Remembering...

Around 11:40 p.m. on April 14, 1912, the Titanic struck an iceberg and sank in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean around 2:20 a.m., April 15th. 706 people survived and 1,534 perished.  It was a catastrophic event that is still remembered today, 109 years later.  All of the survivors have passed on, leaving only history to tell the story to future generations.

I have done significant research on the Titanic and have a few books in my collection as well as the lengthy 1997 Titanic film.  I remember going to see it with Steve, Sharon and my hubby the first night it was released in the theaters.  Did you know James Cameron purposely made the Titanic movie run for 2 hours and 40 minutes because it is the exact amount of time it took for the real ship to sink?  And the iceberg scene lasts 37 seconds, also mirroring the real event. Thank you, Joy, [one of my blog readers] for sharing that info with me.

As you may recall, the Downton Abbey series began with the Crawley family receiving news that the Titanic had sunk.

In 2005 my friend, Cheryl Nix, owner of the former Tea by Three tearoom, hosted a "Last Dinner on the Titanic.  Since my son, Steve, is a Titanic buff, she asked him to present a program.  He chose to portray himself as Second Officer Charles H. Lightoller and share Titanic facts through his eyes.

Below is a picture of Steve, Cheryl [right] and me taken the night of the dinner.

In 2012 the Titanic Exhibit came to the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI and I went to it. I had my picture taken on a replica of the iconic Grand Staircase.

In 2014 I visited the Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge, TN and acquired some replica teacups. If you are ever in the area, it is definitely worthy of a visit.

VIP China pattern - used exclusively at Captain Smith's table and for private gatherings.

1st Class Wisteria pattern

2nd class Blue Delft

3rd Class Steerage Mug

This is the perfect time to brew a cup of Harney & Sons Titanic tea [a blend of Keemun, Assam, Ceylon and Oolong] to honor the passengers who perished.

I remember Steve using the Titanic as an analogy in one of his sermons to illustrate how the world rejects Jesus Christ and His gift of life-giving salvation for temporal things that perish. Many Titanic passengers perished because they felt secure with the 'unsinkable' ship and rejected the lifeboats when they were initially offered.  They didn't feel the urgency or need to take the warnings seriously until it was too late.  

Lastly, it's fitting to pay tribute to Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, who passed away last Friday morning, April 9th.  God gave him a long life, and our sympathies are with the Queen and her family as they mourn his passing.

I came across a plate and teacup of the couple in my collection that commemorating their 1959 visit to Canada.

An Upcoming Event

Mother's Day is less than a month away, and The Whitney has been making plans for a 'Generations Tea' to give all generations the opportunity to honor mothers on Saturday, May 8th from Noon until 3:00 p.m.  It will be held in the garden, weather permitting.

For local readers, we'd love to have you join us but if you can't, we extend heartfelt wishes for a Happy Mother's Day whether you're the honoree, you're honoring your mother, or both!  For more information go to:  https://www.thewhitney.com/events/Generations-Tea-Service

Every attendee will receive a teacup to take home and a teapot favor box [ordered from Etsy] filled with candy. Younger attendees will receive a teacup and molded chocolate sucker in the shape of a teapot or teacup.  In addition, a special Mansion Tea menu is planned.

So guess what I've been busy doing?  Molding chocolate candy!

It's been many moons since I've made molded chocolates and I forgot how temperamental chocolate can be [obtaining the correct melting temperature for a smooth, shiny chocolate] and how tedious it is when molds require detailed painting.  I had a little tutorial with Chef Eric, Whitney's pastry chef, last Saturday for some pointers, and watched a couple of YouTube videos.  Even though all the chocolate is Merckens, I find the white much harder to work with.  More of the white teapots go back into the melting cup to be remolded than the brown teacups.  I wonder why?

My electric frying pan came out of storage to help with the chocolate melting process.  I received the Hoover electric frying pan for a wedding shower gift, 55 years ago!  I cooked my first meal as a new bride in it.  I'm surprised it survived one of many garage sales over the years. ;-)  Out of curiosity I checked to see if they still make them.  They do, but they've been upgraded and look a little different.  Do you still use an electric frying pan?

It's 60 degrees and clear skies in Southeastern Michigan today.  My hubby gave our lawn its first cut of the season and I took his picture from the bedroom window.

I won't be out enjoying the spring weather today.  I'll be molding chocolate candy.  If you come to the tea, please make your presence known to me.

From My Corner of Michigan

Monday my hubby and I drove to 12 Oaks Mall in Novi [30 miles from where I live] to buy a pair of Clarks shoes for work.  With so many stores closing and malls becoming deserted, it was nice to see 12 Oaks thriving and bustling with shoppers.   I didn't see any vacated stores.

Walking through the mall we came across Totally Tea - a bubble tea kiosk, so I had to take pictures.

I've only had Bubble Tea once in Victoria, British Columbia.  Bubble Tea originated in Taiwan in the early 1980's.  Its tapioca balls make it a unique tea-based beverage, comparable in price to Starbucks specialty tea beverages.  Do you like Bubble Tea?

Just before leaving the mall I noticed Penney's had some Easter tabletop accessories on clearance, so I had to take a peek.  I found the cutest wooden bunny napkin rings 60% off, so some came home with me for next Easter.  Six for $20 was a bargain!

Today my hubby and I went to P.F. Chang's for lunch.  I didn't take a picture of the restaurant because I've done that before.   Nor did I take a picture of our Lettuce Wraps and Sesame Chicken, because I've done that before too.  What was new today that I've never photographed was the Oshibori disposable wipes that our server brought to our table before we began our meal.

I don't know if this new amenity at P.F. Chang's is due to the COVID virus, but I thought it was nice. The server brought the unwrapped disk to our table in a small bowl.  It was about the size of a nickel but thicker, and when she poured hot water over it, it immediately expanded.

Below is the expanded wipe before we unrolled it to wipe our hands.  Have you used these at a restaurant before?

Today's fortune cookie said: "A change in plans will lead to a rewarding adventure."  We'll see!  ;-)

Happy Easter!

Life has been busy since I last posted, so today I'll catch up.  Good Friday my hubby and I went to communion at church shortly after 1:00 o'clock.  Then daughter, Lori, came by around 3:30 to pick up the Easter baskets I made for Evie and Juliette [her granddaughters and my great-granddaughters], Peeps & Twinkie Easter bunny race car kits, and Juliette's birthday present. Lori and husband, Dave, spent today with them in Grand Ledge, MI, and took the gifts to the girls for me.  Below are the pictures Lori took and texted me.  It's been awhile since I've assembled Easter baskets and it was fun.  We will FaceTime the girls tomorrow.

Below is one of the Peeps and Twinkie race car kits I assembled for each of the girls.  I also made one to take to The Whitney to show my boss in hopes he'd want to distribute them next year to the children who attend the Tea with the Easter Bunny.  He loved the idea.  I gave the demo kit to one of the servers to take home to her granddaughter.

Juliette turned 2 years old yesterday, April 3rd.  Below is a picture her Daddy posted on Facebook.

Here she is with her present from us [two outfits].

Granddaughter, Tiffany, with her sweet little girls, Evie and Juliette

The family of four.  As you can see, it was a beautiful Easter Sunday in Michigan with a high of 65 degrees.

Daughter, Lori, with her two granddaughters.  She loves them and they love her!

I had planned to make Easter dinner - even wrote out a menu - but daughter-in-law, Sharon, invited us to their house for dinner after church instead, so all I made was a lemon cake to take.

During this interim time while our new church building is being constructed and we're sharing a facility with another church, we've been meeting on Saturday instead of Sunday.  Since I work every Saturday, I've really missed going to our church, although I am able to do a Zoom Wednesday night Bible study and prayer meeting.

Just for Easter, we met today at 9:00 a.m., and were done and out before the other church had their service at 11:00 a.m.  After church, and before going to son Steve's house, we drove by our church property to see the progress and take a couple of pictures.  It's been such slow progress with COVID, but we'll be in sometime this year.

 

Daughter-in-law, Sharon, had their house all decorated for Easter.  Resurrection Rolls [or Empty Tomb Rolls] were on the table.  I used to make these when the grandchildren were younger.  They are a great tangible way to explain the Easter story to children.  The large white marshmallow inside the dough, which represents the body of Jesus Christ, melts during baking and leaves a hollow roll [empty tomb].  I saw on Facebook this year they've been renamed "Hocus Pocus Buns."  Seriously?!  It saddened me that the emphasis of Christ's resurrection, has shifted to magic.

Granddaughter, Brooke, was home from college, but unfortunately I didn't get a picture of her.  Love the little ceramic chicks pictured below representing 'new life.'

After dinner we came home and I took a nap, which I rarely ever do.  Yesterday was a very busy day at The Whitney.  I got there shortly after 9:00 a.m. and got my urns going to make the tea for the 11:00 a.m. seating, warming the teapots, and putting teapot warmers on all the tables.  37 guests attended the first seating.

After all the teapots were filled and I poured the first cup of tea for everyone, I dashed up to the second floor to get things ready for the 12:00 p.m. Tea with the Easter Bunny.  I intended to get a picture of the Easter bunny and the adorable chocolate bunny suckers Chef Eric made to distribute to the children, but it was just too busy and I didn't get a chance.  We had 22 at that tea.  Then I dashed back down to the first floor to get ready for the 1:30 seating.  We had 20 attendees for that.  Whew!  7 hours of fast-paced, non-stop activity, but it was fun even if I was exhausted when I got home.  I did manage to take a picture of the tiered server that Chef Eric put together for yesterday's teas.  This pic was taken at the last seating when things had started to slow down a bit.

I loved the chocolate Easter baskets on the middle tier.

Daughter-in-law, Samantha, texted yesterday that after a marathon of showings on their house Thursday and Friday [over 30] they accepted an offer.  Now comes the task of packing!  They celebrated Easter on Saturday at Samantha's sister's house where there was an Easter Egg Hunt with the Easter bunny for the younger kids.

Granddaughter, Ellie, showing the Easter eggs she found.

It was a great day for all the Barkey clan at their various locations.

I hope you enjoyed a blessed Easter as we celebrated our Risen Lord today!  So grateful for the hope and joy this day represents. 

Hello April!

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When I lifted my bedroom window shade this morning, my eyes beheld snow on April 1st.  It was 60 degrees yesterday!  Gotta love Mother Nature!  While snow's not fun in April, it's not uncommon for Michigan.  Thankfully it's not a large accumulation and won't be around long - temperatures are supposed to be back in the high 60's by the weekend.

Today is opening day for the Detroit Tiger's.  It's going to be chilly at the ball park since the high temperature is only supposed to be 34 degrees.  Bundle up fans in the stands!  The game will be on TV and we'll be watching in our warm family room and my office!

It's also Maundy Thursday, commemorating the day Jesus washed the feet of His disciples at the Last Supper.   The day before His crucifixion on Good Friday.

Off to make myself a cup of tea and plan my Easter dinner menu. Happy April everyone!  Are you planning any April Fools' Day practical jokes or pranks?  April Fools' Day supposedly dates back to 1582.  That's a lot of years of mischievousness!