Blooming In Musashi's Garden

These are some of the blooms I see every morning in the garden... Musashi's Garden.

What a treat!

Red  Lion Amaryllis

Bill Warriner Rose, Gardenia, Gerbera, Zinnia

Miniature Rose

Bill Warriner Rose, Gerbera, Gardenia, Zinnia

This is my mystery rose.

I don't know the name of the rose, but I LOVE the apricot color.

My Mystery Rose!

Thank you to Mary for Mosaic Monday

and the wonderful hosts of Our World.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

My Smile List

Do you make lists?

I have the ever ready to-do list.

The list that reminds me to make the dentist appointment, order new glasses, buy sunscreen.

The sunscreen I had was expired -- note to self -- check those dates.

Then there is the grocery list.

This last week I decided to make a new list -- a list of things that make me smile.

Why not?!!

- I made lemon poppy seed scones. I use a mix I purchase at World Market.

Add water, mix, bake, easy.

 These are good, but not my favorite -- pumpkin spice takes that honor. 

But I still smile when I sit down with my tea and have a lemon poppy seed scone.

- I've been drinking Honey Lemon Ginseng Green Tea by Celestial Seasonings.

Yummy!

I love the Celestial Seasonings box.

Lovely decoration and some wonderful quotes on their tea boxes.

Like this one:

"Just as our eyes need light in order to see, our minds need ideas in order to create"

~Nicholas Malebranche

- I had breakfast tacos at the ballpark on Sunday because the game started so early.

- I bought the Summer 2012 issue of Romantic Country because of the beautiful aqua color on the front cover. 

There is something about aqua and turquoise that makes me smile. 

Perhaps these colors make me feel cool.

 It is getting hot and humid here!

- There was also an article about vintage postcards and I do like postcards!

- Fresh roses from the garden really make me smile

Such a joy!

- I must not forget the kitties ... Cassie and Teddy ... little furry smile machines.

-I got a note today in the mail from my bank. They hoped I be back soon and bring my smile with me! 

So, did I learn anything by making a smile list?

 Yes.

 I learned that one smile leads to another and another.

A smile is contagious!

I suddenly noticed there are a lot of smiling people out there. 

You just have to smile and look! 

Thank you to Liv Lane for the Little Bliss List. 

***

It is Friday and that means it is postcard day.

Here are two from my own collection.

I purchased them when I was in Galveston for BGD's (Beautiful God Daughter) wedding.

From the back of the postcard:

Galveston Island's famous seawall originally built as protection against storms is now home to fun and recreation for thousands of visitors annually. The statue, a monument to the indomitable spirit of the people of Galveston Island, was erected in the year 2000, the 100th anniversary of the infamous "Great Galveston Hurricane of 1900"

One of things Islanders learned during Hurricane Ike -- even with a seawall, a 20 foot storm surge wins.

This vintage linen look card also takes a look along the Seawall on Galveston Island.

Thank you to the lovely Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday.

Wishing you WELL and much JOY!

Good Morning!

Dawn Chorus

Isn't this a sweet teacup?

I found it at Ross.

 The delicate birds, butterflies and flowers in vivid pink and blue on the cup and saucer.

Then I turned the cup over and discovered this on the bottom:

Dawn Chorus

Portmeirion

Perfect name for this teacup from one of my favorite companies.

Cassie really does like tea day.

She's such a big help,

 supervising every move I make!

A big thank you to our tea party hosts:
Tea Time Tuesday
Friends Sharing Tea
Tea Party Tuesday
Teacup Tuesday
A Return to Loveliness

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Wishing YOU WELL and much JOY!

Celebrating Earth Day

Today I'm celebrating Earth Day.

Last year there were no butterflies in my garden.

I blame the horrible drought.

But this year, this fellow came to visit.

I had to take his portrait shooting through the patio doors.

Good thing they were sort of clean.

Isn't he handsome?

I'm so glad he liked the zinnia.

How are you going to celebrate Earth Day?

I'm going to walk to Reckling Park and watch a college baseball game.

I'm going to make my walk a treasure hunt.

I'll make it up as I go along!

Did you know that one person taking a shorter shower could save 20 gallons of clean drinking water?

Just think, if thousands of people did the same the gallons would really add up.

It's the little things.

Thank you to:

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday

Mary for Mosaic Monday

and the wonderful hosts of Our World.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Good Morning!

I'm Late, I'm Late

For a very important date with

Vee's Note Card Party.


I had to search for photos that had been published here on Twisty Lane 
that would make good note cards.

Here they are! 

There's just nothing like TEA!

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

My World: Rice University Public Art

Rice University is celebrating it's centennial this year.
Several sculptures have been added to the campus.
Today I'm sharing one of my favorites.

The Owl is the mascot for Rice.

Here I am with Sammy.

The newest Sammy on campus is this magnificent Bronze Barn Owl
by sculptor Geoffrey Dashwood.

Ralph and Becky O'Connor, longtime Rice supporters, donated the sculpture to Rice.
The owl has been placed in a grove of oak trees just east of Rice Memorial Center,
where it's surrounded by a patch of impatiens, a bed of Asian jasmine
and a circle of low limestone benches.

This peaceful space, a blend of art and nature,

has been dedicated as the Milus E. Hindman Garden.

Rice is a beautiful university to visit, linger, sit under the magnificent oaks.

Education and beauty all in one place.

Be sure to bring your camera! 

Thank you to Mary for Mosaic Monday

and the wonderful hosts of My World.

Wishing you WELL and much JOY!

Good Morning!

More Tea and Roses

I have paired another rose from my garden with a new teacup again this week.
I found this lovely Paragon teacup at The Guild Shop
(a cross between Antiques Roadshow and Grandma's attic). 

I love the red and yellow roses on this teacup on the inside and outside.

Unfortunately, none of my yellow roses were blooming.

The red rose had to save the day!

There is a gold edge around the saucer and the pedestal of the cup,

 gold around the rim of the cup and a little gold splash on the handle.

The saucer is lightly fluted as is the hourglass cup.

This teacup is a joy to hold in the hands ... with tea or without! 

***

I am preparing to lead a Food and Feasting tour at the museum for a university class.

I love doing these tours. 

 I've done so many of them that I try to come up with something a little different so that I am not bored.

This year I'm going to visit the India galleries.

The spices used in food and the three major tea growing areas --

Assam, Darjeeling and Nilgiri

and tie it all to objects in the collection.

Should keep me on my toes! 

A big thank you to our tea party hosts:
Tea Time Tuesday
Friends Sharing Tea
Tea Party Tuesday
Teacup Tuesday
A Return to Loveliness

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Wishing you WELL and a wonderful cup of tea!

Month At A Glance: March

I almost missed Month At A Glance for March.

Only a week late! 

1. Amaryllis, 2. Mandala, 3. Miss Molly Easter Postcard, 4. Irish Gold Rose, 5. Irish Gold Rose, 6. Bunny Postcard, 7. Tea and Roses, 8. Yellow Tulips, 9. Japanese Garden, 10. Lantern, 11. Tulip Postcard, 12. St. Patrick's Day Card

A big thank you to the lovely Mary for hosting Mosaic Monday each week.

***

I wanted to share a couple of blogs I've been following that I think you would like.

The first is Advanced Style.

Here Ari Seth Cohen chronicles the stylish and often eccentric get-ups of a crowd that's largely ignored by the fashion system ... older folks (like me). Be sure to check out the videos! 

The next is Mary at Home is Where the Boat Is.

Not only is this one of the loveliest blogs around, but Mary participates in

Food for Thought ... book reviews with a food twist.

Such fun!  

Wishing YOU well and a JOY filled week!

Happy Easter!

April is Poetry Month

April is Poetry Month.

I thought I'd dip my toe in the poetry waters and try to share a poem or two this month.

First, another reproduction vintage postcard from 

The Easter Rabbit Postcard Book published by Darling and Company, Seattle.

Thank you to the lovely Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday each week.

***

THE RABBIT

Brown bunny sits inside his burrow

'Till everything is still,

Then out he slips along the furrow

Or up the grassy hill.

He nibbles all about the bushes

Or sits to wash his face,

But at a sound he stamps, and rushes

At a surprising pace.

You see some little streaks and flashes,

A last sharp twink of white,

As down his hidy-hole he dashes

And disappears from sight.

~Edith King

From Fifty New Poems for Children

Good Morning!

Auditions are being held

for you to be yourself.

Apply within.

Hippity Hoppity!

It's looking more and more like Spring and Easter.

The bunnies are here!

It's time to use my Emma Bridgewater spring time tea mugs.

I've had the Tulip mug for sometime, but the Bunny Rabbit mug is new this year.

I do think tea tastes better in these mugs! 

Yes.

There she is.

Miss Cassie helping with Tuesday Tea!

A big thank you to our tea party hosts:
Tea Time Tuesday
Friends Sharing Tea
Tea Party Tuesday
Teacup Tuesday
A Return to Loveliness

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Wishing you WELL, much JOY and a wonderful cup of tea!