Find the Magic

 

The shadows delight me.
The morning sun surrounds me.
Rainbows enchant me.
Tea refreshes me.
Finding wonder in the ordinary 
makes my heart sing.
Anticipation
Dreaming
Of flying over the rainbow.
Where would you fly if flying
over the rainbow?
Where would you find the magic in the day?

Happy weekend dear friends!
May you find magic in the ordinary
and have opportunity to fly over the rainbow.

A Garden's Gift

 

The calla lily was a gift from my sister's garden.
They stand tall and so sophisticated,
wrapped in love.
I am intrigued by their beauty, the turn of their blossom,
the shine of their leaf.
They are happy in my garden now.
A special treat from my sister's garden.

Do you have a special plant in your garden,
a gift from another garden?

Tea Adventures

 

Once upon a time, many stories begin such as this. This isn't just a story, it is true.  We sit enchanted by the story of horses and tea.  For centuries, continuing until the 1960's, there was a Tea Horse Road, much like the Silk Road so many of us have heard about.  This was for the trade of tea for horses.  China desperately wanted the horses of Tibet and Tibet wanted tea.  Porters, both men and women, carried 150-200 pounds, sometimes more, of tea bricks from the Yunnan Province in China to Tibet along treacherous mountain roads.  The road was south of the Silk Road and traveled over mountain passes and through dense forests.  If they succeeded in the journey they would have rice for their families.  One pound of tea would buy one pound of rice.  Yes, we were enchanted, so I read more.   

This story was shared with myself, a young friend, and his mother as we tasted some delightful Puer teas at the Tao of Tea recently. We were on a tea adventure in Portland, visiting five teashops and learning about tea all in one day.  It was a special delight for me to share tea with friends.  The adventure is worth repeating and I would love to share with you.  If you are visiting Portland some day and would like to learn more of tea, come and travel with me and we will share a cup of tea and remember stories of another time.  Tea has a rich history full of stories such as this.

If you would like to read more on the Tea Horse Road, visit: 

 http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2010/05/tea-horse-road/jenkins-text

A Rose is a Rose

 

 

 

 

 

 

The garden is blooming roses today.
The garden is shining with the sweet fragrance sitting there.
When the roses bloom my heart does sing.
I walk through the garden snipping a bloom or two.
Oh to be surrounded in their beauty
and to feel the silky softness of their petals.
Can you just imagine laying in a bed of rose petals?
Being embraced by the scent?
We can dream together in this garden of roses.

Monday's Quotes

One of my favorite quotes.

Photo taken in the medieval walled city of Carcassone, France.

Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness.

~Mark Twain

Flowers for Mama!

I just couldn't let this weekend pass without
sending best wishes.
For all the mama's out there, flowers for you!
Happy Mother's Day

Have you Noticed?

Just a few days ago I hopped in my little red buggy and took a short road trip.
The view from the bridge of downtown Portland as I traveled along.

It was time to find flowers for the garden.
Have you noticed the flowers this week?
Each day this week I have loved the flowers of Spring.

It was the annual Master Gardener sale at the fairgrounds.
A perfectly gorgeous, sunny day!

Little red wagons were carrying plants everywhere you looked.

Columbine's just shined in the sun.

Geraniums too!
Hanging baskets galore!

Petunias by the dozens.

Glorious peonies, oh how I would have loved bringing them all home.

What I did bring home was the sunshine I saw on this sweet face.
A smile just for me and you.
Get out and smell the flowers this weekend.
You might find a smile just for you and that smile might come from you.