The Simple Beauty of Tea

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Oh, to enjoy the restorative effects of a simple cup of tea. Especially during those really busy days. Whether you sip the steaming brew from a mug, a pretty china cup, or one of these exotic tea glasses, tea gives us a chance to sit and gather strength for the rest of the day's busy tasks.

I don't add sugar to tea, but if you like to add sweetener, you might enjoy this simple suggestion I found in a book I recently read. Store sugar cubes for tea in a jar with whole cloves or cinnamon sticks; they absorb the spicy fragrance. I think I'd also include cardamon as a possible spice to try.

As a young girl, I loved how my Auntie Ruth would serve black tea after a big family meal, in which she added fresh orange peel and cloves to her big Royal Albert teapot. It's still a favorite flavor for me. Constant Comment makes a tea like that nowadays.

I'm so glad for the gift of tea.

Wishing you a beautiful day,
Brenda

Soul Projects

With autumn drawing the curtains of evening earlier each day, it's the time of year when I like to gather what I call my 'cozy' books around me.  Books that create the ambiance of drawing near the fire, catching hands with loved ones, and thinking more about journeys of the hearth, heart and home. That is why I reach for a well-loved book by Ingrid Trobisch, Keeper of the Springs, Making Home the Place For Which You're Longing. The author offers 'time-tested inspiration for tending the spiritual center of house and home.'

Included in this treasury, Ingrid's daughter, Katrine Stewart, shares some lovely thoughts on the joy and healing of soul projects.

"Soul projects bring a smile to your face, light to your eyes, new energy to your heart, joy to all around you. Soul projects are like healing ointment on the sore places of your life.

Beethoven went for walks in the countryside. Golda Meir polished her silver teapot. Josephine, Napoleon's wife, tended to her roses. Claude Monet gardened. Katharine Hepburn wrote her journal in bed with breakfast. Winston Churchill liked to paint. Einstein took long baths. Mendelssohn listened to the music of Bach. Mother Teresa listens to the silence of her soul."

KATRINE STEWART

What soul projects bring you joy?  For me, this would include listening to Mozart, journaling in bed with my first cup of coffee, walks in the countryside, being completely quiet for a few minutes just waiting with God.

Wishing you a beautiful day,

Brenda

xox

Morning Has Broken

It looked grey at first glance from my northerly kitchen window this morning. Except if you peer closely, you'll catch the merest hint of crimson at the bottom... hints of something more promising? 

So I picked up my ever-ready camera...

turned my gaze eastward,

and found these beauties...

Turning my head back to my northerly gaze,

My neighbour's house is now bathed in light.

Morning has truly arrived... and we're ready for it.

* * *

Here's wishing you a fabulous Friday,
Brenda

Linking with Skywatch Friday

31 Things I Never Tire Of

Image by Iloorraa from Pixabay

in no particular order

1. heart to heart visits over coffee

2. rainy days
3. children’s laughter
4. reading in bed
5. a glass of cold water
6. chocolate
7. my kitty cats
8. inspiring people to see new possibilities
9. the smell of bookshops

10. buying notebooks
11. sunny autumn days
12. tiny sandwiches and tea in china cups

13. the beach
14. watching people
15. winter days when the sky is bright and sunny
16. the smell of coffee

17. indigo blue and white

18. walks in beautiful gardens or nature
19. giving gifts for no occasion

20. laughing
21. hearing “I love you”
22. walking into an uncluttered, organized room
23. gorgeous color combinations
24. re-reading my classic Victoria magazines

25. journaling in pretty notebooks

26. snuggling with my sweetie

27. learning how to love like Jesus

28.studying at the library
29.  pencils and crayons
30.  English country anything 

31.  watching happy dogs out for their walks

Wishing you beautiful moments to treasure today!
Brenda
xox

Do Something With This Later

I took a look around my house and was amazed -- and aghast -- at how many corners were filled with little piles of I'll do something with this later.  I took a few photos as I wanted to make a quick mosaic (well, quick is certainly not the word to use when I've never done a photo mosaic before)....

So no mosaic today, but since we all like visuals,

here's a peek of what has ended up in corners waiting for its turn....

Tissue and wedding wrapping paper choices,

not to mention a stray 'recycle' bag...

More wrapping tissues and ribbons...

Kitchen table topped with catalogues

and  mailbox whatnot...

Small antique table with more paper paraphernalia,

not to mention the ever present birding book

for sightings in the garden...

Even the piano bench has stuff on the move:

movies borrowed from friends, 

a little pouch of saffron that should be in the spice cupboard,

and the wedding invitation...

Atop bedside table...

Beneath the spare desk...

Is there no end to the piles???

And no, we haven't posted any photos of dust bunnies.

It seems these little 'people' are quite camera shy!

* * *

I get a certain kind of energy bubbling when I turn icky corners

into something more orderly beautiful
~ I think it's that sense of bringing 'order out of chaos'!

Do you find that?

In my blog travels today, I found a blogger called Organizing Queen.

Thought it quite appropriate for the tasks of the day.

If you need any inspiration, Marcia Francois, from South Africa,

shares lots of informative and interesting posts.

Wishing you an orderly day,
Brenda