High Tea Turnout

 The tea party was fun.

We made it a tea of words for my friend loves words and the party was also a birthday honor as well for two ladies. One was unable to attend last minute but we still had plenty even without pastries.

I put little magnetic words all over the table .

I found a book of antiquated poetry and read a piece by Yates.

This after we all spread out the fest before us.

Michelle had some wonderful fresh fruit

Trisha a fresh crisp salad with crasins and crunchiness in it.

Half and half for the tea was an added pleasure for those who use it.

Lisa joined in with some pinwheel sandwiches and malano cookies.

We had some Macadamia caramel chocolates.

Teas were served and some kosher grape juice.

After Yates Michelle said

"nobody speaks like that any more"

To which I gave the perfect gift for her.

A book on antiquated language.

She is an author so it would feed her soul.

I set out little books of poetry on friendship and we each read a few.

We all exchanged our Christmas gifts She received a necklace of words with lavender spacers,

Lisa a pink color she favors set and Trish with her copper frames received a cooper set made for her.

It was so kind the hospitality gifts were a nice box of tea, and a wonderful little magnetic note pad for my purse. Now I had been given one of these back at my birthday and I love it use it so sparingly. Now There is another and I can use it with abandon not preserve it so.

A wonderful book, a gift card to go to lunch all alone one day and people watch.

Funny cause my toes were cold and a sock of furry soft as snow but warm as a kitten came too. It was so nice to slip on. Now I wore my hat. it was so fun.When my lips were dry the chap stick that came with the cozy for my toesy was perfect.

Now I might just find myself curled up tonight reading my new book and taking notes while enjoying a cup of tea.

Our dear friend had a sad task of taking her daughters to airport for them to fly out to visit the paternal of their life. How hard that would be to do. She was able to come just as the others were pulling away. She with heavy heart stayed and was nurtured a while, while our children played together.

It was a long and late day Sunday. With Monday morn fast approaching there was little to no time to be.

 

The time of friendship came to be one of loving nurture and we held up our hearts and wounds to feel the touch of understanding and kindness. It was a good full day.

Prepairing for High Tea

 For many years a core group of women have met.

We have a special bond with one another.

This year my home will be hosting our tea.

We have met in tea houses but this year...a home.

He has set a table before me...in this case with my friends.

 

I like to set the formal table and see to it that it will present the way I like.

The tea is not until next Sunday.

I want to have it just right.

Each friend will bring their part of the tea.

High Tea is normally held at 2 p.m.

We have finalized a schedule that will work for everyone.

These days with all of our busy family lives this is a  real accomplishment.

This is not the final table.

Thought it would be fun to let you have a peak.

Sweet Sunday

Hello Dear ones

Did you have a good weekend?

Today was both a wonderful day and a tough day.

Upon awaking I spend several hours on the floor in the bathroom.

This happens sometimes when allergies hit hard.

My belly swelled up so that I looked pregnant.

Too much wheat and the latex thing weekend me too.

After sleeping a while on the floor a shower and a tearful prayer refreshed me.

I had to get up

for there was a birthday party Dash was invited too and I was going to take Dove with me and pay for her entry. Inch by inch with coaching from Steve too I made it.

This was a big deal to everyone and I was iffy if I could do it.

I listened for the coach in my ear to press on and on.

The children were so happy to go for it was at a very wonderful place called Amazing Jakes.

Oh they have everything! Rides an open extensive buffet, games go carts, bumper cars.

Only Dash tried rock wall, there is also black light paint ball, goofy gulf, carousel and the list could just go on and on.

It is a very expensive place to go. With Dash being a paid for guest it was right and doable to take Dove.

It was $9.99 for just the open buffet and $18. for buffet and all the rides you can for three hours it also included $5. on the card for the token games..

They had a ball. Dove got to drive little brother in the go carts.  It was wonderful, Dove did a pass in a driver maneuver passed a teenager! I wish you all could of seen it.

I was able to relax and let the children do the buddy system.

This is a bit new for me so I am relaxing and letting them have space.

A sweet lady did a post about a fearful mothers effect on her blog and the issue with the kids at the school pointed out that I must pull back more to let them develop more of a sense of safety and self.

I am doing it. That was the tearful prayer.

I see all these parents who do not even check up on them and so a balance,

they need to have a touch stone. I will never tend to ignore them but I was not panicked the whole time either.

We made it home at 4:30 I went straight in and got some soft clothing on and went to bed and slept up until 7p.m.

I am a wrung sponge made able to get through the day with pleasure in motherhood.

It was a wonderful day.

That latex thing really set me up.

Man I need to chill for a few day.

My deep thoughts lately have been a real treasure in the progress of becoming.

They are very humbling and tender.

So if I seem distant in my blog it is that tenderness guarded until my feet are firm in what I am learning.

Above all standing firm in the faith, in His Love.

Steve was able to get a quiet four hours of work done for the job that cam in last week.

He actually had the house alone.

I would appreciate any kindness of prayer for I am not feeling too well yet and it really was a lot to ask of my body. I did not give up though.

Outdoor Wednesday

join us here

Imagine...

Waking at 6 a.m. to finish up your husbands lunch turning to the sink to wash up...
Steve comes from behind me to embrace me ...
"what the HECK???????????!!!!!!!!!!!"
He said...

I looked up to see a police officer crouching on the garden wall.
YEP!

Two more of them at the gate ahead of me looking into the neighbors yard.
I quickly call the dogs in.
The police are in large numbers out front...Steve meets me at the door and tells me good bye and the police come into the yard. I told them that the houdse behind is vacant.

Steve leaves all quiets down and I go to the garden...
Dash is awake from the dogs being in (arg!)
so we garden and then the dog a few yards down begins to bark and a helicopter is overhead.
Dash got into the house and I stood out with the dogs as this helicopter is just above the house circling. Dogs at the ready...I got several shots of the chopper. It was beautiful!

Then It left and the noise grew out in front and I peeked out the door to see that a police officer giving me the all clear.
In the driveway next door sits a handcuffed man who was just on the other side of the garden wall when they got him.

STEVE AND I PRAY
"Lord cover our home and our neighborhood"
HE did.
Although the man broke into several cars doing much damage the duffel bag with all the stuff was found in another neighbors yard.

The robber and the officer both went through the garden and no damage was done to either the garden or either man...think spikes in the garden...

I called the kids out to see the chopper.

The man was NOT in my yard.
MY DOGS would of had a big breakfast :)

This is next door!

The light pole is in my yard...
GOT HIM!!!!!!!!!

Look at Dash with the bat
I tried not to laugh at his moxie.

All of these cars are police marked and unmarked and GOD made them able to get him !!!!!!!

He was hiding just on the other side of my garden wall.

I praised the officers.

Now think of an officer crouching on the wall if he would of jumped in
He could of hurt himself bad with all my stakes.
He was kept safe as was the garden.

We often ask for a hedge around our property and neighborhood.

The neighbor at the school bus stop stood with baby in hand as her car was one of the ones that were broken into and the window smashed.
It is her birthday today....
The police found her wallet!!!!!!!!

He was just on the other side of the wall.
My neighbors dogs were inside just going nuts!
The man was hopping the walls traveling down the yards.

Kids I was right there. In the garden. With Dash planting seeds.
Feeding the chickens...and the dogs.
The police had cleared the yard and we thought it was all over.
The guy was on the other side of the wall and the chopper flushed him out!
The dogs and I were on the yard side of the garden.

They were on the guard.

In the garden after the man was cuffed and the kids on the bus...
Bok choy, cauliflower, onion, brocolli, kale, zinnia, Swiss Chard, broccoli raab

Carrots smiled at me through the blanket of compost and peat moss as they joined the radish

A bean smiled back at me as well

Then I noticed this snap pea saying hello!

Good Dogs...The space behind then I hope to make a raised narrow bed to set my lettuce for ease of access the fence can be opened at the pole and swung wide.

I am not sure if you can see the bean it is a scarlet runner to climb on the gazebo give beans and pretty red flowers in time.

Morning gave time today to work a good 4 hours
At noon it was 91* and time to stop for the day

Goal met! Garden extention earth made, seed planted and some have even sprouted.
I am made able to do what my heart desired.
It was a lot of hard work all summer long, I DID IT!!!!!!!!!

Check out this little fellow.
They fill the gazebo canopy while I sit and study and tend the chickens .
They are like a dance in the sky.

Philippians 3:20
For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ:

Disney vacation part four April 20, 2009

"What is it"...
we asked the night before,...
" that your hearts wish for most? For this is our last day at the Park."
"What do you each desire out of the day."

Dove wanted more than anything to get Areal autograph
Dash agreed that he really wanted autographs too.

He also had a few rids in mind he longed to do.
Daddy man want to do a ride alone.

Again the day began at the breakfast table then the shuttle.

When we first entered the park I saw we still had enough cash to easily get them each an autograph book and a pen.

We were so BLESSED!
We walked right up to this

We walked to see if the POO was going to be out , and if so what time.
I worked with the fellow at the Poo ride some time getting the locations and schedule of characters.
We all went on the ride.
Then the three of them went off to do there own thing.
Then the Daddy Man took the kids and I walked around on my own for a while.
It was nice to be alone a moment or two. I was going to ride the train over to them but it was out of service so I took a leisurely stroll through the glass shops and saw some Russian crystal. Dash was born where the major crystal producer was. I recognized the stuff in an instant and struck up a conversation with a lovely woman.
The heat was already miserable.
That day it was to rise over 100*!

While they were with him ...

They saw this fellow!
Oh JOY!

but still...He snapped this...This is what I saw a lot of

She had been turned down the night before at the other park for a dinner with areal for the cost was $$$$40 per adult and $20 a kid, now mind you 11 years old there is an adult!
Now as much as our tender hearts would want to give this child a gift we were not willing to disrespect our hard earn income like that.
We had all gathered hands the night before and asked for a way.

WAY!!!!!!!!!!!

Well that was the last of that unhappy face for the day!
That was also a lesson in faith for Dove.

We all gathered at the tinker bell spot and got these
It was so hot!She was so happy now!

Tinker Bell asked her if her brother was one of those shy boys?...

attitude
The photographer was setting him up for a picture against the mushroom and Tinker Bell slipped over!
Oh I just love this shot!

so the boys set off to ride the Indy ride one more time and we again waited in line.
We were almost the last one to the front before she left...
The day before that had happened to Dove several time.
I begged not, mercy given!

This is for her best friend, It was very important to her to get a picture of Jasmin.
Oh she was just jumping up and down!!!

We took a hike back over to poo...
While the boys were on the ride (in line) we were able to do all of this!

JOY!

JOY!

JOY!

Joy!!!!!!!!!!!

look at that happy child!
This was the moment of the trip that I cherish most with Dove.
Look at her joy!

Her face...she relaxed.
Well we all met up again and decided to exit the park until night fall...
We had ice in our bandannas.
It was dangerously hot.
I saw two stretchers with paramedics.

On the way out

Steve stood in line for the duck and I stood for the Minny Mouse.
I let one person ahead and then they ran over they were the second from the last to get the autograph before she left.

We turned around to leave and
BEHOLD!!!!!!!!!!
Utter giddy glee
Their mutual favorite dude!

Too hot!
We took this shot and went back to the hotel.
The children swam, I fixed us all lunch out of the hotel refrigerator and the microwave.
I fell asleep hard for a good 45 minutes and then they all came back from the pool.
We all showered and then dressed.
We watched some TV
after the sun was almost down we loaded up with water and snacks and headed back over.
rest time

We decided to ride the train until the sun went down.
It made it to the "tomorrow land" side we got off and drove the cars.
How fun!
Dash drove me and Dove drove Steve.

It was a blast!
We hung out in tomorrow land they rode the star tours ride a few times while I sat and watched the popcorn maker till he had a new batch and purchased the kids a souvenir bucket each of corn.
That corn lasted until the next days car ride home.
Dash was so thankful for the corn, he asked twice for it and waited for the right time.

Dash and I watched a "Hunny I shrunk the kids " think. It was alright. He was once again stuck with mom because I can NOT do the ride "star tours" Amazed that Dove let her hair down and wanted to go alone with Daddy Man one more time.
His jaw dropped!
She felt so proud to overcome and show her daddy she could do it.
Look at that face!
Happy child.

We enjoyed our time and stood in our last line.
It's a small world ride.
Now Dove was scared again, it took half the ride for her to relax.

When we were in the line, I went and purchased some sorbet cones.
They had been on dry ice and were just solid.
By the end of the ride we all walked the park and ate the cold pops.

It was perfect ending.
Being so hot we decided to say good by to Disneyland.
We went back to the hotel and played in the room some, then went to sleep.

Many other things occurred throughout the day...
My mind will recall.
I will visit this post again to add things.

It is my hope to show this to the kids one day.