I thought that I would start sharing some of my favorite tea sets that I have gathered through the years. Like I have said before, I am always on the lookout for a nice new tea set. I collect them, period. That's all there is to it. I love china. Especially, teapots, cup & saucer sets, and covered bowls. So there you have it. You know my vice. (Well, that and ice cream!)

Now, this picture here is of Gracie indulging in a little ritual she and her mother began a few years ago. Every Friday night, after bathtime was over and everything was winding down from the workweek, Marca and Gracie would have a little tea party. Usually just the two of them as Matt would be down at the church with Friday night vespers as his role of school chaplain required. They hold their special little tea parties at other times as well, but this was always one of those times. And once in a while, I would be there and be a part of it.

The tea set in the picture isn't really a tea set at all but a demitasse set that my mother bought for my little sister and me in the 50's. I think I was eight at the time. We played with that set only at special times and my mother was always there to "guide us in its usage". We did not actually have tea in it but put orange juice in it for our refreshment. And no, we didn't add sugar or milk to that. It wasn't an expensive set at the time, although it matches in design and decoration that of the popular, pricey Royal Albert Old Country Roses china. I gave this set to my daughter, Marca, when she was about 20 although she knew that it was hers far before that. When she was a child, we had our own little tea parties with it and we used herbal teas. It was very important that she and her little brother and sister learn proper etiquette and that included learning how to make, serve, and drink tea. So the four of us would have our own little teas in the afternoon sometimes when their daddy was away on a trip. That way we had our special experiences too. Actually, I had two tea sets that had the same design shape but different motifs. The other was kept for Sara, my younger daughter, and it was also roses. I still have Sara's tea set stored away just as her memory is stored away in my heart.

So now Marca has this tea set and I'm sure that she plans on giving it to Gracie when she reaches a certain age (and with my blessing, I might add).

(I hope you liked this little entry, because I plan to show more of my little collection of tea sets in the coming months! )

You know, there is just something special about a cup of tea any time during the day (or night). It feels so.... comforting, so.... enabling, so.... luxurious! Whether you make it in the time-honored tradition of the teapot and china cup - you know, creamer and sugar bowl: the works - or just hot water poured over a teabag in a mug or styrofoam cup, it always seems to set things right, doesn't it? It's not just the hot drink that does the trick, it's the idea of a cuppa tea, first of all, then the wonderful aroma (ah, yes! inhale the tantalizing mix of tea, or herbs and spices...), the taste of warm liquid flavors and finally, the soothing sense of doing something special for yourself or others.

It has been a while since last I posted anything here and I just thought that I would assure you that no, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth, although, I'm sure that some must have wondered if, indeed, that might just be the truth........

So here I am, still in Idaho on an extended engagement with my family. Twice I have changed my ticket out of neccessity, but come July 9th, barring any kind of problem, I will be headed back to North Carolina. This has been a mixed blessing kind of trip; the fun of being with family but also the sad realization that my dad is failing. He now has no hope of returning home and is in constant need of 24-hour medical/nursing care.

I don't really want to go into much at this time about Dad except to say that it is hard for a child, even a grown one, to see the man they always looked at as being so strong and vital going downhill healthwise. We go in and visit with him but he isn't always able to do so as he can be groggy from meds or just plain asleep.

Marca and Gracie came out for a few days and spent time with him and he was thrilled to see them. All the grandchildren have been here with the exception of one, I think, but he is coming tomorrow.

So now I am spending time with my brothers, my sister-in-law and my nieces and nephews and boxing up the things down at Dad's that I left here when I moved back east. And that is a trip!
I am going to need a truck to bring back this stuff.

My brother and sister-in-law have a hot tub at their place and I can tell you, after a day of lifting heavy boxes or dealing with the situation here with Dad, it's nice to go out and just soak your cares away and chat. They live in the woods and they have put a lot of bird feeders around their deck so we sit and soak and watch all the different species of birds flitting around and feeding. It is so relaxing.

You know, if a person can afford it, it is a good thing to get something like a hot tub (or pool, like I have) because all of us have these times when we are so sore at the end of the day, physically OR mentally, and it does soothe and give you a better outlook on things.

The temperature here in North Idaho has been soaring higher, it seems, every day. Saturday it was over 100 degrees in Coeur d' Alene and as that happened to be where we were at the time, yes, we were feeling it. It wasn't as humid as in the South, or Grenada, but it was still very hot. (Ya think?) It is usually drier in this area, and dry heat is easier to take than humid heat --usually; however, that being said, it still has quite an effect. "Need more water." "Water, water!" "Need water!" The heat lasted for several days and the humidity started rising as well, and yesterday afternoon the sky began to darken and blessings of blessings, the wind came up and it began to rain. Lightning and thunder and the works. And did it pour!!!! This morning is somewhat cooler and less humid to me, although my brother and sister-in-law both say it is very humid. I haven't been outside yet today so I can't really say. The fans are doing a great job here in the house so why would I want to go outside right now? Besides, I'm not a great fan of humidity anyway, you know.......... At least the dust is settled and the sky is a beautiful clear blue.

So that's the news for now from North Idaho. I have no idea where I will be when I blog next; it could be from here, or from home. We'll just have to wait and see.

Oh, the picture? That is a view of the Pend O' Reille (pronounced "Ponderay") River where it flows out of the lake of the same name, looking northwest from the deck of a restaurant on the river. Nice little place. Good food.