Focus on the Stars

 

Let's talk over a cup of tea. Grab your cup and sit awhile.

Just to let you know, I haven't forgotten you. With moving, then having my computer hacked and scrubbed, I haven't been able to download pictures from my phone. Life has moved along, but I couldn't find my little camera to once again take pictures. Excuses, I know; but I missed you. Today I just wanted to share some thoughts I have had lately as I continue the journey of reading, thinking and living. Yes, I finally found my camera.

 In meditation yesterday morning I read "what brings you joy". I thought of my mother's giggles and laughter. I thought of my sister's pierced lips when something didn't please her. I wondered if she felt joy. In the book by Nigel Slater, A Thousand Feasts, Small moments of joy...a memoir of sorts, he mentioned the joy of dipping a spoon into a jam jar of something yummy and tasting. "Little pots of treasure in which to go digging with your teaspoons." What joy he felt at that small gesture. I thought how my mother's family called her "the stupid one" because she didn't behave the way they wanted her to behave. I thought of the times my mother would giggle and laugh with her close friends and take adventures with them. At time she was torn between the sour notes of her family and her pure joy of the simple things of life.

Do you ever pause to think about what brings you joy. A dear friend often says "notice what you notice" and if you have followed along with me for awhile, I have picked up on that phrase and love, especially when I am here, noticing what I notice. What joy to notice those small things that surround us on any given day, dipping in our spoon and savoring for a few moments.

 

Now all the picture in this post were taken at the Lan Su Chinese Gardens yesterday as I snapped pictures with my little found camera. They are focusing on tea right now and had an exhibit on teaware from around the world. The pieces in this picture are from my collection. What a joy to be asked to share a few things and tell their story. The yellow chinzware was made for Victoria Magazine in the 1990's. They were made in England and represented teaware from England. The cup and saucer is probably from the mid 1800's and was made in France. The unique thing about this cup and saucer is that the saucer doesn't have the indent for the cup. Early in the style of cups and saucers, the saucer was made to sip from and there was no indent. I found this cup and saucer several years ago at a little antique booth at the Chelsea Flower Show in London. I was thrilled to bring home this special souvenir of my travels in England.

 

Of all the plants at the Chinese Gardens, this is my favorite. It is a very unique camellia. I have never seen this variety anywhere else. It is clusters of white single petal flowers blushed with what looks like a touch of the most beautiful color of red lipstick. At least that is what I think it is. My phone said it was a camellia, but I remember in the past reading that it was similar to a tea/camellia plant. It speaks to me of springtime and just brings a smile to my face. Of course, since it is related to the tea plant I would love it.

I have more pictures I snapped yesterday with my little camera, but they will come another time to brighten your day. I hope your day has glimmers of JOY, but above all else I hope you notice those glimmers.

Sending love,

Marilyn
 

Adventures with D

 Laika (animation) Studio is celebrating the 15th anniversary of their first stop motion film, Coraline, by decorating Portland with cats from the film. They made 31 cats and invited artists to decorate them. About a week ago they were placed all over Portland. D, my "live-in gardener" and I decided to looks for them. So far we have found 8 cats. They will be in Portland until October and then auctioned off for a charity fund raiser.

This one is "Thrive don't just Survive" and is across the street from one of the largest bookstores west of the Mississippi.  We stopped at Powell's Bookstore too, where D got a Pokemon Cookbook.

This is Mizton and she sits by one of the oldest fountains in Portland, Skidmore Fountain.

The name of this one was missing, but it sits along the downtown river front.

OK, we had to stop at Lan Su Chinese Gardens and have tea and lunch. Just outside the garden stood Dream Come True cat.

Made of Hug stood just outside OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry). If you ever come to Portland this museum is a great place to take kids.

Then we stopped at Washington Park to walk through the rose gardens. Rumor had it there was a cat there.

We found her at the back of the garden. Tricky placement; so we had to walk through the roses. I'm not complaining, as I love roses. There was a little smelling and stopping to admire them.

 

There were beautiful flowers at Pittock Mansion too.

 

And one more cat was found at the mansion overlooking downtown Portland. It was a bit smokey from forest fires, but then we were there for the cat named, Classic Cat.

Well I showed you 7 cats. We saw one more from the car; so no picture. More adventures needed to find 22 more.

Along the way we also stopped to see the Thomas Dambo Troll and the Nordic Center.

 

I have shared him before, but D hadn't seen him yet.

Even though D enjoyed seeing the Troll I think he liked the Swedish meatball lunch in the Nordic restaurant more. I had never seen him eat with such gusto.

The cats and the troll have made for fun adventures with D this summer and we are at the same time enjoying the sights of Portland. This adventure was done on two different days. Since D's mom has gone to work I am trying to come up with adventures with my one and only grandson.

Hoping you are also finding adventures and time to play along the way.

Sending love,

Marilyn

Words of Kindness and Joy

 

 

When I visited the Lan Su Chinese Gardens last week there was a stop along the way where you could read and write messages to the world on little origami art pieces. As I was reading some of the messages others had shared this one on kindness jumped out and grabbed me. I am finding all around me signs that others are focusing on the need for kindness.

 

Sometimes our world does feel so "bleak". There is so much sadness, selfishness and anger all around us if we focus on the news.

 

Focusing on kindness has helped me notice those little sparks of the good side of humanity, the kind that cares about people and things around them. I see the gardener tenderly caring for their plants, the mother that sacrifices for herself to give to her child, the man that walks into the humane society and carries out a tiny kitten that needs rescued. All around us we can see kindness when we only stop to pay attention.

 

Happy Kindness day, each and every day!

Yes, we can express ourselves with kindness in our words.

Sending love,

Marilyn
 

Sharing the Garden with a Friend

 

 This month the Lan Su Chinese Garden is celebrating AANHPI (Asian American, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander) Heritage Month. As you follow along in this post you will see the color yellow which they are using for this celebration. 

A friend had never been to the gardens; so yesterday she visited with me and we shared tea together as we celebrated a beautiful spring day.

There were clothes representing each of the ethnic groups on display.

Spring was definitely in the garden.

It was lovely to sit over a good cup of oolong tea and a mooncake. My sort of perfect day.

The teahouse really beckoned to sit awhile.

A walk over the bridge. We did spot a few koi, but the water was rather murky. I thought of the song "Bridge over Troubled Waters" as I peered down. Normally we have a better view of the fish.

Some glimpses of yellow in the lanterns and flowers.

Well there were other colors too, but I was noticing the yellow for the celebration.

There was an art show of Japanese Mending. I was fascinated. It is visible mending in beautiful stitches and patterns. I am really tempted to try it on some vintage quilt squares I have tucked away.

"Sashiko is the Japanese art of repairing fabric with geometrical patterns to give it strength and beauty. It is similar to the kintsugi technique of repairing objects with gold."

Because yellow is my favorite color, it just made me smile to see the yellow lanterns.

It was a special day to spend with a friend in the garden.

I hope you too find opportunities to enjoy springtime and share with a friend.

Sending love,

Marilyn

Chinese New Year's at the Garden

Welcome to the Lan Su Chinese Gardens once again. They are celebrating Chinese New Year's with red lanterns and even a dragon. It is now the year of the Wood Dragon, leaving the year of the Rabbit.

This week my grandson, D, had a day off school; so we walked in the garden to see what we spotted. Over the bridge we went.

He was asked what he noticed when we were leaving. He noticed many red lanterns and an alter to ancestors.

I noticed the color red everywhere I looked and blossoms beginning to make an appearance.

This bird was honoring blooming camellias.

And here is the dragon in the small lake.

D enjoyed the day. He even spotted a few pandas along the way.

And as we left the garden, I turned for one more look at lanterns hanging from the tree.

 It was a typical winter, rainy day in Portland walking in the garden.

Next week my "live-in gardener" and I will be visiting in the evening for a special event. I am looking forward to seeing the lanterns lit up and some dancing dragons throughout the garden.

 

Do you like celebrating different cultures throughout the year?

Is Chinese New Year's one you celebrate?

What celebrations from other countries do you enjoy celebrating?

 

Have a terrific weekend, dear friends.

Sending love,

Marilyn