with news that is cringe worthy each and every day I am trying to keep my balance and focus on the good…
being grateful for little things like fresh flowers and being able to arrange them in our new farm sink which is one of my favorite things about our recent kitchen remodeling…
I have noticed that WordPress no longer offers a way to click on photos to enlarge them or it could be my limited tech knowledge that hasn’t found the right button in the new format for creating blog posts…
so you may not be able to read my BE BRAVE canvas or see that the cup says: Cup of Courage…
I held off for months but now there is no longer a choice to revert to the old and friendlier way of drafting a post…
as our son would say these are “first world problems”…
I am joining the group over at Elizabeth’s Altered Book Lover to wish you a Happy T Day (all are welcome to join in!)…
“Courage is not the towering oak that sees storms come and go, it is the fragile blossom that opens in the snow.” -Alice MacKenzie Swaim
Magpie's Nest ~*~ Patty Szymkowicz 
Like always Patty your photo are lovely and brighten my day. Happy happy T day! Hugs! deb
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Lovely photos… Nowadays we all need “a cup of courage”…xo
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Now I know why your photos no longer enlarge. I thought I was crazy. But, I still love the photos and think your mosaic is gorgeous.
I’ve never cared for a farmhouse sink, so we would have to sit down over TEA for you and coffee for me, and hash out why they are so “wonderful.”
I’m with you on the cringe worthy news. I’ve quit watching it, except I made the mistake on Sunday and watched an all news channel during commercials on another channel. Everything is looking bleaker and bleaker. And that is OUR problem, which IS a first world problem. I think I would enjoy your son and his definite sense of humor.
Thanks for sharing your fresh flowers, your art, your awesome photos, your traveling tea cup (you can’t hide it from me), and your cup of courage with us for T this Tuesday.
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Forgot to tell you how much I like your bluebirds. They are beautiful.
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Yes, the daily news is down right scary and seems to get worse from day to day. Thanks for sharing your lovely photos, and I hope you soon get your head around the changes. Blogger is always dong changes, too, to make things easier for us….Did I hear you laugh? Happy T Day, meine Liebe,, hugs, Valerie
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oh, the Blogging issues… why can´t they just leave it as it was… i would not be surprised if Blogger will kick off the enlargement Feature soon, too.
i also try to Focus on the small beautiful things… but it is hard. as soon as you turn on the News you get another Frustration – sometimes i think we are in a nightmare and will wake up soon. but that won´t happen.
anyway… great photos! i love that nook in your new kitchen! the bluebirds are so beautiful, as is your artwork: yes, let us be brave, and the Cup of Courage will be filled every day!
happy t-day, dear patty!
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Hello Patty
A great contribution, but I like the page with the stones and birds.
Greetings and a sunny day.
Sadie
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All of your pictures tell a story and it is good be positive at this time. Not sure about anything on WordPress though they do say I have a blog there–I can never find it
Happy T Day and better times to come hopefully.
Love Chrissie xx
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Your post is a ray of sunshine after all the rubbish coming from the States. Love those flowers.
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It was a lovely post to read patty and I was relieved when you mentioned that enlarging pictures was an issue, as I had been trying to so a few times recently. Just being nosy and get a better view of your fabulous photos.
The words on your cup sure suit the times we are in at the moment, in our Country with Brexit as well as yours.
Happy T day
Yvonne xx
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It is a daily cringe, isn’t it? I can only take so much but you can’t ignore it. Eeks. Maybe we will wake up from this bad dream. But I am loving your beautiful flowers and bluebirds! Wow. I think I have only ever seen them twice in my life. So there is some good things. And I’m glad for the times you have joined me this month at AJJ-the main point is you got to join in as you could. 🙂 Your kitchen is looking more beautiful everytime you post it. Have a happy T day. Hugs-Erika
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Good morning dear Patty!
What a lovely post to view over my morning coffee!
Are those Bluebirds in your yard? all at once? Fascinating- I do love the Bluebird and his sweet sweet song!
Oh, your farmsink is beautiful and I love how you have arranged those petals-you always make my heart lighter with your sense of play~and yes,I need that right now, we all do “( My heart is aching so much right now for my son and his wife.These are terrible times.
Thank you for my morning soulful post, a great way to start my day!
Sending love,Jackie
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What wonderful photos and collages – a shame that they always change things for us– blogger also often do incomprehensible changes!
Your sink is a dream indeed! Great!
I love those bluebirds in your garden . your post makes me happy –
helps to forget the terrible times right now – I try to find peace and pleasure in the little things as well and to focus on the good things around us is more reasonable for me than getting depressive because of all the nightmare around us♥♥♥!
Happy T-Day liebe Patty!
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It is the age of turmoil.So sad to see the world changing at such a rapid pace!Thank you for the beautiful photo’s. I love the flowers and blue birds.Even more so after our 10 in. of snow the other night.xoxoxo
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It’s best to not take in too much of the news especially lately. Your photos are always so pretty and uplifting as is your art. Your new farm sink sounds wonderful. ooh and all those pretty bluebirds-how lucky to have them! Thanks for brightening my morning and happy T day!
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Lovely post again Patty!! If you right click on your photos and choose to open in a new tab the photos will be larger and you can even enlarge them more if need be. A little more work but worth the effort. I was able to see your cup and your canvas 🙂 The news is very depressing and I fear will only get worse as time goes by 😥
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Fresh flowers are a comfort during any difficult time, and boy are these difficult times! I’m still enjoying my Christmas poinsettia. It’s holding up well 🙂
Happy T Tuesday!
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Your photos are gorgeous as usual 😉 I would love to a cup of courgae like that – both a literal cup and a virtual one. I’m watching less news these days – to preserve my sanity.
Happy T Day, Patty! xox Eileen
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Oh dear Patty your mosaic `s are so beautiful, and also your lovely photos of both inside and out, The blue birds looks so wonderful.
All we hear from around us is kind of frightening, and yes, dear we surely need Courage, and the beauty of everyday little pleasures around us. I wish for you a lovely Tuesday. Warm hugs from Dorthe
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Your Monday snow showers look so magical and how lovely to have Eastern Bluebirds exploring your garden, they are very beautiful! Your flowers are very pretty, I have a Farmhouse sink too and love it just like you :-). Your canvas is very tranquil with the lovely greens and golds and your lady looks like she is brave enough to take on the world, you have created some lovely textures too – it looks like you’ve used a doilie as a stencil and modelling paste? I’m in love with your Lily of the Valley tea service (just peeking through your cupboard), these flowers always remind me of my grandmother who I never got to meet – my mum and dad have Lily of the Valley that travels from garden to garden when they move house, it’s from the original clump my Dad’s mum had in her garden when he was young :-). Tolerance and a cup of courage is just what’s needed, along with some Hope. Thanks for the memories and Happy T Day dear Patty! J 🙂
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Its always delightful to see your wonderful photos Patty and for a short while, I am lost in another world.
If I had seen your beautiful Eastern Bluebirds I would have sat there for ever watching them.
Gill xx
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Thank you very much Carol! You learn something new every day!!! These are indeed very trying times.
oxo ~*~ Patty Magpie’s Nest Blog *“Instructions for living a life: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.” -Mary Oliver*
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Thank you so much Jo. I did use a plastic doily as a stencil and my favorite Liquitex Super Heavy Gesso. My sweet mother in law had a tea cup collection and she gave me a couple. The Lily of the Valley is extra special to us too. Thank you for sharing your Lily of the Valley story which is so sweet ♥
oxo ~*~ Patty Magpie’s Nest Blog *“Instructions for living a life: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.” -Mary Oliver*
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First world problems indeed! But yes, I know what you mean. Things are very troubling and your piece is well named. Every day I wake up and think “what next” and I’m trying to find the beauty in anything I can. There’s great beauty here.
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We heard the news first thing this morning with amazement! Whaaaat! I just hope the old song “Things can only get better” comes true soon! Your flowers look beautiful! I bought some last week to cheer us up! Your farm sink looks lovely! Wishing you a good week! Hugs, Chrisx
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“Be brave.” Yes, indeed, we all need to drink from your Cup of Courage. Thank goodness for people like you who see and create so much beauty which helps offset the ugliness that is all around. I love how you turned large glass containers upside down to make cloche bell jars. At least, that’s what I think you did. 🙂 And the sweet blue birds – oh my!
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yes indeed… fresh flowers, color, and a cup of tea make things better! I always adore your photos and the stunning arrangements you share with us. Happy T day…on Wednesday! 😉
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Sweet photos always, tech stuff, eh, we live with what we live with. Smile and keep typing. xox
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Hey there! (I always want to say “Georgie Girl” after that. Sorry. ha! Nope you can’t click and make it larger. How tragic. These things really do effect us tho. Even if they are “first world problems”. I can only watch so much news. Just the division makes me so sad. Praying for unity. Love your cup of courage!!!! I just dropped in here and then have to go…. no other blog reading for me this morning. Hugs! And …. fyi…… I love my farm house sink as well…. although it’s not a true one…… but it’s one big sink. My daughter can’t function with it. To each his own, right?!!!
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I always enjoy your set-ups and mosaics. That little rectangle with the three roses and especially the faded vintage yellow rose – sigh.
Isn’t it great that we can enjoy pleasures like flowers and new sinks, I love that.
Great to see the bluebird among the pebbles.
Thanks for your always beautiful and sublime blogposts.
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