The Leaf Is One With Other Leaves

" This leaf is one with the other leaves:

with the branches, the trunk and the roots of the tree;

with the clouds, the stream, the earth, the sky and the light of the sun.

If one of these elements were absent,

the leaf could not exist."

~ Thich Nhat Hanh

I'm joining the lovely Karen for SunLit Sunday.

Wishing YOU well and much joy! 

Chasing Sun Puddles

After several cloudy, rainy days,
the sun made an appearance
and the kitties started chasing the sun puddles.

I saw Teddy and Mina first.

Then I moved to take another shot and lo and behold --
the lovely Cassie was sun-puddling, too.
Cassie usually takes off the minute the camera comes out.

"Come on Mum. Put that camera up and leave us alone!"






I think the kitties have the right idea. 


Thank you to the hosts of:







And, Sunlit Sunday.

Wishing YOU well and much joy! 

SunLit Sunday

It's that time again.
Time to bring a little Sunlight into our lives during the dark days of winter.
I'm joining Karen for the first SunLit Sunday for 2016.

I see Daddy Cardinal more often than I see Mom.
His color is so striking against the green fan palm.
All my bird friends seem to be enjoying the new garden.
No one has fallen into the water garden since their own bird bath was added.

Little Robin and his Robin buddies come by -- not necessarily to eat,
but to take a bath.
Where did I put those tiny towels??!!!!!!
No matter how many pix I took of this little fella,
he was always standing on one leg. 

Happy Sweet '16.

Wishing YOU well and much joy in the new year. 

Thanks, Karen!

Leftovers

I just finished Trader Joe's Peppermint Pretzel Slims.
Thin, cruchy thin pretzels with a creamy coating and peppermint sprinkles.
Boy, were they good! 
I figured if I listed them here in the Land of Blog perhaps I would remember them for next year! 

I still have some TJs Mini Gingerbread Men -- gingerbread cookies with white fudge icing.
Also very good.

I'm really not a big lover of shortbread, but I loved the Santa tin -- especially the reindeer running around the bottom. 

Friendly Village by Johnson Brothers is one of my favorite patterns. 

I love that I can use this pattern from November into the winter months. 

When Johnson Brothers was founded in 1883 by Frederick and Alfred Johnson, their goal for the Staffordshire pottery was to produce an earthenware called "White Granite," which is marked on many early pieces as "Semi Porcelain." It was a great material for dinnerware because it looked like china but was as tough as ironstone. However, the firm would become the most famous for its transferware like Friendly Village.

I'm always on the lookout for more pieces to add to my small collection.

I'm enjoying my leftovers from the holidays, including Comfort and Joy Tea by the Republic of Tea. 

It is black tea leaves blended with spices and fruit. Yum! 

"Who would then deny that when I am sipping tea in my tearoom I am swallowing the whole universe with it and that this very moment of my lifting the bowl to my lips is eternity itself transcending time and space?"
~ D.T. Suzuki

I'm joining:

No Place Like Home.

Bernadine's Tea Time Cottage and Garden Blog Party

Wishing YOU well and much joy! 

Snowmen take over!

I celebrate the Christmas holidays through Epiphany.
I did take down the snowman and Santa Claus from the balcony.

I left the lights and garland around the balcony door.

Talking with my next door neighbor, we decided things will look very dull and drab when all the lights are down. 

Perhaps we should leave them up a little longer.

After all, it is winter! 

It's cloudy, rainy and cold (for here).

Some sparkly lights will make us feel better.

Right?

***

My Christmas cactus started blooming before Christmas.

Almost waited too long to take a photo.

Snowmen will take over the indoor decorations for the month of January.

***

I really like English Muffins.

THOMAS bakeries makes a special edition English Muffin for the holidays -- Cranberry.

I bought extra packages this year and froze them.

You never know when I might need a special edition treat! 

Hope your New Year (sweet 16) is off to a good start.

I'm joining Kim at

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Invasion

Invasion by Reindeer in my village.

New decorations for the holiday shopping season.








Fun! 

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

I'm joining:

Mosaic Monday