Daisies

The seed is hope,
the flower is joy!

Wishing you a joyful day!

A Mere Drink in Britain

"Tea is much more than a mere drink in Britain. It is a solace, a mystique,an art, a way of life, almost a religion. It is more deeply traditional than the roast beef of old England....This khaki-colored concoction, brewedthrough an accident of history from an exotic plant grown thousands of milesfrom fog, cricket and left-handed driving, has become the life-blood of the nation."

- Cecil Porter of Gemini News Service

A Quiet Cup of Tea

It feels so good to have a friend on whom you can depend.
A friend can help to mend a heart, boost you toward a brand-new start,
clown with carefree schoolgirl glee,
share a quiet cup of tea.

~ Jan Miller, Pals

Alma at Tea

Yesterday I received an enthusiastic phone call from Alma. She had just returned from a tea that the Women's Ministries group at her church had presented for the church ladies. What a wonderful time they had! They had a tea experience that was second to none! Alma emailed me some photos from the tea and said that I could share them with you today! Enjoy!

Tea Photos: by Alma
Alma's Photo: by Dad

The Tea Tables & Hostesses

The tea was set up so that there were eight or nine large, round tables that seated 8 people each. A hostess was assigned to each table. She was responsible for the table decor and set up. Due to this, each table was decorated uniquely with china, crystal, table linens, and centerpieces that were provided by the hostess and the theme that they selected for their table. Hostesses generally dressed up to coordinate with their table decor.

Tea Menu

North Cascades SDA Church Tea Menu

Avocado, Cheese, and Tomato Sandwiches
Minted Cream Cheese and Cucumber Sandwiches
Pasties
Pepper Jack Cheese and Colby Cheese
Assorted Melons
Strawberries
Black Currant Orange Scones with Cream and Jam
Lamingtons
Belgian Chocolate Cheesecakes
Assorted Hot Teas and Coffees
Iced Peach Tea

Spring!

Comfort and Candlelight

Lovely Ladies at Tea

Two Lips are Red

Rhapsody in Blue

Pretty in Pink

Teaful Musical Harp

The musical entertainment for the tea was performed by the beautiful twelve-year-old daughter of one of the church members. She played the harp, filling the tea room with soothing melodies.

Tea Table with Asian Flair!

This tea table was decorated with a colorful Asian flair! I love the orchid centerpiece and the satin covers the hostess made for the chairs. Exquisite!

Fashions from Valoo Vil Augze

The program for the tea was a fashion show presenting the styles of Valoo Vil Augze. Eight ladies modeled dresses, casual wear, and jammies from this trendy shop. Nothing cost over 99 cents. Another name for this shop is Value Village (second hand store).

Wallowa Lake

Nestled in the northeastern corner of Oregon state is a pristine lake that is of exquisite beauty. Wallowa lake is a perfect morainal lake that was formed by a glacier many years ago. This five mile long lake is a mile wide and 283' deep. Snow-capped peaks, some as high as 9,000' surround the lake on three sides. At the edge of the Eagle Cap Wilderness Area, the Wallowa Lake community of cabin dwellers and naturalists claim to be the Little Switzerland of America. Abundant wildlife, hiking, water sports, and a tramway provide for a wealth of outdoor activities where nature can be enjoyed and appreciated.

Switzerland of America

 

Cozy Yurt

Home is where your heart is! Gracious hospitality is not limited to the four walls that make up our permanent place of residence, but rather goes with us wherever we are. Graciousness, hospitality, and a sense of welcome can be ours if we provide it. A cozy yurt, a hotel room, a camping tent, a cabin in the woods, or a recreational vehicle on wheels are all places where we may spend quality time with family, friends, or stranger. A spirit of giving of ourselves in order to provide comfort to another can be achieved wherever we are. A warm soup supper, a candle lit, a pretty knitted afghan, a pot of favorite tea, a good book, and the companionship of beloved pets can all provide this kind of welcome. From suitcase to portable home, take time to think of the little things that you can do to make your home be where your heart is! You'll create memories that you will never regret.

Photo by KC

Reflections

Everything God created is good,
and nothing is to be rejected
if it is received
with thanksgiving,
because it is consecrated by the
word of God and prayer.

1 Timothy 4: 4-5

Chalet of Wallowa

cha·let ( P ) Pronunciation Key (sh-l, shl)
n.

1. 1. A wooden dwelling with a sloping roof and widely overhanging eaves, common in Switzerland and other Alpine regions.
   2. A cottage or lodge built in this style.
2. The hut of a herder in the Swiss Alps.

Depths of Blue

Wallowa Lake Photos: By KC

Tea Under the Tuscan Sun

Warmth and joy radiate from this tea set
as shown in a shop window display.
In my imagination,
some of the sun over Tuscany
casts it's glow on the
teapot and tray,
just waiting for someone
to take them home!

Pasta con Faggioli

Fresh, savory, and quick to make --- Pasta con Faggioli is great for a crowd. Serve with sandwiches and enjoy the fellowship of family and friends.

Pasta Con Faggioli

6 cups water
4 - 5 medium garlic cloves, peeled and diced
1 sweet onion, medium
8 ounces crushed tomatoes, canned
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 tsp. salt
1/4 Tbsp. chili pepper, crushed
1 Tbsp. parsley, fresh and chopped
15 ounces cooked Cannellini or Great Northern White Beans
8 ounces quinoa spaghetti, broken

In a skillet, sauté sweet onion and garlic until soft. Add seasonings, tomatoes, and beans. In a kettle, bring water to a boil. Add spaghetti and cook until tender. Drain spaghetti. Add spaghetti to the bean and tomato mixture. Add fresh parsley and stir in gently. Adjust seasonings as needed. Cover and allow to sit for 2 - 3 minutes before serving.

That's Amore

When the stars make you drool just like pasta fazool,
That's amore. . .

As sung by Dean Martin

 

 

From Sea to Shining Sea

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain;
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood,
From sea to shining sea.

Katherine Bates

Photo: Cape Kiwanda, Oregon and the Pacific

 

Front Door Chapel

Have you ever stopped to think about Jesus and how He always met people where they were? To approach Him, the population did not need to go to a fancy cathedral or to a parade path where they could see him on a float. He didn't wave to them from distance balconies, nor were appointments necessary. Jesus lived among people, meeting them in the places they lived, worked, and socialized. He was one with humanity. And He still is! We can take great counsel from his example, as we are encouraged to be salt and light to those around us. Instead of expecting others to dress, look, and act a certain way to meet 'our' expectations of how they 'should' be, we should instead follow the example of Jesus and meet people where they are, in their own way, and in their own style. I especially enjoy the chapel in the photo because it shows that someone is doing just that! The Front Door Chapel is parked in a very busy semi-truck parking lot at a junction where truckers stop for food, water, and fuel. A central point between California, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, it provides opportunity for soul food! God bless them!

Be Strong and of Courage

Have I not commanded you?
Be strong and of good courage:
do not be afraid, nor be
dismayed, for the Lord your God
is with you wherever
you go.

Joshua 1:9

A Valentine's Christmas

Sometimes it is fun to mix things up and create new holiday traditions. Emeril (on Food TV) would say to 'kick it up a notch', so that's what we did. Christmas at Valentine's with a house filled with young adults. Such fun! Here are a few of the guys exchanging belated Christmas gifts. There's something about their chatter and banter back and forth that warms a mother's heart! What joy!

Tomorrow's Memories

For all of us,
today's experiences are
tomorrow's memories.

Barbara Johnson

Fond of Tea

"I am so fond of tea that I could write a whole dissertation of is virtues. It comforts and enlivens without the risks attendant on spirituous liquors. Gentle herb! Let the florid grape yield to thee. Thy soft influence in a more safe inspirer of social joy."

-- James Boswell (1740-1795)

Signs of SPRING!

Pale, creamy-yellow daffodils have poked their pretty faces out into the world of SPRING! They look so cheerful and happy --- one cannot help but smile and stop to inhale their fragrance after a winter without color. Daffodils, primroses, snowdrops, and redbud trees in bloom are on my list of blooming plants discovered so far this spring. I wonder what will be next? I can hardly wait!

Billy Tea

From my friend Julie in Australia:

. . .oh, you ain't LIVED until you had billy tea. (Or so's I'm told) A billy is what you cook the tea in when you is out camping and sitting around the fire making tea and damper. You throws a bit of tea into the billy, along with the water and you cooks it over the flames hanging off a stick. Then when the tea is boiling you pour it into cups and enjoy. Some peoples throws a gum leaf or two into the billy as well. It's a Aussie thing...

Blue China Pot

He brewed his tea in a blue china pot,
poured it into a chipped white cup
with forget-me-nots on the handles,
and dropped a dollop of honey and cream.
'I am,' he sighed deeply, 'contented as a clam.'

Ethel Pochocki
Wildflower Tea

Karleen's teapot and teacup in blue and white

A Teacups Handle

The handle on a teacup was an English invention, adapted from tankards used for hot toddies. Small ceramic teacups without handles have been favored in China for a millennium.

Tea towel, stitched for Val in a primitive, country pattern adapted from Pieceable Dry Goods.

Rich Hues on Misty Memories

God can paint rich hues on
the misty memories of my past.
He can shine a guiding ray
on my choices for the future.
But God's love reigns best
when He, in nearness, holds
this very moment in His hands.

Charlotte Adeslperger

Heather blossoms in February; a promise of spring to come.