Portland Art Museum for the show on Pinocchio. It wasn't as scary to me seeing it like this. I found the artwork and creativity were amazing. My D told me I shouldn't take pictures, but here you are - my pictures.

I think this set was my favorite. I felt like I could just step onto that stage and sing along.

But I sort of liked the gypsy wagon too. Could you imagine living in a gypsy wagon? Of course I noticed there was tea on the table. I think that chair is waiting for me.

 

My D has seen the movie; so he had to explain some of the characters to me.

Such amazing creativity in just developing each character.

 

Mister Cricket had some tea.

I think the ones most spooky are the ones with no eyes.

The artists work studio was reproduced here. There were boxes of different expressions in the studio. I kinda thought it would be fun to be one of the creators of these characters and sets.

 Now that I have seen the art show I think I need to watch the movie from an artists perspective. Maybe I won't think it is so scary.

 Happy weekend, dear friends!