And Then We All Had Tea: A Day Book . . .

Tuesday, 12 May 2026

A Day Book . . .

FOR TODAY, May 12th, 2026

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW ...

Things are greening up again. The trees are bursting into leaf. The grass is green and covered with daffodils. The hummingbirds are back and the cats are enjoying it all. It is mostly cloudy at the moment. We are expecting scattered light showers. I can live with that.

I AM THINKING ...

About how hard life is at times. And yet at the same time as it is being hard, there are pockets of joy that are only ours to find. We can dwell on the hard, or we can dwell on the pockets of joy.

I AM ALSO THINKING ...

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It is no small thing to just be able to hand it all over to one who would help carry our load. Life just gets so heavy sometimes. I am grateful for my faith.

I AM GRATEFUL FOR ...

So grateful for these two furry feline family members of mine. They are a welcome distraction and comfort. Eileen loves them so much. They bring joy into both of our lives. That's a good thing.

I AM ALSO GRATEFUL FOR ...

Whatever it is that put me here, now, for this time and this season. So that I can be a source of love, comfort and support for my daughter that she needs at this time. This is not random.

IN THE KITCHEN ...

Crunchy Yogurt Pots. Thick, creamy Greek yogurt topped with a delightful crunch of cinnamon toasted nuts, oats and dried fruit. A drizzle of honey and breakfast is served! Simply delicious!

ON MY "TO COOK" LIST ...

Buttermilk by Sam. Babka Scones. These look amazing. Have I the patience??? I don't know.

THIS I BELIEVE ...

I am not sure how this works, but I know that it does. All knowing. All seeing. I feel His presence in my life all the time.

SOMETHING THAT IS NICE ...

The year's at the spring
And day's at the morn;
Morning's at seven;
The hillside's dew pearled;
The lark's on the wing;
The snail's on the thorn;
God's in His heaven --
All's right with the world.

~Robert Browning

SOMETHING ELSE THAT IS NICE ...

Lilac season is just around the corner.

I AM WANTING TO CREATE ...

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Crochet Slippers . . .

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An old fashioned looking scrappy tea cozy . . .

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A flower pot brooch . . . so cute.

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A garland of flowers . . .

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So pretty . . .

SOMETHING I ENJOY ...

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Sketching and doodling . . . I don't do it near often enough. I need to get back to it.

SOMETHING ELSE I ENJOY ...

Paper dolls . . .

I AM READING ...

THE ISLAND OF SEA WOMEN, by Lisa See

“A mesmerizing new historical novel” from Lisa See, the bestselling author of The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane, about female friendship and devastating family secrets on a small Korean island.

Mi-ja and Young-sook, two girls living on the Korean island of Jeju, are best friends who come from very different backgrounds. When they are old enough, they begin working in the sea with their village’s all-female diving collective, led by Young-sook’s mother. As the girls take up their positions as baby divers, they know they are beginning a life of excitement and responsibility—but also danger. Despite their love for each other, Mi-ja and Young-sook find it impossible to ignore their differences.

The Island of Sea Women takes place over many decades, beginning during a period of Japanese colonialism in the 1930s and 1940s, followed by World War II, the Korean War, through the era of cell phones and wet suits for the women divers. Throughout this time, the residents of Jeju find themselves caught between warring empires. Mi-ja is the daughter of a Japanese collaborator. Young-sook was born into a long line of haenyeo and will inherit her mother’s position leading the divers in their village.

Little do the two friends know that forces outside their control will push their friendship to the breaking point. “This vivid…thoughtful and empathetic” novel (The New York Times Book Review) illuminates a world turned upside down, one where the women are in charge and the men take care of the children. “A wonderful ode to a truly singular group of women” (Publishers Weekly), The Island of Sea Women is a “beautiful story…about the endurance of friendship when it’s pushed to its limits, and you…will love it” (Cosmopolitan).

I am just starting this. I love oriental culture and history.

THINGS THAT CATCH MY FANCY ...