Tea DELIGHTS....

How yummy!!! Chocolate covered GIGANTIC strawberries, punchbowl cake (too good for words!)...a first-white chocolate berry tarts THE BEST!....an array of sandwiches with my signature ribbon Tea Sandwich of dried apricots, pecans, cream cheese and honey...soooo good! A pleasant mild taste with crunch.

One of our favorites is the cheese ball...this year the gal that makes it..put small portions in mini cupcake cups...perfect, since it's time consuming and awkward to scoop the cheese off the ball..though it looks pretty beforehand!

This is another of the crafted tea tables... Whimsical...with birds, feathers etc.

" A little birdie told me"



...a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter. Ecclesiastes 10:20b

and A COUNTRY HOME.... this had so much detail..the napkins were bandannas with a wooden spoon attached with a bread recipe.

The verse.. Give us this day our daily bread. Matthew 6:11



and finally...our tea gift...




a nice porcelain tea caddy. Our scrap booking gal and her daughters made the cute flowers for the front of the boxes. The middle of the flower has a teapot stamp! Cute touch. The ladies loved the gift which can be used for used tea bags, rings, soap for guest..or even set as decor on a shelf.

I hope that you have gleaned some ideas here for your next TEA!! I'd love to know...and see your photos too!

TEA and FRIENDS!!!

HOPE

continued...Ladies TEA

The luncheon this year was filled with so many enjoyable decorations...

This table represented the main theme: "TIME FOR TEA"

This lovely little tea set was unique in it's coming about...my mother gave me the sugar and creamer set a few years ago!... one day while shopping at TJ MAX in my search for luncheon decor...I happened upon the lovely tea pot that MATCHED my cream and sugar set! Yes..I was beside myself!!! and the price was fantastic! Thankfully, no one could see my inside JUMPING up for joy!! Then...weeks later..I found the matching "TEA" cups! Not only was it perfect with the TEA emblem-matching the tea pot,but a nice treasure for myself to keep.





The creative young gal that usually does my scrapbooking work...was unable this year...and another TALENTED young woman came through with the most gorgeous work!

I wrote this poem and asked if she could embellish it somehow??? for me to use as a display! VOILA...a masterpiece!!! so adorable as a TEA BAG!!!




“Time for Tea”
Lovely moments of friendship
Spent over a cup of tea
Aromas of a pleasant scent
Memories of unity
~~~~
A beautiful cup of hospitality
Generosity, oh so sweet
Blessed around the Word of God
Our faith in Eternity meet.


It was indeed a wonderful time just as the poem states. Lovely moments of friendship (as you will see in my next post of the different tables our ladies decorated)...wonderful aromas of Creme Brulee and various flavors of tea...we reflected on our past luncheons..this was the ninth! I myself couldn't believe I've been doing this for nine years!! Next year being the tenth..I get to be a guest! I hope..as the ladies have shown their own talents and have learned from the experience over the years..preparing themselves..and Lord willing if any of their husbands are called into the ministry...

They now can put on a lovely Ladies Luncheon and feel confident.

I have been thankful and blessed in the opportunity... Titus 2..that the aged women...TEACH the younger women...

Please join me again as I share more on this fun, creative occasion.

HOPE

"Time for Tea" Ladies Luncheon 2011

"Time for Tea" the theme for our luncheon this year...

I crafted this large TEA POT to place in the entry. It was a challenge to draw free hand...THANK YOU LORD for talent on loan!



I also hung smaller version teapots from the top of the entry doorway.



I noticed later ...that the back of the tea pot was BLUE! and with it partly showing was perfect for the view from our seated area!!!



With the talented help of one of our ladies...Word cards were placed in various spots on our buffet tables to emphasize words that end with "T"



Hospitality, Generosity, bounty, unity....

Our guest speakers devotion covered some of these words and the characteristics of each in our lives




The theme Bible verse for the luncheon is found in II Peter 1:8




Join me here again Thursday for more photos and highlights of our luncheon!

Bring a cup of tea with you too!

Blessings,
HOPE

Luncheon pics and news coming tomorrow!

The ladies luncheon was beyond wonderful this year!

So much to share and photos....

I hope you'll join me later for the blessings.

HOPE

TEA TIME....

Hello friends!

It's that time of year again...for planning our ladies annual luncheon.


This year it's TIME FOR TEA!

It's going to be quite different and I'm excited about it...we have eight groups decorating THEIR OWN TABLES!!! (I usually do ALL the planning for the decor)

I am still the over sear and original planner...

but I gave each group a "theme" to use in decorating their table.

They supply a TEA POT for the centerpiece ...the plates and napkins.

also each table is to display a Bible Verse to go with the theme.

These are the themes I chose:

Royal Tea... Music Tea... Winter Tea... Seaside Tea

Summer Tea... Country Tea... Oriental Tea ...Memory Tea

I will be setting up our fellowship hall the usual way but will be making the main theme TIME FOR TEA using the above Tea set and clocks. Just to give you a glimpse!



My mother sent me the sugar and creamer set (in photo) years ago...and when I recently found the TEA POT at TJ Max I was thrilled! I also found two cups that match...I always have a SPECIAL middle table display...which will be decorated with these items.

The verse for this table reads:

The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
Lamentations 3:24

This clock is a favorite of mine..also given to me by my dear Mother...she always gives such lovely gifts.


AND....using my grand BLUE AND WHITE collection and beautiful Tea Set my son gave me years ago for the buffet tables. You'll have to come back to view all the photos...

The tea is the day before Mother's Day...

Menu is in the planning stages...YUM!

I'll have so much to share and the many blessings that come each year!!

Please stop by to visit again as I share with you ....TIME FOR TEA!

Blessings to you all,
HOPE

TEA and Sock Monkey's

Two of my favorite pass times...

Tea with a dear friend and making these fun sock monkey's!






I had this pleasure recently when my dearest friend Sue joined me for TEA and a sock monkey challenge! I asked if she would like to help make some SOCK Monkey's for her grandchildren due in for a visit. Her daughter Missy was due home for a short visit while on deputation with her husband and children. Missionaries to Bulgaria. A very dear family to me, personally...I fill in as Nana to these children, when Sue is gone herself to the Mission Field of Papua New Guinea.

We scouted the stores for SOCKS! I wonder what people were thinking as we chatted how this pair or that pair was soo CUTE! Okay..some socks worn are cute...but not like OUR conversation!

Like this BABY one...the socks were sooo SOFT...so imagine me cuddling this pair to my face! and other customers saying..."OKAY..LADY"???


But, for sweet little Kaitlyn...going on three years old..this was perfect!


And the names commenced..."Peppermint Patty" for the baby.

"Buddy" for Joshua..."Polly" and "Penelope"(the II)...the older girls could choose.

Along with my Quilting Stash of Fabrics...I now own a Sock Monkey Stash...and plenty for future projects to come.

ENJOY!
Hope

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.

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...