I look up. He looks down!

For Six Word Saturday, SquareUp, and Life in Colour: brown

Setting up house

The saguaro cactus is a foundational plant in the Sonoran desert. The fruit is edible by humans and animals/birds. Dead cacti are useful as fuel for fires, once the cactus dies the ribs can be used in a variety of ways, and the thorns have been used in tattooing. But the most often observed used is as a home for birds, such as this mourning dove. Woodpeckers and flickers also like to live in these cacti.

for SquareUp 1.20.21

Looking up

Ah, the dangers of scheduling before I have the post finished. I meant to include a few details about this dome, which you might be pardoned for believing was in a European church. However, it’s in the Anthropologie store in Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia. But imagine this in your home! It was in a home.

Anthropologie’s store on Rittenhouse Square was originally the Fell-Van Rensselaer House. Sarah Drexel Fell (yes, of that Drexel Family) was widowed and then married Alexander Van Rensselaer. The house was completed in 1898. The original Tiffany dome and a ceiling with portraits of Italian Dodges, as well as fireplaces and some details remain.

Sam Brandolini

The rest of the store is very elegant as well.

for SquareUp 1.19.21

Dressing up

Just perfect for LavAzza, Italian coffee shop in Illinois. Dressed in coffeehouse chic.

for SquareUp and Life in Colour: brown

Skyline

For One Word Sunday: skyline and SquareUp: sUPerb

It’s time for tea.

Google Translate tells me that “It’s time for tea” in Irish is “Am le haghaidh tae”, appropriate today as I’m featuring Irish breakfast tea. You might know there’s also English breakfast tea and Scottish breakfast tea, but what’s the difference? Here’s what the Republic of Tea site says about Irish Breakfast:

Irish breakfast tea also has a strong Assam component, giving it a robust, malty flavor and reddish color. It is stronger than English breakfast tea, but not quite as strong as the Scottish variety. Because of the important role of the dairy industry in Ireland, it is usually served with milk. However, some Irish tea drinkers choose to take their breakfast tea plain, or with sugar only.

Interestingly, in Ireland the term “breakfast tea” is often considered a misnomer. That’s because Irish breakfast tea is actually consumed throughout the day, with many Irish tea drinkers consuming between four and six cups per day!

I drink all my tea without milk and sugar (and all my tea is consumed throughout the day, or at least until about 3 pm if it has caffeine), but I have them if you choose one or the other or both. I hope we’re not running into any national conflicts though, as the cup and saucer are Aynsley English bone china, sourced from my favorite thrift store in Naperville a few years ago. 🙂

Wordless Wednesday…up for a snack

for SquareUp 1.13.21

Bird with a ‘tude

This guy may be little but he looks…intent? Ticked off? Determined? Whatever word you choose, he looks like he’s got more than a bit of attitude. The tie-in to Becky’s challenge is that I’m looking up at the bird and perhaps he thinks I’m an upstart for taking his photo! 🙂

for SquareUp 1.12.21

Up, up, and away

Although I often look down or out, today I’m looking up and joining Becky’s January Square Ups with a photo of a balloon I often see on my morning walks along the canal or in our neighborhood. I’d much rather be looking up at it than down from it, although I’m sure the views are spectacular. I just have a thing about heights.

for SquareUp 1.11.21