COMPANY FOR A WEEK

 Last Sunday (7/25) we enjoyed the

arrival of some house guests who

are lifelong friends.

We took our friends to the usual

places like shopping, going to 

Osage Beach to the Yankee Peddler 

Tea Room and visiting the Churchill 

Museum in Fulton, Missouri.

This is the house in Fulton that

houses the offices for the

Churchill Institute.

To understand about Winston Churchill's

visit to Fulton, Missouri in 1946

PLEASE CLICK HERE!

The museum is housed in

the basement of the rebuilt

Church of St Mary Aldermanburg.

Read about it here!

As we entered the museum we received a 

history lesson from our guide below:

I was reminded on the tour of

several things Hitler did in Germany

after he became a leader.  He brainwashed

the young people and formed Youth

Organizations to indoctrinate them with his

values of hate for the Jewish people.  He burned past history, Bibles and

books to rewrite and erase and he took away

the guns so people could not defend

or protect themselves.

 

This was an actual display

piece of the

Berlin Wall outside:

We enjoyed our visit with our

friends, John and Lou Ann:

 

 On one day this week,  the men went to

several car museums while we went

shopping and antiquing.  I really 

enjoyed cooking and baking for our

guests and yes we still have some

leftovers in the freezer!

FRIENDS PROGRESSIVE LUNCHEON

Yesterday my Missouri friends

 and I got together for a progressive 

luncheon.  (Janice came up with the idea)

We started a Gina's lovely Victorian

home with true Victorian furnishings

(Karen, Janice and Gina above while

I am taking photos)

At Gina's we had lovely hot cider and appetizers.....

We so admire all her lovely things.

There were lots of beautiful trees to view:

This is actually me at my house which 

was our second stop.  My hair has very 

recently grown  back after experiencing auto

immune alopecia areatia in the summer

of 2018.   I now have grey hair and was

told not to use coloring but I am just

glad to have hair and put the wig away.

And the ladies:

I fed them the savory part of our lunch and 

forgot to take photos of course!

Now on to our French loving gal's house:

Janice's living room is formal and she loves to make things down in her basement "where I create room":

We exchanged gifts and enjoyed

celebrating Karen's December birthday:

Karen collects lusterware like

Tasha Tudor had and Gina

gave her some for her birthday:

We were very happy to consume

1/2 of Janice's delicious coconut cake:

Such a fun day!

A VISIT TO IOWA TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF MARIE C. SMITH

Last Saturday morning we drove 5 hours

north to Des Moines, Iowa.  We went to

attend the celebration of life service for

Marie C. Smith, age 97.  

  Marie was very instrumental in our lives -

 especially back in the 70's when

we served helping her husband, the late Pastor

Frank W. Smith at the First Church of

the Open Bible in Des Moines.

 Marie or as we affectionately  called her the "Reverand Momma Holy Mostest", was a

 beautiful lady both inside and out.  

When she was 88 years old, she was 

crowned "Mrs Senior Oklahoma" - independent living.

This scripture was shared by her son,

Jonathan and really summed up the role

of his parents while they was here on this earth:

We weren't in Des Moines a long time over

the long weekend, but had a few minutes one

 day to drive down Grand Avenue and drive

 by the Capitol in the downtown.  Des Moines

 is where my husband and I met back in 

1966 and were married there in 1968.

The area around the Governor's residence is

all very old with brick streets.  This has been
the Governor's home since 1971.  Built in 1866-1869,
it is 2nd Empire and built by Iowa's first millionaire.

I took a few photos while

 rolling along as we

drove by in our car:

I gave this one a pure charm award:

A BLESSING OF A CUP

I recently shared the teaset in my header

above which I got for my birthday

last month.  In the header above you see

one of the cups on the left turned

backwards because it has a chip on the 

front of the cup.

A Facebook friend in my Afternoon

Tea Across America group sent me a

replacement cup which arrived today!
She said she got it at a yard sale.

So now, I have a perfect Welbeck set

that I posted about here and even the

backstamp is the same.

Thanks so much Laura!

MY FRIEND VISITING for my 100th "Tea In The Garden"

We have company this week as our long term 
friends stopped by on their way to visit 
family and friends because June 18th
 will be their 50th wedding anniversary.
  My husband was actually in their wedding.

Some of you might remember when I did
 a photo shoot back in 2014
with Lou Ann in my Colorado garden.

My garden is up and running here but not filled in 
which takes time.  This is a brand new garden 
and not seasoned.

I have had fun finding gardening elements
 at the various flea markets and antique malls. 

This week we are taking a break from our work at home.

  Well, this weekend it will hit 90 degrees so I would
 say summer is arriving now. 
 This is why I have been so focused on getting things
 done outside.  I have been here over the years in June
and I remember the high 90's and 100 % humidity
 and we are certainly not used to that! 

Would you like to join me today for my 100th TEA IN THE GARDEN?  If so just link at the bottom.

I am also sharing at these parties:

Tea Cup Tuesday
Let's Talk Vintage
Share Your Cup Thursday
Vintage Charm
Home Sweet Home 
Tuesday Cuppa Tea

An InLinkz Link-up

MY FRIEND for "Tea In The Garden"

This week I have a special friend who has agreed to pose for photos in my garden. 

This is the first time in 10 years that my friend Lou Ann has visited with her husband.  We have had a great time. We have been friends since 1966 which is a long time ago.

Lou Ann and I met a long time ago when I went to a small Bible College in Des Moines, Iowa.  I was 17 years old and she had just been married a couple months before. We became great friends and 2 years later she and her husband were in our wedding.  That was just a few years ago - 1968!

Over the years we have enjoyed many

specials meals and moments together.

Our friends lived in Toronto for some

time and we enjoyed visits there.

I set up a little tea vignette out under the tree quickly as showers were threatening any moment. 

My friend was tucked under the tree so even if it did rain - she would not have gotten wet.  Yes, it did finally rain.

I have been cooking up a storm and last night I made a chocolate pie - like the Bishops Chocolate Pie.  It has been fun to have more people to cook for!

Most of the pieces I am sharing today are English.  I do love the yellow depression glass cream and sugar that my Grandmother gave me back in the late 70's.  You might also notice the Victorian Plant Stand I had shared before with the china pieces on the top and lower area.  Remember it was dark before when I shared it and now it is painted shabby chic.  I really like it better!