Bible Study and Treats

Normally, our Bible Study group meets at church

but this week Linderhof's doors were open

to the group.

Since there were six, the dining room table was perfect

Coffee, treats and flowers

I used my Old Paris china

From around 1860 or so

I love the really big cups and the deep deep saucers.

It was bought here in my little town on the prairie

For not much money

I felt as if I had just received a gift!

The treats?

Crescent Cinnamon Rolls

An easy treat

And one that is perfect for anyone who is yeast challenged.

Warm and fresh from the oven

Today the pot was a coffeepot

I'm not sure if it is a "coffee" pot or "tea" pot

But it whatever pot I want it to be.

Since the cups are so big, I'm assuming it is for coffee -- not tea!

And for a touch of color

Garden marigolds in a German vase

that echoes the orange of the flowers.

Not a cloth but a runner --

a wonderful old runner that is outstanding

And one of my favorite pieces of linen.

The ladies are almost here!

Time for coffee, treats and bible study.



CRESCENT CINNAMON ROLLS

1 tube Pillsbury Crescent Rolls, unrolled and separated

5 T. butter, softened

1/4 c. white sugar

2 1/2 t. cinnamon

Glaze:

2 T. butter, melted

1/4 c. plus 2 T. powdered sugar

1/2 t. vanilla

Preheat oven to 375

Place the unrolled and separated crescent rolls on an ungreased rimmed cookie sheet.    

In small bowl, mix together the butter, sugar and cinnamon

Evenly spread the cinnamon butter over the crescent rolls and roll up tightly.

Place tip side down on the cookie sheet

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes.

For the glaze:   In a small bowl, mix together the butter, powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth.   You can either place in a zip lock and snip a tiny corner off and drizzle the glaze over the cinnamon rolls or you can just spread a spoonful on each roll.

It is Thursday and I'm joining Cuisine Kathleen for Let's Dish and Susan at Between Naps On the Porch for Tablescape Thursday.

Sarah's Raspberries

They're Sarah's raspberries

Her new old house has a raspberry patch

She picks quarts per day!

She sent us home with two quarts when we left

after Lucy was born

We ate some plain for breakfast

They are so sweet

But I decided to do something else with them

Raspberry Tea Bread

Which made a good nosh for afternoon tea

Blue and white, of course

All Spode Blue Italian

There is nothing like tea and cake

It's a great bread for tea

And a great bread for breakfast

It's full of raspberry flavor!

And our late summer breakfast room bouquet?

marrigolds and sage

in a small blue and white Asiatic Pheasants creamer

The recipe from one of my favorites -- Anna Pump.

From her original Loaves and Fishes cookbook

It calls for frozen raspberries in syrup

But I used fresh -- 1 1/2 cups fresh equal 10 oz. frozen

And I added a little sugar -- just a bit

RASPBERRY TEA BREAD

One 10 ounce package frozen raspberries, thawed

2 eggs

1/2 c. plus 2 T. vegetable oil

1 cup sugar

1 1/2 c. flour

1 t. cinnamon

1 t. baking soda

Preheat oven to 350

Puree the raspberries along with their syrup in your food processor fitted with a metal blade until smooth.   Strain and discard the seeds.

Place the eggs, oil, and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer.    Mix at medium speed for about 3 minutes.    Add the raspberry puree and blend well.    Add the flour, cinnamon and baking soda and mix the batter for about 1 minute at low speed.    Scrape the dough into a buttered 9 by 5 inch loaf pan.    Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 55 to 60 minutes.    Cool for 30 minutes, remove from pan, and cool completely on a wire rack.    Wrap tightly in plastic wrap.

Yields:   1 loaf

NOTE:   I like the fact that this can be made year round and is a simple bread to put together . . . and it goes so well with tea!

It's Tuesday and I'm joining:

Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday

Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage for Tea Time Tuesday

Bernideen for Tea In the Garden

It's Time

We feel fortunate in our 1920's house that we had a half bath downstairs.

For many didn't - originally.

Nor did ours

What was a closet in the dining room

And the space for the "ice box" in the back hall

Became, in the 40's a small

(emphasis on small)

bath

I've always felt that if you want to do something

creative that either a half bath or bathroom is the perfect room

to do "creative" decorating.

And 10 years or so ago we did --

in that downstairs half bath

which is about 4 foot square!

We painted the wainscotting black

And papered the upper portion with a monkey print wallpaper with black background.

And I liked how it turned out.

We even had an artificial tree with monkey ornaments in the bath at Christmas!

But it finally got "to me" -- the black and the dark.

No window either so there was only artificial light

Which, actually, made it seem dark.

I originally found some beige damask wallpaper

Picking out one of the beiges to paint the wainscoating.

But I wasn't sure I wanted to paper again.

It is a 4 x 4 foot space, after all 

And the ladder goes in there all wonky.

Then, I decided I would paint.

The whole space the same color

Semi-gloss for the beadboard

Satin for the wall above.

I decided on a blue

A light blue

And one Thursday, after everything came out

(with the exception of the comode and sink)

I started . . .

Pulling the wallpaper

And painting

the ceiling a warm white

And the beadboard and walls a soft light blue

Plainer definitely

But clean, fresh, and the 4 x 4 room seems so big!!!!

And on the walls

The same pictures we had in there before . . . 

A Venice etching on the right

And two engravings that we bought in England on the left.

Above the sink two old bookplates

which we've had "forever".

I like the "new" bath.

It seems fresh and clean and bigger!

I am still amazed when I go in that room as to how "big" it now feels!

I'm making some other "light and bright" changes to Linderhof this summer

So comeback and see my other projects.

Next up -- my dressing room!

It is Monday and I'm joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Met Monday

Summer Flowers

We love flowers.

Both in the garden and in the house.

Summer means loads of flowers both out and in!

We are generous with bouquets around the house.

I'd like to live with that many flowers inside

all year long.

But, alas, my pocketbook won't allow it!

But I indulge my passion in the summer.

We're home from welcoming new grand girl Lucy into the world

And catching up

With laundry and mail and weeds and watering!

No big bouquets

But sometimes bouquets don't have to be big.

A wee Asiatic Pheasant cream pitcher

With garden marigolds

And garden sage.

We love to incorporate herbs into summer bouquets.

Flowers inside make me smile.

Dolly Would . . . Or the Misadventures of Dolly Llama

Note:    This is a recreation of events that transpired last Saturday while we were driving back from Minneapolis and welcoming our first grandchild into the world.

Hi, my name is Dolly

I'm a corgi (to be totally correct, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi -- the one without a tail!)

I got left behind when they went to Minnesota

Not left at home alone (or rather with Doogie)

but with a friend who has other dogs who are fun to play with.

So on Saturday . . .

Someone left the gate open

And I decided to make a run for it

But which way do I go?

I'm never outside in the front without a leash!

I can go whichever way I want to go!

It is so exciting

To have an adventure

And smell new smells!

And freedom!

But I missed them!

I landed up at this very busy intersection.

There were cars going fast this way and that

And the lady who works here at

(Flowers by Leanna)

called to me

And I came

She had a friendly voice and a smile.

I so wanted a friendly voice and a smile.

I was lonely.

And thirsty!

She put me in the garden part of the store to keep me safe and gave me a bowl of water.

She knew I belonged to someone and she was determined to find out who I belonged to.

But it was Saturday and some places weren't open to find out who I belonged to.

To keep me safe, she took me home with her

And I, ungratefully, growled at her puppy 

I was scared

I really shouldn't have done that.

So I ended up at

Lee's Paws and Claws

The private shelter

It's sort of like a doggy hotel

for I had a run and could go outside.

I wasn't confined to a cage.

But I was so glad when they came for me on Sunday morning.

I was so scared that I didn't wiggle my enthusiasm enough but I really was glad to see them!

It was good to be home again.

To even see Doogie again.

I really thought that I would never see my family again.

I won't promise never to run away again

For I'm really just a dog

Let me off the leash and watch me go!

But all the furor about the little one up north

got put on the back burner as they searched and searched for me Saturday night and Sunday morning.

I was once again top dog!!!

As told to me by Dolly herself after we had picked her up and got her settled.

A Lavender and Lemon Tea

We try to plan vacations

when there aren't too many garden chores

When Mother Nature waters the garden

rather than sprinklers and hoses.

However, last week

we were gone

Daughter Sarah and her Andy were expecting their first

In July

When it is Hot and Dry!

A waterer was needed if we expected to have anything left in pots and window boxes when we returned.

Friend Joan came over on Sunday before we left.

To see what needed watering and where hose and watering can were.

Afterwards, because it was really hot,

we had a nosh and tea inside!

Iced tea and cookies

My favorite and old sugar cookie recipe, with lavender added to the dough

Cut with the teapot cookie cutter, sprinkled with sugar and a sprig of rosemary placed on top.

And tea . . . iced tea -- a lemony iced tea!

Because it was so hot -- the icy tea was refreshing!

And my lavender wands in an old blue and white transferware tray.

We nibbled and sipped and talked gardens.

The plants were in wonderful hands --

they grew leaps and bounds while we were gone

But, alas, so were the weeds!

(which is on my to do list for the week)

It's Tuesday and time for tea . .    And Marty's Inspire Me Tuesday

Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage for Tea Time Tuesday

Kathy at A Delightsome Life for A Return to Loveliness

Terri at Artful affirmations Tea Cup Tuesday

Martha's Favoritesmarthasfavorites.com for Tea Cup Tuesday

Antiques and Teacups Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Bernideen's Tea In the Garden

Jann Olson for Share Your Cup Thursday

The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home

Lucy's Garden

Daughter Sarah and her Andy have a new house

Well, a new "old" house

1892, actually

in a small town near Minneapolis

New house

Now a new baby

Who has time to garden?

But the corner of the lot was desolate 

to say the lest

Of course, the dirt was far better

than the knee high weeds that were there when they closed on the property.

Cleared of weeds

And spaded

Husband Jim and I

found a shopping cart full of plants

We talked of annuals

But decided on mostly perennials

purple cone flowers, coreoposis

and Angelonia (which is an annual)

The cone flowers are bookended on either end by grass

(for Husband Jim loves grasses)

a homage to the grass that filled the bed when they moved in!

Made for a pretty bed

worthy of the pretty new house

A line of yellow mums which will bloom in the fall

And purslane will spill over the bricks

Instead of a bouquet of florist flowers

We chose "roots"

for our new grand girl, Lucy

It's "Lucy's Garden"

And there is a sign that says so.

They can watch the garden grow as they watch Lucy grow!

We're are home now

The dogs are happy

(Although Dolly did have an adventure yesterday)

Today was a busy day

We went to church, unpacked, did laundry, filled the fridge

And on my way through the breakfast room this afternoon

I was entranced by the sunlight streaming in the window on the vignette on the sideboard!

It's Monday and the garden transformation is my Met Monday post -- join Susan at Between Naps On the Porch to see the other transformations this Monday!

The Blue Box

The blue box is a very special box

It's an old box and a little the worst for wear!

 Even though it's spent most of it's life

safely tucked in drawers

For it is an old box!

Inside is a tiny circle of gold

Real gold

To be slipped on a finger

And although it is a gold circle, it's not a wedding ring

but rather a baby's ring

Bought for me

For baby's rings were popular when I was born.

Given to me by my mother when she first visited Daughter Sarah

And saved all these years

To be given to Daughter Sarah by me when 

Grandgirl Lucy is brought home from the hospital

Grandgirl Lucy was born on Wednesday

at 2:29 p.m.

And weighed 8 pounds 1 oz.

A big grand girl!

Her proper name is Lucille Geneva

Named after her grandfather's mothers

I think it's a great name and honors two wonderful women

Sunday Brunch

Some Sundays we have Sunday Lunch after church

And other Sundays we opt for brunch

A bigger first meal of the day

We fix special foods

And linger over coffee

Blue and white makes for a very pretty table!

Instead of fresh flowers a very old blue and white platter filled with cherries

Some of which

Went into the muffins

baked in my grandmother's cast iron gem pan

A basket full for the table

to go with

The potato and basil frittata

(from my favorite, The Barefoot Contessa)

Along with little sausages it made a great brunch.

We served ourselves,

had an extra muffin and another cup of coffee

And had a very enjoyable Sunday morning!

It's Thursday and I'm joining Cuisine Kathleen for Let's Dish and Susan at Between Naps On the Porch for Tablescape Thursday.

Bible Study Coffee

We decided last year to keep our Bible Study Group through the summer

Attendance is not as good

vacations or family visiting

keep many ladies away

And although we usually meet at church

The church reroofing project

took the group to Linderhof

It's hard to study when there is the rat-a-tat-tat of nail guns overhead!

We're mostly Germans and we're Lutherans

Neither would let anyone come to the house without offering something to eat

And as often is said of Lutherans,

coffee runs through our veins!

It was a small group

And I planned our bible study around the dining room table

But the treats were offered in the breakfast room

A lace cloth, cake and coffee!

The Johnson Brothers Indies

Because it has the coffee pot!

Cake plates, cups and saucers to match

And cake!

It's a morning study group 

It's not a gooey icing time of day!

A new recipe

Found long ago in a magazine and clipped

With the year's first blackberries and apples

It's a good cake and perfect for a Bible Study morning coffee!

APPLE BLACKBERRY CAKE

granulated sugar, for pan

1 1/2 c. flour

2 t. baking powder

1/2 t. salt

6 T. butter, melted, plus more for the pan plus 2 T. cut into pieces

3/4 c. plus 2 T. packed brown sugar

1/2 c. milk

2 large eggs

4 apples, peeled, cored and cut into 8 wedges

1 cup blackberries

1/4 t. ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 375.   Butter a 9 inch springform pan and dust with sugar.    Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.    Whisk together melted butter, 3/4 c. brown sugar, milk and eggs in another bowl (I like to use a big measuring cup for you measure the milk and add the rest of the ingredients -- no extra bowl!).     Whisk into flour mixture.

Spread batter evenly into prepared pan.    Arrange apple wedges over batter and sprinkle with blackberries.    Gently press fruit into batter.   Combine remaining 2 T. brown sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over fruit.    Dot with 2 T. butter.    Bake until top is dark gold and apples are tender and a cake tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 55 minutes.    Let cool.    Dust with powdered sugar.  

It's Tuesday and time for tea . . . except this week it's coffee at Linderhof . . . but I'm still joining the tea parties!   And Marty's Inspire Me Tuesday

Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage for Tea Time Tuesday

Kathy at A Delightsome Life for A Return to Loveliness

Terri at Artful affirmations Tea Cup Tuesday

Martha's Favoritesmarthasfavorites.com for Tea Cup Tuesday

Antiques and Teacups Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Bernideen's Tea In the Garden

Jann Olson for Share Your Cup Thursday

The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home