Victoria Magazine and bloggers got me back in the mood. A few months back, I found my creativity waning. On a cool, crisp September day I found myself purchasing a copy of Victoria, a magazine I collected for nearly a decade. I was utterly struck by the beauty, and came to the conclusion that "Beauty Matters."

In my pursuit of writing, I stopped decorating my house, baking cakes, quilting, quilling, cross-stitching and various other pursuits. I wanted to narrow my focus down to one art and do it well. Apparently God didn't make me that way.

My thinking has shifted. I used to believe that we were vain to create beauty around us--that with children dying, people starving, and humanity desperately in need of its Creator's touch, that we were wrong and vain to care about temporary things.

Logically it still sounds fine, but my soul disagrees.

My latest enjoyment has been tea. It's a wonderful time to slow down, reflect, and even pull out some of the fun china and silver which otherwise would just sit. I've learned the best way to have tea is to bake goodies on Monday and then enjoy throughout the week. It can be monotonous, but it takes far less time than trying to have something new every day.