Five on Friday

It's been a wild week. A new semester, new classes, new students, writing report cards, and a conference to attend. Whew. 
In the midst of the wildness, I come home, collapse in front of the fire with a cup of tea, and focus on simple things that bring me calmness.

These pale pink tulips are one of them. Tight closed buds have opened. Their stems stretched quickly and I've had to trim them down already. 
The silver jug, found in a vintage shop, is another beautiful thing I enjoy, along with the lacy doily on the tray - crocheted by my friend who is also my daughter's mother-in-law. 

The red dishes of December and January have been replaced by pretty china plates and teacups. I like this topsy turvy stack. Each pattern holds meaning - the top one is the pattern I chose when I was 15 and given by my mother, the second is from my mother-in-law, the third part of my wedding china, and the fourth a cup I purchased in memory of a dear aunt.

Rain poured down this week. In those odd moments when the sun pours into the house, I admire the shadows and play of light. Here on the plate wall, the blinds cast long lines.

I arrived home on Tuesday afternoon utterly spent. I grabbed the mail on my way in and noticed a large manila envelope. Inside was this magazine, tied with a bit of white trim. A gift from Brenda, who knows, as well as I do, the value of having beautiful projects to inspire one, even though the projects themselves may not come into being. I so enjoyed turning the pages and admiring the lovely projects. That was a very sunny moment in this week. 

Linking with Amy's Five on Friday.