Happy New Year 2015~ Bring It On !

 My Wee Little Sheep were tangled in the miniature Christmas lights and the little Santa was unwinding them for me as I cleaned up my craft room / studio for a new year of rug weaving and crafting. I can see by his eyes he was a bit frustrated with the mess the little sheep made, but being of jolly nature, little Santa persevered and the lights were wound up and put away until next year's Christmas crafting.

 Our year ended with the joy of having our daughter's  children for a few nights before Christmas. We shared Christmas Eve with her and her children, it was a pleasant time of family fellowship. ( We had a good time of cooking together, watching movies, games, puzzles, and a special outing. )

 Our Christmas Village takes up our whole sun-room. It also takes a little more than a day to set up, and a whole day to take down and put away...

 ... but we think it is worth it. ( Whew ! ) Now the Christmas lights and the Christmas Village are put away until next year.

 Santa has hung his suit up in our guest bedroom for the year but not until after he ...

 ...visited our 5 grandchildren over the snowy mountains and far away and our 4 grandchildren on this side of the mountains. He is a busy Santa, but this grandpa ( oops, Santa) makes a lot of time for all of his grandchildren !

The past year, 2014, was a year of many challenges and blessings. We are thankful for all God has given us and look forward to 2015 knowing He is in control. Of all His many blessings this past year we have to say we are so thankful for the miracle and blessing of this little guy, firstborn child (son ) of our youngest son and his wife after almost 13 years of marriage.

We hope 2015 is a year of blessing to all our family & friends. May you have blessings abundant even in the midst of tragedy, trials, and whatever life throws at you. Take time to savour the little moments of simple joy, hug those you love whenever you have the chance, write notes of thanks & appreciation to those you seldom see, read & contemplate your Bible, and dance for joy when the mood strikes ! Happy New Year 2015, bring it on.

Chicks Just Make Me Happy

 Two granddaughters spent a few days here with us and of course they loved holding and playing with my new chicks ( as in baby chickens ).

 How can you not love holding such tiny softness , such fragile beauty ?

You just try keeping these two out of the chick pen , no way... these two returned as often as I allowed to hold the baby chickens. Oh my, am I blessed ! Granddaughters to play with and baby chicks too. I hope you have special joys in your life, and I know you do. Just look around, see how your life has been blessed. No matter your set -backs , the tragedy and chaos you have suffered and maybe suffer even now, you can find even a small glint of light, of hope, of blessing. Bless you today as you travel on this journey of life and appreciate the every day things so many take for granted...a bit of food, a place to sleep, something lovely to look at and somebody who cares for you. You truly are blessed !

Me, my chicks make me happy, and my granddaughters make me happier , I am blessed !

1,000 Pieces Minus One

 We had 2 of our grandchildren over to spend a few days with us this past week. I discovered they love to put together jigsaw puzzles and are so good at it that we need at least a 1,000 piece puzzle for it to be any fun. My husband loves to put puzzles together too. What a pleasant way to spend a cold & rainy weekend ~ hanging out indoors with grandchildren, eating good food, and assembling a cupcake puzzle.

 Most of Saturday & Sunday ( including the evenings ) was spent gathered around the table putting the cupcake puzzle together. No prompting was necessary, these three were drawn to the puzzle like bees to flowers , bears to honey, or kids to cupcakes !

 Almost finished....

 ...but what's this ? There is a piece missing ! Our 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle is only a 999 piece puzzle. How could this be ?

The teeth marks on the scattered puzzle pieces we found Sunday morning gave him away. Wonder where he hid the 1,000th piece .

 

Blessings this past week : playing with grandchildren , a warm home with plenty of food, a husband who loves to play with his grandchildren, a husband who loves me , and most of all ~ a husband who loves God !  ( O.K., a magnificent cat who makes himself known & appreciated even if it means to compete with a puzzle for attention he has to steal a piece. )

Alice In Wonderland Teacup ~ Tea-Time Tuesday

 When my husband drew up the plans for our home here on Cedar Pond we knew we wanted most of the windows in our home to look out on Cedar Pond. Now we have a view of this pond through our front room window in all seasons, and we love it. Today the view showed me a stormy day.

 A perfect day to stay inside and sew.

 I am sewing a patchwork quilt of fabric one of my granddaughters chose for her bed. I gave her a 4 X 4 inch cardboard square to trace and cut out squares from fabric she chose  for me to sew her quilt. My granddaughter  traced and cut out hundreds of little squares for her quilt and today was a perfect day to sew  the squares together because there was no other work demanding immediate attention after I fed my animals. I could not garden in the down pouring of rain. I made myself a cup of peppermint tea and drank it from this teacup, a gift from my sister Karen, as I sewed many squares of fabric together to make a patchwork quilt for a granddaughter.

 The teacup is from Disneyland , but I think you could have guessed that as soon as you saw the photo. The quilt is barely begun in this picture. The puzzle for me is how to bring the differing fabric squares together to make an over all pleasing design for my granddaughter. I need some more tea and time to think about this.

 I have many friends & family who love Disneyland and all things Disney. I have never been to Disneyland, but I hear tell they love it and visit it as often as possible. My Alice In Wonderland teacup is from one of my sisters who also loves the magical land and especially sharing it with her granddaughter. I am honored she chose to give me a teacup that is a token of her good times in Disneyland.

Peppermint tea in a sweet teacup on a very stormy day spent sewing a quilt for a beloved granddaughter. A very good day for me.

When I look out my windows and see Cedar Pond I remember the many good times here with family & friends I love. I know I am blessed. Sip a cup of tea in your favorite spot at home and remember you are truly blessed !

 

Tea-Time Tuesday is hosted by these ladies , pop in and spend some time with them !

 ~Rose Chintz Cottage *

~ Martha's Favorites *

~ Artful Affirmations *

~ Bernideen's Tea-Time Blog *

~ A Delightsome Life *

 





 

Spring Walk Around Cedar Pond & Tea On The Porch

 This Limoges teacup and saucer were given to me by my sister, via her friend Elaine. Thank-you Elaine,this is a beautiful teacup !

 Yesterday was unseasonably warm and sunny. I had considered not posting for Tea-time Tuesday, opting for a bit of gardening and a walk in the sunshine to drink in all the glories of new life beginning to unfurl and burst around Cedar Pond, but since I also wanted a cup of tea, I decided to combine my passions for both. Look at the exotic bird on this teacup, he looks fierce and proud and ready to fly.

 My two Labs, full sisters from two separate litters born here on Cedar Pond accompanied me. They sat for this picture after already swimming in the pond. They love to be with me, and if a walk around the pond is called for, they know they are going to have a great time. Their names are Willow (left) and Bea. They know their names too, which makes it easy for me to walk with them, because I know they know who I am talking to or commanding as we walk. Example: "WILLOW, NO !" and Willow knows she is to stop what she is doing, but Bea continues on. My dogs love, know, and obey me, and know I mean what I say or command them. This is always so important when you have dogs and also what makes having dogs  a blessing ,rather than a problem. When they remember who is the boss in the pack ( and they know it is me) they are secure and know how to behave, not out of fear, but confidence, knowing the way life operates is consistent.This also offers them freedom . But I digress.

Willow, Bea, and my husband's dog Hawk romping and splashing in the pond.

 I was overjoyed to discover the crocuses were blooming and my husband's honeybees were buzzing  and humming in and out of them and the many primroses we have around Cedar Pond.

The ducks have been amorous for the last month, which is a sure sign that no matter the temperature spring is on its' way. Here are my 2 Call ducks, the drake is forefront. He is a seasoned veteran around here, surviving the devastating coyote raids, and fathering quite a few ducklings.

Look, the ducks have begun to lay eggs. So have my turkeys. When the ducks and turkeys begin laying eggs, it is a sure sign spring is here, no matter what the weatherman says.

The lambs were sunning themselves against the sun-warmed tree stumps, yes...lambs and warm places to sleep outside mean spring is here.

The teacup bird. Is this a Phoenix or pheasant ? Does anyone know? I have searched and searched the internet for any information on this teacup, to no avail.

The roses on the other side of the teacup.

" M-Fires, Limoges Made In France "

I sipped a cup of very hot mint tea from this cup after my walk around Cedar Pond. The sunshine cheered me until sunset. The walk around Cedar Pond was a reminder to me the seasons come and go and usually life will continue in the patterns God has established from Creation. My animals and the wild birds and animals who have chosen to reside here have an instinct He created that causes them to live accordingly, and produce young, rear them, and then start again all over the next season. Yes, the spring mating rituals of the wild birds, the beginnings of nesting time, the new lambs, newly laid eggs of my ducks, chickens, and turkeys all point to spring as having arrived here. Bring on Spring!

 

A very happy Labrador Retriever. Bea is waiting for me here on our private road beside the pond to throw her a stick. If she is very lucky, I'll throw it into the pond so she can swim and run in the mud before returning it to me. A romp in the pond and the mud, a few sticks to fetch, a bit of digging, and time with the person they love. Life is pretty simple for a dog, and life is really pretty simple for us. Someone to love, someone who loves us. Chores, work, and tasks that are needful and remind us we are needed. A simple cup of tea....not so very difficult, not so unobtainable, and a good reminder of the many blessings we often forget to remember because a lovely teacup and sustaining cup of tea are simple blessings beyond measure, and shared in good company are priceless.

 

I am sharing a bit of tea with the ladies listed below, please check out their tea times! You'll be glad you did. ~

• Bernideen's *
• Antiques and Teacups *
• Terri*
• Martha*
• Sandi *

Spode Rosebud Chintz~ Thank-You Aunt Ruby & Cousin Christine

My Aunt Ruby and her daughter, my cousin Christine, generously offered to me this lovely set of Spode china .I love it. I am already planning to use this china for two luncheons this month. I can't wait.Thank-you Aunt Ruby and Cousin Christine !

"Copeland Spode, England. Rosebud Chintz"

Are you taking time to nourish your soul in this winter season, this beginning of a new year? Stop your busy-ness, sit a spell. Sip some tea from a favorite teacup or mug. Reflect on the many blessings in your life. No matter the problems and distresses this life has given you, there is at least ONE blessing ? Stop the frantic actvity and worrying and take time to thank God for His mercies. Ask Him for His wisdom regarding your problems and worries. Rest in Him. He does answer prayer." Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." I Thessalonians 5:16-18

"One reason we are so harried and hurried is that we make yesterday and tomorrow our business when all that legitimately concerns us is today. If we really have too much to do, then there are some things on our agenda which God did put there. Let us submit the list to Him and ask Him to indicate which items we must delete. There is always time to do the will of God. If we are too busy to do that, then we are too busy." Elisabeth Elliot

I Need A Bigger Jewelry Box !

"Enjoy the blessings of the day...and the evils bear patiently, for this day only is ours; we are dead to yesterday, and not born to tomorrow." Jeremy Taylor

"Happiness is a by-product of an effort to make someone else happy." Gretta Palmer

"He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those he has." Epictetus

We were away this past weekend enjoying time with our sons and their families. Above is a photo of our youngest son leading his horses bearing two precious fair maidens.We had a wonderful time and I am constantly reminded of the blessings God has showered upon us.The true riches and treasures of my life are the loved ones who delight in spending time and sharing their lives with us.I think I need a bigger jewelry box!  "Rejoice always." I Thessalonians 5:16

Sunshiny Autumn, Happy Hawk !

I was working outside and noticed my constant companion, our Vizsla , Hawk, was not following me. Very unusual, he seems to be attached to me at the knee when I am outside.I looked for him and found him just standing...

..and soaking up the heat of the afternoon Autumn sunshine. Here is a dog dear to my heart that knows when to stop and soak in the blessings that come our way, sometimes for only a few scarce minutes.Thank-you God for allowing me the privilege of enjoying animals who know to stop and take in the everyday blessings I so often hurry by, only to remember days or years past, if at all.

"The happiest heart that ever beat 

was in some quiet breast

That found the common daylight sweet,

And left Heaven to the rest."

John Vance Cheney 

 

Look, Listen, Rest, Enjoy ~ Be Happy!

Chicory &Her Lamb

Today the weather warmed to almost 60 degrees. This past week I have been unable to settle down indoors and get so many needful things done. The flowering plum tree outside the spare bedroom window is covered in pink blossoms, the snow white crocuses and fragrant hyacinths are blooming. My sheep have lambs, 15 thus far, and I am still bottle-feeding one of the lambs. I have been dashing about cleaning and re-organizing inside and out. As I sat down late last night to respond to e-mails, Facebook, and write a blog-post our internet and television service went out. ( where DO they go when they go out?) There was nothing to be done about it at that hour so I settled myself in the living room in front of the fireplace and read a good book. I could hear the rain pattering on the sun-room sky-lights, and over the sound of rain I could hear the very loud croaking of the frogs- a sure sign Spring has arrived. A moment to simply enjoy the pleasures of blessings at hand . Don't you forget to take some time to do that. Just stop, look around you, listen, enjoy~~"Happiness : The agreeable sensations which spring from the enjoyment of good ;" Amer. Dictionary Of English Language