Join Us For A Spot of Tea....

"....with the bride-to-be!"

"Keep Calm and Marry On"

That was the theme for the Surprise Bridal Shower Daughters #1, #2 and I gave for my youngest who is going to marry in June.

Keeping the impending "tea" a surprise sometimes proved to be difficult, given the fact that these days all the members of our family are frequently texting one another, sometimes two or three people at a time.  Makes is a bit tricky to be sure you don't text about the party to the surprisee.  (Is that a word?  I'm making it one now!)

Thank goodness my daughters took the theme and ran with it - they coordinated getting together lists of attendees, favors, games, prizes, the works!  The invitations were absolutely adorable and perfectly depicted the British theme - from the title of this blog right down to urging the recipients to be "mum" because it was a surprise.

I volunteered to have the tea in my dining room.  Hence the frantic "Spring" cleaning I have been doing for the past several weeks.  From washing windows,  waxing furniture and rearranging bookshelves dozens of times, it was all go around here - I was on a mission!  And it was lovely to be able to use all the beautiful china we have acquired over the years.

The Englishman played a large part too.  He made all the scones for me and advised me about the types of sandwiches that were appropriate.  Even at the last moment, I found myself in the store texting him to double check I had the right type of bread.  He helped me move furniture and calmed me down when my voice would start to "soar".  Then he wisely took the two basset boys and departed late Friday for the house by the bay, so I could finish up without interruption.

Daughter #1 volunteered to then arrive and continue the role of "calmer" for those moments when I might   "lose" it.  It's been quite sometime since I had a group this big to entertain, so I admit to several moments of panic.  We finished setting the table and staging the house on Saturday.  Sunday morning was when we made the finger sandwiches,  put out the clotted cream, strawberry jam, and scones, and waited for everyone to arrive.  Oh, and I do admit, I was still planting flowers in windwo boxes about 40 minutes before guests arrived!

There were about a dozen ladies and my two darling granddaughters.  M, age 3, was very excited when she arrived.  She came in the door with my sister and pointed out to her, in case she didn't know, that "Christmas is over."  (M thought she was here for a birthday party.) M helped me greet the bride-to-be, when she entered with her fiance, who thought she was coming over to approve the wedding invitations.  The look of surprise and happiness on her face made all the preparations her sisters and I had made worth every ounce of effort.

We had a wonderful time, including me!  Everyone was relaxed and enjoyed the meal.  A friend of the family made her famous cream puffs which really added to the dessert selections.  M and the junior bridesmaid A, took on the duty of helping the bride-to-be open her gifts.  (It took no persuasion to get M to help - she jumped right in there!)  Lots of ooohs and aaaahs were heard round the table.  The happy couple received many beautiful things which they will be able to treasure throughout their married lives.

Did the day go perfectly?  Of course not.  By this age I've learned there is no perfect.  But it went very well and we all genuinely enjoyed it.  Isn't that the point?  Would I do it again?  In a heartbeat.

If you are thinking of giving an afternoon tea party, let me know.  I'd be happy to pass on what I've learned.

Before and After....

This was a corner in the back yard of our primary residence.  Clearly, the fence in the background is starting to fade.  It was angled close to the back door, with an extra tall section, designed to keep "patients" from overlooking the owners back yard when entering what was, years ago, a chiropractor's office.

This is how it looks today.  The new fence was brought forward and is regulation size.  It has opened up that section to more sunlight.  I think the added air circulation around several of the plants will aid in their growth.  

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend.  With the wind blowing so strongly out there, I half expect to look out the window and find Mary Poppins descending with her umbrella and carpet bag.

That would be nice.  My house could certainly do with a good tidying.  And I wouldn't say no to a "spoonful of sugar".

Thursday's Thought for the Day....

"Tension is who you think you should be.

          Relaxation is who you are."

                                                                                                        Chinese Proverb

Oooh, that is a good one to contemplate.  Let's all take a deep breath and think about that for a moment.

How freeing to just relax and be who you are, not who you think everyone expects you to be.

The expanse of the ocean makes me think of tossing one's cares out on to the waves, to be carried off and out to sea.  You can almost feel the breeze.....the clearing of the cobwebs and the letting go..........

Looking forward to the weekend.  Is it Friday yet?

    

Tip for a Tuesday....

Murphy's Oil Soap

This was a staple in my Mother's arsenal of cleaning products.

For one simple reason.

It works!

Murphy's oil soap works on cleaning wood furniture, floors, woodwork, 

baseboards and so much more.

Just add a small amount to a bucket of warm water.

It is gentle on your hands and has a pleasant smell.

Murphy's oil soap has been around for over 90 years.

They must be doing something right.

I highly recommend it!

Grandad, Grandad.......

Miss M came for her weekly visit with us yesterday.  She encouraged her mother to leave not long after arriving.  Seems she was anxious to go around the house and check on the various "toys" she likes to play with.  M was particularly interested in going downstairs.  That is where the dollhouse and the trains are!

Allow me to digress a moment - When I was growing up, my brother had an elaborate set of Lionel trains.  I was fortunate that he felt I was trustworthy and allowed me to assit him with them.  My father built him an enormous table top to set them up on in the basement. Years later,  I relayed the stories to the Englishman of the many hours spent setting up tracks and running the trains.  And do you know what that sweet man did?  He surprised me one Christmas with my very own set of LGB trains!  Diamonds are not this girl's best friend - trains and dollhouses are!

So that is why there is a train set at Grandmom's house.  Miss M loves it! Initially, I was the only one who would run the train.  But M has been watching me carefully, and with a face her Grandmom can't resist, she is now allowed to be the engineer.  Which prompted the cries of "Grandad, Grandad" as she darted up the stairs to the kitchen.  "Grandad, come see me run the train!"  She couldn't wait for the Englishman to come and see what she could do.  With a grin stretching from ear to ear she proudly started up the engine, easing it forward - then backwards!  M was so proud of herself!  Which of course delights her equally proud grandparents.

As we stood and watched her at the controls, the Englishman mentioned that there were some other buildings and trains that went with the set that are currently packed away.  We started to discuss where to put the pieces, maybe paint a road on the table, add a few more people, find the smoke that goes in the smokestack....

Thursday's thought for the day....

"I wish I had treasured the doing a little more

               and the getting it done a little less."

                                     Anna Quindlen

I have been working in "the garden" as the English say, as opposed to "the backyard" as we called it in my neighborhood.  I can safely state that I have finally reach the age where I do "treasure" the process of what I am working on as much as the finished product.  The Englishman seems skeptical at times that I am in fact enjoying myself while out there. Again today I donned my overalls and rubber boots, spending an hour by the side of the driveway clearing out pine needles, branches and fallen leaves.  The results of my hard work are very satisfying, and will make getting in and out of our vehicles that much easier.

Realizing that there is something to be enjoyed about "the doing" is making it so much easier to actually begin working on various projects.  At least for most tasks.  Hard to get excited about washing floors.  But I'm working on it!

Worth the wait!

I simply love lilacs!  Always have.  When I was growing up, my parents had the brilliant idea of planting a lilac bush just beneath the window of the bedroom my sister and I shared.  The scent was just glorious each Spring.  I can still see the large blossoms my mother would cut and place in a double handled black vase she had.  The color combination was stunning.

So for years after leaving home I longed to have a lilac bush of my own.  We finally purchased one several years ago.  But like most of my endeavors with gardening, it failed to flourish. I was greatly disappointed.  After doing a little research I realized that I had planted it in too shady an area.  Two summers ago I transplanted it to a section which receives sun for most of the day. Knowing my basset boys as well as I do, a tiny wire fence was erected around the bush to keep them from "marking" the bush as theirs.

And here is the result of all my efforts:

                                                                        

Aren't they just plain gorgeous?  Oh how I wish you could smell the sweet aroma that is now filling my kitchen from a few branches I cut before dinner and placed in a vase on the table.

Heaven on Earth!

Tip for a Tuesday....

Call and inquire

Yesterday I went in search of a dress for daughter #3's wedding.  There was one I had seen online at a particular store and just assumed (silly me) that it was in the store and I could try it on.

Ah........... no.  

Instead, I came home and ordered it online.  It will be here on Monday.

Next time I will make a quick phone call to inquire if said item is in fact in the store and the size I need.  With the price of gas and much to be done around here, better to make one quick call than waste time and money.

Oh, and whoever dropped the temperature outside significantly, I am very grateful!

(I generate enough heat with hot flashes these days. Additional sweltering numbers are most unwelcome.)

Enjoy the rest of the day!

Way too soon.......

Okay, whoever has been praying for hot weather - STOP IT !  It is WAY too soon for this.

(I suspect my middle daughter, sun worshipper that she is)

Yes, it was nice to "motor" around in my Mini Cooper with the top down this afternoon.

But it is only April.

Bassets are panting and flowers are drooping.

Let's hope sanity and cooler weather return soon.

And a large dose of rain would not go amiss either.

Late this morning I went into the Englishman's office and stated that today I don't have a single problem."And why is that?" he inquired.  I proceeded to tell him about a link on twitter about a young soldier who has been wounded.  Army Staff Sgt. Travis Mills, of Vassar, Michigan stepped on an IED on April 10th during his third deployment in Afghanistan.  The twenty five year old underwent more surgery this morning for his injuries, in which he has lost both his arms and his legs.  His wife, four month old daughter and family are anxious for him to come home to the US, hopefully tomorrow, to begin the long process of healing.  There is a web page set up which gives more details: www.travismills.org

I know that Travis is only one of hundreds who are severely wounded and battling to heal.  But something about his story touched me and I wanted to share it.

I'm a firm believer in the collective power of prayer.  So if you can find a few moments today or when you climb into bed tonight, let's all say a few prayers for Travis in gratitude for his service and in hopes that he can continue to draw on his obvious courage and strength, and the love of his family and friends, to heal and lead a full life.  

May God Bless him and all those men and women who have served and are serving our country.

  

Before and after.....

This was the view looking into the kitchen when we first saw our house by the bay.

And here is the kitchen after Easter weekend, when, at my suggestion, the Englishman took down three top cabinets and removed half the wall.  I should mention that he did it all on his own.  He was supposed to wait for me to help him.  When I mentioned that, he simply grinned and said "It was easy".

It really opens up the space and lets in a lot more light from the sliding doors to the right.  The Englishman is going to bring the wall down even with the counter top next time we are there.  Now I need to decide if I want to keep all the remaining upper cabinets, some of the cabinets, or put up all shelves.  I'm collecting lots of photos via pinterest to help me with that decision.

Thoughts, anyone?

Thursday's thought for the day....

EVERY WOMAN IS A WORKING WOMAN

Though I'm not looking to get into political discussions on my blog, there was a comment I heard in the media yesterday which caught my attention and I just had to comment.

While appearing on CNN Wednesday, Democratic Strategist Hilary Rosen stated in a discussion with regard to the difficulties of women in today's economy, "Guess what, (Romney's) wife has actually never worked a day in her life."

Wow.   Seriously?

A stay-at-home mother, who raises five children and creates a home environment, while supporting the efforts of her husband to earn a living for the entire family doesn't work?

But if she had paid another woman to come into her house and do the same exact thing, then that person would be considered a "working woman".  Because she was paid.

I thought we had come so far from that kind of attitude.  Especially from other women.

In my own situation, I've done both.  I spent the first eighteen years of my married life raising three daughters, creating a home life, and offering all the support I could to my husband for the challenging job he had. The Englishman and I both firmly believed in the value of my being with our girls. Financially, we were in a position to do so.  But in order to maintain that financial position, the Englishman needed to be able to give his all to his career.  So I "worked" to raise our children and all that entailed.  I created a peaceful environment in the house, down to the colors I chose for the paint on the walls, to try and give him a warm environment in which to relax on weekend.  I handled the household finances and all the work done by contractors, landscapers, etc.  The only time I called him at work was for an emergency.

When our oldest daughter entered college, I went back to my "career" as an elementary school teacher.  The Englishman had started a new career in which he worked from home.  So now he cooked the meals, dealt with teenagers who arrived home from school before I did and handled a larger part of running the house.

I posted on Facebook this morning about watching an interview with Ann Romney concerning this issue.  That post elicited this comment from the Englishman:

"I could not have had the successful career that I did without the tremendous help of my friend, wife and mother of my children - and that is a lot of work I can tell you."


My response to him?  "Thank you, my soul mate.  We were, and are, a team."


We began our married life as equals, working in partnership to create a family and a life together.  We didn't measure who did what - who made the most money, who woke up the most during the night with either kids or dogs, who cooked the most meals or did the wash.  We have always been in it together.


We both work, whether in the home or outside it.  Full time.  Three hundred and sixty five days a year.  We've made the choices we have because they are right for us. And thirty three years later those choices are still working.  


And the value of one's work cannot always be measured in dollars and cents.

This and that....

Truth be told, I couldn't find a specific topic that I wanted to talk about tonight.  So I thought I would do a little mental "dump" in hopes of clearing my head.  And as a possible bonus of that, sleep straight through the night without getting up and spending an hour in the kitchen on my ipad.

A neighbor stopped to briefly chat this morning as I was cutting the branches of a bush at the corner of our property. She commented that the house was looking really good.  My response?  For everything I get done there are ten more waiting.  It never ends.

No it doesn't.  But that's life.  When I was young I used to think that if you worked really hard, nonstop, you would eventually get is all done.  And then you could sit down and rest for two whole days.  And not worry about anything or feel compelled to jump up and attend to one more thing.

Reality is there will always be something waiting to be done.  If I look at these things as opportunities instead of chores, then they don't seem so bad.  Slowly but surely I am getting to a lot of things I want to do. I just would like to do it all at once!

Dudley is slowly on the mend.  The Englishman was up for a couple of hours during the night with him because the poor guy was moaning and crying.  Dudley.  Not the Englishman.

We were quite anxious by late this afternoon that Duds hadn't had any water since yesterday.  Dudley has Addison's disease, which is a life threatening illness for him, so we have to be especially careful whenever he has a problem or change of routine. Thankfully, he did eat a little dinner and followed that with a short drink of water.  Panic over.

With our youngest daughter getting married in June, there is much to be done.  I reviewed with the Englishman today that all the "big" stuff seems to be booked and organized.  Now it is the little stuff that is starting to fill me with bits of "oh know", as granddaughter M likes to say.  It is probably time for me to start making lists and crossing things off as I get to them.  I must admit I sometimes write down extra items already accomplished for the sheer pleasure of crossing them out with a red pen.  Seriously.

That's it for now. Dishes done, dogs sleeping, and new magazines to flip through are piled next to my chair in the living room, where I think I will join the Englishman for an evening of quiet and relaxation. 

As the sign in my kitchen says, "It's All Good"

It truly is.

Tip for a Tuesday....

Expect the unexpected.....and be flexible.

My life moves along much more smoothly when I remember to be flexible.  Since having children, I learned that while it is important to have a "rough" schedule of how I think my day will go, oftentimes little things - or sometimes big things - can come along that call for me to bend so I don't break.

Like today.  I had a rough idea yesterday afternoon about what I had hoped to accomplish in the garden this morning. But after Dudley the basset hound's mad dash across the threshold of the back door after dinner last night tore off part of his nail,  I knew that more than likely I would be at the vet's this morning.

Luckily we got a fairly early appointment and Duds' was soon given heavy medication to make him comfortable while they tried to remove the nail.  The Lady vet, nurses and I all agreed that Dudley was very "stoic" and was holding up extremely well given the level of pain he was in.

The Englishman took this photo of him this afternoon.  Poor guy.  The vet said he would probably appear "stoned" for the rest of the day.  That's putting it mildly - he is out for the count!  And even when he is awake, he doesn't seem to know where, or for that matter, who, he is.

So the garden had to wait.  Being flexible, I didn't stamp my feet and whine about not getting things done on my list.  When the girls were small there were times when it didn't all go according to plan.  Kids get sick, they fall down, they need some extra hugs and kisses.  While teaching I also had to be flexible.  Certain math concepts would take much longer to grasp than the allotted period of time, world events would invite numerous questions which couldn't wait to be answered and some days we just needed to close the books early and dance!

Planning is good.  Just remember that life is always going to go as planned.  Relax and go with the flow.  You - and everyone around you - will be happier if you do.

A Blustery Day.......

We arrived back this morning from a very long weekend at the future "retirement house" by the bay.  The trip home was an interesting one, considering the force of the wind as we drove on the parkway.  Seemed a little silly that there was a sign AFTER we had crossed a bridge warning that wind gusts across the bridge span could cause trouble.  Really?  A little late to warn us - we've just "been there, done that"!

Will keep this short.  I discovered after dinner tonight that our oldest basset hound, Dudley, has torn one of his nails and my mind is only on him at the moment.  He has done it before, but thankfully this time there is no bleeding.  The Englishman and I are concerned for him and the pain he must be feeling.  Looks like a  trip to the vet in the morning will be in order.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter and Passover weekend.  The weather, despite the winds, is just what we all need by this time after the winter doldrums.  May the Springtime be with us for many months to come!

Go Grandmom's house.....

Granddaughter M loves coming to Grandmom and Grandad's house. And of course the Englishman and I just love having her! But it is not just the attention of her grandparents that M seeks when she arrives.

After telling her mother, "You can go now,Mommy" as soon as she is in the door, she announces "Grandmom, we go downstairs now." Because M is anxious to go play with Grandmom's toys!

One of the first items she heads for is my dollhouse. Years ago, during summer vacations, the Englishman used to spend time at the kitchen table of our beach house putting together remote control cars. The kids enjoyed watching him at work and then later racing them around. During a family outing to the toy/hobby store to get some parts, I spotted a model kit for a dollhouse. Growing up, my sister had a metal dollhouse and I had a Barbie cardboard house. I never let on that I would have liked a wooden dollhouse. Despite now being an adult, I thought "better late than never" and purchased the kit. My plan was to put the house together myself, working on it across the table from the Englishman and his cars. I also had visions of being a good role model for the kids, that women are handy too!

Though I was determined to complete the house all on my own, the Englishman quickly noted that the process was terribly slow and offered his help. I put my pride in my pocket, and with a sigh of relief, turned it over to him. He had it together in no time and I plunged in with decorating it. We purchased a special table and turntable for the little house and kept it on display in our home for many years. It gave me all the pleasure I anticipated it would.

What I didn't foresee was that it would be such a source of fun with grandchildren. (Who has time to think that far ahead when you are raising little ones!) M sits quietly next to the house, patiently naming each of the items it holds and moving them from room to room. There are two tiny dog figures and she places them in the crib, then decides they need a bath. She is fascinated with opening and closing doors and drawers and discovering hidden treasures inside them.

If there is a children's toy you missed out on growing up, take my advice and purchase it. You're never too old to have the childhood you always wanted. Besides, there might be some grandkids in your future who would love it too!

Thursday's thought for the day....

"The right attitude can transform a barrier into a blessing, an obstacle into an opportunity or a stumbling block into a stepping stone."

                                                        ~ Mayor Corey Booker

I follow Corey Booker on twitter.  He is one of the most positive people alive.  The man seems to work from dawn to dusk and is constantly encouraging people.  What an incredible role model he is for everyone, from kids to politicians.

Anyone remember the World's Fair?

If the above photo looks at all familiar to you, then I suspect you are pretty close in age to me.  This was the "Unisphere" the symbol of the New York World's Fair theme - "Peace Through Understanding".

The fair lasted two years - 1964/65 and was located in Flushing, Queens.

If you've been to Disney World and ridden on the "It's a Small World Ride", then you've experienced one of the many rides offered at the Fair.  It was all so exciting and futuristic.  There were numerous "pavilions"or buildings set up by various companies.  Many of them provided rides of a kind which would take you through their exhibits.  Bell Telephone had displays of what they envisioned phones of the future would look like.  They showed video screens on the phones, which enabled you to see the caller.  I remember thinking you would have to be sure to dress nicely every time the phone rang!

One of my few claims to fame, so to speak, is that I performed at the World's Fair.  My dance school scheduled us to dance several numbers at the New Jersey Pavilion.  I remember the stage, and the small audience before us, but whether I was performing a ballet number on toe or also did a jazz number is only a vague recollection.  But I did perform.  And I felt quite honored to do so and represent my State.

There were also buildings set up with displays and staff from countries around the world.  In thinking about it now, I guess it was a precursor to Epcot at Disney.  At the time, it was said there wasn't much financial success to the Fair and it was plagued with problems.  However, my family and I loved it and were lucky enough to go there numerous times.  I don't think you could possibly put a value on what we learned there, the excitement it generated for the tri-state area, and the vision into the future it offered us.  What memories!

Tip for a Tuesday....

In Case of Hunger Emergency....

Keep at least one package of these in the refrigerator at all times!

The Englishman and I were bemoaning the fact that we didn't have anything for dessert after dinner tonight when I suddenly remembered that the refrigerator held two packages of these.

Will have to keep this post short - off to enjoy milk and cookies.

You're wearing what?

One Saturday afternoon, in January of 1971, my mother and I set off on a shopping trip to find a shirt for me to wear to a high school party that night.  As we came up the escalator in Bambergers Department store, I remember seeing a display of mannequins right in front of us dressed in what could only be described at the time as "unique" outfits.

One mannequin was wearing a bright orange corduroy overalls of sorts, only the pants were actually cut as shorts.  (Quite similar to the model on the far right in the photo below.) They were advertised as "Hot Pants".  What was most shocking to me as we got closer to the display was my mother's comment that the outfit was adorable and that I should try it on.  Excuse me? MY mother, wanting ME to wear something daring?  The conservative woman from Manhattan who was always telling me my skirts were too short?

At her urging, I tried on the complete outfit shown on the display.  Then to my utter surprise, she purchased the whole thing for me - hot pants, shirt and navy tights. (It was winter after all.  The tights were a must!)

To say that the outfit caused a bit of a stir at the party that night would be an understatement.  The teenage boys at the party were quite taken with the new look. There were several shouts of "hey, hot pants!" called across the room.  The teenage girls at the party?  Well, they weren't so enthusiastic about the attention the outfit was drawing. There appeared to be an abundance of whispering and dirty looks thrown my way.  They didn't seem to approve of the new look.

And yet, the next Saturday night found all the same girls from the party sporting the now popular "hot pants". I guess the problem wasn't so much what I was wearing the previous week, as that I had been the first brave enough to don the new fashion.

The 1970's certainly blazed a new trail with some outrageous outfits for the times.  But looking at them now, they almost seem tame compared to today's fashion trends!

Personally, I'd like to see them bring back the clothes from the 1950's - especially the dresses.  With pockets.  I'm just saying......