This and That

This is not an original idea.  I borrowed it from headless mom at  http://headlessfamily5.blogspot.com/  Hope she does not mind.  

1. Chocolate or Vanilla: Chocolate

2. Morning or Night: Morning

3. Eating in or Out: Out -  no clean up!

4. Cats or Dogs: Dogs

3. Apple or Windows: Windows

4. Store bought or homemade cookies: Homemade

5. East coast or West Coast: West Coast

6. Night out or night in: Night out

7. Coke or Pepsi: Pepsi

8. Laundry or Dishes: Dishes

9. Football or Baseball: Football 

10. Reality TV or Sitcom: Sitcom

11. Electronic reader or paperback: leaning more to my electronic reader these days

12. Facebook or Twitter: Facebook

13. Eloping or Wedding: Wedding

14. Math/Science or Language Arts: Language Arts

15. Salt or Pepper: Salt

16. Friday or Sunday: Sunday

17. Movie theater or rentals: Lately Movie theater 

18. Paper newspaper or online news: Paper

19. Valentine's Day or Thanksgiving: Thansgiving

20. Oscars or Grammy's: Oscars

21. Gas stove or electric: Gas

22. Gold or Silver: Gold

23. Coke or Tea: TEA!

24. City or Country: City

25. Diamonds or Pearls: Pearls

26. Peanut butter or Jelly: Jelly

27. Colors or black/white: Colors

28. Online shopping or actual shopping: actual shopping

29. College or High School: College

30. Breakfast or Dinner: Breakfast

31. Make up your own This or That for readers to answer in the comments section!

32. Rain or Snow:  Rain

If you do this on your blog let me know so I can see your responses.  Have fun!

Turning 50

Less than a month ago I celebrated my birthday and turned 50.  I at times find it hard to believe that I am actually 50 years old.  I don't feel 50 and I don't thinking I look or act 50.  But what I do know is in turning 50 (aka 1/2 century)  I should be entitled to certain rights of passage. Things that I no long have to deal with.  If I had my way turning 50 would eliminate:

• Zits  -  they should not be allowed any more
• Weight Gain  -  I should be able to eat what I want and not gain a pound 
• Cold Sores
• Gray Hairs
• Shaving -  it really must go!

Life should be so much easier now.  I simply should not have to deal with the above after spending 50 years here on earth.  

Empty Nest

Well just sent my youngest to college this past week.  Should have plenty of time to start blogging again.  Hope to become a regular blogger here on my sight.  Tea and blogging is a good combination!

My Favorite Day Of The Week

I have a favorite day of the week and its Mondays! Yes its Monday the first day to the week. I absolutely love Mondays. I have a great job and I work four days a week and yes you guessed it not on Mondays. I have a wonderful family but guess what they are not around on Mondays. Hubby is at work and B is at school. Mondays are my special day reserved just for me. It sounds selfish I know but I do love my time at home to myself. Nothing like a quite house and a cup a tea.

A typical Monday for me is filled with no specific plans or commitments just an open slate for me to fill with what I want when want. The alarm is not set and I wake up as the family is leaving, fix my self a cup a tea and head back to bed with my latest book. I usually do a few things around the house like today was ironing, changing the sheets on our bed, cleaning a bit, time working on cards, more reading, and plenty of cups of tea. I even fit in a nap and a walk today.

What is your favorite day of the week and why? I would love to know.

Mrs. Potts

Seasons In Life

I have been thinking about the seasons in life that we go through. I believe there are many and they are constantly changing just like the four seasons we experience each year. I do believe a season of life can be long or short and I also believe we can get stuck in a season or long for a past season that is full of fun and memories.

I find myself in a new season of life now. My oldest has left the nest and is attending college eight hours away in another state. To say she loves it is putting it mildly. She is growing and thriving and enjoying this season of her life. My son is loving his independence (he bought his sisters car before she left for college) and new found status as "only child". He will be leaving in just a couple of years as well.

For so much of my life I have given to others. Now don't misinterpret that. I have loved ever minute of giving time to my children, their school activities, projects, interests and what not. Insuring they had a strong foundation, love, support and safety net. But they no longer need me in ways they have in the past. What they need from me is changing. I am finding these changes freeing in a way I never have before.

I am reinventing rediscovering myself with the extra time I now have. I am discovering new interests, enjoying more time with my guy and in some ways being selfish with my time. I find myself often doing exactly what I want to do when I want to do it. I also find that I am spending more and more time with myself. I used to be such a social person. It seems someone was always over for tea, stamping scraping or dinner. These days I am enjoying the quite of my home and solitude. I thing this is a season a time to rediscover my interests and who I am or rather who I want to be. A friend once told me she likes to reinvent herself every seven years or so. Interesting thought. Maybe right now I am trying to reinvent myself in this new season of my life.

Off to have a cuppa and ponder it some more.

Mrs. Potts

Away Way To Long

I have been thinking a great deal about the blogging world of late. Why do people blog? What do they hope to get out of it? What is in it for them? Why are some so open with their lives and share it all? Why am I curious enough to visit certain blogs on a regular basis? Why do I seem to care or have an interest in there world and or posts? These questions and many others are fascinating to me. I started this blog thinking it would be fun. Then it became more of a chore. I needed to post interesting, fun and witty comments and well that just seemed like to much work. I felt people would not be interested in my life. But maybe it is deeper than that. Did I not want to be honest and expose myself to people I don't know. What if people I know, see or work with every day read my blog. I feel I need to hide who I am or what I truly want to say. Why is that. What am I so afraid of? Will people judge me? Maybe not like me? Read into my blog something that is not there?

Just thinking out loud. This seems to be a year of change for me. Figuring out who I am and who I really want to be. No more pleasing others its more about being true to myself.

Going Once Going Twice Gone

Well I had mention to write this blog Sunday, and then Monday and so on and now its Wednesday.

I am sure that the memory has faded and the humor is lost at this point but I will post about my experience anyway.

Saturday night H.P. and I attended a Chili Feed and Auction. It was a charity event for local school children held at our church. I was encouraged to after seeing the display of quilts up for action. One of them in particular caught my eye. Yep you guessed it was a quilt with tea cups and coffee cups all over it in blocks stripped together. Not something I had in my tea collection and it was calling my name. Tickets were purchased and we waited a week in anticipation of the big night.

Saturday night came and we approached the evening with excitement. I had every intention of walking home with that quilt. Oh yes I did it was mine for the taking. The other quilts were nice and they had some lovely cabins, meals and desserts also available for action.

We made it through the chili line and found our spots at a table placed in the middle of the room. We did not want to be at the front or back just in the middle. The counted down till auction time and then the fun and games began. We spotted a cabin up for bid that was just to good to pass up, so we started bidding. It got down to us and one other bidder. We were discussing our next bid when out of nowhere a new bidder entered bidding, placed a bid and before we or the other party knew what happened we heard sold! Ok well I could still get my quilt. It came up for bid and I played cautious not wanting to draw attention to myself and wanting to jump in at the last minute. The bidding went up, I jumped in and countered back and forth we went and then it hit about $125.00 and I looked at the quilt and thought I am not crazy about the colors, it has coffee cups and references on it. What was I thinking I don't want to pay this much or more for this quilt. I quickly placed my number down and was out. My dear H.P. was in shock, what was I doing I wanted that quilt it was mine - nope I am a woman and I can change my mind and I did.

We bid other several other lovely quilts that night and two other cabins and a getaway but we left with nothing. We were oh so close on a quilt but the auctioneer made a mistake sold it to another couple. Not sure how that happened but oh well. We attended the evening hope to contribute to a good cause come home with a lovely quilt and the joy of an auction. We left with no quilt, no money spent and not sure how we lost one particular item at the auction.

Oh well there is always next year!

Mrs. Potts

Milestones

It seems we mark life by milestones. Various things that mark the passage of time in our lives and our families lives. Some milestones are simple and yet others save us money. Some milestones in my life have included: no more diapers to buy - this was a huge one in so many many ways. Another was the completion for preschool for both kids and no more preschool expenses, however this was followed by another milestone the start of kindergarten followed by all day school the next year. Completion of elementary school and middle school have also been milestones. Another milestone was the start of drivers ed for joyful and then the permit followed by the license and then driving alone. Psymon is half way through this milestone event now that he has his learners permit. Yesterday was another milestone event it was the last trip to the orthodontist for Psymon. It was has last retainer check. No more visits, no more checks or rubber bands to find laying around. After six years visiting the orthodontist with both kids I feel joy and sorrow. Joy that we have no more visits and no more checks to right but really after six years these people are my friends. I'm going to miss them - ok not that much. But it just made me think another milestone has come and gone. Yes there are many more to look forward to like high school and college graduations, first jobs, living on their own and getting married.

Wow theres still a lot to come. I think I need a cup of tea and time to ponder this some more. The previous milestones look easy the ones ahead look challenging and expensive. If you have any milestones you would like to share please do. Leave me a comment.

Mrs. Potts

The Soup Bowl

A weekend or so ago my darling H.P. and I decided to take a mini vacation and hide away for the weekend. We left the teens with nana for supervision. We stayed at a lovely hotel and I went in search of my morning cup of tea. The hotel for all is nicety offered styrofoam cups for its morning coffee and tea drinking. Now any good tea snob knows styrofoam cups do not work for tea. Oh the taste the taste it just can not be done! So off we went to find a coffee shop that would provide me with a steaming cup of hot water. Because being the tea snob I am I carry my own tea bags with me. Well we find a common popular place know around the country (star) and headed in thinking success. You see on past vacations they have been wonderful, I have gone in and asked for a large cup of hot water and they have provided it at no charge. Its not styrofoam but a recycled paper product and although its not china it works so well in a pinch. But not this stars no she looks at me funny. You want a cup of hot water? Why yes I do. Do you want a tea bag with that - H.P. is quick to say no she has her own. That gets me a very strange look like I am a real snob which I am. Then she asks am I staying or going with my hot water. Well what does it matter but I say I am staying and order a muffin to go with it. I receive my hot water not in a paper cup or a mug but a soup bowl. You know those large things they try to pass off as cups with a handle on the side but they really are soup bowls. It is not china so it does not keep the water hot and it does not require one tea bag but at least three I think. It cools so quickly and it does not fit comfortably in my hands as my cups do at home. I am so disappointed. This is not the way to start off my day. I drink what I can from this soup bowl and surrender to the fact that I will not be enjoying a nice cup of steaming hot tea this morning. I mean tea in a soup bowl who does that.

Its been to long

My mind has been swimming with all kinds of blog witting thoughts. Oh I could write about that or I could share this experience or up date on that one. I don't have to blog every day to be a blogger. So many random thoughts I don't know where to start. Then I come to my blog and realize just how long it has been since I have blogged. Its just a little embarrassing. I won't even try and catch you up.

Let me just say it can be summed up very simply in a few short sentences. Teenagers and their schedules keep me busy. Summer was fun but busy with summer camps and drivers ed for the youngest teen. Throw work in the mix and you have a full and busy spring through summer going right into fall. I can't tell you how many cups of tea I have had but I can tell you there have been plenty. I have several tea snob stories to share from my weekend up in Sun Valley. I will try and post those this week.

Mrs. Potts

Why Is It?????????

I have been thinking about this blog title for some time. Its time I quit thinking about it and posted it.  If you have answers to any of my why is it questions, please leave a comment and share them.

Why Is It --  during the week you could sleep till ten but you can't yet on the weekend you can actually sleep till ten and your up at seven?

Why Is It -- way more fun to put up the Christmas decorations than it is to take them down?

Why Is It -- way more fun to make cards than do the laundry?

Why Is It -- more enjoyable to read a book than clean the house?

Why Is It -- way more fun to read other peoples blogs than to post on my own?

Why Is It -- Tea tastes better when poured from a pot?

Why Is It --  the weekends are so short and the week so long?

Why Is It -- easier to think about getting on the treadmill than actually getting on the treadmill?

So what why questions do you have?  Now I am going to end this and ask myself Why I wrote this blog?

Mrs. Potts

Happy Monday!

Well the holidays are over the kids and husband have headed back to school and I have the day off.  I love my Mondays thus I always seem to call them happy Mondays.  

Whats not to be happy about.  The house is quite and calm and its mine all mine!  I have been known on Happy Monday to head back to bed once everyone has left the house.  What a treat or indulgence depending on how you look at it.  But hey its my time to myself.  

As we start a new year, the first Monday of 2009 there is so much to be happy about.  Let me share a few:

*  Happy that we have black tea and can make that lovely soothing cup of tea all day long.

*  Happy that my family is all healthy.

*  Happy that I have two amazing teenagers.

*  Happy that I have a warm cozy home I love.

*  Happy that we have our beagle of 12 years still with us in good health.

*  Happy we have wonderful friends and family.

Well you get the idea.  Why don't you take a minute fix yourself a cup of tea and leave me a comment telling me what you are happy about.

Blessings

Mrs. Potts

Merry Christmas

I want to wish each of you a Merry Christmas.  I look forward to 2009 with anticipation and joy.  May you all enjoy the holiday season with family and friends.  

Mrs. Potts

P.S.  Enjoy a hot cup of tea over the holidays!

Way To Much To Do!

So I thought I was organized and I had the holidays under control.  But something happened this week/weekend and I am not sure what it was exactly but,I feel like I am totally lost and don't know where to start.  Its like everything has exploded into one week.  A brief look at my week:

Monday - hair cut, grocery shop, clean house, fix food, host neighborhood woman's tea that evening.

Tuesday - Friday Work

Wednesday - co-working coming over for dinner and to work on a Christmas present

Thursday - Psymon has a band concert

Friday - Joyful needs a flapper costume for school

Saturday - clean house, prepare food and host husbands office party of approximately 40 -60 people and pick up exchange student returning from Taiwan

Sunday - Make it to church and oversee gift wrap fundraiser for youth group

Monday - next week- fix POT OF TEA, breath and relax!

I'll let you know how the week goes.

Mrs. Pots

P.S. some where in there I need to send out my Christmas cards and finish my Christams shopping.

Busy Busy!

Its been a busy week and it looks like another busy one this coming week.  Last week we celebrated Joyfuls 17Th birthday.  We had a family dinner cooked by her Nana - roast lamb, roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding and vegetable.  Dessert was an ice cream cake.  Joyful had a lovely day! The rest of the week was busy with work and various activities the kids had going on. Did manage to get fit in on Saturday a cup a tea at the local tea shop and some shopping with my Mom.  Got some Christmas shopping done with a little more to go.  I am hopping to have it all done early this year and really enjoy the season.

H.P.  hung all the lights on the outside of the this this past Saturday.  Our house is covered with lots of little white lights.  Maybe I'll try take a picture and post it here.  I think I could do that. Thanks for the lights I love them!

Mondays- oh I love Mondays.  This is my day off each week.  Now don't get me wrong I am really enjoying my job and feeling like I have finally found my stride with it but Monday mornings are such a treat.  No rushing to get ready, enjoying that second cup of tea and staying in my P.J.'s till I am ready to shower.  I love my Mondays!

Mrs. Potts

Tealightful Monday

Small Beginnings

By Heather Harpham Kopp

from Patchwork of Love

Every friendship begins small.

Two smiles meet and 

hold somehow.

But as each day passes,

Amid coffee or tea,

shared secrets and phone calls,

carpools and quilting bees----

a love grows larger

enough to last eternity.

Have a wonderful Monday my friends and enjoy a cup of Tea.

Bond James Bond!

Last nightwe went to the movies.  It was a family affair.  Both Joyful and Psyomon along with our exchange student joined us for the movie.  I have been a James Bond fan for many years and look forward to each one.  My favorie James Bond was Pierce Bronson.   This one did not disaapoint!  It was full of action and special effects.  We all enjoyed it and had positve things to say about the movie.  Our only complaint was how much it cost to go to the movie.  I know why we don't go very often let alone go as a family.  Tickets are now $9.50 each.  What happened to the good old days of $3.50 movies or $5.00 movies.  Ok - now I am dating myself but come on $9.50 and thats not allowing for any popcorn.  Sure makes you think twice about if you really want to see it on the big screen or if you would rather wait and watch it on your own T.V.  In this case James Bond was worth seeing on the big screen.

What Fun

I had a great time on my trip/adventure.  I came home happy and relaxed.  I loved the time spent with my friend J.  We enjoyed four days in Portland, Oregon.  Let me tell you a little about it.

We eat at so many good restaurants.  We had sea food twice that was just delicious.  We had barbecue another night that was heavenly and my personal favorite was the prime rib.  We found a country club steak house and ate there.  I am not sure how we pulled it off but we did. Our waiter, we will call him Jeeves was well lets just say my name describes him well. We had a lovely appetizer  cheese plate followed by salad followed by garlic mashed potatoes and a 10 oz prime rib that was wonderful.  I also had the best wine spritzer I think I have ever had!  I topped it off with cheese cake topped with lemon curd and blue berries.  What a fun evening we had.

We shopped down town Portland and made it to the famous Powell's Books.  We also hit several outlet malls while out and about.  Sunday morning was spent at the beautiful Chinese Garden and that included a tea house that looked out onto the gardens.  Of course we had tea and biscuits.  We rode the metro to the end of the line just because we could!  We also spent two hours at Ikea.  We arrived on a "seize the day" promotion and received a free breakfast.  It fueled us for our two hour wonder through the store.

Monday was spent at Cannon Beach walking the shore line in our long sleeve t-shirts basking in the sunshine and blue skies.  The rest of the afternoon was spent on a  drive up the coast and back through Washington along the Columbia river.

We ate well, talked and caught up and laughed a lot.  It was a true blessing and a privilege to spend time with my friend J.

Thanks for the memories!

Mrs. Potts

Adventure Awaits Me

I am soooooooooooo excited!  I am going on a trip and will be having some fun with a girlfriend of mine.  I have not seen my friend for over a year and I looking forward to visiting, shopping, relaxing, good food and maybe a glass of wine or two.  I am flying to Portland OR tomorrow afternoon right after work.  I will be returning on Tuesday.  Leaving HP, Joyful and Psymon to fend for themselves.

I'll fill you in on all the adventure upon my return.  Right now I need to pack and get things ready.  Just printed my boarding pass!

Mrs. Potts

Tealightful Monday

The Guest Book

by Carla Muir

When I was young, I'd visit folks

who lived on neighboring streets.

A widow often asked me in 

for tea and pastry treats.

She made me feel special with 

a table set just so,

while she would talk of baking and

how long to raise the dough.

Politely, I would listen although

thoughts would often stray.

Each time I left, I gave my word

I'd come another day.

Before I went to college

she asked that I stop by.

she opend up her old gues book

while trying not to cry.

Then as she paged through many years,

in pen I saw my name.

For she had written in that book

the days and times I came.

"You won't learn this in textbooks,"

she softly said to me ----

"how you can lift another's soul

with just a cup of tea."