Remembering Mother on Her Birthday

Remembering my mother. . .on this day of what would have been her 80th birthday. How she loved nature, and especially wild flowers. She's has been gone for ten years now, but her legacy lives on. She taught about life through everyday things. It was natural for her to teach life lessons to young and old alike through nature studies. Today I am reminded of wildflowers as I think of her.

This Calypso Lady Slipper Orchid was found right near the cabin yesterday in what I've named Lady Slipper Hollow.

Cake!

No words needed. Creamy. Delicious. Sweet & Sour. So Good!

The Cue, a Pause, a Blessing

Victorian Violets teapot, sugar, & creamer.
Hammersley, Made in England

The Sisterhood of Quilters publishes a column called Girlfriend Wisdom. I always enjoy their perspective. Today when I picked up a Country Register magazine and read the column, I realized that their advice went with my day. Listen to this...

"Did you ever wish you had a Peaceful Pause Button? A button that would simply pause all the actions that surround your busy day. Errand running, chasing children, cleaning and cooking, working, working, working. If you had an imaginary Peaceful Pause Button that would de-stress your day, how would it work? What lifts your spirit and stirs your soul?"

Violets Tea Towel
Painted by my mom

They suggested that you think of a word and use that word to cue into mentally pausing during stressful moments during the day. Good idea, but better yet, what about actually taking time to pause. A break from daily routine and doing something that's calm, quiet, and special can do wonders for a person! Tea breaks are good for this. Best are tea breaks with a friend! Add a little window shopping to the mix and you're set to go!

Teacup marked JAPAN
The other teacup is Colclough China,
Made in Longton, England

Since it was Karleen's birthday, the decision was made to take a pause-day; a day away from chores and routine. We started with a tea break on the porch, enjoying cups of white blueberry tea. From Fujian, China, this Adagio tea is very fragrant and deliciously soft. Homemade cinnamon rolls and smoked almonds added energy for the day.

After visiting some of our favorite shops and looking for summer sandals, quilt supplies, vintage ware, and assorted plants and flowers, we took a break for lunch.

Chilled carafes of spearmint water refreshed us while we waited for a pot of Assam tea.

Our shared lunch tray

We decided to share a Mediterranean platter for lunch. It was filled with mixed nuts, assorted salty olives, hummus and dips, pasta salad, crusty bread, crackers, and cheeses.

Chocolate with peanut butter frosting

And since it was a birthday, we walked down the street after eating and enjoyed cupcakes from that sweet little shop I'd found with Dad and Alma last week. The shop carries cupcakes for everyone with options for vegan, gluten-free, and every taste bud.

Searching for a Picasso petunia 

The day ended by another stop for plants and flowers. With a car filled with an assortment of cosmos, petunias, million bells, and more, we stopped one more place before arriving back home. It was to the home of a quilt guild friend. What a sweet little cottage she has. It is surrounded by a fence to contain a friendly dog and happy chickens. An abundance of lilies line the parameter, filled with buds and ready to burst forth in blossom at any time! Some kind of exercise gadget sits on the front porch, and it was appropriately covered with a colorful quilt made just for it! She invited us inside for a chat before we headed home.

A pause. A birthday. A friendship. God's gifts are abundant. How special it is to take a pause so that one can stop and appreciate each and every one. Today, the chores will be a bit easier as a result. Plus, there are flats of plants to get into the ground which is another kind of reprieve. Blessings.

Itty-Bitty Cupcakes and a Birthday

Happy birthday to my friend and neighbor, Karleen!  In honor of her birthday, I'm reposting an idea for some cute, itty-bitty, bite-sized cupcakes that she made. They were so yummy! They look complicated and difficult, but the process was actually quite simple.  Here's what she did:

1)  Bake a chocolate cake and let it cool.

2)  Crumble the cake into a mixing bowl and add one container of pre-made frosting.

3) Mix well and then roll the mixture into little balls, like truffles.  Then set aside.

4)  Then, melt some dark almond bark (chocolate).  Pour into candy molds that are shaped like cupcake papers or Reese's Peanut Butter bars.

5)  After cooling and hardening, place a small cake ball on top of chocolate base.

6)  Melt some white almond bark and add food coloring in your favorite color.  Dip the cake portion of the base into the melted almond bark mixture.

7)  Decorate with sprinkles, eatable glitter, or other decorations of choice.  Allow to cool

8)  Present on a pretty tray and garnish as desired.  Enjoy to the MAX!

Happy Birthday, Karleen!

The Gurgling Fish!

It's always fun when a friend comes to visit. Tari's been my friend since we were 15 years old and met at piano lessons. Recently she came for lunch and we had a pleasant time visiting and eating together.

We have birthdays just days apart. Her gift to me is on the table. Can you guess what it is? It's the cobalt blue fish pitcher in the center of the table. It is so whimsical and more! It is called a GurglePot.

It was designed by Matt Ellison and with the pitcher comes this story:  "Years ago, I attended my brother's wedding in a small village in Southern France. Since there were no hotels in town, all guests were matched with French hosts. My hosts spoke no English and I spoke no French which made the dinner conversation a challenge. Long stretches of awkward silences were compounded by the fact that French dinners can last for 3 - 4 hours. There was, however, one saving grace --- a fish shaped water pitcher that 'gurgled'. I found myself drinking more water than wine so I could fill the silent room with 'gurgling' and unite the table with smiles."

The story of the GurglePot continues by Matt saying that he was "inspired by the lighthearted affect of the gurgling sound, I returned home and began sculpting my own version. Ten years, two kids, 15 molds and one typhoon off the coast of China later, I can finally share the GurglePot with you."

How fun it was to have the GurglePot on our luncheon table! It is true. It produces a delightful "gurgling" sound as trapped air is released from the tail after pouring. Gurgle. Gurgle. Smile!

Tasha Tudor Day

Today Clarice at Storybook Woods and some of her friends have implemented Tasha Tudor Day in commemoration of Miss Tudor's birthday. Each year for the past four, Clarice has shared memories of how this special woman touched her life and those of her friends.

Be sure to stop by Clarice's blog so you can participate in this special event! Here she shares pictures of garments that remind her of Tasha. And here is her post today which celebrates Tasha's legacy.

Happy Birthday to the memory of Tasha Tudor!

Tea & Tasha

Beloved Tasha Tudor, author and illustrator of many books and gardener extraordinaire, passed away at her home in Marlboro, Vermont on July 18, 2008. She was born in Boston, Massachusetts on August 28, 1915 and was named after her father, Starling Burgess. But her father, who enjoyed Tolstoy's War and Peacepreferred to call her Natasha after a character in the book. Her mother's friends would sometimes refer to her as Rosamund Tudor's daughter. Tasha liked the sound of the name Tasha Tudor, and eventually had her name legally changed to reflect this preference. 

Ms. Tudor received many awards and honors for her exceptional contribution to literature. A Caldecott Honor was given for her work for Mother Goose in 1945 and again in 1957 for the book 1 is One. She also received the Regina Medal in 1971 for her contributions to children's literature. Her prose was always simple and captivating, frequently including rhyming text. Enchanting illustrations were detailed and realistic in soft colors that seemed to fade away onto the page. She was known for her love of nature and flowers, birds, and other charming animals were frequently featured in her art. 

Some of the books she wrote and illustrated are:

Pumpkin Moonshine
A Tale for Easter
Snow before Christmas
Thistly B
The Dolls' Christmas
Edgar Allan Crow
Amanda and the Bear

A is for Annebelle
1 is One
A Time to Keep
Corgiville Fair
Tasha Tudor's Seasons of Delight
The Great Corgiville Kidnapping

Tasha Tudor was one of the great artists of the 20th century. Her love for illustrating New England nostalgia and sentimental illustrations that made one think of a bygone era. She lived her life as she dreamed, simply and sustainably, preferring the old-fashioned in both lifestyle and dress. For 92 years the world has been blessed by her presence and contribution to American culture, literature, and art. Although she is gone from us now, her legacy and spirit will live on through the work she so fluently contributed to all. 

The photographs today are taken from one of my favorite books: Tasha Tudor's Garden by Tovah Martin and Richard W. Brown.

Altered Tea Box

Have you ever  bought something that is in a unique container and you just cannot help but re-purpose that container for something else? Sometimes a food container or shoe box is just too unique to throw away! I really love the boxes that tea comes in from Steven Smith, Teamaker because they are sturdy and unique. Instead of throwing them away, I've tried to think of ways to use them in other ways. Recently, for a friend's birthday, I used scrap booking papers to decorate one of these tea boxes. Tari loved it! I don't know how she decided to use her box, but it could be storage for tea sachets, recipes, hair clips, tickets, stickers, receipts, or small keepsakes. Before I wrapped it up for her, I couldn't help but take some pictures so I could have a little "show and tell" with you! 

Let's Party!

"Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!"

~ Robin Williams ~

A little vase of snowdrops sits atop a chocolate cake. Its presence encourages celebration, of both spring and a birthday. Fresh flowers make such a nice presentation on a cake and are much more fresh and vibrant than ones made out of sugar frosting.

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SPRING!!!

Happy Birthday, Sally

August is here, bringing late summer flowers and a birthday!  We were happy to celebrate Sally's twenty-fifth birthday with her this week-end.  A chocolate cake with chocolate frosting was in order!  

Brown-eyed Susan's, cone flowers, pinks, roses, and lavender in simple vases brought life to the table as homespun centerpieces. 

The mix of purple, pink, and yellow created an eclectic mix of cheer.

Local watermelons are ripe and so tasty.  I enjoy local melons because the farmer's make sure they are well-ripened in the field before harvesting them.  A friend shared her recipe for watermelon and sweet-onion salad with me and it was yummy!  Orange segments, jalapeno peppers, and cilantro added much depth of flavor.

Recently I've been trying my hand at spring rolls as well.  They are so simple and very tasty!  The wraps are made from tapioca or rice starch.  They look like hard, translucent crackers and can be found at the Asian market.  There's no cooking of the wraps involved.  Instead, soak the wrap in a bowl of warm water and then remove, drip dry a bit, and place on a plate.  Then add a filling of choice.  I used a filling of stir-fried vegetables with tofu, seasonings, and soy sauce for the one pictured above.  For another option I made a fruit salad of mango, apricot, and cantaloupe that was served with a cherry fruit sauce.  

Fortunately Sally stuck by while we sang Happy Birthday to her!  We had a false start and were a bit off-key, I'm afraid!  She blew out all the candles at once, so she's in for a great year!

Gift time included some beautiful prints, patterns, and notions.  A tiered sun-dress in pink and orange is option one.

And a turquoise tunic is option two.  I stopped a woman about Sally's age at the fabric store to ask her opinion on prints and colors.  I figured she'd set me straight if I was way off fashion base!  I made sure I asked someone who looked like she knew something about style or it could have been disastrous!

Of course Sally needed something to stitch the garments together with, so a new sewing machine was in order as well.  Since Sally's career involves being a computer expert, we made sure her sewing machine was computerized as well.  A girl can never have too many computers!

Happy Birthday to you, Sally!!!!

All the best for the year ahead!

Happy Birthday, Friend!

Happy Birthday, to my friend, Karleen!


Wishing you all the best in the year ahead!  
Happy adventures to you!

Happy Birthday, Tari

Special birthday wishes to my friend, Tari. Your creativity and passion for life always inspires me. Friends since our teens, our mutual interests and perspectives on life provide common ground, while our dramatic differences keep life interesting. Having a friend who can wield a hammer and wire a house, as well as whip up a floral design and stitch a lovely seam, exibits diversity not seen in many. Hours of deep and thoughtful conversations over cups of Yunnan Gold seal the deal. This friendship is for "keeps". I hope the year ahead is blessed with many good things. Enjoy your day! Happy birthday to you!

Talk Like a Pirate

 

The pirate speaks,"Every beach town seems t' have its own version o' pirate fun! Most o' us be familiar with Captain Jack Sparrow and t' quirky kind o' pirate adventure he brin's t' t' big screen. Even grown up lads seem t' find intrigue and humor in pirate lore. Pirate food, attire, and trinkets be abundant in any seaside down worth its salt! Our seaside town had enough t' brin' a smile t' everyone's face. "

Time & a Perfect Day

When sharing time with friends, it is always interesting to observe what decisions people make regarding use of their recreational time.  "What shall we do today?" is a question asked each morning.  Responses vary and a melding of ideas occurs.  Tradition (things done or places visited on other trips) decrees that some things simply must happen.  Individuals new to the group come with their own, unique ideas.  Answers range from walking the beach (a must for each visit to the ocean) to shopping in the quaint little town nearby.  Favorite bookstores must be visited, fudge or caramel corn purchased in tiny candy shops, and trinkets examined in stores where shopkeepers work to vend the most unique things they can find.  Seagulls and sea lions beg be fed.  And it is always entertaining that fishing boats observed.  No matter what the activity, relaxation occurs (yes, even with shopping).  Lively conversation over a cup of tea and an afternoon nap cap off the days activities.  A perfect day.  

Wired with Friends

There are several things required for a get-away week-end when a group is involved.  You need adequate space (places to take a nap and sleep), a clean kitchen with lots of space for food, and Internet!  Twenty-somethings are fully wired these days!  So are fifty-somethings!  If the beach isn't right outside the door, that's alright.  A meandering walk to its sandy shore allows for many things to see along the way.  Kids, kites, cozy couples, dogs, quaint houses, driftwood, and more all entertain as footsteps lead to miles of sandy shoreline and the magnificent crash of waves!  Today, as we experience a wintry day at home, with temperatures in the teens, memory recalls the milder temperatures of the coast and a half-dozen or more flowers we observed in bloom.  Little things create pleasant memories that carry us through the rest of winter as we anticipate spring.  The ocean in the winter is one of my favorite things!

Sea Quest

The winter has been long, gray, and chilly.  News of a sunny week-end at the beach was welcome as we turned our wheels toward the beach.  The great Pacific did not disappoint!  Waves and sunshine mixed with the fellowship of family and friends created a lovely meld of activities inside and outdoors.  A pleasant surprise, miniature daffodils blooming beside the rental house, added an extra touch of cheer!

A Birthday Greeting

 

Happy birthday to my friend, Sharon!  

Wishing you all the best in the year ahead and a most wonderful day!

Someone Had a Birthday!

A trip to the beauty salon is  always an adventure, especially since the stylists are so friendly and like to have a good time.  Last week was AJ's 40th birthday, and everyone pulled together to plan a day of celebration at the beauty shop.  The theme was "rest in peace, youthfulness", although AJ still looks just as young as ever!  Black was the color of the day in balloons, streamers, attire, and table decor.  Cake and punch was served to all!  And somewhere in all the festivities some haircuts and manicures still occurred, but at a jolly pace on such a high day!  Happy Birthday, AJ!  Great job, Terri, Heidi, Toni, Corinna, Atina, Nancy, Shelley, and Rita!  You planned a great party!

Click on the picture to enlarge.

It's a Special Day!

 

"One faithful friend is enough for a [wo]man's self, 'tis much to meet with such a one, yet we can't have to many for the sake of others."

~ Jean de la Bruyere ~

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KARLEEN


*Photo:  Karleen's ever welcoming front stoop.*

Happy Birthday, Paula

Wishing a happy and sunny day to Paula,
as it's her birthday!

May the year ahead be bright with blessings.
It's such fun to have a friend who inspire me so!

Birthday Luncheon

Karleen came for lunch today so we could celebrate her birthday. It was fun to chat and relax in the quiet of the day. Our menu today was:

Chilled Cucumber Soup with Whole Wheat Toast Points
Herb, Veggie & Viola Salad with Cashew Dressing
Vegetable Tofu Quiche
Saucy Fruit Salad with Dark Chocolate
Barley Tea
Sparkling Apple Juice

Recipes are posted at my My Cozy Kitchen.