Tea on Tuesday

This is a post that is usually seen on my OTHER blog- but since Blogger is having issues with loading photos – and this blog has been ignored of late, I am posting it here!

We are back to regular T.o.T., without a set theme, just winging it- writing whatever comes to mind!!!I want to thank  Kimmie for organizing our themes last month!!!

I haven’t a thought in my head today, so I skimmed thru’ my little book, 365 Things Every Tea Lover Should Know.

I opened to page 40 to this quote from Sir Arthur Pinero:

“Where’s there’s tea there’s hope.”

That’s so true, when you need to relax, or are having a bad day, sit back, relax, with a favorite mug, filled with your favorite tea. Just clutching the hot mug, and inhaling the scented steam, can clear your head, and calm your mind.
My favorite of late, is lemongrass tea- the soothing lemon scent and flavor is a definite favorite!

In keeping with the tea theme- look what I found at the local thrift store yesterday!!
This precious little teapot clock just needs a new battery! The tiny dinerware style cup and saucer, with its faded painted flowers, will become a pin cushion or a candle. The cute little tin floral dish is so sweet- and perfect for spring!!! Total spent- about $2.50!!!

The little postcard is a work in progress- for Sunday Postcard -the theme this week is tea! On the blog, Pieces of D, I spotted another challenge, using the backround paper from Art Creations Friday. With lovely photos from The Graphics Fairy, this is a work in progress – I had hoped to have it done by today, but still have a few more things to add to it!!

I am really getting into this paper thing this week!!! This, along with the zentangles and  inchies I am working on, with my cute little inchie supplies from Inchie Arts LLC, and the Travel Postcard Swap- I’m keeping busy!!

 

Tea on Tuesdays

Click here to go there……………..join us for tea!

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All is well, and definitely not as sunny as  pictured above, at Mountain Meadows, this rainy Tuesday morning………………….

 

Tea Party

At last, the long awaited day has arrived!!!! Three friends were coming for tea!

That resulted in a quick sprucing up of the house (at least the parts they would see!) Vacuuming up all the lady bug carcasses that seem to accumulate overnite, and corralling the dust ponies that gravitate to under the couches for a dust pony convention- having company reminds you of what should be done on a daily basis, but never is- at least, not around here!!!

I got to use my mom’s dinnerware, that I have drooled over and coveted my whole life!!! It was not my intent, but when I started looking for grandma’s eggshell Homer Laughlin dinnerware with the teapot – horrors!! it must still be packed away!!! Fortunately, the very vintage Organdie Vernonware was unpacked and ready to go!!!My mother bought it for her mother’s Rhinebeck country house, more than 50 years ago, and the design still looks current today!

I decided not to add stress to an already stressfull (in my mind) program, and got the daughter to pick up scones from the local coffee shop! Theirs are delicious, and ready to eat!!! I made mock Devonshire cream to go with them – yum!!

We had cucumber finger sandwiches, not quite as pretty as the tea room might serve – but good, nonetheless. Also chicken salad on crackers, and a concoction of cream cheese, sour cream,bacon bits and broccoli on crackers, that turned out to be quite tasty. Sweet tea, and and assortment of hot tea was on the ‘menu’. I taste tested everything the night before, and was hoping everyone would like it as much as I did!!!

There were little gifts to go around – this group never meets empty handed!!! We also had a book exchange- the unchosen books stayed with me, and will be donated to the local thrift store next week.

The torrential downpours (which we needed desperately) were kind enough to totally let up while everyone was here!

The ladies were happy to finally put a face to everything they have read about in this blog!!! And I was so happy to share it all with them!!

The river was flowing fast and furious, after almost 2 inches of rain yesterday and today. The daughter found heart shaped rocks for Patty and I. The horses grudgingly posed for pictures – the ‘old man’ almost bowling Patty over, as he nudged the stall door aside in his rush to get a snack!!!

Lennie’s wish was to sit in the church pew – and the wish was granted!!!

It is nice to see what we love thru others eyes. Things that we might begin to take for granted – altho I never take living here for granted- are revived when others see them for the first time!

I have to thank Lennie for my giant wooden star and fern- and Judy for the ‘tea’  spoon, and Patty for the grape hyacinths in a teacup and love in a mist fern.

And, for taking the time to drive all the way out here and share the day!!!!!

I found an old saying the other day that fits perfectly here:

1 cup of tea = a stranger

2nd cup of tea= a friend

3rd cup of tea means you are family

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Overkill- making sure I had enough hot water!!!!

The table- with my 'mugger hugger' gifts on the plates

BTW, ‘mugger huggers’ are wrapped around the coffee cups you get from Starbucks, etc. Made them out of pieced batik squares, vintage button, and wool  backing. Much more stylish that the cardboard sleeves that you get with the coffee!

The gals and my mom

On the pew, enjoyin' the view......l-r me, Lennie, Judy, Patty

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All is well, at Mountain Meadows today, thankful for rain, and good friends…

 

A Tea Break

Well, it wasn’t exactly a tea break, but I took my new mug out to the barn, with the dog and the rakes.

I had just poured a cup of Yogi lemon pepper tea, and figured I would see if I could make it all the way to the barn without spilling it!!

I did, and put it on a fence post in the sun while I did chores.

I trusted my one dog, Sunman, to stay by my side and go to the barn without a leash. I told him we were going to look for mousies – something he loves to do – he hasn’t caught one yet!!! Like his owner, he is easily distracted- if a deer were to burst out of the trees – off Sunman would go in hot pursuit!!! So, he is not off leash too often, unless in a fenced in area, even tho we live in the middle of nowhere!

I did have to hold his collar when I escorted him thru the barn to the paddock – he doesn’t comprehend that chasing horses could cause him major injury!

So, while Sunman chased a ball and rolled in manure, I raked the rocks out of the front of the barn, changed water buckets and pulled drowned mousies out of the buckets – eeewww!!!

I would pause every now and then, to sip my tea, look at the mountains, and listen to the woodpeckers call to each other as their pounding breakfast search echoed off the hills.

It’s warm again today, the flies have defrosted and the gnats are hovering overhead.

The husband has 6 large planters ready to go – with aged chicken and horse manure, to start some of the planting. The planters are big colorful buckets from Lowes that have rope handles – so we can drag them in if a late frost appears. We have to go out today and roll up the plastic over the veggie garden to get it ready for rototilling.

The daughter wants to bathe the horses- altho it is warmer out – the well water is frigid – I am not sure that would be a kind thing to do just yet!!!

Time to go help the husband do some yard work – so I must step away from the computer – break’s over!!!

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All is well, with spring just over the horizon at Mountain Meadows this afternoon………………….

 

Happy St. Paddy’s Day!!!

St. Patrick’s Day started off as it always had for me growing up in NY – rainy, damp, and overcast–but without the green cupcakes my mother always made!!!

The fog was thick on the mountain as I drove into town, but, by midday, the skies were clear and warm, and the leprechauns were sunnin’ themselves!!!

I had no green to wear, but found some properly colored jewelry!! If  you aren’t  wearin’ the green, ya’ run the risk of being pinched!

Afternoon tea was green – and served in a greenish hued cup, with my Belleek honey pot and plate showing the shamrocks!

My vintage daffodil c & s, with cute little serving tray, and my bracelet!

My 2 Belleek pieces - so fragile I almost just want to look but don't touch!!!

Spring is definitely upon us – the killdeer have begun to scope out our driveway for their for their little rock nests. They invariably pick the most inappropriate place, that we have to discover and then mark with bright orange cones – so no one inadvertently drives over the nest!

The trees have tiny buds – I picked some quince to try to force some early blooms.

Since the sun was out – I decided that along with the barn duties, I would brush the horses, and try on the ‘big guy’s’ new attire!!!

The ‘old man’ is as furry as a German Shepherd – and brushing him pulls off wads of hair that the birds will be happy to have for their nest making!

I got out the shedding blades and gently worked it over him – pulling off sun ray like circles of hair. His shaggy coat makes him look alot older than his 26 years!

They both enjoyed the brushing – standing in the warm sun, munching on hay, not a care in the world!

Then, it was time to try on the ‘big guy’s’ new duds!!! Got a great little refurbished old saddle, with pad and girth (thanks, Leah!), and a used breast collar that had to be enlarged for the ‘big guy’ (thanks, Saddle Doctor!). Between the daughter and I (mostly the daughter), we figured out how to tack him up! Being of the English/hunter jumper discipline, western  tack is something new. The big guy, Prince John, is a Missouri Fox Trotter, and was trained as a western style trail horse, but was found at a hunter jumper barn, after passing thru several owners. We are finally getting him back to what he knows.

I caught on to the neck reining thing pretty quickly – and I think I am going to like the western style- I think John breathed a sigh of relief- probably thinking, geez, she finally got it right!!!! LOL

John in his new duds!!!

With a few minor adjustments, and one more saddle strap for the back, and more practice on my part, we should be good to go!!! We are not going for style – recycled tack is fine with us!!!

Not that we go too far – I am not the best rider, and we just ride around our property, taking care to steer clear of the ever frightening cows, hogs, ground hog holes, and chicken house fans!!!

These horses, and I, have our forever homes, here at Mountain Meadows, and are just takin’ life easy……………………………

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All is well at Mountain Meadows at the end of this sunny St. Patrick’s Day……

 

A Rainy Saturday

Well, I am late as usual this morning- it’s a rainy Saturday- and cold!

I was hoping to get up at the crack of early and get to the community yard sale. It started at 7am, and is indoors at the Community Center. The days of being an early bird at a yard sale are pretty much over for me!! Too lazy!!!

I plan to have one of my own in two weeks – after swearing last year that I would NEVER do it again!!! But I have got to seriously purge the garage!! After living here for two years, and still having boxes stacked high, it’s time to purge!!!!

So, that is part of my reluctance to get out to a yard sale early – I don’t NEED anything!!!

But part of yard saling is the thrill of the hunt – not actually searching for things you need!

I am always on the lookout for things to refurbish and put in the shop. But with the economy in the state that it’s in, sales in the shop, both land and online, are down considerably.

People are shopping for bargains and necessities, and keeping their cash close.

The other reason to go to town is to see if the small Farmers’ Market has started up yet. Last year, it consisted of 3 farmers (we live in a small town!)I need to find out how to get in on that. Last year was the first real year of my garden, and we canned and put up tons of veggies. I found we had more that we actually needed over the winter. So, I would like to grow more, can what we need and sell the rest. I thought about putting a little booth down at the end of the drive, but maybe I’ll test the waters in town first, and think about a booth next year!I would like the booth at the end of the drive to have a section that is “take what you need, pay what you can” for those who can’t afford much or anything.

Herbs, cut flowers, veggies as they come into season, blackberries, homemade scones and cakes, with a couple of handmade aprons and grocery tote bags thrown in the mix!! I think it might be fun, and the little money made could be invested into next year’s garden.

Well, while I am sitting here talkin’ about it – the days’ awastin’!!!

Here are some pix of my booth in the antique shop in town. This shop is by no means a fancy place, but alot of the nicest people work and go there. A fun place to display and hopefully sell some of those fabulous finds!!!

hand crocheted baby and child size hats

kitchenalia!

Cookie jars and Longaberger anyone?

Thanks for visiting!!! If you see something you just HAVE to have, let me know!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~All is well at Mountain Meadows this Saturday morning…………………

 

A Work in Progress…………….

Altered printers box - a work in progress

This would be me – if I wore long dresses!!!!

Just a quick little post – here’s an old printer’s box or shadow box that I picked up at a yard sale and repainted.

I have alot of jewelry bits and pieces, and tons of odds and ends that appeal to me. They needed a place to go – so here they are!! Some of them anyway, this is a work in progress.

I tried to incorporate all things I like – flowers, my horses, gardening, tea. Some of the backrounds are old pull out sheets from an old Somerset Studios book. The cats are old cut outs that I’ve had forever. Everything means something- and now they all have a place to “hang”!!!

This is in my guest bathroom for the moment – the colors match the bathroom – and it is not used very often – so I don’t have to worry about humidity getting to it.

Time to get off the computer – just thought I’d share……….!!!

All is well at Mountain Meadows this cold morning……………..

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Not everything you create will be a masterpiece, but you get out there and try. Sometimes it happens, the other times you are just stretching your soul.  ——– Maya  Angelou

 

My Church, My Pew, A New View!

For those of you who had inquired about my church pews- they were a fabulous freebie from the old church that borders the front of our property.

It is a lovely 100 year old Mennonite church, whose congregation scrimped and saved and just built a modern brick edifice right next to it.

Altho’  I prefer the old building, I am not a member of the congregation, so have no say. Anyway, the old pews, that had been used in the church, and then later outside, under cover in the picnic pavilion, were stacked by the side of the building.

My husband inquired for me – and turns out they were free for the taking!! Of course, the husband did not get right back to me with this info – because he really did not want me to have them. When I found out, I made him take the tractor over to bring one back. I got two – I would have taken them all – except for the obstacle that is the husband!!! I also got some very cool metal poles – the kind that hold the velvet ropes -haven’t figured out what I will do with those – but give me time…..!!!

I wanted one pew for my garden and the other out by the barn. They sat by the driveway for a month or so – giving the horses the shakes, every time they had to pass by them!!

Finally, I got to set them at the edge of the field – still working on the husband agreeing to put one near my garden!!!

Unfortunately, the winds have been roaring thru the fields lately. Not too long ago, we had almost 50mph winds that lifted the two pews and tossed them! One landed about 4 feet away from it’s  original spot!!

Those pews are heavy old wood, and I was shocked that the wind could do that!! Well, last night the wind picked up again – and picked up my pews and relocated them!!!

I left them turned over – and later this week, will have to move them again. The husband has started to see that in the garden – surrounded on almost 4 sides by a windbreak of trees- might be the best location for the pew!  The other one was to be set by the barn – still affording me my “view”, but sitting safely out of the wind.

I have better pix of this wonderful little church – but of course can’t find where they are hidden on the computer!!!

Love this view!

Upended pews need a new view!

While the winds are whistling and the snowflakes are falling outside – now is the perfect time for staying inside!! The pews will stay where they are- so the wind doesn’t attack them again!! I’ll check on them later when I make my last trip out into the cold to say goodnight to the horses!

Right now, happiness is a good book, a hot cuppa tea (Peggy Krantz’s Chapped Chick Alfalfa Tea), and a warm dog!!!I’ll repeat that scene tonite after visiting the horses – but we’ll add a blankie and a hot fire to the picture!!!

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All is well at Mountain Meadows on this last day of 2008….Happy New Year to all – and if the sky is clear tonite – watch out for the meteor shower- it’s supposed to be visible thru  January 4th! What a way to bring in the New Year!!!

 

Christmas Memories Random Giveaway Followup

The winner of the Christmas Memories Giveaway, did respond and has just received her ‘goodie box’!

So, now I can show you all what she won!!!! I loved this little basket- it is from my favorite (and ONLY!) little store in our tiny town of Fulks Run!! Well, there is also a gas station/quick stop market, a lunch place, and the town’s hub- the Post Office!!! But, Turner Ham/Fulks Run Grocery has been around since the 50’s at least. Family run, it has the best take out sandwiches, local eggs, cider, and hunks of  Amish made butter I can’t live without!!! Their hams are world renowned.

You can get books on local history, lore, and geneology, and a wide array of gifts- from gardening to aprons, to Burt’s Bees products, to teas, to Polish pottery. It is literally one stop shopping in a tiny town. And, if I can’t identify a plant or a seed pod, I can bring it in and ask Mary Anne – she always knows!!!

I had alot of fun picking stuff for the basket – it was so hard to choose!!! Can’t wait til the next giveaway!!!

Anyway, congratulations Lisa, thanks for the memories all, and happy holidays!!!!!

Only 21 more days til Christmas!

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All is well, and waiting for rain (wish it was snow!), at Mountain Meadows this morning………