Tea Stands for Tuesday 4/19/22

When Tuesday comes around it means it is time for a Tea Party at Elizabeth's blog.  She has an interesting post this morning so check it out. 

Edit:  OOPS, I found out I left the wrong link for my page but have corrected that.

In the Before Time (pre pandemic) I used to be faithful about going for a walk most days.  It is time I returned to that practice.  Slowly, not as far and not as often to begin with.

I like to walk to Peet's to get my coffee.  They offer you a free cup of coffee when you buy your beans.  I take my coffee across the street, sit on a bench and people watch for a bit.  A nice break before heading home.

I will leave you with some poetry this morning.

Talk about Walking

By Philip Booth 

Where am I going? I'm going
out, out for a walk. I don't
know where except outside.
Outside argument, out beyond
wallpapered walls, outside
wherever it is where nobody
ever imagines. Beyond where 
computers circumvent emotion,
where somebody shorted specs
for rivets for airframes on 
today's flights. I'm taking off
on my own two feet. I'm going
to clear my head, to watch 
mares'-tails instead of TV,
to listen to trees and silence,
to see if I can still breathe.
I'm going to be alone with 
myself, to feel how it feels
to embrace what my feet
tell my head, what wind says
in my good ear. I mean to let
myself be embraced, to let go
feeling so centripetally old.
Do I know where I'm going?
I don't. How long or far
I have no idea. No map. I 
said I was going to take
a walk. When I'll be back
I'm not going to say.

Sunday 8/30/2020

Nature is amazing

spotted on my morning walk

Good Monday Morning

Even though I am retired, there is something about a Monday morning that seems like a fresh start.  A new week.

Lily of the Nile

When I go on my morning walks I spot lots of these flowers along the way.  They are often used in plantings around businesses.  Common or not, I think they are beautiful

Second on the Second - 3/2/20

Good morning friends.  I'm so glad Elizabeth gives us a chance to revisit previous posts on the second of every month.  I tried to pick something in the past as close as today's date as I could.  Please join us here to see what everyone has chosen for a second look.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 04, 2015

Neighborhood Walk - 3/4/15

Out walking and looking for signs of spring.  I may be rushing the season although on some days recently our weather has felt decidedly spring like.

Here is a flowering vine.   The flowers are a brighter yellow in person.  I think it might be called a trumpet vine.  Very common in our area.

I don't have a clue what this is called.  I like the way it grows.  Again, seen fairly often in our area, usually along the edge of the sidewalk as this one is.  Anyone familiar with it?

And last but not least - I spotted this.

PLEASE DO NOT

cut the lovely

white calla

lilies - leave them

for everyone to

enjoy.  Thanks !!

Have a great day and don't pick any flowers from your neighbors yard!

Tea Stands for Tuesday 5/14/19

Tea and roses.  What could be better?  Of course I'm going to join the great people at Elizabeth's place for Tuesday tea this morning.  Why don't you join me?

Earl Grey is my go to tea.  I also prefer loose tea.  A pretty cup never hurts either.

I've been looking at roses when I go out walking.  Isn't this a pretty pale pink?

Or maybe you prefer apricot.

I keep looking because I'm trying to learn to draw them.

Hope you see some roses today.

Tea Stands for Tuesday 4/30/19

Good morning on this last Tuesday of the month.  I hope everything is well in your world.

I'm still in the process of knitting this wrap.  I think I'm about 3/4 finished. The tea I'm drinking this morning is only sitting next to the knitting for the picture.  I normally keep to two very far apart as I view it as an accident waiting to happen.

On another note, I spotted this bunch of succulents while I was out walking.

Aren't thy amazing?   I've never seen the bright yellow blossoms before.  Anyone know the name of the plant?  One of the benefits of taking a walk is spotting things you might barely notice otherwise.

Time to visit Elizabeth's blog and "notice" what my friends there are doing.

Tea Stands for Tuesday 3/19/19

Good Morning.  I may be the last one to the tea party this morning. I know Elizabeth and the rest of the group will save a place for me though.  It is that kind of party.  You will be welcome too, just click HERE.

This morning I'm having what I call Blossom Tea.  I can't remember the real name.  It is tea/herbs/florals that come dried and bound is a small ball.  When you add hot water the ball opens into a lovely flower.  The tea itself smells very floral and is mild in flavor.

Last time I was out for my morning walk I found the following.  The three messages were spaced out over a long sidewalk.

I felt the universe had left me a message.  Do you ever come across surprises when out walking?

Neighborhood Walk - 12/17/18

I haven't posted a neighborhood walk for a long time.  Partly because my walking route has been the scene of ugly construction.  Partly because I've been lazy.  Not lazy about walking - I've been out there.  Lazy about posting.  So lets go.....

Part of the demolition of old/construction of new included this store.  An Amazon 4-star store.  I haven't been inside because I walk early before shops open.  I had to google it because I had no idea what it was.  Basically things that on Amazon rate 4 stars or higher.  I think Amazon is taking over the world.

This part of my usual walk is unchanged.  They have put up nice minimal Christmas decorations.  The streets are damp from last nights rain but it is supposed to clear up today.

The landscapers keep the area very nice.  I notice they have planted cyclamen in lots of nooks and crannies.  Cyclamen happen to be one of my favorite flowers.

That pretty much brings you up to date on my walks.  Have you taken a walk in your neighborhood lately?

Neighborhood walk - 4/30/18

When I'm home I continue going on my morning walks.  It has been awhile since I've posted any pictures.  Winter is just not all that picturesque here.

Succulents seem to do well here.  They show up in lots of yards, especially as edging by the sidewalk.

This one with large leaves is one of my favorites.  I call those "parts" leaves but I have a feeling there is another name for them.

I like this grouping for the different shades of green and gray.

Pretty along the blue gray fence.

I'm told they are very easy to propagate with just a small pinched part from the established plant.   I admit I'm tempted but I can just see the headlines.  Grey haired lady arrested for stealing plants.  I'll just look and take photo's.

Tea Stands for Tuesday - 1/23/18

Happy Tea Tuesday.  Hope everyone is keeping warm and dry.  I went walking yesterday morning.  

The first thing I spotted going out the door was our lemon tree.  It is a Meyer lemon and as you can see it is doing well this year.  I need to pick lemons and make lemon bars.

My walk took me to Whole Foods to pick up a loaf of bread.  I like their bakery and early in the morning everything is fresh and warm.  In one aisle I spotted these tea cups.  Very Tea Tuesday.  At $15.49 each none of them came home with me.  Yes, nice graphics on the cups and boxes but... really?  So I'm drinking my coffee in my ordinary white cup this morning.

I'm off to visit the Altered Book Lover blog and find out what my friends there have been doing.  Click the link and you can join me.

Neighborhood Walk - 11/27/17

When I go for my morning walk I see quite a few plants still in blossom.  I don't know the names of the plants so if you do please tell me.

This plant seems to flower year round.  It makes a long hedge next to one side of a home.  Very cheerful.

Another plant that blossoms most of the year.  Thick stems and leaves, very sturdy looking.

This on I know.  Figs!  It is a beautiful big old tree.  Branches such as this one hang over the fence and above the sidewalk.  Tempting!

This beautiful lily is new to me.  There were about half a dozen planted along a fence line.  It grows similar to a "Naked Lady" lily but I've never seen this lovely color combo before.

These photo's were taken yesterday.  There will be no walking for me this morning as it is pouring rain.  What is the weather like in your neighborhood this morning?

Neighborhood walk - 9/25/17

Even though I haven't blogged about it for quite some time, I continue to go for my morning walks.  My routes haven't changed much but there is a whole lot of street and water pipe repair going on and it seems like construction everywhere.  The views haven't been very attractive.

The 4th Street area remains quite nice.

Planters all along the sidewalks.

It is obvious that a landscaper is on duty keeping everything clean and fresh.

Did you spot the bench?  Sometimes I take a little break there.  I like to sit and people watch for a few minutes.

The weather here in the morning is perfect for walking.  Have you been out and about lately?

Neighborhood Walk - 4/12/17

My early morning walks continue.  Rarely do I miss a day.  
Regulars here know I enjoy a little window shopping when I walk the route that takes me to 4th Street.

I like the colors in this display.  The turquoise necklace is similar to one I own.  The cuffs at the top of the photo are fabric with a variety of charms/buttons attached.  DYI project anyone?

There is lots of greenery and some color but our unusually wet year continues.

Some of the sidewalk containers look quite pretty even without blossoms.

Have you taken a walk lately?

Neighborhood Walk - 1/24/17

No CA had been getting lots of rain.  I think our area is officially out of the drought now although I don't think that's true of the Southern part of the State.

Because the sidewalks are littered with slippery leaves and small branches I decided to go out by the Bay for a walk.

Looking West:  There is a great long walk along the bay.  If the picture were bigger (or clearer) you would see the Golden Gate Bridge there where a gap appears in the distance.  The Bay looks dark and rough as I walk along.

Looking East:  My walk took be around to this cove and a view back over the Berkeley hills.  The waters here are always much calmer and there were lots of birds sitting on the rocks.

Rain again today but starting Wednesday we are in for a clear spell.

Hope you are staying dry and warm.

Neigborhood walk - 1/12/13

We have been getting lots of rain here by the Bay.  I try to time my walks for a break in the showers.  On a couple of occasions didn't get out the door at all.

Fashion?  The window displays are pretty much the same old thing.  Guess we will have to wait a few months to see something brighter.

I did find these red boots.  I'm not sure they would be practical in wet weather but they would brighten up the above outfit.

This display amused me.  The chicken appears to be knit out of some kind of shiny fabric/material.  What is it about chickens?  They always make me smile.

I had to walk around this on my way home.  Yikes!  This is in front of what looks like an office building.  Some poor person is going to come out to quite a surprise.

Hope the weather is decent where you are.

Neighborhood Walk - 11/28/16

We had some rain recently but when I went walking yesterday morning the sky was a bright blue.  My eye was also drawn to blue in other places along the way.

There was a beautiful blue pot outside the gate to one house I passed.  I like the planting as well.

Here you can see a bit of the blue sky and a pretty blue tiled wall.  I often take a break, sit on a bench and look this direction.

Earlier in the week (note the grey sky) I spotted a house trimmed in blue.  Someone even parked a blue car in front of it.

Hope you are having blue skies today.

neighborhood walk - 10/17/16

We had our first rain in awhile this past weekend.  Not the storm that the news was predicting but at least some rain in our drought ridden area.

The sky was overcast when I  was on my early morning walk so I was looking for some color.

The window at Crate and Barrel was pretty colorful but hard to get everything in one shot.  I do like the chair.

This window really satisfied my desire to find color.  I might have to paint a chair orange.

This window isn't nearly as colorful as the others.  The store is kind of a jumble of things.  I was particularly interested in that wooden settee - the piece sort of above and to the left of the white couch.

I'm still adding things to the River House, especially things that are colorful.  I am not buying any of the above but looking for inspiration.

Do you seek color on a rainy day?

neighborhood walk 9/26/16

We are back from the river, back to an internet connection and I'm back to my morning walks.

This was taken a couple of days ago.  I go out early and thought the sky was so pretty.  We have clear skies today and are experiencing a bit of a heat wave.

The Crate and Barrel window says white and gold is the latest combo for interiors.  What do you think?  Maybe for the holidays.

Things are starting to look like autumn.  This is one of my favorite places to stop, sit and people watch for a few minutes before continuing my walk.

I will be trying to catch up with my blogger friends after my walk this morning.  I miss everyone when I'm away.

Tea Stands for Tuesday - 8/16/16

Most of you know I walk every morning.  I recently did my usual 4th St. route and stopped by PEETS for a pound of coffee.

They were giving away samples of Green Leaf Tropical tea.  I brought these home and tried them.   Unfortunately I was underwhelmed.  I have other green tea I like better. 

There are a few benches along the shopping area.  I like to sit and people watch for a few minutes.   A local free newspaper comes out once a week so I pick that up too.  This week we are warned about earthquakes.  Again.  Old news to anyone who has lived in the area for awhile.

Signs of fall seem to be showing up already.

We don't get huge seasonal changes here.  It could be I'm just looking forward to fall.  I'm ready though, are you?

Time to take our drink and visit The Altered Book Lover's blog for our Tuesday get together.  I'll actually be away from the computer so I'm hoping Elizabeth will once again be kind enough to link me up.  I don't want to miss the party.