Blueberry Tea Day Musings

Good morning!

It's Tea on Tuesday again!

I want to invite all of you

to visit Kimmie at

Art in Red Wagons.

Just go to her sidebar for a list of

tea bloggers.

Hope you join us!

It's been a busy holiday season so far.

But I did take time out to go fishing

with my family. 

My 2 year old grandson caught his first fish!

My grandson called the fishing pier a

"suspension bridge".

Now remember he is only 2 yrs. old.

He learned those words from

Thomas the tank engine.

Thomas has been around for over 65 years,

and was started by a Reverend who made up stories

for his little boy.

I learned a lot about Thomas this Thanksgiving holiday.

This is my DH and I on the pier.

When the sun came out bright that morning

the sun stars were dancing on the water

all across the bay.

I wish my camera could have caught how

beautiful that was!

Today I get back into my routine of sorts.

I'm having my blueberry STASH tea,

and just enjoying the morning.

Having tea is always a good way to relax

and it helps me slow down.

My watercolor class starts up again tomorrow.

This watercolor is by

C. Beard a local artist from Big Bend.

The piece it titled

"The Window".

This is looking out of the basin

where the park headquarters is located.

You are up in the Chisos Mtns.

looking down into the

Terlingua area.

I have also been working on the 2nd doll

in the 2010 Coolab art doll project.

This is Lady Sebastian.

She began in California with her creator Talitha.

Lady S. then traveled to Amy in central Tx.

where she got some great additions.

Now she is with me

in South Texas.

I have added a few things to her,

and now will work on her journal.

Next she will go to Gail in North Carolina.

To see and read about the work on all the dolls in this project,

and to follow their progression over the next year,

please visit

Art Doll Coolab 2010.

I will be posting all about Lady S. here

and on the project blog soon.

Christmas is just around the corner.

I'm busy this week

finishing up on Christmas presents

for an early family get together on the 5th.

Everyone is making home made gifts

this year, and we're all having so much fun!

Not much money spent,

and thought, creativity and love

put into each present.

The whole month of December is filled

with fun, food, friends and family.

We never forget the reason for celebrating.

Always a lot going on during the holidays.

But I always take time out,

no matter how busy or behind I am,

to just , enjoy things and...

Savor the Day!

Yvonne

Giving Thanks......

This year I am thankful for so many things.

As I share more photos of my trip

to Big Bend, Texas

I will also be sharing what I am

thankful for in my life.

This is Santa Elena Canyon, rising up 1500 ft.

on the border of Texas and Mexico.

I am thankful I live in such a wonderful country,

and I am able to travel to see it's beauty.

I will not take my freedom or my health for granted.

This is a view from Sotol Vista.

The Indians used the Sotol Yucca

and other desert plants for

so many things in their daily living. 

They had a very hard life among the

thorny fingers of the desert.

Though thorny,

Ocotillo and lechugiulla etc. are beautiful

and useful.

I am thankful that I live in 2010

and have the things I have today.

I have been luckier than some.

I will not take that for granted.

I am thankful I am able to learn about the past

and that it can be preserved for those in the future.

I am thankful I can learn from those who came before us.

Another view from Sotol Vista,

looking toward Mexico and the Rio Grande.

In the background you can see Santa Elena Canyon.

By air miles it is 14 miles away.

I am thankful we have easier ways to travel today.

Can you imagine how difficult it must have been

traveling by horse, by wagon etc. 100 years ago or more.?

I am thankful for technology and science.

It touches our lives daily.

I will continue to learn more every day,

and to take care of this Earth.

I am so thankful that I have the good health to still travel

and see this beautiful Earth.

Every place has it's own beauty.

If you missed my post showing more pics about Big Bend

please click here...

http://inkspillersattic.blogspot.com/2010/11/land-of-contrast.html#links

The tree zone of Big Bend starts at higher elevations

in the Chisos Mtns.

There is a woodland of junipers, oaks,

and Mexican pinons.

There are Arizona pines and Douglas firs.

I'm thankful for all the beauty in the world.

I am thankful for trees and plants,

as they give us life sustaining oxygen.

I will plant more of these.

Most of all,

I am thankful for husband Gene, my children and grandchildren,

 my family

 and my friends.

Even my online friends add to my life.

I will not take anyone for granted.

There is so much to be thankful for each day!

I am thankful for each day I get up and see the sun rise...

so I can.....

Savor the Day!

Yvonne

Blueberry tea and art

Happy Tea on Tuesday!

My trip to Big Bend

was very inspirational

and I always look for tea shops

and quilt shops.

I found both.

There was a very nice little tea shop

in Terlingua.

It was actually a health food market,

gift shop, and coffee/tea house.

I loved the art she had on the walls.

It's great how art and tea go

together so well, isn't it.  :)

Above is my sister Lanette.

We loved this red wall and the painting!

This painting was very large! 

Loved it too!

The coffee/tea house and market in Terlingua, Texas.

Sign out front. :)

I did purchase some tea here.

It is

STASH Premium

http://www.stashtea.com/

You can send for a free catalog.

Stash Tea Catalog

PO Box 910

Portland, Oregon 97207

It is a caffeine free herbal tea.

Very good!

I bought the

blueberry superfruit!

 Ingredients are....

hibiscus, orange peel,

lemongrass, rosehips,

chicory root, blueberry flavor,

blueberry powder,

acai powder,

blackcurrant powder,

citric acid and licorice powder.

Hope your day is wonderful

and peaceful!

Savor the Day!

Yvonne

Antique quilts, cretonne quilts, baskets and more!

Dating Quilts: From 1600 to the Present

You may want to learn how

dating antique quilts is done.

It is quite interesting.

I will show you three antique quilts below

that belong to a guild member.

Linda also creates civil war reproduction quilts

and many others.

She is a very talented lady.

--------------

First I would like to show you this pretty little quilt.

With the season quickly approaching,

I thought it was very nice.

It's the 12 Days of Christmas.

Now for the highlight of the meeting.

The following three quilts are

 the antique quilts

that Linda W. purchased

at auction recently.

Of course no one knows

what she purchased them for,

although someone did ask.

Linda kept quiet of course.  LOL

This first one is dated to

1860.

This one is dated to 1820.

And this one is dated to 1890.

What a job to date the fabrics in these quilts!

I learned that a 'cretonne' quilt

is one made of heavy cotton material

in printed designs, usually with animals.

Thanks Linda for sharing these beautiful quilts!

Isn't this one bright and beautiful!

I love basket quilts!

Savor the Day!

Yvonne

Land of Contrast!

My trip to Big Bend area of Texas was wonderful!

Best part was going with my sister.

Big Bend is surely a

land of contrast.

I want to share just a tiny glimpse with you.

There is the desert area of

Terlingua and Study Butte.

The National Park area is forested Mtns.

There is the Rio Grande, sun baked hills

created from an ancient volcano,

 deep canyons and more.

I found that this area is

burgeoning with life...

from javelinas, peregrine falcons,

tarantulas and turtles,

to jackrabbits, bears and mountain lions

(over 100 siteings per month).

This is one little peak of the Chisos Mtns.

They are like a craggy fortress.

One thing I loved was the purple prickly pear cactus

that was sprinkled around in the area.

This is my sister Lanette,

at the mouth of the

Santa Elena Canyon.

The Rio Grande is an international boundary and

cuts through the canyon.

The Mexicans know it as

el Rio Bravo del Norte,

the wild river of the north.

River rafting is very popular here.

This photo above is looking down on

 the Rio Grande from

 the road between Lajitas and Presidio,

known as River Rd.

It is a 50 mile scenic drive.

This is me, back at Santa Elena.

We walked up a path

that winds up the canyon wall.

The silence and solitude there is astounding.

One of the friendliest and most interesting people in the desert.

His Indian name is

Many Stones.

He has a great rock shop and sells desert plants also.

He is holding his handcrafted

sotol yucca walking stick

with leather strapping woven into it.

Longest one I have ever seen.

He said it was to push those rattle snakes

as far away as he could. 

Sign outside of Many Stones shop.

I had to show you Harry and Anna.

Aren't they beautiful!

I also went to a quilt shop,

tea shop, the re-opening of the Starlight Theatre,

a very unique historical cemetary,

an old church, into the basin of the Chisos,

and much, much more.

There is so much more to see,

Pictographs, old mines, hidden grottos,

waterfalls, the desert in bloom

and so much more.

I guess I will have to return one day.

To say the least...

I got lots of inspiration!

Savor the Day!

Yvonne

Indian Summer Trip

Today is Veteran's Day.

Please remember all those who serve(d).

Today is also the beginning of

Indian Summer.

The weather is beautiful here

in south Texas.

Texas, being as big as it is,

is quite diverse in its weather.

I will be going to

the Big Bend area

with my sister on Friday.

Just for about a week.

It has been reaching

30s-40s at night in that area,

but then 60s-70s during the day.

So, they say it is the best time to go,

as summer is quite hot there.

Until I return next week...:)

I wanted to leave you with a few photos

I took the other morning...

and a new quote I found.

This is a stained glass window I brought back

from England many years ago.

"People are like stained glass windows. 

They sparkle and shine when the sun is out,

but when the darkness sets in

their true beauty is revealed

only if there is light from within.

---Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

Savor the Day!

Yvonne



Circle of Friends Tea

What do you do when your garage door opener

goes on the blink?

My friend

 has had this problem

 for about 5 days.

She has had to depend on her

circle of friends

to drive her around,

until the garage door could get repaired.

Little things like that can affect us in a big way.

What would we do without our friends?

When we reach a certain age especially....

and all of our family may be gone,

sometimes,

friends are all we have.

Todays Tea on Tuesday post

is about friends.

Be a friend,

make a new friend,

look up an old friend,

get together with friends.

Just don't take them for granted.

Who's in your circle of friends?

You may have many different circles of friends.

Have fun with your friends!

Today I had tea out on the patio

with my little 'circle of friends'

I got in Mexico.

It always reminds me of my best friends.

My new little tea cup you see above

is one I found while thrifting.

It is a handpainted cup from China.

Isn't the lid just the cutest thing!

The tea I'm drinking today is

Raspberry black tea from

Ahmad Tea in London.

Very good!

I picked it up at our local

little tea room

The Cherry Tree

Tea Room

and Gift Shop.

It's a great place to meet friends.

They were getting ready for a big party in fact,

so I had to hurry and snap

a few photos.

So, hope all of you out there in

my blogging circle of friends

 have a good Tea Tuesday.

Join Kimmie and

all the rest of the

Tea blogger friends

at

http://artinredwagons.blogspot.com/

Savor the Day!

...with your friends!

Yvonne

My Monday Visit

 Today I went out

to visit with some ladies at a local church,

as I do on many Mondays.

They are getting ready for their

big Thanksgiving celebration.

This small church has less than

100 active members,

but every year

members,

past and present,

their families,

no matter where they may live now

 come to help with this special day.

They have a family style

Thanksgiving meal,

all you can eat,

a country store

and much more.

They serve over 4000 people

and almost everything in the store sells out.

It is absolutely amazing!

They work like a machine,

and everyone has so much fun!

Every Monday during the year

about 5-6 ladies get together

and create items for the Country Store.

These items are

very nice, one of a kind items.

They are all very talented.

They have things like

painted cypress knee Santas (up to 3 ft. tall)

Silver Goblet chimes,

crosses of every kind you can think of,

and so much more.

The store by itself

makes about

$12,000

in that one day.

They give their time,

and work very hard.

But you can see they

have a good time doing it.

They just....

Savor the Day!

Yvonne

Fall Musings

Just watched a good movie the other night,

The Secret Life of Bees.

I had read the book awhile back.

I thought it was very good.

Also watched

The Time Travelers Wife.

Loved it!

I always believed that time travel was possible.

  

On another note...

I've started some new classes,

thanks to my friend Brenda.

I'm now taking watercolor classes with

local artist Dolores Price.

I love her work.

If you want to see her paintings go to

http://www.dolorespricestudios.com/

Her gallery is called Kairos Gallery.

(Kairos is a Greek work for

'the right moment'.)

One thing I learned in the very first class

was

"creativity is a winding path toward an unexpected goal".

 Yep, I know I added another thing to my already busy schedule.

But it's fun!

Watercolor has always been a love of mine.

I have been trying to slow down,

as you may know.

I will just have to cut out something else....

but what?......

Seems the more I try to slow down,

the busier I become.

Kind of like that old saying...

The hurryder I go,

The behinder I get!

Well, that's me sometimes.

November is a very busy month

for me.

It's really all fun things,

so I guess I can't complain. 

Do you ever feel a sense of urgency

as you get older,

to get things done?

I feel calm,

but at the same time

I feel I must do certain things,

go places etc.

I want to do so much!

I'm not working, no kids at home,

you know......

Is it this over 50 thing or what?

How is it over 60, over 70,

over 80?

What feelings will life bring?

I just want to....

Savor the Day...

Yvonne

  

  

 

Tea Day with Eleanor

Today's tea is Tazo Awake...

This is my Quilt in a Day mug...

you know... of the famous quilter

Eleanor Burns.

It got me thinking this morning.

I have had 2 EB quilt tops cut out

for over a year now.

Yep, unfinished projects!

One is

Lovers Knot Quilt

and the other is

Bears in the Woods (Burns, Eleanor. Quilt in a Day Series.)

I just got sidetracked onto another art project

when I was making them

and never finished.

But I will one day.

Today is not the day,

they will have to stay unfinished a bit longer,

but one day!

How do unfinished projects make you feel?

Knowing they are sitting there waiting on you?

I won't let unfinished projects

make me anxious or nervous.

They just give me something

to look forward to.

I have many things going on

in my life,

and when life takes a turn,

then it just keeps

it more exciting.

Read more Tea on Tuesday bloggers posts

by visiting Kimmie

at Art in Red Wagons.

Savor the Day!

Yvonne