I know people in Australia. People I’ve never met face to face. I’ve shard with them the frustrations of trying to lose weight and I’ve heard details about their lives and shared with them things form my life as well.
I have a Christian friend in Florida whose friendship and love of the Lord makes my day brighter. I’ve never met her face to face either but I would miss her if I could never again communicate with her.
If it were not for the web, these friendships would not be possible.
Through the web, I have seen incredible beauty. I’ve watched video clips that have; amazed me, made me laugh, made me cry and made we wonder what the world is coming to if it is possible for me to view such horror and devastation.
I have also followed the adventures of a pioneer woman. I have seen women created lovely things with their own two hands. I have had women share their love of Parisian art and food with me which has sparked my interest in Paris and the beauty and wonder to be discovered and hopefully some mysteries still left for me to uncover when I managed to travel there one day.
I cannot imagine life without the internet. Without my computer for I doubt I would be willing to write as much as I do if I had to be careful about not making mistakes unless they could be easily corrected. I hate scratching out mistakes on paper or having to start over and toss a whole page when your almost at the end of it because of a typo. Thankfully, those days are gone.
My grandmother was born in the early 1900’s and lived to see the space shuttle. Can you imagine going from horse and buggy to space shuttle?
I’m still trying to figure out why we don’t yet have transporter technology.
I remember once when my grandma thought she could take her kitchen phone with her in the car to run errands because it didn’t have a cord therefore it was, ‘mobile’. She also got a big kick out of pre-sliced pickles when they first came out. Can YOU remember having to slice your own pickles lengthwise for a sandwich? I can.
From leeches and blood letting, to MRI’s and skin graphs. From the telegraph and Morse code, to satellite phones and the internet. From wooden rafts to submarines,it has been an amazing ride and I’m glad I get to come along s; sit down, and hang on tight because it’s far from over and I can’t wait to see what is on the next horizon.
It’s fall in the mountains which means Aspen leaves of gold shimmering and quaking all a long the mountains. It is a beautiful site.
Fall is the perfect time for a tea party. It is warm enough to host it out doors but cool enough to enjoy a pot of hot tea.
Whether you choose to have it inside, or out, your fall tea should include something pumpkin flavored, apple flavored and maybe even hints of maple flavor here and there. What are your creative ideas for fall?
When I married my dear, sweet, hubby on 12/04/2004, I never changed my name on my social security card. I guess it was my way of retaining a smidgen of my previous identity. Why? Not sure maybe it’s that stubborn independent streak in me that I’m sure will never be quite broken.
Well, after a TWO hour wait(are you kidding me?! there’s only ONE lady at the window?!) the paperwork is wending it’s way to the imaginary land of social security cards where a new one is being created with my married name in bold black letters instead of my maiden name. it’s ok, I like my married name better. it’s easier for people to understand it when I say it and almost 99.99% of the population can spell it. Woohoo!
What a great cake! It was so tasty! My head is at a weird angle because I wanted to make sure people could see hubby. Doesn’t my spray tan look fantastic? Only problem was that it was coming off of my fingers making them look like I had leprosy so no close ups of our hands gently clasped over the ring pillow. Get out those killer sleeves, baby! Man! I’d wear my wedding dress all the time if I could. I love that dress!
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My mom decorated this gazebo and she had strep throat and was sicker than a dog. Go mom! See the bible? It’s the family bible on my side of the family. If you don’t have God in your life, in your marriage, everything is so much harder! Here is a great bible link for you if you’re ever feeling the need to look up a verse of get to know God better. Bible Gateway.
So many women, dress all in black,
knowledge of couture, they never lack,
looking all the while, as if behind they should follow,
that fella in the casket on his back.
Oh, give me things that are pink,
from my shoes to my hat and if I could even my cat!
Oh, how I love the color pink.
It makes me look younger,
and oh! so much funner,
when I’m dressed head to toe all in PINK!
Today’s movie is Open Range starring Kevin Costner, Robert Duval and Annette Benning. Set during the 1880’s old west, this movie is about the friendship between men, men who get the job done (in this case some butt whopping and cattle herding) and yes, there is a bit of a love story between Costner’s character and Benning’s though there could have been a bit more in my opinion. There is a funny tea scene that ends up leading the viewer to one of the most touching scenes in the movie. At first, I wasn’t too sure about this movie. I thought it was just going to be manly, bloody and violent but by the end, I was cheering for the courage it takes to love and be loved especially when you’ve almost given up on it ever being in your life.Check it out, I think you’ll like it.
The other night I went over to my sister’s house for a dry rub lettering party. It’s big words you can rub onto your walls and make them look nice and say something about yourself to the people who visit your home.I had a great time except for one thing. My sister has a papillon; small dog, big heart, even BIGGER ears. I love this dog. I fur babysat her when I was single and my sister would go on overnight trips with her family. So, what’s the problem? The dog sat on everyone else’s lap but mine! My sister says it’s because the dog already knows I love her. I think she was being a brat, although, when my husband and I were dating, Rocket (that’s the dogs name, ask my nephew) would sit on my to be husband while he was at my sister’s house. Not in a, I- want -love- pet- me- I’m- cute, sort of way, but a, I’m- holding- you -down- so- you- don’t- cause- any- trouble, sort of way. She really thinks highly of her protective skills that way. Twelve pounds of fluff vs. a grown man. Here are pictures of her ‘Viciousness’. Oh and notice how she’s the color of autumn!
Rubber squeeker, you’re the one! You make livin’ lots of fun! Rubber squeeker I’m awfully fond of you! Boo, boo bedoop!
I could just look at those soft pink ears for hours! I know, it’s an illness.
Here is my contribution to the Make Mine Pink virtual tea.
First of all, here I am dressed in some fancy tea attire.
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The cup and saucer and the dinner plate were my Grandmother Pauli-Hagemeier’s. She out lived both of her husbands and died a year and a half ago at the age of 93.
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The teacup flower arrangement was made by my mother and given to me this year, with three others, for my fortieth birthday. The pink ceramic doll is supposed to be glued to the base of a lamp, and it was at one time. Together the doll, and lamp illuminated, and decorated my very pink bedroom when I was a child.
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Here is another view of the doll. Isn’t my mother talented?
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And on an entirely separate note, here is a picture of some blue and peach Hydrangeas I painted on a wooden magazine rack.
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After seeing all the wonderful creations festooned with sugar glitter, I decided to go out and buy my own. Hobby Lobby is having a sale on their glitter and glitter glue…50% off. Please stock up so that I may view more of your wonderful creations.
Ihave had many visitors of late, especially from Make Mine Pink. The only problem is, I don’t know who you are.
Why not say, ‘hi’ or comment on a post, past or present? I will not spam said Sam I am. I will not spam you from a boat, I will not spam you on a goat. I will not, cannot spam you here or there or anywhere. 
I’ve been surfin’ around looking at what’s out there and being blessed by what I see. Women with lovely websites all pink and pretty with roses and such but what is really amazing to me, is how many talented and creative persons are out there on the web. I doubt they would be able to have their creative work shown to so many people with out the www. Now, instead of their work being limited to local craft fairs, (but oh how I miss craft fairs!) people from all over are able to log on and see what others are doing and purchase what they see.
Our local craft fairs have turned into professional retail booths and professional art shows. Nothing wrong with either. I love art and I love to shop.
I miss seeing though, things made by people’s hands in the early morning hours or late at night when the house is quiet and they are free to create. I love cottage industry.
Keep crafting and posting your creations. I’m sure I’m not the only one who loves eye candy!
1.Have an invitation only open house.
2.Serve the food buffet style with piles of sandwiches, scones, finger foods like stuffed dates or mini quiches, etc., have plenty of beverages on hand especially tea of course!
3.Keep things casual.
4.Have a set time frame for example; 2-7. This way, those with children can chose to come while the kids are in school and save the evening for family time while those who work will have time to stop by when their work time is over but before heading home for the evening.
5.Use upscale throw away dishes and cutlery thick enough to with stand any gooey foods but nice enough to look special. Don’t use those cheap paper plates where you have to use five just so that the weight of a mini marshmallow won’t crumple the plate.
6.Invite either people from the houses around you; each side and front and back, or just the length of one block of houses for your street.
7.Chose whether or not you want to make it a themed tea.
8. Decide if you want to make it a pot luck tea where everyone brings something to eat.
9.Decide if you are going to have games for adults and children or just children so that the adults may visit with each other while the kids are distracted.
10.Have fun!
I’ll bet you didn’t know you can change the world with a cup of tea, did you? Through out history, women have gathered together to discuss social and political issues in need of change. When you invite friends and acquaintances over to your home to break bread together, what do you do besides eat?-you talk. A news headline here, a story from the internet there, conversations start and if an issue is important enough, perhaps a committee will star:League of Women Voters, Second Amendment Sisters,-business groups; Business and Professional Women, National Association of Women Business Owners,- groups for social change; Women Against Violence and Pornography in the Media, Liberty Belles, etc.
Now, I’m not saying these women sit around a table sipping tea and discussing world events, they might, I don’t know. What I am saying is that if there is something going on today in the world that you want to change, or something to which you want to draw attention, consider hostessing an afternoon to discuss it with other women. You don’ t have to go overboard with food, in fact, you could make it a potluck tea and have each guest bring a dish from a specific category while you provide the table settings and beverages.
Sit down before the tea and draft an outline of expectations including how individuals will address the group, acceptable behavior, and what will not be tolerated. If you set up guidelines ahead of time, people know what to expect if they breech meeting etiquette. For more on this, please visit Laura’s site. She has some great ideas on how to ensure groups run more smoothly.
These are tumultuous times in our nation. Get involved. Be the change you want to see.
Last year on Mother’s Day, I attended the Balmoral Tea at Montague’s Coffee House located at 1019 S. Tejon, in Colorado Springs. I was very disappointed in what they had to offer for their afternoon tea.
I have been to Montague’s many times before to enjoy their lunches or to just sit and enjoy a delicious and very inexpensively priced pot of tea. Based on my lunch experience, I was expecting a special treat to enjoy with my companions that day. What we got, however, was not what I expected.
For $15.00 a person we were ‘treated’ to quite a lot of store bought food which was so much more disappointing to me because I knew they could cook good tasting food but for some reason, it was not present at the afternoon tea. The only things made by hand were a dill and cucumber sandwich and a strawberry dipped in chocolate. The rest of the food was as follows; a tray of carrot sticks and store bought spinache dip with asiago cheese bread cubes and some sliced cheese triangles. The next tray was an assortment of store bought baklava, store bought mini blueberry muffins, store bought chocolate cheese cake, and scones made at Montague’s that were as hard as day old cookies. The final and top tray was an assortment of fresh fruit.
The waitress, who’s apron and clothes were filthy with food, brought out the tray stand of food and the tea pots, and we did not see her for the rest of the meal, not to refill the water goblets, or the tea pots, or to give us our check. Having been to Montague’s before, I knew that ordinarily they were more the, deli counter type service, than at-your-elbow restaurant service, but I expected better service for this sort of meal and when I expressed this to the cashier, she agreed and offered an apology.
I understand that offering an afternoon tea to customers is labor intensive, but what restaurants who offer this need to know is that an afternoon tea means more to a customer than would a regular lunch. We expect to see food presented to us that looks and tastes labor intensive. Afternoon tea is something special. You invite special people to join you. You dress up a little better for afternoon tea than you might for a lunch date. The general feeling and expectation is light hearted fun.
In a scoring process of 1-10, ten being the highest, I give the Balmoral Tea at Montague’s a very flat five. I only scored them that high because I have tasted their hand made food and I know they can do better and the tea was well brewed.
Tea Tip: The Balmoral Tea at Montague’s may also be known as Afternoon Tea. It is not to be confused with High Tea or the ‘Knife and Fork Tea’ which refers to what was known during victorian times as the workman’s or working class dinner. This High Tea was served later in the evening (afternoon tea is served typically from 3-5 pm) and includes heartier fare such as meat and potatoes, denser-darker breads, fish, bacon, cheeses and pies.
The next time you invite your friends over for tea, make sure to call it by it’s proper name. If it’s a fancy affair with dainty tea sandwiches, scones with lemon curd, jam and clotted cream, you are inviting them to Afternoon Tea.
There seems to be some interest in this as I am getting hits on my site looking for recipes and ways to do this, so, I’m going to help you all out-a bit.
In the December 2006 edition of Southern Lady magazine, there is an article on Jo’s Whipping Cream Pound Cake. Now, I did try this recipe and for me, it contained too much sugar. The author of the article wrote that she ‘tweaked’ the baking time and created ‘Cuppa Cakes’ mini cakes baked in oven safe tea cups. The teacups pictured look quite a bit more substantial than your run-of-the-mill teacup.
I would recommend starting out with a ramekin then graduating to ceramic, oven-safe mugs then ceramic, oven-safe teacups. I don’t know if I would risk a teacup but perhaps you could purchase some at a local thrift shop so you don’t risk breaking grandma’s antique china.
I hope this helps and here is a link to
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Here is a recipe where a teacup is used to measure the ingredients: Teacup Bread
and another: Civil War Corn Bread
Someone visited my blog from the Czech Republic. Here is a link to the official web site of the Czech Republic.
October will be the start for me as September is full of meetings. I was hoping to have a tea for the ladies in leadership at the new church my husband and I are attending, however, there are more lady leaders than chairs, so I’m going to do it on a first come, first served basis with a sign up sheet in the foyer.
I am going to make squash scones and mock Devonshire cream, perhaps some tuna fluffies, chicken salad sandwiches and a roast beef sandwich with horseradish sauce and an assortment of desserts.
How is your 3+1 club going? What? You haven’t done ANYTHING with it yet? Well, get on the ball. There are spiritually hungry people out there who need light and life and a 3+1 club is a good start.
Look for the 3+1 page for more information.