Joy in a Teacup

Recently on another blog I saw Joy in a teacup.
I loved the concept and wanted my own picture of Joy.
A friend gave me a Christmas cup this past summer, as she was moving and could not take everything with her. The short friendship was a joy and I was thrilled that she would want me to treasure her teacup. She gave me Joy.
I also feel Joy as I wrap my hands now around the teacup
and Joy comes tumbling out, filling me.
What brings you Joy this Christmas season?

Barcelona's Gaudi

Enamored with Glass

This year my word was "Create". In thinking of create I began noticing glass. I thought it would be fun to have my next Monday series called, Enamored with Glass.
Here I am with the first of the series, at the end there will be a give away.
That will take place when I run out of pictures and thoughts on glass.

Glass has a long history.
In prehistoric times it was used as a cutting devise.
The word glass was developed during the Roman Empire.
Glass comes in many forms and colors.

I love the way it reflects the light.
You can see above the same glass knob photographed
against two different colors and it looks like a totally
different glass ball.

The abstract glass I made out of scraps of glass
that fused together in the kiln became one woven together.
It hangs in my tree outside to entertain the birds or is it entertaining me?
I love the varied colors and the reflections of glass.
What do you like about glass?
Is it the beauty, the color, the function, or the way it reflects the light?

Castles in France

While driving through the Dordogne River region we saw many castles sitting on top of cliffs and hills. Two that were near our hotel were Josephine Baker's Chateau and Castelnaud.
Click on the collage to see a more detailed picture.

The center picture was the entrance to Josephine Baker's home.
There was a display of her costumes and it had some of her original furniture.
Nearby was the chapel where she was married.
If you would like to know more about this fascinating woman, visit
www.cmgww.com/stars/baker/
The two pictures on the left were also taken of her home.
Later in life she lost the home due to financial problems.
Grace Kelly and others tried to help her out, but in the end she lost her home and lived until she died in Paris.

Castelnaud was nearby and a very different feel to Josephine Baker's home.
It was full of military armament. You can see the catapult's in the above pictures. The top center picture was taken from the castle looking down into the village below.

This is the final day of pictures in France.
Next week we will move on to the end of our trip with sights from Barcelona.
But Monday I will be starting a new Monday series - Enamored with Glass.

Notice What You Notice

"Notice what you notice" is something a good friend often says when speaking to groups. I like the thought and have decided from time to time I will share with you things I have noticed.

This week I have noticed:

Mushrooms growing at the Christmas tree farm, so beautiful.
The car behind me this morning at a stop light had a woman that was smiling. When I looked in the drivers seat it was full of beautiful poinsettias, they just filled that whole side of the car.
And the full moon the past two nights has been spectacular. Have you seen it? Again the beauty just takes my breathe away.

What have you noticed?

Caves in France

The only picture I have from the inside of a cave in France.
Yes, that is me in the middle with the black wind breaker on.

Since reading Jean Auel's book, Clan of the Cave Bear, I have wanted to see the prehistoric caves in France. This was up there close to the top of my list. I wanted to see the cave paintings and feel what it felt to be tucked away living in a cave.
It was dark, but it felt safe.

No one is allowed in Lascaux anymore, as the paintings are fading;
so they built an exact replica to walk through nearby. All we could see of the original is the forest of trees surrounding it. I wish I could have taken pictures to show you the inside, but
they were not allowed in either cave we visited.

The second cave we visited was the actual cave, called Gouffre de Padirac.
Here is the hole in the ground from above. We traveled down many stairs and walked along a walkway and at the bottom of the cave arrived at a river. There were small boats with boatmen to paddle us along the river under the ground to see beautiful stalactites and share some of the history with us. Thankfully our boatman knew some English; so he did the tour in both French and English. Even just hearing in French, it was beautiful. Thankfully, there was an elevator to return to the top. Whew! That would have been some climb.
Have any of you been fascinated by caves? Sometimes they can be scary to enter, but these two were a joy to see and I could check one more thing off my list of sights I have dreamt of seeing. What's on your list of sights to see? Dream big and dreams can come true.

Just a note, if any of my travels intrigue you and you start to plan your dream come true adventure, I would love to answer any questions you might have and give you tips on planning a trip. I had so much fun planning this trip and then seeing it actually happen.

Tea in Aspen

Arriving early this morning in Aspen, the carriage picks me up at the airport
and we travel just outside Aspen in the country to a beautiful lodge made out of logs.
The lodge looks out on a lake with the Rockie Mountains in view.
I really don't want to leave to go for tea, but decide to enjoy a casual tea in the lodge.
Still wearing my jeans with a red sweater and snugly boots I stroll through the lodge
to find tea.

The lodge is decorated in a festive celebration of color.
Red jumps out to greet me throughout the holidays.

The lights on the trees just twinkle.

Tea is waiting surrounded by the beauty of my surroundings here at the lodge.
I am wrapped in love like a big woolly blanket.
The snow is beginning to fall.
In my cup is a lovely Christmas White Tea.
Cookies are the perfect accompaniment to tea
and the lodge knew that including Cherry Wink Cookies
would be the perfect touch. They were the cookie my
mother use to make that were my favorites.
At peace, sitting by the fire, watching the snow fall outside the window, and sipping a perfect cup of tea is my dream for each of you this holiday season.
Dream of tea in Aspen, but enjoy quiet moments no matter
if you are in your jeans, a robe, or a beautiful dress with sparkles.

Visit Mr. Toast's First Annual Christmas Tea for more fun
holiday tea events.