Nests~

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
and never stops at all~

Emily Dickenson

 A few nights ago we heard the wind kick up. When I glanced out into the dark I saw the trees waving their branches about in protest. It is not unusual for us to have dry gusty Santa Ana winds that blow all night, but this wind was accompanied by raindrops. It felt good to be inside, cozy and safe. When we went outside yesterday we discovered two little nests~ empty.

 The nests were about five feet apart on the walkway of our side yard. The only tree these nests could have come from is in the neighbors yard, overhanging our fence. Isn't it a sweet masterpiece? It has small leaves woven into it.

The second nest was chock full of petite downy feathers. It was woven from the same straw colored grasses.

Keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps a singing bird will come."
-  Chinese Proverb  

Chai for Two

Oh honey
Picture me upon your knee,
With tea for two and two for tea,
Just me for you and you for me, alone!
Nobody near us, to see us or hear us,
No friends or relations
on weekend vacations
We won't have it known, dear,
That we own a telephone, dear.

Day will break and I'm gonna wake
and start to bake a sugar cake
for you to take for all the boys to see.
We will raise a family,
a boy for you , and a girl for me,
Can't you see how happy we will be.

I never knew the full lyrics to this sweet song by Youmans and Caesar ~~ other than the most famous lines~~ so I looked them up to share with you. This song debuted in the musical comedy called No, No, Nanette which became a hit in the mid 1920's. 

 

With this as inspiration, I decided to make a cheery greeting card...and just had to make two pockets to hold tea!  

The tea bags are fair trade, all natural chai. I started out with a piece of Websters 'Sweet as Cherry Pie' card stock, then added a polka dot paper. Since the tea bags had a bit of green writing on them, I added some green accents to the card. 

• The dotted paper measured 11" x 6"; I creased it 4" in from each end, which left a 3" uncreased section in the center.
• I made a crease in the center of the 3" section, then folded it like an upside down 'v' (new crease was 1.5" from from the 4" crease). 
• Next, I punched a half circle on the center crease in two places...these are where the tea bags will sit.
• I pressed the folded/punched section back against the upper 4" dotted portion, leaving the other 4" dotted portion flat/open. I sewed around the perimeter of the dotted paper. 
• Glue dotted paper to red Webster paper, then glue to the inside of a blank card.

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It's Overflowing

Owls in my Teacup~

Loving these Springtime days~ warm sun with crisp breezes. Makes me want to take a kite to the park! Wasn't it yesterday when we were cleaning up pine needles after taking down the Christmas tree? Yikes..time flies. College Girl registered this week for her sophomore classes in the Fall. I was just getting used to her not being in high school anymore and I am stunned her first year of college is winding down!

I am starting to say stuff my older relatives used to say ('my, how you've grown'~ 'last time I saw you, you were this big'~ 'time just goes so fast!') and hubby is starting to make the 'old guy' sound when he sits down! lol...just kidding, honey. There is nothing like kids to make you feel young, but then they turn right around and make you feel old! haha~

For breakfast today I used a new addition to our growing mug collection. Since College Girl drinks tea also, and prefers big cups, we have a small assortment now. (I made her into the tea 'snob' she is: she only drinks quality loose tea!) 

 
We found this mug by Creative Tops, Ltd. at TJMax. It is sturdy, deep and has the perfect handle~ 

 We love watching hummingbirds drink from our feeder placed next to the kitchen window. They are entertaining...even kitty thinks so. I had egg salad on flax seed English muffins with strawberries on the side.

I never get tired of plump strawberries. I could eat them everyday! The tea I chose was a lovely Keemun from Upton Tea Company.

I enjoyed looking at all the cheerful little owls lined up along the cup rim. They made me smile~ One little teal owl has the flirtiest eyelashes! When I was cleaning up after breakfast, I decided to wash the butter boat. Do you use one of these? 

 

I discovered these on QVC a number of years ago. The first one I had was actually called a 'butter bell' and the butter sat in a bell shape container immersed in water. I liked having fresh butter at room temperature...heaven! The only down side was that the butter was always wet. When I saw this 'boat' style I was thrilled. The butter stays dry in the winged dish: the bottom container holds the water.

 

There is a small blue horizontal line inside the bottom section (see center back). You place enough water inside to reach this mark, then insert the butter boat.

Place a stick of butter inside, then set the lid on top. You may leave the butter boat out on the counter and it stays fresh at room temperature. I change the water in the bottom section every other day. 

 
If it is very hot weather outside, I occasionally place the butter boat in the fridge overnight. I have used this butter boat for years now and really enjoy not tearing up my toast...or scones!... in the mornings. It works great.

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Marthas Favorites 
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Renewing my Card Stash~

I made a couple of cards last night using a new DCWV  paper stack I bought at JoAnn Fabrics...gotta love the 50% off coupons they offer! The pad is called Tattered Time.

The designs are 'Tim Holtz-ish', with subdued colors, vintage images and grungy effects. With typewriters on the brain,  I knew this pad was going home with me when I saw it. I had a lucky scrapbooking week because I also found a cool 7 Gypsies 6" x 6" paper pad at Tuesday Morning(below,right)~

I made the first card using 7 Gypsies 'Paddington' paper & 'Victoria' stamps, my Cuttlebug and my Stamps Happen 'Camelot' alphabet.

 I used Stickles on the monogram (B is for Bird) and a bit of Liquid Pearls on the stamped branch. To highlight the embossed areas, I softly rubbed blue ink across the surface.

The bird is mounted on adhesive foam and is wearing a little crown. I used Ranger Black Enamel Accents to make his eye. (see 3rd photo from top) On the next card, I upcycled a small canvas tote and used it to stamp a bicycle! Then I sewed the canvas to the DCWV card stock. I printed out the small journaling frame and put two eyelets in it through which I planned to thread black ribbon. 

  
I also stitched on the lighter green paper, then finished the card by using the Black enamel again for small dots on opposite corners. I like them both, but my favorite is the French themed bike. I think I may make another like it~

Carriage and Keyboard~

I read an interesting article about a man who collects old typewriters...but not just any old machine, Steve Soboroff buys typewriters that belonged to the famous and infamous. He scours the web looking for vintage machines with a past. He also makes every effort to verify the provenance.

On the creepy side, he has one that was owned by Unabomber T. Kaczynski. His collection also includes old typewriters that belonged to John Updike, Ray Bradbury, Andy Rooney, Orson Welles and others. 

It's funny really, and I have to laugh. I remember when I was in high school in the late 70's our Typing Class teacher bemoaned the fact that kids just didn't want to learn to type and that soon the school would no longer offer classes. She thought typing was a dying skill.  Now every kid, ages 5 and up, knows how to type and text...and they don't take classes to learn how. Did you know there are planned 'type-ins' held in public places where typewriters are available to bang out a poem or some prose? I've noticed an affection for the old machines in jewelry, note cards and decor. 

photo by prettyladysociety.com

At Pretty Lady Society there was the suggestion to have vintage typewriters at the guest sign-in table at weddings! Isn't that a fun idea? I use our old Underwood in the foyer with seasonal sentiments on an inserted sheet of paper~

 If you have not used a typewriter in a while (or ever!), there are informative sites  that explain the mechanics and operation of these wonderful reminders of a bygone era.

Notecard Party~ Salt!

Himalayan Pink Salt

I had fun last month participating in Vee's Note Card Party~ Participants are asked to share four photos previously posted on their blogs that they think would make a nice note card set. I bet you can guess which theme I chose, right? You don't have to think too hard about it! Yup, tea! This time I've chosen salt.

But, wait for it..........there are places where Tibetans, Chinese and Kashmiris drink tea with salt! I'm not kidding. Tibetans and many Chinese people drink 'butter tea', which is made with tea leaves, yak butter and salt.



 Salt mines in the Himalayan Mountains

'Nun Chai', salted tea, is prominent in Kashmir and is a daily affair in the lives of Kashmiris. Kashmiris drink salt tea twice a day, in the morning for breakfast and then in the afternoon before dusk.



natural pink salt filled with minerals



I sampled Persian Tea last week and posted photos of my experience drinking cardamom tea and sugar cubes, but I've never had Nun Chai with salt. I bet it tastes sort of like soup, as I hear it is thick and savory.



Yak Tea~ photo by Fredtrip (blog.travelpod.com)
Rongphu Monastery, Everest Base Camp



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Vee's Note Card Party

Himalayan Pink ~

Quick! Guess what this is in the sweet little Brambly Hedge saucer. If you guessed sugar, you're wrong. This is pink salt! To be precise, this is natural organic Himalayan pink salt~ Isn't it pretty? I almost want to stir some into my teacup. College Girl is a gourmet salt fan, so I bought this salt just for her. She loves to cook and I knew she would get a kick from seeing and tasting this  pink salt. Do you know why it is pink? According to the internet:

The color is an indication of this salt's rich and varying mineral and iron content.

read more about the mines

Himalayan Pink Salt. Origin - Himalayan mountains.Extraction- Hand-mined, hand-washed, and sun dried. Shelf life - 4-5 years
Notes- Store in an air tight, covered container in a cool dry place. Fluctuations in humidity may cause salt to cake. A granular salt with a average size of 1-2 mm. Fully dispersible in water and blends well with oil.

It is wonderful with food, but is also used by spas for beauty treatments. If you look at it up close you can see tiny darker pink specks...this salt is full of trace elements. Mountain Rose Herbs states,

"Himalayan Pink Salt is used by holistic chefs, spas, health professionals, and individuals for its range of nutritional and therapeutic properties. Pink salt may be used in the same manner as table salt for culinary dishes and baking, but it is purer and higher in mineral content. Externally, pink salt can be used to stimulate circulation, relax the body, lower blood pressure, sooth sore muscles, and remove toxins from the body. Use Himalayan Pink Salt in bath salt recipes, body scrubs, aromatherapy, homemade soap, and for all types of culinary and spa applications."

Online stores like Salt Works offer a variety of grain size and even salt slabs for sale. I bought ours at a local all-natural grocery store.

And since we love to create in the kitchen, I thought I would whip up a little creation in my craft room to make it more fun! I looked for a free pot holder pattern and came across one for a nifty little version, just right for lifting hot lids. Shirley at Bits and Pieces posted directions for what she calls a 'microwave mit pattern'. I followed it with the exception that I used single fold bias tape on the edges of my pockets, while she used a matching fabric strip on hers.

Make a simple pattern from cardstock or a grocery sack~Shirley used freezer paper. 7 and 1/2" by 4 and 1/2" rectangle. Fold in half (hot dog style), round the open corner. Fold in half again, round remaining open corner to match, using first rounded corner as a template.

 Cut 4 of these rounded rectangles from your chosen fabric: 2 are for the main front/back, and the other 2 will be used for the pockets.

I used a shortcut: instead of cutting out 4 small pieces of fabric for the right/wrong side of the pockets (2 each side), I cut 2 additional of the original 7.5" x 4.5" shape, folded them in half, then cut off the excess. SEE ABOVE. Shirley's directions called for two 3" pieces for each pocket. It was quicker for me to cut 4 pieces of fabric the same shape/size when cutting out the main pot holder, although the directions only call for two. I then trimmed down the extra two into the pocket pieces. Easy-peasy :)

These are the pocket pieces, above. They are placed wrong sides together with batting sandwiched inside. Trim the straight edge with bias tape, or make a matching strip with fabric on hand. If you use bias tape, insert the raw edge/straight side of the pocket piece in between the folded tape, then top stitch.

Now you are ready to stack your fabric layers. This method of finishing is much easier than using bias tape around the entire perimeter! Trust me! Here is my 'sandwich'~

Shirley has a great photo of the stacking order: *batting(or Insulbrite = heat protective fabric),

*then 7.5" x 4.5" piece

 *then pocket pieces (outer edges aligning= gap in the center),

* lastly another 7.5" x 4.5".

  ~Here is Shirley's photo~



Bits and Pieces mit tutorial, photo by Shirley

Sew around the perimeter using 1/4" seam allowance. Be sure to leave an opening on one end (on the straightest part after you make the corner curve). Clip corners, turn.

Once you turn your pot holder, push out corners. Finally, sew up the the open spot you left to turn it by...topstitch it closed. (see left edge in photo above)

Now you have a cute little potholder that is just the right size for your thumb to fit on one side and your fingers in the other...perfect for lifting a hot lid to peek inside a pan. And, I bet you know which salt we will be using this week!




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