Make Mine Tea: An Herbal Tea for Every Ailment

Nora Annie Birch

My daughter Laura has turned me onto tea!

Lavender chamomile is my current favorite, but that may change since 

she's always discovering new teas for us to try.

For me, just the simple act of sipping a cup of hot tea 

seems to slow me down and lessen stress.

I happened upon this chart by hello natural on the healing properties of various teas.

I never knew that peppermint tea can help with stuffy noses

or that ginger tea can ease motion sickness!

Handy to know. See which teas might apply to you!

You may enjoy this post: The Art of ... Tea.

The "Frivolous" Animal Art of Chasing the Crayon

UK Illustrator Tracey Long, of Chasing the Crayon, creates "frivolity for your walls."

Her beautifully detailed drawings of birds and animals often include a touch of whimsy,

a dash of humor, or an unexpected bit of fun, such as a thimble hat or a dapper pair of shoes.

Tracey says she takes inspiration from "stories, poems & tales...the taller the better!"

I know you'll enjoy her lighthearted style and marvelous talent!

Here's where you can find more of Chasing the Crayon:

Website

Etsy

Twitter

Images used with direct permission from Tracey Long.

Gala Gardens Glass Art: Flowers & Origami Cranes

Iris


Beautiful stained glass flowers are grown at Gala Gardens!
Marilyn is the creative gardener who plants her blossoms in cute clay pots.

Imagine how pretty they'd look on a window sill with the sun shining through!
Enjoy this variety of spring blossoms that will bloom all year long.



Daffodils

Tulips

Lily of the Valley

Orchids

Even a cactus!

I was delighted to see that Marilyn 

also makes these amazing origami cranes! 

Find Gala Gardens on Etsy and Twitter.

Images used with direct permission from Marilyn at Gala Gardens.

Clam Pass – Naples, Florida

A terrific day at Clam Pass Park in Naples!

A 3/4 mile long boardwalk ventures through a tunnel of mangroves.

This perfect Florida nature trail can be experienced on foot or by tram.

The destination - a gorgeous, pristine beach!

You can learn more about Clam Pass HERE.

Search "Naples" for more of my blog posts,
like these about
Naples Botanical Garden and
The Edison & Ford Winter Estates.

Mariann Johansen-Ellis' Prints from Linocut Heaven

I'm always attracted to linocut prints.

They're labor-intensive works of art. Primitive, rough and rustic.

Mariann Johansen-Ellis is an extremely talented printmaker from Denmark.

I'm showing off my favorites from her Etsy shop, Linocut Heaven.

Where to see more of Linocut Heaven:

Website

Etsy

Facebook

Mariann also prints her designs on lovely French linen pillows like these:

You can find them at another Etsy shop called Cushion Cushion.

Images used with direct permission from Mariann Johansen-Ellis.

A Sunny Stroll on Naples Pier

Aaaah, back in Naples, Florida!

The Naples Pier has become a favorite place to visit.

Reaching out 1,000 feet into the Gulf of Mexico, it's perfect for

people-watching, checking out the fishermen and their catches, dophin-spotting, 

taking in the view, sighting shore birds and absorbing the warm sunshine.

This handsome guy's the love of my life!

It was such a thrill to see so many dophins at the end of the pier!

An egret stopped to rest and to pose for a photo.

One of the terrific mosaic sea turtles at the entrance onto the pier.

Thank you, ocean breeze, for my cute bouffant hair-do.

I've done several other posts on Naples, Florida, such as
Tin City and Clam Pass. Check them out!