One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon-instead of enjoying the roses blooming outside our own windows today.
~Dale Carnegie
Photobucket is holding all my photos from 2007-2015 hostage and they have blacked them all out. I’m slowly working at restoring my posts without their help. Such a tiresome bother!
Here’s our assignment from Angela at the Lurchers for this week.
“I’m going to make it a nice and easy Fun Monday this week. All I want you to do is take me on your favourite walk. In words or pictures. Or both of course! Tell me why it’s your favourite and point out things of interest on the way.”
My husband and I have two wonderful walks that we do early on Saturday mornings. Our walk along the beach at Emma Wood State Beach in Ventura, California.
The beauty of the Pacific Ocean, the fresh salt air, all of God’s beautiful splendor, what a wonderful stimulation for all our senses.
Then we have another choice close by. Our second favorite is in the Santa Monica Mountains that are in our backyard. In Sycamore Canyon we have several hiking trails with different elevations to choose from. On the Scenic Trail we again are able to see the Pacific Ocean when we reach the top…
We enjoy both of these walks/hikes because we are generally all alone going as early as we do. It’s quiet except for the birds and the crashing of the waves. We see different and interesting plants and wildlife.
It’s great to get away from the neighborhood and into the “wild”.
For more Fun Monday visit Angela at the Lurchers.
And look what Anni gave me today. I love her graphics and this one is so darn cute! Thanks Hootin Anni!
Photobucket is holding all my photos from 2007-2015 hostage and they have blacked them all out. I’m slowly working at restoring my posts without their help. Such a tiresome bother!
In the City of Camarillo there is a small Museum and Botanical Garden that is only open on Saturdays and Sundays for 4 hours. The facility is staffed by volunteers who are knowledgeable about the history of the area and the artifacts on hand.
The museum is housed in the old water district building and the small garden is behind the building.
There are several glass cases of some of the local Chumash Indian artifacts and other memorabilia from the early days in the Pleasant Valley Area. After a look at all the cases I headed out to the Garden with a challenge from one of the volunteers to try to guess what a green object in the garden was. Well I like a challenge so I was off to have a look.
On the way to find this mysterious green object I stopped to smell the roses…
More pretty flowers along the walkway still looking for the Green mystery item.
This must be the mystery item. I look at it and chuckle because this is not a mystery to me. This is a Still! I’m married to Dear and he has educated me about the Art of Stills. I went back into the museum to let them know I was familiar with the Green Mystery Item. I earned some brownie points for not being stumped! I was then told the history of this Still and how it was donated to the museum by one of the farmers in the area.
“Well, between Scotch and nothin’, I suppose I’d take Scotch. It’s the nearest thing to good moonshine I can find.”
William Faulkner
***I’m headed to a Mad Hatter Tea Shower today instead of a walk so I’m posting my average steps for the week here. I am quite pleased that I’m finally able to walk a little further and that my back is getting better and better everyday. My average steps this week were 7663. Next week I hope to be able to get closer to 10,000 again. We’ll see what my back allows. Have a wonderful Saturday and keep on walking.
Oh and if I’m brave enough I’ll post a photo of myself in my hat!
Photobucket is holding all my photos from 2007-2015 hostage and they have blacked them all out. I’m slowly working at restoring my posts without their help. Such a tiresome bother!
“Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!” Photobucket is holding all my photos from 2007-2015 hostage and they have blacked them all out. I’m slowly working at restoring my posts without their help. Such a tiresome bother! For more Word Filled Wednesday visit 160 Acre Woods
Well what do you do when you are still recovering from lower back pain issues and can’t take your usual long beach walk or long canyon hike? You go with the hubby to one of his favorite spots and take the opportunity to walk and stretch and keep your muscles from painful stiffness.
BUT while he is busy looking at tools you escape to the garden department and pretend you’re in an English Garden and take these photos.
Then since you are already in Ventura why not have Second Breakfast at your favorite Ventura breakfast spot Allison’s Country Cafe?!
On the way home we stopped at the Friends of the Library in Camarillo to shop for some bargain books. Here are my two finds for the day.
Both of these books have such wonderful illustrations. Dear bought 3 Audel Carpenter’s and Builder’s Library books.
Here’s something for April from Shakespeare and The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady.
“Oh; how this spring of love resembleth
The uncertain glory of an April day!
Which now shows all the beauty of the sun
And by and bye a cloud takes all away.”
Two Gentlemen of Verona ~ Shakespeare
Hope you are having a lovely weekend…
Photobucket is holding all my photos from 2007-2015 hostage and they have blacked them all out. I’m slowly working at restoring my posts without their help. Such a tiresome bother!
This week’s theme is Tea Venues. This is a previous post but I wanted to share it during this weeks Tea Blogathon theme since it’s about a Tea Room that I’ve experienced and recommend.
Oh what a delightful haven we found for Tea in Thousand Oaks. Willow and I had reservations for a mini tea on Wednesday Afternoon. We arrived at Tranquility Tea Room which is in an office space on the 2nd floor of a building set back off of Thousand Oaks Blvd. When we opened the door we were delighted with what we saw.
Lots of China, Antique furniture, Lace, hats, fresh flowers, and tea accessories.
We chose our table and settled in for a lovely time.
Willow decided it was OK if I took a photo of her at our table.
We enjoyed looking at so many pretty things and then our food started arriving.
Aprils menu included Blueberries ‘n Cream Scones, Orange laced Mini Swirled Scones with their homemade lemon curd and Tranquility cream. Then there was a choice of Gourmet Tea Sandwiches. I chose the Cucumber a la Provencale and Caramel Apple Brie with Pecans. Willow chose the Caramel Apple Brie and the Chicken-Almond Salad. For dessert I chose the Lemon cheesecake triangle and Willow chose the Strawberry Tart. It was all very fresh and tasty! The touch of fresh flowers that adorned the food and plates added such a visual treat. We found out that Candra’s mother does the flowers for her. Oh who’s Candra?
We met Sue (who graciously served us) and Candra (on the right). Candra owns and operates the Tea Room. We had a nice long conversation about Tea rooms and ministry. Here’s something I copied from her website about her and the Tea Room.
Tranquility Baking and Tea Room
Seven years ago, Candra Coogan began a baking business with a desire to help a local charity. She began delivering cheesecakes dressed in Victorian attire and donated 10% of her sales. Her business grew into a successful catering and baking business specializing in tea parties, and in December she took the next step, opening Tranquility Tea Room on Thousand Oaks Boulevard.
What a wonderful ministry. They have a vision to move this tea room into a Victorian house in the Ventura/Oxnard area. That would be such an ideal setting. Thank you Sue and Candra for your wonderful hospitality and your heart for service to the community. Can’t end the post without one more collage of the fun things around the tea-room.
We highly recommend the Tranquility Tea Room to anyone who loves Tea in a comfortable, beautiful setting, with expertly created delicious delicacies. Can you tell I was impressed!
“Come, let us have some tea and continue to talk about happy things.”
Chaim Potok
For more Tea Rooms and Ventures visit LaTeDah at Gracious Hospitality.
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 