Tasha Tudor Day!

Many of you know that today is Tasha Tudor Day! In honor of her birthday....

After just doing Prairie Camp and having an upcoming Tea in a couple weeks, I said to my friends, "You should have a Tasha Tudor tea party and invite me!" And they did!!

This lovely row of lavender and a line of fruit trees are what greet you as you drive into their property.....
Then as you arrive at the

front door........

You are greeted by many lovely flowers........


The mother's sat around in the shade enjoying a tea party that the girls prepared....Scones, gingerbread made with honey :), watermelon......all very delightful! After tea, we went inside and watched a Tasha Tudor video.....
The girls present were adorned in their historic dress and enjoyed tea on the lawn with their dolls. Having dolls to tea is VERY Tasha Tudor indeed!

Look at what they did!! These are very "mini" scones, there is
really cream in that "thimble" size
creamer and very small cut watermelon.......


Their table is a cake stand!! How lovely!

The girls browsing through the garden.........
Close up, can you see that the
doll's dress matches her dress!!


Beautiful surroundings, quiet, restful.......
My friend who lives here, is allowing me to have a "Garden Tea" in her yard in a couple weeks. We are praying the weather holds out that long and that her garden will be as beautiful as it is today!!
I cannot wait to do the tea and
share that with you. :)

Zuchinni Coming Out Your Ears?!?!?

I have not seen zuchinni this big since I lived in the valley.....I got this one there during our last trip. I will grate the whole thing and some will go in ziplocs in the freezer for baking bread and chocolate zuchinni cake and some will make my mother's soup starter recipe....

Zuchinni Soup Base/Starter

3 lb. zuchinni

1/2 C chopped onion

1 1/2 C beef broth

2 C boiling water

1 1/2 tsp salt

1/8 tsp garlic salt/powder

Cook together til tender (about 10 min.). Strain and reserve liquid. Put zuchinni in blender on puree. Return zuchinni to liquid and heat to simmer. Ladle into freezer containers and freeze. (I will probably keep mine in quart size ziplocs.)

Then to make soup you ad milk or broth and other ingredients and make Cheese Brocolli Soup, Chicken Soup, Ministrone......this works for the base of just about any kind of soup. Gives you good flavor and a nutritious start.

Years ago, back in the 70's!! Zuchinni was all the rage! :) Seemed like everyone had an abundance of it in their gardens and at the same time out came many recipes on how to use that excess zuchinni......I tried this one, I remember it being very good and made nice gifts!

Zuchinni Relish

10 C zuchinni

4 C chopped onion

5 T salt

1 red pepper

1 green pepper

2 1/4 C vinegar

4 C sugar

1 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp dry mustard

2 T celery seed/salt

Grind (grate) coarsly zuchinni and onions. Add salt and let stand overnight. Drain in colander next morning. Add chopped red and green pepper. Mix in sugar, nutmeg, dry mustard, and celery seed/salt. Add to zuchinni mixing well. Cook very slowly for 20 min. Stirring frequently. Put in sterilized jars and seal. Makes 7 pints.

Happy Zuchinni Days!!!

Really Resting.............

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supllication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

Phillipians 4:6&7

Resting, Baking, Planning, Cleaning, Waiting.........

Resting..........today I am trying to rest my back on ice in between things that I must do. I think I hurt it lifting that huge black iron kettle during prairie camp. :(

Baking...........the smell of fresh yeast and bread is filling the house. I am baking 100 rolls for the Shepherd's House tonight (that is our homeless shelter in town). We are part of a group that does the meal for them every Monday night. Tonight my husband is sharing from the word!

Planning.........sooo many things. I have a Garden Tea coming up in 3 weeks, working on invites for that as well as menu and decorating details. I have a Titus 2 Bible Study beginning in a couple weeks, need to mail something out about that. Really want to plan some bonfires before it gets too cold...probably in September............

Cleaning............still putting those last loose ends of Prairie Camp away (especially since I am moving a bit slower:).......and trying to get things cleaned up and back the way they were for my daughter's return!!

This is my youngest daughter, she has been in England for 3 months on a short-term mission trip. This picture is when we were all there in December. We have really missed her being here. She was the last one still at home and I must say our home had a strange "quietness" about it with her gone. However, we have adjusted and my husband and I have been drawn closer during her absence.
This is her and I in London at the "Orangery" Tea House by Kennsington Palace!!! I was in heaven, having
tea in London!!

Waiting...........so I am waiting (hopefully patiently, not anxiously:) for my daughter to come home. We pick her up at the airport this Friday!!!!