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!

morning light

it all looked so lovely this morning i had to capture it.
i love zinnias and right now they are in full bloom.
we have some gladiolas and a few small sunflowers as well.
the big sunflowers are over eight feet tall and haven't started blooming yet.
i love flowers.
and tea.
but you knew that, didn't you?

Teaish

teacup candle

tuesday tea

vanilla spice

Typical Farmgirl Day

Kill a chicken, do chores, go to tea.
Not really.
But it is the plan for today!
****
BTW~ I deleted both my Kimberly's Cup and my personal Facebook accounts. 
I didn't de-friend you.  (I guess I defriended myself!)
Comments, emails & visiting over at Pinterest are still available.
 I don't follow a lot on Pinterest for the sake of my time,
but I do usually reply to comments or questions if I see them.
 

Farm Life

In between the work, I sit and just try to enjoy the gifts as they come.
A cup of tea outside on a sunny day.
Bliss. 

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

I am

"A hardened and shameless tea drinker...
who with tea amuses the evening,
with tea solaces the midnight.
and with tea welcomes the morning."
~Samuel Johnson

A Morning Gift

This was awaiting me~steaming hot Earl Grey~in the kitchen when I came in from milking. 

Thank you, Sweetheart.

Tea is my one weakness. ;)  
(follow the link to the video)

These Boots are Made for Walking

and anything else!  Seriously love having these boots.  I am free to go anywhere, and I don't have to worry about what it is I'm stepping in.  This has become an important issue here on the farm.  (And they are made in the USA!)

I wore them out on Thursday afternoon as I drove around the valley and took tons of pictures of old barns.  I then went into town on errands.  I returned the For Sale sign to the real estate office and ran into an oldtimer who commented on seeing me out taking pictures.  Small town.

I then went to the grocery and saw the florist whose tea room I was planning to visit after picking up my lemons and onion.  She said she'd be over there in a few minutes.  It also where I buy my eggs until the girls get laying.  Of course, when I went to check out, the same oldtimer was behind me in line.  Small town.
I then popped into the thrift store to give the florist time to get back to her shop.  Didn't see any of the things on my list, so I went to the tea room.

Inside the Tea Room

Yes, I wore my boots to tea.  Small town.

Chandelier and Rusty Galvanized Metal Ceiling

She sat down and we enjoyed our tea together and visited for awhile.  She then let me make some signs for her.  I love that.  She had hung an old window and I wrote on the glass her prices and other information in calligraphy.  She comped my tea and said she likes to barter.   I could get used to this.

Friday

Company Girl Coffee 2.19

I must admit to joining in the chat with a cup of tea, instead of coffee. My time to write comes in the afternoon and my coffee is usually a morning thing. So I have filled one of my favorite teapots with vanilla tea. While the bread is rising, I will write for a few minutes. After the loaves are formed and rising again, I will curl up in my favorite corner on the loveseat in the bay window with my new "Victoria" magazine and my teacup and enjoy a few quiet minutes while the boys nap.

I just finished reading "Persuasion" and started "Lady Susan", another Jane Austen story. It is cleverly written though I doubt of it ever being made into a film as it is shorter and written entirely as letters. It is fun though.

I was able to finish up some sewing this morning with still more to do. Nothing exciting, or pretty, just stuff that needs to be done. I prefer craft sewing and being creative to shortening sleeves and sewing covers for machines.

I am buried under laundry today. I usually do it twice a week, but somehow got off schedule and have a lot to do. It's not the most exciting thing, but so necessary.

I went through a tub of old maternity clothes and sorted through them. I'll need to have Sweetheart get the other tubs out this weekend. I was blessed with several bags of clothes last time and some I never needed. It's time to pass the ones I won't wear onto someone else. I am sort of all over the place with clothes right now as the maternity things are swallowing me up and the regular clothes getting snug. It is what it is. And it is a blessing.


It's been a cold, quiet week here in Colorado. Several inches of snow fell yesterday and through the night. It is lovely, but unwanted. More snow is forecast. But snow, or not, Sweetheart and I have reservations for lunch at a tearoom across town.
I am excited for some time with him. We are planning to visit a few of the shops nearby featured in the last "Victoria". Their sizes would not permit a stroller and I would find it difficult to just have the boys roaming free. They are well-behaved, but they are curious and only two and four after all.

Otherwise, we have no real plans for the weekend, but to be together and stay warm. Hope you are all having a wonderful Friday! What do you have planned for the weekend?

Summer in a Jar

You all know I love hot tea and I do drink it even when it is hot outside, but I also love iced tea. If I know I'm going to be out and about I usually just toss a big tea bag into a quart mason jar and add a few springs of mint or lemon balm and water. I twist on one of the plastic lids and am ready to roll. I've brewed it in the fridge overnight so it's cold and ready to go the next morning. I've also taken a just assembled jar and left it in the van to steep on the dash. Not as cold, but still refreshing.

Today we're headed to the library. I'll be sure to grab my jar to take with us. I'd brewed a bunch of herbal iced teas for dinner last night, so I'm all set.

I had my Bunco group over and had such a wonderful time with everyone! We had supper together and dessert and then just kept talking. We never ended up playing.

They were asking me questions about how we've changed things here at home. I ended up passing around jars of all the stuff I make now and sharing what everything was. The deodorant was a big hit!

It was such a neat time to share with the ladies I love in real life. I figured they thought I was just crazy, but they were really curious and even want to learn how to make things, too! I'll share more in another post soon.

Have a great day!

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.

March

I love March. I do. It's a special month to me, a bit of brightness as winter heads to spring. That it contains my birthday, I'm sure had nothing to do with it!

I love to change the decor around with the changing months and seasons. Am I the only one? Maybe it's the former schoolteacher in me. How I loved to change the classroom bulletin boards, decor and calendars! It always freshens things up to me. Now that I'm at home, I am able to do these little things with all sorts of treasures we have.

After the Christmas decorations are packed away, bits and pieces of pink and red add bright spots to our home for Valentines. With the passing of that, I find little bits of green adding touches of spring here and there. A bit of ivy, a shamrock coffeepot, vintage postcards all find their ways to new places to shine. It cheers up cleaning as well as I take an extra moment to find the perfect home for a little treasure.

Side Note: An early Birthday gift from Sweetheart. A 1915 edition of Little Women illustrated by Jessie Wilcox Smith, on of my favorite artists.

This makes my heart sing!

I just finished reading a copy from the library last week and this arrived yesterday.

Here's a peek inside at some of the illustrations.

I rarely buy things for specific holidays, preferring to just use what we have. Though I do find an occasionally new spool of ribbon can really add a lot in a simple way. Bits of fluff and fancy move all around the house all year long. I love finding natural treasures, too. Squash from the gardens, flowers, seed pods, nests, pine cones, and what-all are used in abundance.

Things move around even within a season as squash are used for dinner, seed pods are played with to the point of destruction, and sometimes just because I decide I don't like how I put something out the first time. I took a few picture a couple of days ago, and have since switched teapots around and added some bits of ribbon other places. This to me is one of the joys of homemaking.

Of course, so is finding gorgeous plates for five dollars while out with my Sweetheart! So lovely.

Here's closeup of the copy I bought of Pilgrim's Progress for Sweetheart a few years ago. As it was such a huge part of Little Women, I decided I should be reading it a bit each morning as the girls did throughout the story. I'd better get back to reading it!

What do you like to do to brighten your home?