Old Fashioned Picnic and Fireworks, July Tea Party. Good Morning and Welcome!

 Good morning, girlfriends!  I am happy to hear that everyone is doing well in spite of the heat.  After all, it is summer.  On these hot days I have to wonder how people did it in the "olden": days before air conditioning.  Maybe it didn't get as hot back then?

I am happy to report that I received my Kitchenaid Slow Cooker that i won off the Bakespace website (through Facebook).  It's pretty large for just Earl and I, being 7 quarts.  I have to learn how to use it now.  My old slow cooker was a Nesco and those have temperature gauges on them like an oven.  This one has high, low, automatic, simmer and buffet settings.  To top it off, it is in stainless and goes well wtih my kitchen.  The hard part was finding a cupboard to put it in.  I don't like things sitting on my countertop.

This weekend we are going with a group of friends to Dim Sum in Chinatown.  I am so excited to go!!

Hugs and smiles for everyone

Kathy

Kathy, I don't think it's that much hotter. I think people just were used to it. After all, you don't miss what you never had. I know I can live without a/c -- I've done it -- but having gotten accustomed to having it, I sure don't want to give it up now.

#2 son returned from Haiti last night -- yay! DH & I went to the airport to greet his team as they arrived and get to visit with him briefly. Looked good, although tired and a little shaggy (none of the guys shaved while they were in Haiti). We're thanking God that everybody and their luggage arrived safely, and that nobody got sick. They have another week of "de-briefing" which I think will be helpful before coming home next Tues.

Anybody ever eaten at Zoe's Kitchen? One just opened up in the shopping center where I work. DH & I went there for lunch today. He thought it was "girly" but I loved it, and they have the best slaw I have ever eaten. No mayo -- it's marinated with a vinaigrette dressing, and has feta cheese crumbles in it. I cannot tell you how good that stuff is.

http://www.zoeskitchen.com/

Dear Elza, I am so happy that your DS is home from his mission trip to Haiti and that he is not ill or otherwise encombered. What an adventure and I know you are smiling. I have never seen a Zoe's Kitchen but I will keep my eyes open and be excited to go on your fine recommendation.

Dear Kathy, I just love new kitchen helpers and the new crockpot is the perfect excuse to invite company over! I just ordered a new Fix it and Forget it Cookbook and if I run into any grand offerings I will share. I have been doing a lot of cooking to keep my dietary promises.

It is uncomfortably hot until the sun goes down. Even so I like to turn up the pool heater to avoid those first few moments of standing on tip toes.

Dear Carole, I think you should make Unicorns...After hearing the little song from the soundtrack of "Despicable Me", sung by little 'Agnes', "Unicorns....I love them", I think I love them too.

Twinings has the perfect evening tea. Revive Green Apple with Chamomile really does quiet the nerves and brings me a peaceful rest.

Myrtle, Please do come to visit.

I am hoping that Anne and Carolyn can come to visit soon. I think perhaps Shannon is lost in her new country of Germany. Susie wrote me today and she is truly enjoying the summer and her garden.

Maybe tonite company will call on the Tearoom. Your very grateful hostess and friend, Mary

Hello Dear Tea Angels,  I have been roasting here, but not complaining(much) cause our A/C works marvelouslyPTL.  Like Elza,  I have lived without it, but never want to try that again as I am very, very spoiled.

We have had a project going-we removed the last room of carpeting from our house, the 4th bedroom.  Our house is now all hardwood, laminate or ceramic tile.  Of course that room with the 2 closets had to be totally cleaned out and the "stuff" taken into other rooms.  The whole house looked like a bomb had hit it.  How did all that come from one room?  The Salvation Army truck is coming tomorrow to pick up boxes and discards.Then we will start getting things back in order.

Tomorrow and Friday I am keeping Baby Kiran as her Day Care lady is taking a long weekend.  I will love that.  She is a doll and smiles and coos so much.  Of course she cries, too, but seems easy to calm so far.  DH gets nervous and retreats to another part of the house until I get things in order.  Men are funny about crying babies.  What would they do without us women? LOL

Just wanted to check in and say hello and let you know what has been going on here.  God Bless everyone.   Carolyn

Good morning dearest of angels,  Well today is a better day already.  I woke yesterday to a terrible headache, so I stayed home from work.  Stayed in bed and slept most of the day.  It finally went away around 7pm last night.

Carolyn come clean my room, please  I need to get all my craft stuff  orgainzed and it will them be ok.

Everyone have a great day, stay cool

Hugs

Carole

Good Morning Dear Friends and Welcome to the Tearoom! Today's weather, curtesy of the benevolence of God is just perfect for work, play and of course a tall glass of Iced Tea. I can't help but chuckle when Ithinking of how a scientist would conclude today that the mere picture of a teabag is thrilling, lol.

My Moonflower has burst out in the scariest pods..that look like HUGE dark green bumpy strawberries. Up until now I thought the seeds were inside the grand white blooms and knowing they produce a kind of intoxication..well, I was handling them with care. Oh boy..I hope these pods don't crack open and spew the seeds willy nilly. This is one plant that has produced a lot of wonder for us. Yes, they will be planted next year.

I ran across a whole pile of old Martha Stewart Living Magazines from several years ago and SURPRISE! I swear I would order them today. I don't care for the new issues at all so in conclusion I am running several years behind the rest of the world. The same with Taste of Home. I sit with a whole stack of the very old ones and couldn't be any more delighted.

Dear Carolyn, Have fun in Baby Bliss. I think God humbled Man by presenting him with crying babies. That same man will face charging elephants, bats and spiders without a flinch....Odd...but wonderful and perfect.

Dear Carole, The world is much nicer after a big headache is over...ahhhh. Whacha cooking? I know its something mouthwatering.

I am one lucky person today as I won a free oil change from our local Freecycle YAY! the last time I won something was when I was first married and then it was a double thermos set with a carry all and a sandwich box. Then there was the first time I played the lottery and won by matching 5 numbers in a row. I would like to tell you it was a fortune but a lot of other people won too. It was still a wonderful feeling, a lot like floating.

With all the "I's" in todays writing, my apologies for your eyes. Perhaps you can bring a few adventures to add to mine and make this a lovely day to share 'Our' Tea...Your very grateful hostess and friend, Mary

 Good morning, girlfriends!  Stopping in to wish everyone a beautiful day.

Elza, I'm so glad to hear that your son is home.  I'm sure you are spoiling him like crazy right now and making all of his favorites.

Carole, sorry to hear you had a headache but glad that it is history for you.  Isn't it amazing how quickly our days off go by.  When I take a day off I'm watching the clock and when it is time i usually get home i always think in my head how quickly that time went by and that i had USED a personal day which means one less than I had before.  Actually, I think I need to start taking days off because last year I had 12 days of unused time that are history.  Right now, I have 18 days, I think.  I am going to take about 9 days in September when we go on our cruise.

Hugs to everyone!

Kathy

P.S.  Will someone tell me when they use the high and when they use the low setting on their crockpot?

Hi Kathy!  I don't use my CP very often these days, but I usually start it on high for an hour and then low.  Now that the new ones run so hot, though, I rarely have to use the entire cooking time.

Elza, enjoy your time with him,,,,,and tell him I'm proud of him!

Kathy, use those days!  Time flies these days -- it's nearly the end of July already! I'm a summer time girl!

Mary, I hope you're enjoying your day!  My computer weather forecast says only 30% chance of rain, but looking at dopplar radar, I think they're pulling my leg!  It's COMING!  :)

Do you have a recipe for iced tea?  I've never been a fan before, but I'm looking for your favorite way to make it, including the kind of tea you use...please?

This came in my gmail....thought it was appropriate to share!

~ A Special Tea Bag ~

These tea bags are a special blend
to ease your lonely heart,
and let you know you have a friend
whenever we're apart.

The last one isn't just to use
it's meant to give away,
so find someone who has the blues
and brighten up their day.

- unknown

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Whenever you send a letter, enclose a tea bag for warm wishes!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

~ Tea Maker ~

Steeped in His Word

Infused with His Love

Sweetened by His Spirit

Stirred from above

-Patsy Clairmont

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

~ A Cup of Friendship ~

Start with a dozen smiles

And a pint of pleasant days,

A heaping cup of happiness

And tablespoons of praise.

Stir in lots of sugar

But be sure to add some spices;

A handful of good humor

Always makes things extra-nice.

Mix it all together

'Til you get a perfect blend

And you'll have something special-

A once-in-a-lifetime friend.

- unknown

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

~ Summertime Citrus Tea ~

from Farmers' Market Favorites cookbook, shared with us by Susan Wilson of
Johnson City, TN

4 c. water

6 teabags (black, green or herbal)

1-1/2 c. sugar

6-oz. can frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed

6-oz. can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed

10 c. cold water

ice

Bring water to a boil in a saucepan. Remove from heat and add teabags; steep
overnight. Discard teabags. Pour into a large pitcher; add remaining
ingredients. Serve in tall glasses over ice. Makes 6 servings.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

~ Afternoon Tea ~

My copper kettle

whistles merrily

and signals that

it is time for tea.

The fine china cups

are filled with the brew.

There's lemon and sugar

and sweet cream, too.

But, best of all

there's friendship, between you and me,

As we lovingly share

our afternoon tea

Good evening angels, Can you believe it is 91°at 7:30pm. It is so humid. Thank goodness for A/C. Sorry I did not cook supper this afternoon. Came home and ran over to mama's for a few minutes and came home told them to eat what ever was in the fridge. There is plenty of left overs. I need to be in there doing some sewing but just not in the mood right now. Kathy, what are you cooking in your new crock pot? Susie, Those are cute sayings. I will have to copy them and save them for use later. Elza, I bet DS had some good stories to tell. Enjoy your time with him. Mary, what are you cooking up these days. How is your violin lessons going. Well I need to run and clean up the kitchen, Have a great night everyone Hugs Carole

Good morning angels,  rushing again as usual.  Everyone have a great day.  Stay cool.  Have a great weekend.

Hugs

Carole

Good morning Dear Friends and Welcome to the Tearoom. It's a fishy feeling steamy hotpot ourside and the only thing I want to make is iced tea! I do have a jar of instant tea in my cupboard but we never use it. It is such a bad imitation of a good thing and really not easier than making it fresh. I have taken to using Salada Original Recipe Black Tea. It brews up very clear and has an old fashioned taste and aroma I appreciate. For my Back to Basics automatic teamaker 6 teabags to a two quart pitchur is perfect. The same amount of tea produces a lovely suntea in 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours. There are also good coldtea specific teabags on the market that produce a nice blend overnite. If you love sweet tea Elza makes the very best with her stovetop method. If you like white tea try mixxing it with grapefruit juice for a lighter than the air glass of iced bliss.

Dear Susie, Turn on the ac...otherwise I will throw you a life preserver! I love your little poems...they make me feel decidedlly content and smiley. Is that tea I smell brewing from your house?

Dear Carole, Tonite is my leftover night, there are plenty to choose from so send the gang here. This is totally crazy but I am in the mood for lemon merangue pie...and that is not going to happen. Or soup...now that would not go over well in this weather.

Dear Kathy, I think you should take those days off....sort of like playing hookey in an adult sort of way. Did you go for dim sum yet?

I ordered a new cookbook from an author who specializes in using almond flour instead of wheat. I was delirious from needing something without rice flour in it so more on that when I actually put it to use. Gluten free recipes generally use mixtures of flour that are hard to master when one is used to just using one. Bob's Red Mill uses bean flour..and that doesn't even mildly intrigue me. The other interesting prospect is coconut flour but I can't see that going very far.

Wherever you go today and whatever you do...spend a few moments here in the tearoom and share your inspirations. Your very grateful hostess and whacky friend [now I have never quite been there before] Mary

 Good morning, girlfirends!  It's Friday!!  I just love Friday  It is my favorite day of the week.  We only have two doctors in, on Friday, so it is a light day.  I get to go home and stay up late because it doesn't matter what time I get up in the morning and it is the beginning of two days off!  Not a wonder I love it so much.

I haven't used my crockpot yet.  I think I may give it a whirl this weekend to make a pot of spaghetti and meatballs to take to my girlfirends next weekend.  We're going to spend the weekend with her.  She swears by her Kitchenaid pasta making machine so she is going to show me how to make it and I'm going to bring the sauce to go on it.  I love it at her house.  It is decorated like something you would see out of Better Homes and Gardens and her back window has a full view of the ocean!  How much better can it get that that.  She also has one of those outside kitchens.  I hope we get to use that too.  The crockpot should work well for my pasta sauce because I don't brown the meatballs anymore.  They turn out just as good if i just drop the raw balls right in the hot sauce.

Tomorrow morning Earl is going with one of the doctors to look at a vintage car.  I'll go to water aerobics then come home and make sauce.  Sunday is when we are all going to chinatown for Dim Sum.  Another great weekend planned.

How is everyone's garden doing?  I have my garden going in the front yard in pots.  My tomato plant is beautiful but it appears that every tomato has blossom end rot.  anyone familiar with this and how to fix it?  I've already harvested my green beans and have just planted 4 more plants.  My jalepeno plant is totally reaping its' reward and I've been sharing those.  My cucumber plant is huge with tiny little beginnings of cucumbers.  Earl's garden, which is in the backyard, is really doing well.  He has about 4 rows or corn and they are tall and green and have just started to show ears of corn growing.  He has one tomato plant that looks good but he has it caged and I feel like it needs to be open to let the sun at it.  His cucumbers are about as well progressed as mine.  Next time I want him to put in some watermelon!

Happy day to everyone.  Hugs and big smiles.

Kathy

Susie, I use Luzianne tea. I boil water in a small saucepan, add 1 family-size tea bag, remove from heat and let steep. Then I add it to a pitcher with 1/2 cup sugar and stir. Run cold water over the teabag in the pan and squeeze it out (gently!), then pour the water into pitcher. Continue until pitcher is full. Stir well and refrigerate.

Blessed Sunday morning dearest of angels,  All is quite here this morning.  DH had to run to work this morning to check on sonething and everyone else is still in bed.   I decided I wanted a cup of coffee this morning.  So I made a pot of coffee and fixed me a couple slices of toast.  Now I got to go start getting ready for church.  Tonight at church the childrens choir is putting on a summer program  and you know Baptist we have to have food afterwards. We are having fingerfoods and ice cream after the program. I am making a new recipe I found on the TOH website.  It is S'mores Bars,  If they turn out ok I will let you know and post it later.  I need to make something else but not sure what right now.  Well I need to go wake everyone one up and get them moving.

have a great day

Hugs

Carole

Good Morning Dear Friends and WElcome to the Tearoom. We have got the makings of a perfect sunny Sunday and joy is in the air...breeeethe...deep and let it just fill you up. Today we are helping a neighbor move a hottub that was offered on our Freecycle. Afterwards we are planning a family sitdown meal at Outback. We have our little card party and swimming to follow. Having a pool heater is such a blessing as nightime swims are the best. My cup runneth over with blessings.

Dear Kathy, My tomatoes are having the same difficulty...very hearty but the blossomes just die off. Tina's mother is using Miracle Grow for Tomatoes as it supposedly provides an enzyme the soil is missing. I have my heart set on growing pumpkins next year. The potted garden is really a breeze to take care of. My moonflowers are just exquisite and I am saving the seeds for an encore. I do my meatballs the same way, raw to boil in the sauce. I hope you just love your new crockpot.

Dear Carole, Just reading about your church activities and food could convert me to being Baptist! I know you always bring home an empty dish! In our old parish we had pot lucks often and my only fear was that my food wouldn't strike a common ummmmmm. When you recommend a recipe it really is fabulous.

Ok, I have become hooked on cookbooks and my favorites lean towards Gooseberry Patch or Fix it and Forget it. I am wondering what is 'shelf worthy' in your kitchen? Do you have a recipe that became a total keeper ? Please share.

From my heart to yours, your very grateful hostess and friend, Mary