It seems that I've been busy
Not really...
A lot on my mind
while I carve and tweak
small carvings for a special order
I've been keeping a secret ....
but now I can share it with you....
It is a cold dark night
The heavens open
and much to my daughter's consternation
we follow the children onto the veranda
Why are we outside in a blizzard?
J has found a bird nest with babies in it
Come and look
My daughter puts on her happy face
and goes out into the rain
The nest is in a ticky creeper at eye level
She peers into the nest
Her face registers shock
My future son in law
drops to his knee
She says yes
Lise Carruthers. See more work by Lisa here and here
The Tray by Naomi Shihab Nye
Even on a sorrowing day
the little white cups without handles
would appear
filled with steaming hot tea
in a circle on the tray,
and whatever we were able
to say or not say,
the tray would be passed,
we would sip
in silence,
it was another way
lips could be speaking together,
opening on the hot rim,
swallowing in unison.
Watanabe Takayuki. Click here
"Tea is an act complete in it's simplicity.
When I drink tea, there is only me, and the tea.
The rest of the world dissolves.
There are no worries about the future.
No dwelling on past mistakes.
Tea is simple: Loose-leaf tea, hot pure water, a cup.
I inhale the scent, tiny delicate pieces of the tea floating above the cup.
I drink the tea, the essence of the leaves becoming a part of me."
- Thich Nhat Hanh
Belocq Tea Atelier
"When tea is made with water drawn from the depth of mind, We really have what is called a tea ceremony." - Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Tea Infusers found on Tumblr
Tea Pot by Petr Novak on Pots and Tea blog, here
Ceramics by Petr Novak on Pots and Tea blog , here
Raimund Matros on Flickr. Click
Image found on Tumblr
I love the thought of drinking tea from an exquisite tea bowl
I'm searching for just the right one
Black sandstone tea bowls by Kambe Chinatsu at Oli Oli.
Robin Welch.
The Frog, eggshell porcelain tea bowl by Jane Reumert.
Colin Hopkins
Swedish style
Found on Tumblr
The 21st of September is International Peace Day.
Last year shwe-shwe flags flew in this same tree.
This year I decided to fly wooden flags.
The pink Epiphytic Orchids are in bloom,
Purple Crested Loeries are calling and
the sun is trying to come out from behind the clouds.
To me it's a perfect day!
Happy Peace Day everyone!
Mary Jane Dodd has invited artists from all over the world to take part, here.
I think you will be inspired by all the different flags flying for peace.
A peace flag sent to me from the States by Lyle. (Click here) Lyle is creating a series of women walking in search of peace.
"Do you know what I need? To escape to the mountains, surrounded by tall trees, I will lay on the moss, and breath in the scent of mushrooms, flowers and wet soil." -- Lyrics by Les Discrets
.... and that is exactly what we did
We escaped to the mountains for four wondrous days
Wherever we went
through forests
or up mountain slopes
we could hear water
gurgling
baboons barking
sharp warnings
that we were approaching
The baboon population seems to have increased since we were there last.
Some spent time on the roof
Others foraged the grass for snacks
in the hotel gardens.
We watched babies doing somersaults
on the lawn outside our room
I'm convinced they were showing off
because we were watching them.
I was thrilled that I managed to photograph the Bee Eaters before they flew off, though this image is far better.
The Poet Dreams of the Mountain
Sometimes I grow weary of the days, with all their fits and starts.
I want to climb some old gray mountains, slowly, taking
The rest of my lifetime to do it, resting often, sleeping
Under the pines or, above them, on unclothed rocks.
I want to see how many stars are still in the sky
That we have smothered for years now, a century at least.
I want to look back at everything, forgiving it all,
And peaceful, knowing the last thing there is to know.
All the urgency! Not what the earth is about!
How silent the trees, their poetry being of themselves only.
I want to take slow steps, and think appropriate thoughts.
In ten thousand years, maybe, a piece of the mountain will fall.
-- Mary Oliver
"But I'll tell you what hermits realize. If you go off into a far, far forest and get very quiet, you'll come to understand that you're connected to everything'" -- Alan Watts
I take a photo of this dam every time we go. It is always so peaceful and a soothing introduction to our holiday.
JUST THINKING by William Stafford
Got up on a cool morning, Leaned out a window.
No cloud, no wind. Air that flowers held
for a while. Some dove somewhere.
Been on probation most of my life. And
the rest of my life been condemned. So these moments
count for a lot -- peace, you know.
Let the bucket of memory down into the well,
bring it up. Cool, cool minutes. No one
stirring, no plans. Just being there.
This is what the whole thing is about.
