The Spring Garden Within

Some of these thoughts were originally published in a post way back in 2008!

I love Spring {I know, you think it's Summer because we had Memorial Day weekend, but official Summer starts in June} with all the fresh starts, new growth, cleaning, organizing, and beautiful sunshine. I know many of you have planted gardens. We did plant a teensy bit of a garden, but I haven't done much tending to it, other than watering. Sometimes I forget to tend to our little garden and sometimes I forget that I also need to tend to the garden of my soul!

Sometimes we need a little help to keep on growing!

When I spend time in the Word, the sun begins to shine into the garden of my soul - bringing back to life the sleeping fruits and flowers of faithfulness, joy, and love, and making clear to me the weeds of sin that grew in the darkness so that I can tend my garden.

I love to see sunshine in the morning - it makes me feel refreshed and renewed. I know that the garden of my soul needs a lot of tending and I can only see to work in it if the light of God's Word shines in. My garden needs to be refreshed and renewed every day!

Isaiah 61:11

For as the earth brings forth its bud,
As the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth,
So the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

I hope you feel motivated to let the Son shine in this week so you can tend to your own garden!

Have a blessed Spring day today friends!

Spring Breakin'

Does that title make it sound like I'm break dancin'?!  Is this where I should admit that I had a break dancing record (yes, I said record) when I was in junior high and it had directions on how to do some of the moves?  And should I tell you that that's when I taught myself how to moon-walk?  Hmmm...no, then you might start feeling envious of my skillz.  :)

Sorry I haven't been around much friends!  Last week was Birthday Week so I made the most of it and now I'm enjoying Spring Break!

The kiddo gets 2 weeks off around Easter every year since he attends a private Christian school.  Since we'll have company next week, all my housework catch-up, errands, etc. need to be finished up this week.  That and paying some attention to my kiddo while he's home during the day and hubs in the evening aren't leaving much time to be online.

Posting may be sporadic next week while my Dad visits, but then hopefully the following week I'll get back into a bit of a rhythm.

Are you on Spring Break right now?  Do you have next week off?  If you homeschool, do you take a Spring Break?

Stay tuned for a post telling you where you can go find a yummy dessert recipe I made!

Have a lovely day friends!

Spring Break And A To-Do List

Spring Break is finally here!!  My son's school has a 2-week break at Easter every year.  Hubs will also take off a few of the days.  This year, I have decided to take sort of a Spring Break myself!  I am going to take a 2-week break from this blog.  I want to take the time to spend with my family and to focus on getting some projects done around the house.

It's OK.  I'm fairly certain that you will survive the 2 weeks without me.  :)  And it's quite possible that the blogosphere will not come to a screeching halt!

So no posts from me for the next 13 days (I'll be back on 4/12).  But I have a few things for you to do so you don't miss me so much (and because I'm bossy).

I've got a to-do list for you!!  One thing to do for each of the days I'm gone.  Just stop by each day and do an item from the list.  It'll be like I'm still here!  If you haven't been here long, you'll learn a few things about me and if you're a long-time reader, you still might learn a thing or two.

Your To-Do List

1.  Look at my 100 Things list.  See what we have in common (or not)!  I've updated the list with a few notes so it's current.

2.  You might be needing a cake recipe for Easter, so browse through all the recipes from Cake Week last year.  You might find a new recipe to try or just stop and drool a little.

3.  Take Poll #1 over on my sidebar.  I'd like to know how you want me to reply to you - through e-mail or comments.  I appreciate your input!

4.  If you want more background info on me, read through my Slightly Serious Posts.  There aren't very many, so it won't take you long!

5.  Leave a comment on my Reader Shout-Out if you haven't already.  Last count, I was at 7 countries and 25 states.  It's fun to see where everybody is from!

6.  Since I'm on a sort of vacation, you might want to look through some of my vacation posts.  You can check out Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park, Lewis & Clark Caverns and Yellowstone.

7.  You might like to browse through the Chocolate Friday Recipes.  All the chocolate recipes are listed and categorized in one spot.  I even updated the list with the 2010 chocolate recipes so far.

8.  Check out my other blogs.  I will be posting on them during the 2 weeks since I don't post as often on them.  My healthier blog is Stop Eating All The Chocolates and I have a semi-secret 3rd blog that you can find and read if you're bored (Kim already found it!).

9.  Take Poll #2 on my sidebar.  I would love to know how you found my blog!

10.  I hope you enjoyed the Etsy shops that were promoted this month!  You can look in my fave Etsy shops for great gift ideas.  I have links to them on my sidebar. 

11.  I haven't mentioned our Basset hound Buster in a while.  You can get your fix of Buster pics by scrolling through the Buster posts.  He still makes us smile!

12.  Take a look at my Blogroll on my sidebar and find a new blog to read!  I enjoy all the blogs there and added a few more from my reader (it doesn't even include all the blogs in my reader - just too many!).

13.  This one's easy!  Leave me a comment telling me how many to-do items you completed and your thoughts!  I'll even count it as a bonus entry in a giveaway coming up after my break!

Did that help?  I hope so!  I hope you have a lovely 2 weeks and Happy Resurrection Day!

Though I won't be on this blog, I'll be posting on my others and will show up reading/commenting on other blogs, facebook, and twitter as I have time.

Thanks friends!!  Have a fabulous day!

Tea For Two-sday ~ Spring Tea Party Tips

I recently attended a free tea class (my second one) put on by a lady that used to have a tea parlor.  She  closed down her tea parlor, but now has a booth at a local indoor antique market (Antique Trove) and has an online tea business.  It's called An Afternoon To Remember.

This class was about hosting a Spring tea party and how to make molded sugars.  I will definitely attempt the molded sugars and post about those another time.  I thought I would share a few tips from the class.

~ You need to be very organized when planning a tea - planning out menus, schedule, items needed, etc.  I have to do this when I host or help with a tea or I will definitely forget something!  You need to plan out the smallest details so that you can make as many foods as possible and do the decorating ahead of time.

~ Popular foods are sandwiches, soups, salads, scones, cakes, cookies, etc.  The key is to make everything in mini portions!  And try using a variety of shapes and garnishes to create interest.  Good ideas for mini servings: use teacups for soups/salads or even egg cups with mini spoons, use mini cupcake and mini bundt cake pans.  Food is more fun (and you can have more!) when it's tiny!

~ You can be very creative when it comes to table decor.  Use layers and different colors - they don't even need to match exactly!  A great idea that was shared was using a shower curtain as the bottom tablecloth layer (inexpensive).  You could even use sheets or quilts in your layering.  Use an assortment of dishes - you can find great inexpensive dishes at dollar stores, discount stores, thrift stores, and yard sales.  Use cloth napkins and find napkin-folding instructions online or use creative napkin holders like sprigs of rosemary.

~ Include a party favor for each guest.  This could be as simple as a teabag and a chocolate, or my fave - a teacup and saucer (from thrift stores) to keep, or homemade gifts, or a recipe from the party.  You could even get the tiny little spoons and tie a little ribbon on the end and give one to each lady to keep.

~ It was suggested that you should serve 3 kinds of tea at every party.  The first is a decaf tea as some people cannot have caffeine.  The second is a flavored tea as that's what the majority of the people enjoy.  And the third is a plain tea (like English breakfast or similar) for the more "hard core" tea drinkers.  You should plan for about 3 cups of tea per person.  Did you know that you should keep your loose tea stored in tins, not in plastic bags (some places ship it that way)?  Apparently the tea will lose flavor in the bags!

Those are a few of the things I learned at the class (and some of my own advice).  I hope you found a helpful tidbit or two and feel inspired to host your own Spring Tea!

If you have a chance, do stop by An Afternoon To Remember and check out her tea, cookbooks, and gifts!  Her local tea classes are free (get there very early or you'll be standing for an hour like me - even though I was a few minutes early!) and she hopes to have some online classes soon.  You can get the class info by signing up for e-mail notices.

Have a lovely day friends!

Just Another Spring Day In Montana

I am still visiting in Montana, enjoying the Spring weather. Er, well, enjoying is the wrong word. I like sun. I like warmth. I thought those things were part of Spring.

Let's look at some Spring pics together...

What is this? Spring snowflakes gathering together on a barbecue cover, making plans.

Spring snowflakes surrounding me, laughing at the CA girl who is freezing.

Oh look! Some new Spring icycles* are hatching!

How lawns get watered in the Spring.

You know, I was in Montana during another Spring a few years ago. Trying to remember what it was like...


Oh yeah, it was snowing!


Are you enjoying Spring as much as I am?? :)

P.S. You will want to come by tomorrow! I will be featuring a pretty DaySpring tea item and giving it away!!

*Edited to add - Did you notice my misspelled word? It's actually "icicle" - hubby corrected me and I thought you should know. :)

I'm linking this up to Your Life, Your Blog at Real Life! Go check out the other posts linked up.

Tea For Two-sday ~ Spring Is Brewing

Hello my friends! So nice to see you! I am really enjoying this week so far - OK, it's only Tuesday, but I've got a good feeling about the rest of the week!

Don't forget (as if I'd let you?) that my Blogaversary is this Thursday. Check out the fun and prizes here.

This Tea For Two-sday, I thought I would share the little touches of Spring at my house - which do include tea things! You know, I heard that Kim was also going to be talking about Spring decorating this week - great minds think alike! :) And freshening up your house for Spring helps create a beautiful life, like the series at The Inspired Room.

Let me start with an early birthday present from a friend - does she know me or what?

Cool box

Super sweet tea present!

What a nice blessing - thank you A.!!

And now, let's take a little tour of Spring things at my house...

First, I think you should grab a Raspberry Pecan Bar to munch on while you're wandering around!


OK, start the tour!

The lilacs are almost done blooming.

Wisteria is in full bloom.

Back inside, a little Spring tea display.

Another Spring tea display.

Spring flowers.

Spring centerpiece. Those eggs are from Target and they are in an olive tray that was from a friend!

A bit of green for Spring.

Little tea touches.

You knew there would be chocolate!!

Just a couple of bunnies about.

My family room is bold colors, so Spring pastels don't work. I decided to put some old coffee beans in a glass hurricane and add some bold flowers.

There you have it! Hope you enjoyed the tour. I have always been a horrible decorator, but the blogosphere has really helped me in this area. I think I have improved quite a bit.

This post is also linked up at Tea and Thee - stop over there to read some tea posts and link up your own! And linked up at The Inspired Room for A Beautiful Life!

Have a lovely and blessed Tuesday!!