Now There Are Four!

You may recall when I began a search last year for Anchor Hocking vintage, emerald green, short [3 1/2 inch], squatty, ruffled vases to go with a St. Patrick's Day tablescape.  Finding them has been slow, but I managed to find two in antique malls and one at an estate sale, all at reasonable prices. I used two for St. Patrick's Day this year.

While looking at estate sale photos last night, one jumped out at me.  The estate sale was five miles from my house, so I concluded it was worth getting up early for.  The sale began at 9:00 a.m. and I knew I should get there around 8:15 to get a low number for entrance into the house.  That meant a 7:00 a.m. wake-up time.  My hubby and I were #24 and 25 and were among the third group admitted inside the house.  I went straight to the kitchen because it looked like that was where the photo was taken.

[Estate sale website photo]

There it sat, patiently waiting for me with a price tag of just $2!  I saw a Royal Albert teacup for $9, but I already have one like it so I resisted temptation.  My hubby paid for the vase and we left with just the single purchase.  Then we went out to breakfast.

I began thinking about what other tablescape where I could use these vases and it dawned on me that they would look lovely at each place setting of my Bavarian Daffodil China.  So when I got home I did a quick place setting.  Yep!  They're perfect with the china.  Since I have service for 10, it looks like the search will continue for six more.   ;-)

One last note... My AOL account has been restored and I'm one relieved and happy person. Now I pray there'll be no more encounters with hackers.

Internet Hackers

[Internet Photo]

The Internet is a blessing and a curse, and hackers are are a huge part of the curse! 

I've had my Facebook account hacked a couple of times which was a relatively easy fix of changing my password and posting a message to my friends telling them not to confirm any new friend request because it wouldn't be from me.

For the first time since my AOL e-mail account was established over 20 years ago, it was hacked yesterday.  It hasn't been a fast and easy fix like Facebook.  I've changed my password, but still can't access my AOL account from my i-Phone and all new e-mails on my desktop go to my 'recently deleted' folder instead of my in-box.

I was able to see that the hacker sent out his fraudulent message [posing as my husband] to all my contacts in four different batches beginning at 1:31 p.m. and concluding at 2:01 p.m.  All the 'undeliverable messages' from the hacker were in my 'recently deleted' folder.

I called AOL and spoke with a representative who was foreign and barely understandable, but finally got that I would have to pay a fee for their technical support.  I said no thanks and terminated the call.  

Today is a new day and my hubby and I are back at it [with our limited technical knowledge] trying to restore my AOL account.  If you received an e-mail from my AOL address containing a fraudulent message from the hacker, delete it and don't respond.  My husband didn't request a favor from you.  Here's hoping today will be a lot less stressful and everything will be resolved and restored with my AOL account.  

Sunday Reflection

It's been quite awhile since I've written a 'Sunday Reflection' post, but I saw this quote of Corrie Ten Boom's and decided it was definitely worth sharing.

I hope you are having a good Sunday.   Sunshine and 80 degree temperatures make any day a good day!

I returned to work yesterday following my knee ordeal, knowing it would be a true test of endurance... or not!   78 guests were served tea and I made it through almost 7 hours.  Today is the best my knee's felt since I began having problems, and I am SO thankful.  In an attempt to stave off future problems, I've put myself on a diet to lose 20 lbs. - losing just 5 lbs. takes 20 lbs. of pressure off knees.  Below was my dinner today.  I roasted a can of chick peas [Garbanzo beans] for my salad and really enjoyed the texture and flavor.  My treat later on will be a bowl of watermelon. Yesterday, the chef at The Whitney prepared baked salmon and roasted veggies for the staff.  It was SO good and low-calorie. Two days down, and lots more to go!

One of the ladies at church this morning gave me some tea in cute British tins.  When the tea's gone the tins are banks.  Aren't they cute?  Thanks, Francine!  

I recently found some good organic, Hibiscus herbal tea at Kroger's.  I don't drink tea [camellia sinensis] in the evening because the caffeine keeps me awake, so this tea is a great alternative and hibiscus is very healthy.

Have a great week, friends!

Estate Sale Finds

I always look through the pictures of items available at estate sales in my area, but most of the time I decide I don't really need more 'stuff.'  But when I opened an e-mail last night of a sale just 8 minutes from my house, I spotted a stainless steel Farberware Urn.  I love these urns for making tea for a group, so I decided to head over to the house this morning.

The sale opened at 10:00 a.m. and I got there just after 9:00.  I was #34, which meant I wouldn't be one of the first ones admitted inside the house, but it was dry, sunny and in the high 40's so I didn't mind the wait.  It's fun listening to the conversations of people standing around me.  Most are dedicated estate sale shoppers [sometimes bordering on hoarders] and go from sale to sale.

Fellow blogger and tea friend, Angela McRae [Tea With Friends blog], recently gave estate sales a creative new name - pop-up antique stores [or in some cases, pop-up flea markets].  I love that!

As I stood waiting my turn to enter, I didn't see anyone carrying out an urn, so I knew my chances were pretty good of getting it.  Sure enough!  It waited for me with a price tag of just $20, and two snow bunnies $1 each!  It was a good morning!  Vintage toys and Christmas decorations seemed to be what others were purchasing. 

Now I'm back home relaxing for a big work day tomorrow.  I'm anxious to see how my knee cooperates.  Good, I hope!

A Significant Day

I learned from the administrator of a Facebook group I belong to that today is National Tea Day in the United States and the UK.  I'm happily sipping my cup of Harney & Son's Organic Green Tea with Citrus & Ginkgo this morning.  What's in your cup?

[Bernideen's Photo]

It's also Queen Elizabeth II's 96th Birthday.  What an amazing woman and leader!  The photo below is one that's floating around the Internet today from several sources.  She's been through many circumstances and situations in her lifetime and has remained steady as a rock. Happy Birthday, Your Majesty!

I've been having fun making picture notecards at CVS.  One of them is very appropriate for today.

Knee Update

Thanks to everyone who e-mailed, texted, and left comments about my knee.

I went for an MRI last night and was in the Orthopedic Dr.'s office this morning at 9:00 a.m.  They took a full set of x-rays in addition to the MRI.  There is a tear in the meniscus on my right knee, but it's small, and isn't going to require surgical repair [at least not now].  Basically what I have is a 75-year-old knee!  ;-)  

Where my tibia and femur bones come together at the knee, the bone surfaces are worn from years of wear, and are no longer smooth.  The roughness has pushed the meniscus out of place a bit so the cushion isn't like it was when I was younger.  There's a little bit of arthritis too.  

The aggitation caused a lot of fluid around my knee which accounted for the swelling.  The Dr. drew the fluid off and gave me a steroid shot.  The combination of the two have provided much relief already.  The Dr. thinks I will probably be well enough to return to work on Saturday but NO stairs. I must use the elevator.  Here I was thinking those three flights of stairs was good exercise, but with my knee situation I guess not.

He said I may need another steroid shot in three months, but maybe not if I'm careful.  We'll just have to wait and see.   I will continue to wear a knee support at work which will help.  God is good and I'm so thankful this was an easy fix.

I went to the Dr.'s office dressed casually with a blue tea-themed top, navy blue slacks and blue teacup socks.  [Thank you, Talbots!]  

They gave me a complimentary pair of one-size-fits-all, navy blue shorts to wear during x-rays, examination, fluid removal and shot.  The Dr. and nurse commented on how I coordinated with the shorts.  When the Dr. wasn't in the room the nurse wanted to know if I was wearing tea-themed underwear too!  ;-)  I smiled and said no, I don't there's such a thing [at least not for adults], but who knows!   I got to bring the shorts home as a souvenir - my insurance probably paid dearly for them!  ;-)  

Easter 2022

I hope you and your loved ones had a blessed Easter.  My family did.  We all worshipped together and then went out to dinner afterwards at Olive Garden.  We were missing four grandchildren - Steve & Sharon's daughter, Brianna, in Nashville, and Lori's three grown children, but there were 12 of us and it was a wonderful day.  I took pictures to share.

I didn't post yesterday because when we got home from the restaurant I iced my knee and rested the remainder of the day.  I'm looking forward to having the MRI this afternoon so I'll know for sure what I'm dealing with.  I hate hobbling around and I don't care much for the pain either!

L-R:  Steve, Jeremy and Dave

Granddaughters Izzy and Brooke.  I must be shrinking!  ;-)

~ Papa and Landon ~

~ Lori and Dave ~

~ Sharon, Brooke and Steve ~

Samantha, Izzy, Jeremy, Landon and Ellie

My salvation, health and family are my greatest blessings, but God has granted so many other blessings too.

Easter temps were a bit chilly [only a high of 43 degrees], but at least it didn't snow!  My hubby just informed me that we're under a winter weather advisory until 7:00 p.m. tonight with the possibility of 2-4 inches of snow.  I hope the meteorologists are wrong, but snow is coming down pretty steady at the moment.  Mother Nature sure is confused!

How did you spend Easter?

Loved the tea-themed Easter cards I received, as well as other lovely Easter cards that came in the mail and online.  I love Jacquie Lawson animated e-cards.

Update:  I just took the photo below at 3:20 p.m.  It's hard to see in the photo, but the wet snow is falling quite steadily.  The meteorologists might be right, after all!

Easter Eve

Today normally would have been a very busy work day for me, but I tore the meniscus in my right knee, so I'm home taking it easy.  I go for an MRI on Monday and see an Orthopedic Dr. on Tuesday to discuss treatment and recovery.

Kristin, one of the servers at The Whitney, sent me a picture of her taken at the Easter Bunny Tea.  Another server texted saying they had 75 in attendance, plus another 63 at the 1:30 p.m. Mansion Tea.  As much as I missed being there, my knee wouldn't have held up for the task.

Since I was homebound, I occupied myself by getting out my Easter teapots, dishes and collection of Easter bunnies.  It was fun until I had to wrap them all back up and put them away in their storage totes.  I took some pictures to share with you.

The centerpiece, candlesticks, and candy dish are all I left out for tomorrow.

If you had to choose one picture for the cover of a notecard, which one would it be?  Please help me decide.

Wishing you and your loved ones a very blessed Easter.  

Good Friday

My husband and I went to Good Friday communion today.  The church was open from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. for individual or family communion served by our pastoral staff.

It's Friday...

Peter is asleep.

Judas has betrayed Christ.

Mary is crying.

Hope is lost.

Death has won.

Satan is laughing.

Jesus is buried.

A soldier stands guard.

A rock is rolled into place.

... But Sunday is coming!

Palm Sunday Weekend

I hope you had a nice Palm Sunday weekend as we enter Holy Week.  I had to work on Saturday so I couldn't attend our annual Easter Egg Hunt at church, but it was well attended with almost 400 children and adults.  Skies were overcast but no rain.

Below is my son, Steve, and daughter-in-law, Sharon.  She is our church Children's Director and coordinator of the event.  In addition to the egg hunt, there was a petting zoo and balloon artist who made animal shaped balloons to give to the children.

Yesterday was a wonderful day as we worshipped our Lord and Savior. Pastor Steve preached about the Israelites waving and laying down palm branches as Jesus rode into Jerusalem while they shouted, "Hosanna, Hosanna!" which means to save or deliver. Palm branches are a symbol of victory in Israel.

Today we must lay our palms down too, but not branches - the palms of our hands.  When palms are facing downward, it's impossible to hold onto anything.  Everything is surrendered to God.  The Israelites also removed their cloaks and laid them down. Metaphorically, we remove our coverings in the presence of Jesus too.  He sees us as we are, so there's no reason to cover any sin or transgression.  What a wonderful message to usher us into Holy Week.

The service ended with one of the members of our worship team doing a dramatic interpretation of the song, "Watch the Lamb."  It was beautiful and very moving.

My sweet great-granddaughter, Juliette, turned three on April 3rd.  How can that be?!   And Evie will turn five on May 23rd.  We're going to Grand Ledge on May 12th to celebrate with them.

I got up early this morning to bake a batch of pinwheel scones.  I'm taking a traveling tea party to some dear friends tomorrow.  Of course my hubby and I had to sample them to make sure they passed the test.  They did!  ;-)

Have a wonderful week!