For my first Tea Time post, I’d like to share a wonderful tool my husband bought me for Christmas 2023. The above photos are of my Electric Tea Kettle. It is wonderful! I can make one to four cups of tea with this addition to my kitchen. The top photo shows the tea kettle in action. While it heats the water, it is blue. When the water reaches the right temperature, it clicks off and the blue light goes out.
In the photo directly above these paragraphs, my kettle is empty. However, notice the button on the bottom front. If I heat enough water for multiple cups of tea, I can push this button and it will keep the water at the temperature the kettle heats it too. When I empty the kettle, I flip this button off again.
If you look into the kettle, (it is visible in both photos, but probably a bit clearer in the blue), you will see a cylinder in the center of the kettle, suspended from the lid of the kettle. The cylinder has little holes all around it from top to bottom. I can put loose-leaf tea in that cylinder, as much as I need for the number of cups I plan to drink or serve. Then the kettle brews the tea while it heats, saving me from measuring tea into a cup and steeping it.
As someone who enjoys a lot of loose-leaf tea, I love this tea kettle.
Join me again next Tuesday when I share my favorite tea shop and a couple of my favorite loose-leaf teas.
Since I am no longer doing book reviews, I have the freedom to read what I want when I want, which is a blessing since I am now doing my best to market my very first published novel, as well as writing the next book in the series. I also do some editing jobs. Therefore, it’s nice and relaxing to be able to choose what I want to read and simply read when I have the time — no pressure and no deadlines.
So, what am I reading? Well, while still homeschooling our youngest son, we began listening to audiobooks of The Green Ember series by S. D. Smith. These are books filled with adventure, excitement, danger, and suspense, and they also have good moral lessons. The main characters are rabbits and they must fight with wolves and birds of prey, and sometimes, with one another.
We haven’t had the opportunity to listen to any of the audiobooks for some time. Therefore, I have decided to read through the entire series so that I can refresh my memory on what we already heard, as well as continue on to the end. I am currently reading Ember Falls.
I want to share something I read in the end of Chapter 4. First of all, I’ll give a brief explanation: this scene follows a betrayal and a battle. The main female character, Heather, is speaking to one of the Lords. The Lord tells Heather that it is strange that the male rabbit, who betrayed another, didn’t succeed, at least not entirely.
Heather, who is a Scribe, responds with, “No, we had our moment.”
Heather had written about the battle, and the Lord says to her, “And you wrote about it very eloquently. Half the rabbits in the burned-out backwoods have hope because of you. ‘Bear the flame’, you said. And your tale had a happy ending.”
Heather replies that she loves a happy ending because she needs hope.
The Lord tells her that’s what her tale has done for the others who are loyal to the prince. He adds, “I hope it’s well-placed. I’m afraid we will be disapponted. We’re still faced with an impossible war. It’s a war we–well, we can’t win.”
And Heather’s response is, “We don’t have to win the war today, sir. We only have to win the next battle.”
That short scene made me think. So many people in today’s world get stressed, anxious, and depressed because of the things that are happening in the world, in their neighborhoods, in their families, and in their personal lives. They watch too many news broadcasts, follow all the politics online, and read their local papers–surrounding themselves with all the negativity. Then they begin to think there is no hope.
However, if they would only focus on today and the things they are faced with just in this day, it wouldn’t be so overwhelming. It wouldn’t look so hopeless. Take on one problem, one day, at a time.
That’s what I choose to do. I do not immerse myself in all of the negativity of this world and all the bad things that are happening in this word–things that I have no control over. However, I do know the One who does have control, and so I choose to live my life one day at a time, doing what I believe God has called me to do–writing and taking care of my loved ones and my home.
Does that mean I don’t care about all the other stuff? No. But I take all of that to the Lord in prayer. I have seen God answer prayers many times in my life. I know I can trust Him. Has He always answered my prayers the way I wanted Him to? No, but that doesn’t mean He doesn’t exist. That doesn’t mean He’s cruel and uncaring. For I know that God loves me more than anyone on this earth because He sent His Son to die on a cross to save me from my sins, so that when He decides my time on this earth is done, I will go to be with Him in Heaven because I believe. God answers my prayers the way that He does because He knows what is best for me. Sometimes what I want isn’t what’s best for me. I trust and believe He knows what is best for me. All my previously answered prayers have shown me that, and the ones He didn’t answer the way I wanted … well, I have come to realize it was best that I didn’t get what I wanted.
I may be bias, but here is the beautiful cover of my very first novel — Love by Pony Express!
The ebook has gone live today! So, if you like to read ebooks or you just can’t wait for the print book, you can purchase an ebook copy of Love by Pony Express here.
If you prefer to wait for a paperback copy, Love by Pony Express by Kelly F. Barr will be available on Amazon on Wednesday, June 12, 2024!
Two weeks ago, I mentioned changes that were to come here on my website. I’m sure you’ve already noticed a few: new landing page, only four tabs at the top of the page, and some new posts.
All of this is happening because I am about to publish my first novel. Therefore, I am no longer accepting any requests for book reviews. Hence, that button has been removed from the top of the page. The “Home” page exhibits a photo of me, as well as photos of my books. Right now the books shown are two that each include one devotion that I wrote. They will soon be joined by a photo of the cover of my first novel — AFTER my upcoming Cover Reveal!
I have updated my “About” page, which explains my love of books, writing, and a few other things.
On the “All Things Books” page, you will find more information about those devotional books, and the devotions I wrote in them, that you see pictured on the landing page. In the future, that is where you will find the Cover Reveals, Release Dates, Book signings and appearances I will make, and other tidbits about my novels as they come out.
Finally, the “Blog” will now have four posts each week, starting next week. I will post about things I enjoy and hope many of you enjoy as well. Mondays will be “Monday Musings” and I will share about books I read; movies I watch; my faith and scriptures that I’m studying as well as my favorite scriptures; occasional poetry that I either write or read, and anything I find interesting at writing conferences I attend. Tuesdays will be “Tuesday’s Tea Time” and I will share photos and information about different teas, tea pots or cups, useful, or cute, tools for making tea, and tea party recipes. Wednesdays will continue to be all about my beloved black Labrador Retriever as I will continue “The Harper Chronicles”. Thursdays will be photos and musings about the “Outdoors and Nature”, which will feature places, plants, or animals.
I look forward to sharing these things with you and hope you will enjoy them too.
I was introduced to Longwood Gardens for the first time last fall. It’s a beautiful, (I think, magical), place not too far from my home in Pennsylvania. Then I was blessed with another trip to Longwood Gardens this year in the spring because my oldest son wanted to do something as a special surprise for my birthday near the end of April.
Longwood Gardens is a wonderful place where you stroll through lovely gardens filled with greens, flowers, water fountains, and more. There are also a few indoor places, like the Conservatory where you see beautiful indoor plants, and the mansion, where you learn about the history of Longwood Gardens, and see more plants.
The photo at the top of this post is one of my favorite outdoor areas at Longwood. It’s the bell tower and it reminds me of medieval times with kings, queens, knights, and castles.
My favorite color is purple, and the spring flowers this year at Longwood Gardens offered lots of flowers in many beautiful shades of purple.
Tulips abounded all over the outside grounds in bright colors, dark colors, and pastels.
Above, bright tulips surround the perimeter of a small pond with a center fountain. An exterior evergreen border and some tall trees add to the beauty of this area.
The Conservatory also held lovely flowers in shades of purple.
The above flowers were my favorite flower of all the ones we saw that day. I don’t know what they are but I love the purple shades and the combination of flowers with petals and the tiny clusters that reminded me of stardust or far off galaxies.
The above flower is an orchid. I love the combination of colors. This orchid was in a room in the Conservatory that was filled with orchids of many types and colors.
This lovely plant filled with purple blooms came home with me from Longwood Gardens, thanks to my son. I was looking at it in the gift shop and he came up behind me and asked if I liked it. I said, “Yes, but I asked a lady who works here about it, and she said it’s an indoor plant that will only last for the summer.” He insisted I bring it home to enjoy anyway.
I’m sorry to say that during the past week, it has begun to droop and look unhealthy, so I transplanted it into a large pot and set it where it can receive more sunlight. I’m really hoping to be able to keep it as an indoor plant for a long time. I’m not a great plant caretaker, but I have had plants gifted to me that I have managed to keep indoors that are thriving. A friend gave me a geranium about eight years ago and I have transplanted it and it keeps growing and it blooms every year, even though most people plant geraniums outdoors. So, I have hopes for my little purple blooms.
I hope you have enjoyed this little taste of Longwood Gardens, and the beautiful spring flowers.
Can you see the spider on the screen? I’m watching it. It’s on the outside, so I can’t get it, and that is driving me nuts! I push my nose into the screen and try to get it with my mouth to no avail. Mom likes to have the patio door open when the weather is nice. I like it too, except for the spiders and other bugs that think they can just hang out on our screen.
First, I want to apologize to those of you who have been following For Adora here on my blog. I have been very busy finishing the final edits on my first novel. Therefore, For Adora will remain unfinished because I will be making changes here on my blog/website. I’ve been working on my first novel for six or seven years, and during that time, this blog has had no real direction.
However, now that my first novel will soon be making its public appearance and I am already in full swing writing my second novel, I have decided it is time to make some changes here to the blog — to be more intentional in the things I post.
I hope those of you who have been following me will continue to do so. I hope you will still find things of interest and enjoyment here.
Changes will begin to appear within the next week, until the new intentional posts begin. I’m excited about it, and I hope you will catch my excitement!
So, nothing real exciting to write about this week, so I’ll tell you how I often surprise my Mommy with the level of my intelligence.
In the above photo, I’m sitting on the only piece of furniture I’m allowed on, just relaxing. That’s where I can be found while Mommy is working on her writing at the dining room table. When Mommy needs a break, or just needs to get up and move around a bit, she’ll often come into the living room and talk to me and pet me, and occasionally, she’ll sit down next to me for a couple minutes.
Well, last week one day, she came in, perched next to me, talked to me and petted me. One of the things she said to me was, “In two weeks, you have your checkup with Dr. Hockenberry, so I think you need a bath before that.” I don’t like to get baths, so my ears perked up and I thought, “Oh no! Not that.” Then I lifted my front paws, placed them on Mommy’s chest and gave her a push to let her know I wanted no parts of that.
Mommy looked at me and said, “Are you trying to tell me you don’t want a bath? I know you don’t like baths, but you have to have them sometimes. I can’t believe you pushed me away because I said you have to have a bath soon.”
I thought, “Yep, I’m smarter than you think I am.”
This past weekend, Mommy took me for a walk around our neighborhood. (She does that four or five times a day.) When we got to Kevin’s house, Mommy saw a pick-up truck parked in the grass. She recognized it as belonging to Kevin’s brother. Mommy is close friends with Kevin’s brother’s wife.
As we walked by, Kevin called out to Mommy, then her close friend stuck her head out the door. She shouted, “Can you bring Harper up? I haven’t seen her in a long time.”
So Mommy took me up to Kevin’s doorstep. Then Kevin’s brother came out and wanted to meet me, but I was nervous. The red step up to the stoop scared me because we don’t have one of those at our house. Our stoop isn’t as high as Kevin’s. Also, in the little flower bed next to the stoop, Kevin has one of those small banner/decorative flag things and there was a light wind that was blowing it, and that scared me too.
Well, Mommy told Kevin and her closest friend about her website, and that she lets me post here on Wednesdays. So Kevin said, “So this week’s post is going to be ‘A Visit to Kevin’s House’.”
Mommy said, “Only if we get a picture because every post includes a picture.”
So, the picture at the top of this post is me with Kevin, and this is my post about my visit to Kevin’s house.
Melisande took a seat at the table in the kitchen and Griffin sat across from her. She studied the plate before her. “This looks good. Where’d you learn to cook?”
“My mom taught me some stuff. She also taught me how to follow a recipe, so I’ve been able to expand my culinary skills.” He grinned at her as he picked up his fork.
“We need to pray first.”
Griffin put his fork down as his face reddened. “Oh right.” He bowed his head and folded his hands in front of him.
Melisande reached across the table and took his hands in hers, then bowed her head. “Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for this food we are about to receive. Thank you for Griffin and his ability to cook a good meal. Please guide and direct Griffin and I in our thoughts, words, actions, and decisions, and please bless Adora. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
She opened her eyes, picked up her fork, and her eyes collided with Griffin’s. She wasn’t sure what she saw there.
“That was nice.” Griffin picked up his fork and stabbed a piece of chicken.
Melisande followed suit, and for several minutes they ate without speaking.
Griffin was the first to break the silence. “Would you like to go into town tomorrow? Pick up some stuff that would be helpful to have for Adora. To make you more comfortable?”
That wasn’t what she’d expected him to say. “What do you have in mind?”
“A playpen, highchair, and some more toys. You might be more comfortable with her in a playpen instead of on the floor with Finnegan around.”
“Cats jump.” Realizing she sounded harsh, she attempted to temper her next sentence. “I’m sure Finnegan could easily jump into the playpen with her, if he wanted to.”
Griffin met her gaze once again. “He could, but I doubt that he would. I don’t think he’d be interested in being in such enclosed surroundings when he’s used to having the run of the house.”
He’s trying, Melisande. Give him a chance. She finished chewing a bite of vegetables and swallowed. “That would be nice.” She gave him a small smile and watched his eyes light up.
“Great! After lunch, I’ll work until two o’clock, then call it a day. That way we can go buy what we need, maybe grab dinner in town, and still return before it’s too late so that we don’t tire Adora out.”
“I’ll look forward to it.” She watched the corners of his lips tip up as he nodded. She also noticed his shoulders lower a bit. He’d probably been tense–worried how she would respond. This wasn’t the conversation they needed to have, but maybe it was better to start out this way–being kind and both of them trying to, maybe, begin as friends instead of trying to begin where they had left off a year ago. Too much time had passed, too many feelings had been hurt, and each of them had experienced too many changes to be able to do that.
Kelly F Barr 