Nature's Mandala

Tea Talk

Thank you, Donna!

Watercolor Wednesday - "Red onions are especially divine...

Red onions are especially divine.  I hold a slice up to the sunlight pouring in through the kitchen window, and it glows like a fine piece of antique glass. Cool watery-white with layers delicately edged with imperial purple...strong, humble, peaceful...with that fiery nub of spring green in the center..."

~Mary Hayes Grieco, 'The Kitchen Mystic'


In this class we were working on complementary colors.  I loved the reddish purple onions against the green tissue paper.

Good start!

Brighter ending!

Did you know Red onions are also helpful in building your defenses against Springtime allergies?

They are high in quercetin, which is an antioxidant with antihistamine and an anti-inflammatory properties.  

Watercolor Wednesday - This is Pretty Steamy!

Learning to paint "steam," silly blog readers!

One hot mug of green tea!

The sketch
You have to "reserve" space on the paper
to be able to "paint" steam

First painting

Garden Update - Poinsettia

Pretty and brave little poinsettia leaf from my 2011 Costco poinsettia!  With all of our crazy temperature fluctuations and freezes this winter, he's still giving it a go! I do like how the new leaves in the center are already tipped with red. 

Bags of Love

is all we need

New Product, New Coupon!

For Penzeys Frozen Pizza Seasoning.  Worth a try!
I always use their Pizza Seasoning on my homemade pizza, and frozen/take out when the need arises.  I haven't picked up my free jar yet, so I can't compare the differences.   If you click through the link, you will see the coupon.  If not, the Coupon Code is 16650C for a free 0.9 ounce size jar, $4.95 retail value.

Thursday Tea Time - Coco-nutty!

This week - Paromi Tea Coconut Almond - Blend No. 8

Cost:   $9.99 at Whole Foods, goes on sale for $6.99
Number of teabags:   15
Caffeine:  Yes
Type of tea:   Black Assam
Steeping time:  5 minutes.  Keep the bag, you can easily use it again, just brew it for an extra 2 minutes.
Add ins:  Natural Bliss Sweet Cream or plain with honey.  Go even nuttier and use almond milk. Or just as brewed, it's that good!
Ingredients:  Black tea, coconut, almond, natural coconut and almond essence
Fragrance: Very sweet coconut-y with almond subtleties
Opinion:  What starts out as the tea bag, mellows into a comforting mug of almonds and coconut.  A yummy way to start out the day if you are timing your caffeine intake.  Otherwise, it would make a great after dinner dessert tea, too.    I also love the frosted black glass jar and look forward to reusing it to hold my watercolor pencils.  If you are looking for a spur of the moment gift, grab a jar of this tea and stick a bow on it.  It is that attractive and would make a wonderful hostess or tea-loving friend gift.
Or send an entirely different message and give a special someone the "Sleep With Me" jar - which I will be reviewing soon!  Whole Foods tends runs out of this one. . . ; )

Rating:  4.5

Watercolor Wednesday - Learning how to sparkle

“She smiled and said with an ecstatic air: "It shines like a little diamond",
"What does?"
"This moment. It is round, it hangs in empty space like a little diamond; I am eternal.”
― Jean-Paul Sartre, The Age of Reason

Watercolor Escape

Just practicing painting holes…by the time I got to the fourth one, I figured it out!

"Black Hole"

Happy Valentine's Day!

"Instead of looking for love, give it;

Constantly renew it in yourself and you will always feel its presence within you.

It will always be there smiling at you,

gazing on you kindly."

                                                                                                  ~Omraam Mikhael Aivanhov

Wednesday Work in Progress - Watercolor Wednesday - How do you like them apples?!

Inspiration:  Vincent Van Gogh's "Basket of Apples"

Our assignment:  Working with analogous colors

(I actually thought this was a basket of gourds, or pears)

Have to start somewhere…
and stall
Go to coffee shop next door and get a salted caramel latte!

Caffeinated!
Pick up the brush again - adding and subtracting paint

Tah & Dah!

Perhaps this very instant!

(Love Papaya! cards
I find them at Paper Bear in San Marcos, Texas)

Day Planner

Love is all around car washes

Taken on January 22 on N. Durham near The Heights

Go Red Day

February 7 is  National Wear Red Day for the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women

You can buy your Go Red Pin Dress at Macy's for $2 from February 5/14, and they will donate 100% of the proceeds to the American Heart Association.   And you will get up to an extra 20% off if you wear it while shopping or use the promo code RED online.

Thursday Tea Time - (Cinnamon) Chai It Again

This week - Paromi Tea Cinnamon Chai

Cost:   $9.99, goes on sale for $6.99 at Whole Foods

Number of teabags:   15 

Caffeine:  No 

Type of tea:   Red/Rooibos

Steeping time:  6-7 minutes 

Add ins:  Natural Bliss Sweet Cream or plain
Ingredients:   Rooibos, cinnamon, ginger, aniseed, cadamom, red pepper, clove, vanilla, black pepper, natural cinnamon oil, natural vanilla oil.

Fragrance:   Strong cinnamon and ginger undertone

Opinion:   Definitely worth seeking out and the price.  And a deal when it goes on sale.   You can tell this is a quality tea from the moment you unscrew the cap and catch a whiff of the spices.  It is especially nice to enjoy after dinner without having to worry about caffeine. The rooibos gives it a little extra sweetness so you really don't need to add any additional sugar or milk - bonus there, too. (Especially if you misjudge your mug volume and hit the wrong size button on the Keurig.  Ooh, that was close!)  The red pepper, in addition to the black pepper, is an unusual addition to most other chais, which gives it an extra kick.  The tea sachet is also pretty to look at.  The frosted black glass jar is a nice and unique touch.  I picked up some other flavors while the sale was going on, so stay tuned for future reviews.

Rating:   5

Pretty!

Reminder to self to use this mug!

Update May 24, 2015 -- I'm now drinking this with just a touch of honey and a splash of Califia Pure Almond Milk Vanilla Flavor - YUMMY!!  And FYI, Kroger in Houston is carrying it for $2 less than Whole Foods.

Moonrise Sunrise - Watercolor Wednesday

January 26, 2014 "Moonrise Sunrise"
Waning Moon - Houston, Texas
6:52 AM

Update 9-27-14 - It won a blue ribbon in the Fort Bend County Fair!

Update 11-24-14 - My painting will be on display and for sale at the Galveston Art League December Member Show (December 4-28)  and the November 29, 2014 ArtWalk.  

Valentine "French Fry" Treat Box!

My sister came up with this unique - and FREE to you!! - Valentine Treat holder, which looks like a french fry container!

Here's the link to her blog for your free download and instructions, and even more ideas!

Sipasan-ahhhh

Clever Yogi Tea advertisement

Happy Anniversary to my Sweetie!

When there's someone, one someone,  who

Milky Way Latte at Mod Coffeehouse in Galveston

makes your days brighter,
makes your joys greater,
makes your heart lighter…

Someone, one someone, you
want to share with,
do everything with,
go everywhere with…

Someone, one someone, you want to live for…

You have something called Love

~Kahil Gibran

Upcoming Jo-Ann's Sales

Sew Stylish for Spring!

February 6/8

McCall's Patterns - $1.99
Vogue Patterns - $4.99