Average Afternoon

A quiet respite...tea on the porch...until the invasion...look out!
 







At least I'll be safe from invaders.

Well, OTHER invaders....

Pictures from the End of Summer

Waiting happily for my friend to arrive for Bible Study.

I love to say it usually doesn't look like this, but it does.  There is always a project, or twenty, going on.  I was going to do a nice post, and I still plan to, on my kitchen remodel, but this is simply the everyday picture of reality.  The pot on the stove is full of wild plums cooking so I can skim the pits out and make fruit leathers.  The crock-pot is full of oil and herbs for a new batch of Healing Balm.  The big baskets on the counter are full of windfall pears, a neighbor's tomatoes, and some early apples.  All the stuff on the island is what I'm working on for gift baskets to sell.  The four pumpkins are ones that were ripe already in the garden.  Two are now on the porch for decoration, one became dinner and some desserts and one is still sitting here next to me.  Between my Seasons~Autumn Board and my Farmhouse Kitchen Cooking Board, I've got lots of uses for the thirty or so pumpkins I've got growing!
Actually, I just looked around and noticed everything is done and the counters are really pretty clean!  Well, there is still a pile of new baskets I washed drying on the counter behind me.  I'm planning on using my late afternoons and evenings to really get cracking on making all my stuff for the sales.

All the kids love to watch and play with the chickens.  Cupcake is a bit to small still to just roam with them, but she's loves to feed them with me.  She and Pumpkin were watching these guys.

The chicks sure have grown!  We're down to four, but they seem to be going strong.

I love tea.  Have I mentioned that before?

Cupcake loves olives, so he sure enjoyed these guys. I was inspired by this pin.

Sometimes we all play with our food.

Even Pumpkin liked the penguins although he doesn't like olives to eat, they were fun to play with.

My zinnias have been a source of delight this summer.  Definitely something to grow every year.

Just a little pretty I've had for years.

After redoing the kitchen, I moved my odds and ends out of the dining room built in, put down vintage shelf paper I bought years ago, and filled the cupboard with my canning and my dried herbs in jars.  I like it.

Now, the cool mornings and lessons make me feel that Autumn has arrived.
It's the best time of year to me.

I took these pictures over the last couple of weeks and just decided to throw together this post while the kiddos are doing chores.  Time to go and get back to the other lessons!

Girl Time

Sweetheart took the boys fishing this afternoon.  So, I put the kettle on and popped some special caramel popcorn.  Cupcake and I are watching "Anne of Green Gables" for some serious girl time.  It's getting late enough now that I'm thinking a fish dinner just is not going to happen tonight.  Glad I stashed an extra pizza in the freezer the last time I made pizzas.
I guess us girls are having pizza and watching more "Anne".
And sipping more tea in this lovely violet teacup a coworker gave me years ago.  It had been her aunt's, or great aunt's. She didn't want it and knew I liked tea so she gave it to me.  I love it.  The violets always make me think of my beautiful Grandmother.  

Tea Time Luncheon

 

 

Now that the kitchen is so much better, I can get back to doing what I love!
Some pretty cucumber sandwiches sprinkled with fresh herbs and our Herbal Salt, tomato sandwiches and wild plum jelly sandwiches brightened up a grey, rainy day.
Served with a cuppa Ginger Peach Tea to warm our tummies and our hearts.




***

Joining up with Rose Chintz Cottage.
And the sweet Bernideen's Tea Link Up.

It Was a Hit!

As were these.  :) 
There were two left which the boys are enjoying as I type.
 
There were about 10 of us that came.  We decided we'll meet every other week for projects and can use the off weeks just to socialize if we want.
The next time we'll work on knitting dishcloths and after that I'll teach everyone how to make an easy skin scrub that works great.  We have a serious gardener, a photographer, a few of us calligraphers, bakers, knitters, and more!  There are oodles of  more new things to learn from one another.

I did cucumber sandwiches, egg salad sandwiches, orange cranberry spice scones, plain and lavender shortbread, chocolate chip mini muffins, and these little chocolate mousses (Joanne's recipe)  with whipped cream, blackberries & lemon balm.  They were yummy!

Getting Ready for Tonight!

Chocolate Mousse

A Welcome Adventure

I am excited about a new adventure. No, no livestock is involved. Yes, Buttercup is still here. Here's to hoping this will be her last week in residence. The good part of her still being here is that I will have plenty of cream for Tuesday night!

I should back up a bit.

A couple of weeks ago I was invited to join a book making class. I instantly said yes. It was my first night out with just ladies in over a year. After being used to my Bunco group each month and dinners out with my dear friend, this has been hard. There is a bit of a dilemna here in town as to what can be done in the evenings as simply nothing is open to just meet up with friends. Except the bar. Not a good option. And there is that problem of a total lack of friends here for me.

So, the last two Tuesdays a sweet gal whose company I really enjoy rented out a room in the library and taught us all how to a handmade book. It was so much fun that we decided we need it to continue. This Tuesday night the ladies will be coming here for tea and to talk about what we want to do next! Doesn't that sound wonderful?

She is willing to teach more book making classes, but we also want to see what others enjoy doing and teaching. She and I are the same age and we both have younger kids. Everyone else seems to have grown kids. :) Learning new things and teaching things are good, but we are also looking forward to just hanging out with people over the age of six for a few hours.

I have no idea what I know that anyone else might be interested in, but we'll just see. Any suggestions?

Revisiting Some Old Thoughts on Tea-Needing the Reminder

“Taste and see that the LORD is good,” the Psalmist says. 

Stop for a moment and think about this statement. We eat and drink in our society almost without thinking. Whether we are indifferent to the food in our mouths, and eating not because we are hungry but simply bored, or consuming everything so quickly that we need not notice it, we are constantly filling our mouths usually without thought. We may race through the drive-thru and eat as we drive. We may gulp down our drinks to quench our thirst without tasting them.

But taking tea is different, or should be different. We can’t rush the process. Yes, we can grab a teabag and nuke our water in a mug. That’s not what I am talking about. I am talking about planning a menu, baking special treats like scones, whipping the cream, slicing the crusts off the sandwiches, and putting on the kettle to boil. Taking the extra moment to pick some flowers, to light a candle, select the music, to place out the linen napkins, these are the things that make tea not just any meal.

Our approach to God can be like that. Do we rush through our devotions only taking the time to pray as we are racing around in the car? Can we really devote our thoughts to Him as we drive? Would you, like me, end up merely praying that the car in front of you would get out of your way? Are we just flipping through our Bibles reading whatever verses or chapters happen to be on the page as it falls open? Do we read so fast so that we simply get through the number of verses or pages we think is the bare minimum we can get a way with and not feel guilty about?

Or could we stop a moment. Plan our time, both when and how we will spend time with Him. Set aside a time a place to focus on the LORD. Clear our minds as we calm our hearts to spend some focused time steeping ourselves in his word. Oh, that our tea for two may be a special time with Him each day! Maybe we could approach our devotional as though He is our special guest for tea.

We could find a peaceful corner where we keep our Bible and any devotional material we wish to use. Maybe we light a candle, turn on some music. As we put the kettle on we may sing our praise to Him as the kettle sings. While we wait for the tea to steep we can be clearly our minds of the distractions we face. Maybe during that three to five minutes you could find yourself praying for forgiveness. You may pray for God to speak to you in this time with Him.

As you pour your tea into the cup, ask God to pour out His love on you that you in turn may pour out love and blessings on the people He will bring your way. As you hold the cup in your hand, pause and breathe in the scent of the tea you have chosen. Thank Him for choosing you to be His child. Pray that your words and thoughts would be a pleasing aroma to Him. 

Then, take a drink. Drink deeply. Let the tea fill your mouth as thoughts of Him fill your mind. Read His word and let it steep in your heart and mind. Taste and see that He is indeed good. By slowing down and focusing, your will find the memories of your times with Him to be pleasant as taking tea with your best friend. 

***Reposted from the Archives

Tea

It's time for a tea party. Soon.

Tea Time in No Time At All!

A few weeks ago when I had so many wonderful friends and family in town I made scones four times. Some were plain and used for strawberry shortcakes, some were sprinkled with Vanilla Sugar and some had chocolate chips. All were yummy. Too yummy!

I did a quick tea time with my darling niece to enjoy one afternoon after we made lipbalm and while we watched "Anne of Green Gables". She thought the lipbalm smelled like tea as we were blending it. Too cute! It had peppermint, lavender, and clove oils so it did smell like tea.

I asked if she'd like some tea like it. She agreed so I blended plain black tea with lavender and mint from the garden and added a few whole cloves. It turned out great! I whipped up a batch of scones and we watched our movie together.

The second batch was made a few days later when a dear, sweet friend from high school came over for a visit while she was in town. I made us a salad with grilled chicken. I had mixed up the scones and just asked if she wanted currants or chocolate chips. Chocolate chips it was! We sat with our scones and a pot of Earl Grey and visited while the boys napped.

The third batch were turned into strawberry shortcakes for all the family gathered together for dinner at my Mom's. Whipped cream and strawberries and scones are wonderful.

The fourth batch came the next day when I had a last minute teatime with a friend who I used to teach with that was just in town for the summer. The picture above is one I snapped before they arrived. (She brought a former student of mine as well.)

How does this all relate to the post title? Several ways! By having basic tea things on hand, I am able to just spend a few minutes assembling things and serving others. Using tried and true recipes helps, too. The scone recipe is one I've used for years with excellent results. I know I've posted it before, but just wanted to share it again. It's from If Teacups Could Talk by Emilie
Barnes, one of my favorite tea books.

Not letting perfectionism ruin things is another way I can put a tea time together in a hurry, but not feel rushed. Believe me, I wrecked too many times for myself worrying and fretting about every little detail. Besides, fresh flowers and herbs make anything look and taste better!

When I left the house on Sunday morning, I didn't know what to expect with my friend for that afternoon. I made sure the house was picked up and brewed some iced tea to have on hand. I also cut some fresh herbs from the garden and defrosted a loaf of squash bread. We then spent the morning at my Mom's and with my sister's family before they had to leave town. While I was there, I got the message finalizing the details with my friend.

When we got home, I put the boys down for their naps and went into the kitchen. I put the scones together first. While they were baking, I took out a beautiful tray and sliced the squash bread onto it. I assembled two kinds of sandwiches from things I had on hand--tomato and chicken with herb cream cheese and topped with fresh herbs. I arranged everything on the tray and tucked in sprigs of herbs and edible flowers.

I then filled the kettle with water and the teapot with tea leaves. I got out plates and napkins and even had a few minutes to spare before they arrived. All told, I had everything ready to go in about thirty minutes. It was so nice to just then sit and visit.

How I wish I could have each one of you over for tea! Until then, I will just write to encourage you to let tea and hospitality enrich your life. Just use what you have, served with love it'll be better than you can imagine and will bless you and your friends.


Scones-

Mix together:
2 cups Flour (I usually use whole wheat bc we buy wheat in bulk & mill it ourselves. All-purpose works great, too.)
1 TBL Baking Powder 2 TBL Sugar 1/2 tsp Salt
Add:
6 TBL Butter, cut into small pieces.
Cut the butter into the dry ingredients until it looks like coarse cornmeal.
Add any other things you want. I've done these plain, with fresh berries, with dried fruit, and my favorite--chocolate chips. I usually add about 1/4 cup of whatever. Sometimes I add herbs and spices to taste. Gentle mix everything together.
Add:
1/2 milk or buttermilk
Stir the milk in gently and form the dough together. The less you mess with the dough the better. Gather the dough into a round shape about 1/4-1/2 inch thick. Cut the scones into wedges or with cookie cutters. I like hearts.
You can brush the tops with beaten egg and even sprinkle them with a little sugar, if desired. Bake at 425 degrees for about 15-20 minutes, or until golden.

Afternoon Tea Cake

I made this earlier with a jar of wild plum jam I canned this summer.
Oh my.
Hope there's some left by the time Sweetheart comes home! :)
Here's the recipe. It's simple and tastes sublime with a cup of Earl Grey.

St. Patrick's Day~Thankful for

A quiet tea time~


a cucumber sandwich on Irish Soda Bread


still warm from the oven
~
a pot of hot tea


curtains dancing in the cool breeze

Irish eyes are smiling.

Serious boys, too.

Special Tea Times

“Taste and see that the LORD is good,” the Psalmist says. Stop for a moment and think about this statement. We eat and drink in our society almost without thinking. Whether we are indifferent to the food in our mouths, and eating not because we are hungry but simply bored, or consuming everything so quickly that we need not notice it, we are constantly filling our mouths usually without thought. We may race through the drive-thru and eat as we drive. We may gulp down our drinks to quench our thirst without tasting them.

But taking tea is different, or should be different. We can’t rush the process. Yes, we can grab a teabag and nuke our water in a mug. That’s not what I am talking about. I am talking about planning a menu, baking special treats like scones, whipping the cream, slicing the crusts off the sandwiches, and putting on the kettle to boil. Taking the extra moment to pick some flowers, to light a candle, select the music, to place out the linen napkins, these are the things that make tea not just any meal.

Our approach to God can be like that. Do we rush through our devotions only taking the time to pray as we are racing around in the car? Can we really devote our thoughts to Him as we drive? Would you, like me, end up merely praying that the car in front of you would get out of your way? Are we just flipping through our Bibles reading whatever verses or chapters happen to be on the page as it falls open? Do we read so fast so that we simply get through the number of verses or pages we think is the bare minimum we can get a way with and not feel guilty about?

Or could we stop a moment. Plan our time, both when and how we will spend time with Him. Set aside a time a place to focus on the LORD. Clear our minds as we calm our hearts to spend some focused time steeping ourselves in his word. Oh, that our tea for two may be a special time with Him each day! Maybe we could approach our devotional as though He is our special guest for tea.

We could find a peaceful corner where we keep our Bible and any devotional material we wish to use. Maybe we light a candle, turn on some music. As we put the kettle on we may sing our praise to Him as the kettle sings. While we wait for the tea to steep we can be clearly our minds of the distractions we face. Maybe during that three to five minutes you could find yourself praying for forgiveness. You may pray for God to speak to you in this time with Him.

As you pour your tea into the cup, ask God to pour out His love on you that you in turn may pour out love and blessings on the people He will bring your way. As you hold the cup in your hand, pause and breathe in the scent of the tea you have chosen. Thank Him for choosing you to be His child. Pray that your words and thoughts would be a pleasing aroma to Him.

Then, take a drink. Drink deeply. Let the tea fill your mouth as thoughts of Him fill your mind. Read His word and let it steep in your heart and mind. Taste and see that He is indeed good. By slowing down and focusing, your will find the memories of your times with Him to be pleasant as taking tea with your best friend.

Tea on the Veranda

After posting the scone recipe below, I did bake us a batch of scones. Using a heart-shaped cookie cutter, I was able to cut out a dozen scones. I sprinkled them with some Lavender Violet Vanilla Bean Sugarbefore I baked them. Unfortunately...I used 1 Tbl of baking soda instead of baking powder. Um...yuck!! We each had one while I was trying to figure out what was wrong, but then I tossed the rest. *sigh* The strawberries and lemon curd were delicious though!

I decided to take a few pictures once I saw that Gracious Hospitality was requesting "Creative Afternoon Tea Table Settings". I figured this was somewhat creative as I usually break out the fancier dishes, cloth napkins and the like for Afternoon Tea. Today was our everyday plates, paper napkins and tea in mugs. Also, the settings usually do not include tractors.

However, since it was just "me and the boys" I figured I'd not make it too fancy. Sweetheart came from the garage where he was working to join us. He was happy the dress code was relaxed. :)

Pumpkin enjoyed eating and rocking on the porch.

My next project will be to paint all the porch furniture and sew some cushions for the rockers and the settee. I'd like to get this done before the roses blooms so I can have a beautiful rose tea. I really want to make the berry soup in teacups that was featured in this month's "Victoria" magazine and I think a tea in honor of "The Blooming of the Roses" on the porch would be just delightful!

Care to join me?

Glimpses at past Tea Time Tables so you can see that I can set a proper table!

Tea Time Fun!

Gracious Hospitality is hostessing a fun series of tea posts. Pop on over and check it out will I try to figure out which teacup is my favorite and write a post on it. (I've got sooo many cups I love and stories to go with most of them, so I may have to do more than just one post.) I've been thinking a virtual Tea Party would be fun to host myself. Until then, we all just join in La Tea Dah's fun!

Tea Sandwich Recipes

I often just make up the recipes for my tea sandwiches based on what I have in the refrigerator! I also make a lot of vegetarian combinations. They are often healthier and less expensive.
Egg salad works well as I almost always have eggs on hand. I like to add mayo, dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, celery and seasonings to my egg salad. I don't measure, so I can't give amounts. It mostly is by look and texture and how many people are joining me. (I add a dash of the red wine vinegar to give it a bit of a tang, like deviled eggs.) I'll put it on whatever bread I have. If I have regular white bread I'll make it like a regular sandwich and then cut the crusts off and quarter it. If I have homemade bread, I make make them open-faced and just put the salad on a single slice of bread, otherwise it's too much bread.
Cucumber sandwiches are simple. I butter the bread and place very thin slices of cucumbers on top. I may leave them open as well, again it depends on the bread I'm using. Sometimes I'll cut the slices in half and fan them out on the bread. If I have them, I'll add thin slices of radishes as well. The flavors work well together and the red of the radish adds a dash of color. I like to sprinkle fresh or dried dill on top as well.
I love tomato sandwiches for tea. I usually use baguettes for bread, or cut circles out of sandwich bread. I blend a mix of dried herbs: savory, basil, thyme, etc. into some mayonnaise and refrigerate the mayo so the flavors can meld. I then spread the mayo on one bread circle and top it with a slice of tomato. Roma tomatoes work well for this. I then sprinkle fresh basil, if I have it and little bachelor button/cornflower petals on top. They are completely edible and the blue simply pops out on top of the red of the tomato. (I grow them in the garden, dry them in bunches, then put them in jars to use throughout winter.)
Chicken salad is also wonderful for tea sandwiches. I make mine with chicken, cashews, a little onion, celery, mayo, mustard, and spices. I just make sure to chop everything up fine so that it is easier to eat.
Cream cheese can also be a wonderful sandwich base. You can put it on the cucumber sandwiches in place of, or in addition to, the butter. It's also nice mixed with a little blue cheese and spread with bits of pear and pecans or walnuts.
I've also used just regular lunch meats like turkey or sliced chicken for sandwiches as well. I just make sure they are bite-sized and as pretty as possible. Cookie cutters can be used to make fun shapes. Also, you can cut the sandwiches into quarters via triangles, and rectangles, not just squares. Have fun with it! I'm sure you can come up with something wonderful out of whatever you may have on hand. Feel free to post your ideas in the Comments section.