Recipes From the Past for Tea TIme

This morning I just felt like baking. My Jimmy loves cookies. I told him I was going to bake and he said if I made cookies, he's bring take out Thai food home for dinner. Well, how could I refuse?
I started to look through some old recipes to make some cookies from our past. I had fun going back in time a bit.

This is my little tea this afternoon. It's Tuesday and our Tasha group share tea things with our members...we call it Tea Time Tuesday with Tasha.

When Jim and I were first married, we used to go to Grangeville, Idaho to visit our friends Ed and Evelyn. They were like Jim's second parents. My first recipe~ginger snaps~is an old recipe from a delightful lady named Donna. We used to go visit her on our trips and she often had special cookies. I asked her for this one. It's a great cookie for tea time.

Here's the finished project. It's soft and full of great spices, so it's full of flavor.

The next recipe is one of Evelyn's cookies. It's called Homestead cookies. Evelyn would make it when we would stay at their home. She would make a big batch for Jim. I only make half of the recipe as it makes a lot!

This one is actually a cookie that I found a few years ago and never made. It's called an Italian Cherry cookie. It's yummy with almond flavoring and maraschino cherries. It's very much like the cookies Jimmy's aunt sends at Christmas. I was in the middle of making this one, when my daughter Angie stopped by with Otto! What a nice surprise. He loves to play in our backyard and the rain actually stopped for awhile. They had cookies to enjoy and that made me happy! It's so good to see them. We social distance and no hugs yet. Soon, I hope. 

It's always special to use my pink lusterware cup and saucer for a wee bit of tea. It was a lovely day and I just didn't listen to the news much. I needed a break.

Have you been baking? It's been fun to bake and cook with more time to enjoy it all. 

New Dolly

I have a sweet story to share with you. The other day, Jimmy said I hadn't gotten a new doll during the virus. I really hadn't thought about it but I had not purchased a doll. Two doll shows were canceled and I really haven't been buying dolly things.

He said I should go into my dolly/tea room and check that the window was shut for the night. When I went into my room I saw this sweet little baby doll. He had gone to an estate sale last Saturday. He told me he didn't find anything he was looking for. It was strange...one person per room and everyone had to wear a mask and gloves.

He did buy this sweet baby doll for $8. 00! He didn't know anything about it, but thought I would like the doll or the outfit!

She is soooo sweet.  We did some research and found that she is a Armand Marseille doll, made in Germany probably around 1925. She is a Bye Lo type of baby doll. She has a squeaker box inside her body but it doesn't work. Her name is Baby Phyllis. She is marked on the back of her head.

Her little white dress is in good condition and just so adorable.

Now I will be on the lookout for a dolly cradle...someday when I can leave my house. Our governor is slowly unlocking our state, but she said that festivals and gatherings that would bring a large group of people together will probably be canceled until September. We were planning to exhibit at the Portland Antique show, but I don't think that's going to happen. We will be happy when we can go antiquing again. 

Tasha Tudor's Birthday Celebration

Today, August 28th, was the birth date of the illustrator Tasha Tudor. She would have been 103 years old today. As big fans and members of the Tasha Tudor Museum Society, we love to celebrate on this day. Our Take Peace group had a gift exchange, however, I didn't participate this time. My surgeries just fell at the wrong time for me to join in the fun. Today is Tea With Tasha Tuesday, so several of us had a special tea today too.

My Jimmy has been such a great caregiver, so I thought I would put together a tea for him today too.
He drove me to the grocery store yesterday after we attended my sister in law's dad's funeral. Yes, I am still not driving...sigh. I had planned my menu so I was able to pick up my goodies.

I planned to have a lighter summer tea time using fruits and vegetables. I was happy with the results. I used my red transfer ware dishes and used lots of pink. I love setting a tea time table.

The blackberries area almost done and the peaches are really good right now.

A few yummy brownies, some pink chocolate chip cookies and a little coconut creme pie...YUM.

I used some of Tasha's books, her silhouette (a gift from LaVonne), some candles and a sweet African Violet plant.

I just made two sandwiches...egg salad and cucumber/strawberry open faced little hearts. The combo was really refreshing with a bit of cream cheese. I can now eat more tea goodies after the surgery, so it was quite a treat!

My friend sent me a box of goodies the other day. She made this wild violet jelly and oh, it is wonderful! I thought Jimmy was going to eat the whole jar. It was just delicious on the drop scones I made.

The little tomatoes are still producing , but I think we may only have fresh tomatoes for a few more weeks.

I adore little salts. These little birds and bird nests are some of my favorites. The pink salt was perfect.

So here is my very happy and very pleased Jimmy. He does love food and a good tea. We enjoyed tea chatting about Tasha friends and Tasha events. I am blessed to have such a sweet hubby who enjoys my love of Tasha Tudor. It was a very fun day. 

Expo Showtime Again

Once again, it's time for the Antique and Collectable show at the Expo center. I got it all set up on Friday and we had a GREAT selling day. Gina drove down from Everett late on Friday night to help Jim on Saturday. They also had a great selling day! I am so thankful for the good sales. We've had a lot of expenses since summer, so this is quite a big help.

Enjoy the pictures of our goods, I actually didn't get to take photos until Late Friday. I didn't get the photos taken until quite late in the afternoon.

Thursday Treasure

My Thursday Treasure is my Jimmy! Today is our 43rd anniversary. I just don't know where all the years have done...43!

Jimmy had to watch Otto today, so we decided to go out for dinner close to home. We are very lucky to have McMenamin's Edgefield about 5 minutes from home.

The hotel is lovely and it's a very fun place to visit. The grounds are lovely with lots of flowers.

Grapes are growing in the field as you drive in. So fun!

We like to park in the back and this is the path up to the restaurant. It was quite hot today.

My Jimmy  and his chicken wings!

It was the great beet salad that was my delight! It is my favorite salad. It isn't alway on the menu. I especially liked the golden beets that were used in this one tonight.

Jimmy always brings me roses for our anniversary! This dozen is just such a pretty color.

Next week we are going away for a few days. Gina is coming down from Seattle to watch Otto on our regular babysitting days as our gift. Angie gave us a cute summer pail filled with goodies and a CD for the trip....James Taylor and Carol King!

As we enjoyed our dinner, we were thinking over our 43 years of marriage. We really haven't had very much time just for Jim and Linda since Jim retired. We have loved being with Otto, but as we realize we are aging and having some health issues, we need to enjoy the next few years. We would like to do some more traveling and just have some more time to be together. I do hope that will happen...it's time.

Sunday Thoughts on Father's Day

This little plaque sums it all up for my Jimmy. Oh, how he loves his little Otto and thanks God everyday for the gift of a grandchild.  Otto is almost 3 years old now. He stayed over night with us on Friday and he is one funny little boy. What a joy.

The old Italian Papa has been waiting for a ripe tomato and finally had one ready. So Otto and Papa went out to "pick" it and "eat" it.

It was all pretty exciting for the two!

It's been an emotional weekend for us with some family issues going on. Little Otto was the best thing that happened this weekend. Jimmy sings him a song when he puts him down for a nap. Otto didn't want his song when I was getting him ready for bed, but then he jumped up into Papa's arms, hugged him around the neck and wanted his song. It was so very precious! It was the best present a grandpa could ever wish for...what a gift. What a gift from God our Otto is.

Happy Father's Day.

The Men in My Life

I grew up in a home with 3 sisters and only 1 brother. I had 2 daughters and even all of our pets were female! My world has changed a bit. I now care for 3 males! I've been taking Otto to the kid's indoor gym on Wednesday mornings. We go early so he can get his favorite car. He just loves to ride around and around and around in that little car!

He will only get out for awhile to play on the other equipment. He is so shy around other kids and doesn't quite know what to do. Not sure how long that will last.

This is just one of my favorite photos! I just caught him peeking out of the soccer net. Little monkey.

Thursday evening we went to dinner with Chris and Angie and Otto to celebrate Jim's birthday. So, here's the other guy in my life that I take care of...my Jimmy! Otto gave him the cutest book. It is so funny and perfect! You can see how these two feel about each other....true love!

Gma got to read the book for a few minutes with the men folk.

Yummy.....

And here's the other guy...my dad! He is doing so much better after a difficult December. We are so thankful for his improvement. My daughter Angie went over to visit him this evening with the little guy.

All that activity and visiting makes for a tired little Otto. Ahh...the 3 men of my life...the 3 loves of my life!