It's All Worth It

Things have been crazy lately. Yes, Spring is certainly here! We seem to have found ourselves in the midst of a lot of hullabaloo-It almost feels like the Christmas rush-but it's not! Our youngest son just finished his school hockey season, wants to play in the Spring season, is on the school baseball team, and on a Travel baseball team for summer. He really keeps himself, and us, busy!
With the school year coming to an end in 2.5 months (roughly) and our oldest son finishing his 2nd year of college and looking the Police Academy in the eye-time just seems to be flying! When he turned 20 last month, I felt like my body insantaniously got old! LOL
We are looking at all the Spring and Summer projects we have to finish this year. We have our gorgeous deck to rebuild as I menioned the other day, we have an add-on room to the garage to build for the riding mower and my potting shed. We have the backyard to design/plant/develop-all wrapped up into one massive package. I can't wait!
I keep telling myself that it's all worth it in the end. Everything we are doing now, looking forward to doing, and hope to do is all worth it-it may not be easy- but well worth our time.
We all need to keep our chins up through all the hardships we may have, or the troubles we go through-
My father always said to me that "things always work out in the end". As a young girl, I never saw how- it seemed impossible. Now, I find myself saying the same thing to the boys, and even to my dearest husband. I guess I've been through enough trials in my life to see that this line of thought is usually true-
Thinking of you-

Time for Tea-
E-

 

Spring is Here? Well-Almost!

Well, the first day of Spring has sprung and I've yet to see a full day of sun. In Michigan, we can only expect so much. Today I am writing from a wonderful room in a wonderful hotel in a wonderful city-Chicago! We are here on business, but I look at it as total pleasure. I have a great view of the lake as I type, and the room is spacious and inviting. It is a little modern for me, which is surprising because the rest of the hotel is vintage and dated from it's conception.
 

I do love it here though- I will be looking for a tea house to have lunch in tomorrow after my visit to the museum. I am on my own for a whole day in the windy city! Watch out!

Tonight we visit Chinatown, and for Palm Sunday mass, we will be celebrating at one of the many beautiful Catholic churches in the city. Maybe Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica! How beautiful! 

 

I have begun my endeavors in the tea catering business.

So far I have my price lists for the different types of tea, the menus for each and I have purchased a new set of pink glass cups and saucers to add to the china cups and saucers I already have.

My first catered event will be in May- I am very excited about it!

I added a new Board on my Pinterest account for Tea House ideas, so that one day, when I retire, if the catering is going well, I might be able to open an actual tea house.

The ideas are endless.
 

 

I am looking forward to the Spring warm up. There is so much to be done. Our backyard is on my mind all the time. We have a deck to rebuild, and a wonderful garden to replant. I am looking forward to the times we get to spend out there. It's like another world for me since it is wooded yet elegent.

I will leave you with this:

 

The Deck

The deck. It runs along the entire back walls of our house. It acts as a stage for our wooded lot, brick pathway and unplanted flower gardens. I like how it is an extension of our house-bringing the life of the outdoors closer to the indoors and into our hearts.

The fireplace is a gathering space for family to sit and spend time thinking, talking, dreaming and reminiscing. The heat and the glow that casts off warmth and comfort while listening to the twilight sounds of nature.  We listen to the sound of the nocturnal owl, the light and breezy hummingbird, the noisy cicada in the trees in the summer at dusk.

I feel safe and secure in our little piece of heaven in this backyard world of ours. I feel stingy hording this space, but sharing it is not a problem. Many a treasured time has been spent with our families during a celebration of life, another year, another accomplishment. The times with the kids, trying to get a grip on what’s to happen next in their lives still ahead. Lastly, the quiet most intimate times alone with my husband, with our hands together, and just breathing in the quiet moment together.

It is a place I treasure because I am “me”-

Not a always a mother

Not always a daughter

Not always a wife

Not always a teacher

It is a place I treasure because I become “me”-

A lover of nature

A lover of family

A lover of life

xoxo

Author Known :)

Time forTea-

E-

 

 

 

 

Twas the Week Before Christmas

So the presents are almost done being purchased, some were already given (at church) and still others need to be found and wrapped. I have a potluck next week at work and three family gatherings to prepare for.
Am I alone in all this? I know I'm not. It is taking all I have to keep my holiday spirit in tact, but it sure is a tough one. I am all about the reason for the season-but sometimes I just think it's a little rediculous and over rated. I'm not understanding why we do what we do-just for the sake of doing them. I won't go into detail, but it is just making me think way too much this year. I think a lot of what we do is just not necessary.
Having a nice time with good friends and family-that we actually have a relationship with, is great and lovely. Everyone should do more of it-
I hope everyone can muddle through these next couple of weeks with me-
God bless everyone-
Time for tea-
E-

Tea with Family and Friends

I had a wonderful tea at my home not too long ago with some wonderful friends and family members. I called it "The End of Fall" tea. It was a kick-off to my entrepreneurial efforts to begin The Sweet E and Tea catering business. I was pleased with the menu of sweet potato stew, maple glazed Canadian bacon on cheddar and thyme biscuits, chicken cranberry tea sandwiches, cream scones, maple walnut scones, cinnamon cream, and various curds. I also presented guests with a caramel apple trifle. Mom brought a spice and raisin bread to add to the table. Various teas were available per guest, as was a gift bag full of hand made acorn candies, and a sunflower favor. Each recipe was delicious as usual, and everyone went home with happy memories and a full stomach.
I gave out menus, price lists and business cards. I'm hoping that the word will spread through friends and family, and then eventually out and onward!
I have been planning this day for quite some time now and am pleased with the results.
If anyone has any tips on catering for small groups for tea, please let me know! It would be greatly appreciated-
Time for Tea-
E-

Stop the World! I want to get off!

I just love that saying-and boy do I feel it! I would love to get off this world of ours and step into another realm that was just full of the stuff I love and enjoy-wow...what a dream world! Stress of every day life, work and drama is just about made me "mad". I know it will soon be over with once the Thanksgiving holiday week begins, but omg! I wish it would hurry up and get here!  Anyone with me? I need to become a hermit and enjoy some silence for a while!

This too shall pass! Have a good week!

E- and TEA!

Reinventing One's Self

How does one go about "reinventing" one's self? I feel like I am wanting to do so much- but things that come up in life get in the way of it.

I want to become a very healthy person- all the way...not just losing 5 pounds or so, but constantly eating healthy without binging urges and worrying about how many glasses of wine can I have in order to not gain ounces!

I want to join a women's gym to make sure I keep moving in the cold months and not gain a muffin top like I usually do during these lovely Michigan winters!

I want to begin my tea catering company. I think I am ready to do this now! I have menus, I have a pricing range, I have business cards ordered, and I feel like if I don't just try it-I'll never know what might come of this want I have of creating and hosting a most wonderful tea for someone!

I want to make my husband proud of me and keep him happy because he has become the most important person in my life, besides my sons of course-but as they grow older, they are moving away from Mom, and becoming their own person. I am not their center anymore.
My husband and I have always been hard working people-it's what we came from and it's what we know-
his "retirement" was pretty short lived seeing we still needed a little more to get by with, along with my teaching paychecks. I don't do poorly there, it's just that the one high school son is still spending a lot of money on school sports, activities and etc. So, we will keep at it! :)

I have realized that we have to keep loving all of those who are important in our lives- but not to forget to love yourself as well-I think that if we forget to take care of ourselves, on every level of being-we won't be there for them when they need us!

Hot tea for me!
E-

I Love Fall

 

 

     The Fall season has hit Michigan with a slam of wonderful weather, beautiful skies, and the scent of burning leaves. Football games, Homecoming parades, fire in the pit, and coffee with Bailey's! This is my time of year. Hubby just cleaned up the shrubs and trees for the winter, and I am eager to decorate for the Halloween/Thanksgiving season.
With brick pavers in the entryway, and a nice cozy bench to greet people, it is easy to make the front of the house a welcoming home. The plan is to do it up with hay bales, pumpkins (orange and white if possible), mums and corn stalks with Fall ribbon.
I don't know what it is about Fall- but in Michigan it is a season to treasure. Most people love Spring because of all the new growth and bright colors afgter a drab Winter, but Fall does it for me. I love the hues of Fall-oranges, reds, browns and greens and yellows. When the sun hits these colors in the late afternoon, and the breeze wafts in the Fall air- there is nothing better.

Work is nothing but stress lately. I love teaching the kids-it is my passion, but there are so many changes with mandates that are making the teaching into nothing but assessment and data. I feel like the creativity that teachers once had, and could actually use, is all put to the side now. There is no time to languish the event when a student has an "ahaaa!" moment- or to praise and celebrate knew found ideas or beliefs in what kids get out of their education. It is a sad day for teachers, and, unfortunately, for retired or soon to be retiring teachers. Educators are so under appreciated in America- if anyone could have a truly good day in the shoes of an Educator- they would see that all of these beurocratic add-ons to our day is just a waste of time in the life of a growing student.

I'm glad it's Fall- it helps me to deal with the trials of my career, and bring me back to what's really important in the scheme of my life- my husband, my family, my friends, and loving this wonderful thing called Fall.

Go BLUE!!!

E-