Monday Maxims 1

Tea on Thursday 22

Tag prepared for Tag Tuesday  theme - Friendship. This tag is a marker drawing and hand printed text on used tea bag paper, with a felt heart applied to a tea bag tag and braid and baker's twine.
Have a terrific Thursday  - drink tea and be kind!

July Photo a Day Challenge 12-20

And time flies when you're having fun... so far, I've managed to post a photo a day on Instagram for the "Be Well in Winter " photo challenge, interpreting the daily themes.  

Days 12-20 : 

12. Lunchtime - Lamb and salad in a gluten free wrap, with a special treat of  a dollop of lactose free cream cheese 

13. Self Love - Ugg boots and a blanket- watching TV show, Masterchef. 

14. Sleep - Not a fan of Masterchef! 

15. In the pantry - home made tomato relish 

16. Affirmation - How do you define beauty? 

17. Create - Unfinished projects on my work table. 

18. Comfort - Little wheat bags - perfect size to warm cold hands 

19. Journal - my workshop journal - preparation and teaching notes for the next day's workshop. 

20. On my plate - gluten free spiral pasta, fresh vegetables and a spoonful of that home made relish. 

The Tea Party or It's OK to be Different

Once upon a time, a group of friends planned a tea party at Miss Camellia’s new home.  What fun… Let’s dress up in our Tilda* finest and we will have lovely treats - cup cakes, finger sandwiches and scones with cream and jam. Everyone can bring a plate. Of course, we will also drink the best tea - French Earl Grey and English Breakfast.

The ladies spent hours poring over their CWA  (County Women’s Association) cook books for the traditional recipes and washed the beautiful bone china cups and saucers in preparation, so that on the day, there was plenty of time  to press neatly their pastel coloured party frocks and for a quick visit to the hairdressers. They all applied their make up with the utmost care and added pretty floral accessories to their outfits in fitting with this special occasion. Looking as perfectly beautiful as “The Stepford Wives”, the ladies all gathered at Miss Camellia’s at precisely 3pm. Oh dear, but don’t look now - Miss Wu is coming up the garden path - and look what she is wearing. Is that really a tea party frock, and anyway who invited her?  She is just not like the rest of us

 Miss Camellia tut tutted, admonishing her friends for their bad manners admitting that she herself had issued the invitation as a welcome to the neighbourhood, and  as they had all declared their  rejection of prejudice and injustice, she knew they would all be overwhelmingly happy to include Miss Wu in their party. It was also evident that Miss Camellia had advised Miss Wu to wear that spectacular pendant.

 Suitably chastened, the tea party ladies thought about their  hasty judgemental comments, smiled, relaxed and genuinely attempted to know more about Miss Wu herself and her exotic dress. What a surprise - she spoke a number of languages, had attended and graduated cum laude from several universities and was a thoroughly nice person - and even loved her scones lavishly spread with homemade strawberry jam and piled high with dollops of cream!  Miss Wu was different, but she was also just like them! 

Photos of Tilda tea cup dolls created by members of Gumnut Dollies Newcastle - http://gumnutdolliesnewcastle.blogspot.com.au/

* Tilda is a craft brand founded by Norwegian designer Tone Finnanger in 1999, best known for its whimsical and naive characters in the form of animals and dolls and cottage chic fabrics.  

Photo a Day July Challenge Days 6-11

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Up to Day 11 already  in the "Be Well In Winter" photo challenge - where each day, I am challenged to take and share a photo according to the theme. 

Day 6 : Inspirational Quote . Each Monday, I usually  post an inspirational quote with an item of my art work... so this one was easy.

Day 7 - Nature's Best - Nature's best food - fresh vegetables! Perhaps not the favourite of children, but hopefully, as you get older, you appreciate the taste as well as the benefits.

Day 8 - Eat your Greens . In this case, it is not healthy to eat the green part - leeks, being prepared for leek and potato soup - yum! 

Day 9 - Caffeine Alternative ... Very boring, but a glass of water is a good "pick me up" 

Day 10 : Prana - I thought this theme would beat me, but just remembering what my tai chi teacher  says about the life force between your hands, I happened to hold my hands up with my iPad on the kitchen bench and with the overhead light, this is the image of prana I couldn't have planned any better! 

Day 11 - Penny Saving . I love money boxes and have a few piggy banks. This is my favourite - a feng shui pig which my sister gave me years ago. It does in fact always have loose change in it. 

What Instagram fun this has been - a way of becoming aware and developing focus each day. 

Photo a Day July Challenge Days 3-5

Be well in Winter ! Photo a Day challenge for July. 

Day 3: Yoga Practice ...My " go to" reference for yoga. I like this book because you can open an any page and get a tip about better practice and the appendix shows you how to fit yoga into any busy day - with 15, 20 and 30 minute sessions. 

Day 4 : In the Fridge ... Milk for all tastes and preferences 

Day 5 - Happiness is... sharing a celebration  lunch with family. (and dare I say, eating decadent food!)

Photo a Day July Challenge

Photo a day in July challenge - Be Well In Winter 

I love a bit of a challenge and saw this "one photo a day" challenge for this month on my cousin's Instagram. I am also trying to boost my immune system this month, too so the "Be well in Winter" tag attracted me too. You can see my daily photos on Instagram or I will post here every couple of days for those of you not yet addicted to Instgram! 

 Day 1 - A Walk with a View - Looking up as I was almost home from a walk around my neighbourhood, I saw these new Banksia shoots, growing straight up. 

Day 2  "Nourishing Dinner" . This happily coincided with my "boost my immune system" diet - carrot and ginger soup with lactose free yoghurt, shallots and parsnip and sweet potato chips.  (lactose  free, gluten free and vegan)