Inspire!

hearts, paper, scissors

It’s the beginning of our week of Valentine treats! Just like last year, I’ll feature something for you having to do with love, friendship and romance every day for a week. Enjoy… ~Valentine Treat 1~ Homemade Valentines & Envelopes I made my valentines using cream colored card stock for the base and wallpaper hearts from…

Sunday Romance: a winter walk & a pot of soup

Yesterday was one of those winter days when we got to go outside for awhile. The temperature actually got all the way up to 32 degrees! I put on my favorite sweater… and we went for a winter walk. I decided to bring my camera and share some snapshots from our Sunday… after our walk…

Six Senses Saturday

~Tasting~ Maple Bacon doughnuts from Red Wing’s  Hanisch Bakery mmmmmm…. photograph by Melissa Placzek ~Hearing~ Mindy Gledhill’s sweet voice over the iPod dock… This music is just my cup of tea. Take a listen for yourself… Anchor Hourglass All About Your Heart ~Smelling~ French press brewing… ~Seeing~ These beautiful, inspiring books by Amanda Blake Soule-…

Day Zero Update

photograph by Melissa Placzek “Though pleased to see the dolphins play, I mind my compass and my way.” ~Matthew Green I’ve been checking things off of my Day Zero list! Some of you are paying attention to my progress, and some of you have made lists of your own! Isn’t this an exciting adventure? If…

The Mysteries of Tea~Pearl Gunpowder

photograph by Melissa Placzek :: Tea of the Week :: Pearl Gunpowder-Temple of Heaven Grade (Zu Cha) This week I’ll be talking a little bit about a common Chinese green (unfermented) tea called “gunpowder.” Almost all gunpowder teas are made in Zhejiang province. They’re called gunpowder because of their appearance; Tightly rolled little “pearls” or…

Six Senses Saturday

Back by popular demand! hee hee…Six Senses Saturday… ~Seeing~ The Darjeeling Limited watch the trailer HERE Have you ever seen this movie? It’s one of my favorite “visually stunning” flicks. I like the really pretty, armchair travel, colorful movies this time of year when the sun refuses to show her face and when the landscape…

Art As Heirloom

Today Gracie had the day off from school and we decided to work on crafts. As we perused the shelves of my craft closet she didn’t seem very enthused. I showed her fabrics, and yarns and little looms….no, no, no… “How about embroidery?” I asked. “What’s that?” she replied. So I showed her a book…

I love my readers

I have to dedicate this post to some of my favorite readers! Thank you soooooo much for your encouragement and for your beautiful letters! I appreciate you more than I can say. I love our daily banter, your funny comments, thoughtful posts AND the tokens of friendship I find in my mail box! You rock.…

Art’s Many Forms

Art is a funny subject. I love talking to people who insist they don’t have a creative bone in their body. After awhile they will reveal something amazing about themselves like their ability to cook a gourmet meal, their beautiful poetry, their family’s history archived in a scrapbook where they spent hours pouring over the…