Showing posts with label Tea. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tea. Show all posts

Thursday, March 21, 2019

Yippee Shed Is Approved By Borough

Hi Dear Folk,

Spring is in the air, but not today, raining and cold.  I'm making the most of the tail end of winter to sit by the fire which I felt was needed and to drink tea and eat muffins, these are oatmeal, honey and date.



My newest book from the library, "Orient Express."  Some lovely illustrations of all the different carriages and advertising, visually interesting.

I've just finished reading "Tony's Wife" by Adriana Trigiani.  It was a good read, not deep but a nice style of writing.  She must be doing something right, she's a prolific screen writer, playwright and author, I think she never stops.  I watched Big Stone Gap on You Tube which is a good film.  She wrote the book and then had the movie produced.  Tony's Wife was our read for the library book club read.  I went last Saturday, I haven't joined in for quite a few years.


Our read for next month is "Seeds, The Triumph of Seeds:  How Grains, Nuts, Kernels, Pulses, and Pips Conquered The Plant Kingdom and Shaped Human History."  Rather a long title.  It's also the Longwood Garden read and a bonus was the library book club coordinator gave out free passes for Longwood Gardens.  I have a pass for four people, which we will use and enjoy.


I'm using my Flam Railway bag to tote my library books in.



I started off the week with a message on my phone Invalid Sim Card, what!  Of course until the problem was resolved I could not phone or text.  I contacted Tracfone and in about thirty minutes had it sorted.  They gave me a very long access code and two other codes, the phone shutdown and then rebooted and I was up and running again.

I spoke with a friend and he said it happened to him and he landed up getting a new phone, I think his other one was old.  But needless to say I was a happy camper and give Tracfone 100% for customer service.  I don't use my phone a lot, it costs me about $12.00 a month which I think is good value.

Happy news I received my shed building permit and met with the builder to go over plans and fine tune exactly what I want.  I might scale down the porch size, I wanted 9 ft X 9 ft but he said maybe scale it back to 6 ft x 9 ft, which I think I will.  What do you think of a loft shelf for storage and possibly a sleeping place, could come in handy?

Just want to get out in the garden, although I have made good use of a couple of nice days and did some garden clean up.  The big thing now is to clean up the area where the shed is to be built, which unfortunately means moving all those breeze blocks that I laid last year, oh well!.  Lots of big pots to move and patio pavers, also two forsythia bushes to cut down, don't know if I can somehow dig some root up and replant them, I'm going to give it a go.

The builder says he can start the beginning of April.  I do wish the sun would come out and things would dry up a bit.

Almost finished with Medicare sign up, but have not done my taxes, I just want them off my plate.  I think I dealt with so much paperwork and emails for years, that I have a total aversion to it now.


My glass collection, I do like the cranberry and rose glass, plus my Langham Glass Factory vase, the colored one below.  Living happy memories of when I visited the glass works in Norfolk with my sister, we did have fun.  I washed all this glass and now we have a nice sparkle, if only it would stay that way.



These Japanese flowers have been crocheted in to several scarfs, unpicked and put into something else, but this is the last go around with them, no more faffing about.  I still have to finish the edging and think I will need another ball of red yarn to do so.


Well that's my catch up on a rainy day.  Lunch with a friend tomorrow and Tea and Art, Van Gogh,  on Saturday at a friend's house, happy events.  I'm going to take a Mexican Salad.

Take care, have a great week.

Christine

Monday, December 31, 2018

20th November 2018 Tea Lunch

Hi Dear Folk,

Seems appropriate to close out 2018 with a tea scene.  My friend Candyce came over for lunch.  I used part of a beautiful set I bought at the thrift while out together.  I could say that I am not buying anymore china. I think I maxed myself out. This set is Royal Ivory, Made in Czechoslovakia. It is delightful.  Probably from the 1930s.


I always love a pattern in the center of a bowl or cup, besides on the outside.  Loved these paper napkins/serviettes from IKEA they are most whimsical.


Paired up with an old teapot.



Well it's been a marathon.  I will try to live in real time next year.

Good night all fellow bloggers.

Goodbye 2018.

Christine

Monday, October 8, 2018

8th August 2018 Getting Back Into The Swing of Things.

Hi Dear Folk,

Well I'm back!  It seems that I have taken a two month sabbatical from Blogging and that Instagram became the platform of choice, and even that was sketchy, so hope you were able to follow me there. No excuses just sometimes you need a break, which makes it all the more fun to come back to.


My flight over was good, took my chances on seating in the upgraded category I was in, did not want to pay the additional $65 to have assigned seating and even though they said you could get in 24 hours ahead of time to do so, you could not.  I even phoned BA and it was locked down, so had to wait until I got to the airport.  I had an aisle seat at the back, not too bad, but not the best.  It was definitely worth upgrading that little bit as was allowed a second suitcase and there is more leg room, little nicer seats, but only maybe a tad wider.  I had a direct flight from Philly to Heathrow.


Sitting at the back of the section meant that by the time they got to me they had run out of meal selections and there was only one choice so went with that.  I will make this comment now that the food going from the States to England is not as good as the food on BA going from England to the States.  My flight home was so much better.


After retrieving all my baggage I walked over to get a ticket for the National Express Bus to Cambridge.  Fortunately after waiting about an hour, I was able to get on the next bus that came along, although I was told it possibly would be full.


The whole trip was a little crazy because they had a smaller than normal replacement bus, which when we got to other stops they made some people get off to wait for another bus to Stansted Airport,  it was very unorganized and confusing.  It took three and a half hours to get to Cambridge, which was ridiculous, should only take two hours.

After getting to Cambridge I had to walk with all my luggage from there to the local bus terminal, my one redeeming factor was that did not have to wait too long for the local bus to Haverhill and also the bus had free Wifi so was able to phone my sis via the Internet and she arranged for some friends to meet me in town with all my luggage, thank goodness.  I think after arriving at about 7:00AM I got to my sister's about 2:00PM.

That was on a Monday.  Tuesday I walked down town to have a look around and Wednesday we BB, Trev and I went over to Petals Tea Room.


I caught the tail end of the heat wave that England and most of Europe had for the summer of 2018, three glorious days, then it was all over.



While in town I thrifted this lovely linen dress and straw hat, I only wore the hat this one day, but did get to bring it home.  I do like the dress.


I bought some horseradish and beetroot chutney, but unfortunately it was one of the items I had to jettison before I returned.  It was going to be a gift, but I think my sis will like it.


Had a nice chat with this old gentleman who said I reminded him of his wife in my straw hat.

All the fields had been harvested one month early, you can see how golden everything was, but in some places very brown.

Of course I had tea and scones, sis and BIL went for a sandwich.

Lovely to be out in remembered haunts.

Christine.

Friday, June 8, 2018

Scones with American Measurements

Hi Dear Folk,

Preparing for lunch with a friend.


Setting the tea tray, with my old Betty Brown Teapot from England and the flower tea cosy I crocheted.


I love that brown dish from a pottery in the UK.  I was with my mum and sister when I bought it.  We all bought a couple of items.  Fond memories.


I came across this lovely Scottish lemon curd and strawberry jam with champagne, it's delicious.  May even enter the win a trip to Scotland.


Scones, I haven't made them forever, so decided to write down my own American version in cups.  I know measuring with cups is not as accurate as weighing in grams, but my is it easier.  Plain ones for Mr. B and scones with raisins for The Boy and I.  They were delicious, maybe could have kept the depth thicker when rolling them out.  One thing I embraced when moving to the USA was measuring in cups.

Scone Recipe with American Measurements

2 Cups Flour Sifted
4 Tea Sps Baking Powder (sifted in with flour)
1/2 Cup White Sugar (can put in less to taste and especially if you sprinkle with sugar on top)
1 Stick Butter (8 Tbsps)
1 Egg Beaten
Milk to mix
1/4 Cup Raisins if desired (pour boiling water over them, drain, pat dry and shake with a little flour to dust.  My grandma always told me to do this.)
Bake 350 F
15 Minutes or until golden brown on top

Sift flour and baking powder together, rub in butter, add sugar and raisins (another alternative is cheese) Mix beaten egg with enough milk to form into a dough ball.  Knead on floured board and roll out to a depth of at least one and a quarter inches, if not more.  Cut with a circle cutter approx size of about 2" circumference.  (Can also just pat entire dough ball into a circle then cut into triangles on the baking sheet.)  Coat with left over egg and milk wash, sprinkle with sugar.  Bake on a greased baking sheet.


Now when I bought this silver sugar coal skuttle, I'm sure the seller said something about putting it out with strawberries and cream.  But my friend said her mum had one and it was set out with sugar lumps in, dah! Of course, lumps of coal, cubes/lumps of sugar.  Next time I'll get sugar lumps, harder to find over here in the USA.


I have a mixture of pottery on the tray.  A milk jug from Grandma, a sugar bowl from a pottery near Niagara Falls in Canada.  Old 1960's cups and saucers.


Out in the garden, of course the sun has shined all week except for our lunch on Wednesday, where you needed a shawl to keep the chill off, but I was not to be thwarted.  We came inside for lunch.

I made a chicken salad and as I so often do, used what I had in the fridge, which was of course cooked chicken cubed, diced onions, three different peppers, yellow, orange and red, diced mango, apple and some blueberries, along with mayonnaise and lemon juice, and very tasty it was too, if I do say so myself.  I was going to put walnuts in but forgot, we had this along with some mixed Asian veg.

We had a lovely chatty time, with plans for a picnic and trip to the shore next time.

Christine


Sunday, December 10, 2017

Did it Snow On You Over The Weekend?

Hi Dear Folk,

I popped into a few blogs over the weekend and everyone was posting snow shots.  Yes it snowed here too on Saturday, starting at about 9:00 am and continuing for the rest of the day.  I was out in the morning by 8:00 AM all dressed for the weather, with my old down coat, very warm and including boots which had their first airing of the winter.  Home by 11:00 AM and lit the fire.  Made a pot of taco soup for Sunday, Mr. B. had made chocolate chip cookies and snuggled down to crochet.



Sunday morning we had a family breakfast as we were all in, home fries, scrambled egg and bacon, with orange juice and coffee.  A lovely quiet day well except for the boys.

The boys were up in their stereo lair, vacuuming away as new sound equipment was being installed and wires relaid and any number of goings on.  Furniture pulled out etc and I thought go for it, all that cleaning is great.  Followed by all the sound testing, not so great.  I'm sure I'm developing larger cracks in my sitting room ceiling.

I am assured that the fridge size sub woofer is soon to go after at least four years, of being not able to get into one of my closets and it's not as if we have hardly any.  It will be an adventure just pulling out what is in there, I hardly remember.  Couple of furs, old bags etc.


A pot of tea and raisin scones, a little candlelight, a cozy fire and hygge is achieved.

Christine

Thursday, November 23, 2017

Today With Mr. B.

Hi Dear Folk,

The Boy is up in Cape Ann for the Holiday weekend, while Mr. B. and I enjoyed a quiet day at home together.  These seem to be so few and far between, that it is nice to have a whole day for nothing too much at all, just be together.

As you see it's a lovely sunny day here, only brisk.  We decided to take a walk in our local park.



Here I am some trees still have their leaves, others are totally bare.  I am wearing a long waistcoat that my sister crocheted for me many years ago.



They have put in a Ba chi Ball court, we also have one in a little park near the zoo in town.  Very popular among the older Italians.  Just nice to sit and watch them playing on a summer evening.


As many times as I have seen this pergola, I never realized that it had been moved here from the old Jefferson House restaurant, I had several friends over the years who had held their receptions there and had their photos taken under this very same edifice.

The Jefferson House was sold off in about 2004 and the land used to build town houses.


While we sat here I thought how lovely it would be to have afternoon tea here.  I wonder if the park authorities would allow it.  Bring in a tea table and set it up under the pergola, you could use the seats round about to sit on and they would seat twelve.  You could serve afternoon tea buffet style.

It would be especially nice in spring as it is surrounded with ornamental cherry trees.




Doing my Samson impression.


Some more transplants from the old golf course that was sold off to build a hospital, which rises on the horizon outside the park.



Quite an old graveyard dating back to early 1800's.



Mr. B's toy.


Ended the afternoon with a nice pot of tea and a piece of Mexican cake.  Like a sponge cake with cream cheese and pineapple filling, very good.  This Mexican Bakery just opened up within a very large produce and food store, with a strong Hispanic influence, but lots of international foods.  He is independent from the store with his bakery.  Mr. B. has also bought home for me a slab of what I would call bread pudding.  Not sure what his was made from but it's super heavy and filling, just like mum's old bread pudding.

Hope you enjoyed time with family.

Christine

Monday, August 28, 2017

Teatime, Tuppence and Thrifted Threads

Hi Dear Folk,

Today I took another Monday off work to go to the doctor, this time it turned out to be cellulitis on my leg, some what painful, so now I'm on antibiotics.

I am enjoying the rest of my day off.  With a pot of tea and cheesecake.  A motley assortment of china.




I found this outfit at the thrift, made by Denim and Co. brand new with tags on from QVC.  It's all cotton and easy to wear, since I didn't pay too much for it, I don't mind it being white. I like the embroidery around the bottom of the jacket, dress and on the cuffs. The blue matches up with my blue sandals from Aurora.  The blue leather bag I have had a long while, a charity shop find from the UK.  In fact I saw a Louis Vuitton bag quite newly released which is very similar in shape.  Almost looks like you could hold binoculars in it.  If you keep it long enough it will come back in fashion



Enjoying a cup of tea on the oak tree patio.

A friend who has been helping her mum to downsize things, knows that I love broaches and earrings gave me a beautiful gold and pearl set, leaf with a pearl.  I'm wearing them here, I just love it.  I think it's from the fifties, as that date is inscribed on the back.  I especially like the earrings, the way they dangle and move is free, if you know what I mean.


Mr. B. with a travel mug of coffee.



My dear Tuppence or Tuppy her nick name, is enjoying a snooze in a pile of leaves.  I was going to clean them up today, but since she likes it I'll leave it longer.  Isn't she camoflouged with her coloring?  She's seventeen years old now and deffinitely is showing her age, but insists on going outside a lot, as if she's making the most of the summer too.





Acorns are dropping although last year was a bumper acorn harvest, doesn't seem to be as many this year.  The hosta are dying off, and I think this shot looks so tinged with autumn.



My fig is doing well in the pot, in fact better than the one planted in the garden, which has to fight with the oak tree roots.

I'm trying to put together a little journal to take with me at the end of September.  The Boy and I are going on a road trip to Cape Ann, Massachusetts, north of Boston.  I think you could call it an island as you have to cross the bridges to get over to it.  I'm excited, just a four day weekend.  I've never spent time in that area of MA.  I want to eat a lobster and have a nice bowl of New England clam chowder.  Maybe a little kayaking.

Christy
01 09 10