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!

New Tea-themed Purchases

Recently, another blogger shared photos of Cracker Barrel's gift shop.  She was actually showing photos of  lemon items which are so popular right now both in clothing and kitchen accessories, but my eyes spyed a top with teacups off in the distance.  So while I was out running errands yesterday I stopped by a nearby Cracker Barrel to see if they had the top.  Yes, they did, and one came home with me!

It looks gray in the photo, but it's actually dark blue.  It was reasonably priced at $24.99 and will be perfect for summer.  If you're interested and don't have a Cracker Barrel nearby, you might be able to find it at their website.  It's called Stacking Teacups.

Another item I saw while looking at photos in a Facebook group, was a teapot warmer to match my Polish Pottery teapot.  I didn't see it at the time I purchased my teapot and this vendor, Blue Rose Polish Pottery, may be a different pottery than the one my teapot came from.  I immediately ordered it and it arrived within three days at no additional cost.  

Now I'm thinking I want to order three more teacups and luncheon plates so I'll have service for four.  They have a 25% off sale going on right now thru April.  I also saw a long-handled candle holder to slide inside the teapot warmer which I plan to order.  It'll be so convenient for removing candles and will prevent wax spills inside the warmer.

What new purchases have you made lately?

A Family Dinner

Yesterday my first cousin invited my hubby and me to dinner at her home.  It was a delicious meal, lovely evening of fellowship, and her tablescape was beautiful. 

She gave a nod to her mom [who passed away Oct. 2020] by using Franciscan Desert Rose dishes [a pattern her mother gifted her].  She placed the dishes in a beautiful Spring/Easter tablescape.

A bag of milk chocolate candy eggs and a box of Harry & David Jordan Almonds were at each place setting for us to take home.  Yum!

I loved the flowerpot placecard holders that she got at Michael's.  I think I see a trip to Michael's on the horizon!

She served Baked Mostaccioli, Meatballs, Tossed Salad, and rolls for dinner [and sent the leftovers home with me!].  Dessert was delicious Apple Pie with a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream. I volunteered to bring the tea and make it.  I took my Breville electric kettle and Harney & Sons Hot Cinnamon Spice Black Tea.  Cindy like it so much I ordered a tin for her today and had it shipped to her home. Because I wanted to sleep last night, I made a Hisbiscus herbal tea for myself.  I drink very little black tea these days, opting for green tea during the day.

~ My hubby and Cindy's husband, Victor ~

~ Tammy [Cindy's sister] and husband, Jody ~

L-R:  Tammy, Cindy and Me.  I'm the oldest and am honored that they think of me more as a sibling than cousin.

Cindy sent me home with a Lenox teacup ornament that was among her mother's things.

Thanks for a wonderful evening, Cindy and Victor!

And the Winner Is...

The winner of my 2,000th post giveaway is...

Connie Armstrong

If you will e-mail me your address, Connie, I'll get your stationery basket mailed to you first thing Monday morning.

Thank you to everyone who entered and left kind comments about my blog.  I'm looking forward to writing many more posts.

Happy April 1st

From my window I saw light snow flurries today, and that's no joke!  It was 35 degrees when my hubby and I went out for breakfast this morning, and it's 37 degrees now.  I took the photos below last Sunday [just five days ago] on our way to church.  It sure isn't feeling like spring right now, but it's not unusual weather for Michigan.  

The May/June issue of Tea Time magazine arrived in today's mail.  I'm looking forward to sitting down with it to see ideas and recipes for warmer weather, and I love all the beautiful pictures.  

I never use my blog for political purposes so I'm stating in advance that what you're about to read is not politically motivated. Based on a recent conversation, I'd like to share a means of hope and encouragement during the troubling times in which we're living. 

When my friends were here for lunch on March 22nd, one of the ladies commented how scary it is that one man - Vladimir Putin - can bring so much evil destruction and pain to so many innocent people and get away with it. Another friend replied that people are consumed by an ongoing cycle of fear. As I listened to the conversation, I was grateful for inner peace knowing God is sovereign and in control of ALL things.  He's well aware of everything that's happening. It's all been prophesied and recorded in the Bible.   For committed believers, we need not fear.  

If Covid, violence and crime [mass shootings], war, unusual weather occurrances, or whatever, have you consumed with unending fear, Jesus said in Luke 21:28 "When all these things begin to happen, stand straight and look up!  For your salvation is near."  He has a plan and signs point to His imminent return when sin and earthly strife will cease.  

Here's two Biblically based books I've been reading that will bring peace, solace and clarity. And the best book of all is the Bible - our guide for every situation in life.

Tomorrow is a work day.  April 16th is our Easter Bunny tea, so I decorated a glass to show my boss tomorrow for serving beverages to children [instead of adult teacups].  Hope he approves. It'll make more work for me, but it's all about the details.

Have a great weekend!  The giveaway winner will be announced tomorrow.  If you haven't left a comment yet there's still time to enter.