Category Archives: Celebration

quickening of time…

Posted on February 27, 2017 | 33 comments

the quickening of time is hard to ignore as we find ourselves at the end of February already…magpies-nest-patty-szymkowicz-omis-clock

Mother Nature has wobbled from winter to May like temperatures and back again…magpies-nest-patty-szymkowicz-sunroom-views

I ended up at a garden center last week on a glorious 78 degree/25.5 Celsius day which was a good 20 degrees warmer than normal for this time of year here in northern Virginia…magpies-nest-patty-szymkowicz-spring-fever

a few plants came home with me and I will have to babysit them mostly indoors until planting time arrives in a month or more…

magpies-nest-patty-szymkowicz-lenten-rose

I can’t seem to snap enough photos of this potted Lenten Rose…magpies-nest-patty-szymkowicz-meyer-lemons-first-daffs-from-garden how do you spell spring fever…

magpies-nest-patty-szymkowicz-hazelnut-birthday-cake-yumyumyum

we have eaten a good bit of cake this month celebrating Mr Magpie’s birthday…magpies-nest-patty-szymkowicz-pear-tarte

 still celebrating with a yummy Sunday treat of pear puff pastry tarte OH MY… magpies-nest-patty-szymkowicz-helleborus

wishing everyone over at Elizabeth’s Altered Book Lover a Happy T Day… 

33 Comments

Posted in Cake, Celebration, iphoneography, T stands for Tuesday

Tagged ,

T Stands for Tuesday 3rd Anniversary…

Posted on July 18, 2016 | 31 comments

with many thanks to Elizabeth for being our fearless leader and hostess these past three years…1 T_Tuesday_200

and for helping people connect from all around the globe each week for T Stands for Tuesday (all are welcome to join in with something/anything drink related)…

Magpies-nest-t-pot-with-phlox

it really is a pleasure to get to visit each week and share…

Magpie's Nest Celebration cake

since it’s a celebration I made a cake…

Magpie's Nest Cake on the porch

an easy no bake cake since it is much too hot and humid here in Virginia to turn on the oven…

Magpie's Nest cake and lemonade

 Trader Joe’s angel food cake with fresh raspberries and blueberries and homemade whipped creme…Magpie's Nest three candles

and how about some refreshing watermelon lemonade with some bubbles added too if you like…

Magpie's Nest Patty Szymkowicz T Day 3rd anniv

here’s to lots more fun and sharing…

31 Comments

Posted in Cake, Celebration, T stands for Tuesday

Tagged , ,

Celebrating Two Years of T Stands for Tuesday…

Posted on July 21, 2015 | 28 comments

with many thanks to Elizabeth for being our fearless leader and hostess these past two years…

Grab button for T stands for Tuesday

and for helping people connect from all around the globe each week for T Stands for Tuesday (all are welcome to join in)…

Patty Szymkowicz Nature in our July gardenhere’s to lots more fun and sharing…

Magpie's Nest Potomac Vegie Farm flowers(flowers from Potomac Vegetable Farms)

Magpie's Nest T pot with phlox

28 Comments

Posted in Anniversary, Birds, Celebration, Garden, Nature, T stands for Tuesday, Tea

Christmas Tea …

Posted on December 24, 2013 | 40 comments

Tea and German Lebkuchen

may this season of Light…

Rita Holzner's painted angel ornament

bring you comfort and joy…

MagpiesNestWinterWishes XOXO

how ever you celebrate…

a bit of Christmas creating

I did manage to make a small handful of cards this year…

Bits of Christmas

and put some finishing touches on a few ornaments that I started last Christmas (the little angel is one of my Mutti’s soft original creations)…

hand dyed and colored bottlebrush trees

all the while feeling the push and pull of this tender time of year when he♥rts come home for Christmas even if only in our dreams…

Christmas PEACE

may your days be merry and bright…

Washington DC Capitol Tree

and may all of your wishes come true…

Lights for St Jude Children's Hospital

I am joining Elizabeth and Bleubeard for T today and wishing you a Very Merry Christmas oxo

40 Comments

Posted in Celebration, Christmas, Greeting Card, Photography, pixlr Photo Editing, T stands for Tuesday

Colorado T

Posted on December 3, 2013 | 40 comments

hope you enjoy the “falling snow” that WordPress added to my blog for December (for some reason WP is not allowing clicking on photos like they did last month??? shame because I usually title the photos to give a bit more information)…

Sunlight Mtn Glenwood Springs CO

I have been among the missing as we just returned from traveling 3,324.4 miles (5350.10 kilometers) to spend ten days with our son in Colorado…

Denver street mosaic game boardswe brought our traveling tea cup along again this year…

Creperie du Village ASPEN, Colorado

there was lots of eating out…

Denver Art Museum Passport to Paris

along with plenty of tea and coffee stops…

Common Grounds Coffee House Denver, CO

we enjoyed some scrumptious vegetarian chili that our son made for us served in mugs where we stayed at the Hotel Denver in Glenwood Springs…

Hotel Denver Colin's Chili

I hope that you are well and enjoying the holiday season…

Boulder Tea House, CO

I am happy to be joining Elizabeth and Bleubeard for T on Tuesday and I look forward to catching up with everyone…

40 Comments

Posted in Celebration, Colorado, Holiday, Nature, Photography, pixlr Photo Editing, SNOW, T stands for Tuesday

English rose tea…

Posted on June 12, 2012 | 21 comments

still in a bit of party mode after the Diamond Jublilee

I am lifting my pretty British tea cup…

a special gift from Jan in the UK last autumn….

in honor of Paul McCartney‘s upcoming 70th birthday on 18 June…

Rock On Sir Paul…

and

Happy Tea on Tuesday dear all…

21 Comments

Posted in Celebration, Garden, Nature, pixlr Photo Editing, Tea on Tuesday

Royal Tea…

Posted on June 5, 2012 | 30 comments

my tea today is in honor of Queen Elizabeth II and her Diamond Jubilee…

(“Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II arrives at Chelsea harbour to embark to join the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant on the River Thames in London on June 3, 2012.” ~ ABC News)

 celebrating her 60 years on the throne devoted to country and duty…

(NBC news photo captured on television)

impossible not to catch jubilee fever even from across the pond…

my friend Lennie and I split a package of these regal napkins (big decision on red background or blue)…

 I treated myself to some Chocolate McVitie’s Digestive Biscuits…

and picked a tiny posy of white Yucca blossoms, Blue Gentian Salvia, one red Don Juan rose and some fresh mint from the garden…

World Market tempted me with their Diamond Jubilee mug with printed logo on both sides…

do you suppose Elizabeth Alexandra Mary

(nicknamedLillibet)

ever drinks her tea from a MUG…

the framed photo above with angels beckoning into the gates of Buckingham Palace was taken on my last visit to London with my Mom and sister back in 1997…

my Earl Grey tea tasted quite good in my new mug on this delightful day with time to marvel at a full life spent in the limelight…

(Google image)

a very comfortable and regal life of service and pageantry and family and so much more…

* God Save the Queen *

won’t you join us over at Kimmie’s Art in Red Wagons all are most welcome

30 Comments

Posted in Celebration, Garden, Tea on Tuesday

Dedicated To Art tea …

Posted on April 17, 2012 | 20 comments

the very talented and lovely theresa mARTin was selected to be part of a special art exhibition called “Crossing the Line”  along with 26 other Corcoran College of Art + Design alumni…

the Corcoran Gallery of Art founded in 1869 is in a handsome marble building

across the street from the Old Executive Office Building and around the corner from the White House in Washington DC…

(photo above courtesy of the Martin’s)

we had a really fun evening at the opening reception getting to spend time with Marlynn, Theresa and her husband…

there was tasty food and drink…

the music was ‘bumpin’ …

artwork was also being displayed from the Bachelor of Fine Arts class of 2012 with a wide range of art mediums…

that exhibition is called NEXT…

our photos do not begin to do the energy of the evening justice, it certainly was a night to remember…

we felt a bit shy taking photos not wanting to use the flash…

the artist we could not wait to see is holding our traveling tea cup in front of two of her amazing pieces (Direct Line at the top and Bloodline at the bottom)…

again I apologize for the quality of our photos…

it is an entirely different experience being at the Corcoran seeing everything in person…

the exhibition will be open until 20 May…

here’s hoping your Tea on Tuesday is a good one…

20 Comments

Posted in Art, Celebration, Tea on Tuesday, Theresa Martin, Traveling Tea Cup, Washington, D.C.

Wishing you a Bright and Happy New Year

Posted on December 31, 2011 | 42 comments

at New Year and always…

may Peace and Love fill your heart…

may beauty fill your world

and contentment and Joy fill your days…

I wish you happiness and the Brightest of Blessings and good health in 2012…

enjoy your beautiful creative life and thank you for being here OXO

42 Comments

Posted in Celebration, Hand, Heart, Life, Nature, Photography

it’s my party and a giveaway…

Posted on December 2, 2011 | 59 comments

***** the winners randomly chosen for my magazine giveaway are:

trudi and Tricia Leng *****

*************

birthdays in our family can last a nice long while…

to get my party started I decided to give away two copies of the current issue of SEW Somerset…

for your chance to win all you need to do is leave one comment at this post BEFORE 19 December…

everyone is most welcome…

two winners will be randomly chosen and announced on Monday, 19 December OXO

59 Comments

Posted in Birthday, Blog Candy, Books, Celebration, Give Aways, Published, Sew Somerset Magazine

Thanksgiving tea…

Posted on November 28, 2011 | 31 comments

we had our heads in the clouds for Thanksgiving this year…

lucky to live less than a couple hours drive from Shenandoah National Park and beautiful Skyline Drive here in Virginia…

when our boys were young we went up each year at Thanksgiving…

but for many years after that we crossed the Potomac River and headed to Omi’s house for what was usually a small but much anticipated gathering…

my Mutti was definitely the heart of every celebration…

with her passing this February we felt at odds and decided during the summer to make reservations to stay in a cabin and have our buffet style Thanksgiving meal at the lodge…

the rolling hills and valley vistas welcomed us…

the trees full of character worn and weathered with time…

it is the 75th anniversary of the Shenadoah National Park…

the deer hardly flinch when you pass them on the drive (speed limit 35 mph) it is not uncommon to see cars pulled over snapping photos…

and if you’re really lucky you may spot a black bear or two…

Mother Nature set a perfect tea table for our traveling tea cup…

it just so happens that the cup and saucer are from the set my Mom always used at Thanksgiving…

blessed with lovely weather we took several Thanksgiving day hikes…

here’s wishing you a really lovely T Tuesday…

“All walking is discovery.  On foot we take the time to see things whole.” ~Hal Borland

*footnote*

somehow I managed to post my T Tuesday post on Monday…no idea how that happened…I’ll blame it on my excitement to spend the day with my BFF Carol who was visiting from Florida…it’s been awhile since we’ve been face to face…thank you for a wonderful time sweet Carol OXO

31 Comments

Posted in blue sky day, Celebration, Nature, Photography, Skyline Drive, Tea on Tuesday, Traveling Tea Cup, Virginia, Wood

Gratitude for Thanksgiving and Always…

Posted on November 23, 2011 | 34 comments

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.

It turns what we have into enough,

and more.

It turns denial into acceptance,

chaos to order,

confusion to clarity.

It can turn a meal into a feast,

a house into a home,

a stranger into a friend.

Gratitude makes sense of our past,

brings peace for today,

and creates a vision for tomorrow.” ~ Melody Beattie

wishing you days filled with gratitude and thanksgiving always…

I am very grateful for each of you OXO

*credit for the embroidered “Thankful” piece goes to The Cottage…not sure who created it exactly…all other photos are mine some framed with the help of Big Huge Labs*

34 Comments

Posted in Celebration, Peace, Photography, Quote

L*VE

Posted on November 12, 2011 | 29 comments

working last minute on this little canvas to take along to California may have been why I forgot to pack the traveling tea cup…

still wondering HOW we missed that…

oh well!

there was a point when I did not think the canvas would materialize in time to take on our trip…

you really can’t force creativity…

can you…

it either happens or it doesn’t…

I rescued some sweet smelling pink roses that were decoration around our niece’s wedding cake last October and pressed them with thoughts of making a first anniversary card for them which turned into this canvas instead…

I wrapped it in wax paper tied with baker’s twine just in case as it took lots of layers of gel medium to embed the roses and leaves…

hoping it holds up over time…

“You are an artist of the spirit.  Find yourself and express yourself in your own particular way.  Express your love openly. Life is nothing but a dream, and if you create your life with love, your dream becomes a masterpiece of art.” ~Don Miguel Ruiz


29 Comments

Posted in California, Canvas, Celebration, Citra Solv, Collage, Don Miguel Ruiz, Nature, Paint, Paper, Quote