Location, Location, Location

How many times have you heard location, location, location?

One of the best things about living where I do is definitely location.

Living near Rice University there's always plenty going on...

athletics, art, music, community education.

I'm also near the museums and Hermann Park.

There's lots of shopping and good eats in Rice Village.

The latest public art installation in Rice Village is an owl by California artist Nathan Mabry.

A blue origami-like aluminum owl, along with four smaller lifelike owls, 
are a nod to Rice University.

"While researching Rice Village, I became interested in the vibrant history of the neighborhood and proximity to Rice University. I find myself particularly engaged with the mascot of Rice University, the Owl," Mabry said in an announcement.

"It's a powerful symbol in both antiquity and contemporary life. My work has long explored the depiction of birds from all facets of art history."

The Owl weighs 868 pounds and took 8.3 hours to install.
It's a fun addition to the neighborhood.

*

Speaking of location.

I'm also near the Zoo.
The zoo always celebrates Spring with a Spring Fling for some of its members.
Usually it is a breakfast.
This year the zoo decided to make it Breakfast for Dinner and hold the event in the evening.
It was a beautiful night.
Breakfast was delicious -- with the best biscuits and gravy I've had in awhile!

I invited my next door neighbors and can say that a good time was had by all!
There was a hula hoop competition for the kids,
face painting, endless carousel rides and the children's zoo was open with
the petting zoo. 

And even the adults had fun watching the zebu.
He put on quite a show.
His keeper asked him to walk in a circle.
He did and he was given a treat.
Then he kept walking in a circle and back to his keeper --
"treat please"!
We were all laughing --
all except the Llama who seemed quite put out!

*

A good friend took me to lunch.
We went to one of our mutual favorite spots --
the Hobbit Cafe.
The Hobbit has been around since 1972 and for some time was the 
only spot to get good, fresh vegetarian food.
They have now added the "regular" food for those who just can't live without their burger.

I had the "slim" Gandalf.
(Believe it or not, there is a larger version of this sandwich.)
Their wheat bread is amazing.
Avocado, mushrooms and melted cheese.
You can pick your side - black beans for me.

My friend had the Fatty Lumpkin -- tuna salad, tomato, melted cheese
with carrots on the side.

They are knife and fork sandwiches -- 
no way I could get my mouth all the way around to take a bite. 

*

Last and not least for locations--
there is no place like home! 

Wishing you well, much joy and a "Hoppy" Easter!

Five on Friday

Willy Nilly Friday

Mosaic Monday

Monday Social

Like Raindrops in Spring!

February was the hottest month here since "they" started keeping records.
Bodes ill for summer.

March has come in with rain... all weekend and most of the week.
But it was a nice rain, slow steady raindrops and about 4 - 6 inches worth.


*

It's March and thoughts have turned to Spring!

I've been slowly finding my Easter decorations.

My favorite Easter Bunnies.

They make me smile.

Sitting at the kitchen table
surrounded by some of my favorite things
is a great way to start the day!


*

Working on the Cottage Charm Afghan.
I bought the kit from Mary Maxim.
Nice yarn and the pattern is easy to follow.

However, I've run out of yarn twice.
I'm a "tight" crocheter so I was a little surprised.
I had one more pink flower to make.
Thankfully, I had some yarn at home that was a close enough match.
Then I ran out of the green.
I had to go out and find a green yarn to match.
I now have enough of the green to make another afghan.
Feast or famine! Ha!

Now adding the blue to the squares and wondering if I will have enough yarn.

*

I started a "new to me" cozy mystery series by Laura Bradford.
They are set in Amish country -- Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
I visited the area some 15 years ago.
Came home with a Quillow (a blanket that folds into a pillow)
 which is mentioned in the first Amish mystery Hearse and Buggy.
I thought Hearse and Buggy was one of the best first books in a cozy series I had read in a long time - so much so that I dashed out and bought the next four! 
The books pictured here are the ones that I've read.
I like the characters, the story line, the mix of the "English" and Amish life styles. 

The lovely teacup was a Christmas gift from one of my sister's by choice.
It is an Aynsley.
Aqua is one of my favorite colors.
Pretty waves on the cup and saucer with gold rims.
Fun spring-time flowers on the inside of the cup.

Five on Friday

Willy Nilly Friday

Mosaic Monday

Monday Social

From the Fortune Cookie Journal:
"Good fortune will shower you like raindrops in spring."

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

SaveSave

Bunnies Greet You....

Hop Hop Hopping

The Easter Bunny is getting ready for the big day.

 The arrival of the Easter Bunny
 must mean Spring is hop hop hopping down the bunny trail!

Time to find the bunny teapot (a World Market find years ago).

While looking for the Bunny Teapot,
I pulled out the Rosina Iris teacup.
I must be prepared for spring!

In the spirit of the season,
I'm going to keep my dust bunnies as decoration! 

Wishing YOU well, much joy and a wonderful cup of tea.

Remember,
Every Bunny
Needs Some Bunny
Sometime.

No Place Like Home

Bernideen's Tea Time Cottage and Garden Party

Tuesday Cuppa Tea
Tea Cup Tuesday

Here Come The Bunnies!

Easter is just around the corner.
I pulled my favorite bunny porcelain tea pot and mug from the cupboard.
They were made in New Mexico by a husband and wife team.
He did the hand building of the pieces and she was the artist.
They are some of the first ceramic pieces that Mr. Dragon gave to me.

I love the bunny wearing tennis shoes.
Guess he's getting ready for a busy Easter!

The teapot reminds me of Old MacDonald's Farm with the veggies and bunny!

Then there is the mug with all the wonderful hearts filled with bunnies.

The egg-shaped bunny plates I found at Pier One.

Orange-cranberry scones.

Yum!

I selected Tazo Zen tea to steep in my bunny pot. 

It is a green tea blend made with pan-fired green teas from China

and blended with lemon verbena leaves, lemongrass and spearmint leaves.

It has a sweet, lingering taste ... very Zen.

I decided on Tazo tea today as a way to celebrate the life of Steven Smith,

the co-owner of Tazo tea who passed away recently.

Wishing YOU well, much joy and a wonderful cup of tea!

I'm joining some tea parties in the Land of Blog:

Teatime Tuesday
where Sandi is celebrating with an Easter Tea.

Teacup Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Share Your Cup Thursday

Hunting For Spring

Daylight savings time has arrived.
I admit, I don't like the dark mornings.
Why do "we" have to muck with time??!!

Daylight savings means spring is just around the corner
and I decided to go hunting for spring in my teacups.

That led me to one of my newest (new to me) teacups.

Isn't she pretty?

This is a Rosina teacup.

The iris is one of my favorite blooms.

I couldn't resist this teacup when I found it at The Guild Shop.

The gold edging is worn off in some areas,

but for me, that just means that it was well loved.

I found the adorable little bunnies at the same time.

I've had the teapot for years.

I love the shape and the decoration.

The only mark on the bottom of the pot are the words

Made in Japan.

You read that correctly -- not made in China!

When I make a pot of tea,

I normally use loose tea.

I have so much tea in tea bags

(mostly gifts and spur of the moment purchases)

that this time

I made a pot of tea with tea bags from the Republic of Tea.

Imperial White Tea with Persimmon.

100% white tea is also known as China White.

It has a low-caffeine delicacy and is the most minimally-processed of all tea varietals.

Once reserved for the cups of emperors and the nobility, 

this high mountain China White Tea (from China's Fujian Province)
 still remains one of the rarest of all teas.

The end white downy buds are painstakingly hand-plucked,
only two days of the year, right before the leaf opens.

Because it is so minimally processed,
White Tea retains the highest level of disease preventative antioxidants
known as polyphenals.

Be Funky Processing

The Republic of Tea has a few teas that are Organic and Non GMO.

Imperial White is one of those.

I'm not sure how long I've had Imperial White with Persimmon!
I note that it is no longer available at The Republic of Tea.

The container had not been opened
and I could smell the persimmon when it was opened.

I made a pot of tea that had a subtle, slightly sweet taste.
The taste was delicate with just a hint of the persimmon.

I'll enjoy several more pots full as I go hunting for spring!

Wishing YOU well and much joy.

I'm joining several tea parties:

Teatime Tuesday
Teacup Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Share Your Cup Thursday

* Information about Imperial White Tea from the The Republic of Tea.

Happiness

According to Emma Bridgewater

Happiness is a Bunny Rabbit

and I have to agree.

The Teddy Bear is all dressed up in his bunny costume ready for tea and scones.

The orange cranberry scone is from Trader Joe's.

TJs makes my favorite scone better than I do. 

The mug of the month for April is Emma Bridgewater's 

Happiness is a Bunny Rabbit.

This is a child size mug that I fell in love with.

The mug and scone are on a bunny plate I found at Pier One several years ago. 

The tea is TAZO Awake -- I'm running slowly today and needed an extra wake up call!

This is Tea Garden by Frederick Childe Hassam (October 17, 1859 - August 27, 1935.

He was a prolific American Impressionist painter, noted for his urban and coastal scenes.

He produced over 3,000 paintings, watercolors, etchings, and lithographs over the course of his career, and was in influential American artist of the early 20th century.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

A big thank you to our tea party hosts:

Tea Time Tuesday

Teacup Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Mug of The Month

A new month and a new Mug.
Spring is going to arrive on March 20 so I decided the tulip mug was in order.

I'm drinking an orange spice black tea from Stash with a teaspoon of honey.

Another Emma Bridgewater mug.

The bottom of the cup suggests you can never have too many tulips.

Plant hundreds! 

The rabbits are slowly making an appearance around the house.

Wishing YOU well, much joy and a wonderful cup of tea!

I'm joining a few tea parties and thank the hosts of:

Tea Time Tuesday

Teacup Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Random Things

I'm joining Nancy at Rural Journal for Random 5 Friday.

Do you have a bucket list?

One of the things on my list is tulips.

Yes, tulips.

I've often thought it would marvelous to see the tulip fields in the Netherlands.

I also figure it would be easier for me to visit the tulip fields in the Pacific North West.

Like this:

This is a postcard of the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm in Woodburn, Oregon.

The photo was taken by Jon Gnass and I found the image in TULIPS OF THE NORTHWEST:

A Postcard Book.

Can you imagine?

Field after field of tulips.

Heaven on earth!

(Thank you to the lovely Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday)

**

I went to the grocery store and while there decided to check out the cut flowers.

I found more daffodils.

They were a little past their prime, but I couldn't resist.

Along with the daffodils, the Easter decorations were half off.

Now I ask you -- how could I pass up a bunny wearing tennis shoes?

***

One of my favorite cozy mystery series is The White House Chef by Julie Hyzy.

FONDUING FATHERS is the latest in the series.

Fun characters, good background story, good mystery, believable amateur sleuth.

Highly recommend but be sure you start with the first one

(STATE OF THE ONION)

and read them in order.

****

The garden fairies are very happy.

The Gardenias have started to bloom in Musashi's Garden.

*****

I'm going to the zoo today.

It is going to be on the cool side with low humidity.

Perfect!

Wishing YOU well and much joy!