Sun and shadow on this June morning as we sipped our tea, and flowers from our garden, which my sweetheart photographed so closely they became a beautiful abstraction. #teameditation #morningritual #puerh #tea #sun #shadow #hydrangea #geranium #prayingforpeace #prayingforsafereturn

Gray and quiet for this morning’s tea. #teameditation #morningritual #puerh #tea in a #yunomi by @hpbloomer #prayingforpeace #prayingforsafereturn

The oakleaf hydrangea by the kitchen door are opening like little bursts of fireworks. A light rain began to fall as we finished our tea and it sounds so beautiful. #teameditation #morningritual #rain #puerh #tea #oakleafhydrangea #prayingforpeace #prayingforsafereturn

The Joe Pye weed is already about 3 feet high, the oakleaf hydrangea has begun to flower, and spring is quickly turning toward summer. The jaunty little glass bird on our tea tray tuned me in to the sparrows and blue jays calling as we sipped our tea. #teameditation #morningritual #puerh #tea

My sweetheart chose a cup I made of dark clay with a thread of blue embedded in it. Lovely sprays of mock orange bobbed behind our tea tray as 3 mourning doves sat on the telephone wires, puffed up against the wind and rain. #teameditation #morningritual #mockorange #mourningdoves #rain #puerh #tea

The oakleaf hydrangea next to our kitchen door has grown so leggy it’s trying to get inside, so my sweetheart trimmed it a bit and put the branches in a vase so he can attempt to root them in a few days. Their exuberant sprawl made me feel like I was having tea in an ocean of green. #tea

Solo tea this morning, reflecting new leaves and cloudy sky. #teameditation #morningritual #gunpowdergreen #tea #prayingforpeace #prayingforsafereturn

tea and beauty on this balmy spring morning. #teameditation #morningritual #dogwood #spring #puerh #tea in #pinchpot #teacups #prayingforpeace #prayingforsafereturn

There is a wonderful Japanese word, shakkei, which means “borrowed scenery” and it came to mind as I glimpsed a bit of our back neighbor’s garden through a break in the Leland branches. Another neighbor’s enormous oak has new bright green leaves, beautiful against the sky. #teameditation

As the dogwood bracts fade, the Japanese maple begins to shine, its new leaves a deep bright red against the backdrop of the enormous Lelands. Mom gave us this tree and it always brings to mind walking with my sweetheart through autumn maples in Kyoto. #teameditation #morningritual #missyoumom

My sweetheart picked up a little branch of maple from the sidewalk this morning on our perambulations with Micky, and the samaras were so beautiful against the blue cloth on our tea tray. #teameditation #morningritual #maple #samara #puerh #tea #prayingforpeace #prayingforsafereturn

The neighborhood giants are leafing out and our garden now has shade for our morning tea. #teameditation #morningritual #borrowedscenery #elm #maple #puerh #tea #prayingforpeace #prayingforsafereturn

The dogwood bracts danced in the wind as we sipped our tea. #teameditation #morningritual #oolong #tea #dogwood #apring #prayingforpeace #prayingforsafereturn

My sweetheart cut a couple of spice viburnum blooms from the back garden for our tea on the front porch in this drizzly morning. When I jostled the vase a few blossoms fell off - their moment is almost over. Spring feels like it is moving so fast this year. #teameditation #morningritual #tea

Two new teacups for tea this morning, fresh from the kiln. One pinched from black sculpture clay with a wonderful rough surface, the other white clay impressed with a stamp made from tree bark in our garden, enhanced with cobalt. Three cups of tea with my sweetheart as the birds sang. #teameditation

Tea meditation slows me down for a few moments each morning so I can take in the spring unfurling in our little garden. #teameditation #morningritual #puerh #tea #dogwood #spring #prayingforpeace #prayingforsafereturn

I love the spring moment when the dogwood bracts are reflected in my tea. #teameditation #morningritual #puerh #tea #dogwood #spring #prayingforpeace #prayingforsafereturn

The dogwood is ready to step in to the spring spotlight for her star turn. #teameditation #morningritual #dogwood #rubyoolong #tea #prayingforpeace #prayingforsafereturn

For the birds and bugs we plan to plant natives from here on in, but every spring when they bloom I am grateful we planted Korean Spice viburnum in the back garden many years ago. #teameditation #morningritual #puerh #tea #koreanspiceviburnum #prayingforpeace #prayingforsafereturn

Serviceberry in full bloom, dogwood bracts emerging, lime green Norway maple flowers puffing out. Three cups of tea on a still spring morning, flight path shifted so skies are quiet. #teameditation #morningritual #serviceberry #dogwood #norwaymaple #puerh #tea #prayingforpeace #prayingforsafereturn

Serviceberry blooms and the last of the cherry blossoms against the very blue sky. #teameditation #morningritual #puerh #tea #serviceberry #cherry #spring #prayingforpeace #prayingforsafereturn

#tea

Tea in the back garden, admiring the serviceberry in full exuberant bloom. #teameditation #morningritual #puerh #tea #serviceberry #prayingforpeace #prayingforsafereturn

Spring’s next act is beginning - blueberry buds are swelling, garlic is getting tall, mock orange leaves are beginning to emerge, our across-the-street neighbors’ weeping cherry is in full bloom. #teameditation #morningritual #puerh #tea #spring #prayingforpeace #prayingforsafereturn

So moved by Zeke Maben and Schuyler De Vos’s Department of Tenderness - we certainly need more tenderness right now!!

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Flowers from our Seder table graced tea this morning. Two nights with dear ones talking about slavery and freefom. May all who are held against their will be returned to their families, speedily and in our own day. #teameditation #morningritual #tea #prayingforpeace #prayingforsafereturn

#tea

Sweet to have our oldest join us for tea this morning. #teameditation #morningritual #puerh #tea #prayingforpeace #prayingforsafereturn

Cold and rainy, so we had our tea inside this morning. #teameditation #morningritual #puerh #tea #prayingforpeace #prayingforsafereturn