September is nearly half over? How did that happen!?!

Somehow, this wasn't posted... no surprise really....  

It is so hard to believe September is here! But... here it is, and fall begins. The illustration is from my favorite Country Diary Of An Edwardian Lady, a book I enjoy looking at while having an afternoon cup of tea break.

This thought so chimes with my life at the moment... so much to still deal with both physically and emotionally... but we must not forget to appreciate and enjoy the gifts we are given.

I am looking forward to my Saturday visit to the Farmer's Market tomorrow... a joy that had been put aside for a couple of years.

But I am continuing to look forward and accomplish what is needed, as well as what I want to have in my life again.

Some of the items added to Antiques And Teacups this week:

Emma Bridgewater Mug Black Headed Gull Birds 2006... now sold

Blue Transferware Plate Mausoleum Romantic Staffordshire 1905 Cauldon England

Pink And Yellow Roses Cup And Saucer Elizabethan England 1970s Bone China

I can definitely attest to this.... everyday is an exercise in forcing one foot before the other, dealing with what needs to be done, and MAKING myself eat! 

Tea is always there, so I add something healthy and tempting to help. 

And, after several years of not having the time or energy left to do any baking, I plan to get back to making some things to add to me teatimes.

A comforting ritual to center and continue to find my new place in the world.

Besides my faith, family and friends, tea is essential!

I hope you have a week full of joy!

The last week of August

 

An August page from my frequent companion... The Country Diary Of An Edwardian Lady by Edith Holden from 1906... written by someone from the area where my husband was born and lived his early life in Warwickshire near Stratford-on-Avon.

This week I have been hibernating, as the air coming from the Canadian wildfires has been in the unhealthy level. I have been dealing with headaches, itching eyes and breathing problems. So, the air conditioner and air cleaners are at work! I don't have much desire to be out at the moment, but still missed my weekend visits to the farmer's market and to church services. Hopefully back to normal in a couple of days.

I have had extra time to work on the chores from my website that have backed up over the last year, now that I have done with most of the chores and paperwork necessary after the loss of a spouse.  I am also tending to things that piled up in my office, as they were back in the line of importance behind the necessary things necessitated by my caregiver role. I find myself with empty time, that was otherwise regimented by the 24 hour a day 4 hour medications and nutritional needs of my husband's Parkinson's disease. 

But....

I need some clarity and direction through prayer about what my new reality of life will look like. I know it's only been a few weeks, so I am trying to remain at peace and wait for clarification.

In the meantime, as was our mantras for the last couple of years especially...

One Day At A Time

and

We Can Do This... only now it is 

I Can Do This... through the Grace of God

"I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me"  Philippians 4:13... which has been proven so true.

So... this week, here are some of the items I have added to Antiques And Teacups

Dunoon Devon Emma Ball Mug English Coastal Villages Devon England

Thimble King Edward VII and Alexandra 1901 Coronation Commemorative English Bone China

And more... but that's a sample. 

I hope this week brings you joy and the appreciation of the many gifts we have... many so simple and small we overlook them...

and the people we may take for granted and also overlook...

so many treasures to be discovered!

End of August and reinventing life

 

This has definitely been my constant thought the last months... nearly a year... as we faced the progression of  the disease my beloved husband of 49 years has faced for nearly 30 years.

I lost him 4 days short of a his birthday in June, as he peacefully transitioned from life here into the presence of our Lord Jesus, on a Sunday morning, just at the time we would have begun worship in church. 

His worship celebration must have been unimaginably glorious!

Japonica... by contemporary artist Denise Perrin, born 1950

As I contemplate the future I am praying and thinking about what my new life will be. I am so grateful for my daughter, son in law and grandson who moved to the area here 2 years ago to be near us. Between them and the Lord, I would not have coped. My helpers and props were definitely Faith, Family and Friends.

By Judy May

I am planning to get back to blogging, for myself, and because I still have my small business Antiques And Teacups.

The business is both a reminder of something we shared for so many years as well as something I can focus on and be productive rather than sadness. So it is welcome.

I will be posting things I add to the shop first, then perhaps be ready to get back to the type of blog posts I have loved to do in the past, celebrating holidays, research, teacups and enjoying tea with friends!

By poet and author Earlene Grey