Tea Time...and pass me one of those Crumpets!!

I Just finished reading a blog posting by doll maker friend Wendie , I always enjoy her posting so much...

In her blog she mentioned 'Tea Time'...Favorite Tea Pots and gathering with friend for good conversation and a cup of Tea... this got me to thinking....

I LOVE Tea...I REALLY love Tea more so lately than I ever have before... We have so many Wonderful English Friends here in Bloglandia...I would LOVE to hear about favorite Tea Recipes (i.e. methods of brewing) , types of Tea preferred ...one lump or 2...milk verses lemon, times to sup a good cup..... etc....

I have been to High Teas, have enjoyed several types of Tea (Green is NOT my favorite..YUCK)

I think mostly I enjoy the ritual of Tea Time .... I prefer loose tea to bagged...but bagged works in a very nice quick pinch! Speaking for myself I prefer milk...and two lumps...and something YUMMY and Sweet to eat as an added Treat!!

Would LOVE to hear those favorite Tea Tales...

Hugs,

Jodi

P.S. OK...I am an admitted Coffee-holic!! But lately Tea brings a certain calmness...I drink coffee on the run...but I stop to enjoy a good cup of Tea...

New Year Magical Moment...

Every once in a while in ones life...something really extraordinary happens...and if we really pay attention and 'See' it can set you on a path that is magical and enlightening to follow...

the above was mine!

Putting away the Christmas tree and taking down all the lights can be a depressing act...basically the joy and illumination of the season are finished...time to move on....always a sad time for me. This year we have been doing it in steps to make it appear not so radical and final. The last bits of lights were yesterday ...around the front windows and the tree into the box. I removed the lights from the big front window and thought to myself...I really need to clean this window...spotted and dusty from our last rain and wind.... I went to get the cleaner and paper towels and as I approached the window again...there it was...this image ...it actually took my breath for a second. Why did I not see it before, I swear it was not there ...or was it but I only saw it from this angle. I quickly got my camera. I must add that these photos are untouched... nothing more than a slight bump in the contrast . Now I KNOW what this is.... it is the imprint of a Dove that obviously flew into our window and then flew off...this has happened before several times (the curse of keeping your windows clean)...poor little guys just see it as a straight flight path... and 'thump' into the glass when taking off from eating seed on the ground. Knocking Wood...we have yet to lose one, it just knocks them loopy for a few seconds and off they go. Just to be safe Richard and I scoured the front to see if there was a helpless little Dove sitting outside somewhere...nope! For those that may not know...most all birds have dust in and on their wings from 'dust baths' etc..also Birdie 'dander' ...so when they hit...this can be distributed on the surface they hit...we have seen this before... but what we have not seen before is the 'full' imprint.... and when I changed from color to B&W ...there it was... a face...an almost angelic face...WOW, breath taken away again...I so hope you can see it. Now I am NOT one of those Faces of Jesus in a Grilled Cheese Sandwich kinda gals, nor a follower of Heavenly Faces of Mary on the side of a Barn... but faces that I see and cannot explain that's another story all together...

As a child growing up, part of my Christmas Tradition (started by my parents) was to 'Find the Christmas Angel' ...we would set up the tree with lights and the color wheel spinning it's bright colors onto the tree (dating myself here) and look on the walls ,floor and ceiling for the Angel....sometimes it would take as much as a week or more to finally see her... but there she always was... our own Christmas Angel! Her silhouette appearing faintly on the wall or ceiling and then disappearing again , back and forth back and forth I would be absolutely mesmerized by her appearance...she was always there....Magical!! I loved this Holiday Tradition best...it gathered the family each night and we joined together in the search.... it made us use our imaginations. And when we finally found her... we each described what we saw , how she looked to us ...they were lovely moments...and ones that I will never forget.

The Angel has been absent for many years now...but I will admit, I still look for her each time the tree is set up.... this year, I believe my Angel came in a different form .... and she is the brightest and most detailed yet.... for whatever reason and however long it took for her to appear once again, I am so grateful that she did...her comfort is welcomed and the memories she brought are the perfect touch to this Ending Season of Joy.

Wishing you Magical Moments in the New Year

Jodi

Happy New Year One and All....

Happy New Year One and All... 2009 has had it's ups and downs but all in all we got through it, over it, under it, around it and now we are driving Stakes in the ground for another interesting year filled with the unknown , uncertain,unfamiliar, uncharted, unprecedented offerings of Life....

but isn't that what makes... Life Exciting and worth living...

Hold Loved ones close, Tell only truths, Hurt no one and Reach higher and farther than you ever have ...Wonderous Miracles are waiting to tickle your fingertips.

May You New Year Enter with a Glorious Bang

Filled with Sparkles, Sizzle and Brightness Enough to Last

the Whole Year Through

Hugs,

Jodi

Merry Christmas Tonight...don't let the Martians Bite!

Having one of those days were I swear to you...I thought I had two more days 'BEFORE' Christmas Eve....YIKES... found our a short time ago that TOMORROW was Christmas Eve!!! Great Galloping Goblins...where did the week go??
I am blaming it on the 'Martians'...

We are having my Mom and Sister over for Christmas Eve Dinner ... having Crab (tradition be damned!) and a Caesar Salad, and Creme Brulee for dessert, it was my Moms request...YUM-O-RAMA!!!

We open gifts and sing songs (Richard and I have been working on a rendition of Baby it's Cold Outside to surprise my Mom with) ... We normally chat about old times and good memories...
Might play some games too....
Basically it is a quiet silent night filled with peaceful feelings.

Christmas Day we are going over to my Moms apt. building and dropping off some gifts for a few of the kids whose parents are having a bit of a struggle this year with work and all ...these are great little children ... filled with so much love and hope in their hearts... We are just gonna tell em that Santa got just a little confused with street directions and that he accidentally dropped off these goodies at our house by mistake .. but that I already was in touch with Santa to tell him no problem, we would straighten it out for him...and deliver the goodies to the right address....


So what is everyone doing on Christmas Eve or Day? What are your traditions?

Merry Christmas to ALL...and To All a Really Good Night!!

Hugs,
Jodi and Richard

A little Scary ...Not for the Kiddies!

I shudder to think this is the direct things have gone or will go in.... but it does make you think. I am a Old Fashioned girl at heart...choosing not to live beyond my budget and making most presents for friends and family....

I laugh at commercials selling stuff.... stuff I gotta have...YEAH RIGHT!!!

Hope no one takes offence to this nasty little 'Twist' on Santa...

Holiday Hugs

Jodi

More Snowman Humor

OK...Now some Holiday Humor before the Weekend