Raspberry Independence Day

I’ve always loved raspberries and in the past decade, raspberry iced tea.

Until now I’ve never made my own raspberry iced tea, but last week I ran out of coffee and on my way down the aisle at the grocery store I noticed the store brand black tea on sale. Matter-of-fact, I was out of tea, too, having drank it all the last time I ran out of coffee. So I stocked up on both.

Back in my college days when I was raising babies and studying Organic Chem in one fell swoop, I made my daughter peppermint tea with leaves fresh from my gardens.

In winter, when fresh peppermint wasn’t available and we had gone through our supply of dried peppermint, Celestial Seasonings was the commercial substitute brand of choice.

In those days, a cup of honeyed Sleepytime and a gentle calf muscle massage always put my baby-girl to sleep. And oh, the new Honey Vanilla Chai flavor is wonderful…

Tonight, I finally took time out to brew my own raspberry tea. It was a decision made by need, not choice. I walked out to the street first, with the intention of going over to the store to buy a few bottles of my favorite sports drink, when I noticed the store was already closed due to the Fourth of July holiday.

Dammit.

There’s something to be said for being raised a country girl taught at a young age to keep a well stocked pantry.

I made a 2-quart pitcher of Raspberry Ice Cool Brew and a tall glass is sitting here on my desk as I write.

Another one gallon pitcher is brewing on the counter in the kitchen…half raspberry, half regular black tea…that should last me a day or two.

Happy Independence Day…

Over the Knee Watercolor

More fun with the self-portrait.

 

Americana

Based on a photo by Bart Baldwin.

Winter Solstice

The precise moment of the 2006 solstice occurred 21 December, 2006 at 6:22 P.M. CST (Dec. 22, 00:22 UT).

She danced on the water, and the wind was Her horn
The Lady laughed, and everything was born
And when She lit the sun and its’ light gave Him birth
The Lord of the Dance first appeared on the Earth

(Chorus):
Dance, dance, where ever you may be
I am the Lord of the Dance, you see!
I live in you, and you live in Me
And I lead you all in the Dance, said He!

I danced in the morning when the World was begun
I danced in the Moon and the Stars and the Sun
I was called from the Darkness by the Song of the Earth
I joined in the Song, and She gave Me the Birth!

I dance in the Circle when the flames leap up high
I dance in the Fire, and I never, ever, die
I dance in the waves of the bright summer sea
For I am the Lord of the wave’s mystery

I sleep in the kernel, and I dance in the rain
I dance in the wind, and thru the waving grain
And when you cut me down, I care nothing for the pain;
In the Spring I’m the Lord of the Dance once again!

I dance at the Sabbat when you dance out the Spell
I dance and sing that everyone be well
And when the dancing’s over do not think that I am gone
To live is to Dance! So I dance on, and on!

I see the Maidens laughing as they dance in the Sun
And I count the fruits of the Harvest, one by one
I know the Storm is coming, but the Grain is all stored
So I sing of the Dance of the Lady, and Her Lord:

(Chorus):
Dance, dance, where ever you may be
I am the Lord of the Dance, you see!
I live in you, and you live in Me
And I lead you all in the Dance, said He!

The Horn of the Lady cast its’ sound ‘cross the Plain
The birds took the notes, and gave them back again
Till the sound of Her music was a Song in the sky
And to that Song there is only one reply:

The moon in her phases, and the tides of the sea
The movement of the Earth, and the Seasons that will be
Are the rhythm for the dancing, and a promise thru the years
That the Dance goes on thru all our joy, and tears

We dance ever slower as the leaves fall and spin
And the sound of the Horn is the wailing of the wind
The Earth is wrapped in stillness, and we move in a trance,
But we hold on fast to our faith in the Dance!

The sun is in the southland and the days grow chill
And the sound of the horn is fading on the hill
‘Tis the horn of the Hunter, as he rides across the plain
And the Lady sleeps ’til the Spring comes again

The Sun is in the Southland and the days lengthen fast
And soon we will sing for the Winter that is past
Now we light the candles and rejoice as they burn
And we dance the Dance of the Sun’s return!

(Chorus):
Dance, dance, where ever you may be
I am the Lord of the Dance, you see!
I live in you, and you live in Me
And I lead you all in the Dance, said He!

They danced in the darkness and they danced in the night
They danced on the Earth, and everything was light
They danced out the Darkness and they danced in the Dawn
And the Day of that Dancing is still going on!

I gaze on the Heavens and I gaze on the Earth
And I feel the pain of dying, and re-birth
And I lift my head in gladness, and in praise
For the Dance of the Lord, and His Lady gay

I dance in the stars as they whirl throughout space
And I dance in the pulse of the veins in your face
No dance is too great, no dance is too small,
You can look anywhere, for I dance in them all!

Over-the-Knee

Self Portrait Tuesday.

This month’s criteria:

Use an enclosed environment‚ a space that has confines or restrictions.

Also: The element of chance is important, not looking through the viewfinder, but rather viewing yourself as others might see you in that circumstance. Holding the camera out in front of you or placing it on a surface and pressing the shutter.

Technically, I didn’t lose my very first cherished pair of
red and black striped over-the-knee socks.

I mindlessly left them behind.

Two days later I found the same socks on e-Bay with a seller in the UK who took bids. I submitted a price that gave me four pairs (including shipping and handling) for the same amount I paid for one pair here at Hot Topic.

I want to be outside, but work confines me indoors. The high humidity doesn’t help.
This self-portrait was taken on the coffee table in front of the northwest-facing windows in late afternoon. It was 96 degrees yet, at 1738. I can watch the sun slip lower towards the horizon from my second story view.

There’s a large over-stuffed chair across from the coffee table. I set the camera with the 20-second timer on the arm of  the chair.
Can I get you something to drink?

Red Eye

Oklahoma Dogwood is an

interesting block design from the “Sylivia’s Bridal Sampler” by Jennifer Chiaverini.

My interpretation is called “Red Eye” :

Match – IF

When honor is matched
in love

there
lies truth.

Red Shadowed Swirl

Here’s a version of the Log Cabin Swirl quilt block design in a red and black alternate layout with a custom border:

This is my favorite, so far.

Log Cabin Swirl

It’s a great name for a cocktail, isn’t it?

For the first study of this quilt block design, I chose warm, summer colors in a traditional layout:

I chose cooler colors for the second version and added a custom border:

Summer Swirl

The colors used for this study of the quilt block Log Cabin Swirl were inspired by the mid August summer pallet of Western Wisconsin. A black background makes the colors pop.

The layout is basic with sixteen total blocks. Four blocks are rotated at a center point to make the first unit, and four such units are sewn together to complete the whole.