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Welcome back to the Daily Connoisseur. One’s life at home is very complex. Home is a place of refuge and rest. It is a place of shelter too.
It is also a space that we need to take care of. We clean it, organize, declutter, and purge the things in it. The home is also a place that represents beauty for us. Arguably it is the space in our lives that should be the most beautiful. It is where we spend most of our time and when we come home from being in the outside world, our homes become our havens. What role to flowers play in all of this? What is the purpose of the flower? Why do we keep them in our homes? Why do we cut them off our plants, place them in vases and display them? Why? Because they bring beauty to our lives. Nothing cheers me up like seeing a perfect little bloom in a vase while I’m doing the dishes. Their fragrance and aesthetic perfection are like an intoxicating little tonic. 
The natural world is blooming all around us. Especially this time of year. Do we pay attention to its presence? As we go about our homemaking, let’s look at flowers in history. In myths and legends, flowers are used to celebrate new life and also to commemorate death. They are symbols of purity, passion, and romance. They evoke beauty and pleasure. It is for these reasons that we likely bring them into our homes. When flowers wilt, they remind us of the brevity of life and out we go into the garden to find new blooms. And the cycle continues. Look at this spectacular bloom on a cactus plant in my parents’ garden. It blooms but once a year and only for a few days. What an enchantress of a flower.
We have some beautiful flowering plants in our own garden. I’m obsessed with roses like many of you are. Today, I’m creating a simple peony bouquet. I’m combining store-bought peonies with lavender and bay leaves from our own garden. Peonies are perennial plants that return every year. These bushes are very hardy… some can live up to 100 years! They bloom from late spring to early summer. Marco Polo described peony blossoms as “roses as big as cabbages”. Yep, I would say that description about sums it up! Peonies, of course, represent romance as you will often see them in wedding bouquets. In fact, I chose peonies for my own bouquet. They also represent bashfulness too as in mythology mischievous nymphs were said to hide in their petals. Two more interesting things about peonies: their petals are edible and The roots are commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for many purposes. Peony might block chemicals that can cause pain and swelling, as well as prevent blood clotting, kill cancer cells, and act as an antioxidant. Well, now that we know more about these roses as big as cabbages, we can appreciate them even more in our homes.
I had another thought. We homemakers are busy as bees. We are buzzing about when we are at home… flitting from one chore and duty to another, cooking, cleaning, folding, wiping. Perhaps in a way, we relate to the bee on a different level and that’s another reason why we like to be surrounded by flowers. We bring them in through our wallpaper, our paintings, and in reality, through our gardens. In the winter months we might represent them with faux flowers. But they are always here. And I know they’re there while I’m doing my tasks. Folding laundry, specifically the kitchen linens, is one of my least favorite tasks. I just dread it. I usually watch YouTube while doing it. Or I’ll listen to an audio book. Today I’m watching YouTube, Vogue’s channel, specifically, while folding. And all the while I sense the presence of the beautiful hot pink rose behind me on the nightstand. Flowers give a vitality to a room that is noted by the perceptive. They keep us company and make each task more pleasant.
The next time we wipe away the streaks, sticky fingerprints, and grime in our daily lives, meditate on the flower. Make yourself consciously aware of the nearest one. Accept the pure joy and beauty it brings you. The spiritual nectar it feeds you. Its gentle prompting to make you work like a bee, in harmony with your surroundings.
Don’t forget to steal some time for yourself in the natural world. This is my secret hideaway. I come here with my family but many times I am alone. And when I walk under the garden arch I disappear to a different world… I can’t tell you what goes on there. That’s between me and the fairies.
Thank you for joining me today on the Daily Connoisseur. I hope this video inspired you with your homemaking today. Keep calm and remain classy, and I will see you next time. Love, Jennifer
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Comment of the Week
A Small Sanctuary writes, "I’m always here for your tea-themed content and would love to hear more about your tea ‘journey.’ I have the same practice: my sweet thing at teatime rather than after dinner. Before I became a mom, I always hoped that whatever my career path would be, I could welcome my kids from school with fresh tea and home baked treats. Very often now I can and if has become a central part of my family’s day. Teatime is such a centering and grounding ritual, across time and culture. I’ve dreamed of getting some tea sommelier certification—just as a passion and hobby. Have you read any of Jane Pettigrew’s books on tea? They are a great resource. Thank you for this lovely video with both healthy and indulgent recipes."
I enjoyed reading your comment and love to hear about your passion for tea! Thank you for recommending Jane Pettigrew's books. I will look them up!
Thank you for watching today's video. I hope it brings you inspiration in your homemaking life.
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