Mrs. Teabody Greets the Day

The First Knockout Good Morning from the sunny side of the mountain where most of the trees have finally unfurled in all their green and gold glory. Nothing can quite compare with the lushness of this little interval between winter and summer . Lawns are perfectly trimmed to best showcase the  ponds of bright green that anchor each dwelling. Hopeful pots and fanciful containers filled with palettes of colors bright and soft sit along rural highways and next to doorways. Porch and window boxes drip petunias and  hold up geraniums. Even the self-proclaimed "Black Thumb" gardeners usually hang a basket of flowers on a shepherd's hook to celebrate this season of growth.  Last but not least are those who garden perennially, who dig and fertilize and prune and  water deeply through all the seasons. Such are the Teabodys although they are no match for some of the master gardeners whose roses make the covers of magazines, whose gardens never seem to be attacked by glad...

Unruly April. Just when the woes and worries of winter were put back on the shelf, April decided to unleash her inner brattiness to herald the new season with  scary weather all around, especially in the midwest and south.  Mrs. Teabody joins you in prayers for all those falling victim to the wild and whirling winds. When the weather is bad, the Teabodys seek the comforts of home, rarely straying very far into the elements. One of those comforts is a steaming cuppa tea. Right now as Mrs. Teabody greets the day, she is enjoying Earl Grey Lavender and what a nice way to kick off the week ahead! The flavor and fragrance of a top quality tea served up in a fine china mug is one of life's great moments  and add to the fact that one may do so in one's pajamas just ratchets up the enjoyment . Enjoying that first post-sleep cuppa is a ritual Mrs. Teabody is happy to share with you, Gentle Reader, and it turns out that those of the inclination are also sharing it with one of ...

April showers, anyone? Forsythia and magnolia, anyone? It is foolish April up to her tricks and how can anyone do anything but love her? Lovely warm temps the last few days. On Saturday last, Mrs. Teabody's little shop received recognition for excellence in small business at a very public event. Mrs. Teabody was flattered to have friends and family in attendance and was asked to deliver a brief address which follows: Thank You, Betsy!  I knew there was a reason I picked you and your check is waiting in the car. Thank you to my friends and family and my dear patient husband for joining me me here tonight and a special thanks to  my landlord and friend, Glenn Cordell who  works so very hard to keep the Albert Stoner building looking  so beautiful. No one wants to see any derelict buildings along the town’s main street., and the idea that “Lodge’s Variety Store” would not have a light burning inside is almost too much to bear. Congratulations to all the hono...

How long have you been awake, Gentle Reader? Mrs. Teabody hopes it was early enough to catch a glimpse of the clear and starry sky because here at Chez Teabody at approximately 5:15 A.M. the Big Dipper was perfectly positioned to appear to be sitting upright on top of the adjacent mountain. Quite special, that. Special enough to warrant bare feet on cool concrete a wee bit too long. All has been put to rights with a pair of wooly socks and a nice hot cuppa "Dirty Chai." This lovely black tea infused with chai spices and enough cracked espresso beans to  slap one into consciousness is the bridge between tea and coffee and a lovely way to get excited about Moody April. Cool weather has kept buds on spring bloomers tightly furled. The catkins on the pussy willow and the green and yellow of Forcynthia keep close and small and even the green of lawns is far from realized. It's as if Mother Nature wants to remind everyone that she is still in charge. That being said, the...

Mrs. Teabody invites you to take a peek out the window at the enchanted island of Isla Mujeres (Isle of Women) . This paradise is a twenty-five minute ferry ride off the shores of party-hearty Cancun but worlds away in attitude and charm. Herein you will find a chronicle of sorts of moving away from the very real world of Hurry-Hurry-Ding-Ding and into a "Will-somebody-pinch-me-and-tell-me-I-am-not-dreaming" world.  The hop from BWI to CUN was of a just over three hour duration and smooth as butter. Having arranged to be met at the airport by USA Transfers, the Teabodys  soon found themselves  looking out initially onto a scene of sunshine, azure skies, magenta bougainvillea, and silvery-green palms as they were comfortably transported to the Puerto Juraz Ultramar Ferry, a journey of half an hour with the last fifteen minutes along the frantic and busy streets of Cancun. Like any taxi cab ride, the scene outside glided along at waist height to pedestrians, all ...

Maggie: Christmas 2007 with Mr. Teabody Jeanie: On board Norwegian Sky Freeport 2014 Sally: Just before a trip to London 1990 " You can't help getting older, but you don't have to get old . " George Burns Does Mrs. Teabody need to comment on the WEATHER, Gentle Reader? Was that a resounding NO! Perhaps these past two months have had you thinking about sunnier climes and truth to tell in two weeks' time the Teabodys will be swanning off to sunny Mexico. Mrs Teabody mentions this because it was the simple act of packing a Mexico suitcase that started her thinking about journeys past and recent, about  meticulous planning, about wanting to put one's best foot forward, about learning, about intelligence and wit and about style. Recently Mr. and Mrs. Teabody took a little cruise in the Bahamas with Mr. Teabody's 97 year-old auntie and as always Mrs. Teabody was reminded of what a joy it is to spend time in the company of women of a certain...

Mr. and Mrs. Teabody Take to the High Seas How is winter 2014 progressing for you, Gentle Reader? Is your heart longing for longer, sunnier days? Is your sitting room strewn with the various brightly-colored catalogues from Mister Burpee and from Wild Flower Farm? Have you, in fact, already purchased potting soil and begun the process of growing your own fledgling tomato plants, rutabagas and broccoli rabe? My, how wonderfully sensible you are! It is always a good plan to look springward whilst one sits hopefully gazing at the bleak, wintry landscape just outside one’s window. On an especially fortunate day one may even catch two or three errant sunbeams incising the leaden January skies. Mrs. Teabody adores how the large windows of Chez Teabody look out into nature on even the winteriest days. The Teabodys love home. And they especially love the luxury of planting their feet firmly on the ground. However, a few months back when Mrs. Teabody suffered one of her rare...