SERVING TEA

If I could, I grew my own tea. It would be a small hill and on the other side raspberries would grow. Every day I would go there and collect fresh leaves just the amount for one day. Every day I would put the leaves to dry, just the amount for one day. Every day I would brew the tea, just the amount for one day. And that amount would be a bit less than one wheelbarrow, as it is very bumpy by my hill and the tea might spill as I would serve it to you. First morning tea, then noon tea, afternoon tea and then evening tea. And all the cups in between.

Good morning, good night!

(A painting from two years back.)

SUMMER INSIDE AN ENVELOPE

Hello dear February,

A little bit of sun, a little bit of clouds. Like a mixture of fresh grape fruit and some whipped (oat) cream, the sun beams loose some of their color when traveling through the clouds. But gives everything a new feeling. Color of a reflection on the snow or a color of a pine tree bark behind a frost layer. And then as a surprise a bit of bright blue spring sky, almost bitter in tone.

Tea moments of this house are now scented like an exotic summer day in a far-away garden. Dear Maria sent a surprise of a lavender scent. Every time my teapot gets hot from now on, smiles are flying to Australia. Thank you, danke schön liebe Maria! Tea and lavender, two favorite things.

An article about a mother who gets depressed after giving birth, with my pictures in the new issue of Kaksplus magazine. A cure: chocolate.

For me, green tea, lavender and dark chocolate in between pencil lines and brush strokes.

For you, hearts.

PEBBLES OF RAIN AND FEATHERS

Rain either with water or bird feathers from the roof-neighbors. A tent for keeping toes dry. Woken by crows while they had a-very-serious-sounding-meeting to realize that it was a moment of sunshine, indeed. But only for a moment. Now an afternoon tea with some rays of sun, reflecting like surface of a lake on the wall. Table light is turned on again otherwise.

Have a warm afternoon break.

A CROW SITTING ON THEIR SHOULDERS

Surprised by someone from childhood. An old neighbor of a neighbor of a neighbor of a neighbor said hello on Friday. I did not recognize him, but he recognized me. To think about it, I probably look exactly the same as 15-20 years ago. They were three boys and one girl, a crippled crow was their pet, we raced bikes on the sandy roads and ate tens of cinnamon buns as our parents were talking about things in our small village. Days were always sunny.

Reading by the lake of Pyhäjärvi, yesterday being surprised by another friend by accident. Unplanned tea in the arboretum, bicycling under clouds, eating in a house where leaves covered one of the high walls outdoors.

An allotment house for rainy seasons. An end of summer bracelet of clovers and other grass plants tied under a birch tree on another Sunday.

More clothes to be wrapped inside for todays tea under the windy birch tree, accompanied with knitting needles and sketch book.

Have a warm Sunday dear all of you!

DEAR APRIL, YOU MELTED THE SNOW

While eating blueberry pie, I wrote some new plans to a list that I keep. Ideas, commissions, dreams, places to visit. Things to paint, things to read, people to contact. Things for now, tomorrow and forever. Sew a jacket or Learn always. Things done become crossed, amount of marks which never will be finished is growing. Visit lighthouses. Have a walk. Paint.

Happpy new week!

EARLY EVENING GREETINGS

Mornings start this week with a new layer of snow and its disappearance before the noon. Evenings are full of fog and rain drops, mellow soundscapes, vanished colors. March is tricking.

Between discarded cotton paper piles patterns are hiding. Between patterns hide treasures. Between a gift, an old book, hide big leaves which someone has picked up from gigantic trees in Germany decades ago. I wonder if those trees are still breathing and making pure air for us.

It smells jasmine here, tea is brewing. A cup of tea to you too and then a bicycle trip to the town!

SUNDAY MELODIES OF CHYAK-CHYAK AND KRAA-KRAA

A jackdaw is giving a speech in a birch tree. Seagulls are back in the town, I heard them singing too on Friday over the market place. Bicycle is washed and shining. It felt like flying last night with the first trip over the hills pedaling.

A small bear cub is awake for the spring. He is a birthday gift for a small boy, ordered by his parents from me. This bear cub has been playing a long time with the spring already, starting to bloom branches himself too.

This Sunday could be a day to bake something soft, salty and round. Have you been baking something lately?

From a yellow sofa, cross-legged, tea-handed and happy-minded I wish sweet melodies for your Sunday!

ONCE A WEEK

Hello dear sunny Wednesday,

You gave me a slow morning and a slow day. I gave you a long slow walk and daffodils. You showed me again the two bunnies in the allotment garden which I made scared and to run away in different directions. (Let´s hope they meet each others again.) I showed you how also an afternoon can be very relaxing and you make me now to work the whole evening. You gave me the scent of firewood burning in a fireplace in the nearby houses and I opened the balcony door to get that feeling of warmth also here inside, a scent of home. I made you leek-potato —soup and you made me a beautiful sunset. I played you some nice music and you hummed along as cars on the streets nearby. Happy to have you here dear Wednesday, let´s have some warm moments again next week!

Love,

Anna Emilia

A VERY LATE COFFEE BREAK THINKING OF YOU

I got my long thought rain on Saturday night while walking in the town. It was the most gentle thing. It takes always a while to understand it really rains with those fragile drops.

Today I have everything around me. Right tones of watercolors, good brushes, clean water, strawberry juice and tea, a plan, a few blooming plants, piano music, a good book and a magazine and lots of soft cotton paper. Mr. Crow singing on the birch tree behind the balcony and you all there behind your screens.

It is a good beginning for March. I wish the same for you.

A PILE OF CUPS TO BE WASHED

Can you see all the teas I drank this weekend? Nepal Ilam Mao Feng, China Royal Jasmine Curls, Vater Morgana, Green Tea With Ginkgo, Gen Maicha, Jasmin Xian Yu... All green, all so good and always one more cup is very pleasant and taking me to very green and warm places. A few vegan pancakes were eaten with those forks and knives too.

A week starts for me on Sunday afternoon, today with a vegan semla (sweet Sandra knows what is good even for breakfast). There are three crows watching me through the window from a birch tree. The wind swings them gently. Have a good new week!