Check!

It was a magical day!

Come, walk with me!

It had been raining, but the clouds opened up to this amazing view of Mt. Hood.

The hike around Lost Lake is 3 1/4 miles of pure delight.

 After all the green, out peaked these sweet pink flowers.
Just for your delight!

At the beginning of Summer I made a list.
On the list were all the things I wanted to make sure and do this Summer.
One adventure still remained and I could tell by the change in the air that Summer would soon be over.
It was a hike at Lost Lake, near Mt. Hood.
It had been 30 years since I had been there and I still remembered it's beauty.
It was a delightful day of hiking and picnicking, one I hope to repeat before another 30 years passes by.
My list has a check mark there and it is highlighted too, as it most definitely was a highlight of the Summer.

What was your highlight of the Summer?
Don't forget to leave a comment on Monday's post for the give away.

Spirit Whispers

Recently I came across the following poem on another blog and felt it was appropriate to share for Spirit Whispers.  I have just past my 800th post here at Delights of the Heart.  This is the last day for Spirit Whispers as a regular Monday series.  I can promise you it may pop up from time to time, just not in a series.  In celebration I thought it was time for a give away.  I have a small book of poems by Maya Angelou, a small bag of tea from Thailand, and probably another trinket or two I would love to send to someone.  Leave a comment on this post and I will announce the winner on Friday.

Your Seed Pouch

Lanterns 

Hang from the night sky 

So that your eye might draw 

One more image of love upon your silk canvas 

Before sleep. 

Words from Him have reached you 

And tilled a golden field inside. 

When all your desires are distilled 

You will cast just two votes: 

To love more, 

And be happy. 

Take the sounds from the mouth-flute of Hafiz 

And mix them into your seed pouch. 

And when the Moon says, 

“It is time to 

Plant,” 

Why not dance, 

Dance and 

Sing? 

~ Hafiz

Can't you just imagine Dancing and Singing among these trees heavy with fruit.

They are ready for the harvest.

Go out, loving more and being happy!

Walk Alone

Recently I read a quote that said to do one thing
each day that was out of your comfort zone to grow.
That has given me something to think about
as I am often here at home and don't see myself
doing things outside of my comfort zone on a daily basis.
Yesterday as I was walking in my neighborhood
I thought about this and realized I was actually doing
something outside of my comfort zone.
No, I wasn't walking in short bloomers like these girls,
but I was walking alone.
Most often my husband walks with me and
it is a time for conversation; but he couldn't go yesterday.
It felt out of my comfort zone to walk alone.

Do you encourage yourself to do things outside of your comfort zone?
What are they?

Preparing for a Tea Party

No spectacular tea parties today,
though I did sip tea last evening at the Lan Su Chinese Gardens.
I will tell you about that another day.
As I look at this picture, it reminds me of the times of preparation.
What do I do to prepare?
First, I need to have a reason for a tea party.
Maybe it is just to give opportunity for a visit with a friend or
maybe it is a special holiday event.
Second, I think about a theme.
Do I want to focus on flowers or have something fun for the little ones?
Or maybe it is something more elaborate, like putting on a full tea
such as Alice in Wonderland.  This is probably where I have the most fun.
Third, I start pulling out plates I might like to use to see how they fit with the theme.
This is the stage you see in the picture.
Fourth, I plan a menu that has a few easy things to fix and then something
that challenges me or something new.  With the planning of the menu, I
make a schedule.  The schedule starts often a few days before the party.
I make the sweets and tart shells that can be frozen.  I cut special
shapes in the bread and put them in the freezer.  Then as we get closer to the event,
I make the sandwich fillings.
Finally, the day arrives and I am prepared for those last minute touches.

Yes, it is a lot of work sometimes, but it is fun (at least I think it is).
I love being prepared and seeing the appreciation in the eyes of those that receive.
It is a gift I love giving.
 

Double Delight

This rose you see is called Double Delight.
It sits so beautifully in a neighbor's garden.
As I walk by I cannot resist stopping to delight in the roses here.
I am so delighted too that you stopped by today.
Please leave me a one word comment saying what is delighting you today.

My delight today is:  Flourish

Cranberry Bread Thoughts

When you are short on cash and payday is several days away, what do you do?  How do you make it less stressful and more joyful?  Maybe no one else here has days like this, but I do.  I was thinking about it and realized there are two things I do, one is bake goodies to have available for the freezer or on the table and go outside for a walk or if there is gas in the car to the country I go.

 Today I am making Cranberry Bread, a family favorite.  Starting to think of autumn just around the corner, cranberries sounded so good.  Small loaves are in the oven, so that some will go in the freezer for the next time I need a little something special and I am planning a picnic in the country soon.

Cranberry Bread

2 cups sifted all-purpose flour

1 cup sugar

1 1/2 teaspoon  baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 cup butter or margarine

1 egg, beaten

1 teaspoon grated orange peel

3/4 cup orange juice

1 1/2 cups light raisins (I use dark)

1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries, chopped (I use whole)

Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda into a large bowl.   Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly.  Add egg, orange peel, and orange juice all at once; stir just until mixture is evenly moist.  Fold in raisins and cranberries.

Spoon into a greased 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan (I use smaller ones and cook shorter time).  Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 10 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  Remove from pan; cool on a wire rack.

This recipe was shared with my daughter by her first grade teacher many years ago.  Jill came home from school and was so excited to bake Cranberry Bread.

Enjoy!

Spirit Whispers

God is in the ordinary.
God is in the everyday.
We can notice God and listen
in the growth of the tree or of the flower.
In the rising of the morning sun,
in the stars at night,
and in the moon,
God is there.

This was taken loosely from the book,
Listening for the Heartbeat of God
by J. Philip Newell