Umbrellas

With snow piled high at the end of my driveway and at every street corner, it is hard to believe that today is the first day of spring.  Daffodils are still asleep, insulated under layers of snow. 
It has been quite a winter.  Many are tired of dragging out their shovels and snow blowers to remove yet another 3-5 inches of snow.   Every evening we listen to the forecast making sure we  leave enough time in morning routines to get to work on time.  Black ice, spin outs, accidents, and "leave enough space for the car in front of you," will soon be faded memories of a very long winter.  It is time to wake from our long winters nap. 

I will miss the mornings when Jack Frost painted a winter wonderland while we were sleeping.  We woke to Narnia many mornings. 
Hats, boots, and  mittens will soon be shoved in the corners of our closets, replaced by flip flops, raincoats and umbrellas.
   

 

I wondered if I really needed an umbrella on a recent day trip we took to the ruins while in Mexico.  There were clouds in the sky and a nice breeze.  I certainly did not want to have to carry one all day.  While exiting the bus, our guide looked at me and said, "you should take this. your skin will burn."  I begrudgingly grabbed it to make the guide feel better!    At first, it felt like a weight lugging that thing around.  I didn't want to open it for fear I would take someone's eye out.  When there was enough space around me to actually open the umbrella,  it pinched my finger!  No blood thank goodness!  I noticed my hand was dirty from residue around the handle.  Rust.  This shield was old!  I was ready to ditch this so called protective covering quick.  Not many others had one.  I was just about ready to stash it somewhere...anywhere...behind the pyramid maybe...when our guide asked me if he could borrow it for a moment.  Gladly,  I gave it to him.  He used it to draw in the ground, helping us to imagine this incredible time in history when the Mayans lived right on these lands.   He then gave it back to me, telling me that I was the smart one who took one of these as the sun started beating down on all of us.  It was getting warm.  No cloud cover.  "It is hot" was heard throughout the crowd.  I was starting to sweat myself as I pulled open the umbrella and let it protect me from the sun's rays.   By mid day, we were cookin!  I was grateful for this umbrella now.       
    On rainy days and sunny days, that umbrella comes in handy.  I need and long for the protection of an umbrella.  I want to hide under it.  The umbrella shields me.  More importantly, Jesus is my umbrella.  It is He who protects me and covers me.  I don't have to be afraid of getting wet or getting sunburned, because He will be there, my umbrella, giving me shelter.  Guarding me in all my ways. 
 Happy spring.   

Worth repeating

Back in August 2013, I blogged about Susan Branch. 
She went on  a little trip across the pond to lovely England not long ago. 
Went on the Queen Mary 2 and kept a diary of all that she did. 
She draws and writes and creates the most incredible illustrations. 
Her penmanship is an art in itself. 
This is her book:  A Fine Romance.  Falling in love with the English Countryside. 

It puts me in my happy place every time I pick it up. 
Tea cups, recipes, advice.  There is even a page on "What to ask for on your birthday."
I won't give her list away.  You must get the book! 
Here is a sample page:

Today I spent some time on her web page. 
www.susanbranch.com
I was perusing her past blog entries. 
June 27, 2011 appealed to me.  It was about How to make a Peggy Pie.  Susan went into great detail about how this woman brought her a pie and how that affected her.  Right down to the towel it was wrapped in.  You must go and read it. 
Everything about this website is simply marvelous. 
Take just a few minutes and go have a look. 
It will put a smile on your face.  Guaranteed. 
Oh...Go get the book too. 
On one of her blogs, she tells what kind of camera she has.  On my list to get a new camera, so I am taking her advice. 

Pain

They were all  between the ages of 18 and 21
Boys
Two separate accidents this past week
Icy roads
3 in one car
4 in the other
7 lives lost

Hard to turn off the thoughts in my head repeating the question, "What if...."

I have a boy
Just turned 21
Travels in a car at times
Icy roads everywhere where he is in college
In fact, snowed AGAIN

One of the parents was quoted, "we had 21 great years with him.  for that we are grateful."

I did not know any of these families.  I still grieve for their unimaginable losses. 
As I sit here, I am quite sure I would not be brave.

I am learning to TRUST in this new year.

Quoting CS Lewis..."If and when a horror turns up, you will then be given grace to help you.  I don't think one is usually given it in advance...."

Life is day by day.  Hour by hour. 
I am thankful each day that God grants me life to be with my family. 
I love to hear my children's voices and wake next to my husband. 
May I never ever take for granted that gift. 

May God wrap his loving arms around these families and give them peace. 

   



  
 

Laura Childs

Tea cup mysteries.  That is what she writes. 

Reading the paper, the article grabbed my attention.  In the LIFE section, there was a picture of an author with a pile of books and she was shown drinking a cup of tea. 
I was hooked. 
As I read, I realized this author's works are advertised in Tea Time magazine.  Each time I receive this magazine in the mail, I drop everything and start paging through it.  Photos of delicate tea cups and afternoon tea recipes puts me in my happy place.  Thoughts of England! 

The article was well written with pictures of her and her husband.  I learned her real name is Gerry Schmitt.  She writes as Laura Childs. 
The mysteries take place in Charleston, South Carolina in a place called Indigo Tea Shop. 
She has written many books with titles as clever as:  Oolong Dead, Agony of the Leaves, Sweet Tea Revenge to name a few. 
I had to meet her.  I put the date on my calendar, and Saturday we were off. 

What a delightful lady.  We had a wonderful conversation about writing.  She gave me great advice.  "It takes great discipline to sit in the chair and write."  Yep.  It sure does. 

I bought her latest book, Steeped In Evil, and she signed it for me.  We talked about tea and I told her how much I love to drink it!  How appropriate for her to sign my book the way she did! 
An added bonus...there are recipes in the books she writes.  Recipes for scones, tea sandwiches, tea.  Also, ideas for tea parties. 
I am looking forward to reading her works. 
To learn more about this author, go to www.laurachilds.com.
Once there, click on tea resources. 
There is so much information about tea on that page.  You will get lost for hours. 
Happy tea drinking. 
   


   

Wellies

Time to break out the wellies and start playing in the puddles.  25 degrees yesterday......above zero I might add!   Today the weatherman states 35.  Yippee!  The dripping has commenced.  My drive in to work has improved greatly  as the washboard effect has dissipated.  I do believe I am actually driving on nothing but pavement.  No ice to make my way slippery.   
Next up...POTHOLES!  One bad move and your tire will connect with the hole!  I have a feeling it could be interesting as the frost comes out of the ground.  Already figuring out what lanes not to be in.  Let the dodging begin! 

Do you have a favorite pair of rain boots?  What color are yours? 

Blue bird tea paperie

Handwritten letters are my favorite way to communicate. 
Whenever I receive one, I make a cup of tea, sit in my favorite chair,  and relish the time spent reading the cherished piece of mail. 

A letter feels personal.  Intimate.  Someone took the time to pen their thoughts to me.  I love that. 

I write to my kids a lot.  One day while face to face  I asked my son, "do you even read my letters or do you just take the cash and run?!"    He looked at me with the most insulted look!  "of course I read your letters.  They help me get through my week." 

On Mother's Day last year, both of my kids were telling me that they "did good this year."  I looked at them,  puzzled.  "You'll see" was their reply. 
Together they made me a collage. 
   

Pictures of us scattered throughout of days gone by.  What I really loved were the notes.  Notes that I had wrote to them and they saved them and put some on the collage.  "The comforter" "I adore you" to name a few.  I keep it hung close to my desk in my den.  Notes mean a lot. 

 

I found the perfect notecards.  Teacups blended throughout the cards.  Stacked cups, dozens displayed in rows, these cards are so English.  I love them.  So fun to write on. 

Take a look for yourself. 

www.bluebirdteapaperie.com

How about you...do you still write handwritten notes?   

Curious

Come this Christmas, I will be curious to go and see the movie that Angelina Jolie is now producing. 
Admittedly, she is not a favorite of mine.  But, seeing her in an interview with Louis Zamperini has me thinking.  Hmmmm...
Not sure what the movie will be called, but I have read the book and it is called UNBROKEN by Laura Hillenbrand.  It is an excellent read.  I highly recommend it.  Definitely not my normal genre read, but wow, it is a page turner. 
It is about a man (Louis Zamperini) who survives conflict after conflict.  True life events that are inconceivable. 
A plane crash, surviving in the ocean, POW camp.  Some parts are so hard to read.  It is unthinkable what man can do to another man.  Evil.  Such evil. 
While I was watching the interview, I am convinced that Angelina loves this man.  She stated that , "it is important to get it right."  I believe her. 
I also think this is personal for her.   She wants to get this story accurate.  I applaud her. 
There is a definite bond between these two souls. 
Very fascinating to hear that they lived near each other in California, and never knew it.  For ten years, they were neighbors.
Life is strange that way.  Full of twists and turns.   They have come together for "such a time as this" to do this film. 

Cameras followed her as she made her way into Louis' house for the interview.  She seemed to ignore the camera.  She was on a mission.  To sit by and speak eloquently of, and to, this special man.  This kind, frail, 97 year old man who stole her heart just by being him.  How I wish I could meet him.  He is the grandfather that every girl wants.  He was humble during the interview and full of life.  A fully alive man.  How blessed is she to produce a movie about such a wise soul. 

Have you read the book?  What did you think?