Joining The Enchanting Rose for the Tea Cup Exchange

This past month of April has been devoted to the 12th Tea Cup Exchange  held by Stephanie, at The Enchanting Rose.  I  had not done a Tea Cup Exchange for a few years, and felt that it was something I definitely  wanted to get back into...what a  great way to be introduced to  women from  all around the world  who  really are  kindred spirits, women who enjoy the graciousness of taking of tea together!... I was  gone for the most part of  this past month so I really had only  a week to  get myself  in gear to  find and  present my  gift to a    new friend who actually lives in my own state...  That  was  a  special  thing, indeed, although she doesn't blog, yet, she  enjoys  visiting others' blogs and I hope that she will  visit my blog often now that we've been introduced. 

Today I picked up my mail at the post office and found an exciting package awaiting me.As the layers of packing  pealed away,  it became ever more  intriguing and  inspiring!!!

 A gorgeous hand crafted  card introduced me to my new Kindred Spirit,  Judith Rogers of Lavendar Cottage in Ontario, Canada.

Such a  delicately lovely card,  I could tell right away that  I truly was about to  reveal  something  marvelous and  heavenly! 

 Each subsequent  layer was  meticulously  wrapped and presented!!!

 A hand made box   held  some  perfect  chocolate morsels...

This lovely Guardian Book mark will travel with me  at all times!!! 

AH!!  I had requested a blue  tea cup and this marvel  was  unwrapped... As you can see it perfectly matches my table cloth!!!!

What a treasure!!! 

Judith had taken the time to  go through her private stash of  teas to  find some that I  told her I preferred.. Assam, if   it was available..  She    found some in her own    cupboard!!! 

A wonderful Tea Time Coloring book,  the latest  edition of Victoria  Magazine and  some delish Walker's  Shortbread   completed the  surprises  uncovered in  my  lovely  box! 

My senses are still reeling with sublime joy   of the beauty  and  generosity of  my tea cup partner!...

Happy Homemaker Monday

First of all, I apologize for the excessive spacing but I have  fixed this a half dozen times..  I really don't how to  get it to work properly, apparently!!

Return to DOASHM here.

Breakfast time....what is on the plate this morning::::

I ate very little yesterday and awakened rather hungry so I broke my fast with a glass of juice and 3 donut holes... 

The weather outside is::::

Hubs and I just returned from a couple of weeks with our kids in the Boston area..We left mid April and drove through snow, especially in the upper Pennsylvania area.. We returned to full blown spring.. The azaleas are ablaze along with the peony bush and lilacs. Absolutely gorgeous.. And wow! Temps this week will be flirting with mid-80's!

On this week's to do list::::

Monday - Laundry~loads and I mean loads of laundry

catch up on correspondence 

Renovation::::Discuss with our reno project manager the scope of our renovation

Tuesday - Continue putting things away from our trip and spruce up the house 

Community Bible Study End of Year Brunch 

Wednesday - Hubs and I both have local dermatology appts 

Thursday - Dermatological surgery for a basal cell cancer early.. 

Later in day help preside over a National Day of Prayer event in our community 

Friday - Get things together for a church yard sale

Intercessors for America Prayer event

Currently reading::::

I am so sad to have finished reading Susan Branch's book , Martha's Vineyard, Isle of Dreams 

now on to the last book in the trilogy 

A Fine Romance 

Bible Study ~ Isaiah and Ephesians 

On the TV this week::::

No plans... I think I'll take a sabbatical

On the menu this week::::

No plans at this time 

If I have a few minutes to myself, I will::::
without elaborating too much,   while we were gone  I had about 3 days of  a horrid stomach virus and am  just barely  getting along, especially after a two day car trip...it really knocked the strength right out of me,  so....

curl up with one of my books and probably fall a sleep!

What I'm sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating::::I am deep in the throes of planning my new downstairs bathroom... I have the general idea, but now it's time for details in the fixtures, etc! 

New recipe I tried, or want to try this week:::: I'm not into a lot of cooking this week... No time for it...

Favorite photo from the camera:::: 

A couple of the precious photos taken last week when we were with our girls! 

Bible Verse, Devotional::::

Happy May Day 

Saturday Critters

This morning I'm  sharing with Eileen's Saturday Critters party. Not only that, but the sun is shining and all is right with the world...  I do declare spring has sprung...  No snow in the forecast at all!!!! And along with the turn in the weather  I can introduce a new  pair of visitors to  the feeder  this week!!  Mr. and Mrs. Brown Thrasher!

I love their warm brown tone and mottled breast...

 their feathers can look rather ruffed!

That curved beak and  the two white bars on the wings will give them away!

 They have become our new alarm clock!

 As I type this handsome couple is nesting in the leatherleaf rhododendron bush on the fence line!

Otherwise,  I am thrilled to say that the white throated sparrow  has taken up residence nearby and  his song is my very favorite of all!!!

 Apart from their white throat,  you can  id them by the yellow stripes above their eyes.. unlike other sparrows that are white or grey.  I've always only seen them foraging instead of  feeding at either of the  feeders!

            Our regular crowd of feathered friends include the grey                                              tufted titmouse,

 The Carolina Chickadee!

The robin

 Multitudes of chipping sparrows who  desire to rule over the feeders.. they just  settle in and rest a spell!

 A rather  crotchety jay!  He really doesn't dine,  but  doesn't want anyone else to, either!

 I love our mother  Mourning dove...  She holds court there  occasionally .. I really think she keeps some order to the whole shebang!

 The bluebirds  feast on the   plated suet...  I need to  change that by the way and put out some meal worms today!!!

A pair of  woodpeckers    are  very frequent  visitors...

 

 And some  varieties of wrens...  house, ruby, and purple.. I really  can't fully tell. 

 But I do  enjoy my bird watching....  even Hubs is getting into it...  I can not wait to visit our grand daughters who have established the feeder I sent them  and we will    do a bit of  watching, teaching and learning while we're there!