Resting

Greetings. We are resting today, but it doesn't slow down my mind from making ideas for more to do!

Above picture: The hummers ignored commercial food but when I made my own, they visited more often. Hummingbird food recipes are available online.

Our guests from Tennessee only stayed a very short time, having spent most of their vacation on the way to our place,  so we quickly took them to see a few sights:

This has to be called "Sun River, wider than a mile," because of the stream of sunlight on the water towards the close of the day.

Earlier,  this is the way the waves sparkled. I kept thinking of fabric to go with!

We enjoyed watching  approximately every 7th wave hit the rocks like this:

Above: it looks like fabric colors here--fluffy white cotton shawl over a dark blue skirt, light blue blouse, and brown lace up boots. What do you think? (I will certainly try to settle down for a moment and put a sketch here of the nature inspired fashion.)

I went into one of the shops and had a close look at this April Cornell dress to see if I could make one like it. It was made of polyester, and I was thinking about making one in cotton, linen, bamboo, or some other natural woven cloth.  This cost $130 and I joked with my husband that it was such a bargain I should get two!   There may be enough pattern pieces in my pattern collection to create something like it. It looked looked very good on me and it is an a-line, with princess seams, with a nice waistline.

Mrs. Tennessee Company made a delicious

southern breakfast for us and I felt transported into another country! She was amazing. She said she did not know what to do with herself so she had to cook.

I want to get back into sewing dresses soon.  I have the most unusual fabric, which is 105 inch printed muslin often used by quilters for backing.  It looks like something which used to be made for cloth sacks, mattress or pillow ticking. It might be something suitable for making sheets. As there is just enough for a skirt or a simple dress, I am curious about how it would look. 

I bought it because of the dusty rose color, which is not easy to find anymore since it is not as fashionable a color.  In the photo it looks brown but the color is the old fashioned dusty rose, like velvet.

How about a very loose pullover dress with lots of drapey fabric at the sleeves and hem, just for cool wearing at home.  I hope to get started on this during the week and if it is successful you will see a picture of it here. The sketch show a raglan sleeve and little tucks at the waist:

What would you call this print?  Post Mark, Spencerian, Cargo, Faded Rose? Maybe "Other" would be a good name.

One of my grandchildren and I are enjoying drawing clothing designs and naming the garments after places we have visited or things we have been or things we are experiencing: mountain, truck stop, road side, sea side, light house, garden, clouds, waterfall, desert, visit, moving, writing (a writing dress), afternoon tea, etc. We have sketched ever so many dresses and I hope to include some of her sketches here too.

The print looks like something from the 1800's

A quick stop at Goodwill yielded these two cups for $3.20 each. Their good condition showed they had been in a shelf and never used in their lifetime: no scratches, fading of color, cracks or chips.

This one has a print of a nasturtium on it.

Interesting how the labels on these old teacups is sometimes off center.  I would say this is from the 1960's.

The cup also looks good on this orphan saucer:

This one below is probably from the 1970's.

The pedestal on the tea cup gives it a quite a royal appearance, and Red Velvet is an elegant name.

It feels good to have new teacups, and since a couple of others have been chipped and retired to the broken China box and the garden, these two replace them nicely.

If I had not stopped by to chat, I may have had the dress cut out now. Even a simple post absorbs a lot of time but it is something that makes me feel relaxed, that I enjoy. I certainly hope all of you are able to enjoy something today!

Taking Tea at the Movies

Most family movies now have a teacup scene. Above RCMP officer Jack takes tea in the saloon on When Calls The Heart Season 1. It looks like the pattern found in many Canandian homes, called "The Friendly Village."  Below: tea scene in A Christmas to Remember, just now released:

Someone told me Walmart was serving paper cups of tea on a cold winter day last week, and customers were calmlly shopping while sipping tea.  I wish all shops would do this.

Morning Tea

This morning while taking a donation to Goodwill, I happened upon another teacup in perfect condition.

The flower print appears to be hydrangea but there was no title of the art on the bottom of the cup or saucer.

This was an interesting find, and it replaces a couple of cups that were chipped or broken which I had to remove from the shelf. 

There is still a sunny afternoon to be spent here, but I wanted to drop by and leave this bright picture of the teacup.  

So far, today I have done a little gardenning (weeding, watering, mulching) and have sewn a facing for another dress.  I appreciate those of my readers who send me gifts of donations, as it enables me to get fabric from my new favorite store that just came into the area: Hobby Lobby.  The fabric is better quality.  Here is a picture of the fabric I am using today, on the right.

The name of it is Fabric Traditions, but the blue piece on the left from Walmart is much thinner. I enjoy working with the better quality print with the beige background from Hobby Lobby.  I will hang the finished projects on the  outdoor clothesline  for a picture when I get these garments completed.

This week we reconstructed an old metal swing that was broken, and I painted it white. It needs one more coat of spray paint.

Although not too comfortable a seat, it is nice to pad it with my old cushions and a little quilt.

It has a small container on the side to hold a drink.  As you can see in the background lawn,  there is a dry spell going on here. It does not affect my enthusiasm at all because it is the right kind of weather for painting things outdoors, and I hope tomorrow I will be able to paint a few more things.

Some of the church members who have been here the longest are painting the trim on the "meeting house" and this is what it looks like:

It has never had a color on the trim, as long as I have known it, and old photographs show a plain white building, so it is taking some getting used to. I like the way it makes the white paint look whiter and I like the light blue paint.

The name comes from Romans 16:16 "...the churches of Christ salute you."

I hope to post again soon about something I have observed from Titus 2, the theme of this blog, so be sure to check back again.

Please put aside anxiety and create a wonderful evening for yourself.

Php 4:6    Be anxious for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

A Touch of Beauty at Home

Ranunculus in bloom today on the porch.

I took a few minutes today to photograph an outdoor and indoor bright spot.

This is a group of dollar store roses in a white basket. I know there are fresh flowers at a cheap price at the grocery store but they are in fact very expensive for something I will have to throw out. Also, for a busy homemaker, there is less work to put away the silk flowers and you do not have to wash a vase. I have enough real flowers outside.

A a pretty green March scene here with a fresh shamrock plant, crackers and cream cheese spread, and an orphan Royal Albert teacup.

The reason I post tea time themes so often is because in an otherwise normal day doing dishes, meals, laundry, cleaning out a closet or sweeping a floor, it is the one thing I do that can be picturesque. I cannot emphasize enough that taking a few minutes for tea, even if you are involved in a huge project at home, is essential in keeping yourself on an even keel. Frustrations and discouragement, exhaustion and confusion can sometimes be straightened out with a quality tea taken in a pretty tea cup. I know we often think we should not take time out and try to get a job completely finished first, but if whatever you are doing will take all day, a tea break is in order.

If you have ever started out a day with the crazy feeling in your head that you do not know where to start, its best to get dressed in clothing that makes you feel you are starting a new beginning, make tea and sit at a table to organize the day with a sensible list.

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A Novelty

Summertime 1894 by Mary Cassatt

Today I would like to share a novelty item sent to me by a blog reader: a little tea-ball that looks like a rubber ducky.

The strainer is connected to the duck,

and filled half full of tea leaves. Then, when it sits in a cup of hot water, the tea leaves soak up the water and the duck floats upright.

After the tea is made, the duck sits back in the holder to drain.

The tea cup has snow drop flowers painted on it. I've mentioned snow drops a few posts ago on one of the fleece capes and hair pins.

Here is the duck floating in the tea cup. What a cheerful touch this has been for me today. 

The centerpiece is white daffodils.

I am still getting used to ipad and may be blogging from it soon.

Fog Report

Daisies in a Field

from Allposters.com

Today's Fog

I know everyone is waiting for the next fog report. It has been a very dark day, so I have created a sunny afternoon tea.

In the fog, one lone English Daisy has appeared. There will be a whole field of them soon.

I have picked some daffodils that have come  up in the cold weather. The lady who first lived here planted them decades ago and they still surround the property every March. It is snowing in some areas of the country, and I'm always amazed at how some flowers thrive most in the colder weather.  Today I have patted a scone mixture into a square cake pan and sliced it into rectangles for lemon curd treats.

I have taken a few moments to look at the new edition of Victoria Classics, now available at WalMart for 10 percent off the cover price.  This issue is all about Britain. The photographs are lovely. It is so nice to sit here in this gloom and read about other places.

I have some battery operated candles that flicker cheerfuly through the darkness. Hopefully I will soon be experiencing brighter days.

The tea is made from a fresh squeezed lemon, honey and hot water. I thought the color matched the light lemon yellow table cloth. This is a scrap of the fleece fabric that I am going to use for a coat or cape or shawl, when I get the time.  On top the fabric I've place a small piece of sparkly yellow tulle, a sheer fabric that I plan to use when making the fascinator, as in previous fog posts.

The teacup was found at a second-hand store and it is made by a company called Duchess.

In gloomy weather, grief or hard times, you might appreciate this poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, where he gives encouragement to be "up and doing."

A Psalm of Life

Tell me not in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream!
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.

Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou are, to dust thou returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each tomorrow
Find us farther than today.

Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.

In the world's broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!

Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant!
Let the dead Past bury its dead!
Act, - act in the living Present!
Heart within, and God o'erhead!

Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sand of time;

Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o'er life's solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.

Let us then be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait. 

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

American 1807-1882

Here is a verse that reflects the comfort that comes from above, in any circumstances, foggy or sunny!

2 Corinthians 1:3

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort...