A good cuppa and this week's bird notes -

 

This week I discovered a package of loose Darjeeling tea in the far

 reaches of my armoire. As I haven't been to England to shop in Harrods

 (or their Heathrow Airport shop) I must have bought this tea at least three

 years ago, the last time I was able to travel to the UK. Actually the Best By 

date was 2020 which is now part of the more serious early COVID history

 days and months. Anyway, I opened it one afternoon and having been

 stored double sealed, in a dark place, it tasted just fine.

While sipping tea I tried to wipe sad thoughts of another week of

 war - yes that's what it is - and the devastation of Ukraine and its

 innocents seen each day on the TV or computer screen.

 

I also thought about each of you who sent kind words to Bob and 

myself in regard to our health blips, which are quite insignificant 

compared to what so many men, women and children are facing

 in Ukraine. We thank you so much and are managing well.

I haven't strayed far from the comfort of home this week.

Things were somewhat off kilter, with expected visitors unable to 

make it - but at least the house got a little much-needed extra

 dusting and titivating. 

More low-sodium recipes were pulled together which meant a lot 

of healthy veggie chopping, but we ate less, and drank nothing

 stronger than water! This afternoon I'm trying my hand at a fish

 stew with haddock, salmon and clams - will get back later to

 share the results.

Last but not least, I picked up the framed birds from Hobby Lobby.

I'm thrilled with how they look and the entire job was done so well.

Currently hanging in the bedroom, I'm considering moving it to the

 lower stairwell later.

Below is a close up of the antiqued wood frame I chose as I 

thought it perfect with the 1927 trade cards which are 

showing some age.

 

The weekend is upon us and it will be a very cold one - a fire on our hearth

the next few nights. Many of you here in the east are in the path of even more

 severe weather with a possibility of more snow - definitely not springtime yet!

Take care and stay safe.

Yesterday flew off into the history books. . . . . .

 

. . . . . . however, like all the recent January days, it left me with some gentle, 

simple thoughts.

~ An afternoon cup of excellent tea as 4 o'clock rolled around ~

This is one of my favorite black teas, a gift from friends Marilyn and Jim in

 Oregon who stopped by to visit us last year. It as our second meeting as

 we visited with them several years ago when travel was easy and safer.

Marilyn is your 'go to' tea lady - and her lovely blog Delights of the Heart

will inspire you with tea info, poetry, photos, kind thoughts, and so much more.

This blend similar to Earl Grey, is No.55 Lord Bergamot, by Portland, Oregon Teamaker Steven Smith.

"A flavor somewhat superior to traditional Earl Grey. Fragrant Ceylon Dimbula and Uva are artfully combined with select teas from India's Assam valley, then scented with bergamot essential oil from the realm of Reggio Calabria, Italy." 

Teamaker Steven Smith

I find one silky tea bag fills my smaller tea pot with enough for two good sized

 cups of delicious tea. I like the note on the tea bag envelope, 

"Steep 5 minutes, while pondering the Earl's affair with the Duchess of Devonshire."

A Scottish shortbread - Walker's my favorite - always goes well well with tea.

~ The power of a flowering bulb ~

Once amaryllis get going they grow so quickly.

Last evening the four buds on the second bulb to bloom

 looked like this.

This morning, the buds have changed a lot.

What fun it would be to have a time-lapse camera to film all this.

~ My thoughts in regard to new books - I love new books ~

. . . . . . .will have to wait until another time.

I have a lot to share about these particular ones, so please come

 back if you would like to learn more.

They are thought-provoking: covering good-for-us food, 

objects of art, gifts for special people. . . . . .you know who you are.

Meanwhile, enjoy this day. We have bright sunshine, cool 

temperatures and a forecast of much colder days and 

nights ahead with possible snow/ice come Friday.

Firewood is piled near the door. Thoughts include even more cups and

 mugs of tea, coffee and hot chocolate - and perhaps toss in a warming

 snifter of cognac later when the flames are dancing on the hearth.

 Trying out a couple of new soups will mean a quick trip out for 

vegetables tomorrow. 

Then curling up with those new books, knitting, writing, listening to old

 recordings of Yanni, Kitaro, Enya, whilst writing - all of whom bring back

 so many memories. 

My history.

. . . . . and speaking of flying, a Mockingbird arrived to nibble crumbs on the

 front porch rail. Birds seem to know when snow is coming - they

 stay closer to the house and porch, and of course I love that.

All about the greens and a busy week -

Lately, I seem to run out of time to write here, and to comment - forgive me.

It's just amazing how suddenly the garden awakes and there is so much to do 

to keep ahead of overgrowth and weeds. With no rain we've also had to water

as the afternoon temperatures are really hot.

We spend a lot of time outside, then in the afternoons collapse on the porch

 with a cup of tea, then in to make supper. 

Not only a lot of pinks and purples blooming, plenty of green also

.

Bob is mowing this early morning before it gets too hot - high 82F later!

Note the urn with small conifer in top left - my favorite Carolina wren pair

have a nest in there. The fig tree is almost completely leafed out as

you can also see in that same photo.

There are hundreds of these sprouting oak trees to pull out this year!

Jasmine on the back fence just opening gorgeous yellow blooms.

'Snowballs'

Trumpet vine in all its glory on the side arbor.

Enjoying some green tea in the Anthropologie super sized cups,

or perhaps they're actually mugs!

Luscious, local, freshly picked strawberries enjoyed this week.

Will pop over to the farm stand for more later today.

A homemade strawberry rhubarb galette comes to mind!

Pollen much less at last! 

Almost Spring afternoons -

Yesterday I was able to cut the first small bunch of golden yellow daffodils

 for the house. . . . .how they brighten things up. 

These sunny days are special, the garden is coming alive, full of

 promises. . . . and a lot of work!

Afternoon tea on the porch has been so enjoyable this week. 

I used the spring colored citron colored Anthropologie mug. 

It's quote 'EXPLORE' has been on hold a long time, but surely days

 of getting out and about are coming soon. 

While shuffling through my 'tea box' I found some interesting tea bags to try.

This green 'Passionate Pear' from TEALEAVES was a pleasant change.

 I usually drink black tea but read that green tea is more healthy. 

Do my tea specialist friends out there agree with this?

My knitting was put away after several months early in winter when I made

 a few more cowls and scarves to warm cold necks. 

Today an email came from that wonderful yarn and haberdashery shop in

 London, LOOP, located in Camden Passage - take a look if you're a knitter, 

you will love their offerings. The colors for spring are just so beautiful I may

  be pulling out my needles again to knit something new.

If I ever get back to London this will be a go to shop for certain!

 

Have a fabulous weekend friends. . . . . . . .and a very happy 

Mother's Day on Sunday to all the UK mums.

Here in the US our clocks go forward on Saturday night!

A quick Amaryllis peek - and teatime!

I've been spending time today learning the new PicMonkey - confusing

 to say the least - but all work and no play makes Mary a dull, 

non-techie, old lady!

So here's a quick look at the amaryllis situation on the dining room

table!

This photo is from last weekend. My five containers on the tray - the 

repotted bulbs from the past two years - are slowly coming along.

 All have a touch of green so must be alive! Saturday is watering day

 so tomorrow they will drink and hopefully have a growth spurt.

The large pot in front is the newly purchased bulb after potting a week ago.

 It was really leaning over when planted so I spent the week turning it

 around to get light on each side, and. . . . . . . .

. . . . . . as you can see above, today it's certainly straight and has

 its first bud showing a little color (it's pink and white) so is well on its

 way to blooming. Being a large new bulb, I'm hoping for several

 blooms first time around.

Hoping Thanksgiving was enjoyed by all despite many of us not being

 able to be with ones we love as in other years.

It's a beautiful late afternoon, sunny and 70F so right now I'm

 taking a break. Brewed a Thermos of hot Empress Grey tea - my 

favorite - and am taking my most loved one on a little surprise

 drive to view the sunset!

More on the location for afternoon tea, which I hope will be good, 

another time.

Have a good weekend.