Timely Blessings

I received this lovely gift today, from one of my daughter's living overseas. How timely!! And such a wonderful surprise...as was her sister's gift last week!!
(see post Tea and Love)

It was also amazing how well the set matched my dishes....the hint of blue with green and and edging of brown...Perfect!



Evidently, neither knew of the gifts each was sending with the theme of TEA!

I guess they know their mom pretty good!



The tea from the other package was perfect for tonight's dinner! Yummy Chinese Flower tea in a Japanese Teapot!!...I have never had this flavor before...nice and subtle.

My Creative Heart today...is setting out my wonderful tea set and cooking stir fry for dinner to match!!


Thank you to both of my girls for their thoughtfulness and love that touched my heart so very much.

Tools of the Trade...part II

..for creative eating!!

Yes..even when eating you can have a "creative" adventure! This happened to me recently while visiting my son and daughter in law. We all went out to dinner at a wonderful Japanese restaurant..the FUN kind...where the food is cooked right in front of you. We love it! For the entertainment and the yummy food.

So here was my first choice eating utensil...





...for further observation of this intricate chopstick design....

The Chef called...


TRAINING WHEELS!



I love them, and I had to share the photo so you can...even make your own! Talk about being Creative!!!

I just had to have a set for my collection...wouldn't you?





Here is my little collection... I've been told the writing says..


Good Eating...or as the French say... Bon Appetit!








Sometimes just a little touch can make a difference...




Why not use Chop Sticks tonight!!

Tools of the Trade

Not often...but when needed, I decorate a cake for a special occasion.



And this one is for a VERY Special young lady getting married soon. She was one of my students when I taught First Grade in the Christian Day School of our church.

This little gal...was quite a HURRICANE back in Kindergarten..and I remember thinking..

"OH..MY...Here comes Hurricane Hana!"

This little whirlwind child...turned out to be the sweetest of my students and went on in her growing years and to this day...

to be a very loving, dedicated and precious Saint of the LORD.

She is a wonderful example of a young christian woman who has been obedient to her parents as also the LORD. Even while her parents have been on the mission field, she has conducted herself well and waited on the LORD and her dad's approval of the young man she is to marry. What joy it brings, when all are in agreement and the blessings of the LORD evident for everyone! Not just the bride to be..but her fiance', the families and friends.

When I decorate a cake, I rarely have any idea of what it will look like. Sometimes I draw a little plan. I drew a heart for the middle and thought a lattice would look nice...




then as I was in the midst of decorating it, I thought of some flowers I had...nice touch (don't eat!!)...I had planned on adding light green leaves..NO..just white on white will be nice...and then I added a small string of pearls to outline the inside of the heart. Voila..done. I liked it.







Whew~ forgot the photo of the exploded kitchen!!! Gotta be CREATIVE!

Oh, did I mention..I LOVE my "Kitchen Aid" mixer! What a life saver!

And..it just so happens, that in decorating her cake for the upcoming bridal shower...I decided to use no color...just white on white...and add some little touches of PEARL.

Come to find out...this is what Hana has also chosen for her Bridal Cake!! I don't know how her cake will look, but, I've been told it is white on white with PEARLS!

Fitting for her...as she is a jewel! ..and a diamond ring!



God bless you, Sweet Hana!



Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. Ecclesiastes 4:9

Blessings to all..

HOPE~

Tea and Love

One of my "girls" sent me this the other day. I was taken completely by surprise! No special occasion other than "LOVE". It brought tears to my eyes and warmth to my heart. Thank you, sweet daughter of mine.

The pretty floral card attached said:

Mom... Just to let you know how much I appreciate you and I love you very much.

My children all live a good distance a way from me...and they know how much I miss them. Very much. I miss their sweet fellowship, as believers in Christ...I miss their loving hugs as my children...I miss their cut-up ways that bring smiles...and I miss their individual personalities that make them unique to me and so very Special.

I have been truly blessed with five wonderful children, from their youth to adulthood. I give all the GLORY and PRAISE to my Saviour the LORD JESUS CHRIST. Without Him...and HIS WORD..I would not have known how to raise children in the midst of an ungodly world. He truly is the LIGHT to our path.

It is so sweet when a child of yours does something like this...totally for LOVE.

She knows how much I enjoy the peaceful pleasures of a cup of TEA...





and I love the little birds that stop by my bird feeders...in fact, they come by to "peek" at me, when I'm outside. Slowly fluttering downward to the branch closest to me.



Isn't the "TEACUP" basket precious! The perfect place to store all my tea now.





I was also blessed with a loving "TEA" gift from my one and only sister. How I miss her also... She lovingly sent me my favorite Peach Tea from her local Tea House with a lovely blue and white teacup.

(she knows I collect and admire anything Blue and White!)

Yes...TEA TIME is cherished cup by cup... moment by moment... with those Special to your heart.

A Creative Heart...is shown in many ways...

even in gifts of LOVE...

Tulip Quilt Block

This is a tulip block...first time doing this one. A challenge, but glad I'm doing these. It helps with bravery!!

It looks a little "wonky" on a couple corners..but once sewn these will straighten out. This is for my Quilting groups block swap...one person will get all the blocks made..a variety of colors and prints but same block. This Quilt is going to be very pretty!!



This block ruler...really helps. Line up your block to make sure it is Square and then as you can see..IF the smaller blocks fit in the proper place...you did it RIGHT!

which spells...R..E..L..I..E..F



Now...to go work on my other quilting projects that are yelling at me...

Don't forget us!!

I have a couple of throws to get done..my cottage quilt...finish a lovely quilt top given to me as a gift...a table runner...Quilts for ALL my family members...

Yep..I think I'll be busy for quite some time...all wrapped up in doing things with A CREATIVE HEART...and soon to give away with LOVE. All but the lovely Quilt top gift!...that's mine to keep...and I love it!! I'll post that one later when finished.

Hoping you have a Happy Creative Heart Day!

HOPE~

A Soldier Returns HOME!!

This is the label I penned and another Quilter made for my son's Patriotic Quilt my group made for him while he served in Iraq.

He arrived HOME safely TODAY....a HAPPY 4th Of JULY!!!

Thank you to all my readers who have prayed for him this past 15 months.

God bless you all..
HOPE~