As We Went Down To The River To Play...

As we walked the path to the river to play,

we passed many ancient trees along the way...

...along the trail many old giants lay,

some cut into benches and gateways offered us a momentary place to sit, to stay~

but the river beckoned...

come play, come play!

And so we went on down to the river,

Down to the river to play!

This is the Cispus River at Iron Creek Campground in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Washington. The trees here are ancient, many over 600 years old. Think about that, they were growing before Columbus set sail for this land. The very storms that sent trees through our roof a few years ago also brought down many of these giants and they are now nurse trees in the forest. Some lay in the river like huge beached whales. I tried to capture even a bit of just how huge they are but my camera is unable to relay what it is like to feel so tiny and insignificant standing next to one of the trees.Walking in this forest makes me want to cry for the beauty, and I can never be here without reflecting on God and His creation.

A Quiet Tea Time Tuesday

We were camping this past weekend with our family. The granddaughters who have spent the summer with us went home with their father. I miss them already but am catching up on the many things left undone while I was having fun with the little girls. It was cool and drizzly outside, my kind of weather. I brewed a pot of peach tea and chose a new teacup to drink from while I sat on the porch and enjoyed the quiet of a softly raining afternoon. "We need quiet time to examine our lives openly and honestly...spending quiet time alone gives your mind an opportunity to renew itself and create order." Susan Taylor I find I crave quiet time, especially when life is busy, so today I treat myself to a cup of tea, a comfortable porch rocker,paper and pen to write out lists and notes to myself, the only distractions are what I see and hear from the porch."If we have not quiet in our minds, outward comfort will do no more for us than a golden slipper on a gouty foot." John Bunyan This teacup has no markings on the bottom, but there is a sticker saying it is from The Secret Garden Collection, Delton Products - made in China. I love the delicate and realistic violets on this teacup and just below the porch railing I have many real violets growing, so this is a perfect tea cup for sipping tea on my front porch. "Be still and know I am God." Psalm 46:10 "Traditionally we are taught, and instinctively we long, to give where it is needed - and immediately. Eternally, woman spills herself away in driblets to the thirsty, seldom being allowed the time, the quiet, the peace, to let the pitcher fill up to the brim." Anne Morrow Lindbergh Fortunately, God can and does give us that peace when we need it, just ask. That quiet and peace can be had while doing the dishes, calming a crying child, facing the many trials and calamities life throws at us. "Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still." Psalm 4:4 Please visit Martha *,Terri*,and Lady Katherine* to view other teacups and tea parties, then pour yourself a good cup of tea into a lovely teacup , sit back and be still~ if only for a few moments. Take time to reflect on your blessings, they are many!

Rooster Party!

It's a Rooster Party ! *

I had no idea how many roosters I had until I began to gather them for this party. The real challenge was to edit my collection, and it was a very hard challenge. Not sure I was successful, but as I said, you have no idea how many roosters I have!

I started with our every day dishes, purchased at Fred Meyers a few years ago. I never tire of them, day in and day out, every day meals are served on these roosters.

Then of course there are the rooster napkins, dish towels really, but I liked them so much I bought 20 and use them often as napkins. When they get too dingy to use as napkins I will use them as intended. This lovely tea pot was a gift from my friend Pam, grandmother of Kathryn, who hosted a tea party for myself and my grandchildren last week. She knows what I like, thank-you Pam!

Bottle stopper, or wine bottle stopper. Here this rooster sits atop my bottle of water. Ahh, roosters AND blue, perfect!

I set the table near my husband's new honey house. He has been harvesting the most beautiful honey I have ever seen these past few days and it is nice to sit at the table nearby to sip ice cold water or tea before he begins again the sweet work of extracting honey fresh from the hive.

This rooster is perched above Lavender plants waiting to be planted in the Lavender bed surrounding the honey house. This rooster is a gift from a friend and sister Jacob Sheep owner, Arlene. Thank-you Arlene!

As I view this table arrangement I see I must learn to edit my settings even more, but it is so hard, I love my blue and white and the roosters.I know, I need a bigger table, yes! That is the solution. A much, much, bigger table.

Of course, anyone who truly appreciates roosters should have the American Poultry Association Book of Standards to make sure they really know their roosters. I have an older version, keep meaning to order the newest, but an old book of Standards is very handy to have. Oh, and don't forget to make sure you have your subscription of Backyard Poultry up to date too. I read these often. Don't you? Just look at one of the many pages of handsome roosters. If you have never read a book of Standards for poultry you have no idea of the variety of roosters there are. Why, roosters are truly one of the most beautiful, handsome, and varied birds there are.

My rooster table-setting clinging to the shade next to the not-quite-finished Honey House and the not-quite-fully weeded herb garden.

And of course,one of the best roosters for last, Mr. White. My bantam frizzled Cochin. He is beautiful, and he is another post!

Just a note; I will be away from my computer this weekend to fully enjoy the last few days we will have with our Granddaughters and their father ( our oldest son ) before they go home. I am eagerly anticipating my visits to see your roosters when I return to my computer~ so many roosters, so little time!

Judy's Roosters

Judy is a dear friend of ours and although she is not a blogger, she reads blogs. Judy and her husband of many, many years live in a picture perfect log home ( inside and outside) that overlooks a river. If that isn't enough perfection, she loves roosters!I wanted to share just a few of Judy's roosters with you in anticipation of the Rooster Party this Friday. Judy's daughter Jenny is sitting at the table on the front porch with Judy this perfect sunny day. Above the table on the front porch is a picture I have coveted since I saw it at Judy's. ( shh, don't tell her ) I believe the handsome pair of chickens are Standard Light Brahmas. In reality they are very big, docile chickens. Stunning to see a real pair of them strutting about.

Judy set the table with a toile tablecloth...did I mention Judy has a lot of blue and yellow toile in her home? See, I told you she is perfect!There are scenes of a lady feeding her chickens , roosters included, on the toile.

The front porch has a rooster made of horseshoes, a gift from her son-in-law. He made this and I think I want one too...hint, hint!

This large rooster adorns the back of Judy's home. The gardens incorporate the beauty of the firs, cedars, maples, ferns, and other natural greenery abundant in our area, and the back yard over looks the Nisqually River. This rooster has a nice home !

Oh, he has hopped to a flower box on a tool shed. He knows he is a handsome rooster.

Judy reaches out to grab him and....

...he has jumped onto a small antique wagon bearing a large geranium.

He is showing us his domain.Just behind him is the river. You can easily see it as you sit on the bench. It is very peaceful here, watching the river, hearing the river. If he wanted to the rooster could take the steps nearby right down to the river's edge. He might even go fishing, but then he could possibly snag one of the many people inner-tubing down the river on this warm sunny day.

Up, up, onto an old chicken crate. The rooster gets an even better view of the river.

Inside Judy's very cozy home are many, many more roosters, but I'll leave them for another time. Cock-a-doodle-doo to you, and check in on Barb at Bella Vista* who is hosting the Rooster Party !

Teacup Tuesday !

Teacup Tuesday is here and I could not resist showing off this lovely teacup yet again. This teacup is a favorite around here now and I am sipping very hot Red Rose tea from it as I blog tonight. I am looking forward to visiting so many other blogs and seeing the teacups on display. "Each cup of tea is an imaginary voyage." Catherine Douzel

This little granddaughter loves her tea. She will drink at least four full teacups of Red Rose tea each time I make a big pot of it. "Its ( tea ) liquor is like the sweetest dew from Heaven." Lu Yiu I know her tea is definitely sweet, she adds at least 4 to 6 spoonfuls of sugar to each cup of tea. The pleasure on her face as she carefully fills each spoon with sugar, then stirs and stirs the sugar into the hot tea until it is dissolved is only magnified when she drinks the tea.

Granddaughter seems to lose herself in her cup of tea and barely notices me. "Tea is drunk to forget the din of the world." Tien Yihang

The teacup is fine bone china made by Royal Grafton of England.

The mere chink of cups and saucers tunes the mind to happy repose." George Gissing

"Tea is a cup of life." Author Unknown

"If you are cold tea will warm you. If you are too heated tea will cool you. If you are depressed, it will cheer you. If you are excited it will calm you." Gladstone

"Strange how a teapot can represent at the same time the comforts of solitude and the pleasure of company." A.U.

Tea, it just hits the spot! To see many more teacups and tea parties just click onto the names of these lovely ladies : Terri *, Martha *,and Lady Katherine *.

I am so excited to be participating in a Rooster Party this week! It begins on Friday and is hosted by Bella Vista *. If you would like to join in on any of these events check out their links. I decided to join in on the Rooster Party early with baby roosters in my teacup. ( I did wash the teacup before using it tonight.)