Tea With A Friend

They might have been mother and daughter, aunt and niece or simply friends, sitting in Fortnum & Mason in London, having tea. I was struck by the light outlining the tea service and the way that their sweaters did not match but complemented. Now I look at this image and feel a bit sad. How long will it be before we can sit at a small table, sharing a pot of tea and some quiet conversation, face to face? That day WILL come again. When it does, I will savor the simple presence of the friend much more than the tea.

BuddingTrumpet Vine

A fence covered with greenery encouraged me to slow down and look more closely. Among the tangle of stems and leaves were the newly emerged buds of the trumpet vine. Their tight little clusters hinted at the flamboyant reds and oranges that will soon entice hummingbirds and butterflies. The big surprise for me was the way that each set of buds wore a leafy Elizabethan collar with a network of lacy veins that glowed in the morning light. It was that day’s most remarkable moment, something for which I am grateful.

Medieval Triptych

The life of Christ has been portrayed in countless ways over the millennia. This triptych in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum would have been a devotional object in the home of a wealthy Florentine family. Created by the artist known as the Master of the Magdalen, it tells the story of Christ's life in three small panels glowing with brilliant colors and gilding. Who used this to focus their prayers, to consider the path of their life, to find hope or solace in times of fear or confusion? It is art with a purpose but also art for art's sake

Virginia Bluebells

My dream of seeing an English wood carpeted in bluebells has not yet come true. But here, right now, one particular yard boasts its own miniature bluebell wood. English bluebells have curling, pointy petals and spiky leaves. Their Virginia cousins grow broader leaves and wear gentler, rounded skirts. I stop each time to marvel at the range of analogous colors within the bloom clusters; tight pink buds, lavender tubes, blue blossoms. Those flaring skirts are tie-dyed with a hints lavenders and pinks. I am perfectly happy visiting the local bluebells.