HAPPINESS IN A TEACUP

Happiness is not something you postpone for the future! It is something you design for the present. Jim Rohn

I think one of the reasons people enjoy tea is that not only is it something to tastefully savor, but it is a simple "event" you design for the present. When choosing to "take a cup of tea" one must  intentionally take time to choose the flavor of tea, choose a beautiful cup, and then go through the steps of preparing the tea. Whether you prepare a festive table or find your own cozy spot, all of these activities keep you "in the moment" and that is where you find happiness. You are intentionally designing happiness for the present. And then the finale of sitting down to relax and enjoy your tea  in quiet alone or with a lovely tea with friends. Happiness!

It seems that each of my teacups comes with a memory. Another reason for happiness! My teacup today is from  blogging friend, Vera, from Olivia Paige. She makes beautiful doll furniture for American Girl Dolls. We signed up for a blog swap a couple of years ago and were matched. It was the first swap for both of us and it was great fun! I highly recommend you try a swap!

        The cup is a beautiful creamy yellow with gold flowers. It's a Royal Grafton from England. And along with my yellow cup, here's a pot of daffodils to bring some sunshine into a winter day.

 

One of the things that I enjoy doing while drinking  tea is reading. Most recently I began reading a book that belonged to Dr Plummer. Both Henry and Daisy Plummer enjoyed reading and there are still bookshelves in the living room and library chock full  of their  personal books.  Most of the books have either a personal signature or a personal bookplate. It's fun knowing that while living in the home of Henry and Daisy we can read their personally autographed books.

Henry enjoyed reading medical books, horticulture, and history. Daisy left many music books as she played the piano.The book I'm reading now is "Customs and Fashions In Old New England" by Alice Morse Earle. The book was originally written in 1893 but this edition is dated 1901. The book tells about the early puritans and how they lived.

One story tells how ministers were not allowed to marry couples, only a magistrate, a captain, or "any man of dignity in the community". Some times people  tried to "marry themselves" and these were called "disorderly marriages". They were punished by being fined every month until they were "properly married".  Following is a story from the book concerning a "disorderly marriage".

"A very trying and unregenerate reprobate ( aged 49 ) in New London persisted that he would "take up" with a woman ( aged 22)  in town and make her his wife without any legal ceremony. This was a great scandal to the whole community. A pious magistrate met the ungodly couple on the street and sternly reproved them thus: "John Rogers, do  you persist in calling this woman, a servant, so much younger than yourself, your wife?"
"Yes, I do," violently answered John.
"And do you, Mary, wish such an old man as this to be your husband?"
"Indeed, I do," she answered.
"Then," said the magistrate, coldly, "by the laws of God and this commonwealth, I, as a magistrate pronounce you man and wife."
"Ah! ",  said the groom, married legally in spite of himself, "thee's a cunning fellow."

Prepare yourself a cup of tea with memories, add some lovely flowers, and an entertaining book...HAPPINESS DESIGNED FOR THE PRESENT!

Today I'm joining the following parties:

Teacup Tuesday at Artful Affirmations
Tuesday Cuppa Tea at Antiques and Teacups
Tea Time Tuesday at Rose Chintz Cottage
Bernideen's Teatime Blog
Teacup Tuesday at Martha's Favorites