Teacup Rose & Friendship

It feels so good to have a friend on whom you can depend. A friend can help to mend a heart, boost you toward a brand-new start, clown with carefree schoolgirl glee, share a quiet cup of tea.

Jan Miller, Pals

Thinking of my tea-loving, kindred spirit friend whom I've been friends with since high school. Thank you for this beautiful teacup, RuthAnn.

A Stitchin' Good Time

Our quilt guild met today for our scheduled sewing. Karleen started things off with a short business meeting and then we had "show and tell". Although it's summer and we had fewer in attendance, there were a lot of beautiful quilts to enjoy.

Mary showed us a Mystery Quilt she made awhile back. It's beautiful, isn't it?

Her granddaughter is graduating high school next week-end, and she made this lovely "film" quilt for her. What a wonderful surprise it will be! The pictures she chose to print on fabric are of her granddaughter, friends, family, and special buddy. That buddy came to check things out today. Adorable!

Karleen calls these the peacock quilts, because the prints are peacock themed. They were stitched by one of her friends and quilted by one of our guilt members. Both of these quilts are gifts for an upcoming family reunion. Someone sure will be lucky to receive them!

Louise is the first in our guild to complete this year's Mystery Quilt. It is gorgeous!

And we had a little visitor today named Joaquin. He kept himself entertained by playing Minecraft on his iPad while his mother cut out quilt blocks.

As is customary, we all looked forward to potluck and all the yummy foods that people brought. The conversation was just as good. My tea thermos came with me today, filled with Yorkshire tea. It was a good day.

Cheery Cherry Macaroons

Cheery Cherry Macaroons are a wonderful meld of pecan and almond, coconut, and cherries! Perfect with a cup of tea or packed into a lunch box, they are a special culinary treat. Thanks to my friend, Nancy, for sharing this wonderful recipe.

Cheery Cherry Macaroons

• 3 cups flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup butter
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. almond extract
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup maraschino cherries, chopped
• 1/2 cup pecans, chopped
• 2 cups coconut

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine all ingredients except maraschino cherries, pecans, and coconut. Beat at low speed for 2 - 3 minutes. Then stir in maraschino cherries and pecans. Drop by teaspoonful into the coconut and roll cookies into 1" balls. Bake for 15 - 20 minutes until light brown. Remove from heat and then allow to stand on cookie sheet for at least one minute. Remove from cookie sheet. Enjoy!

The Tea Towel Swap

The washing of dishes does seem to me the most absurd and unsatisfactory business that I ever undertook.  If, when once washed, they would remain clean forever and ever (which they ought in all reason to do, considering how much trouble it is), there would be less occasion to grumble; but no sooner it is done, than it requires to be done again.  On the whole, I have come to the resolution not to use more than one dish at each meal.

Nathaniel Hawthorne - 1844
 [written while Mrs. Hawthorne was away!]

The tea group, Afternoon Tea Across America, conducted an embroidered tea towel exchange several years ago. Some are requesting that we do it again, so I thought I would find pictures of some of the tea towels that I stitched or received so that any newcomers might see what we did. Each month, each participant would exchange a hand-stitched tea towel with their assigned partner. These heart tea towels were the first ones that I stitched.

This tea towel was one I stitched for Val for our November exchange. I chose a Christmas theme in keeping with the holiday season. I enjoyed stitching in "redwork". The towel is hemmed and then trimmed with red, checked bias tape and narrow lace trim.

Stitched for Karleen

This tea towel is stitched on linen. Usually I embroider tea towels on thin "flour sack" fabric, so it took me awhile to get used to the feel of the needle through linen, but I ended up really liking stitching on linen once all was said and done.

Here is the same pattern, but stitched on flour sack type fabric. The stitched design has been colored with colored pencils which were heat set after stitching.

And yet another of the morning glory pattern. This was stitched on cotton and colored with wax crayons and then heat set.

I stitched many primitive teacup tea towels. Each was unique with details that varied. This one has my initial stitched in each circle.

The vintage lady tea towels were stitched on linen. Vicki was my swap partner for each of these months. I found that stitching faces was a bit more challenging than flowers. But I really liked how these turned out.

A button on the top completed this teapot tea towel. I think this may have gone to Patricia.

Another teacup tea towel. This time stylized tulips were stitched instead of roses. I think this was an Easter exchange.

Same pattern, with colored roses and a new design in the teacup.

Stitched by Val

Stitched for Gwen

Stitched for Val

Stitched by Patricia

Stitched by Val

Stitched by Sandra

A Time to Speak

Blessings are words of affirmation and love spoken to another.  When a person speaks these words and then exhibits them by action or deed, the person receiving the words and deeds is blessed beyond measure.  Gary Smalley and John Trent speak of the five elements of the blessing in their book by the same title.  These elements are a meaningful touch, a spoken message, the attachment of high value to the one being blessed, the creation of a word picture of the special future perceived to the one being blessed, and an active commitment to fulfill the blessing.  Although all individuals can share the blessing with their loved ones, family members have a greater opportunity to pass this blessing along to their off-spring or spouse simply because of the dedicated amount of time they spend together. The creation of a warm and responsive environment facilitates a positive sense of self-worth in children and a spouse, blesses them, and helps them develop intellectually and to his or her full potential.  

Althought it may be a little easier to pass along the blessing to those we live with, simply because we spend so much time with them, it is also possible and important to share the blessing with our friends as well. Although sometimes it is good to sit quietly and listen, letting silence speak, there are times that it is very important to speak. . .with words. Simply silence is sometimes not enough. A friend read my earlier blog post where I quoted Rahel Remen and she said to me that the "silent" quote really struck a sour note with her. She said there have been several times in her life when just a few words from someone have been so comforting and life changing. And those at those times that she felt she was met with silence that felt cold and distant. She has a good point. For anyone supporting a friend in need, I think it is important that we be intuitive and sensitive, seeking to listen when we should, and affirm by words and action when more is needed. It is my friends who sit and listen to me as I express concerns, thoughts, and feelings that are the ones I connect with most. They listen, have compassion, and they understand. Usually they lovingly offer wise advice and counsel, helping me see which direction I need to take or expressing care about something in life that is concerning me. A glass of cold water or a cup of hot tea shared together during times of need, along with their time, their attention, a listening ear, and words of wisdom help to ground me and aid me in going on with life admidst concerns of my heart. As Ecclesiasted 3:8 says: there is a time to remain silent, and a time to speak up. If only each of us had enough intuition to know when to listen and when to speak. Words can be a strong force for encouragement and care. Take time to craft them carefully and offer the blessing to those you hold dear.

A Wonderful Day in the Neighborhood

 

It's not uncommon for someone who enjoys the experience of afternoon tea to have a buddy to share the experience with. I feel so blessed that my friend and neighbor, Karleen, enjoys sharing tea times with me. When she heard that the traveling teapot was at my house awhile back, she invited us to come by for a luncheon tea party. Her invitation said to just "bring yourself and the tea pot". 

Our style is to enjoy the entire process. When the teapot and I arrived, Karleen set me to work arranging a bouquet of flowers. We walked in her garden, selecting blossoms we thought would look pretty on the tea table.

 

 Karleen lives along the river and there's a beautiful view from her living room. So that's where she moved a table and chairs. A quilt, an heirloom from a grandmother, made a pretty tablecloth. Another grandmother's china was set on the table along with some muslin napkins that Karleen had stitched. The floral bouquet and some vintage postcards set the scene for our tea luncheon. 

 

Karleen had prepared a lovely menu of delicious, fresh foods.

 

A cheese and crackers platter was arranged with springs of tarragon, rosemary, lavender, and purple grapes.

 

A colorful "chopped salad" featured toasted pecans and a light vinaigrette. It was delicious!



Deviled eggs were beautifully presented on a tray with a sprig of lavender from the garden.

Fruit kabobs of strawberries, grapes, kiwi, and pineapple were vibrant! Additionally, Karleen served a bowl of cubed watermelon.

Can you see the teapot shaped cheese? Yummy!

Vintage postcards from Karleen's collection added a personal touch to the table.

Everything was so inviting, beautiful, and delicious!

The teapot was set last and took center stage on the beautiful table.

Our tea choice was Buckingham Palace English Afternoon Tea. It was a gift to me from Karleen after her recent trip to London. How fun it was to sip on tea in Karleen's living room that she had purchased at the Queen of England's palace!

Afterwards, dessert was served in the garden.

Thank you, Karleen, for inviting the traveling teapot and me over for a relaxing luncheon tea. Your warm hospitality and friendship is a treasure and a blessing!