When your BFF comes to town...........

What do you do??
Go to tea, of course!



Thank you for joining my BFF and me for tea today.

Tea Time Tuesday

Tuesday Tea for Two

Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday

Tea Cup Tuesday

In memory..........

A week before the battle of Bull Run Sullivan Ballou, a Major in the 2nd Rhode Island Volunteers, wrote home to his wife in Smithfield.

---

July 14,1861
Camp Clark, Washington DC

Dear Sarah:

The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days - perhaps tomorrow. And lest I should not be able to write you again I feel impelled to write a few lines that may fall under your eye when I am no more.

I have no misgivings about, or lack of confidence in the cause in which I am engaged, and my courage does not halt or falter. I know how American Civilization now leans upon the triumph of the government and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the blood and suffering of the Revolution. And I am willing - perfectly willing - to lay down all my joys in this life, to help maintain this government, and to pay that debt.

Sarah, my love for you is deathless, it seems to bind me with mighty cables that nothing but omnipotence can break; and yet my love of Country comes over me like a strong wind and bears me irresistibly with all those chains to the battlefield. The memory of all the blissful moments I have enjoyed with you come crowding over me, and I feel most deeply grateful to God and you, that I have enjoyed them for so long. And how hard it is for me to give them up and burn to ashes the hopes and future years, when, God willing, we might still have lived and loved together, and see our boys grown up to honorable manhood around us.

If I do not return, my dear Sarah, never forget how much I loved you, nor that when my last breath escapes me on the battle field, it will whisper your name...

Forgive my many faults, and the many pains I have caused you. How thoughtless, how foolish I have sometimes been!...

But, 0 Sarah, if the dead can come back to this earth and flit unseen around those they love, I shall always be with you, in the brightest day and in the darkest night... always, always. And when the soft breeze fans your cheek, it shall be my breath, or the cool air your throbbing temple, it shall be my spirit passing by.

Sarah do not mourn me dead; think I am gone and wait for me, for we shall meet again...

---

Sullivan Ballou was killed a week later at the 1st Battle of Bull Run.

Do dreams really come true?

Remember a few months ago when I posted pictures of land clearing?

It has been our dream for many years to build a home on this piece of land. We've had house plans drawn up three times, but each time we'd get close to start to build, something would come up and those plans had to be laid aside.

About a year ago, we had our latest house plans done, and requested a price from a builder. It turns out that to build a new house in our area was going to be very costly. It actually would cost more to build a new house on our own property then to buy one already built! So we started our search.

We visited many homes, some were nice, some not so nice. And we always came away thinking, nope this one is not for us. Until a month ago.

My hubby found this house in an area we had not looked before. We never even knew there were houses there. But he found it, and we took a tour. And we all fell in love.

But as in all things, it did not go as easily as we thought. We had a certain number we were working with, and this house cost more then our allotted figure. But we made an offer, which they turned down. We took another look around at the house, and made another offer, which they again turned down. So we walked away.............. Isn't that what we need to do sometimes. Just walk away. Let our heads clear and seek the Lord's direction in such a big decision.

But it would not go away. I kept thinking about this house. No matter how much I tried not to, it kept drifting into my thoughts. I prayed about it, but never said anything more about the house to my hubby. Until one day he asked me! And with that discussion, we again approached our realtor. He told us that the sellers realtor had contacted him two weeks before asking if we were still interested in the house. They had made repairs to some areas we had pointed out on our inspection. And come to find out, they had bought a house in Georgia! So we made another offer, and this time they accepted!!!

So now it begins. A whole new process. We've never moved since we married, so this will be our first adventure. And I have a question for you! Part of this house has tile, and as I have always lived in a house with hardwood floors, I would love to hear any and all suggestions on how to warm up a house that has tile floors :-) Call out the troups and send help! I need Ree the Pioneer Woman, Jennifer from the Old Painted Cottage, Cynthia from Cynthia's Cottage Design, and anyone else who can lend a hand! I am not a decorator, so if you have any kind of decorating websites, please share.

In the next few months I would love to share about this house. Thanks for any suggestions and advice that you can lend me.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Outdoor Wednesday - How does your Garden grow?

Outdoor Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Live and Laugh Out Loud

Have a great week!

Tea for Blue and Blue for tea

Please join me today for a little bit of Blue Tea. You know you are always welcome.

Tea Time Tuesday

Tuesday Tea for Two

Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday

Teacup Tuesday

Have a wonderful day!

Words to Live By

"Let all who take refuge in You be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread Your protection over them, that those who love Your name may rejoice in You. " Psalm 5:11

Outdoor Wednesday

Today I am joining Outdoor Wednesday

Live and Love...Out Loud

and Wordless Wednesday

Have a great day!

Tuesday Tea

Welcome........

Come join me for tea, won't you?



I'm so happy that you joined me for a spot of tea.

Please be sure to stop by and visit these other lovely teas today. It's always more fun to have tea together.

Tea Time Tuesday

Tea Cup Tuesday

Tuesday Tea for Two

Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday

Have a very wonderful day!

Words to live by

"In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice;

in the morning I lay my requests before you

and wait in expectation."

Psalm 5:3

Austentatious

Do you love to read? Does a good book take you to a different place and time? I used to read a lot when I was young. Reading was a friend that I could take with me everywhere and absorb my mind with adventure.

In the last few years I have fallen in love with the stories of Jane Austen. I met the Bennett family when my daughter brought home the 2005 video of Pride and Prejudice. What a story. I had to have more. So I bought the book. Not just the Pride and Prejudice book, but the whole collection of Jane Austen works.

My friend Wendy from Ivory Spring is also a huge Jane Austen fan. She has shared a few links with me that just fuels the fire :-)

Republic of Pemberly
Jane Austen Today

And be sure to read this post - Elizabeth's Love for Darcy."

Miss Austen's life continues to remain surreptitious. Her sister burned all of her letters after Jane died. So we will never really know what was lying deep in her heart. But you can be sure, she knew about love, and the intricacies of a tangled web relationship that has survived through the years.

"Her thoughts were all fixed on that one spot of Pemberley House, whichever it might be, where Mr. Darcy then was. She longed to know what at that moment was passing in his mind; in what manner he thought of her, and whether, in defiance of every thing, she was still dear to him."


Enjoy your weekend! And maybe take time to read a good book :-)

VTT

On my post on Tuesday I showed a platter that I joined up with a Noritake teacup my daughter found at a yard sale. We both bought our pieces on the same day, but at different points on the map.

The platter has very lovely roses and beautiful scroll work around the plate. It is marked Paden City Pottery Co. USA. I've never heard of this company before, but because it is a made in USA piece, I thought it would be a nice addition to my other pieces. Not knowing that my daughter bought this china cup (for $1.00)!

I think they look very lovely together.

And on Monday I made a quick stop at the Goodwill where I came away with yet another platter.

I almost passed this one by, but on turning it over found that it was Mikasa Made in Germany.

It is a Christmas plate and is quite nice.

Bells and Poinsettias.

There were quite a few Mikasa pieces at the Goodwill on Monday, but I only picked up this one.

However, I could not pass up Fire King Peach Lustre for $1.00!

to add to my collection of course.

Please be sure to stop by Coloradoladys blog and take a peek at the other vintage goodies this week!

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday here and here

Live and Love Out Loud

Outdoor Wednesday

Tea Time

Last weekend my sweet daughter went yard saleing with her friend. She found some very lovely things. And among those things, she bought a beautiful tea cup for me.

So today I am joining Lady Katherine's lovely tea party Tea Time Tuesday .

I added a platter that I found at GoodWill to dress up the Noritake cup and saucer.

I was also treated to home made Banana Streusel muffins on Mother's Day morning. We ate them hot out of the oven. Yummm........

And so today I am enjoying Tea for One.

Thanks so much for joining me. Please be sure to stop by and visit the other lovely tea posts today.

A week of Giveaways

GIVEAWAYS going on in Blogland!

Applestone Cottage
16 piece Pfaltzgraff Evening Sun Dinnerware set


Blue Creek Home
Blog wide 4th Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway


between naps on the porch
Sweet European Dreams Giveaway


My Vintage Studio
Vintage Giveaway


Garage Sale Tracker
Two iPhones

Have fun signing up for these great giveaways!

Happy Mothers Day

INVISIBLE MOTHER

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store..

Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?' Obviously, not.

No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all.

I'm invisible. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this?

Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated sum a cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going; she's going; she is
gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England.

Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling
pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.'

It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe .. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'To My Dear Friend, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'

In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names.

These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam; He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it..' And the workman replied, 'Because God sees'

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place.

It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.'

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.

I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on.

The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'you're going to love it there.'

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right; And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

Great Job, MOM!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YU0aNAHXP0

God bless you all. Happy Mothers Day

A Morning Song or a song of mourning?

For the last week or so we have had a bird who is singing the praises of Spring. Well singing, might not really be the appropriate word. Let's just say, this bird has been screeching, chattering, hollering, and on occasion singing.

It's a Mockingbird and she is either very mad or very happy. I cannot really tell, mostly because I don't speak bird. But she has been insistent in her call. She starts early every morning and does not stop until the sun is gone for the day.

I've also noticed a white cat roaming around in our neighborhood. One day as I was pulling up into our driveway I saw the white cat running out of our yard. Hummm......... could there be some sort of connection here?

Every morning I go out to check our little tomato plants and give them a drink of water. This morning I heard Mrs. Mockingbird singing once again. But then it all stopped. I wondered why. And then I heard the rain. The pouring down rain.

So my little Mockingbird friend has found some cover and has silenced her song. The rain won't last long. It's a much needed Spring shower, doing a better job at watering my small garden and will soon pass.

But I think of Mrs. Mockingbird. Is she mourning the loss of her little eggs? She flits about here and there. I don't know, but she does.

"Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God.
"Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.
"And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God,
"but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. "
Luke 12:6-9

We have storms and rain that pass our way but may your day be full of Spring flowers and Sunshine and God's promises!

The Wednesday moment

Please visit the other Outdoor Wednesday, Live and Love out Loud and Wordless Wednesday posts.

Mellow Yellow Monday

This tree was exploding with yellow goodness :-) Enjoy Mellow Yellow Monday!

Quilting Comfort

I would like to ask a big favor of my readers. Would you help a friend of mine?? You see my BFF has a daughter that has been fighting a very aggressive cancer. My BFF made her daughter a beautiful quilt while she was in Alaska caring for her grandchildren. Her daughter has written a story about her mom in a little contest. And she needs votes. Can you take a minute and vote for Carlee's story at www.thymes.com . There is a $300 prize that Carlee would like to give her Mom. Her story is listed under Quilting Comfort by Alaska Mommy.

Thanks so much for taking just a few minutes to help my friend win a much deserved prize.