There Is No Doubt That Summer Is Here

It is hot.

And it is humid.

Feels like temps (in the shade) well over 100.
There is no doubt that summer is here

and I'm already tired of it!

*

I'm still celebrating my May birthday.

This time with the Mother of my god-children 

and one of my sisters-by-choice.

We went to one of our favorite spots:

Morningside Thai.

I had garlic eggplant and she had basil-eggplant.
We were both smiling and "yumming".

*

Not only did we have a lovely lunch,
I received a lovely gift, too ...
tea pot and matching mug
by Emma Bridgewater.

I love Emma Bridgewater.
The pattern is called Wallflower and is described as a
Cheerful, purple and green floral pattern that was inspired by
Emma and Matthew's love of a flower bed that overflows with wallflowers every May 
... perfect for an "Emma lover" with a May birthday!

*

I also received a surprise in the post.
When the box arrived I wondered what I had ordered that I'd forgotten!?
No, it was a surprise from a dear friend who knows I have a thing for owls.

Aren't they great?!
I'm lucky -- good friends and more great mugs for tea drinking!

I made an early morning run to Trader Joe's
(before it got too hot for man or beast).

In addition to food, I came home with flowers ...
peonies and tulips.

So pretty!

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Willy Nilly Friday

Five on Friday

Mosaic Monday

Amaze Me Monday

SaveSave

Sometimes You Just Need To Go Shopping!

I'm a big Susan Branch fan.
I love her books.

And, I love her mugs.
She designs them all.
First on paper!
She sends the designs off to England where they are made.
Dunoon, fine bone china.

Many months ago I ordered the first three of her mugs.
The mugs are covered with her wonderful watercolor designs --
even on the handles.
They arrived in time for my birthday coming up this week.

Each mug is very different.
They hold 16oz of tea, soup, stew -- anything you might want 16oz of!
I admit, I haven't tried beer in a mug!

I think my favorite is the Go Green or Earth/Nature mug.
I love the quote:
"Most know the earth is utterly enchanted."

Susan recently announced that she had more mugs in the works.
I decided I just needed to go shopping!

Shop I did.

There are four new designs:
Bluebird, Martha's Vineyard, and Santa -- all 16oz.
Some folks requested a smaller cup and 11oz Autumn will fit that bill.

Each cup is sold separately or a group of three
(Bluebird, Martha's Vineyard, and Santa).
Autumn is sold separately only.

New designs mean the old designs will be retired.

Yes, I ordered all four -- Christmas presents for me!

You can find details on her blog -- click on the shopping icon.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Found at Celestial Seasonings

Amaze Me Monday

Make It Pretty Monday

Mosaic Monday

American Christmas Trivia

A Little American Christmas Trivia

The first American Christmas tree can be credited to a Hessian soldier by the name of Henrick Roddmore, who was captured at the Battle of Bennington in 1776. He then went to work on the farm of Samuel Denslow in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, where for the next 14 years he put up and decorated Christmas trees in the Denslow family home.*

The first Christmas tree retail lot was established in 1851 by a Pennsylvanian named Mark Carr, who hauled two ox sleds loaded with Christmas trees from the Catskill Mountains to the sidewalks of New York City.

The first president to set up a Christmas tree in the White House was Franklin Pierce, and the first president to establish the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on the White House lawn was Calvin Coolidge.

In 1882, the first tree lights were sold in New York City.

In 1836, Alabama became the first state to declare Christmas a public holiday, and by 1870, President Ulysses S. Grant designated it a federal holiday, partly as an effort to heal the rift between North and South following the Civil War. 

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Five on Friday

Willy Nilly Friday

Monday Social

Amaze Me Monday

* From the Almanac article that can be read here.