Flowers & Tea Ladies

The tea gardens of Sri Lanka consist of beautiful groves of tea plants which are well manicured and carefully tended. My sister carefully documented her visit to tea plantations there, making sure to photograph the real tea ladies of the world and the beautiful groves where they pluck tea. But she also discovered many beautiful flowers in bloom along the way. Today I'm sharing some of those flowers with you. I think flowers speak a universal language of love, hope, and joy. They bring cheer into the humblest home or the most magnificent mansion. I believe God created them for our utmost happiness. The vibrant colors and beautiful fragrance of flowers cannot help but make one smile upon reflection. Also, note the difference in head coverings that these tea pluckers wear as compared to the tea ladies of Indonesia. Custom, culture, and climate dictate how women the world over dress for work, beauty, and everyday living. The tea pluckers of Sri Lanka wear colorful head-scarves while they work. They provide both protection from the elements and act as a beautiful accessory. My sister and nephew are in the picture in the bottom, left of the montage. Although Judy has adopted the customary dress of Sri Lanka while traveling there, it appears she forgot the colorful scarf!

Click on the photo to enlarge it. Enjoy your day!

A Piece of Magic is a Hat

What comes to mind when you think of the word "hat"? Now, add the words "TEA party" to your though. Does that change your idea of what a hat is?


My grandmother always wore a hat when she dressed up and went out. Because I knew of no one else who wore hats, I felt that it was quite a quaint tradition for old ladies. Little did I know how wrong I was! Although the "hat" is no longer a required accessory for a dress-up affair, it is still cherished by many as an object of good taste and proper dress. Groups of the American population are not allowing the "hat" to fade away completely and many are diligently working to bring it back into popularity. Jill, who blogs at Thoughts on Life and Millinery, is one who enjoys hats and works to promote the use of a hat as a beautiful addition to any wardrobe. And then there are the "Red Hatters", a group of women over 50 who wear purple attire, red hats, and socialize abundantly over TEA. They display some of the most magnificent around!


Milliner, Leigh Magar, states that "wearing hats is a southern tradition, though one that seems to be waning. I'm trying to revive it by hosting TEA parties where we all don hats." Another author reminds us that "fashion is a kind of communication.  It's a language without words. A great hat speaks for itself" (unknown).

My sister, Judy, donned another kind of hat while on a trip to a tea plantation in Indonesia. I call the beautiful tea pickers she is posing with the real TEA ladies of the world! These hats both shelter from rain and sunshine. A practical and beautiful asset to each lady's wardrobe.


"A hat is a flag, a shield, a bit of armor, and the badge of femininity. A hat is the difference between wearing clothing and wearing a costume; it's the difference between being dressed and being dressed up; it's the difference between looking adequate and looking your best. A hat is to be stylish in, to glow under, to flirt beneath, to make all others seem jealous over, and to make all men feel masculine about. A piece of magic is a hat." (Martha Sliter)


That quote really says it all, doesn't it!