Aromatherapy

And all at once, Summer collapsed into Fall. ~ unknown

Hello dear friends! I've been down with the flu again. It's been off and on like this all month. It doesn't seem to want to let go. There are a lot of people sick here on the Island with it.

Hubby surprised me with these scrumptious roses this past week. They are white with a blush of pink in the center. Flowers certainly help perk one up! 

These roses are so romantic! They're like the last kiss of summer before pink gives way to gold and orange and red.

Summer's lease hath all too short a date. ~ William Shakespeare - Sonnet 18

And suddenly, Autumn is here! 

Soon the trees will be ablaze with colour again and there will be a nip in the air.

It is the time of year when we bring out the cinnamon scented candles and cozy comforters. The fires are burning again in the fireplaces and stoves. The days are getting shorter and we bake more. Or at least I do. 

Autumn just automatically speaks to us and we yearn for the scent of freshly baked apple pie and gingerbread warm from the oven and hot chocolate stirred with cinnamon sticks.

Aromatherapy is all around us. 
Do you remember when potpourri was all the rage? I remember sachets in my mother's dresser drawers when I was a little girl and of course scented liners have been around for just as long.  

I had a couple of little simmering pots as well as some pretty dishes for holding potpourri years ago. I got rid of them all except for this one which I've always liked. 

I believe it is from Avon and this one holds rose petal potpourri which I keep in the main bath. A little drop of oil keeps it smelling wonderful!

I find scent imparts an ambience; be it romance, energy, peace, etc...

Tea is like potpourri. Aromatherapy at its best! A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that I am to drink only decaffeinated beverages from now on; doctor's orders. Well, I found my coffee, and over the weekend, I found my loose leaf tea. Now I just want to find a couple boxes of teabags for a quick cup and I will be set. Thank you Margie for your input!

This loose leaf tea is so aromatic that it reminds me of potpourri. Cinnamon Rooibos Chai by Davids Tea is very pricey but oh my, is it delicious! I wish you could smell it!

Rooibos which means Redbush is grown only in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. This tea is organic as well as decaffeinated. So, I'm happy!


Dried hydrangeas which I have on the mantel right now are lending themselves to my tea table today.  

A spicy cup of tea in a beautiful Aynsley teacup is such a treat and it smells as good as it tastes.

I cut up some pound cake and sandwiched it with strawberry jam. Lovely little morsels to enjoy with a fragrant cup of cinnamon rooibos chai tea!

I always try to leave you with some food for thought at the end of every post. 

A good life is when you smile often, dream big, laugh a lot and realize how blessed you are for what you have. ~ unknown

Happy Autumn everyone! Hope you enjoy each and every moment!

I am joining the following parties as well~

Tuesday Cuppa Tea
Share Your Cup

Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi

A Nod to Summer and A Wink at Autumn

To every thing there is a season 
And a time to every purpose under heaven. ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1

Hello friends! The last few days have been cool but it's warming up again on the weekend. Sadly, Summer is fading quickly and Autumn is knocking on the door. I am going to miss the warm weather.

Here on Prince Edward Island, we have two seasons that almost skip from one to another. Our Winters last so long that our Springs barely have time to sprout its greenery before Summer arrives. And Autumn barely winks at us before the cold of Winter sets in again which is why I really don't enjoy Autumn all that much. 
We had a very hot and unusual summer this year but we enjoyed it. Still it passed all too quickly. Ah, seasons! What is your favourite season?

Speaking of seasons, I will share just a few photos I had taken over the summer. Enjoy!

We visited our favourite tea room again a few weeks ago and the lovely hydrangeas are in full bloom.


As many of you know, we are beach people.

A day on the beach. Can you smell the salt air? 

I've shared this picture of my granddaughter on the beach at sunset before but I can't help but share it again. It was magical!

Last week, we took a drive down to Murray River which is east of us and I took this shot of the river with Queen Anne's Lace in the foreground.

With the cooler temperatures comes the inclination to nest. One day last week I made my wonderful Hamburger and Barley soup. It was a cool and drizzly day so this hearty soup was just right for warming the tummy. It was lovely with some crusty bread and cheese. Sorry, I can't share the recipe because I made it mostly in my head as I do with many of my recipes. I can tell you that it is filled with tomatoes, barley, veggies, hamburg, and lots of herbs.

Cakes are special. Every birthday, every celebration ends with something sweet, a cake, and people remember. It's all about the memories. ~ Buddy Valastro

This time of year I seem to crave cake a little more than usual. But this cake was baked for someone special; my son who just celebrated his birthday. This is a scrumptious two layer chocolate cake, sandwiched with strawberry preserves and whipped cream. The berries make it look so pretty! It was a big hit! 

Would you like a slice?

The plate is made by Wedgwood called Romantic England and depicts a home from 1605.

The cup and saucer are Vista made by Masons of England.

Steam rises from a cup of tea
and we are wrapped in history,
inhaling ancient time and lands,
comfort of ages in our hands. ~ Faith Greenbow

Next week, this wreath will replace my summer one on the front door.  Pumpkins will be squatting on the steps and mums will be replacing my petunias and pansies. 

Oh, dear summer, I will surely miss you! Although Autumn does have its benefits too. Like pumpkin pie and turkey dinners and walks through the woods with crunching leaves beneath our feet. 

I can smell autumn dancing in the breeze. The sweet chill of pumpkin and crisp sunburnt leaves. ~ unknown

Have a wonderful rest of the week, dear friends, and please pray for our friends in North and South Carolina as well as Virginia. Hurricane Florence sounds like she will not be too kind! Please, dear Lord, watch over them all and keep them safe!


I am sharing this with ~
Share Your Cup 
Home Sweet Home

Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi

Simplicity

Today is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Hi everyone! Did you miss me?
September did not start out very well for me. I have been the sickest I've been with the flu in years. Almost two weeks of it and the weekend was especially bad! Also, our family had some heartache come our way which was unexpected. But I'm feeling better now and my beloved auntie called me who always manages to lift my spirits. There is always sunshine behind a cloudy day. And it's most important to have SONshine in your life. 

I saw my urologist this morning and I am only to drink decaffeinated beverages from now on. Tea will be harder to find because I am fussy about the tea I drink. Coffee will have to be decaf as well. Can you tea lovers suggest a good decaf or herbal tea? I'm going to have to make a trip into Davids Tea to see what they offer.

I clipped some of my pansies and petunias and brought them in for this simple bouquet.
My post is all about simple things; simple flowers, no fancy dessert; just a simple cup of tea.

Once I started to feel better, I was aware that Hubby had no sweets of any kind to nibble on so after he went to work, I decided to do some baking. I made his favourite treat again; cinnamon rolls or "snails" as our eldest son always called them.

Fresh Island blueberries are out now so I decided to bake some muffins too.

These muffins are really good because they're made with oatmeal and blueberries. 

I made two dozen blueberry muffins so half of the cinnamon rolls and muffins will be going into the freezer. Most of my recipes you can find on my sidebar when you print in search this blog.

I am using my Sadler teapot and Paragon teacup today. The teacup is a lovely shade of soft yellow with pretty pink posies adorning the inside of the cup. Something pretty to look at while sipping your tea.

This teapot is called Spring Crocus.

It's interesting that this teacup has a little leaf on the handle similar to Royal Albert's little leaf.

These muffins are very moist and delicious.

This week it's back to school for our children and grandchildren. All of our grandchildren will be hitting the books again and our youngest son starts teaching classes at the university. May the Good Lord watch over them all and guide their footsteps!

I hope your September is off to a grand start! Thank you for your visit and have a beautiful week!

A smile is a curve that sets everything straight. ~ unknown

I am joining the following parties as well~ 

Friends Sharing Tea
Home Sweet Home

 Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi