T Tuesday: Afternoon Tea and Thinning Out

Things have been a little quiet on the tea front lately, but yesterday I enjoyed a delightful afternoon tea with a friend and one of her other friends at a little tea house in the area. With my pot of jasmine and their Earl Grey, we enjoyed cucumber sandwiches, chicken salad, samosas, and more. (I wish I would have thought to bring my camera!) It was a fun change of pace from the coffee in paper cups that is typically imbibed during dates with friends. This morning I am enjoying Tazo's Berryblossom White with my little dog stretched out by my feet, gnawing on a chew toy. His devotion is quite endearing.

I am slowly continuing my thinning-out project: pictured are a few items that have made their way to Goodwill. I had had them for a long time, and I found myself wishing that I had been taking more pictures throughout this decluttering process to remind myself of the progress I've made. The crazy floral tin was bought at a thrift shop during college in Vermillion, South Dakota; I began making the afghan in 2001 but never finished it and by this point no longer like the color choices I made or have the patience for it; the old lamp I bought at a garage sale in high school and after nearly twenty years of not having rewired it, it seemed time for it to go, hard as it was. I ended up keeping the marbles because they were so pretty to photograph. These items in particular carried memories with them.

Do you have any decluttering tips?

Tea Tuesday

Very belatedly, I am sharing a little Chinese New Year goodie-box that a sweet friend gave to me this Tea Tuesday. Chinese New Year was six weeks ago! One of the packets contains green tea, but they're all so cute, colorful, and unique that I haven't been able to bring myself to open any of the candy or tea yet. I'm just enjoying looking at it! The little coins have symbols embossed on them that stand for various New Year's greetings: good luck, prosperity, etc. We'd gone to lunch that day at a Chinese restaurant with crunchy egg rolls flavored with sesame oil (one of my favorites), jasmine tea, and a delicious chicken and noodle dish. I love that tea is very much a multi-cultural affair, one that crosses boundaries easily from one country to the next.

Thanks to bleubeard and elizabeth for mentioning my blog today - she has quite a fun blog herself!

As an Orthodox Christian, this week is the high point of the year: Holy Week, leading to the feast of feasts, or Pascha. I am looking forward to attending services this week and then staying up all night Saturday as we celebrate with a midnight Liturgy! A blessed Easter/Pascha to all of you!

Young Again...

You don't have to be a kid to appreciate the newly expanded and renovated Houston Children's Museum. We spent several hours there recently with our young visitors. It was a blast, and I would have been totally agog if I were a child. The water play area was especially entrancing for all of us - several stations to manipulate water, including a giant contraption with mechanized buckets, a spillway, and lock-and-dam system. 'Kidopolis' was also fantastic - an entire area of the museum designed as a little town with stores, a bank, a grocery, police station, ambulance, restaurant, and vet clinic with toys and play money where kids could live out their play fantasies. It even had a photo booth to pose for silly shots. The kids hated to leave, and I could definitely understand why. Being there brought me back to the magical world of make-believe and pretend - I still have my collection of plastic horses and gear saved out in the garage from that own period of my life. Do you have a favorite childhood memory or activity?

Withered

I was going to announce an official hiatus today, but realized I may stop in a few times throughout the fall. I am quite overwhelmed with studying for my master's exam while also having scheduled a few trips this fall that are much desired but certainly won't help the studying! I have been trying to limit all other activities that I can, putting off allergy testing and subsequent shots, downsizing volunteer editing projects, stopping pottery classes for the time being. Some of the texts I'm studying for the exam, particularly on style and stylistics in writing, teaching basic writing, and teaching ESL writing, are ancient (40 - 50 years old) and while interesting, I'm not sure they're even that relevant anymore to the field. I considered postponing next week's neighborhood association's craft group activity (which I lead) and waiting to jump back into our writer's group until winter, but the women in both of those groups are so fun and inspiring that I don't want to miss our gatherings. Yesterday I scheduled necessary and helpful tasks, even if they took time away from my studying: tea with a friend that I hadn't seen in two months (I found a new favorite at Barnes & Noble, Harney & Sons Green Tea with Coconut), an appointment at the post office for expedited passports should we go into Canada on an upcoming trip, and a visit to my doctor for sedatives for flights and concentration strategies for studying. I am so blessed to have found this doctor; she has made a huge difference in my life. I've never used exercise videos, but I'm actually enjoying walking at home (more like low impact aerobics) to burn off stress after studying.


I listened to Allison Krauss sing Graceland and Carolina several times last night, dear favorites; it was remarkably soothing. Perhaps significantly, both of these songs speak of travel, yearning, and grace. How did I not realize that until this moment? I am aching to be home in a few weeks for autumn in the Black Hills and time with my family (my sister is in England visiting her in-laws and I really miss our long weekend chats; there is no one else with whom I regularly have 60-90 minute phone calls!) I have to say that things like my master's exam really don't seem all that important when I think about home. (Hubby, unfortunately, will be staying here to work, and has been working lots of weekends, including today, as it's a very busy season.) All my worries and anxieties also seem lessened when I remember volunteering a few hours at a local day shelter the other week, handing out laundry bags and folding clothes for people without homes. It was humbling; I don't let anyone else touch my laundry and I couldn't imagine having to hand all the clothes I own over to a complete stranger to be washed. Perspective helps.

How do you handle stress? Any study tips? Please cross your fingers, keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I study and face my flight phobia! I am looking forward to catching up on your blogs when I can!

Stories, Written Down

This May, my aunt asked if I would help her type up and re-organize the handwritten life story of her 88-year-old mother. I was immediately curious and happy to be of assistance. I’ve spent much of the past two weeks typing these pages, piecing memories together that sometimes jumped around from one section to another one. It was fascinating. M. was born in 1921 in Nebraska, lived without indoor plumbing or electricity into her mid-20s, raised eight children of her own while working hard as a farm wife, married a man who was one of 14 children.

Seeing this story written down also makes me think of Facebook and the emails I’ve been exchanging with high school and college classmates about where the last decade has taken them. I still have somewhat mixed feelings about FB; as I mentioned a while ago, the magazine Real Simple had an article about it that spelled out exactly how I feel. I was reluctant to join at first, but I have to admit that I’m enjoying it now, although I have purposefully limited the amount of time I spend looking for old friends. I do find sparks of affection welling up for these people who once shared my life and feel relieved to know where they are, to know that they are doing ok. That said, it is also somewhat disorienting to have so many different slivers of my life coming together on one screen. There’s also the reality that it is impossible for my friends to truly understand who I am now, and likewise for me to know how they’ve changed, without real, face-to-face interaction. FB also stirs up a feeling that I often have, a wish that I could gather everyone I love into one town and not have all my friends and loved ones scattered so far away. It provokes a desire to sit down for coffee in real life with them, rather then sending paragraphs through cyberspace. Having been out of touch for years with most of these people, and now so easily seeing updates on their lives online, also makes me feel as though I’ve stepped into another dimension of reality!

Speaking of stories, I had another birthday last week. These are some of my birthday peonies, which conveniently arrive in groceries right on time. (It’s too hot down here for them to grow.) I need to focus on writing the next chapter in the story of my life, reinterpreting the last chapters, and hopefully making it a story worth reading!

What chapters are you writing right now?

Domestic Scenes

I'm afraid I haven't been around in blogland much lately. I have finally been pressured into joining the dreaded facebook, and have been familiarizing myself with it. Real Simple magazine had a good article in April's issue that clearly stated a lot of my thoughts about fb. I will have to share that in another post!

But I wanted to share a few domestic scenes with you this week. I finally made my first batch of refrigerator pickles, a favorite from childhood, made by my mom. When I stumbled upon some Kirby cucumbers, I just knew I had to make them. I used this recipe, modified somewhat. They were good, but I'll tweak them a bit next time. It was rather exciting to make them, though! (It doesn't take much to make my day.)

I've also managed to do some stash busting this week, and used up 12 yards of flannel that I'd had for several years to sew baby blankets for a donation drive at church. They're so easy: 36-inch squares of two different fabrics, sewn together inside out, turned rightside out, and then topstitched around the edges. Yes, perhaps they're not traditional baby blanket colors, but they're warm and I'm thrilled to find a use for that flannel! They will go to an orphanage/day care center in Romania; it's a little humbling to think my quickly whipped out blankets might be used to wrap up little babies in need of so much. I wish I could offer so much more.

And, I rather liked the way these daffodils looked after they'd dried up in the vase. They were from my garden. A few more are blooming, but they're almost done. A friend also split some of her perennials to share with me this week, which was exciting gardening news (thanks again!). She brought her border collie to play chase with my pup in the backyard; what fun to watch them race around!

Have you tried any new recipes? Enjoyed any spring flowers?

Birthday Visitors

We were blessed by a visit from some old dear friends and our three little godchildren this last week. We celebrated all of the kids' birthdays. To their delight, they had a chance to decorate their own cakes. Blowing up balloons also proved to be quite entertaining - or rather, blowing them up and then letting them fly around the room as the air escaped! We were able to attend Liturgy together, play at the park a few times, make parachutes out of garbage bags to toss off the landing (Transformers in tow), play silly games, and make block towers. I always have a renewed appreciation for mothers after our visits and their daily disciplines of feeding, cleaning, and caring for their kiddos. And of course, our gratitude to be these children's godparents is even more strengthened by our time with them. They have blessed and charmed us with their little ways.

We also visited a railroad museum, where a friendly, grandmotherly guide made our visit just perfect for little boys.

A trip to the zoo was also in order, although most of us were recovering from stomach bugs! My favorite part was visiting the goats and scratching their necks. They were pretty sleepy!

Any birthday memories? Zoo memories?

Noticing

Aloe vera blossoms taken in my backyard last week. The former owner of this house must have planted a house plant she'd grown tired of. The aloe is located all by itself in an odd corner, but it grows well and blooms like this a couple of times a year.

I am stalling today, slowly avoiding doing the things I know I need to do. It is warm here in Texas, and at 90% humidity. This makes me a little crabby. Updating my address book just now, I am reminded of a few small gestures that seemed to mean more to the recipients than I anticipated. I want to remember these, to remember that something that seems small to me can mean so much to someone I’m thinking of. In one instance, I wrote a Christmas card/thank-you note to the woman who volunteers as the bookstore coordinator at our church. She left a very warm, touching voicemail for me later that day thanking me. It stopped me in my tracks and made me wish I’d done more than just give her a card: perhaps brought in something baked or a gift certificate. Likewise, I took a loaf of banana bread to a woman in our neighborhood who keeps our phone list updated. Again, I later found an extremely warm, grateful voicemail from her. Their thankfulness was so touching to me and was almost humbling; I felt that my little gestures did not deserve such thanks. But it was also affirming and reminded me that it is worth it to do little things. So often it seems that most people don’t notice small courtesies or bother to really listen to each other, but moments like these remind me that it’s worth it to strive to let others know that we appreciate them, even if it’s just sending them a card. To me, a big part of Christianity is stopping to notice others for real, not with just a passing glance, to listen to them and acknowledge their presence by being fully present myself. Of course, this is sometimes easier said than done, depending upon how tired, preoccupied, or stressed out I am.

Have you found yourself in either the giving or receiving end in these sorts of situations? I’d love to hear.

Tagged

A while ago, Martha tagged me to share seven random things about myself. KatCollects also tagged me for six things, so I’m combining them. With no further ado, here goes:

My first job was at Burger King when I was 15. It lasted for three days before I fortunately got a job clearing logging slash and thistles at Mt. Rushmore, which was a much better option. I worked for the forest service the next two summers as well – it was delightful.

I love the sound of wind blowing around the house. There is nothing like wind to remind me of South Dakota.

One of my favorite albums is Hymns of Paradise, the Orthodox Christian funeral liturgy, chanted by Fr. Apostolos Hill. It is peaceful.

I don’t wear makeup or bother with my hair. I tried for awhile in junior high, but I was never successful and finally gave up! But I do end up feeling like I don’t fit in sometimes as a result.

I have one delightful sister. I always wished that I had more. So I am thankful for my close gal friends!

Sometimes when I go to bed, I remember how cozy it was to stay over at my grandma’s and imagine sleeping in her guest room on a snowy night. Or I imagine walking along Cannon Beach, Oregon, where I had a summer job, as I drift off. On those nights, I often dream about finding massive sea shells.

I enjoy people, but I need lots of quiet time to recharge. My days really are quite quiet.

If you’re reading this and want to join in, please consider yourself tagged!

Sincerely Yours

Most of my Christmas cards are ready to be mailed out. As a person who has always loved sending - and receiving - mail, I find great satisfaction in the stack of envelopes all sealed, addressed, and stamped. I enjoy my memories of the people I'm sending to as I go down my list, writing out their cards, thinking of them getting ready for Christmas as well. Sadly, after I don't hear back from recipients after a few years, I will start emailing them Christmas greetings instead of sending them through the post. Is this cold-hearted? What do you do? I know that many people are truly too busy to prepare dozens of cards, so I don't begrudge them that. And do you save your Christmas cards? I do love finding them in my box, just as much as I love putting them together myself and sending them out into the world, little missives of 'hello' and 'how are you doing?' and 'Merry Christmas!' or 'Christ is Born!'

100th Post: Thankful

Today I am thankful for a good night’s sleep, for the sprinkling of birch leaves I found on my walk, for beautiful pomegranates, for spinach salad, and a quiet day. And I am thankful for things that have come my way this year: a sweet new goddaughter, a tentative conquering of my flight phobia, my cuddly new dog. Certain things keep me grounded, for which I am also thankful: my husband’s love and provision, the peace and calm I find in seeking God in the Orthodox Church, my long visits with dear family and friends. I miss my family especially during the holidays, but a good day awaits us tomorrow nevertheless.

I hope you have many blessings, small and large, to count this year! Happy Thanksgiving!

Reminiscing: Vanilla Jasmine Tea

Yesterday I made myself a cup of vanilla jasmine tea, looseleaf, something I hadn't done in quite awhile. It immediately took me back to the years that we lived in the Central Valley of California, where a wonderful little bakery was a favorite place to meet friends for tea and cake. They carried this delicious tea, pictured in the tin above, and it was wonderful paired with their divine Hershey's chocolate layer cake. I smile to remember the friends I visited with there: charming N. with her red hair and Scottish accent, sweet C. who shared my Midwest roots, authentic E. from Turkey who became like family. Sweet memories. Who are you meeting for tea these days?

(The autumn decorations were made by me a few years ago - just painted some clay pots with craft paint and stuck in some artificial leaves. Autumn is my favorite season in which to decorate!)

Kitchen Counter Shots

Today's Superhero Challenge on Shutter Sisters is the kitchen counter shot - essentially, looking for and capturing the beauty in the small details that make up our daily lives. I tend to take a lot of food photos in the late afternoons when I'm preparing dinner. (See these posts:soup, peas, strawberries, slice of life, summer sunshine, blueberries, for a few other examples.) I've mentioned before how I love the peaceful angle of the late day sun as I chop and put together meals. Cooking is enjoyable to me and a creative outlet; even if I don't manage to write, scrapbook, bead, etc., I still find creative fulfillment in handling food. And there's also the relational aspect of food: eating together with family and friends, special celebrations, physical and emotional sustenance.

What routines in your day bring peace to you?

Love Thursday: Engagement Party

During my recent time at home, we threw a little India-themed engagement party for an old friend. Now, this being Love Thursday, and knowing it was an engagement party, you might think the evening was just to celebrate romantic love and an impending marriage. And, in a way, it was. But looking back at these photos, I think it was more about the love between old friends (and sisters). There is such love and comfort in the traditions of our friendship, having little dress-up parties such as this one (and this one in May), where we all wore saris, which require hands-on help for those of us who don’t wear them more than once a year. We also celebrate with special food during these get-togethers, enjoying each other’s company and old jokes.

And this time, I was appointed henna master, doing something I’d never tried before. There was something touching in the way eight women trustingly held their hands out to me, allowing me to trace designs on their skin that would remain for at least a week or two. And this is perhaps the heart of the matter: we’ve already traced designs on each other’s hearts and lives in the years we’ve known each other, designs that perhaps are a bit wobbly or uneven in places, but that remain forever nonetheless.

Thanks for my sister's help with two of these photos, since my hands were a little busy!

Love Thursday: I {heart} the Black Hills

I couldn’t have found a better image than this one to represent my recent trip home if I had tried: a heart-shaped leaf, autumn yellow, resting so perfectly on the mossy forest floor. Yes, I love the Black Hills and everything that comes with them! I’m still catching my breath after my trip, but these are a few highlights: short hikes in the aspen-dotted gullies, many meals with family and friends, an engagement party for an old friend, trips to the farmer’s market (I even brought green tomatoes all the way back to Texas), cooking with my sister, laughing at my little nephew, fun with my cousins and relatives, afternoons in the lovely parks taking photos of the flowers before they fade. Trips like this nourish my soul and center me again, reminding me of who I am and of what is important in life.

What nourishes your soul these days?

Black Hills in Autumn #1

Today I am thankful for so many things:

The chance to go home again, back in the autumn season for the first time in seven years.
A refreshing, delightful eleven days with family and old friends.
Surviving another plane trip (this time on my own) with the help of a sedative, lots of prayer, and helpful flight attendants.
Hours and hours outdoors enjoying the Black Hills in autumn.
Fun gatherings and excursions with family and friends.
Having roots in such an exceptional part of the country.
Getting to see my nephew at the cute age of 18 months.
And so much more!

What are you thankful for?

A Few Little Projects

I haven't had as much time as usual lately for crafting, but I thought I'd share a few little projects with you.

I finally made some earrings with a some of the gorgeous stone beads I found in South Dakota this spring:


ATCs for Mimi's swap - can't wait to see everyone else's!



Hmm - my very first attempts at acrylic painting in a local class - the one on the left was the first one I've ever done; the one on the right was the second (and was black and white, now glazed with color):

Putting together invitations for a friend's India-themed engagement party to be held during my upcoming trip to SoDak (can't wait!):

Not the greatest picture, but this is a 'thank you' necklace of ceramic beads and bronzey fresh water pearls for my pen friend Cindy, who sent me a very generous package of lovely stationery this summer:
What are you working on?