Floriography and Butterfly Pea Tea

   As a birthday gift, my daughter and son-in-law gave me some herbal teas and a lovely book on flowers.  They know me well.  I love to learn about plants and also love trying new teas.  So far, I have tried one.  It seems that I cannot get enough of this stuff!  She and I had discussed butterfly pea tea in the past but have never had any to try.  So...now I do!  The good thing about this tea is that it blends well with so many other things.  The pretty thing about this tea is the color....it is blue!  (Well, sort of teal blue.)  The interesting thing about butterfly pea tea is it changes color with the addition of lemon juice!  (Yes, they bought me two fresh lemons to go with my teas!)  While most articles on the tea say it changes from blue to pink with the addition of the lemon juice, mine changed from teal to violet...which I liked better since those are two favorite colors.  The deep jewel-tone colors are striking! 

  The book is on "floriography" which is considered to be the language of flowers. It delves into the symbolism of different blooms and even their colors.  The book tells how to communicate certain emotions through gifting flowers.  You can tell others how you adore them or even how you are not fond of them simply through the type and color of blooms you send.  Interesting!  I will have to keep track of any flowers I receive so I will be fully aware of the intentions behind the bouquet!

  For the past few days since my birthday, I have spent the evenings with the book and tea.  There is something comforting about this routine and I feel quite Victorian sitting on my antique settee, sipping a cup of violet-colored tea while reading my book on "Floriography".  I still say I was born in the wrong era and it appears that my daughter and son-in-law understand this.  Not everyone does.

The Forgotten Day

   Once again, Son came through for me.  With the scourge (of termites) that has taken over the entire Gulf Coast, wooden things do not stand a chance...even "treated" wooden things.  My rose arbors fell to the mighty bugs.  I, along with the rose bushes, was devastated!  My beautiful rose garden had fallen to shambles.  Then one thing or another got in the way of repairs.  You know...things like hurricanes, health and life in general.  Each time I walked through that section of the Small Gardens, I was saddened.  I tried to support the rose canes with hogwire cages but it was not the same as the beautiful arbors.

  Early in March, my birthday came and went. Other than my sister, my brother and his girlfriend and one cousin, nary a birthday wish came my way.  Most everyone simply forgot or simply do not care.  Most everyone except my daughter and son-in-law who thought to get flowers...not the florist type that die quickly but geranium plants.  I am elated! They know I love my gardens.  I am excited to have a new challenge as I have never grown rose geraniums before. Then, Son, too, did a gardening thing.  He built a new arbor!  He asked what type I would like and I told him that I would leave the design up to him.  I am now a happy camper with my new arbor for the rose bushes and some rose geraniums for the herb shelf.  

  With kiddos like this, I have no reason to be sad about growing older.  They do indeed try to keep things cheerful and I so appreciate them.  I can reclaim my title of Queen of the Small Gardens and amble through the Rose Garden and Herb Garden with pure glee.  Now, you will have to pardon me while I go train the roses to cover the arbor and tend to my geraniums.  

Just Another Day...Just Another Day

   While on the pier before daybreak, I should have taken a hint from the sky...get back in bed.  But I did not.  The weather started ominous but then turned gorgeously sunshiny.  I wish I could have said the same for me.  I stayed "ominous"...(or maybe a better word...anonymous).  My mood was not the happiest...not threatening but just not good.   I love my Bayou and do not mind the isolation but there are times when it really wears thin.  This was one of those days.  It wore thin...really thin.

  Folks, I am going to tell you that being alone is not a problem.  Being forgotten is.  Check on those who seem ok, on those who are alone, those who are homebound, those who just need a friend.  At the moment, I could be any one of those or none of those.  Stay kind.  

A Reason to Smile....and a Reason to Weep!

  Darling Daughter and her husband came to the Little Bayou House today and brought the best surprise!  Not only did they treat me to a delicious lunch, she made a strawberry shortcake!  To be perfectly honest, she made a VEGAN strawberry shortcake and it was most delightful!  I hear a lot of folks proclaim that you cannot make a cake without eggs or whipped cream without cream or if you did, it would not taste good.  Well, she proved them wrong in both instances!  The cake was moist and the whipped cream was made with coconut milk.  Both were fantastic!   If you have never tasted whipped topping made from coconut milk, I highly recommend that you do soon.  So very tasty and a lot healthier for the body.  Darling Daughter knows that  I have a fondness for strawberry shortcake and since this was a special day, she thought it was appropriate to bake for me.  I am so glad she did!  Not only did the cake bring a smile, their visit made my day quite perfect!

  My kids, even though they are adults now, still know how to have a bit of good fun.  Once we finished eating, Son was sort of twirling his Styrofoam tray about in his hands.  I decided that the cake deserved a photograph and my kids (being a lot like me) immediately stepped out of line of the camera.  They hate pictures being taken of them!  Being prompted by Darling Daughter, Son held the tray up in front of his face. Well, that did it.  Not being able to stop with one joke, she decided to draw a face on the tray.  That led to other things and, the next thing I knew, the tray had become and a little being of its own.  Forks were arms and legs and the thing sat on the edge of the table.  In one "hand" it held a scribbled recipe.  In a weird sort of way, the little guy was rather cute. All was happy until a lone droplet of water fell on one of the eyes.  How sad!  Poor little guy was now crying! Yep, it appeared that a lone teardrop was falling from his eye.  I suppose he had a reason to weep. Maybe it was because we did not offer him any cake!

  It was a grand day but the only downside was that they had to leave far too early for my liking.  I always have so much fun with my kids back home.  I am still smiling...Tray Dude is still weeping.