What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?

What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?
Remember: "When God closes a door, He always opens a window!" You never know what might be out there waiting for you!

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

The Secret Garden Chronicles Day 23-Tea and Gratitude

Today it is a very windy and now rainy day here in my neck of the woods...and so sitting in the Secret Garden doesn't seem like a very good idea! Therefore I decided to have a little impromptu Valentine Tea Party with "Baby Elva", even though this is the day after Valentine's Day, but she is all dressed up in her sweet little Valentine's dress, and it just didn't seem right not to celebrate with her:


And so it seemed appropriate, since we are celebrating a time of love, to use the most romantic looking teacup in my collection:


What really got me inspired was that I had decided to make an ordinary cup of tea, using a Red Rose tea bag, and I couldn't help but notice that the tag says that there is "love in every cup".    Therefore,  no ordinary teacup would do!



The little tea time daily devotional calendar in the background says:

"Love makes all hard hearts gentle."  ~ George Herbert 
 (anyone know who that is?)  I had to look him up in Wikipedia to find out:

"George Herbert was a Welsh-born poet, orator and Anglican priest. Herbert's poetry is associated with the writings of the metaphysical poets, and he is recognised as "one of the foremost British devotional lyricists."Wikipedia
BornApril 3, 1593, Montgomery, United Kingdom
DiedMarch 1, 1633, Bemerton, United Kingdom
NationalityEnglish
Quotes:         Living well is the best revenge.
One good mother is worth a hundred schoolmasters.
He that is not handsome at 20, nor strong at 30, nor rich at 40, nor wise at 50, will never be handsome, strong, rich or wise."



Some interesting thoughts to ponder while sipping tea this afternoon!

Another worthy thought to ponder also on the Tea Time Devotional is from I Peter 4:8, NIV
"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins."

While sipping tea and relaxing in this sweet little tea time with Baby Elva, I picked up one of my many little books about tea time and enjoyed reading a few selected ideas about "Mini Teatimes" by Susan Rios.  

This particular chapter was entitled "Now Serving: Tea and Gratitude".  I will quote a little from this page:

"The act of taking tea invited us to a more profound awareness of what is beautiful and meaningful...
One sip from a hot cup of tea and our hearts are filled with thanksgiving for the gifts in our daily lives..from friendships to blessings to trials."
That is exactly how I feel today...filled with thanksgiving...yes, for the gifts in my daily life...especially for the many special friendships I enjoy...both here at home, and also with my many friends out there in "blogland"...such treasures I do not take lightly!  You are each a wonderful blessing to me...and I always look forward to our daily conversations!  


Here's an interesting old fashioned "couple" that I invited to tea...I thought they fit right in with the lovely couple on the teacup and saucer:



They were a gift from my mother in law several years ago...a lovely colonial couple...made in Occupied Japan!

And now that the tea party is over,  the Teacup and saucer is back up on top of the china cabinet, where it is watched over by three lovely Victorian ladies...


I hope you enjoyed this impromptu "mini teatime" with Baby Elva and me.


To quote the book again:
"Take a seat, slowly pour another cup of tea, 
and take in the aroma and the warmth of the amber liquid.  Enjoy the pleasure of a life steeped in gratitude."
(Mini Teatimes, Text copyright 2010 by Harvest House Publishers, 
Artwork Copyright 2010 by Susan Rios)

Thank You, Lord, for Your many blessings today!
Amen.

8 comments:

  1. A tea party with sweet Elva! What lovely. Before I head to Tennessee, we have to get together for a tea party and I will bring Oliver to keep Elva company!

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    1. Oh that would be so lovely!!! Please tell me when you want to do that! How far away are you from me?

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  2. I so enjoyed sharing tea time with you and Baby Elva. She looks so real, that when I first glanced at her I did think she was real.

    Thank you for sharing your special time with us. It was delightful.

    I also wanted to mention to you, Pam, that I had an e-mail from my granddaughter today and she said that her mother went back to work yesterday (a day after the pictures on my blog today were taken). So even if Maine does get hit again today with another foot of snow I should think that things would be back to normal again by Friday when Noah is to fly out.

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    1. Thank you, Dianna, for your kind comments and for sharing tea time with Baby Elva and me today. Also, thank you for reassuring me about the snow in Maine...I feel pretty certain that they will make it to the airport okay, unless another big storm hits that day! Praying the snow will blow away!! We are so looking forward to Noah's visit. You have a blessed and warm day too!!

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  3. What a lovely tea party, so glad you shared with us!! Baby Elva is precious, a sweet guest at your party!

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  4. What a lovely tea party you had with Baby Elva--thank you for sharing. It seems as though the impromptu times are the best. Some times we over plan and end up missing the blessings of the Lord.

    Blessings!

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  5. Nothing like a tea party to brighten up a gloomy, rainy day, Pam. I enjoyed this reflection and all your precious photos, too.
    Blessings!

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  6. A lovely post on a not so great day. But, I'm sure your tea party made up for the nasty weather. It is always a pleasure to come to see you.

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