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Wednesday, April 06, 2011

Tartan Week: Celebrating Scottish Heritage


What butter and whiskey won't
cure, there is no cure for.
-Celtic Saying

We celebrate the legacy of our shared Scottish heritage 
every year during March and April's  


In the United States, there are more than 20 million people who can claim descent from Scotland, most of whom take immense pride in their Scottish heritage. Throughout much of the country, the first week of April has come to be known as Tartan Week as the festivities of Tartan Day have increased and are now celebrated throughout the week. The festivities include a wide range of activities, cultural events and ceilidhs ('KAY-lees' - parties with singing and dancing) that celebrate the vibrancy of Scottish culture, past and present.

Woodrow Wilson said: "Every line of strength in American history is a line colored with Scottish blood." And this year's Scotland Week once again confirms Scotland's place in the hearts of Americans - and Canada too!

April 6 designated TARTAN DAY by a Resolution passed by the U.S. Senate March 20, 1998

Numerous groups and societies throughout Canada and America have taken the anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath (1320) as their national date to celebrate their Scottish roots.

On December 19th 1991, in response to action initiated by the Clans & Scottish Societies of Canada, the Ontario Legislature passed a resolution proclaiming April 6th as Tartan Day, following the example of other Canadian provinces. America followed suit on March 20th 1998, when Senate Resolution 155 (S.Res. 155), proposed by US Senate Republican majority leader Trent Lott, was passed unanimously.

For as long as but a hundred of us remain alive, never will we on any conditions be brought under English rule. It is not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom — for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.
From The Declaration of Arbroath 1320.




How will you celebrate?

Monday, February 14, 2011

Hugs for you on Valentine's Day!


I'm sending you love and tea,
To warm your winter's day.
Think of me as you pour your cup
And all the good things we would say.

If we could be together now
Instead of miles apart,
We'd sip our teas and memories,
The sweet warmth fills the heart.
 ~~Susan Young

I appreciate you so very much!

Monday, January 31, 2011

Happiness in a Cup of Tea

...the freedom and happiness to be found in a simple cup of tea.

Oprah is interviewing Thich Nhat Hanh. She asked him "What is Happiness?"

He answers:
"Suppose you are drinking a cup of tea. When you hold your cup, you may like to breathe in, to bring your mind back to your body, and you become fully present. And when you are truly there, something else is also there—life, represented by the cup of tea. In that moment you are real, and the cup of tea is real. You are not lost in the past, in the future, in your projects, in your worries. You are free from all of these afflictions. And in that state of being free, you enjoy your tea. That is the moment of happiness, and of peace. When you brush your teeth, you may have just two minutes, but according to this practice, it is possible to produce freedom and joy during that time, because you are established in the here and now. If you are capable of brushing your teeth in mindfulness, then you will be able to enjoy the time when you take a shower, cook your breakfast, sip your tea."

To which Oprah responds "So from this point of view, there are endless conditions of happiness."

Nhat Hanh's response
"Yes. Mindfulness helps you go home to the present. And every time you go there and recognize a condition of happiness that you have, happiness comes."

Then Oprah says to him "With you, the tea is real."

Nhat Hanh answers
"I am real, and the tea is real. I am in the present. I don't think of the past. I don't think of the future. There is a real encounter between me and the tea, and peace, happiness and joy are possible during the time I drink."

Then Oprah comments "I never had that much thought about a cup of tea."

Read the whole interview The O Exclusive Interview

Visit the following sites for more:

More info about Thick Nhat Hanh
Mindfulness Bell

edited 1/24/2015

Tuesday, January 04, 2011

January, drink a cup to Hot Tea Month!


January is a time for new beginnings, health and home. 

It's also National Hot Tea Month. 

Let's drink a cup to Hot Tea Month and read a poem about home and tea! 

Is your tea kettle on? 


A True Home
 
"A roof to keep out the rain. Four walls to keep out the wind. Floors to keep out the cold.

Yes, but home is more than that. It is the laugh of a baby, the song of a mother, the strength of a father.
Warmth of loving hearts, light from happy eyes, kindness, loyalty, comradeship.

Home is first school...for the young ones where they learn what is right, what is good, and what is kind. Where they go for comfort when they are hurt or sick.
Where joy is shared and sorrow eased.
Where fathers and mothers are respected and loved.
Where children are wanted.
Where the simplest food is good enough for kings because it is earned.
Where money is not so important as loving-kindness.
Where even the teakettle sings from happiness.

That is home."


~~Ernestine Schumann-Heink / Drawing by  Anton Pieck 

edited 1/24/2015

Sunday, January 02, 2011

An Irish Blessing For The New Year




May you have:
A world of wishes at your command.
God and his angels close to hand.
Friends and family their love impart,
and Irish blessings in your heart!

May you always walk in sunshine.
May you never want for more.
May Irish angels rest their wings right beside your door.

May you always have walls for the winds,
a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire,
laughter to cheer you, those you love near you,
and all your heart might desire.

Tuesday, November 02, 2010

A Broken Ankle

The following is from an E-zine called Mindful Moment. This really touched me and I wanted to share Patrick's message with you (with his permission).  Patrick wrote:

This week I broke my ankle.

I was at the neighbourhood playground with my wife and son and was
carrying my son back to the house. (For those of you who don't have a
toddler, when it's time to leave the playground, it often involves
carrying your child home amid cries of "five more minutes,
pleeeeease?") Since I had him in my arms, I couldn't watch the ground
and my right foot stepped just off the paved walking path and onto a
sloped surface. I went over on my ankle - CRACK!

A few days later, as I was sitting around with my throbbing ankle
propped up on a pillow. I was beginning to feel sorry for myself when
I remembered an aquaintence of mine who works with terminally ill
patients. A few weeks ago she lost her house in a fire. Everyone was
safe, but everything was gone. As I thought about her situation, I
felt foolish for feeling sorry about my ankle. I e-mailed her at work
to let her know that I was thinking about her and to wish her well
through her ordeal.

Her message back to me contained an even broader perspective. "This
(rebuilding from the fire) is a full time plus job that I never
applied for - with few benefits and many burdens. But every one of my
patients would still love to be me."

How's THAT for a change in perspective?

Ankle? What ankle?

ENJOY NOW!

Patrick Mathieu
email: patrick (at) mathieu.com

Friday, July 30, 2010

Day Follows Day

"We have a midsummer but no midspring. We have a midwinter but no midautumn. Spring and fall are the seasons of the most obvious action and change. They are flowing this way and that continually. They have no stagnant or slack-water times.

But there comes a period in summer -- and in winter too -- when day follows day with little variation."

~Edwin Way Teale

Sunday, May 09, 2010

Happy Mother's Day

A cup of tea to say thank you
For all the things you've done,
And wishes that the day will bring
You happiness and fun.
Happy Mother's Day
©birdiekity May - 1998

Click Here to see an art project with a Mother's Day message using PostIt notes!
2009 Mother's Day Message

edited 5/7/17

Monday, April 19, 2010

Mythic Journeys

I saw this film recently. It is really thought provoking.
How does your myth create your life?


Find out more about the film here

Thursday, March 18, 2010

HOW TO Create Your Own Bail Out Plan

-NBC News interview-Arbonne's Donna Johnson & MGM



Amazon Best Selling Author of The Women's Millionaire Club book, Maureen G. Mulvaney, MGM, is interviewed by NBC newscaster Rick DeBruhl.

MGM and Rick discussed Home Based Business, Network Marketing, a 'Recession Proof' Business Opportunity in a Down Economy, what it takes to become a Woman Millionaire Entrepreneur.

Recession Proof' Business Opportunity:
SendOutCards

Join me at The Club:
Women's Millionaire Club