"REJUVENATION "

For everything there is a season . JUNE is busting open with a delicious sense of 'rejuvenation'. It's time to take our "mind over menopause" attitudes and start looking forward to a renewed sense of being.

To begin with , Old Man Winter had sent me into a downward spiral with his blustery snowstorm cold blasts. I thought  Spring would never kick in. Silly me ... Spring was just testing my patience, which was bearing thin.

When I look out of my windows, I see tulips waving. The buds are on the trees and even the lilacs are permeating the air with a renewed scent of ' being', not to mention that the pesky mosquitoes are buzzing around.

Life isn't perfect, but it is indeed beautiful, as the foilage of mother earth unfurls. Perhaps you've heard the saying ; " Our issues are in our tissues."

Unless we  start each day with the powerful intention of nurturing ourselves as much as possible, self-defeating thoughts and activities can sabotage our goal to achieve wholeness.

I'm eager to enjoy every morning of summer sunshine , even though I am, half a century old, as my daughter puts it. ( Ha Ha)

Studies have proven how important the mind-body connection is to our well being. As we think, so we become.... thus my dolly rendition(above), which was created to improve my  personal sense of aging, gracefully.

Today , I'm feeling  much like a new born sprout popping out of the earth, a little old and weary in the mornings, but "really'  exuberantly positive about  growing into my fifty-ish groove...( Creak creak)

Time for a little Yoga !!!!

"PAINTING THE COTTAGE"

How exciting to own a cottage !!!! Tea for two and two for tea.... What fun to decorate and enjoy the quiet life. That 's exactly what Valerie and her husband over at (thesumofallcrafts.blogspot.com)  has done.

They're officially cottage dwellers . To celebrate, creative Valerie asked her artsy friends to kindly donate a piece of art for her cottage walls. The colors were a patriotic  blend  of red, white , blue and beige.

I've had such a lovely day painting Valerie's Cottage . Happy ... Happy... Happy. I do hope she will enjoy my contribution to her cottage art. Have a wonderful Cottage life Valerie and r-e-l-a-x, my friend.

"GOING TO TEA"

Today mother and I were invited to tea ... Your invited to come along for a teatime peek..( blink blink) Visiting my Friend , Renate is always  a grand adventure.

She's a busy lady who owns  fishing lodge in New Brunswick, Canada. Most of the time it's bustling with fisherman, but at this time of year, tea and cookies are her specialty.

Since it just past  St.Patricks Day, the house was  still decorated in the traditional green for that very special occasion, which is also my hubby, McKim's Birthday.  Don't these shamrock cookies look delicious!!!

Renate has an exquisiute selection of teacups that she inherited from her grandmother in Germany. many of them with rich layers of gold. They're quite frankly fit for the Queen of the Lephrachauns...

OOPS...I mean the Lephrachaun King Fred, Renate's husband, who is a retired Dentist. His only job  at the camp is to mind the fire... and he sure does keep the fire going ... It's toasty warm.

This lovely  teaset  was so appropriate for the up coming Easter celebrations with it's crackle  effects... and of course the lovely spring posies inside the cup were a plus for us snowbirds who are waiting for the long cold winter to disappear. I was tempted to look underneath the china for the name of the pottery, but then that would have been rude, wouldn't it !!!

With my ninety year old mother, Grace looking on, I decided to mind myself and act appropriately. Although, that naughty little voice inside did  keep urging me on. ( Ha Ha)

My dear friend, always presents such a welcoming table and everyone gets to enjoys wonderful variety of old world teasets and dainties.

 Here she is enjoying a delicious cup of tea.

 She always gives me rose laden teasets to enjoy .. Fortunately I did know the name of this one as it's one of my favourite designs. Do you recognize the pattern?

Yummy, Yummy ... Homemade, lemon jelly roll created with freshly squeezed lemon juice. I was so pleased when she asked if I would have another piece. When I said ' No Thank You ... Renate promptly put it aside and wrapped for me to take home... Lucky, Lucky !!!

Suddenly, the  plump little tea cosy went onto the teapot and 

Renate pulled out her accordion for some good old teatime music that she had composedand written. It was a fisherman song ... Delightful, delightful toe tapping music. What fun we had!!!

Easterners are very creative and this musical " Ugly stick"( below) as she called it, is proof  of that ...Ha Ha .. A mop, decorated with beer bottle caps that you pound onto the floor for  toe tapping rhythm. It's all part of the Folk traditions of the martimers, from the early Canadian settlers... only, with alittle modern addition (i.e.) beer bottle caps. OMG... but it was all in such good humour.

Look .... A friendly little squirrel came for a teatime visit on the deck, when he heard all the thumping  going on.

The sweet fluttering  red-caps, attentively gobbled their flax seed and seemed to enjoy the  silly antics that were happening inside the cabin.

The fishing lodge is  located  on the well known  Miramachi River, where fisherman come from all over the world to fish. Of course, they're sure to catch a salmon, if they use one of Renate's world famous salmon flies. Here's a picture of Renate with one of the salmon that she caught a few years back.

Mother and I had a lovely afternoon tea with Renate and Fred. I'm so glad that you were able to visit with us too.

Till our next  teatime rendevous.. The blessings of the season to you and you family.

Wishing you all a most joyous Eastertide.

   
                                                              Now, Wasn't that fun !!!

"BIRTHDAY TEA"

"CELEBRATE, CELEBRATE ..... Listen to the music"... It's  mother's 90th Birthday. You're all invited to join into our teatime celebrations. I've included a few pictures for  you to  enjoy.

  

 We are a little late for our February Baby's birth date... but considering that she's come through  a heralding  near death heart attack, this  past January, that's OK ... Let the bells ring and the voices sing, in praise to the Lord ... Reaching the milestone of 90 years old is a grand feat in itself.

Please do  come in and join the Birthday party. We're expecting a small gathering of friends  any minute now. In preparation, I've set the table in with a vintage Royal Albert  teaset called, Laurentian Snowdrop. The pretty mint green reminds me that Spring is just around the corner." Hurrah".

The sandwich menu was simple and delicious. Egg salad, ham and pickle salad and tasty cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches without the crusts. I hope that I've made enough !!!!

Mother, prefers this particular blend of Earl Grey, as it reminds her of the tea her mother used to brew in Scotland, years ago. It has a rich mellow flavour that is simply unforgettable. I'm always mindful of preferences though and have  also included  Red Rose Tea, fresh Jasmine leaves and herbal teas . Which one  would you like?

Laurentian Snowdrop is a dainty set that does  dictate a time when tea parties were a regular event in community homes. The cups are just a little smaller than normal, thus allowing everyone that extra second round of gossip time.

Snowdrops are the most prominent harbinger  of Spring so fantasizing while sipping the tea was an easy task. I'm so, looking forward to the warmer weather...Aren't you ?

There now, I've just poured you a cup of tea , excuse me while I answer the door. It's our friend Renate, the " Egg Lady" , who has stopped in to bring flowers to my mother.

Yes , that fiesty little red head is my 90 year old mother Grace. I'm hoping that  I will look as good as she does when I reach that gracious time in life.

Today , mother put on her make-up, donned on her favourite pearls and enjoyed a lovely gathering of ladies. She could just barely hold the cake.( Ha Ha) ... Gracie loves angel food cake with  stawberries and whipped cream, so our sweet little housekeeper baked her two cakes. 

Mother got to blow out the candles twice. Actually the first cake only had sparklers, as extinguishing  ninety candles took three of us huffing and puffing, but we did it !!!!

Mom just couldn't resist another piece of cake and naughty as she is, scooped some extra whipped creme off of the remaining cake for herself ..." Naughty little girl" got caught in the act ( Ha Ha)

Of course, she helped herself to more of that British Earl grey Tea too..Would you like another cup?

Our guests had arrived at 1:00 p.m. and by 5:00, they were still gathered in the living room laughing and giggling like teen-agers.  Then, just as we had said good-bye,  Jonah our young friend stopped  by to shovel the snow and to wish mother a happy Birthday.  OMG....What a great excuse for another  wee party.( Hee Hee)

I quickly cut him a piece of cake and topped it with an extra big sparkler. WOW .... did it ever fly.

Yes, Gracie had a wonderful  90th Birthday. She is so very thankful for having this special time to share with you and her friends. I'm elated that you were able to join mothers' celebration of life and our humble tea party. Hopefully, you felt welcomed.

Thanks and praise to our heavenly Father above for granting this blessed extension of joy, love and life.Your kind prayers and well wishes were answered and celebrated today, during my  mothers' birthday tea. 

Wishing you all  the longevity to enjoy a healthy 90th Birthday, embraced by the love of family and friends.

                               Happy Birthday Mother ...Imagine , ninety years old !!!!

                                        OOPS... Vanity doth call ( Hee hee)

                    Gracie, respectfully asks that ...." she be called, 90 years young".

"AN OLD TEACUP "

January and February,  flew in like a blusterous storm ... 2013 has taken it's toll on  family health with a fury. Only today, I am  able to give a sigh of relief that it may be all over. SO ....  I paused for a nice cup of tea, pondering the where for and why of recent occurrences.

I needed a special cup to warm my soul and remind me of my many blessings. While filing through Grandma's linen cupboard, I found the perfect set tucked way in the back of the long deep drawers. The musty smell of old paint, still permeated the inner heart of the cupboard. It seemed to be trying to jog my memory,when  like an old friend,  this vintage cup slipped into my hands with a warm hug.


The golden hues of the midday sun were filtering  throughout the house creating a calm ambience that settled onto the old  teaset. The reverent aura was gleaning my admiration for the  hand painted morning glories that were brightening my day. Morning glories have always been a  free spirit in my mind and at this moment I was enthralled by the light handed movement of the artistry on the china.

The teacup had an charming barrel shape, decoratively reminiscent of the old world that , quite simply wrapped itself around my heart. I thought ... "This tea is going to taste good"....m-m-m-m!!!!

The kettle water was  buzzing in haste, to be poured into the teapot, but my ambling pace was not to be disturbed. I was in a 'quiet space" inspecting the porcelain,  that seemed to be whispering in soft voices. like a beautiful poem.

Perhaps, china is like sea shells,  the closer you bring them  to you, the more you can hear .

" Music when soft voices die,
Vibrates in the memory.
Odours of sweet violets sicken.
Live within the sense they quicken;

Rose leaves, when the rose is dead,
Are heaped for the beloved bed;
And so thy thoughts
Where art thou gone.
Love itself, shall slumber on."
... by Percy Shelley

I had always loved this poem and song and for some  unknow reason found a memorable link welding up within my being... It was so soothing !!!! 

As I poured the water from the kettle, my tears flowed as an outpour of emotion into the steaming teapot...my blurred eyes look down at the saucer. It's pattern seemed to spread it wings,  like four white doves encircling me in a ring of gold... All was quiet, except for a few sobs of self indignation, wonderment .... and a grateful sigh of relief... Life is good !!!!

 Tea time can be a heralding experience of self reflection and rejuvenation, even when the whole world seems be upside down. The peace and harmony of an innatimate object can bring you to a place of calm repose and nonjudgmental awareness or ' witnessing' of the moment  and place you are in.

Either way you look at this Royal Albert cup, todays' teatime was the  moment  for being fully present  and drinking in the elexir.

Since I had been in Japan when the whole drama of the  car accident, my son operation in Australia and mother heart attack in B.C, the handpainted insigna on the cup gave way to for me to " let go".

The " Nippon " insignia was a giveaway as to the  teacup's  possible age of 90 plus years. I noticed a tiny crack by the handle of the cup, not broken, just a slight hairline that dictated the frailty of the vessel. 

How happy I was to have gleaned the lessons  and beauty from this innatimate object ..How fortunate we all are , when we take the time to connect with our inner self and our surroundings.

2013 had dealt me a pack of cards that forced my hand to play aggressively with the lives of my family members. Now that I have sipped the stinging-nettle tea, I feel infused with energy, ready to move forward, especially since the tea is noted  for it's excellent source of vitamins A,D, E and K as well as calcium, magnesium, potassium, boron, silicon, and zinc.  Yes...... You might say that, I've been rejuvenated by an unsuspecting cup of tea and an old teacup.

Funny, how life's  journey is  like the aspiring little ripples that rim the golden band of the cup. Some are bigger than others. Some more beautifully displayed and others more fully experienced.

Today, I enjoyed the full flavour of my tea...I am so BLESSED, to have my husband, son and  90 year old mother still with me.  I am also, THANKFUL, for my friendly little teaset. Perhaps, he/she should stay around and share a few more friendly  teatime gatherings with me. 

 It's so nice to be back on track, enjoying the camaraderie of a teatime sip with friends. I look forward to  celebrating  a new passage of joyous  transformation in the months to come ..... like the Englebert Humperdinck song, " Please release me, Let me go ".

Wishing you beautiful sunsets filled with contentment and rejuvenation of body and soul.

ENJOY !!!