Peace

The Peace Rose

My heart is heavy this week.

The people of Palestine and Israel are hurting.

Please send a prayer for peace their way.

There are better ways to resolve differences then by killing and violence.

This rose is only a symbol, but one we can focus on

and pray for hearts to be softened.

In the book Three Cups of Tea they talked about helping people to improve their lives will also bring peace.

"We must learn to live together as brothers (and sisters) or perish together as fools."

~Martin Luther King Jr.

Monochromatic Day

Have you ever had a monochromatic day?

Last week I had such a day.

At the end of the day I said it felt like there hadn't been any color in my day and if felt sort of depressing. It was like holding my breath for the day and hoping the color would return. I wondered what to do when we have a day such as that. Today I was reading about finding happiness inside ones self. Do I stop, take a deep breathe, and sing a song that makes me happy? Do I stop and "smell the roses"? Most of all do I just stop and take note that the color has faded and acknowledge it? By acknowledging and noticing it I can turn my day back to color. I think the next monochromatic day, I will stop, pick out a colorful teacup from my shelf, and put something special into the cup and sip. A cookie would be nice too. I think I have a cookie in my freezer with a red cherry on top. Don't you think that would be the perfect addition to turn my day into color?

What I Love

Laurie at ButtonsnLace tagged me last week.

www.buttonsnlace.blogspot.com

I am to list 8 details of my life, so here goes with things that make me happy.

1. I love chocolate and tea

2. I loved my career as an apparel patternmaker, but now enjoying retirement.

3. I love water of all kinds from swimming pools, the ocean, lakes, rivers, ponds, and even birdbaths. Two recent water shots taken with my camera. I also swim two nights a week.

4. I love the outdoors, especially if it includes water and tea.

5. I love to fly and as a child dreamt I could fly. I even use to try flying off the roof of our garage and would climb the tallest trees hoping to be able to fly from them like a bird.

6. I love to read. I started reading Simple Abundance for 2009 again and hope to make it through the whole year. Also reading a good Nora Roberts romance novel.

7. I love to sing Happy Birthday, even if it isn't anyone's birthday.

8. Creativity makes my heart sing.

Now I am suppose to tag some others, but since I tagged many of you not to long ago I won't tag anyone. I just thought it would be fun to share some of the things I love and that make my heart happy. What makes you happy?

********

Just to let you know Marmalady's has changed shipping charges. Shipping will be free for retail orders over $20.00. Visit www.marmaladys.com

Grandpa's China

The family story has always been that my Grandpa bought this set of Haviland & Co. Limoges from a lady in the mountains of Colorado. That she painted the design on a blank set of china for my Grandpa. I love the china and have looked for more pieces in antique stores. Several years ago I found a couple pieces in an antique shop in Wyoming. This is the only place I have seen pieces with this pattern. After researching in china books and talking to the antique dealer in Wyoming I found that the family story was not correct. The china pattern was created for the Burlington Railroad and in fact is not hand painted, but a decal. I still love the violets and daisies, but it has a new story to tell.

Come sit a spell and have tea with me. We can share stories of time gone past and learn more of what makes our heart sing.

This china now belongs to me and when the holidays come each year my family enjoys our holiday meals on violets and daisies.

Vintage 1917-1920

For anyone interested in the fashions in 1917, this book is full of great pictures and descriptions of the details.
Now wouldn't these dresses be fun to wear to tea or a tea dance?

Not to leave the little ones out, this is a page out of a pattern book from the early 1920's.

More dresses perfect for tea for the little girl's.

I love this era.

Christmas Dinner

One final Christmas note, then I will move forward with the new year.

Several of you have been curious about our family Christmas dinner tradition.

About 10 years ago my two adult children decided we needed a different Christmas dinner tradition; so they decided to take over the meal on that day. Each year they keep it a secret until we sit down at the table. The theme is different each year and is usually a menu from a different country. Some of the menus have been Ethiopian, Middle Eastern (twice), American Prairie (buffalo), Italian, Spanish Tapas, and this year the theme was an Obama Christmas. How they come up with these ideas is amazing in itself. They research online and try all new recipes each year.

*********

For the Obama Christmas this year we had:

Carrot Curry Soup from Thailand

Chicago Deep Dish Pizza

Vegetable recipe from Kenya (greens and tomatoes)

Hawaiian Fruit Salad

Maryland Crab Cakes (for Washington, DC)

Dessert representing Kansas where Obama's grandparents were from.

The dessert was cookies from a recipe I had started making when we lived in Kansas.

This represented Kansas to my two adult children.

******

An unusual Christmas dinner tradition, but fun each year and I don't have to cook on Christmas Day.

On Wings of an Eagle

As we enter 2009, fly with me on the wings of an eagle.

Rejoice in the flight.

Let your spirit soar.

Take heart and know this will be a good year.

Laugh and Love

Take Joy!

Happy New Year from me to you!

***********

Picture taken December 29th in Pt. Ludlow, WA.