T Stands for A Mug, Postcards, and Teas

 Back in June on our first trip to Ogunquit this year, Teague and I ate breakfast at The Egg and I, and I was quite taken with the mugs. At the time, it was too busy in the restaurant to ask if the mugs were for sale.

Last week, back in Ogunquit and since our motel was across the street from The Egg and I, we walked over for breakfast. While waiting to be seated, I asked if the mugs were for sale. They were! So after breakfast, I bought two, one for each of us to have as a souvenir.

When I got home from my trip

Lisca's second postcard for the 11th T Day Anniversary had arrived. Lisca wrote the picture is from Gaudix, a town near where she lives and where she frequently shops. She had recently been there with her son and his family. She said, "It was so hot that I enjoy looking at the snow in this card. (it was 40 oC or 104 oF.)

While it's been very hot and humid where I live, it hasn't been that hot. Though to some it might feel like it was that hot. I don't really complain about the heat and humidity. Winter lasts so long. Summer is flying by and Winter is coming.

For those who enjoy the stamps, this travel stamp with the little people with their luggage and backpacks must be the postcard rate. The Correos, the postal service of Spain, did a nice job with the postmark. The card was postmarked in Granada on the July 23. It took about a week to get here.  Impressive.

If arriving home to happy mail wasn't enough, in Monday's mail this envelope and notecard from Lisca. The notecard has a picture of a market and a vendor selling garlic bulbs. It reminds me of when I was little and we would go into Boston to visit my maternal grandmother. Sometimes, Ma would have Dad stop at Haymarket Square where there would be vendors selling fruits and vegetables.

Inside the notecard were 3 teabags. In her note Lisca explains, Pukka is an English brand that has many different herbal teas. The Lord Nelson is from the European supermarket Lidl and it is a sleepy-time tea of chamomile, fennel, and valerian.

The third teabag is called Sex on the Beach and is a cold-brew tea. It immediately got dunked in cold water so I can try it after dinner while relaxing in the sunroom. 

Then because the first postcard I received had a slight mishap in Lisca's bag when her water bottle leaked (though it wasn't damaged), she sent this magnificent postcard of a toreador. Just look at those roses! 

Thank you, Lisca, for being my T Day Anniversary partner.

Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog to find out what the rest of the T Stands For gang is up to. If you want to play, include in your Tuesday post a beverage or container for a beverage. Don't forget to link your blog to Bleubeard and Elizabeth's page.

T Stands For The First Cemetery Hop of the Season

Spring her in Massachusetts has been mostly wet and chilly. Last week, we had the first of Summer like weather so Teague and I decided to do something on our weekly visit.

The weather was my kind of weather. Temperatures pushing 90 oF (32 oC) and an increase in humidity. Just look at that incredible, blue sky Before it got too hot, we headed to St. Patrick's Cemetery in Watertown, just outside of Boston. Teague was looking for a great aunt. 

As is my habit while I help look for the relatives, I visit some of the neighbors and take photos of interesting headstones like the beautiful Celtic cross above.

This little stone belongs to Baby Angelo. The stone is weathered with age and hard to read. Little Angelo didn't make it past his first birthday. I loved the cherub carved in the stone.

As many times as we have visited the cemeteries, I'm always surprised how few visitors have stopped by. I started noticing a few graves with flowers so I took pictures of them. This one had a mix of artificial flowers and someone left a pot of fresh flowers. I wonder if the visitor was there for Mother's Day on May 12.

We searched the area of the cemetery where Teague's relatives were supposed to be buried. We couldn't find a grave. Teague had a map and asked a groundskeeper if we were searching in the right area. He said we were and he couldn't locate the graves.

Teague said it wasn't unusual for her family not to have a stone marker. 

She thought this empty plot was where he relatives were buried.

In between Sullivan and 

Morrison.

This cemetery allows planting and these iris were just about ready to bloom

Another Celtic cross along with a mix of fake flowers and real flowers

Some pretty purple petunias in front of this stone featuring St. Joseph and the Christ child. I also liked the carved lilies on this stone.

I really liked this stone with it's carvings coming out of the rough hewn stone.

Almost like the stonecutter was still working on it.

After the hot work of roaming the cemetery and just past the noon hour, it was time to find some place to have lunch. Since the weather was perfect, my request was some place where we could get ice cream. To me, ice cream is a Summer treat not eaten year round.

Teague consulted Mr. Google and found Cabot's Ice Cream and Restaurant in Newton. Perfect

It was cool inside the small establishment and incredibly noisy. Lots of families with school age children. A surprise mid-week why these kidlets weren't in school.

We started off with some beverages. A Raspberry Lime Rickey for me and Root Beer for Teague. I loved the Pilsner glasses.

I wanted something simple and not something huge. I opted for an egg salad sandwich with lettuce, tomato, and sweet potato fries. I ate half and took the rest home so I could get

an old-fashioned, hot fudge sundae with coconut pineapple ice cream. Teague had a sundae with mint chocolate chip ice cream, caramel or butterscotch topping, and Reese's pieces. The ice cream was a perfect ending to the day.

Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog to find out what the rest of the T Stands For gang is up to. If you want to play, include in your Tuesday post a beverage or container for a beverage. Don't forget to link your blog to Bleubeard and Elizabeth's page.

The Last of More Orchids and Flowers

The Eldest and I went to visit the Patterns In Bloom an Orchid Exhibition at the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill. The exhibit combined the fun and colorful sculpture blooms of Molly Gambardella with the Garden's annual orchid display in the Limonaia and the Orangerie. The exhibit was on display until March 17, 2024.

Besides beautiful orchids, there was also lots of tropical plants and flowers.

I thought Gardenias only came in white

Bird of Paradise. I saw a meme where someone had put googly eyes on a Bird of Paradise. I think that would even make this plant more fun.

These reminded me of pansies

This puffball looks like something out of Dr. Seuss

T Stands for More Orchids and Flowers

The Eldest and I went to visit the Patterns In Bloom an Orchid Exhibition at the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill. The exhibit combined the fun and colorful sculpture blooms of Molly Gambardella with the Garden's annual orchid display in the Limonaia and the Orangerie. The exhibit was on display until March 17, 2024.

Besides beautiful orchids, there was also lots of tropical plants and flowers.

A water feature with a Greenman or Greenwoman

A beautiful Hibiscus

Climbing Roses

Polka Dot Begonia

I didn't know Lady Slippers were in the orchid family.

After wandering among the flowers we stopped for lunch at the Farmer and Fork Cafe next to the gift shop. The Eldest had a chicken roulade salad with iced tea

I had the chicken salad sandwich, a pickle spear, chips and a Polar seltzer water. Polar Seltzer is made in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog to find out what the rest of the T Stands For gang is up to. If you want to play, include in your Tuesday post a beverage or container for a beverage. Don't forget to link your blog to Bleubeard and Elizabeth's page.

T Stands For Patterns in Bloom an Orchid Exhibition

The Eldest and I went to visit the Patterns In Bloom an Orchid Exhibition at the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill. The exhibit combined the fun and colorful sculpture blooms of Molly Gambardella with the Garden's annual orchid display in the Limonaia and the Orangerie. The exhibit is on display until March 17, 2024

The artist used upcycled materials and the patterns found on orchids as her inspiration for her creations.

It was fun to wander through the exhibit trying to see all the sculptures

My drink reference is the Coffee Tree

With its beautiful berries for those that like their coffee beans roasted and freshly ground

Grab a cup for your coffee. Teabies (a phrase stolen from my friend, Andy Fish) can find tea selections on the opposite side of this display. 

Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog to find out what the rest of the T Stands For gang is up to. If you want to play, include in your Tuesday post a beverage or container for a beverage. Don't forget to link your blog to Bleubeard and Elizabeth's page.