About That Challenge To Blog Everyday in May....

                                                    
There's a Blog..... http://storyofmylifetheblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/blog-every-day-in-may-challenge.html  
that I follow that suggest to cure Blogger's Block, Bloggers should try Blogging Everyday In May!
I find the challenge....Challenging at the least! I thought about it because sometimes I do ponder...what to write, what to write?? But since this is DAY 3 and I've not done so_I decided to combine the first three days of her List into Today's Blog!

               Childhood...kinda nerdy..finished as Salutatorian of my Class!



  DAY 1
                               Story of My Life ....
Interest include Travel, Art, Books, BBC Movies, Cooking & Entertaining, Tea & Wine Connoisseur, Decorating, Creativity,Antiques/Collectibles, Museums, Cartography,Music (except Rap)_Bach & Beethoven, Rocks!

Favorite Books:
"ADDICTED TO BOOKS SINCE CHILDHOOD"...
Philosophy, Biographies, Anything Jane Austen,Edith Wharton (My Favorite Author)_or Agatha Christie, Travel & Intrigue, Historical, Cookbooks, Zen/Buddhism & 18th & 19th Century(anything),Maps,etc..

I have a great interest in many things_ my motto_:"Is to learn something "new" everyday"! Love living on our "Hill-Top Farm".Enjoy planning & preparing Dinner/Birthday Parties featuring International Cuisine, Wine & Music. I've traveled to many places as a former Medical/Hospital Sales Rep.,especially enjoy train travel_did a cross country Amtrak Trip to California for a "Wine Country Tour" last Fall, can't wait to travel on the "The Orient Express"in Europe! Owner of "Let's Talk Tea" c.1995 (a Tea Lecture & Tea Accoutrement business). I consider myself to be a "Spiritual Being having a Human experience".

                                    ~College Days~

                 Easter Break at home w/the family_shopping

Yes,this is the way I dressed for Class at University of St. Thomas.

Yes! Now it's _ a Vintage Paisley Suit(sewn by me, magenta/ burgundy colors)_ on my way to class!

Graduated from College...next Thurgood Marshall School of Law


 Day 2
Something I know about.....
There are many things that I know something about. At the top of the List_ I'd have to say Books! I have been "addicted to books" since childhood.I always make a Reading List for each season....including different genres of Books that I might not read often_ now that's a challenge sometimes! 

Reading books is a result of my parents, Grandmother  & Uncle instilling in me the value of an Education. My Grandmother lived next door to Mary Allen College_ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Allen_Seminary . I loved the Library on campus! The best way to learn about all sorts of things in the World was to read, read, read! Indeed, that's what I did then and now. I credit my ability to be good at the TV Show_ "JEOPARDY"_ because I read just about every subject matter...well except "trashy stuff". Been a Fan of that Show since childhood!
                    At an Art Cocktail Party..Opening Day

My "Moroccan Harem Nights Birthday Party w/Friends..we'd just finish our Belly dancing...Ha!

Day 3
Things that make me uncomfortable....

For the most part, I'm pretty comfortable in my skin!! Very few things get under my skin. But, I guess a pet-peeve of mine_ is people who "judge others all the time"...what they wear, how they speak, what faith, what RACE,what GENDER(who cares),where they live, what they drive, etc.. I feel very uncomfortable around this type of person. If I'm in a social environment,I immediately make an excuse of some kind and remove myself from such toxicity. I do not surround myself with these types of people. I enjoy conversations of substance.I've come to believe Maya Angelou saying_

“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

So, there's  my take on the Blogging Challenge. I'm not an everyday Blogger but I admire the creative ideas that Jenni suggest. I started my Blog because I wanted an outlet for my busy creative brain cells....sit back ,relax and enjoy my thoughts on all sorts of subject matter! Thanks,for checking out my Blog!

Now for that moment_ To Zen or Zinfandel_ that is the question?

 

Until next time.....

    

        

 

 

~Mums...The Word on "Mummers"~

When I met my husband 18 years ago,I became involved with learning about his ancestral homeland_ Ireland.He served as   President of the Ft.Worth Irish Association.I was delegated to help write the Newsletter.My kind of fun!!_I researched various aspects of the Irish Culture and participated in many community functions i.e. Annual N.Tx.Irish Festival,Celtic Heritage Festival,etc._as a Tea vendor with my business "Let's Talk Tea". I acquired then and to this day..."The Celtic Spirit".

Among the many traditions of the Celts_"Mumming" is one that dates back to pre-Christain,pre-Celtic,even early Bronze Age(4 thousand years ago!). To be sure, a "Mummer" is a person who wears a mask or fantastic costume while merrymaking or taking part in pantomime during any festive season_especially Christmas and Spring.

"The Book of Secrets" certified double-platinum in USA.Has sold more than 4 million copies Worldwide! AWESOMENESS!

Recently, I added the above CD/DVD combination to my collection of all things "Loreena McKennitt". I consider her my "Kindred Spirit".Her music/video takes one on a Soul searching journey.

The manner in which her music infuses the poetry and traditions of centuries pass of many cultures in _
Keats,Shakespeare,Sufism,Paganism,Religion,Christianity,Islamic_stirs the mind,body and soul.It is like unlocking the Secrets to the Universe_a wee vision of the Spirits that inhabit the World.Polish the mirror of your Soul...keep an open mind and learn! 

The Mummer's Dance seen here is a song on the CD/DVD:

"The mummers would arrive at the door at night or at the end of the day, they would knock and their Captain (as the leader of a troupe is called) would shout or sing out a request for permission to enter. As soon as such permission was granted the troupe entered the house and the performance commenced. They might not always be invited into a house as there would be times when it might be inappropriate to have a performance in a house, e.g. if children were asleep, or a sick person present, or if there had been a recent death in the family, or something else of such nature. The important point here is that what instigated the performance was not the payment of money - the buying of a ticket - but rather the audience, the people in whose house the performance would be given, saying "Yes, come in and give your performance". So the exchange of money was not the vital instigating moment for the performance - "The important moment is when the host gives permission to enter. That response is crucial because people generally had no idea who these mummers were, they only knew that they belonged to the local community". So folk drama is about consolidating the values of the community, about reproducing the local community and allowing it to continue. Therefore it has a political as well as social value.
Source: http://www.mustrad.org.uk/articles/drama.htm#mumm

This form of "Irish Folk Drama" includes not only Mummers _but The Wrenboys,The Strawboys and The Whiteboys Connection as you will learn from the above source.Folk drama is the oldest surviving form of theatrics.

Ancient pagan rituals for good luck and fertility from the gods included many festivals,dancing,animal disguises and feasting.
Mumming shows began as miming performances and eventually grew to become more. The term mummers derives from the Middle English word mum which means silent. Words were finally added, but the original stories were often partially lost through translation and retelling of the story. It is also believed that these plays were performed around the end of the year and during the harvesting season because it was intended to be a celebration of the death of the year and its coming again in Spring.

In modern day_Mummers' Plays_there is a central incident of a killing and the restoring of life.The principal characters are a Hero,his chief opponent,the Fool,a quack Doctor who provides a cure to the patient_restoration of Life!

But wait_there's the ever popular Annual Mummers Parade in Philadelphia.Pa. & other cities held each New Year's Day believed to be the oldest folk festival in the United States.Here's a couple of colorful participants!

 

                                                            "The Holy Rollers"


And...The Mummers Museum in Philadelphia

The fact that "Mumming" traditions still exist today_says much about passing rituals onward_generation after generation,etc.With the Rites of Spring,Ostara,Spring Equinox upon us...I find it fitting to share a wee bit of Celtic tradition with you.I love the way Loreena McKennitt uses the "Book of Secrets" to explore this ritual....bring this Celtic Soul into your Life via her music.

 ~Until next time,
"Blessed Be & Bright Blessings"~

~Memorable Road Trips ~ Part 1~

Well, folks I've been planning my next "Road Trip"! They are always packed with lots of stuff to see,lots of food to eat, and loads of fun.It is no secret that my favorite form of transportation is _"The Train". I love trains!As a Hospital/Medical Sales Rep.,I grew tired of feeling like just another sardine jammed packed on an airplane _jittery about the takeoffs,in-flight turbulence and the landings...were always a "Charmin Tissue Moment",indeed! Although,I will fly on occasion_for Road Trips_it's the Train,Baby! My dream trip is from London to Venice,then to Tuscany....I'm gonna make that happen on this beauty_The Motherload" of all trains..."The Orient Express"_

                                                           "The Orient Express"

This is the first post _the first of several_on my Memorable "Road Trips" .This one was with a friend that flew from DFW to Nashua,NH in June 2001...to go trekking with me!This will be a classic Over-the-Road Driving Trek! My husband and I were moving back to Texas in August 2001.The agenda was jammed packed...so all aboard for this ride!

Pam & Harriet's 2001 Adventure
Tea,Tour and Lecturer (Isabella Stewart Gardner Impersonator) at The Beauport Sleeper-McCann House in Gloucester,Ma. Here's my Road Buddies_

                                     That's me in Blue Hat,"Impersonator" & Harriet

Ann,Harriet,and Danielle_Ann & Danielle are two more friends that joined us from NH.for Tea.

This was one of my favorites rooms _"The Golden Step Dining Room"_windows open to Gloucester Harbor,check out this 8 ft ship model on a Chinese funeral table with grinning dragons.Take a Photographic Tour here_ http://www.historicnewengland.org/historic-properties/homes/Beauport/photographic-tour

After driving across Massasschuetts from Gloucester into Connecticut,finally reached my dear friend
John Harney of Harney & Sons Teas.  http://www.harney.com/

He was right we got lost in Salisbury,Ct...seems I passed his home twice! We had a lovely Dinner around the table with his family,conversations galore,hugs & more hugs,John teaching me how to eat an Apple New England -Style,his lovely wife making a most wonderful pot of Verbena Tisane,and  my favorite guest room ready for slumber!John made us breakfast next morning ,and we're off to visit his facility.Note** John became my Mentor for the Tea business I started in 1994_"Let's Talk Tea"..we've been friends since!

                                                    Pam, John Harney at Tea Shoppe  

                                        Harriet,John Harney in backyard of....

                                            John's Family 1800's Home..simply beautiful

 Headquarters of Harney & Sons_(photo taken on another trip in Fall 2006) 

After a delightful morning,we headed off to Lenox ,Ma with a few stops in between.Our first stop

New Canaan,Connecticut_good thing I was driving my truck_found a whole bunch of "must have stuff",including a 1940's Sleigh bed w/ back board beading stamped with Rhode Island makers mark!Whoa!...RI was known in the early history of America for it's furniture making.."An Antiques Roadshow Moment"!

From there we headed to our next stop_"The Norman Rockwell Museum" in beautiful picture perfect Stockbridge,Ma. Strolled through admiring his work and visited his cottage where he painted_with things as he left them.

                                           Norman Rockwell Museum,Stockbridge,Ma.

                                              Norman Rockwell's Painting Cottage

Next on our agenda_a place I've visited four times_"The Mount",Lenox,Ma..My first tour during initial stages of restoration of this most beautiful home of  "MY ALL TIME FAVORITE" author,Edith Wharton!

I've read just about all of her written word and other books about her!Think...Age of Innocence,The House of Mirth,Ethan Frome,The Custom of the Country,Old New York,The Buccaneer's,In Morocco,The Decoration of Houses.....LOVE her writings! We toured _yet_ again!They had a display of "The House of Mirth" clothing on third floor which had just been restored.After the tour & "The Mount" brand tea_we walked the grounds in AWE!..saying..."we are not worthy to be in such a beautiful place_let's ask if we can stay"....

                                          The Mount home of Edith Wharton

With much screaming& hollering  over having to leave_we headed to our next night's rest.The Knoll Bed and Breakfast Inn,Northampton,Ma.It is a spectacular 1910_12 room Tudor designed home in Florence,a suburb of Northampton.Ma.We did a driving tour of the area colleges, Smith, Amherst,Mt.Holyoke,U of Mass. & Hampshire_never seen so many college students in my life!!! We called it an evening....really,really tired!

                                                     The Knoll Bed & Breakfast Inn

                    Breakfast was lovely next morning in the Dining Room_pleasant stay!

So,we're headed North_but decided to pop in on Historic Deerfield & Yankee Candle.

                                                   Historic Deerfield Village

                                                    Yankee Candlemaking Museum

Continuing on_driving the highways and byways of the beautiful state of Vermont,passing through Brattleboro (one of the towns in my Medical Sales Territory),on to Dublin,NH_just had to pop in my favorite place to visit my friend Linda_"Yankee Magazine"...

                                                                 Yankee Magazine

                                      My friend Linda hard at work_Yankee Magazine

Finally,back to Nashua,NH! What a wonderful Road Trip. It seems as if it were yesterday.Until next time...plan a Road Trip or two....


"The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page".
                                 ~ St.Augustine~