Tag Archives: Photography

Tea Rooms ~ The Gilded Rose

This weeks theme is Tea Rooms and Ventures. In April my family met at the Gilded Rose Manor Tea House in Northridge, California to celebrate my mother’s 85th birthday.

I love the fact that the Tea House street address is on Devonshire St. It sounds so English and creamy 🙂

There are several different table settings. There are 3 areas of service. The Rose Salon is the largest area,  the Atrium is a little separated from the Rose Salon, and then the Blue Willow Parlor is a private side room that accomodates up to 14 people. We were in the Blue Willow Parlor.

The Blue Willow Parlor with my sisters, mom, and nieces

We had assorted scones with Devon Cream and Lemon curd and then a variety of tea sandwiches.

Our dessert platter with another fun assortment of goodies.

Although these tea pots aren’t the dainty variety that really served the purpose well, especially with these great warmers that they sat on. Our tea was the perfect temperature to the last drop of each pot. The gift shop at the Gilded Rose sells these, too.

The Gilded Rose has a nice gift shop. Besides all these fun Tea Pots and Cups they sell Tea Magazines, Cards, cake plates, baked goods, accessories. They also have a wonderful collection of loose tea for sale.

We all had a nice time here.

For more Tea Rooms and Ventures visit LaTeaDah at Gracious Hospitality.

Hummingbird Cake ~ Recipe

 

I first saw this cake on Abigail’s blog, In the Garden. I decided to make it last Thursday night and Dear says it’s a keeper. You really do not need the cream cheese frosting but I’ll include the recipe for that, too. A little on top is nice. *We don’t know why it’s called Hummingbird Cake and no hummingbirds were harmed in any way in making this cake 🙂

Hummingbird Cake

Ingredients:

3 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups white sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
1 (8 oz.) can crushed pineapple with juice
2 cups diced bananas
1 cup chopped pecans
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 12 cup Bundt pan.
2. Measure flour, sugar, soda, salt, cinnamon, oil, eggs, vanilla into mixing bowl. Beat until smooth*. Stir in pineapple with juice, bananas, and pecans. Pour into prepared pan.
3. Bake in oven for about 70 minutes. (I checked it after 60 minutes) Turn cake out onto rack or plate after cooling for 20 minutes. Cool, and ice with cream cheese icing.

*My mixture never got smooth until I added the pineapple and banana and nuts. Then it got smooth quickly and I put it into the greased and floured pan.

Cream Cheese Icing

1-8 oz. cream cheese softened
1/4 cup butter softened
2 tsp. vanilla
1 lb. package powdered sugar

Beat cheese and butter till smooth. Blend in Vanilla. Gradually beat in powdered sugar.

Enjoy!

ht: Allrecipes.com

The Old Rugged Cross ~ Hymn

The Old Rugged Cross

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

Refrain

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.

Refrain

In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.

Refrain

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.

Refrain

Words and Music by George Bennard

Happy Mother’s Day Mom

Mother Knows

Nobody knows of the work it takes
To keep the house together,
Nobody knows of the steps it takes-
Nobody knows but mother.
Nobody listens to childish woes,
Which kisses only smother;
Nobody’s pained by the naughty blows-
Nobody, only mother.

Nobody knows of the sleepless care
Bestowed on baby brother;
Nobody knows of the tender prayer-
Nobody knows but mother.
Nobody knows the lessons taught
Of loving one another,
Nobody knows of the patience sought-
Nobody, only mother.

Nobody knows the anxious fears
Lest darlings may not weather
Storms of life in coming years-
Nobody knows but mother.
Nobody knows of the tears that start,
The grief she gladly smothers;
Nobody knows of the breaking heart-
Nobody, only mother.

Nobody clings to the wayward child,
Though scorned by every other,
Leads it so gently from pathways wild-
Nobody can but mother.
Nobody knows of the hourly prayer
For him, our erring brother,
Pride of her heart, so pure and fair-
Nobody, only mother.

ht: Poem from Moral Lessons of Yesteryear

To all the mom’s out there who come by here I wish for you a wonderful Mother’s Day filled with thanksgiving to God for giving you the privilege of being a Mom.

Photo Hunters ~ Anything Goes!

This little replica of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage in Stratford-on-Avon was built at the Dallas Arboretum. The roof is an authentic roof thatched by Irishman William Cahill. We were in Dallas, Texas last weekend and got the chance to stroll through the beautiful grounds of the Arboretum.

For more Photo Hunters head over to Tnchick.

Dallas Arboretum ~ The Star of Texas

It was a beautiful day at the Dallas Arboretum last Saturday.

Just in case there’s any confusion as to what state you are in here’s the Star of Texas, a Longhorn, an Armadillo and a cowboy hat to set you right.

It was so lush with pinks, purples and many shades of green.

Lots of beautiful trees. The crape myrtle had such smooth interesting bark.

We were a little late for the wisteria but I can imagine how lush this was about a month ago. On our way out I bought a souvenir here that I will share in a future post. The afternoon was so lovely, sunny but not hot.

 

WFW ~ Galatians 6:14

Galatians 6:14 ~ “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

For more Word Filled Wednesday click over to The 160 Acre Woods.

My sister Lana from Above the Clouds took my photo and used a couple of the programs she has and really beautified this further. I’m going to have to sit down with her and take some lessons…

 

Set the Tea Table ~ Vintage Blue

“American-style iced tea is the perfect drink for a hot, sunny day. It’s never really caught on in the UK, probably because the last time we had a hot, sunny day was back in 1957.”
Tom Holt

The dishes are Johnson Brothers/English Chippendale/design pattern 103232.

For more Set the Tea Table click over to Gracious Hospitality.

Our New Princess

Our daughter Katie was the princess, the youngest grand-daughter and niece on my side of the family for 22 years. She was usurped this year in her reign by our new little niece and princess, Hope. Katie has given up her throne willingly for this sweet new cousin. Once they meet I’m sure they’ll love each other more and more…

Here we are meeting for the first time. Look she’s smiling. I think she likes us.

Boy all these new fangled toys they have these days. She really got them whirling!

In the Baby Bjorn with daddy. I love when she screws up her forehead, sets her eyebrows and really looks serious.

We got to witness her baby dedication. Here she is in the very same dress her mommy wore.

At the dedication service with mom and dad.

She had quite the long day and is ready to escape to dreamland…

Set the Table, Tea is On!

This weeks tea challenge for the Gracious Hospital-I-Tea Blog-a-thon is to share a creative afternoon tea table, linens, serving pieces, teapots and teacup, etc. This is your opportunity to show the world the fun you have when you create your own special tea experience.

I have 3 tea settings to share from previous posts. My first one I’m sharing is my Tea for One.

In the past I’ve collected napkin rings. This silver ring with the E on it is my personal napkin ring. The little tea pot is from Russia and has a huge matching pot that I’ll show during “The Pouring Teapot”. I have a couple little tea mugs instead of tea cups with saucers. The white/clear depression glass plates and creamer and sugar are from our handed down stash from Dear’s side of the family. The silverplate candy dish was a wedding gift.

The Tablecloth is one of several vintage ones I have from my MIL’s collection.

“Tea to the English is really a picnic indoors.”
Alice Walker

A beautiful afternoon for tea…

For more “Set the Table” posts visit Gracious Hospitality.