WHEN THE PUSSY WILLOW BLOOMS

When summer comes I grumble

about the heat.  By July it is really

getting hot and we have a lot of

humidity.  Spring here in Missouri

is really lovely and does come very

early.  We have 4 distinctive seasons

and I do love that.

So in this early part of March I

am encouraged because I know that

spring will be here in the upcoming weeks

(and not just on the calendar).

So now the pussy willow is just beginning
to open it's buds.  The sight of it is
so hopeful and here and there bulbs are
popping out of the ground and 
forget-me-nots that survived our
milder winter.  These were the little baby ones
from the big dying mother plants. I am
glad that last fall and I planted them
 here and there.

I am very thankful to have a wonderful

sewing room and craft room to help

occupy the winter.  Now,  I look forward

to time in the garden and to see how

things might be this year.

Talking about the lovely weather seems
inappropriate in view of the tornado
devastation last night in Tennessee.
I have been praying for these people today
and ask you to join me.

GETTING READY FOR VIOLETS

I thought I would do my part to encourage

spring by getting out all my violet bone

 china pieces and trying

to encourage things.

For one thing I like to go walk around

my neighborhood every day and this

winter hasn't been too good for that

situation.  

I was able to get out twice this week and

did notice some bulbs just barely 

popping up in various yards including

my own.

I won't be wearing these

on my feet.  I hope you

have had a lovely day

and ready for your new week!

THE SMALL TOWNS IN MISSOURI

One of the things my husband and 

I like doing is visiting some of the

 small towns in Missouri.

Today we drove over to several

that are southwest of us but not as

far as Kansas City.

We stopped and had lunch at a cute

little tea room called "My Secret Garden"

outside of a little town called Warsaw.

There are many sweet cafe type restaurant

around Missouri that are called "tea rooms" 

and they serve salads, soups, quiche, etc

with desserts and tea. (not Afternoon Tea)

Then we went into the antique mall there.

I loved this pink Victorian house which was

right down the street.

On the way back up the road north we

passed back through Sedalia, where the

state fair is held each summer:

Earlier in the day we had seen a sign about a tiny German settled town called "Cole Camp"

 and so we drove over east 4 miles 

to see what it was like

and found a darling shop:

This shop serves lunch and dinners and

 also across the street a sister affiliated shop 

serves Afternoon Teas. 

 Another day for that!

HAPPY WINTER TEATIME

Yesterday and today continues
to be very 
bitter and cold outside.

 This means it is a

perfect opportunity for
 a happy teatime.

My husband and I find it interesting the

 way that with just a little snow, everything

 shuts down here in Missouri.  It brings

 back so many memories of living in Colorado where everyone went to work and it really took a blizzard to make a difference.

I have a couple of new magazines

I have been enjoying. 

 Victoria,

English Garden and Tea Time have

brought a lovely reprieve lately.

Winter is a time to get inspired

and excited about our spring gardens.

Wintertime is always a good time

 to try new recipes and brush up

on our baking skills.  Please

enjoy a cup of tea and one of  these

chocolate chip cookies I baked this week.

My friend Gina dropped off a lovely

Valentine card she made.  

So I hope that your wintertime

is going along well.  If you are

bored,  this might be a great time

to learn something new.  How about
doing a new craft, trying a new recipe
 or reading that book on the shelf.

And so I close this post to challenge you

to find joy in the little things.  Make a

nice homemade soup.  Do something not

very popular today - send an elderly person a handwritten letter or take something home baked to a neighbor. 

 You can even

 buy those frozen bread loaves and let

 them rise and bake them.  Make some

 homemade cards to have on hand for 

when you need them.  Enjoy winter 
as spring
will be here soon!

VALENTINES DAY WEEK

The week of Valentines is always such a

wonderful time.  Couples go out and 

have lovely dinners and others stay

home and make something delicious!

Ladies come together for tea and it's

fun decorating with valentine themed items.

I have some in my kitchen to enjoy,

along with other things of course.

Even my Queen Elizabeth tea cozy

seems to Valentine-ish:

My old Nicol Sayre angel

always comes out for the occasion.

I hope you have a lovely week!