WREATHMAKER

One of the things I look forward to most is ripe tomatoes from our garden. We have them in salads, stir fries, plain sliced, tomato tart, etc., and never tire of them. They have health benefits too! Today I picked a small vine of ripe tomatoes…yum! Just a small salad of lettuce, cucumbers and tomatoes with a sprinkle of salt and pepper…delicious!

I have always been intrigued by the history of the Hudson's Bay Company in Canada. There are many accounts of the accomplishments, dangers, and the exploits of the men who made the company an important part of Canada. Today I gathered up some items which are connected with the “Bay”, for tea. The background is some red “point blanket” wool. HBC point blankets are said to last for generations. Part of the setting is my Grandmother's blue enamel sugar bowl. Sugar was a much needed staple of early years, along with tea. How about boiling the water in a genuine cast iron kettle, mended many years ago? It may have been bought at a company store …I don’t know, but it certainly is a relic! The table is covered with a faux fish net……and an old oar washed up on the shore of Lake Winnipeg. (Have you heard of our wonderful smoked Lake Winnipeg Goldeye?) I didn’t say anything about the cup…(it’s just one from my cupboard) I am sure loose leaf tea would taste lovely in ...

If the garden has a theme today, I guess you could say it is ZINNIAS! I purchased a flat of zinnias at the end-of-season clearance at a greenhouse. I don’t know what variety they are, but they are lovely! ….huge blooms in brilliant colours. Our weather this year has been perfect for them. Also blooming is my very favourite shrub, “Limelight Hydrangea”… I now have it in both standard and shrub forms…can’t get enough limelight!   Also, “Hope for Humanity” red rose and a David Austin pink are blooming again.. Gloriosa daisies are in full colour also… I do believe the garden is in its prime right now. We are enjoying tomatoes and cucumbers daily, too. I’m joining Tootsie’s Flower Flaunting   today.

Will you join me for tea? Do you like your tea green, with it’s apparent health benefits? Do you prefer hot green tea in a china cup? …Or cold ?   After we have our tea, we can visit Sandi’s tea time Tuesday … lots of variety over there!

I don’t often hear the words “looking glass” to describe a mirror, but I do recall the expression from childhood stories…. I picked up a tin of “Looking Glass” on  a recent trip to Hobby Lobby, and tried it out on a few glass vases. This is before… and after…. I sprayed a mist of plain water on the surface before using the paint. It is important to apply the product on the reverse side of the glass. Several coats may be necessary to give the desired coverage, but I wanted a slight appearance of mercury glass. This little experiment  may lead to other small projects…I’d like to try it on an old window pane…it might look like an antique mirror!