Lovely TeaCup Tuesday!

Once again we are getting a little bit of rain this morning! It wasn't raining at my house, but it is downtown. Just a light drizzle, that makes me wish I was still in bed...That must be WHY we have rain! God's way of saying, "stay inside and rest; it will ease your stress."  LOL! At least that is the way I feel...

Today I would like to share with you a beautiful little cup that I purchased for myself just to drink my tea and coffee in at work. I had a friend to tell me that I really needed a special cup for my coffee since I was a special person. Ahhhhh, wasn't that nice of her to say I was special? So that got me to thinking that maybe a person should pamper themselves once in a while. Find something that suits them, to have around for comfort. Something that brings cheer!

This teacup and saucer is by Signature Housewares Incorporated, called "red sunflower."

I just dearly love the beautiful colors and cheeriness!!

The sunny flowers are on both sides.

This morning, I will have Pomegranate Green Tea. 

Pomegranate Green Tea

The two most healthiest drinks combined are said to create a nutritious and healthy beverage that is so potent that it can only be labeled a modern day 'super food'. It is a beverage that is chock full of antioxidants and vitamin C, while being known to reduce blood pressure. This is the perfect tea blend for removing free radicals from the body while simultaneously bolstering your immune system. The blend of these two drinks allows for a sweet, yet tangy flavor. If you feel run down, this vitamin rich, antioxidant filled, super drink will turn you into an energetic dynamo with little effort. 

I wrote this poem back in February, 2011, when my dear friend Marianne said to me one morning, "These dreary days make me so lazy."  I pondered on her words and came up with this poem...

Dreary Days (Daze)!

These dreary days make me so lazy.

That haze that keeps hanging over my head

Sends my mind a-reeling I want to stay in bed.

Looking out the window I only see a mist.

It brings me some comfort to attach myself

To the covers and set my problems on a shelf.

Ah, a dreary day before I even arise.

Laziness and lethargic motions take me in

To where my body wants to commit this sin.

Oh, these dreary days make me so lazy.

I muster up energy to carry on with the day,

Yawning and stretching while I’m on my way.

Dreary days are really not so terribly bad.

But I say this to you, if I didn’t have to go,

I would still be in the bed don’t you know.

Brenda Lynn Stevens

Copyright © 2011

For this Tea Cup Tuesday, I am joining Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage.

Enjoy your beautiful day no matter the weather!! Here's to your health!

The Lord heals your diseases, redeems your life from the pit, satisfies you with good, shows compassion to his children, and knows your frame. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

Psalm 103: 3-14

Doodling on Rainy Days

Sunday before last, my granddaughters and I had a wonderful rainy day staying inside, doodling and creating art.

The youngest calls this one "The Famous!"

Since the youngest loves shoes so much, she had decided to give a tribute to them!

The oldest is very creative in what she likes to do. She will sit for long periods of time and just draw.

She calls this "Picasso Texas!" She chooses beautiful colors.

In the piece above, the oldest wanted to show me how she draws an oak tree. The tree that borders her's is one I painted back in the 70's.

On the other side of the paper, she showed my how she draws a palm tree. Both girls love to sit and draw and they do create some amazing things. I enjoy my time with them so much. It was a great day to ease a lot of stress.

I was amazed at my friend's (Marianne) doodling, that I thought I'd try to draw some on a rainy day. Mine are not as detailed as her's, but I enjoyed this so much. Just letting it flow and not really having any plans for the design. 

My oldest granddaughter liked what I was doing and decided that she would give it a try. Not bad for her first time. We just may try this another time!!

I enjoyed our Rainy Day Sunday!!

 

I am joining Mosaic Monday's host, Mary, at Little Red House.

Brenda's granddaughters are ages 6 and 9 years old.

A FABULOUS FRIDAY!!

Good morning and a Fabulous Friday to everyone!! I would like to share with you today some art that I did a while back. It was my first time trying to work with pastels. I found that it was a hard median to work with, but I enjoyed giving it a try.

I started off by drawing the picture, then adding color as I go along. I also found out that pastels can smear rather easy. I had a hard time keeping my hands up and away from the working area.

This is the very first one I did. The faces were really difficult. I have only tried this a few times, but it is something that I would love to start doing again. I love to draw and paint; however, working with pastels, for me, was a little different...

I'll have to ask my dear friend, Marianne, if she can give me a few pointers on working with pastels. She is an amazing artist!

I found an old photo of my teenage son when he was about 1 year old. He loved sitting at the piano, carefully playing with the keys. So I decided to draw the picture on light colored paper and try again once more using pastels. After completing this painting, I decided that maybe using dark paper would have been easier to work with. At some point, I would like to try this again.

Art is a very good way to ease your stress. Easing your stress is a very good way to stay healthy, and strolling Down Memory La La Lane will give you a little bit of both!

Here's to  your health!!

The Lord heals your diseases, redeems your life from the pit, satisfies you with good, shows compassion to his children, and knows your frame. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Psalm 103: 3-14

Now That the Flu Season is Upon Us...Time to Power Up Your Immune System

Yes! The flu and cold season is upon us! Red noses, watering eyes, the overall achy feeling to where you are not able to do anything but blow your nose, cough, sneeze, blow your nose, cough, sneeze and can hardly get up enough energy to make in to the next room.

We need more tissues!! My nose hurts...

Feel my head! Am I feverish?

 Dr. Leigh Connealy suggests that you can power up your immune system!  She states, "Healthy immune systems don't just happen. You need to provide an environment in which the various elements can thrive."

Most people are familiar with the term "immune system," but what does that actually mean? Here is Dr. Connealy's quick overview: "The immune system is designed to provide a barrier between you and invaders, like infectious organisms. To do that, our bodies have specialized infection-fighters located in various organs, tissues, special cells and proteins throughout the body, including the lymph system, spleen, bone marrow, thymus gland and digestive tract.
Some of the immune system's specialized cells are tasked with identifying foreign agents, while others produce protective substances known as antibodies designed to shield you against a repeat visitation by the substance. Once you have chicken pox, for example, the antibodies created by your immune system protect you from ever getting that particular illness again."

I have found out that in keeping a healthy immune system or repairing a broken one, we need to keep a few basic guidelines in mind:
    1.  Eat a nutritious diet of whole foods (unprocessed and unrefined foods).
    2.  Drink plenty of filtered water.
    3.  Get at least eight hours of sleep each night.
    4.  Exercise moderately most days of the week.  Dr. Connealy pointed out that "moderately" means just that. In other words, more is not necessarily better. A number of studies have shown that too much exercise can backfire, depleting the immune system instead of reinforcing it. Walking seems to be the better choice; 30 minute walks or three, ten-minute walks during the day.
    5.  Another great important factor to a good immune system....LAUGHTER! A DAILY dose of it!

Everyone of these guidelines are the same as I had pointed out in my earlier postings concerning the adrenal glands. I guess what it comes down to is that these guidelines are certainly for overall better health!!

Immune-Strengthening Supplements
Dr. Connealy has  suggested a few specific supplements; however, she says that to keep in mind that it takes time for herbal remedies to work. Some people see results in two to three weeks, but occasionally it may take a month or more "for blood levels of a specific substance to reach a tipping point where healing can begin." In other words, it will come, but it won't be overnight.

Here is Dr. Connealy's choice of supplements for the flu season:
Astragalus: One of it's strengths is its effect on white blood cells that attack bacteria and viruses. She suggests taking two or three 500 mg capsules daily.
Beta-glucan:  Derived from mushrooms, oats, barley and/or nutritional yeast, this supplement revs up white blood cells to fight off invading microbes. A daily dose of 10mg is recommended for adults.
Echinacea:  Enhances immunity while increasing the production of infection-fighting cells.
(Dr. Connealy states, "Despite conflicting study results, I highly recommend enchinacea for anyone who needs an immune system boost. Whenever one of my children feels a cold or flu coming on, I combine enchinacea with astragalus to pump up his or her immunity.)
Look for a product containing Echinacea pupurea, Echinacea pallida or the roots of Enchinacea angustifolia. Doses in the 300 to 600 mg range three times daily are recommended for adults. Don't take it no more that two weeks. Dr. Connealy suggests two weeks on, two weeks off.
Vitamin C: This vitamin is water-soluble, so it is not stored in the body, so replenish frequently. Dr. Connealy's recommended eight to ten 1,000 mg doses taken throughout the day. She says that even high levels, it is totally safe, but may cause diarrhea or stomach upset in some individuals.

A hearty bowl of chicken soup:  This is an age-old tradition and scientifically proven remedy during that nasty cold and flu season. Researchers at the University of Nebraska Medical Center put homemade chicken soup to the test and concluded that soup does indeed reduce inflammation associated with colds and upper respiratory infections.

Well, here's to your health!!

The Lord heals your diseases, redeems your life from the pit, satisfies you with good, shows compassion to his children, and knows your frame. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Psalm 103: 3-14

PS. I am in no way suggesting that anyone should take these remedies/supplements. I am only providing information. If you have questions, please see your physician for your health needs.

Photos provided by Microsoft.

TOTALLY TEA TIME!!

I found a beautifully little tea set at one of our neighborhood garage sales that I have absolutely fell in love with. This one has a set of six cups and six saucers and all the cups have different designs and they are made of porcelain.

You can tell how small the set is by the mint that is placed on the plate. What a beautiful little set!! I just love them.

The table that my beautiful set is placed on was designed and built by my wonderful musician husband. All the tables that he creates are in the design of guitars. Some day I will have to show you some of his art.

This beautiful little set is from Germany. The teacups and saucers are manufactured by Konigliche Manufaktur and the "artist" or creator is C. Bavaria. Altenkirchen is a district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany according to this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altenkirchen_%28district%29.  I wonder if this beautiful set is from that district.

I had also seen on another website (but failed to save that information) where there were more porcelain from Kongliche that had marks by Bavaria and the handles were all different. I wonder if this is THE style of the creator; each piece unique of being in the same set, but all different designs, just as these cups are painted different, but in the same set.

Another piece of information was found on Michael C. Fina website:
"Konigliche Porzellan-Manufaktur treasures porcelain as if it were "white gold." Frederick the Great, the Prussian King, shared the same rapture and he gave Konigliche Porzellan-Manufaktur his name and symbol.

Clinging to the age-old tradition, the Konigliche Porzellan-Manufaktur porcelain is still shaped by hand and elaborately painted in Berlin."

Hope you enjoyed this beautiful little set. I know I sure do.

Here's to your health!

Water, Water, and More Water!

I had told you in the beginning of my blog that when I first started visiting my doctor about my recent bouts of exhaustion, she had told me that I have adrenal fatigue. The good news is, it can be healed by lifestyle change; diet, managing stress, nutrients/supplements, etc...and patience. She had also told me that I need to hydrate myself first thing after waking by drinking a bottle of water, then drinking more water throughout the day. So how important is drinking water?

 During my research I came upon the discovery of Dr. Fereydoon Batmanghelidj, that claims he discovered the medicinal value of water during his detention in Evin Prison by treating inmates with water when medication was not available. He states that he believes most diseases, such as Rheumatoid arthritis, Obesity, Hypertension, Asthma, Diabetes (just to mention a few), come from chronic dehydration. Dr. Batman, as most people called him, states that "humans seem to lose their thirst sensation and the critical perception of needing water."

I know that I don't drink enough water like I should and maybe Dr. Batman was on to something. I am beginning to believe that it is important to be hydrated at all times. During the middle of the night when I wake from my sleep, my mouth is so dry and my hands are asleep. I keep a bottle of water on my night stand just for those occasions. Maybe I am not being hydrated enough during the day.

Dr. Batmanghelidj states, "Water is the basis of all life and that includes your body. Your muscles that move your body are 75% water; your blood that transport nutrients is 82% water;  your lungs that provide your oxygen are 90% water; your brain that is the control center of your body is 76% water; even your bones are 25% water."  He further states, "You are not just what you eat; you are what you drink."

WATER THERAPY
 What is water therapy? Drinking large amounts of water first thing in the morning! They say water therapy is simple to put into practice, but follow these basic instructions:
   1.  Immediately upon waking in the morning, drink 5-6 glasses of water.
   2.  Do not eat or drink anything else for 1 hour prior to and after drinking the water.
   3.  Do not consume any alcoholic beverages the night before.
If it's hard to do, it is suggested to drink 4 glasses, then pause for 2 minutes, then drink the last 2 glasses.

Well, there you have it! I know that water is very important for us. I think that I will try to do better with my water consumption. I don't know if I can actually do this, but I think I will talk to my doctor about it and at least TRY to drink more than 1 bottle when I awake in the mornings.

Here's to your health!


The Lord heals your diseases, redeems your life from the pit, satisfies you with good, shows compassion to his children, and knows your frame. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Psalm 103: 3-14


NOTE:  I am not suggesting to anyone to follow this information. If you are interested, please see your doctor first.

Photos provided by Microsoft.

It's Important to PACE Yourself - for Adrenals Sake!

I know that most of us live busy lives. We have a lot on our plates. It seems next to impossible to take a few minutes for ourselves! But weight gain and lack of energy are serious concerns for women, and how frustrating it is to try EVERYTHING to shed those extra pounds without success.  For many of us, the STRESS in our lives is intimately connected to our weight. Our bodies were created to be wise -- when stress is frequent, our bodies will protect itself by holding on to extra pounds. It's a protective factor...So we have to get away from the "crisis mode" and heal our adrenals. To do this, we have to take time for ourselves!

While looking at this picture, doesn't it look very calming to you? A little winding path with different color all strewn around. Most likely a cool day, where you feel free to take deep breaths and still bask in the sunlight. SIGH.....I would love to take a walk like that. But I live in the Great State of Texas where it is very, very hot to hot to about 15 minutes of fall.  LOL! I am not complaining; I will find other ways to get my relaxation!!

Which brings me to this: What do I mean by pacing yourself?  According to Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP, there are at least four things to keep in mind while "pacing" yourself.

      1.  Exercise wisely:  If you already exercise regularly, and are suffering with adrenal fatigue, try easing up on the exercise for a few months while your adrenals are healing. Try to keep your heart rate under 90 beats per minute. If you don't exercise, try walking 15 minutes once or twice a day, especially after your eat, and outdoors if you can. My doctor has prescribed 30 minutes of walking, 3 times a week. It is too hot and humid here, so my wonderful husband and I go to the gym and use the treadmill. Exercise helps to reduce stress, as long as you enjoy it. But DON'T push yourself hard.

      2.  Play:  Make having FUN a priority! Many of us forget just how relaxing a few hours of fun can be. Get a good belly-laugh going! I love to laugh until I can't get my breath and I like laughing for no good reason at all. My wonderful husband keeps me laughing all the time. He has a sense for humor!  OK...Go outside and swing with your kids or your grandkids. You know what "PLAY" is!! Go out and do it!

      3.  Breathe:  Learn to recognize the signals that you need to take a break, and get some fresh air, have a cup of herbal tea, or simply put your feet up. Or if you feel stressed, take a deep breath through your nose, blowing out your mouth. Do this a few times. This slows your heart rate and calms the whole body down.

      4.  Sleep:  Ah, sleep! QUALITY sleep is essential for our adrenals to heal so we can shed those pounds!! And I believe it is the most difficult for me...My wonderful husband (a musician) and son (a teenager) love to stay up late. I need to be in bed early because I rise early. Their night sounds leak into my sleep sometimes, so I turn on the TV to kind of drawn them out, but I am finding out that this habit may be working against me. I've found out that it's important to end all screen time (TV, computer, cell phone) by 8PM, making it a point to being in bed, asleep, in order to get 8 hours of sleep each night (and more, if we can manage it). This one I definitely have to work on!  I get anywhere from 5 to 6 hours of sleep each night..(If you haven't read "Keeping with the Rhythm", you need to, so you better understand your circadian rhythm.)  .

So there you have it!! Let's get out there and be STRESS FREE!!!!

Here's to your health!

The Lord heals your diseases, redeems your life from the pit, satisfies you with good, shows compassion to his children, and knows your frame. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Psalm 103: 3-14