Life Among The Blooms: A New Chapter

There has been a lot going on around White Lilac Farmhouse. We are busy doing home projects. My husband of 35 years, has retired. Jim’s last day of work at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) was this past Thursday. He dedicated 40 years of civil service to NOAA and the Navy. No more 3:30 a.m. wake-ups! Congratulations on a job well done!

My husband worked as an IT professional at NOAA, a crucial role that involved maintaining the flow of important data concerning hurricanes, tsunamis, and other high-impact weather events within their systems. As many know, NOAA monitors global weather and climate through extensive international partnerships.

Jim eagerly anticipates a new phase of life centered around increased mission work, and I’m thrilled to accompany him on several trips. His commitment to serve the community, Jim plans to volunteer at The Mission, a local shelter.

I am beyond thrilled for him. It is time for him to relax, get more sleep, and have lots more energy to serve in the community. God bless him!

My Favorite Finds

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There are many favorite finds this week. Are you a coffee or tea drinker? I am both. As a child, I loved drinking a good cup of hot tea. As an adult, I enjoy a good cup of coffee in the morning and drink water and hot tea the rest of the day.

About The Tea

I am reading this interesting book, “Cancer Hates Tea: A Unique Preventive and Transformative Lifestyle Change to Help Crush Cancer” by Maria Uspenski. She talks about her own battle with cancer, and how she did extensive research on tea and discovered hundreds of studies that showed how powerful a five-cup-a-day (1.2 L) steeping habit could be. Tea is the most studied anti-cancer plant, with over 5,000 medical studies published on its health benefits over the past 10 years. Some research suggests that certain teas may be associated with a reduced risk of certain cancers.

As a tea lover, I’m thoroughly intrigued by this book, which explores tea’s healing properties. The author presents an easy-to-follow three-week plan for consistently benefiting from tea polyphenols.

Some of my favorite finds this week revolve around tea. I had to order this elegant glass and gold tea caddy for my home office. This electric tea pot has an automatic shut-off, and you can brew loose teas for my office as well. It’s perfect for the office or a craft room. I love this set of Immunity Teas in a bag that makes a wonderful gift for a tea lover. You know I love all things aqua and could not pass up this beautiful tin filled with breakfast teas. Here are some of my favorites loose teas and storage tins. I found a great set of travel tins too. Check out the links below:

Other Great Finds

I found a glass dome with a gold knob for my office. This dome is available in two sizes; large and small. The small dome works perfect in my office. For the base, I am using a white marble coaster with gold trim. It fits perfectly under the candle and dome.

These are my favorite sweatpants that I am living in these days. These sweatpants wash up nicely and comfortable. These tee-shirts come in a pack of three. I love the color options available.

I may have feature this portable carpet and furniture cleaning machine with cleaners. It is worth showing again. We had an accident on the sofa, yesterday. The cleanup on the sofa cushion and pillow was amazing! I highly recommend this portable cleaner. My carpet was installed in the home office. Not even 24 hours, Piper had thrown up on it. This portable cleaning machine has been a lifesaver!

On The Blog This Week

I have a post talking about houseplants and how they can become root-bound. It is a great post for plant lovers about Boost Growth and Health: Why Repotting is Crucial for Houseplants.

The Handcrafted Society’s projects for April used pom-poms and/or rick racks. Check out all the projects here, including my Cute and Easy No-Sew Dog DIY Birthday Bandana. Remember, it does not need to be for a birthday. You could make one for an upcoming family photo shoot.

Hummingbirds

I am curious, do you have your hummingbird feeders out? It’s been chilly here lately. I held off from hanging them and waiting for the warmer weather temperatures this month. This year, I am going all out this year with extra feeders. Those little hummers are always battling over my feeders. I have decided to add three more to the mix! Are you not sure when to put your hummingbird feeders out? I have a chart by state in my post, Attracting Hummingbirds: 15 Steps to a Hummingbird Haven. It is packed with good information to attract hummingbirds to your yard.

I’m really looking forward to using the camera feeder to get a closer look at these amazing creatures. Remember not to buy store-bought nectar; you can make better and more cost-effective nectar yourself. See my post Attract Hummingbirds Instantly: Easy DIY Hummingbird Nectar Recipe.

Spring Inspirations From Others

As we approach Easter week, I thought you might appreciate some handpicked recipes and entertaining ideas to make your preparations a breeze.

My sweet friend Elizabeth at Pinecones and Acorns shared this delicious-looking Carrot Banana Bread with Cream Cheese Frosting. It would be a perfect dessert or accompaniment to a breakfast brunch.

How adorable are these Bunny Ear Cinnamon Rolls? My friend Jen of Midwest Life and Style shows you how easy it is to make them for your Easter Brunch or morning breakfast for the kiddos.

I love these sweet DIY party favors made by my dear friend Leslie at Feet Under My Table for Easter. Who would not love getting one of these lovely favors filled with goodies!

My good friend, Kim of Cottage In The Mitten, has a beautiful Easter tablescape for you. Soft pastel colors adorn her table with a lovely floral arrangement that you can make for your table. See her post The Art of Cottage-Style Tablescapes: For Everyday and Special Occasions.

More Easter Inspiration

Homemade Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Eggs Recipe

Create a Whimsical Spring Tablescape with Painted Birdhouses & Daffodils

Easter Front Porch Ideas

Shop My Favorites For Spring

Well, sweet friend, I hope you have a wonderful week leading up to Easter. I will be off from work doing painting and wallpaper projects. My grandchildren are on spring break. I plan to spend time doing a couple things with them.

I hope you enjoyed my favorite finds this week. Be sure to share your comments below. I would love to hear from you, sweet friend.

XO,