A Million Wishes...

I have to say that I have a lot of hope in the Lord. I guess a person shouldn't start their day unless they have some kind of hope. You think you are getting ahead and then something happens to make you take two steps back. You re-group and you wonder how in the world are we going to get around this?What do you do to ease the stress?

I LOVE Tea-Time Tuesday with the ladies! It gives me a chance to search the web for favorites that I like to share. The tea set above is my favorite for today. And check out the music box! You can have them done in your pattern. Good idea for those that have a chipped cup or saucer that you just don't want to throw out. It's still put to good use this way. There were lamps, night lights, sconces, and many other suggestions in using your favorite tea cup and saucer pattern. I think that's pretty creative.

This pattern was another favorite! I love the beautiful color and softness of the flowers. I think I would mix and match these two patterns. Although they are different flower patterns, the colors compliment each other. I don't know ladies. I'm not the expert; is there a rule you have to go by?

And of course I had to throw some blue in for my favorites. I'm making a million wishes today! I especially love the tea pots! The style has so much grace.

I have been experiencing a lot of ups and downs lately. One moment I'm ahead and the next moment I'm wondering what happened. We finally get ahead for once, so I think I'm going to take this time to do some things for me. We ladies never think of doing things for ourselves because we always want to do for others. But I take this time to get my eyes checked because I wanted to get contacts, have a breast exam because I hadn't had one in 10 years, and get my teeth worked on.

So I'm at the eye doctor and he's putting new contacts in my eyes. My right eye gets really red, but he says "well, I've irritated your eye, but take these and try them out for about a week and come back to see me." I can't even put them in my eyes because my eye is so red for about three/four days. Then I finally am able to try them. They are dailies; I put them in the morning and take them out at night. Easy, right...Everything was going great! Then about the third morning, I wake up and my eyes are so BLOOD RED! I mean I really looked like the devil! I could still see though, but my eyes were painful. So it seems like I had some kind of reaction to the contact or maybe the solution. I had to do eye drops and wash my eyes with this scrubbing pad, and blah, blah, blah... Now I'm not wearing contacts...

And get this...in the meantime, I'm at my husband's family's house (during the time our niece had brain surgery)...After having good check-ups with the dentist, I brake a couple of teeth...snapped off right at the gum line. (The teeth holding a bridge.) In the 20 years that I've had the bridge, I've NEVER used that side for biting.  I was offered a piece of licorice; I took it and bit down on it. VOILA! A bad choice. I have been waiting for over a month to get that repaired. I was set up for oral surgery and was never hearing from the surgeons office. So after about a month I called them; they said that the surgeon had been killed. TRAGIC!! A "friend" had murdered him. I cried for days about that. He was such a nice man. No one had called me, and thank you  LORD that I called them. I was starting to get an infection and wanted to know what to do. So I had to take antibiotics. I am now waiting to see another surgeon. Just keep me in your prayers that things will go well with that.

I am not complaining!! And I hope I didn't ruin your teatime. Things happen in this world. My hope is in the Lord!! As I teach my granddaughters, patience is a virtue. I'm being patient, it's just that in the meantime I can't smile very big. And thank GOD I found a couple of real good reading glasses. BUT good news! My breast exam came back negative. So with lots of hope and lots of patience...things are happening!

Here's to your health!

Go see Martha at Martha's Favorites. She'll put you in a good mood.
Terri at Artful Affirmations has some lovely tea sets to share with you.

Yellow Rose of Texas

Ever wonder what the song "Yellow Rose of Texas" really means? The first recorded copy of the "Yellow Rose of Texas" was handwritten on a piece of plain paper circa 1836. The folksong's lyrics tells of a black American (presumably a soldier) who left his sweetheart (a "yellow rose") and yearns to return to her side.

The original transcription has many spelling errors, so it is believed the transcriber was somewhat uneducated, but it was signed with three embellished initials (H.B.C.). This copy is now housed in the archives at the University of Texas in Austin.

The first copyrighted edition of the song was published in New York in 1858.

The cover states it was "Composed and Arranged Expressly

for Charles H. Brown by JK." It was never known who JK was.

Soon after the song was published, it became very popular

worldwide! Yes, the song was even sung in Europe. It was adopted

as a marching song by soldiers everywhere, especially in Texas.

The song's lyrics were changed by early 1860 because it referred

to and was sung by a black American soldier, the term "darky"

was replaced with "soldier" and the first line in the chorus was

changed to "She's the sweetest little flower..." as apposed to

"She's the sweetest rose of color."

 In 1864, a fourth stanza was added to reflect the hopelessness

of General John B. Hood's retreating Texas Brigade after

its disastrous Tennessee campaign. Some of his troops were so

disoriented after the loss, they actually thought the war was over

and started returning home - singing, of course, "Yellow Rose of Texas."

Original lyrics:

There's a yellow rose in Texas

That I am a going to see

No other darky knows her

No one only me

She cryed so when I left her

It like to broke my heart

And if I ever find her

We nevermore will part

She's the sweetest rose of color

This darky ever knew

Her eyes are bright as diamonds

They sparkle like the dew

You may talk about dearest May

and sing of Rosa Lee

But the yellow rose of Texas

Beats the belles of Tennessee

In 1864 as General Hood's soldiers retreated in such confusion,

a fourth stanza was added:

And now I'm going southward

for my heart is full of woe

 I'm going back to Georgia

to see my Uncle Joe

You may talk about your Beauregard

and sing of Bobbie Lee

But the gallant Hood of Texas

played hell in Tennessee.

Some versions even read..."and sing of General Lee,"

referring of course to the Confederate General Robert E. Lee.

In 1955 Mitch Miller recorded an arrangement

for Columbia Records. The lyrics were, by then,

much altered:

She's the sweetest little rosebud

That Texas ever knew

Her eyes are bright as diamonds

They sparkle like the dew

You may talk about your Clementine

and sing of Rosalee

But The Yellow Rose of Texas

is the only girl for me!

They say that Emily D. West was the young woman of the song.

Click on Emily's name to learn more about her. She's a big part

of Texas history.

I would like to join Mary at Little Red House for

Mosaic Monday. What I didn't know was 

that Mary also has a blog with Yellow Roses!!

Imagine my surprise when I saw her

post this morning. Please pay her a visit. She's

FABULOUS!

Here's to your health!

An Interesting Day with a Fungi

We have had a lot of rain around here lately. Thank God there has been no real flooding of any kind. You might not be able to pass through on certain streets, but so far so good.  Once the rain subsided a little, we have had some interesting visitors. I'd like to say that he is a Fungi!

I enjoyed getting down low to take some of these shots!

It's interesting to see how strong they look.

How well rounded and so white!

I'm sure it was delicious to some sweet animal.

These were not just small little mushrooms. They were all very large.

These were bigger than my hand!

Little Bit was looking at my pictures yesterday.

She said, "You went to the park." 

I said, "Yes, I did." Thinking that she was

just so amazed there were so many

beautiful mushrooms there.

She said, "You went to the park WITHOUT ME?"

I sort of giggled to myself and bowed my head

and said, "Uh, yes I did... I'll take you the next time."

 

This really was a fungi!

Then we enjoyed a beautiful evening.

I'd like to join Mary at Little Red House for Mosaic Monday.

Mary has some very beautiful photos to share today.

You should pay her a visit.

Here's to your health!

Wordless Wednesday

The Dear Tea Ladies

Sitting a moment to forget the day

Sipping our teas and talking away

Laughing so sweet at banter chatter

Eating of scones and cakes don't matter.

Taking a breath to ease our minds

Looking at all our wonderful finds

Sharing time that seems so dear

Showing kindness and giving of cheer.

The Dear Tea Ladies are a precious brood.

Always cheery and in a good mood.

Setting their tables with God's good love

Inviting us in to share all the above.

Dear Tea Ladies you are in my prayers.

I thank you Lord for all their shares

And remember them for good health

For what they share is God's good wealth.

It's more than treats and pretty tea sets

Although we love to view them you bet

But it's friendships that develop out of  this

Looking forward to Tuesdays is nothing but bliss.

Here's to your health!

I will be joining Terri at Artful Affirmations for tea.

Poem by: Brenda

pictures from the internet

Another Mosaic Monday - Nature

Isn't Nature wonderful!? Full of color and amazement!

I will be joining Little Red House for this Mosaic Monday.

Here's to your health!

What's Going on with Your Thyroid?

I recently found out that a blogger friend has thyroid problems and thought it might be a good idea to see what I could find out and post about it.

Did you know that the secret to balancing your metabolism is the THYROID? If you are feeling tired or moody or edgy or having a tough time sleeping or having weight problems, chances are it's because of your thyroid. It is sometimes described as "a small gland that can cause big problems."  The thyroid is one of the smallest organs and one of the most powerful. It's located in the space between the Adam's apple and the windpipe, where it oversees the body's metabolism.  It manufactures a number of metabolism-related hormones.

To find out if the thyroid is overactive (too much hormone; hyperthyroidism) or underactive (too little hormone; hypothyroidism), you will certainly need to be checked out by your doctor.  The two hormones known as T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine) can be checked to see if you have just the right amount  of each.

SYMPTOMS OF HYPOTHYROIDISM:

• Unexplained weight gain
• Irritability
• Overwhelming fatigue
• Low libido
• Hair loss
• Achy joints or muscles
• Loss of appetite
• Brain fog
• Low heart rate
• Sensitivity to cold or heat
• Depression
• Dry skin  
• High levels of bad (LDL) cholesterol 

SYMPTOMS OF HYPERTHYROIDISM

• Weight loss
• Heart palpitations or rapid pulse
• Increased appetite
• Anxiety
• Continually feeling too hot
• Exhaustion
• Weakness
• Tremors
• Hair loss
• Muscle cramps
• Protruding eyes
• Migraines
• Difficulty sleeping
•  Irregular heartbeat
• Elevated blood pressure
• Swelling in the neck area

Treating Thyroid Trouble

Stated by Dr. Leigh Connealy, "Diagnosing thyroid disease is not just tricky, it’s also only part of the solution, for two reasons. First, boosting an underactive thyroid requires an entirely different approach from slowing one that’s stuck in high gear. Second, thyroid symptoms may be linked to a larger issue, like complications in the endocrine system. Either way, seeing a physician is essential. Thyroid treatment is not a do-it-yourself project, although I encourage my patients to play an active role once the diagnosis is made.

Medication, in the form of synthetic or natural hormones, is available for both under- and overactive thyroids. But treatment doesn’t end there. I encourage my patients to make dietary changes and follow my guidelines for healthy weight, exercise, sleep, and water intake."

 
Here's something else I found very interesting. Have you heard of goitrogenic foods? (Goitrogenic means causing goiter.) It seems that broccoli, kale, cauliflower, cabbage, and brussels sprouts and also soy, are considered goitrogenic, meaning they may interfere with normal thyroid activity. These foods can actually help reduce symptoms of an overactive thyroid, but at the same time may backfire for those with an underactive thyroid because they contain substances that can dampen an already sluggish thyroid activity, especially when eaten raw. It's suggested to eat them cooked, or fermented, and in moderation.

Then of course, Dr. Connealy suggests good quality supplements are good to take.

SUPPLEMENTS FOR AN UNDERACTIVE THYROID:

• Vitamin B Complex: 100 mg of B1, B2, B5 and B6 and lesser amounts of the others.
• L-tyrosine: 500 mg twice daily on an empty stomach. (Plays an important role in metabolism as well as overall mood improvement.)
• Kelp: Iodine-rich and an excellent source of B vitamins and essential minerals.
• Fish Oil: Rich in omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFAs). EFAs help produce new cells and repair damaged ones and support health of the cardiovascular system brain, skin, and joints. The product should have twice as much of EPA as DHA. Suggested is 2,000 to 3,000 mg taken in two or three 1,000 mg doses during the day.

SUPPLEMENTS FOR AN OVERACTIVE THYROID:

• Vitamin B Complex: Look for a balanced formula containing 50 mg each of the important Bs and take one dose two times per day.
• Fish oil: 2,000 to 3,000 mg divided into two or three 1,000 mg doses and taken throughout the day.
• Melatonin: This powerful antioxidant is produced by the pineal gland. It's production decreases as we age, which in turn sets the stage for long-term health complications such as heart disease, high blood pressure, poor immune responses, and certain types of cancer. So if sleep is a problem, (for women) take 2 mg of melatonin. For men, 3 mg, just before bedtime.

As always if you are concerned that you may be having thyroid problems, PLEASE SEE YOUR DOCTOR. The information and suggestions above are not intended for your diagnoses or your cure.

Here's to your health!

 

It's Tea Time Again With a Dear Friend

Showering a loved one with flowers

Is a very appreciating gesture

But inviting them over for a spot of tea

Is an instinctive palatable pleasure.

Setting the table that wow's the eye

Gives the awesome friend a loving heart

Removing all her doubts and frustrations

And easing the woes that took her apart.

It's tea time again with a dear friend

Someone that cares about your day

Serving foods beyond your dreams

And laughing your fears away.

Poem by: Brenda 

Copyright © 2012

Thank you dear friend, for coming by again.

I enjoy my tea time with you.

I would like to join Martha at Martha's Favorites,

Terri at Artful Affirmations,

and

Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage.

Martha has many beautiful tea sets. Well, she

has MANY kinds of collections, not only

tea cups.You just have to see it for yourself.

Terri has many wonderful collections also.

She is a delightful friend and sets a beautiful table.

For the month of July, she's having a giveaway.

So go over and sign up!

Sandi has many wonderful things to share with you today.

Her blog is just a delight and you will enjoy your visit

very much. 

Take time to be GOOD TO YOURSELF today!

Here's to your health!

Beautiful Things...

Just like the tree, we need nourishment of good foods

and also food for our souls. Feed yourself well

for your time is not yet over.

Here's to your health!

I will be joining Mary at Little Red House

for Mosaic Monday.