Sunday Reflection...

I read a devotional earlier this week titled, "The Importance of Saying Thank You."  It was based on Luke's account of the ten men who had leprosy that Jesus healed on the road to Jerusalem. [Chapter 17: 11-19]

Jesus compassionately healed all ten when they obediently went to show themselves to the priest as He instructed, but only one came back praising God when he saw that he had been healed. Scripture says he threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked Him.

Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed?  Where are the other nine?"  Then He said to man, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."  He was pleased with the one who took the time to return and express his gratitude, but grieved over the nine who didn't.   

Expressing thanks requires a deliberate act.  Gratitude and appreciation are important. People who are thankful are happy people.

The Apostle Paul tells us in I Thessalonians 5: 18 "In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."  [New American Standard Bible]   Thanksgiving is thanks living 365 days of the year.

May God bless your week!

J.L. Hudson's Memorabilia

A lady who attended one of my J.L. Hudson's presentations recently contacted me saying she found some Hudson's memorabilia in her parent's belongings, and wanted to give them to me.  

We met at TranquiliTea [a lovely tea shop]  in Plymouth, MI last week. Below is a photo of Marilyn holding the folder containing the memorabilia.

There were two issues of The Minuteman from 1929.  Since I had never heard of The Minuteman before I contacted Hudson's historian, Mike Hauser.  I wondered if it was the forerunner to the Hudsonian magazine [an in-house publication for employees].  Mike said the Hudsonian began around 1919, and he felt The Minuteman must have augmented that publication for special occasions since it mentioned their 48th Anniversary Sale several times. Mike, who did extensive Hudson's research for his book Hudson's Detroit's Legendary Department Store [Images of America], said he had never heard of The Minuteman before either.  What a wonderful piece of Hudson's history!

Of particular interest to me was the last page of the publication which gives statistics for the Mezzanine Tea Room, Employees' Cafeteria, Basement Store Restaurant, and 13th Floor Dining Rooms.  It will definitely be useful for the cookbook project.  

Thanks for your generosity, Marilyn, and for allowing me to be the recipient of the memorabilia.

I couldn't go to TranquiliTea without making some purchases, and will share them in my next post.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Thanksgiving Day Parade is a long-standing tradition in Detroit.  The only older parade is Philadelphia's Thanksgiving Day Parade, which began in 1920. 

Santa's official arrival at J.L. Hudson's 12th floor "Toyland" created such a fanfare of activity that it swelled into the first Hudson-sponsored Thanksgiving Day parade down Woodward Avenue in 1924.

[Internet Photos]

Old Mother Goose was the first float in that parade, pulled by a horse.  The float is still in use today except now it's self-propelled.

The parade took a two year hiatus in 1941-42 due to WWII shortage of materials, but it was back in 1943.  

Hudson's turned over the sponsorship of the parade to the Detroit Renaissance Group in 1979, but remained a major contributor until 1982.

My hubby was a participant in the 1963 parade with the Redford High School Marching Band.  

June Lockart was one of the parade celebrities in 1964, and I read that a parade worker became annoyed with her when she demanded a cup of hot tea in the midst of the bustling parade preparations.  The worker should have known that tea time trumps all activities!  ;-)

The parade is now called America's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and is sponsored by Art Van Furniture.  I'll be catching televised glimpses of the parade in between dinner preparations today!

Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!

"There is one day that is ours.  Thanksgiving Day is the one day that is purely American."
~ O. Henry ~

Thursday Tea at Troy Historic Village

Long before I purchased my ticket for Cranbrook's Holiday Tables, I purchased a ticket to 'Thursday Teas at Two' at Troy Historic Village. 

I've passed Troy Historic Village many times, but never attended any of their events. When I learned Kathleen Marcaccio was going to be speaking about Margaret Mitchell and Gone With the Wind, I purchased a ticket.  Troy Historic Village is only six miles from Cranbrook, so I allotted 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. for the Holiday Tables and Buffet Tea, with time left to get to the Historical Village for their Thursday Teas at Two. The Village is a Michigan Historic Site.

As you can see in the photo below the ground was blanketed with snow.  The tea and presentation was held in the Village Church.

The $7 ticket included a cup of tea and dessert.  I chose Constant Comment.  

Attendees carried their tea and dessert to a church pew of their choice to await the presentation. This was my second time to hear Kathleen speak, and she is captivating.  She brings lots of memorabilia and visuals with her.

In the photo below Kathleen is holding up a commemorative plate of Margaret Mitchell's grandparent's home that Mitchell visited growing up.

Because Kathleen is a collector of all things pertaining to Margaret Mitchell and Gone With the Wind she has a piece of china in her collection that is like a set Mitchell owned.

The photo below is a copy from Kathleen's collection.  It's the Wilson theater [owned by Matilda Dodge Wilson] and was one of the two theaters in Detroit that showed Gone With the Wind when the movie came to Detroit in January, 1940.  

After the presentation I took a few photos of other historic buildings in the village.

I will definitely be returning to Troy Historic Village for Thursday Teas at Two.  It was very a very enjoyable afternoon.

Cranbrook's Holiday Tables, Conclusion

Table #13 "Scottish Dreams"

Tapestry Room

Table #14 "After Apple Picking"

Oak Room

This table was the Auxiliary's way of saying "So long dear friend" to 39 years of Holiday Tables and saying "Hello" to future endeavors.

Table #15 "The Illuminating Science of Metals and Minerals" 

by the Cranbrook Institute of Science

Oak Room

Table #16 "The Night Before Christmas"

Oak Room

Paintings of George and Ellen Booth

Table #17 "Penguins Dancing at the Pole"

Oak Room

~ Lady who designed table #17 ~

Table #18 "Festival of Lights"

Oak Room

Below is a section of the gift shop that was located on the sun porch.



I hope you enjoyed viewing Cranbrook's Holiday Tables Finale.

Cranbrook's Holiday Tables, Part II

Today's post begins where last Friday's left off at Cranbrook's 39th Annual Holiday Tables.

Table #7  "All Aglow for the Holiday"
Sunset Room

Table #8 "We Give Thanks"
Living Room

Table #9 "A 1940's White Christmas"
Living Room

The lady who set this table did it as a tribute to her mother, using her mother's china, crystal, and flatware.  She gave the history of the tablescape items [when and how they were received, and how they were passed down to her].

The mansion has many beautiful fireplaces.

~ Side Table ~

Table #10 "On Gleaming Wings"

Set by the Herb Society of America, Southern Michigan Unit.

 Living Room [Sun Porch is through the French Doors]

The beautiful floral arrangement was in a silver punch bowl.

~ A side desk ~

#11 "Tea Under the Historic Lights of Cranbrook"

Mr. Booth's Original Office

The table told the brief history of the lighting created by the Edward F. Caldwell Co. for the Booth home.

Below is the entrance to Dining Room where the formal Buffet Tea was served on Thursday, November 20th. The other two days of the event, tablescape #12 "A Charming Holiday Dinner at Cranbrook House" was set in the Dining Room with silver, china, and other items from the Booth family collection.  I enjoyed the tea, but hated to miss seeing the tablescape. I'm sure it was beautiful.

 "Tea Mom" in the photo below.  I chose Harney & Sons Earl Grey.

~ My Plate ~

To prevent visual overload, I'll post the last six tablescapes tomorrow.

* * *

Today I'm joining Antiques and Teacups for Tuesday Cuppa Tea