Luxurious Retreat Tips

twisted herb bread

~twisted herb bread~ This bread recipe produces a large loaf of fluffy white bread with a fine crumb. If you prefer a chewier, crustier bread just substitute your favorite recipe for the ingredients listed here. The main attraction of this bread is the different herbs added to each rope of the braid. I used fresh…

six senses saturday

“Tasting, seeing, experiencing, living– all these demonstrate that there is something common to enlightenment-experience and our sense experience; the one takes place in our innermost being, the other on the periphery of our consciousness.” ~D.T. Suzuki ~Seeing~ This adorable recipe for Krabby Patties penned by Gracie when she was 5… ~hearing~ Christina Perri jar of…

thrift store score

It had been awhile since I went on a thrift store bender, and when I saw this amazing deal on Country Fare pottery mugs and saucers I knew it was time. I bought 5 and gave one to my Jana. They are gorgeous! They usually go for between $10 and $20 a piece. Did I…

six senses saturday

~Tasting~ ~rosewater lemonade~ 2 Tablespoons rosewater in a half gallon of pink lemonade elegant and refreshing! ~Seeing~ This movie for our date night… watch the TRAILER here ~Hearing~ this pretty music… by The Honey Trees To Be With You Moon River Edelweiss Orchard ~Smelling~ fresh air coming in from the open windows and doors and…

six senses saturday

~Seeing~ This pretty embroidery design by Gracie Placzek ~Hearing~ Our favorite Children’s party music… Songs I Heard by Harry Connick Jr. Birds, Bees and Fishes by Pete Seeger This Land is Your Land by Woody Guthrie Animal Crackers by Shirley Temple ~Tasting~ Iced Tea! ~Smelling~ The daffodils in the front bulb garden ~Feeling~ Like packing…

relaxing ritual ~ tea & cake in front of the fireplace

It’s been busy around here! Between getting a little spring cleaning done every day (in an attempt to make the chore less daunting), writing outlines, queries and book proposals, doing multiple photo shoots for the tea book, continuing to write the novel, trying to nail down a date to book our vacation, planning a birthday…

Six Senses Saturday

~Seeing~ pens, paper, paint, camera…time to get creative! Inspired to work on the tea book today! ~Hearing~ Glen Hansard ‘s voice in The soundtrack to the beautiful movie Once watch the TRAILER here Falling Slowly Minds Made Up ~Smelling~ bacon and eggs that the hubby fried up for our breakfast BLTs. ~Tasting~ tea with milk…

green joy

“God gave all men all earth to love but since our hearts are small, Ordained for each one spot should prove beloved over all.” ~Rudyard Kipling This past weekend it was so gorgeous I decided to plant my herb garden… and yesterday I had to bring it back into the house. I’m glad I did…

The Mysteries of Tea ~ Iron Goddess of Mercy Oolong

:: Tea of the Week :: Iron Goddess of Mercy Oolong Oolong tea leaves are semi-oxidized and are mainly cultivated in China and Taiwan. They are first exposed to warm air which causes them to wilt and then tossed in big bamboo baskets so the edges become bruised. The end result is this unique, richly…

Six Senses Saturday

~Seeing~ crocuses blooming in the front bulb garden… (this was yesterday…now the poor things are covered in snow!) and one of my favorite Gladys Taber books “The Book of Stillmeadow” I’m doing a re-read of the spring entries… I love her poem “Song for April”… and the sweet illustrations… ~hearing~ The birds chirping in the…