Looked at the Moon Lately?

     You should!
     It looked exceptional on this particular misty night, like something out of a storybook.  Remember, beauty is all around you; you just have to look for it.

Tea from your Garden

     A great way to take the chill off a cool, rainy Spring afternoon is to brew a fresh pot of tea.  This lovely tisane was prepared by simply snipping a handful of chocolate mint from my garden, giving it a rinse, dropping it into the teapot, and pouring boiling water over it.  I was amazed at how much nicer this tasted than brewing it from dried mint.  The flavor was so very full.

Pansy Bowls!

     This may be my favorite table decoration of the year, and it is made with what I would have, otherwise, thrown away.  Each Spring, I buy pansy plants for my window boxes.  Once I have them transplanted, I always snip off all of the blossoms, so the new transplants can turn all of their energy into re-establishing their roots.  I hate to waste all those pretty flowers, so I fill a clear bowl (usually a crystal one, but I was lazy today) with some water, tap in a drop of blue food dye, and place the flowers carefully on the surface, where they remain for days, through the magic of surface tension. Be sure to snip off the stems to about 1/4".

Mother's Day Rewind

     I couldn't resist posting one more image from Mother's Day.  This is how I started my day this past Sunday.  The flowers are from my husband.  I treated myself to coffee in my little pot, something I enjoy doing on Sundays, having fulfilled my religious and fitness responsibilities on Saturday.  I also took the biggest strawberry.  I usually indulge my little daughter with the biggest strawberry, but I made an exception for Mothers' Day, and enjoyed it more.  It's funny how doing for one's self is always so much sweeter when it follows sacrifices made for others, even little sacrifices, like the biggest strawberry.

Beauty is All Around You

     You just have to be paying attention, or you miss it.  This morning, as I was enjoying a lovely, lightly lemony slice of Italian rice pie, I was struck by the detail on this old spoon.  As I was photographing it for you, I also noticed how nice this paper napkin looked.  Neither are anything special; the spoon is one of a bundle I picked up at an antique store for not much money, but it is heavy, well made, and thoughtfully designed.

Happy Mothers' Day!

     Wishing you a Mothers' Day full of joy and positive thoughts!  This is the sight that greeted me today.  Aren't they beautiful?  If you live where these do not grow, they are informally called Johnny-Jump-Ups here in New England.  I bought a plant years ago, and every year, they self-seed and return.  They always come up in a few other places, as well.

Welcome!

     I wish you a warm welcome to the Positively Gail blog.  Pull up a chair and let's get positive about life!   Post something positive here (totally G-rated, please; I want children, as well, to be able to view this site) to share with other weary travelers who stop by, seeking a break from negativity.
     More soon!  I just wanted to get the ball rolling here.