My Tasha Tudor friend Linnie encouraged us to celebrate Laura Ingalls Wilder's 150th birthday today! As it is Tea with Tasha on Tuesdays, it was the perfect day to have some fun and brighten up this long winter. I don't need much encouragement to have a tea party! Thanks Linnie, this was really fun.
Happy Birthday Laura Ingalls Wilder! Thank you for all the wonderful books about your life's journey.
I decided to follow Laura's Ma's advise...."Ma liked everything on her table to be pretty". So this is a tribute to Laura today and a chance to use some of my pretty things.
I don't have a Laura doll, so this little miss with her bonnet and red and white outfit has to do! She was pretty happy joining in the fun. I made little cut out brown paper heart garland as Laura did in one of her stories.
I ordered this DVD about Laura's life and Jimmy and I are planning to watch it tonight. So many of us read the books and watched the TV series, but I would like to learn more about her life.
A few goodies to grace the table. The pressed glass lantern was our first anniversary gift to each other 40 plus years ago!
With my health issues, I have been doing a lot of cooking from scratch. I wanted to make something from the Little House Cookbook. It's quite fun to read and study the recipes. I actually decided to make a gingerbread recipe that is not in the book but I found it on the internet.
Here's a copy of the recipe in Laura's handwriting. It's pretty much the one that I used. I did use butter instead of shortening and I used whole wheat pastry flour.
I have never made gingerbread from scratch, so it was a new adventure for me.
It was totally a different sequence of combining the ingredients. Adding baking soda to a cup of boiling water was an experience! If you make this recipe, use a Pyrex bowl with the baking soda. I actually had a bowl break on me.
Here it is ready for the oven...yummy. I did increase the spices from 1 t. to 1 1/2 t. after I read some of the reviews. Oh, it did smell so good when it was baking.
Here's the finished gingerbread. It was delicious and baked well. I did have one little piece...not diet food, but had to have a treat today.
Jimmy is such a good sport to join me for tea and he always supports my tea time adventures.
Of course, I had to have the paper doll book! I haven't cut out the dolls or clothes yet and I'm not sure I can use my scissors! I may just have to enjoy the book.
I had to add a few Valentine crafts to honor Laura and her life. The quilt in the photo above was made by Laura and her daughter. I'm sharing a few red and white crafts that are favorites of mine.
This is one of the hearts I made from the cutter quilt that I shared a few weeks ago.
I adore little pin keeps. This is a vintage bonnet pin keep that I have had for some time. It even has a little thimble inside.
I found the directions and pattern for making one. You can find it on Tipnut if you are interested.
I have never read the complete set of Little House on the Prairie, but I would like to go back and read them all.
I had a fun time with all of this today. I'd like to leave you with this quote. Have some fun and pick up the books again.
12 comments:
Good evening, my lovely friend! It was such a blessing to visit you as you have been on my heart quite a bit lately. I trust you are well....
Your post was simply delightful and filled to the brim with beauty and charm.
Thinking of you and sending LOTS of love your way!
Hello Dearest Linda!
This was so fun and delightful to visit! It just made me HAPPY to see all the charming celebrating things all reminiscent of a true American icon!! :-) Happy Birthday to Laura Ingalls Wilder!
Linda I do hope you will read all her books again! There is something so much more special about them as a grown up!! I sure appreciated the history and struggles and lessons so much more!! ( and then I had my Mom read them too~ she LOVED them)
Sending Love and blessings XX OO Linnie
Oh Linda, what a great post! I absolutely adore Laura Ingalls Wilder and the Little house on the Prairie books and most of all the shows that were on for years, I still watch those everyday on the INSP channel. I have visited her Mansfield Missouri home since it is here in my state, and that was fun.
Your vignettes are perfect for the occasion, Laura would be proud! The quilted hearts and tea towel look great. Your kerosene lamp is nice and the tall red transferware pitcher is gorgeous. Lucky hubby to have some of that wonderful gingerbread, it looks like yummy brownies! Did you see the Black bird pie recipe in that book?! Yuck!
Have a great rest of your week!
Gina
Today was such a lovely visit, a real delight to see your wonderful vignettes such a joy and uplifting. Loved the look of the gingerbread, great for afternoon tea.
I enjoyed reading your blog about Laura Ingalls Wilder, Linda. I always watched the show, Little House on the Prairie" on TV. Your post was a welcomed reminder!
What a pretty Valentines post today, Linda! And I love those paper dolls. I need to remember to introduce our littlest granddaughter to paper dolls when the time comes. And to coordinate them with the Little House books. That reminds me, we probably need to get a new set. Our books were totally worn out by our kids. That red and white pitcher is gorgeous. I love the 'ribs' on it! I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday. Thank you for stopping in this morning.
What a wonderful post Linda and a great challenge to read the books. I haven't read them myself but want to visit Mansfield, Missouri this year - about 3 hours from here. I really think your Gingerbread looks wonderful! Glad you are feeling better.
I also remember fondly "Little house on the prairie".
Do you know Linda, that this doll in red clothes, it is a Little Red Riding Hood. The little doll dates from Poland, from the Cooperative of the Work Bunch in Kielce. I have similar in my collection.
http://sowa58.blogspot.com/search/label/Malwinka
Have a nice weekend.
I enjoyed the visit of memories with the Ingalls. The hand quilted heart are lovely.
Would love to find some of those vintage hearts.
Linda, I really enjoyed seeing all your vignettes with things reminiscent of Laura Ingalls Wilder. My sister and I visited Rocky Ridge in Mansfield a while back and being avid fans of Laura and her books, we just loved it all. Hopefully, someday we'll make it to the other sites.
Have you seen the Décor to Adore blog this week? Laura Ingalls Gunn, an actual relative of LIW, is blogging about the 150th birthday. It's really fun to read.
Glad to hear your health is improving. There are just too many fun things out there to do--no time to be sick!
I love your red and white table setting
Also enjoyed reading this post about Laura Ingall wilder, my youngest daughter loves her and has been to Mansfield Missouri 3 times to her village, my daughter has 4 boys however they know all about Laura Ingall and the Little House on The prairie series.
I had such fun reading this post, Linda! I can just about smell your delicious gingerbread, and oh, how I'd love a big piece with a cup of tea. I'm glad that you're feeling better, lovely Linda!
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