Good Advice~

Take Time for Tea ~ I think that is good advice! Tea is not a hurry up and go kind of beverage. It is a relax, unwind and savor drink.  As you may imagine, I have a small collection of teatime stamps, but nothing like the set Handyman recently gave me as part of my anniversary gift. This set of 4 teapots and a variety of charming sentiments is from Papertrey Ink Stamps.

 

I was itching to create some cards with the stamps right away! Making a scrapbook page takes me a day or two to complete, but cards are an immediate source of satisfaction because I can finish them quickly. Of course the very first card I made had to be in the colors of  GOLD   and BLACK   because they are Kappa Alpha Theta's colors! We are all about my daughter's new sorority right now with her initiation just around the corner.

The stamps came with a clear CD jewel case for storage.  Papertrey Ink also has a companion set of stamps with additional tea images - Hmmm, I think those are going on my wish list. I made two additional cards using the same design but different paper. This one is in deep autumn colors using Gecko Galz Hocus Pocus paper. I popped the little leaf up on foam adhesive and stamped the sentiment directly on the card.

I used two punches on the next card I made, along with pen "stitching" and the sentiment on a banner.

There are some lovely black and gold  teacups available. I do not own any but will keep my eyes open for one. I did spot this lovely Limoges on Etsy (Mossweed) ~

 

They have a delicate golden scroll pattern with black outline. So elegant! All this talk of teacups and stamps reminds me of what a lucky woman I am to be celebrating my 27th wedding anniversary with the guy that knows the way to my heart, my sweet groom.

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Surprise! A Western Scrub Jay~

Higher still and higher
From the earth thou springest,
Like a cloud of fire;
The blue deep thou wingest,
And singing still dost soar, and soaring ever singest.

P.B. Shelley

  

A unexpected surprise, a serendipitous event - A handsome bird in royal blue attire perched on our fence today! In all our years here in Southern California we have never had the pleasure to see a Jay in our backyard. They are quite easy to spot in our local mountains, however.

  This jaunty fellow alerted us to his presence with his noisy squawking at the other birds on our patio! I grabbed my camera and managed to snap a few candid photos. I have had the best time photographing the various birds that stop by our yard for seed or a splash in the bird bath. I think I will make a mini album with them all. I did a bit of research and learned that the Western Scrub Jay is quite intelligent! Studies have shown that they can remember locations of over 200 food caches, as well as the food item in each cache and its rate of decay. They live approximately nine years. 

As Fall approaches many birds begin to migrate. Is there a favorite bird you get to see at this time of year? Or one that you reluctantly say farewell to until Spring?

 

Sugar and Sunshine

Sugar and spice
and everything nice
that's what little girls are made of~

Sunshine and rainbows
and ribbons for hair bows
that's what little girls are made of~
 

I was delighted to discover my favorite sweetener in a liquid form! Who knew? Would have loved to have this at the beginning of summer for the iced tea I drank. I really enjoy the warm brown sugar taste of Sugar In The Raw. I am a firm believer in using the 'real' stuff, as opposed to artificial sweeteners - just my idiosyncracy. I do not care for the taste of Sweet N Low, etc. I have even tried Stevia, which is plant based, and can still taste the odd flavor in my tea. I do not use much sugar, and I reason that it is better for me to use the real deal since it is natural and not a lot of calories in the scheme of things.

 

 Speaking of sugar, isn't this little Madame Alexander doll just the sweetest? She is called Lady Bug Girl. She was part of a give-away from McDonalds a few years ago. She has on a straw hat with a lady bug perched on it, pink tights and little black shoes.

 Lady Bug Girl adds sugar and sunshine to my day, while this charming candle adds warmth to my evening.

It is not an expensive tea cup, nor does it have any markings on the bottom. But it does have petite floral sprays on the front, back and saucer. The rim of the cup and saucer are gilded and the candle gives off a relaxing aroma when lit. As the summer winds down and evening temperatures begin to hint of autumn, I look at my tiny Lady Bug doll in the candle light and feel excitement for the coming Fall~   

 Tea parties, laces
and baby doll faces
that's what little girls are made of~

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Getting Back to Normal

I have been awol from my blog due to the hubbub of the start of school and sorority recruitment for College Girl. Not only that, but my laptop refused to connect to the internet so I had to use Handyman's computer to write my last post! Anyway, the BIG news around here is Recruitment. Whew! The process is exhausting! Ha Ha - all the prep, all the meetings. We have a chalkboard in the kitchen that I write quotes, poems, notes, etc., on as the weeks go by. This week I put a fun message on it for College Girl, accompanied by Loki and Pooh Bear.  This is all new to me and I was happy to have a dear friend walk me through it - thanks so much, PIC! I am still not used to College Girl driving off on her own even though she's had her license and car for over a year - there she goes to another 6 hour Recruitment event. 

 
On the 'casual' day she wore shorts in order to carry personal belongings because purses and phones were not permitted. Wavy hair, au naturale!

On Preference morning she was in heels and pearls. She was so excited she could hardly eat a thing!

She wore raspberry colored strappy heels and nail polish - so pretty paired with the coral lace dress. The fabulous news is that she received a bid from Kappa Alpha Theta! What an honor - she is thrilled! Tired, but thrilled!

Here she is with the black kite they made for her; the sorority held the kites up for the Pledges to see when they joined the Kappa Alpha Theta members on campus. There was lots of hugging and smiling! I am going to have a ball scrapping all the sorority photos - hahaha! Hmm, a little bird told me there is a Martha Stewart pansy edge punch available. Pansies are one of the THETA symbols so I might have to have it! lol~ I think a shirt like this would give me inspiration, don't you?

Here is the back of College Girl's new red THETA tank top. It says, "I flew away with THETA". Yup, she did. She is on cloud 9.

        Congratulations, sweet heart. You earned it!

I did a quick search for a Theta teacup I could buy for our new Pledge. They do exist! 

This is hand painted porcelain with the Greek Kappa Alpha Theta letters on it but it is currently sold out. I could also go for a pansy design.

estatestore.org photo

Or this gorgeous Saji tea cup from 1940's Occupied Japan

Remembering all the victims of Sept 11


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