Tea with an Angel

I have learned that when joining others for tea, it is not only the tea that is enjoyed,
but others admire the beauty and daintiness of a tea set just as much.  I believe it
does matter what you put your tea in.

I have found the most enjoyable site with every kind of beautiful tea ware.
In searching for Angels, I came upon http://angelsgalleries.com.  So I sat with a
wonderful green tea and searched the site.

This lovely porcelain teapot is called "Summer Rose."

I just love the beautiful teaset lid because it's just different.

Since I'm just crazy about blue...

I LOVE THIS TEASET!

I had just missed the sale.

Angel had this lovely teaset on sale for $59.95.

At a price like that, they are now out of stock.

There were so many beautiful teasets on this site, 

it was hard for me to choose what to show you.

Some things I had never seen before.

  Such as a teapot warmer!

They had several styles, but this one was my favorite.

It has lots of charm!!

Not only do they have teasets for the adults,

 Angel has lovely, adorable teasets for children!

This teaset reminded me so much of the 50s.

And me with two beautiful granddaughters,

that LOVE PRINCESSES, it was just

right to show this set.

And if you are a collector...

 you are going to LOVE these porcelain miniature teasets.

I'm glad I was searching for Angels this morning!

As our friend C.S. Lewis once said,

"Tea should be taken in solitude."

I would LOVE to join Terri at Artful Affirmations

for tea this morning. She has lots of wisdom to

share with you in how to choose your cups wisely.

Terri is one of my favorites in Tea Cup Collectors.

Here's to your health!

This is My Great Niece

This is my great niece. She is the one that had brain surgery

about two weeks ago. She is doing really GREAT!

She's now 18 years old and will start college soon.

She wants to be a Pediatrician.  She said that

someone needs to pay attention to the 

children when they feel bad.

She had suffered with many headaches through

the years, and now FINALLY someone

paid attention and found the problem.

She is healing wonderfully!!

I thought I would share some of her art with you.

Her grandfather is an artist and a leather craftsman.

Some of these were done when she was younger.

This one is my favorite. The photo doesn't do it justice...

This is another favorite.

I dearly love this little girl that's becoming a very beautiful young lady.

Even though she had terrible headaches as she was going through

school, she remained getting A's in all her subjects. She didn't let 

anything stop her. I think if you are that motivated, you are going 

places!!  Any child would be blessed to have her be their Pediatrician.

Here's to your health!

Type II Diabetes

A few years back we found out that my husband was a Type II Diabetic. The doctor said that he may have had it for a long time and we didn't even know it. As I explained in another post (here), the way we found out was from another doctor's appointment for another issue. We had to go back IMMEDIATELY. They wouldn't tell us over the phone what was wrong. It was very scary at first because we didn't know what to expect. Once we get into the doctor's office, then he explains, "You are a Type II Diabetic." My husband and I were shocked.

What is Type II Diabetes?
Type II diabetics produce insulin, which is a hormone that comes from the pancreas (a gland situated just behind and below the stomach); however, either their pancreas does not produce enough insulin OR the body cannot use the insulin adequately. This is called insulin resistance. Insulin is necessary for the body to be able to use glucose (sugar, a main source of energy for the cells that make up muscles and other tissues) for energy. The liver acts as a glucose storage and manufacturing center. When your insulin levels are low -- when you haven't eaten in a while, for example -- the liver metabolizes stored glycogen into glucose to keep your glucose level within the normal range. In Type II Diabetics, this process works improperly. When there isn't enough insulin or the insulin is not used as it should be, glucose can't get into the body's cells. When glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells, the body's cells are not able to function properly.

My husband and I also went to a Nutritionist. She told us that my husband has to be careful about his fat intake, because fat will block the glucose from entering the cells.We learned how to read the labels on our food products. If you are diagnosed with Type II Diabetes, you should see a Nutritionist also. It helped me (us) to better understand what my husband needed.

What are some of the Symptoms of Type II Diabetes?

According to the Mayo Clinic:


Increased thirst and frequent urination. Excess sugar builds up in your bloodstream, fluid is pulled from the tissues. This may leave you thirsty. So, you drink - and urinate - more than usual.

Increased hunger.  Without enough insulin to move sugar into your cells, your muscles and organs become depleted of energy. This triggers intense hunger.

Weight loss. Despite eating more than usual to relieve hunger, you may lose weight. Without the ability to metabolize glucose, the body uses alternative fuels stored in muscle and fat. Calories are lost as excess glucose is released in the urine.

Fatigue. If you cells are deprived of sugar, you may become tired and irritable.

Blurred vision. If your blood sugar is too high, fluid may be pulled from the lenses of your eyes. This may affect your ability to focus clearly.

Slow-healing sores or frequent infections. Type II diabetes affects your ability to heal and resist infections.

Areas of darkened skin. Some people with type II diabetes have patches of dark, velvety skin in the folds and creases of their bodies -- usually in the armpits. This condition, called acanthosis nigricans, may be a sign of insulin resistance.

One friend had told me that she did experience a change in her vision; vision became blurry, she had excessive thirst, and she had a yeast infection. Whether the last could be part of it, I don't know. But she noticed a change and saw her doctor. Sure enough, she was a Type II.

If you feel any of these symptoms or notice anything different, please see your doctor.

More to come on this subject.

Here's to your health!

Watching the Sunset with a Good Cup of Tea

I could see anyone enjoying a good cup of tea

with this Ansley Tea Set.

Beautiful gold trim around the cup, 

handle, and even on the tea pot.

The decorations are so...delightful.

Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis

on which the world earth revolves - slowly, evenly,

without rushing toward the future. ~Thich Nat Hahn

Here are some very beautiful Infuser Tea Mugs.

I love the handles on these and

the mugs are decorated so

delicately.

The delicate flowers have flare!

Speaking of flares...I once took a friend with

me to Tennessee to visit my mother and other

family members. My mother was telling us a

wonderful story of going into another town

and she saw the most beautiful "FLARES"

she had every seen. My friend looked at me

and said, "Flares, what are flares?"

I started laughing and told her, "FLOWERS!"

She and I still laugh about that to this day.

I also had to translate other words for her. Tee-hee.

Well, I saw the most beautiful sunset last night.

My wonderful husband and I sat for a moment

to watch it unfold. I'd like to share it with you.

I hope I didn't share too many with you! It was just so glorious!! 

And the sun rises and sets on the good and the bad.

God is Gracious!!

As I was standing there taking all these beautiful pictures,

thanking God for His beauties and His mercies,

there were many people that drove by wondering what

I was looking at. A couple of people took a glance, 

but quickly looked away.

Finally, one person pulled over and

took the time to enjoy the view for only a moment

and then sped off like he was on fire.

Oh people, you need to take time to drink it all in;

quite your souls and feel the beauty.

I hope you have a lovely tea day!

Martha, Sandi, and Terri are hosting Tea Time Tuesday

for today. I would like to join them in celebrating a 

wonderful drink. The best part about the drink 

are the wonderful cups,saucers, and tea pots. 

Martha, Sandi, and Terri have many

beautiful collections. And DO check out 

the desserts!

 It is very strange, this domination of our intellect by our

digestive organs. We cannot work, we cannot think,

unless our stomach wills so. It dictates to us our

emotions, our passions. After eggs and bacon it says,

"Work!" After beefsteak and porter, it says, "Sleep!"

After a cup of tea (two spoonfuls for each cup, and

don't let it stand for more than three minutes), it says

to the brain, "Now rise, and show your strength. 

Be eloquent, and deep, and tender; see, with a 

clear eye, into Nature, and into life: spread your

white wings of quivering thought, and soar,

a god-like spirit, over the whirling world beneath

you, up through long lanes of flaming stars

to the gates of eternity!"

~Jerome K. Jerome~

Three Men in a Boat

Here's to your health!

Mosaic Monday; Many Things

 Sorry I missed out on posting anything last week. We had a family member that had brain surgery. We traveled there to help out in any way that we could. She is 18 years old and had been complaining of headaches since she was about 6 years old. Doctors couldn't find anything wrong with her. During all that time she remained a straight A student. FINALLY, a doctor noticed something! Her brain had slid down
off her skull to the back of her head. She had starting blacking out from the pressure. It was time now to correct it. I told my husband that maybe it wasn't meant to be seen when she was very young. Maybe having surgery at a young age might not have been good for her. I don't know...I would like to think it was in God's good timing. She goes in for a  5 hour surgery and in three days she's back home. She is doing really well!!
(The picture of her here was taken a couple of years ago.)

I hope everyone had a wonderful Father's Day! 

My father had passed away several years ago. 

I dearly miss him today.

He was a great father and a wonderful grandfather!

We all miss him...

Other Happenings:

Houston got a mock Shuttle!

Everyone is very excited about it.

This one can be used at NASA

for demonstrations as to how the

shuttle works. Kids can pretend to

go to space! Still wish we could have

gotten one of the real ones...

We decided to drive by where it was docked.

It was amazing seeing it there.

The next morning, I got up and just had to take a better look.

I would like to join Little Red House for

Mosaic Monday. Mary is an AMAZING

Photographer! Go pay her a visit. Don't

just look at one posting; LOOK AT 

THEM ALL! Her photos are FABULOUS!

Here's to your health!

Could You be Pre-Diabetic Without Knowing It?

A sweet and dear friend had said that maybe I should write about diabetes. And she's right! There's such an epidemic now more than there ever has been. The "diabesity epidemic" is a good example of how overall health has declined in recent years. We are missing the simple, everyday behaviors that used to keep us healthy, such as home-cooked meals, active lifestyles (mowing our own yards, working in the gardens; you know, chores that require movement), there was far less stress and  a less-toxic environment overall. We just need to get back to a more simple life. We need to get more involved in our own health!

As my sweet and dear friend had told me, she had lived with very high blood sugar and she didn't even know it. My own husband was also diagnosed as a diabetic. He had very high blood sugar and he (or I) never knew it. He happened to find his out when I MADE HIM A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT and told him to go because of a cancer growth he had on his arm. Of course, they drew blood and did all the testing to make sure the cancer hadn't spread. By the time we got back to the house, the doctor's office had called leaving a message that we need to call the Nurse's Station and talk to them about coming back in the next day. They made it sound so very serious that we just knew the cancer had spread. When he called no one would give us any answers. We had to wait until the next day when we saw the doctor. My husband was so surprised when he was told he was a diabetic. As for the cancer, he did have to have surgery to have it removed. It hadn't spread and all was OK with that. But it was a whole new learning experience dealing with diabetes.

OK, getting back to the question above, could you be pre-diabetic without knowing it? Millions of people are now living with diabetes, and millions more are classified as "pre-diabetic," meaning they are at risk for developing the disease -- unless they change their ways.  Per Dr. Leigh Connealy, symptoms of pre-diabetes include excessive weight, (especially around the waist), high levels of triglycerides (a fat found in the bloodstream), elevated blood sugar and blood pressure, and low levels of "good" HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol. An individual who has at least three of these markers is considered to be pre-diabetic. In other words, such a person is at risk for developing full-blown type 2 diabetes, with the likelihood of a heart attack, stroke, and certain cancers, greatly increased.

You may be suffering from pre-diabetes if you have any three of the following:

• Most of your excess weight is concentrated around your waistline. For example, for women, if your waist is 35" or more; for men, if your waist is 40" or more.
• Your BMI (Body Mass Index) is 27 or higher. (To search this, put "BMI" in your favorite search engine to find the many online sites with a tool that calculates it for you.)
• Your HDL ("good") cholesterol is less than 50 mg/dL for women, or less than 40 mg/dL for men.
• Your triglycerides are greater than 150 mg/dL.
• Your blood pressure is higher than 130/85 mmHg.  (Check my post about blood pressure. You should know your numbers.)
• Your fasting blood sugar is greater than 85 mg/dL.
• Your A1c is higher than 5.5. (To understand A1c, click the link.)

 Many people report uncontrollable sugar cravings and feeling fatigues no matter how much sleep they get.

So here's the good news -- pre-diabetes can be turned around. Like diabetes, pre-diabetes is your body's cry for help, a signal that things need to change. Change can be good! Sometimes it's hard to make the changes. I KNOW, I'm going through changes myself with adrenal fatigue and acid reflux. Dealing with the "belly fat" can only lead to worse things. I understand that! I think this is my body's cry for help and if I don't start making the changes now, it will only lead to something else that my body will have a hard time dealing with. My mind and my heart has to work together. But sometimes my mouth has to tell my mind that I don't need the donuts that my co-worker brought to to share with everyone. So, diet and activity level are crucial in conquering pre-diabetes. Dr. Connealy says a good secret for the diet is to avoid simple carbohydrates (bread, rice, potatoes, and pasta) for two days every week. A study was done that involved women who were at high risk for developing breast cancer, but FINDINGS apply to anyone who wants to reduce weight and reverse insulin resistance. The results in terms of insulin improvement -- 22 PERCENT! This involved with the two days of low-carb dieting per week and no more than 650 calories total on each of those days.

Don't only change the foods in your diet, change the beverage, too. Sodas, energy drinks, designer coffees, and most juices are loaded with the sort of simple carbohydrates that can send blood sugar soaring, not to mention add to your waistline. Green tea is just the opposite. Research shows that drinking two to four cups of green tea daily prevents high blood sugar from damaging various organs in the body. It also increases weight reduction by boosting your metabolism.

Unsweetened cranberry juice is another smart beverage choice. It benefits the heart and urinary tract health! A new study has found that it improved several markers of pre-diabetes in women. Dr. Connealy suggests mixing 28 ounces of fresh, filtered water with 1/2 cup of unsweetened cranberry juice and drinking it all day long.

Now, throw in a little exercise with the diet change and you're on your way to good health! Please don't use the excuse that you don't have time. Two recent studies show that even very short exercise sessions benefit insulin resistance and other pre-diabetes markers. In one study, participants exercised three times weekly for ten minutes at a time. During the ten-minute sessions, they were asked to step up the intensity, but only for 10, 20, or 30 seconds at a time. Even this MINIMAL amount of exercise, just 30 minutes total per WEEK, insulin sensitivity increased by an impressive 28 PERCENT. The other study had similar results. If you haven't been exercising, you should get your doctor's permission for any type of workout. Sedentary individuals should start exercising slowly to avoid injuries and work gradually toward more fast-paced routines.

Later on we'll discuss Type II Diabetes.

YEP, CHANGE CAN BE GOOD!

Here's to your health!

Weekend with Peter Pan

It is such a thrill watching my granddaughters grow up, but I do wish it would slow down just a bit. I'm trying to hold on to every moment that I get to have with them. I love watching the perform. They are beautiful little dancers! This past weekend was their dance company's production of PETER PAN.

The only problem I have with this is....THEY WANT

LET YOU TAKE PICTURES OF THE PERFORMANCE!

We doting grandmothers want PICTURES!

But at least they let me take pictures BEFORE the curtain went up.

The people with the IDs around their necks

are the ones making sure you DON'T take

pictures....LOL....NO...they make sure that

you are comfortable, in the right seat, and

 will not let you back in if you go out 

during the show. LOL! So very strict!

The little theater is just amazing.

It's very old and been here for

a very long time.

The whole production was just awesome!

Doodles was a firefly on Friday evening.

They LOVE getting their flowers.

Little Bit performed on Saturday.

She was a Meteorite and a Gator.

Doodles also was a French Maid 

for Saturday's performance.

Don't you love her colorful socks?

That's all folks! See you next performance!

I don't know about the rest of you, but

I AM READY FOR A GOOD 

CUP OF TEA!

This cup is so very simple and sweet.

I love the softness about this cup.

This is a Linea Rose Infuser Mug.

Although I don't have any beautiful cups to share,

I would still like to join Martha and Terri

for Teatime Tuesday. They have some

lovely teas sets to show you today.

The visit with them is like getting

together with old friends.

I very much like their friendship.

Here's to your health!