Blooming in Musashi's Garden!

According to the calendar it isn't Spring yet.

Tell that to my roses!

They have really enjoyed the rain and the cool one day and warm the next day weather!

This is the hybrid tea rose Double Delight.

From bud to full bloom.

At full bloom the flower is a good 5 inches across.

  "Lemon ice dipped in strawberry sauce" is one of the ways it has been described.

 It also has a wonderful scent.

Thank you to Mary for being our hostess for Mosaic Monday.

Wishing you WELL and a JOY filled week!

The Great White

The Great Egret (Ardea alba), 

also known as Great White Egret, 

Common Egret, or Great White Heron.

 Photographed in the Japanese Garden, Hermann Park, Houston.

I'm joining Misty for Camera Critters.

Wishing you WELL, JOY and a CRITTER filled weekend!

Some Joy

1. While walking to my Village for lunch, I saw my first robin of the season. I stopped for a while and let him sing to me for a few minutes. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera with me.

2. The college baseball season has started and my Owls are 4 - 0. It is so nice to see all my baseball buddies and to get back into the excitement of watching these talented and intelligent young men play baseball. 

3. I'm fortunate that people ask how I'm doing and I say "okay, thank you for asking". I'm sure many are nervous. They wonder what they should say to me. They wonder what I will reply to their question. I like the ones who say "I miss him, too". I take joy in knowing how many lives he touched.







4. I'm also learning that's it's okay to not be okay. I'm still standing and that's what's important. Thank you Tiny Buddha for your words of wisdom.

5. I love the sound of Cassie purring while she perches on my  chest and shoulder. She is so soft and loves being petted. She is definitely a Momma's girl.

I'm joining Liv Lane for The Little Bliss List Link Party.

                                       

For those looking for a postcard,

here's one that celebrates the coming of Spring.

Thank you Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday!

From the back of the postcard: 

"Fields of blooming tulips are the product of hundreds of years of accumulated wisdom, business savvy, and plain hard work.

Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm, Woodburn, Oregon"

The photograph was taken by Jon Gnass/Gnass Photo Images

Visiting the Pacific Northwest and some of the tulip farms is on my list!

Wishing you Well and a JOY filled weekend.

Good Morning!

Found on Facebook!

Valentine's Gift

Aren't these teacups wonderful?

They were a Valentine's Day gift from a dear friend.

We were shopping at Tuesday Morning when we found them.
I "clasped my hands with delight"!

They came in a wonderful storage box decorated with the heart and crown...

a cappuccino cup set called Royal Heart ...

large cups that will be perfect for tea.

**"Descending from his perch, he fell to unpacking it with great neatness and dispatch, while Rose watched him, wondering what was going to happen. Presently, out from the wrappings came a teapot, which caused her to clasp her hands with delight, for it was made in the likeness of a plump little Chinaman ... Two pretty cups with covers, and a scarlet tray, completed the set, and made one long to have a "dish of tea" even in Chinese style, without cream or sugar."

~Louisa M. Alcott, Eight Cousins

"Let us gather for a greeting

With our teacups filled with tea

And I'll tell you how important

Your friendship is to me."

~ Alda Ellis, Hats Off To Tea

"If man has no tea in him, he is incapable of understanding truth and beauty."

~ Japanese Proverb

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, a JOY filled week and a Wonderful cup of tea!

** Quotes from 365 things Every Tea Lover Should Know