Filling the Tea Cup For 2012, Good Morning Dear Friends.........

Good Morning Dear Friends in Tea!  The sun is peeking through heavy laden tree boughs, with a light breeze to chase off morning rain clouds.  It is very cool outside and the weather man predicts that next week will feel more like mid October than the end of September. 

My tea this morning is simple and lightly sweet with enough warmth to keep my hands from feeling a chill.  We have roses upon roses decorating the flower beds and interspersed between are our mums, which will take center front soon. 

The front door is decorated for fall welcoming and I am hopeful that we will have lots of company.  I love the surprise of finding family or friends at the doorstep and my only regret these days is that I cannot open the door more.  Sometimes the work week spills over into the weekend and although it is gratifying, it is limiting too. 

I made a pot of chili past night and we scraped the pot clean!  I love when that happens, although leftovers are convenient.  Between the 3 meals that I cook at work and the ones I cook for home I think I am breaking the all time cooking record for one who doesn't own and operate a restaurant, haha.  I have gotten into the pattern of repeating my performance so as not to have to think it up twice. 

Our foster pup Kayleigh has cuddled right up into our hearts and with her boundless energy and ability to eat any toy made, she keeps us on our toes.  I believe that it was angels that coaxed her our way and here I think she will stay.  Lord knows that I am not physically very strong but he also knows that I have to keep challenging myself to glean every bit of work and play from myself.  I think it would be too easy just to settle, further and further into my soft cushions and watch the world rather than to make my way in it.

Work is deeply satisfying as I get to do what I lovelovelove the very most and that is to take care of people and make them happy.  It is a grand blessing to be deeply appreciated for what comes easily to me.  I am learning, growing, stretching and still....being myself. 

Dear Elza, I am so happy that your path is opening up wide to a new home and new experiences.  It does get so tiresome to wait with bags packed and ready, day after day, but maybe that also gives you time to soak up the sights and sounds that will fill your memories of your Kentucky home.  It makes those last goodbyes linger and the shock of change, seem more and more welcome.  Ohhh I really do not like humid air...of course it is all in what you get used to, but I need a bit of breeze to remind me to breathe...in and out....ahhhh

Dear Anne, I am sure you are as anxious as can be to get that cast off!  I think that must be why they named the thing a cast in the first place...so it could be shucked.  I hope you dance, truly I do.  Thank you for your sweetness and sentiments of our darling Leo.  He can't be replaced, but his memory can be added to and I will cherish our days together all of my life. 

Dear Hedgie, I hope your whirlwind summer will help you to settle into the classroom routine without any sighs and that the new students will just add to the love and smiles of your noble career.  You truly must live in a location that affords the opportunity for many cultural entertainments.  I wish I could say the same but my little spot is pretty much like all the other little spots in the area with little opportunity for theatre or reason even to travel far. My son says he is ruined for other places because every moment here is so...comforting and beautiful and perfect.  I could say that the shutters are peeling and badly in need of a coat of paint, and that the weeds are overtaking the gardens at an alarming rate while the sod has nearly died completely from lack of rain, but...I can also say that there is something about the air that is sweter to me than anywhere else on earth and I am blessed to be right here, right now.  The trees whisper and hot air balloons float silently over top, the sun shines just so at different hours, highlighting the strangest little landmarks, a rock here, the gazebo there, this stand of trees or those tall ferns...it's magic.

Here I sit and the clock is ticking on this my day off...but off or on, I am happy and pleased in most ways which brings me to my cup of tea which I'll gladly share, anytime, any place and the simple joy of it, amazes me.  Today little errands and tidy up jobs will fill my time but still, if I want to walk the valley and enter a pleasant world of deer and birds flying....I can.  Now that is the perfect blessing on a day that I wish for everyone who comes to call.  Old friends and new, all are most welcome at my table, and I hope to see you there.  Your very grateful friend and still hopeful hostess, Mary

Happy Fall Everyone,

What a beautiful beginning to Fall we are having today.  Bright and sunny, warm but with cool breezes.  It is one of those days yu just do not know what to wear.  The flowers are still blooming but there is a hnt of color on the trees.  A few early ones have started to change here.

Mary, It is so good to see you.  I was gertting worried but knew that your job is keeping you from your computer.  Glad to hear that you are doing well and cooking up a storm.  Your decorations must look great.  I haven't started to decorate yeat but maybe will this week now that summer is officially over.  I hate to rush it as it means the cold of winter is creeping sloser.  We do have a lot of cultural activities here.  We have a newly renovated theater that host touring companies of Broadway productions and also concerts and an occasional opera.  There are some nice museums too.  And we are only about 45 mintes from Boston with all it has to offer.  Althoug I like living here, I can see myself happily enjoying small town life with maybe a book club, a knitting group, a little tea room and so many other things that the perfect small town could offer.

Elza, How is you move going?  Best of luck with it.

Anne, how much  longer until the casr comes off? I bet you can't wait.

I need to get moving and try to accoplish a few things before this beautiful day is just a memory.  Hopefully a few more friends will drop in for a cup of tea tomorrow.  It is the perfect time of year to have some apple bread or muffins with it.

Hedgie

Good Afternoon Dear Friends....Am I too late to share a cup of Afternoon Tea?  Between my work and responsibilities at home which includes training our wild but lovable new puppy, I am left with little time to write. What I do treasure at the end of my day is naturally a grand cup of tea...so let me pour away the work and worries, and fill the cup with joy and thanksgiving for every moment shared in the company of the dear friends in this room.

While my font behaved for the first paragraph, it is refusing to get bigger now.  Perhaps, like Alice...there is a magic potion and I do hope I didn't leave it on a table top that is too high up to reach.

There, that's more like it. ohoh...here we go again.

Here in Michigan the colorful foliage is at its peak and the cold winds ushered in such a chill I was in a heavy jacket and pulling on my scarf and gloves.  When the sun is out and the wind quiets it's not too bad but ohhh my I hope the roses have long underwear under their pretty blossoms. 

We have been doing a little bit of this and that around the property but not enough to really make anyone wonder.  I have no pumpkins nor mums and no scarcrows or banners or cornstalks.  Perhaps next year.

While the electric blanket is poised for use, I haven't had to go that far yet.  I do have on the heaviweight quilt and scuggling beneath it at the close of the day makes me smile from ear to ear.

WAving gladly at Hedgie and Anne, Carolyn and Elza, please do come and share in the party!  Your friend, Mary

Hello all. My name is Mary also. I've been in this forum/group area for a while now, and a lady from another chat room told me about you- she writes poems to make people feel better. (It's called the PCH chat room- physically challenged housewives-so I thought I would "join" to talk to everyone.)

The weather here in MO is getting cold, but it still "roller coasters" because it is supposed to get up to 70 today, but only 60 tomorrow. A few nights have frozen already, so plants are inside for the winter.

I'm a crafter, so I'm making Christmas presents. I usually make about 30 for friends and family every year. I've been making things for myself too.

I'm a homemaker. I saw on an earlier post of yours, that you had a recipe for Russian Tea. I found one that is sugar-free now.

Mary

Welcome Mary! I'm always impressed with crafty people, because I am not one myself. What are you making for Christmas presents? Good for you getting ready early ~

I'm enjoying the beautiful fall color in Kentucky right now and we are getting some chilly weather too -- maybe a freeze warning for tomorrow night -- but I'm looking forward to heading down to warmer temperatures in South Carolina. We will be moving at the end of this month and hopefully will be settled in our new house by mid-November.

Mary M., I met a friend yesterday for tea and conversation, which made me think of you!

Tonight will be my last choir practice at church -- Sunday will be my last as pianist, after 17-18 years (I don't remember exactly when I started so am not sure just how long it's been!). After knowing for so long that we would be moving, I'm definitely having mixed emotions. Sad to leave so many dear friends and the house where we raised our sons, but glad to be going back home and especially to be with DH again. I'm ready to be settled somewhere!

Wishing you all a lovely day --

 I guess I should say my name should be Mary S. because I'm not the only Mary- sorry.

I made Christmas presents for my husbands' family (crocheted lapghan for my father-in-law and his wife, CD crochet-covered coasters for 4 other siblings and families) then have started on my parents' gift- a painted stained glass screen (only about 2x3"), but it's a challenge because it's the first one I've ever painted. I'll make about 20 wire angels with beads for ornaments for others at church and friends. I've been crocheting, plastic canvas, cross stitch for 25 years, so maybe I'll start "cutting down" to just ornaments. We used to have little kids in the family, but everyone is adults now, so Christmas gifts are getting more rare.

It sure is nice to cook with my crock pot now because it is much easier to deal with. I use it for at least 5 nights a week- many good recipes here on this site. You can take many casserole recipes and adapt them for your slow cooker too. I've baked so many cakes, sweet breads, muffins, cornbread, desserts, etc. in there. I just keep finding places on the internet that have recipes, or are similar to mine, and then do what they say to do. It is so nice to have dinner ready when I am, and not have to scramble to get dinner ready all the time.

Mary S.

Good Morning Dear Friends, I am very happy to be coming to tea this morning after a week of work.  I find that there are so few hours that are not claimed, and it's lovely to just be present.  It's a gift.  Speaking of gifts, Welcome Mary S....your presence here is a smile and blessing.  Your joy in your art is a pleasure to read about.  It is a wonderful thing to get lost in patterns, colors and seeing something emerge out of pleasant hours makes the heart dance.  I love giving things I have made because I know my love for the person is attached like a permanent smile.  Last year I crocheted several pairs of fingerless gloves and when I pull mine out on these frosty mornings I remember the whole project start to finish...the hope...that I could keep the stitches straight and the anticipation of the finished project.  I went nearly mad myself trying to find a particular yarn that was a combination fiber using corn silk.  It was a Lion Brand and when I found a couple of skeins and fell in love...the company discontinued it.  I searched high and low and bid on a couple of skeins in auction but believe it or not the price went sky high so I wasn't the only fan.  Surprising then, that the company stopped offering it. 

I haven't picked up a hook or needles for some time but the cold weather brings out the crafter in me and I recently saw a winter scarf and earwarmer set that reminded me of those dear sock monkeys of days passed...now, it is my mission to recreate just that.  I am not very skilled as a stitcher, just simple, but my son's girlfriend is a whiz.  How strange that I taught her in the first place to make simple dishcloths and now she does the most intricate patterns with ease.  I wouldn't know where to start such things.

 It reminds me of how the Good Lord takes each of us where we are and as we are and makes that move frwd to affect more lives.  How often we forget that we are part of an ever changing growing world and our abilities are a link in a beautiful chain of daisy days. 

I am very happy to know you MaryS, and I look forward to reading more from you.  From one Mary to another...please, let me pour you a cup of morning tea.

Dear Elza, I don't know how I missed the grand event of you and DH finding a new home!  Congratulations and I hope the days fly by....just in your moving of course, as I don't care to have mine speed any faster than they already do, giggle.  Do you think it's possible that the Dear Lord can change time frame for each of us so we can savor, sip or drain the cup dry as soon or faster than it meets our lips?  It would seem so.

 I really look forward to hearing all the wonderful details of your new home.  What an adventure to see one book close in Kentucky, and open a fresh new one to hold your future memories.  Oh how exciting and grand it is!

In May of this year I too opened a new book by taking an old skill, caregiving, that I lived for a lifetime, yes, a true lifetime, and offering it again.  Now, my days are filled with it and the opportunities pop up seemingly out of nowhere to become part of a tapestry of days.  The difference is...I now go home from work instead of having the caregiving be my home.  Yesterday a milestone of huge proportion, took place and I wish to share it.

The end of my day at work is my favorite part, as I leave with hugs given.  As I released my arms and bid that farewell, my gentleman client, wished me to come back today, and I had to remind him that my work is Monday thru Friday and I am off the weekend working in another place.  He said, ohhh....just ohhh but to me it held volumes that I am doing a true and meaningful thing for him and for his wife, one that he treasures in comfort and in peace.  Simple Things but I am undeniably Grateful.

And so, as I prepare myself for what lies ahead and offer my hands to help and my smile to other people in this work I think....of how and where it began.  As you may recall, my own mother had a brain event when I was a child, necessitating that I grow into this rare life, and then caring for ill chldren sealed it throughout the years.  I used to think that it was...a small thing...an insignificant way to live day in and day out, but now I don't think so.  What I have learned is that I am not the only instrument in God's band and to be most loving and helpful is to just play one single note in just the right place, and be part of the symphony quietly, seemlessly and with just enough effort to bring about a comfortable breath my hand over another hand and not just my hand.  Everyone needs to do what they can and not feel helpless, but with help, so much more can be accomplished.  I hope I said that right, but maybe even if I didn't, the message is there to be added to.

My tea this morning is one of recovery and rest, and that means I am in my own home here in MI, tidying up and hoping a little dust will disappear to leave a shine.  We are fostering a border collie and that occurred after losing our Old Gentleman Leo, but it is not like having him as much as it is trying to qwell a riot.  I can't stop the rug chewing or the fact that our Kayleigh has the exhuberance of a mack truck, but even with being knocked over, bowled over, pinned and losing a few things that obviously looked to her like good toys...she is loved.  If I didn't think that I would surely give up and bring back the quiet of our little Trixie dog who does nothing worse than curl up and sleep.  Trixie has rallied to run with the new dog..at least at mealtime and when there is an open door to sit in front of.

Winter winds will blow soon but right now the colors are so amorous and the paths through the forest so filled with the clutter of airborn leaves, if you stand still, you could be buried in mounds of crunchy color and overcome by mossy kinds of smells.  We have real frost on the field vines and lawns and rooftops.  I admire so many displays of Autumn in scarecrows over top of hay bales littered with pumpkins and mums...but I don't have one for people to look at this year.  That's ok, I'll rally forth and make something festive soon.

 While my tea has been very strong and black, it really hits the perfect spot and I think with every cup that I couldn't make do without it.  the stores are carrying the first boxes of Celestial Seasonings holiday blends and that whispers of somethings else coming soon.  Even though I love Mariage Freres French Tea, I am not snobby enough to refuse Red Rose or Twinings.  I have to confess that I am not as much drawn to green tea or even white although I drink glasses and glasses of Lipton's 100 percent natural citrus from morning to night.  I don't drink soda pop at all, it lost it's appeal too long ago to remember.  My newest love is espresso, made in a stovetop pot, made into a vanilla latte with soy milk.  When I think the afternoon is over too soon, I reach for that and am energized just like the bunny in the battery commercials.  It is not a gentle kind of energy like I get from a cup of afternoon tea, but more a hair standing on end frenzy.  I am not much for it, unless I can't stop working or dinner needs to be made.

and so, reaching this place in the page, I hope to turn over a leaf and wait for our next company to arrive.  I hope....it's soon.  Good Morning Dear Friends, and welcome to the open door of tea.  Your very grateful friend, MaryM

Good (very chilly) Evening tea Angels,

I can really tell Old man Winter is on his way.  The tres are still changin color here and should peak in the next few days.  The neighbors accross the street have a hickory nut tree and,boy have the squirrels ever been busy.  WheneverI pass by someone's nicely mulched garden it i covered with signs of digging.  how many of little spots will be forgotten during the winter.  We had our first real frost last night.  I got home around 6:00 and had to run around bringing in pots of plants and   pulling up geraniums.  I have three different kinds of sweet potatoe vine and cut lots of it to keep rooted over the inter.  This motning what was left had turned to mush.  last spring the church invited parishoners to take the Easter lilies home to plant after they had bloomed.  I took home a couple of pots but never got around to planting them in my garden.  They died down and then grew little green shoots.  They are in sort of an oput of the way place and I haven't paid much attention to them.  Would you beleive I have an easter lily blooming in the middle of October and it survived last nnight frost.  I guess spring will come again, but a long wait.  i think now instead of planint the bulbs, I will dig holes and bury the pots and dig them u[ just as the ground begings to thaw in martch and bring them inside to see if they bloom for Easter.  Its worth a try.

It's lovely to be welcoming new frineds to the tea Room.  It has been so quiet here of late.  Rest assured the pot will always be on any time yoy want to stop by for a cup of tea.

Mary,  I am so glad you are enjoying your work.  It is so rewarding for you to see how much you mean to your clients.  I had to laugh to myself when reading your yarn story.  Five years ago when I was making a blanket to welcome little Lily, the skeins of yarn were very small and I realized soon enough that I would run out.  By the time I got back to the store to purchase more, I foound to my dismay it had been disconinues.  I called every conceivable store in the area and no one had it.  I even tried stores in Charleston SC where my daughter lives to see if she could get it.  No luch.  The company didn;t even have a few leftover skeins.  Ebay had the yarn but not in the color I needed.  I posted on Craigs list and got a response.  A lady did not ave any but tols me to try Ravelry.com. It is a needlework website.  Many people actually post their stash, complete with pictures and many are willoing to trade ot sell.  I found about five people who had a couple of skeins to sell. Now don't you think I would have learned my lesson.. Uh-uh.  I am now making a blanket for little John (I am not sure if I let you know of his arrival in September) and purchased two skeins of yarn at AC Moore.  I wans't sure if I liked the way it was working up and let it sit for a while.  When I couldn't find anything I liked better, I took upo the needles again.  When I went to get more, I found AC Moore no longer carries it.  Michaels and Joannes do not have it in their stores either.  Fortunately it is not discontinued and Joannes has it on their website.  I juat have been holding out for free shipping and am ordering tonigh.  The real payoff is that a lovely new yarn store opened near me.  The owner is a lovely lady and she invited me in one day before the store opend.  Wouldn't you know it - she had exactly the tarn I had searched for.  I have made enough headway on the blanket, though, so I decied not to start over.  I am still upset about the first yarn as, of all the baby blankets I have made, it was the yarn I enjoyed working with the most and had just discovered it.  Why they would discontnue such a fine product is beyond me.

Elza. congratulations on findng a house.  I can imagine the mixed feeling you have as leave a place that holds so many dear memories but the new adventures await.

Well, I will say good bye now.  I think I will kick up those needles.  Have a lovely evening

Hedgie

The tea sure sounds good, Mary!

I'm a member on Ravelry yarn site, and I chat in rooms there about crock pot cooking and crocheting. It is so nice to see projects people finish and post pictures, then you can see them and get the patterns too (if it is available).

I just bought some embroidery floss/braid that I will crochet around rings for a necklace, and a magazine that I'm subscribed to will come out with pineapple pattern earrings, so I'll make a set for myself and save money!

It's so nice to make things and give them to people because the look on their faces is so great! God likes it when we "give" and that's great.

I love coffee so much, and I don't want so much caffeine every day, so I drink decaf. coffee most of the day, and only a cup or two of the regular coffee. I love sugar in my coffee, but my blood sugar is a bit high, so I've been getting the sugar-free liquid creamers lately. Tastes good.

Mary S.

Good Evening Tea Friends,

It has been such a long time since we have all come to tea together.  I will put a kettle on and have both the regualr and decaf varieties of my favorite Barry's Irish tea if you have a minute or two to stop by.  Maybe you can help me wait out this storm watch. I can;t beleive we are getting a tropical storm here in MA in October of all things.

Elza, Have you moved yet?  If so, I hope it went well.

Mary, you must be very busy with your clients as well as taking care of your home.  it does make for a long day.  I miss your postings.

Carol, are you sewing up astorm for your craft fairs?  Have new stuffed animals joined your menangerie?

Have a lovely evening

Hedgie

Knock Knock....Who's there?  Why....it's one very smiley, but worn out tea lover, just waiting for the tea kettle to sing!

Good morning dear friends, the tearoom door needs a bit of tending as it is not quite as used to opening up for me, but here I am with a can of WD40 and a tea cup.  Won't you join me in a little tea party just to catch up and feel the smile or friends and tea?

It occurs to me, in a nice way of course, that with a squeeking door and a flower bed that needs some serious primping I might just be closing this little post off pretty much the way I started, with hope and a cup of tea. Every book neds a little dusting and this one is no exception, so with that...I hope I see you in a new little world, just inside the door of the tea room.  Thank you to all the friends who have made the journey with me this far and a gentle wave to all who lovelovelove tea.  Your grateful friend, Mary