Tea Stands for Tuesday 5/23/23

Tuesday and time for tea.  We have been at our River House recently.  I don't have internet there so I have to catch up on things when we return to the Bay.

This is the view from the back of our property.  The river is running really high for this time of year.  That is due to the snow melt from record amounts of snow in NoCA this past winter.

It is so enjoyable to sit our our front porch and drink my coffee.

The jasmine around our courtyard is in full bloom and smells wonderful.  Everything is quite lush.  The gate is open, come on in. 

Here is a closer look at the vine that covers the trellis over the gate.  I don't know the name of it, do you?

Join me in visiting everyone having tea at Elizabeth's blog.  There is always something interesting going on there.

 

Tea Stands for Tuesday - 6/22/21

 Hello everyone.  Today's Tea post is full of surprising and interesting things.  All new to me.

Have you ever heard of a Tea Cup Holster?  What fun.

Here's an idea of how you might wear it,

Oh yes, I want one.  I will have to think of an occasion that makes one absolutely necessary.  Suggestions?  (I don't have links for the photos )

While we were at the River House I spotted something yellow from a distance.  What is that?   Has an alien landed in our palm tree?

The plants are at a side of the garage in an area that we don't really notice that much.

Our female Sago Palm blossomed.   Reading about it I found that the plants only blossom after about 10 years of age and then only blossom once every 3 to 5 years.  A first for us.  We are quite excited about it.

That's it for my interesting week.  I hope you found some nice surprises along the way too.  I'm going to visit Elizabeth and find out what everyone has been doing.

Tea Stands for Tuesday - 2/4/2020

We've been at the house by the river.  Our citrus trees there are putting out lots of fruit.  Many people don't realize that around the end of January/first of February is the best time to pick oranges here in NoCA.

Our own organic oranges

I use a microplane to zest the oranges before I cut them in half and used an old fashioned juicer to make my orange juice.

While I get my drink ready why don't you visit the tea party at Elizabeth's place?

Tea Stands for Tuesday 8/27/19

Hello.  I've missed everyone but have been online very little of late.  I'm happy to see the party is still going on over on Elizabeth's blog.  Check it out here:  .http://alteredbooklover.blogspot.com/2019/08/t-stands-for-city-bites.html

I was out on my morning walk and happened to see this sign in a window. (BTW, I like their clothes.) I immediately thought I needed it for my Tuesday post.  I had picked up three pounds of coffee and a cup to go so I put those in the shot - and there you have my drink reference for today.

We spent a lot of time on the porch at the river house this summer.  The bench is one DH made and I got the rocker at a thrift shop.

\

Our daughter brought us this sign one weekend when she and her husband came to visit.

You are somewhat forced to relax when you are here.  It is largely and agricultural area and farm equipment is driven up and down the roads at its own - usually very slow - pace.

Hoping to catch up with everyone who makes it to the Tea Party this Tuesday.

June is National Pride Month

We are celebrating Pride Month at the river with our very own rainbow over the garage.

Have a great month.

Tea Stands for Tuesday 4/16/19

I've been at the river house quite a bit lately.  Pushing spring.  It is pushing back.  After some sun, it rained today.

I have a number of ideas for creative things I'd like to do.  Some are just sparks of thought but others have more of a plan in place.  I decided I'd better write myself some notes.  Nothing like a cup of tea to get me in the mood.

A friend who is an artist came to visit.  She harvested the last of our oranges, I was happy to share.  The day was beautiful and we were

able to sit on the levee and discuss plans for making art.  She's lovely and colorful herself.

Speaking of colorful.  I once said "never!" to these shoes.  Never, never, never.  I finally gave in and bought a pair.  They are perfect for mucking around outside.  They are surprisingly comfortable.

That's me caught up.  Get on over to Elizabeth's blog and catch up with the rest of the group that gathers there.

Tea Stands for Tuesday - 2/19/19

Good Morning my Tuesday friends.  This morning it is all about water.

I'm drinking water.  
Contemplating the river
Oh my!













Have a look.....

There are monsters in the river.  One of them is kissing the bridge. Our property starts where the bridge touches down at the right of this photo.  We are at the "monitor" flood stage and have been for a few days.

Here's a FB posting from a bar/restaurant across the river from us. The water is about to their front door.

Hope you are having a good day wherever you are... and as they say in this part of the world...

KEEP YOUR TOES DRY!

I'm off to visit Elizabeth and those who post there.  

Hello!

We've been at the River House for the past week with no wifi.  I've missed checking on my friends so will be doing that today

We have quite a few citrus trees there and this is the time of year most of the fruit ripens.  We brought home lots of lemons and oranges.  I have a number of recipes that use lemons.  Lemon tarts, lemon pie, lemon cake, lemon curd and so forth.  I don't have many that use oranges though

Do you have a favorite recipe that uses citrus fruit to share with me?

Tea Stands for Tuesday 12/18/18

Hope this Tuesday morning finds you well.  Are you covered in tinsel or wrapping paper?  We will be celebrating Christmas with the family at the river house so no decorating done here.  It all happens there.

I sorted out some pens and pencils while I drank my tea.  I'm sure there is another container of pens somewhere.  

mixed media on 8x10 canvas board

All shall be well

and all shall be well

and all manner of things shall be well.

Julian of Norwich

This is my wish for all of you this holiday season.

Please join me in visiting Elizabeth's tea party this morning.

Tea Stands for Tuesday - 10/23/18

October is such a beautiful month in Northern California.  We continue to spend quite a bit of our time at the river.

This fine hen appeared in our yard over a week ago.  Our yard is fenced and we have no idea where she came from.  She's laid four eggs during her visit though.  She likes to come right up on the front porch and chat with us.

I've been trying different teas.  Mostly using what I have on hand.

Have you tried any of these teas for the condition described?  

Thing morning I added peppermint leaves to some standard black tea.  Guess I must have been feeling "sluggish", LOL!

I'm off to join the group for tea at Altered Book Lover this morning. Won't you join me?

Tea Stands for Tuesday 8/14/18

Good Morning Tea Friends.  It has been quite some time since I joined you.  I hope you saved me a place at the table.

Crepe Myrtle in bloom

I spent most of the summer sipping my tea or other drink right here on the porch of the River House.

DH and I both celebrated birthdays this summer.  Lots of family joined us.  These chairs were gifts.  It took the Grandsons quite awhile to assemble them (smile).

This is the other end of the porch.  We made good use of all of it this summer.

I'm looking forward to checking Elizabeth's blog and catching up with all my tea party friends.

Tea Stands for Tuesday 6/12/18

It is warm weather here in the Sacramento Valley of No CA.  No one feels much like cooking.

I made "almost" chilaquiles for dinner.  I say almost because they aren't the real thing.  They are tasty though.  This plate will be divided between two of us.  A cold glass of water is all I need to round things out.

Flowers are blossoming on the levee at the River House.  The stairs lead us up to the view.

It is time to join the tea party at Elizabeth's blog.  Grab your drink and come along won't you?

Happy Easter

We are at the River House enjoying a few days of beautiful spring weather.

Imagine our surprise when we went to the carport to get into the car!  We had to shoo him off before we could drive away.

We haven't seen him since we returned from shopping.  I did ask around and and several people said they have seen bunnies around the neighborhood and on the levee.  They must have escaped their home.

Hope you have a lovely day and that spring has arrived at your house.

Tea Stands for Tuesday - 11/28/17

When Peets comes out with their yearly Holiday Blend of coffee beans I know it is time to kick off the season.   That beautiful red bag may be all the decoration I need.

We are busy making plans to host Christmas Dinner for the family at the River House.  There will be at least 13 of us, maybe a couple more.  What are your plans for the holidays?

The house is well designed for a large group, there is easy flow from room to room.  The front porch is generous in size as well.  We have pretty mild weather compared to a lot of the country so it us usable year round.  It is protected should it rain but if it is windy it will chase everyone in.  

This is what the river looks like right now.  That is a draw bridge that I'm looking under to take the photo.  The bridge marks the south end of our property.The local rice harvest finished last month and there are lots of birds in the vicinity.  I think they nest under the bridge.

Bring your drink and go with me to Elizabeth's blog to check on others who show up on Tuesday's for Tea.

Tea Stands for Tuesday - 11/7/17

 This Tuesday finds us at the river house.  We had a bit of rain, just enough to knock the dust off things and the leaves off the trees.

Since the time change on the past Sunday my sleep pattern has been a little confused.  However, I am once again able to drink my coffee on the porch while I watch the sunrise.   

Here's a view of the river from our bank taken a few days ago.  The blue sky is temporarily grey at the moment.

I hope you are enjoying your Tuesday.  I will be checking in with Elizabeth and the folks who get together for tea (or drink of choice) every Tuesday.  You are always welcome.

Knock, knock! Anybody home?

It has been a long and busy summer and much of it I have spent without internet connection.  I thought today would be a good day to return - what with the lunar eclipse and all.  

We spent much of the summer at the River House.  While the weather has been setting records for heat, the river is not nearly as low as it was this time last year.

DH has his favorite fishing spot on our property.  That little white bucket is for holding the fish he catches.  

I'll be posting bits and pieces about our adventures later this week.  

Meanwhile I'm off to say hello to my blogging friends.  I hope they haven't forgotten who I am.

Tea Stands for Tuesday - 3/7/17

When Tuesday rolls around I look forward to joining Elizabeth and friends for tea (or drink of choice).

Another cup has been added to the mix of colorful thrift store china at the river house.  

Several friends have recently asked about our situation on the river. We are located down river from the Oroville dam which was on the news.  Our area was not evacuated but there was a town meeting to discuss evacuation and we were advised to be on standby.

Our house is fine.  We have lots of standing water, after awhile the ground just couldn't absorb more.  We had one tree fall but fortunately it was far from any structures and only did minimal damage to a fence.

I tried to find some photo's with the same river view to compare

This was taken in about May of 2016

A similar shot of the river this month.

Here is the current view right behind the house.  Local  people say they haven't seen the river this high in about 30 years.

California has been in a drought for at least 5 years.  Right now in Northern California we are at 200+ percent of normal for rain/snow.

The rainy season for the area is said to end mid April.  Of course the river is the major carrier for all the snow pack and run off for a huge part of the state so I imagine it will remain high for quite awhile.  I think the flood danger has passed but there is still some concern about the levees holding back so much water pressure for so long.

Thanks to those who were concerned.  We hope to be enjoying our cup of tea on the front porch again real soon.

Soup weather

Cold weather is soup weather at our house.  We enjoy a variety of homemade soups throughout the season.

Readers here know I've been furnishing the River House with colorful china from thrift shops.   I easily covered the basics but will  still add something it it is colorful and a little different.  That's why I bought this soup bowl for $1.69 when I spotted it.

When I got the bowl home I filled it with one of our winter favorites, mushroom barley soup.  Those orange flecks in the soup are carrots  -  something we add to the basic recipe just to sweeten it up a bit.

Do you have a favorite soup?  A favorite bowl to put it in?

Fall at the River

We were at the River House for a few days.  It is fun to see the seasons change there especially since this is our first year in the house.  Everything is new to us.

We took our morning coffee up to the top of the levee.  This was the view of the river.  What river?  Well, you will just have to trust me, it is down the bank there.

The willow trees have been trimmed and the bank cleaned in anticipation of some winter weather.  I suspect it can get quite windy in the area and we didn't want branches coming down.

We also recently had railings added to the levee stairs.  Necessary for safe walking.  There are solar lights at the top of each post.  The fence you see in the distance is new as well.  Making small changes that make the place our own.

We're back by the Bay for awhile.  Even though we were only gone a few days there always seems something to catch up on.  

Hope you are enjoying a great Monday wherever you are.