Happy Place: Weekly Photo Challenge
Krista Stevens at WordPress challenged bloggers this week with this prompt “Have you ever felt like the world was being a bit too rowdy? Where things and people were pushing in, crowding out your quiet thoughts — the ones that need time and space to surface?” Yes, Krista, yes.
My number one Happy Place? cuddling a grandchild in my arms, getting them to smile or the growing up grandchildren sitting next to me on the couch, reading a book or playing a game. Laughing with grandchildren is the best.
And there’s the knitting I go to-another happy place- a form of meditation, the repetition- but this post shows my kitchen where I can ward off winter chills (or autumn chills) and feel all is right in the world. (Even if it’s not.)
——————————–resposted from original December 2011———————-
First Day of Winter Still Life in My Kitchen
Friends joined me for tea, even though they weren’t in Pittsburgh.
You can see out the kitchen back door window to the back porch and garage, the bare trees. The shortest day of light. Winter officially here.
Two dear friends in KY sent a shipment of fancy English muffins and the Fed Ex man delivered them Wednesday afternoon. It seemed a good time to split one, toast it and spread some butter (with my Grandmother’s silver butter knife) and spoon some apricot preserves.
Went to fire up the kettle to brew tea but I’d burned the kettle dry on Monday so boiled a pot of water to make the tea. Pulled out the camera on the phone to capture the scene
Oranges were on sale 10 for $2 today and lately they were almost a dollar apiece.
A faithful blog reader in Virgina, C, (and best friend of a my good friend J in Omaha) made me the little quilted mug mat last year and it was J who gave me the lidded butter dish another year. The Botanic Garden mug matches my mother’s cereal bowls.
I was home alone but in the presence of friends and family remembered. Finding the joy of winter. My neighbor called to report a vibrant rainbow spotting and perhaps I could photograph it. i went outside and it was still raining and saw the colored arch across the street. I photographed it but it didn’t make the cut for posting but i appreciate when people see something and I come to mind. There was thunder and lightning, too.
Yes, that is a stack of woven potholders on the left counter top.
A Cup of Tea, Chocolate and a Herald Angel to Say
Hey, it’s your birthday!
Happy Birthday to my friend V, who tells me good stories and makes me laugh! Enjoy your day. This angel is a music box.
Happy Birthday to You.
A little iPhone shot of a still life I put together for your birthday.
Late October Rose
This afternoon my friend Ann taught me how to knit a sock on two circular needles. As we knit, we drank some unusual organic herbal coffee (from a tea bag, no coffee beans involved) with a drop of almond milk.
Using two circular needles took time to get the hang of it. When I got home, I watched a video by Cat Bordhi on YouTube as a follow up. It’s good to learn new things.
So the double pointed needles are taking a break. I’m thinking about knitted gifts, wondering why I didn’t start in July- there’s not a lot of time before the holidays. We all know the family is eager to see what grandma has knit this year. Ha!
As I left Ann’s porch, I saw this stunning rose in a lovely light. Ann saw me stop on the steps and I called through the glass – “I’m photographing your rose!”
Thanks Ann. For the knitting instruction and your beautiful rose- almost November.
Weekly Photo Challenge: Purple
What I discovered is I shoot a lot of red.
I blurred my eyes to spot purple in the archives.
Yes, I made the rainbow jello to photograph. It took 5 hours. I got the recipe from my daughter Laura who found it on the web here
The one pictured is not spiked and no one ate it either. It is still in my freezer to slice and photograph with light coming through the jello like stained glass.
Purple views, white balance setting askew but it works for the challenge.
A compendium of purple.
Fellow bloggers links are at the Daily Post at WordPress. (Thanks to Jo I know how to get on the list now.)
and the cake is by Aubrey’s Bakery in Steubenville Ohio for Justin and Vicky’s wedding
Pyrex Fruit Bowl Levitation in Afternoon Light
When I get home from school I put the kettle on and make a cup of tea. Or a cuppa as some friends say. Unwind.
And I sit at the kitchen table, wait for the water to boil. I saw the fruit bowl reflected in the diner print.
I am sure it has been there before but today I saw it.
Fruit Tart, Tea and Friendship
A winning combination. A friend and neighbor asked me over tonight. We hadn’t seen each other in weeks. It was good to catch up. Hear about what we’ve been up to and the places we have gone. I read that article asking Do You Bore People? so I tried to not talk about the computer crash and the necessity of a new hard drive but it was difficult cause she missed my data loss experience. But enough on that already- AND look what her husband picked up on his way home! Lovely custard and fruit-topped tarts with a mug of hot tea to accompany the tart. It is good to have friends, especially in this beginning season of darkness and cold.
Almost looks like a reflection!
Unexpected Mail
Home after being away for ten days. Steve bought a pizza for us. Found a pile of mail in the front hall; catalogs, bulk mail, a Bed Bath & Beyond coupon, a notice of a tangelos and grapefruit delivery, a bank statement and the water bill. A few Christmas cards and the Barbie scrubs I ordered for Christmas from Etsy. A nice card with a Starbucks giftcard from Cj. AND a “Mug Rug” with a Norfolk VA postmark from Colleen, a long time friend of Joanne in Omaha. Joanne insists that Colleen and I have met but we haven’t– yet! Colleen stitched a quilted “mug rug” and sent it to me with a lovely card. (Depending on when you are reading this, I am writing on the 9th Day of Christmas so it is 9 Ladies Dancing, 10 Lords-a-Leaping, Mary.) I love the numbers on the fabric. There were instructions for a cup of tea and room for two cookies on the side but I didn’t want to cover up the fabric for the photo. What a happy surprise to find a handmade gift in the sea of fliers and junkmail! And how fortunate Steve had some cookies to supply for the shot. What a great way to end the vacation. And Deb B I like the quote on your handmade card.
“How we choose to think,
Determines what we will see,
And so it is that we,
Create our reality.”
(a quote but no attribution, maybe someone will help find the source)
It is a happy 2011 already. Thanks friends.
*If you want to see the Blog Year in Review 2010 and the Top Posts- click here for late post 1/2/2011
Thank goodness Steve had some cookies a patient brought him. Delicious with Good Earth tea. (after the photo)
Joy in Winter
Spread the Christmas tablecloth and place the matching plate next to the mug of steaming hot tea. Take two Split-Second cookies out of a tin. The ones I baked for knitting. A bite of shortbread cookie with raspberry jam. Try the fig one. Nibble slowly, make them last. Sip the almost scalding tea. Savor the combination. Open the book you’re reading for book club. (Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner-1972 Pulitzer Prize- I’d never heard of it until Tess picked it). Listen to the furnace kick on. Wrap a shawl around you. Sip more tea. Read until you doze. Think of the cookies still in the tin. Repeat tomorrow.
It wouldn't feel the same if you did this in July.
Pot of English Breakfast & Tea Treats
High tea on Friday afternoon in West View. AntiquiTea Tea Room. For the scones, clotted cream and lemon curd in cordial glasses with silver spoons, tiny teapots on top. Afterward we checked out the party room. An elegant way to spend a summer afternoon with good friends.
If you click the link Somewhere in Time music starts to play.
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