AUGUST ARRIVES for "Tea In The Garden"

The month of August is here!

 I set up a little tea time in the garden!

Please pour yourself some tea and let

me show you a lovely book. 

We have some

 Cream Cheese Brownies 

to go with our tea!

I have been enjoying the book "Mrs Sharp's

Traditions" by Sarah Ban Breathnach.

It is a wonderful book about reviving Victorian

Family Celebrations of comfort and joy.

It is so wonderful to have our own

flowers for various bouquets!

Here is the recipe for these brownies:

You will need:  3 eggs, 6 Tb soft butter, 1 cup of sugar divided 3/4 cup and 1/4 cup - 3 Tsp vanilla extract, 1/2 cup of flour, 1/3 cup cocoa and 6 oz cream cheese softened

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Separate 2 eggs putting each white in a  separate bowl (save yolks for something else).  In a small bow, beat the butter and 3/4 cup of sugar until crumbly.  Beat in the whole egg, one egg white and vanilla until combined well.  Mix flour and cocoa and gradually add to the egg mix until blended.  Pour into an 8 x 8 pan or 7 x 9 which has been sprayed with Pam.  In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and remaining 1/4 cup sugar and 1 egg white.  Drop by spoon fulls on top and swirl in with a knife.  Bake 25-30 minutes until edges pull away from the sides of the pan.  After I got the brownies done I wished I had added chopped pecans - maybe 2/3 cup or so.  This recipe was originally from Taste of Home and I have modified it a bit!

WATCHING "ROAD TO AVONLEA" for "Tea In The Garden"

This summer we have had a delightful time watching the film series "Road to Avonlea". 

Today I am telling those of you who are

interested - that this is a wonderful series.

I especially enjoyed the character of Hetty

King played by Jackie Burroughs who 

passed away  at age 71 in 2010. Also, another

 favorite is the character of Gus Pike played by Michael Mahonen who now is

 53 years old.

For my quiet - reflective tea time today I am

reminiscing about all the wonderful characters and also sharing with you

 some lovely Summertime Scones.

Here are photos of just a few of my
favorite characters from Road to Avonlea - 
can you name them?

I am trying to think what I liked best about
 this former television series largely filmed
 in Ontario with glimpses of Prince
 Edward Island interjected.  It reflects 
the time of 1903 to 1912.  I think it is the 

feeling of "community" that I love the best. 

 The idea of a small town of people

 - more like a village really - working

 together on their journey through life.  

They certainly faced many difficulties

 and had many joyful celebrations.

So who wrote all of these wonderful

 stories?  Lucy Maude Montgomery was born on Prince Edward Island and raised by

 her grandparents.  Many of the stories are fictional knock offs if you will, to real experiences Lucy had after her 

Mother's death when she  was growing up and going to school in Cavendish. (born in New London, PEI)   I see so many similarities

 between Lucy and Anne!

I think you would love these DVD's!

Please  let me know if you have already

 watched this series or perhaps the earlier Anne of Green

Gables series? 

Recipe for my Summertime Scones

See this recipe except I added 1 med-large chopped peach and 4 chopped med-large strawberries!
 Of course you probably know

 two wonderful bloggers who live on PEI:

Rose Chintz Cottage

Aiken House and Gardens

BEATRIX POTTER TEA IN THE GARDEN

Welcome to Tea in the Garden 

I love having you join me this morning for a tea in my garden honoring Beatrix Potter.  Lately I have been enjoying reviewing my older issues of Victoria and especially this August 1988 issue which featured Beatrix and Hilltop Farm....come sit a little while in the morning shadows of my garden and remember Beatrix.....

We had our usual July wild hail storm this week so the garden got a little shredded....

I have set up a little Peter Rabbit Tea Table for us with all of Beatrix Potter's "friends".  I also have about 6 squirrel friends running about here this morning begging  for nuts...   Have you seen the movie "Miss Potter"- you would love it! I also enjoyed reading "Miss Potter's Journal" which I also have out this morning.

I know that many of you have the older issues of Victoria and enjoy them - this issue was the first "regular monthly" publication as at first Victoria was only published quarterly.....

You see the journal I spoke of and an out of print book I love "At Home with Beatrix Potter". 

I know many of you have had the delight of visiting Hilltop Farm and many of my customers have been there.

ANNE OF GREEN GABLES PRESENTED BY GWENDOLYN SIMPICH

Thank you Gwendolyn Simpich,

our Anne of Green Gables!

 Gwendolyn with her Grandmother (above)