HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Thinking of you as this year closes

Remembering sweet moments of the past

Blessed that I find you, in some of those... 

And look forward to making new memories...

Blessed that I will find you, in some of those.

Pamela Reinhardt

On this chilly evening, as this year ends, where are your thoughts?

This particular New Year's eve, my thoughts travel back in time to when my aunt would take her Kodak Brown Box, painstakenly reload film (think there were only 12 pictures to a roll...) and snap picture after picture of family members. On occassion, our head, body and feet would be all in one picture!  What fun we had looking at those pictures the next week, month and later, the years guessing who's partial picture we were looking at.

At this time in my life, when I want to have a glimpse at a special      friend or family member I go to my photo albums and bring the memories of their love and laughter back.  So grateful for moments, memories and the one who took the time to snap a picture.

Are you ready to make the best memories of 2014?

What are your favorite memories? 

How will you create those elusive moments this year?

I would love to have you sit a spell and share those 

thoughts  with me over a cup of tea.

                                                                http://www.pinterest.com/pin/33425222203958004/

A good snapshot keeps a

memory

from running away.

http://www.pinterest.com/source/google.co.uk/

The best thing about 

memories...

is making them

"We didn't realize we were making 

memories 

we just knew we were having fun."

                                                                                                      Visit how-do-it.info

Wishing you and yours health and happiness in 2014!

I am looking forward to sharing more time with you this year. Let's have fun, creating memories.

Thanksgiving

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Gratitude is an art of painting an adversity into a lovely picture. ~Kak Sri

Large Original Acrylic Painting, Morning Sunlight autumn - by UK professionl artist Pamela West by wilmasart on Etsy

I love, Ralph Waldo Emerson's prayer of thankfulness.

“For each new morning with its light,

For rest and shelter of the night,

For health and food, for love and friends,

For everything Thy goodness sends.”



I wanted to stop in on my Canadian friends to wish them a Happy Thanksgiving.  Maybe a wee bit of a surprise since there has been a long silence.  I hope this finds you well and in a quiet place to contemplate what you are thankful for.

I find any day is improved after I have sought out things to be thankful for.  Misadventures take on a new meaning and transformed into a lesson learned.  Petty disagreements melt / vaporize into  thin air with a sincere apology and the most humble of crumbs are a feast when shared with loved ones.

Will you share with me what you are thankful for?

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.

It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order,

confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.

Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.

                                                                          Melody Beattie

“Those blessings are sweetest that are won with prayer and worn with thanks.” 

                                                                                                                                                      Thomas Goodwin



“Rest and be thankful.” 
William Wordsworth

                          

Child's Prayer of Thanks

Thank you for the world so sweet.

Thank you for the things we eat.

Thank you for the birds that sing.

Thank you, God, for everything.

 

1 Timothy 4:4-5 (New Living Translation)

Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks. For we know it is made acceptable by the word of God and prayer.




I am looking forward to spending time with my tea friends and catching up in the near future.

Blessings,
Lady Pamela

Blue And White Afternoon Tea:

_______________________________



Spring, [Summer or Autumn] cleaning should begin with the head

and end with the heart.

Have you finished your spring cleaning??  This year I started in December, as we prepared our home for the real estate market.  Simplifying and cleaning to stage the house for photos was the beginning.  After that, maintaining the "look" for the day to day viewings was the norm.  I am not sure when the spring cleaning starts or finishes at this point.  But I do like the results.  A little tidy up everyday and we come home to a peaceful sanctuary and a calm haven for friends to enjoy with us.

For myself, I can see a parallel in my life. I tend to hold on to lots of unwanted, unwarranted, unfair thoughts and procrastinate when my head is rattling from the chaos. The remedy is a quiet chat with God  to clarify the thoughts and prioritize my life, then my heart is ready for the what the day hands me. 

Sorry our chat is short.   I have a few things to dust and sweep the floor. There is another viewing shortly.  But I will be back and will sit awhile at the tea table with you my dear friends. The table is set and the tea kettle will be quick to "sing". Perhaps you can  share "how do you tidy up the cobwebs in your head", over a cup of tea.?  All are welcome.

 My inspiration

The beginning

*************

Blessings, Pam

Possible New Banners; Which Do You Like:



Possible New Blog Banner Designs 
________________

Which one of these designs do you prefer of these six?

( Flowers petals cascading from the teapot's spouts and tiny white ribbons will perhaps be added to design number 1; there is no need to do this now if this design is not chosen).., 

Number 1..,

Number 2..,

Number 3..,

Number 4..,

Number 5..,

Number 6..,

A CLOSE UP VIEW

Number 1..,



A CLOSE UP VIEW

Number 2..,



A CLOSE UP VIEW

Number 3..,

 A CLOSEUP VIEW

Number 4..,


 A CLOSEUP VIEW

Number 5..,

I LOVED THIS SAYING ( shown just above this last picture; number 4).., "Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life".., YET A NEW INSCRIPTION OF 'A BREATH OF FRESH AIR' COULD BE IN IT'S PLACE INSTEAD..,

A closeup..,

Number 6..,

Please let me know which one you prefer, if any of these: number 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6?

Blessings.

The Year That Was

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:

Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.

And he replied: Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God.

That shall be to you better than light, and safer than a known way.

Welcome my dear tea friends! So good of you to join me today.  I hold you all in the highest regard for your kindness and patience over the last year. I so appreciate your kind words of encouragement and support and celebritory wishes on all occasions, especially my birthday.


My dear friend and co host of Teapots and Tea Things,  Wanda Lee, has decided to change her course, and for the present will no longer be hosting her blogs. How we will miss her!! At the present I feel I can not carry on with our meme on my own.  Wanda truly was the brains and beauty of our Tuesday tea party.  My heart overflows with gratitude. In the future, I hope to be present in blogland at times, and contribute to other's memes.  I enjoy each one of your blogs and the wonderful things you share.  Regretfully, I have not had the time to communicate that to you, personally, over the last several months due to my schedule.


Where has 2011 gone?  This year has flown by faster than I would have thought possible and with more highs and lows than I could have imagined.  Bear with me as I give you a brief look at the year that was 2011.  I invite you to select the most comfortable chair and a piping hot cup of tea and settle in for a wee moment.


As 2010 ended, I was enjoying my part time career, as a new doula, supporting moms-to-be before their labour, during their birth and transition into family life.  In January, an opportunity presented itself for full time position with a family who had welcomed twins into their lives. I already had become very attached to this wee lass and laddie and so I took on the role of caregiver, on a routine schedule. Days were very active and fulfilling. I realised that it takes more energy out of you in your fifties than your 20's.  I loved it and still spend my week days with these two toddlers, blessed by their joy of life and new adventures every day.


Being with my little twins, who are now toddlers, brought back many memories of raising my own three children.  Perhaps, this brought greater importance to my own adult children's lives and their journeys'. Both of my sons chose a bride and planned their weddings and married, in 2011.  I could not be happier in their choices and feel so blessed that my family has grown to include two resilient, gifted, loving women, who have strong family values.


The first wedding was in May on the west coast of Vancouver Island and the other in Toronto in September.  Bias aside, two wonderfully unique weddings perfect for the each couple that gave them their personal touch. I hope to share pictures soon.


May daughter continued her studies in Halifax, but not under dear Wanda Lee's wing, any longer.
My youngest took on her first apartment in August, with a friend. My husband and I took the road trip with her and spent a harried week helping her set up housekeeping.


One would hope that such a full and funfilled year would be enough.  But my sweety of 33 years and I had our own challenges with declining business in 2010 and we felt convicted to sell our home.  After more than ten months on the real estate market, almost daily showings, we did not see an offer.  Business has improved and in October, we took our house off the market.  We were not sure what lesson(s) God wanted us to learn but as we stayed faithful to him, He stayed faithful to us.  That in itself was a great lesson.


I am still in the process of unpacking boxes that were in storage at the realator's advice.  Many teacups are still snuggled in their wrappings, awaiting to see the light of day and a friendly teapot.  I will be delighted to see each one and find it a new home, in my dining room.  Hopefully to use them in the near future and possibly share them with you once again. As well, there are a few new treasures I have yet to share with you.  I know they will be worth the wait.




I am looking forward to the coming year with its opportunities to grow and experience the life God would have me live.


Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (NLT)



The warmest of wishes for a beau-tea-ful year!

Warmly,

Pam