Hummel tea party

 Hummel figurines originated in the twentieth century with a Franciscan nun named Beta Hummel.  The sister signed an agreement with the German firm W. Goebel Porzellanfahrik in January of 1935.  These figurines of happy, cherubic children became immensely popular and remain highly collectible today.     

Sister Hummel died in 1946 leaving a collection of her drawings that Goebel uses today to produce new M. I. Hummel figurines.  The convent of Siessen and Goebel still work together to insure that Sister Hummel’s work lives on.

Twinings Everyday Tea

This is something new to me.

Twinings say they use an earlier flush of tea growth for a better flavor. I have read many good reviews of this tea and it is said to be a straightforward, great-tasting black tea.

This new tea does not seem to be widely available. It is sold on Amazon, but is quite pricey. I’m looking forward to doing a taste comparison with my everyday tea which is either London Cuppa or Yorkshire. Twinings does have a US website here, but their Everyday Tea does not seem to be available.

Bee Balm in Tea

You can add a couple of dried leaves from a bee balm plant to a tin of loose black tea to infuse it with new savor.

This pretty flowering plant attracts hummingbirds and butterflies, and I love how the flowers look like little fireworks.  I don’t have a herb garden myself, but this sounded like something I’d like to try.  Have any of you  added bee balm to your loose tea?  How was the finished product?

This was an interesting little idea from my Tea 2009 calendar that I keep on the front of my fridge where I’m sure to see it each day.

 

Grandma’s Apron

 When I used to visit Grandma, I was very much impressed,
by her all-purpose apron, and the power it possessed.
For Grandma, it was everyday she chose one when she dressed.
The strings were tied and freshly washed, and maybe even pressed.
The simple apron that it was, you would never think about;
the things she used it for, that made it look worn out.
She used it for a basket, when she gathered up the eggs,
and flapped it as a weapon, when hens pecked her feet and legs.
She used it to carry kindling when she stoked the kitchen fire.
And to hold a load of laundry, or to wipe the clothesline wire.
She used it for a hot pad, to remove a steaming pan,
and when her brow was heated, she used it for a fan.
It dried our childish tears, when we’d scrape a knee and cry,
and made a hiding place when the little ones were shy.
Farm produce took in season, in the summer, spring and fall,
found its way into the kitchen from Grandma’s carry all.
When Grandma went to heaven, God said she now could rest.
I’m sure the apron she chose that day, was her Sunday best.   

- author unknown

My paternal grandmother always wore an apron similar to those in the above pattern.  I remember as a little girl following her around as she went to the chicken coop, to the garden,  and back to the kitchen.  I can only remember seeing her a few times without her apron.

These days there has been a renewed interest in vintage aprons.  The Apron Book by Ellyn Anne Geisel is a great book loaded with photos of vintage aprons, stories of the women who wore them, recipes, hints and patterns to make your own aprons.  A fun blog to visit is Apronista where you can shop, gather info and find a list of many other bloggers who love vintage aprons.

Beautiful faces are they that wear

The light of a pleasant spirit there;

Beautiful hands are they that do

Deeds that are noble, good and true;

Beautiful feet are they that go

Swiftly to lighten another’s woe.

Cardew Designs Tea Ware

Paul Cardew has designed some of the most collectible teapots around.  I don’t own one of his teapots, but I did find this neat crossword tin, mug and coaster set at a bargain price (Ross or Marshalls) of $3.99.

I like the contemporary looking black and white design with the crossword blanks filled in with tea related words (although I do see java in there).

It’s always nice to have a matching coaster.

There is a Novel-Tea teapot in his line that features a book pattern with little books on the lid and his Patchwork design would be perfect for my quilting friends.  Many teapot designs come with matching pieces including creamer, sugar bowl, cups, coasters, etc. 

  Check out his teapot designs at the Paul Cardew website.  They are really fun.  

Coral Tea Rose

Efforts bring roses, laziness nothing.  -Edgar Guest

The man who wants a garden fair,

Or small or very big,

With flowers growing here and there,

Must bend his back and dig.

I’m finding that teaching a child that work is a necessary, unavoidable fact of life is a difficult thing to do.  My three grown children each have different views regarding work.  Now I’m trying to teach my grandsons about work and responsibility. 

Why do you think some people believe that the world owes them a living?  What about the satisfaction of a job well done?  Looking back on my own childhood (what little I can remember) it seems to me that I was not particularly helpful around the house or a very conscientious worker.  Maybe I was spoiled and I know my adjustment as an adult worker became more difficult because of that childhood indulgence.

Many of you are hard workers in your chosen career as well as in your home and I wonder what influenced your perception of work, or how you learned to be a hard worker.