The Waterfall

Pt. Ludlow Falls, Washington

The Waterfall
by Mary Oliver

For all they said,
I could not see the waterfall
until I came and saw the water falling,
its lace legs and its womanly arms sheeting down,
while something howled like thunder,
over the rocks,
all day and all night -
unspooling
like ribbons made of snow,
or god's white hair.
At any distance
it fell without a break or seam, and slowly, a simple
preponderance -
a fall of flowers - and truly it seemed
surprised by the unexpected kindness of the air and
light-hearted to be
flying at last.
Gravity is a fact everybody
knows about.
It is always underfoot,
like a summons,
gravel-backed and mossy,
in every beetled basin -
and imagination -
that striver,
that third eye -
can do a lot but
hardly everything. The white, scrolled
wings of the tumbling water
I never could have
imagined. And maybe there will be,
after all,
some slack and perfectly balanced
blind and rough peace, finally,
in the deep and green and utterly motionless pools after all that
falling?

Tea at the Waters Edge

We didn't celebrate Mother's Day with my mother in law in May, as we were traveling.
So the past Sunday was our Mother's Day celebration.
We found a lovely beach with picnic tables in Sequim, Washington
and I set the table for afternoon tea.
As I set the table there were little girl's nearby that were watching, there were exclamations from those walking by,
and my mother in law had exclamations of "oh".

The table was set with my wedding china.
The vase with the rose was a gift my mother received for her wedding.

We sipped Ambrosia herbal tea from teatreasures.com in Austin, Texas.
Don't you think the tea is such a pretty color?
The menu was:
Cheese and Tomato Sandwiches
Egg Salad Sandwiches
Cucumber and Tuna Bites
Black Olive Sandwiches
Fresh Fruit Skewers
Lemon Curd Tarts with Raspberries
Lemon Verbena Cookies
Chocolates
I think everything taste better eating in the out of doors, especially
when you have a beautiful view.

We enjoyed the sights of the water.
It was great fun to surprise my mother in law with tea at the waters edge.

Lavender Days

Saturday we were off to the lavender fields of Sequim, Washington.
I met the owner of Port Williams Lavender Farm a few weeks ago
and thought it would be fun to stop by his farm.

It was a beautiful day full of the scent of lavender.
There were all different shades in the field.
Dark lavender

Lighter colored lavender

Fiona, the fairy, traveled along to visit the lavender.
She found the sign for Provence and had hoped that if she blinked
her eyes she would be transported to the lavender fields
in Provence.
****
For me it was a research trip to find lavender honey for my website.
Michael, the farmer, also had explained to me how to infuse
lavender to use in jelly. He suggested steeping it like tea, then just adding the tea into whatever jelly or other food preparation. He felt putting the actual blossom heads into
food was not pleasant for eating and that a tea was easier to control the flavor.
A new jelly recipe is brewing in my head and soon I will need to take
the recipe and see if it is as good as I imagine.

Summertime Walk

Our vegetable garden

Plums almost ready to pick at an empty home

Pears hanging over the walk

Squash blossom visited by a friend

My husband and I try to walk each morning for 30 minutes.
We have noticed this year that more people are growing
vegetables and fruit in the front of their homes.
Some of the trees have been there for many years,
but some are new.
With the economy downturn more people are gardening
in our neighborhood. We see corn, even on the college
campus near us, tomatoes, squash, beans, and many herbs.
On our walk this morning we were smelling the roses in
one of the yards and noticed an elderly lady sitting on the sidewalk by her
porch. I soon realized this was not normal and asked if she was OK.
She had fallen and couldn't get up.
Now we have done our "good Samaritan" deed for the day.
Then my husband related a garden story that he thought I would enjoy and I thought you would enjoy it too.
There was an elderly lady that loved to garden.
Each morning she could be seen working in the garden.
But in the afternoon she had changed her clothes, dolled herself up, and sat on her porch drinking tea. One day a neighbor asked her why she changed her clothes and she said, "so I can enjoy my garden and not be tempted to work."
So remember each day to take time to sit and enjoy your day, even if you have to "doll" yourself up.

Monday Linen Days

Today is one more apron in my collection of vintage linens.
Not really a linen apron, but a silk apron used for special occasions.
Company is coming and you are serving a festive dinner.
I have found on several of the fancy aprons there are no
ties for around the neck. I once remember that the
ladies would pin the front corners to their dress bodice.
This apron has ties only for around the waist.
I wonder if they used a pretty brooch to attach the bib?
The pockets are the side petals of the flower.
I love the embroidery.
What fun to imagine what meal this hostess served in
her pretty silk apron.

My Birthday Book

No, it's not my birthday.
When I did celebrate my big 60th birthday; I planned,
made the food, invited the women in my life, shared
how special they were to me, and gave them
this gift of a small book with quotes and
words that meant something to me.
The charm tied to the outside of the book had the
words that I had chosen for that year.

I am not a scrapbook person, but I tried to decorate each page.
It was so fun to share something that I enjoy with
my friends in this little book.
***
Here are a few of the quotes:

You were intended not only to work,
but to rest, laugh, play, and have
proper leisure and enjoyment.
~Grenville Kleiser

If you listen real carefully when the breeze blows,
you can hear God whispering.
~The Family Circus (comics)

The teapot is on; the cups are waiting;
favorite chairs anticipating; no matter
what I have to do; my friend there's
always time for you.
~Anonymous

Friendship - Who would have guessed?

Saturday I had the lovely opportunity to meet Isabel of Maison Douce
at the Portland Antique Show. Check out Isabel's blog to see
great pictures of her booth.

In June Annie from In My Dreams and Jone from Deo Writer
came by for a cup of tea and cookie in my backyard.
Who would have guessed we would be making friends this way, online no less!
When we are young, we make friends at school, at the swimming pool, out in the neighborhood.
When we are parents, we make friends with other parents.
When we work, we make friends at work.
But finding friends just out in the airwaves is truly amazing.
I have met some very special friends this way and it is always so fun to finally meet face to face.
Each day I meet new friends that leave comments here for me to read, or I visit their blog and say to myself "what a nice person, I like what they are doing and would like to meet them". I look forward to meeting more of you face to face as we travel and embrace life.
Friendships are special.
They come in many forms.
Some for a moment and some for a lifetime.
I treasure each one as life moves along.
Thanks for friendship.