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

Born: April 3, 1593, Montgomery, United Kingdom

Died: March 1, 1633, Bemerton, United Kingdom

Nationality: English

Siblings: Edward Herbert, 1st Baron Herbert of Cherbury

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.