#TeaTime - Breathe Easy

 I keep a variety of teas at work. Today's #TeaTime is Breathe Easy.

My asthma is acting up and I'm busy typing letters so I grabbed a favorite "feel good tea".

This floral tea has a minty start with a licorice ending. It relaxes me, soothes an upset tummy from coughing and eases my throat.

I love the #TeaTag tells me to SMILE today.

#BehindTheStory - Crow Magic

Crow Magic, is about a Native American shape shifter. I was asked how I attained my interest and knowledge of Native American legend and lore. My response became a story.

After the Civil War, my great-great grandfather, Gardner Avery, left his New York regiment to settle with his wife, Helen Greenleaf Kern, in a rural area near Grand Rapids, Michigan, named Jamestown. He kept a diary, which remains in the family, of his daily activities and expenses. On the land he purchased to farm, a tribe of Native Americans resided. The couple let the Potawatomi continue to live and hunt on the land.

Potawatomi Warrior

Over time they developed close friendships with many of the tribal folk. My great-great-grandmother became very close to the medicine woman of the tribe who taught her the use of herbs in food and healing. The Avery’s interest in the art of the tribe eventually led to them learning how to make the Native American pottery. Through stories shared around meals, they learned the spirituality of the Native Americans.

At the time, Grand Rapids was one of the first large scale trading posts used by the Ottawa, Potawatomi and the Chippewa. My ancestors learned valuable information from their relationships with these tribes, which lead them to have a successful farm and healthy family. Despite the Avery’s wishes, the government forced the tribe off the land and into a reservation. According to family legend, Helen and her dearest friend spent the last days together. After hugs and many tears, she stood in a field and watched the tribe travel until they were out of sight.

The information, stories, and traditions my ancestors learned have been passed down through the

generations. I grew up listening to the stories my grandmother told of visiting the farm and her grandparents. She also shared aspects of the Native American spirituality and showed us how similar it is to Christianity.

 In the 1950s, my grandparents purchased property and build a cottage on Coldwater Lake, not far from Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. We spent many summers at the cottage, where we collected arrowheads we found in the local sand pits. A Chippewa family owned a cottage near ours and “Indian Dave” would share their stories, dances, and traditions with us while we sat around a bonfire.

I could say the knowledge of herbals and spirituality lives in me because of the ties of my family with the tribes of Michigan and beginning embraced by each generation of my family.


To add to my family history, my cousin’s father was from a Seminole tribe and my brother-in-law is a descendant of a French Trader and Blackfoot Indian woman. Funny, how a person with the Welch/Swedish/German heritage I have, can be neatly blended with Native American legend and lore. Grandmother used to tell us that our legacy isn’t only family blood but also the land we live in.



Indian Dave

Eagle Dance is Book 2 in the Legend of the Spirit series and features another Native American shifter from the Chippewa tribe who is looking for a special woman who will love him for who and what he is. Indian Dave's spirit makes an appearance.

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#CoupleFun – Make a Wish Jar

 Couples often look for ways to entice a partner to expand his or her perspectives on the possibilities in or even out of the bedroom. Often planning a special romantic evening as a surprise for your honey often doesn’t go as arranged. Kids, pets, families, work… so many things may interrupt. It would be much easier to plan something with your partner rather than planning a surprise.

I found a unique and fun idea.

Pick out a couple of cute jars from a craft shop or dollar store, decorate yourself.

Keep two “wish” jars in the kitchen, one for each or you. 

Take some index cards and cut in half. Stack the cards next to the jars. Whenever something comes to mind that would be fun to do together, it gets written down on a card and dropped into the appropriate bowl.

Create a ritual for the “big drawing”. At the beginning of each month, sit down at the end of the day with a glass of wine and some cheese. Pick five cards at random from each other’s jar. Read them over, talk about them and maybe even negotiate a bit.  The only rule is you have to agree on two activities to be done during the next month.

Rescue Dog Poem

My dog Maggie is a rescue. A lab/pointer hybrid, she was expected to be the ultimate hunting dog. During her training, her owner wasn't happy to learn she was gun shy. Despite beatings, she never overcame her fear so he dumped her and five pups in a field somewhere in northern Michigan on a cold December day. A farmer found her and her babies and took her to a local shelter. She was nursed back to health, her pups weaned. After being spayed, she went up for adoption. I saw her photo and fell in love. When I first saw her, she sat on my feet and gave me kisses. She jumped into our truck, sat next to our toddler and waited to go home. She knew we were her family. 

Maggie, after being with us for a couple years.

Once I was a lonely dog, just looking for a home.
 I had no place to go, no one to call my own.
 I wandered up and down the streets, in rain in heat and snow.
 I ate whatever I could find, I was always on the go.
 
 My skin would itch, my feet were sore, my body ached with pain.
 And no one stopped to give a pat or a gently say my name.
 I never saw a loving glance, I was always on the run.
 For people thought that hurting me was really lots of fun.
 
 And then one day I heard a voice so gentle, kind and sweet,
 and arms so soft reached down to me and took me off my feet.“
 No one again will hurt you,” was whispered in my ear.
 “You’ll have a home to call your own where you will know no fear.“
 
 You will be dry, you will be warm, you’ll have enough to eat.
 And rest assured that when you sleep, your dreams will all be sweet.”
 I was afraid I must admit, I’ve lived so long in fear.
 I can’t remember when I let a human come so near.
 
 And as she tended to my wounds and bathed and brushed my fur,
 she told me about the rescue group and what it meant to her.
 She said, “We are a circle, a line that never ends.
 And in the center there is you, protected by new friends.“
 
 And all around you are the ones that check the pounds,
 and those that share their home after you’ve been found.“
 And all the other folk are searching near and far
 to find the perfect home for you, where you can be a star.”
 
 She said, “There is a family, that’s waiting patiently,
 and pretty soon we’ll find them, just you wait and see.“
 And then they’ll join our circle they’ll help to make it grow,
 so there’ll be room for more like you, who have no place to go.”
 
 I waited very patiently, the days they came and went.
 Today’s the day I thought, my family will be sent.
 Then just when I began to think it wasn’t meant to be,
 there were people standing there just gazing down at me.
 
 I knew them in a heart beat, I could tell they felt it too.
 They said, “We have been waiting for a special dog like you.”
 Now every night I say a prayer to all the gods that be.
 “Thank you for the life I live and all you’ve given me.“
 
 But most of all protect the dogs in the pound and on the street.
 And send a Rescue Person to lift them off their feet.”
 
  by Arlene Pace September 18, 1998

Maggie has been a part of our lives for 12 years. She is retired from visiting nursing homes and senior centers where she spent time giving joy. Maggie was blessed with fur sisters who were also rescued: Molly a chocolate lab joined us a year after Maggie but passed away this year; Mona a tabby cat joined us 6 years ago and still greets Mags with a head bop daily.

#RescuePets

#AdoptDon'tShop

Sexy Games Lovers Play - Guess What This Is

Sexy games can bring the spice back to any relationship. You may have had a terrific sex life before, but the hassles of day-to-day existence have made sex less of a priority. Maybe you and your honey are looking for a little something different, something to add some zing to your love life. Perhaps, you simply need an exercise to encourage intimacy.

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Sexy games don't have to be confusing or complex. Find a game that both of you would enjoy to have fun and created intimacy.

Discuss the need to set some ground rules before playing sexy games. Be sure to respect each other's vulnerability, especially when trying something new in the bedroom. Both partners must be able to end the game at any time, for any reason. 

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A fun game is GUESS WHAT THIS IS

 This game requires some thinking and planning. Have two baskets, one for you and one for your honey. Start by thinking tactile and have your honey fill his basket with items and you do the same. Do not tell each other what your baskets hold! 

Item suggestions: What could be used on your lover’s skin to create goose bumps? Gather things such as feathers, ice, a piece of fur, light string or rope, a length of silk, wool, and a knobby fabric. Other items to use might include a soft ball, a back scratcher, or a damp sponge. Let your mind go wickedly wild. Assemble all the textures and place in a basket. 

Take turns blindfolding each other and lay in a comfortable position. Begin by massaging your partner with an item from the basket. Massage or tickle his body and let him guess what is touching his skin. Ask your lover to describe how it feels.

Enjoy your time together and enjoy each other!

Minute of Morning Romance

Take a moment in the morning to appreciate what you have.  Give your honey a hug that lasts a little longer.

Enjoy morning coffee together. Take in the peace of the day and simply BE with each other.

#Thursday13 - Flirty Lines

Flirty lines are common in Romantic Comedies and some lines stick with us. Some are sweet and tender, others are goofy and dorky. 

1. Come live in my heart and pay no rent.

2. I had a really bad day today and it always makes me feel better to see a smile. So would you please smile for me?

3. Did the sun just come out or did you smile at me?

4. Excuse me, I think you have something in your eye. Oh wait, it's just a sparkle.

5. I want to taste something sweet. Could I taste your lips?

6. If you don't wanna have kids with me, they why don't we just practice?

7. I know milk does the body good, but DAMN how much did you drink?

8. They say Disney World is the happiest place on earth, obviously they haven't been in your arms.

9 Your lips look so sweet, just one kiss and I swear I could give up sugar for life. 

10. If you were holding 11 roses I would see 12 of the most beautiful things in the world.

11. There's so much to say, but your eyes keep interrupting me.

12. I value my breath so it would be nice if you didn't take it away every time you walk by.

13. I love you with all my circle, not my heart. Hearts break but circles go on forever.

Do you have a favorite flirty line from a book or movie? 

Have you ever used a flirty line? What line did you use and what was the response?

Visit THURSDAY 13  for some more fun lists.

Take Time Together

 

Home is where the heart is, so take time to spend together at home. You can find many delightful ways to spend time together around the house. Morning coffee in bed is one of my personal favorites or breakfast on a sunny deck. A card game or watch a video on a rainy day. Unplug yourselves from the electronics and quiet time at home can be simple. Just sitting together watching a ballgame is cozy contentment. Go for a walk or take a nap. In the evening, enjoy a glass of wine, play soft music and give each other a massage.

 

Take a break from the daily grind and revive that feeling of being relaxed and close.

Grandma's Apple Raisin Bread Pudding

Spring may be the season of love with all the birds and bees stuff but I love the romantic flavors of Autumn. Apples, pears, raisins, cinnamon and clove, pumpkin and squash all ticking the senses to inspire warmth and love. To share my love of the season with my family, I've turned to a favorite recipe of Gram's. Growing up on a farm during the early 1900's she learned at an early age to utilize whatever you have on hand and turn it into something delicious. Over the years she tweaked her recipes for us "modern folk" but they never lost the ingredient of love.

Grandma's Apple Raisin Bread Pudding

Preheat oven 350 degrees            Grease a 7x11" baking dish

Ingredients:

4 cups bread cubes (I pick up a loaf of bakery bread from the "day old shelf", cut into cubes then leave them on a cookie sheet overnight)

¼ cup raisins

2 cups peeled and sliced apples

1 cup brown sugar

1 ¾ cup milk

¼ cup butter (1/2 stick)

1 teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon vanilla

* In a large bowl, combine bread, raisins and apples

* In a small sauce pan over medium heat, combine 1c brown sugar, 1/24 c milk and 1/4 c butter (1/2 stick). Cook and stir until butter is melted.

* Pour over bread mixture. Blend gently then pour mixture into the prepared baking dish.

*In a small bowl whisk together the cinnamon, vanilla and eggs. Pour over the bread mixture.

*Bake in the preheated oven for 40-50 minutes or until center is set and apples are tender.

While pudding is baking, make the Vanilla Sauce.

¼ cup white sugar

¼ cup brown sugar

½ cup milk

½ cup butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

OPTIONAL:  1 teaspoon – 1 Tablespoon bourbon or whiskey, I like to add ¼ cup of powdered sugar to thicken

Mix the white and brown sugars with the milk and butter in a small sauce pan. Bring to boil then remove from heat. Add the vanilla (and the optional ingredients). 

Serve over pudding.

The orgasmic flavor and the look on your honey's face once this amazing dish touches the pallet is soooo worth it!!!

Allergy Sufferer Finds Romance

 There is nothing romantic about suffering allergies but that doesn't mean something romantic can happen.

I raised my boys to share and like a good son, #3 shared his sore throat with me. Oh, joy!As I lay on the couch suffering in silence, hubby brought me a steaming cup of tea. Awww......and it gets better. It was a cup of herbal tea designed to ease a flaming throat! AWWWWW! He's such a romantic guy. *sigh*

The primary ingredient in this herbal tea is Slippery Elm. Native Americans especially the Eastern Woodland Peoples have been using Slippery Elm for ages to treat a variety of ailments. The inner bark when combined with water, created a gummy substance that could be used as a soothing ointment. Gram said the Chippewa peoples of our state cut small flat dolls from the bark. Because of the calming attributes, the dolls were often chewed upon by fussy, teething toddlers.

I've used Slippery Elm in tea for years due to suffering sore throat issues regularly since childhood. Traditional Medicinals Throat Coat is one of my go-to teas. I like the silky licorice flavor, reminding me of Gram's homemade tea, thus adding an extra layer of comfort. Keep in mind there are several variations of Throat Coat depending on which flavor you prefer or what you are trying to achieve. Some blends are good for overall health, while others add in improving respiratory health or the immune system. Check out Amazon for a list of all the teas for a side-by-side comparison.

In the name of romance, I will sit and enjoy every cup of herbal tea hubby brings to me.