Little Women Home Companion-June-July-August 2003

Little Women Home Companion
June-July-August 2003
That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home,
good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
Titus 2: 4-5
Taking Tea
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A Visit With Marmee
Sharing A Mother's Thoughts
How welcoming and inviting a home is to a friend or daughter when the table is set for tea. The fragrant cup and tea with a heart open to friendship and a sympathic listening ear can do so much to comfort and sooth. I hope that all of you have had a friend or your daughter to tea. Over this past year I have begun to learn about tea and begun to share this special time with friends and with my sweet daughter. We recently had our first visit to a tearoom. It was a pleasure that we hope to soon repeat. I hope that each of you will take the time to reach out to someone who is lonely with a cup of tea and a heart full of friendship.
Jenny
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Tea Thyme Quotes
" Cambric tea was hot water & milk, with only a taste of tea in it, but little girls felt grownup when their mothers let them drink cambric tea."
~ Quote from The Long Winter written by Laura Ingalls Wilder~
"The mug from the washstand was used as Becky's tea cup, and the tea was so delicious that it was not necessary to pretend that it was anything but tea."
~ Written by Frances Hodgson Burnett ~
" You're going out for tea today, be careful what you do; Let all accounts that I hear, be pleasant ones of you."
~ Poem written by Kate Greenaway~
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Little Women Companion
There are so many quotes that touched me as I read the chapter entitled "Meg Goes to Vanity Fair". In particular those about marriage touched me and so I have decided to include them here that you may use them for copywork in your memory book or schoolwork.
"I want my daughters to be beautiful, accomplished, and good; to be admired, loved, respected, to have a happy youth, to be well and wisely married, and to lead useful, pleasant lives, with as little care and sorrow to try them as God sees fit to send. To be loved and chosen by a good man is the best and sweetest thing which can happen to a woman, and I sincerely hope my girls may know this beautiful experience. It is natural to think of it, Meg; right to hope and wait for it, and wise to prepare for it; so that, when the happy time comes, you may feel ready for the duties, and worthy of the joy."
And what are we to do in the meantime one may ask...this is addressed also.
"Leave these things to time; make this home happy, so that you may be fit for homes of your own, if they are offered you, and contented here if not."
Quotes from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
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Tea Thyme
Iced tea idea
When serving guests or neighbors iced tea and garnishing a lemon use an orange or lime instead. Or be creative and use all three.
Caiti
How to decaffeinate your tea
I have all kinds of caffeinated teas in my cabinet that I have not been using since I am trying to be very careful about my caffeine intake. A few weeks ago I found several websites that gave the same information about how to decaffeinate your tea so I will share it with you. It will not remove all the caffeine but a large portion of it ( I have read about 80%). You bring your water to a boil and pour it over your tea bags or tea leaves ( in your cup or teapot), wait 30 seconds and pour the water out (not the leaves or bag). Pour water over your tea bag or leaves once again and brew as usual. I am enjoying alot of my teas now and hope that you will yours too.
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The Work Basket
Now is a good time to be collecting and drying flowers for potpourri that you can make for autumn. Caiti and I have been collecting and drying lavender and bachelor's buttons, We even dried the leaves from the lavender to use since the were so fragrant. In the fall you can string cranberries as you would popcorn and let them dry. I also cut and dry apples and oranges. You may also want to begin to collect pinecones of different sizes to be used later. A friend suggests that these be put in a warm oven for a while to deter little unwanted critters later on. Some years we have dried Queen Anne's Lace to use for Christmas ornaments. Get your gathering basket and start collecting!
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Thimbles and Threads
We made this teacup pincushion from a miniature teacup ornament. It has not been glued down and was made in around ten minutes.
Teacup Pincushion instructions: Sew What's New
http://www.sew-whats-new.com/projects/t-cup-pin-C.shtml
Teacup Pincushion: Buttons Galore and More
http://www.buttonsgaloreandmore.com/ps-teapincushion.php
Teacup pincushion: Debbie Mumm
http://www.debbiemumm.com/potm/february/crafts/februarypotmcrafts.asp
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From Jo's Writing Garret
Dear Mothers and daughters,
In the past few months I have bought and received quite a few things for my hopechest that has to do with tea. I now have three teacups. My mommy and daddy bought me two matching teacups for my birthday. The design is a beautiful blue hydrangea. My other teacup which I bought from a discount store is a Old Country Roses by Royal Doulton. My mother and I love this set. The teacup design is a dark pink rose with a golden yellow rose, along with rosebuds and leaves. My mommy has bought me a tea strainer and tea infuser. These come in handy when you use loose leaf tea.
This fall I will be starting a tea unit study. I will be learning about different teas and reading different tea books. When I have completed this study I will be required to give a tea party. So as you imagine I am looking forward to starting it
There is a summer tea put out by Celestial Seasonings called Honeysuckle Peach. It has a fruity flavor, but it is not spicy. This make a great morning tea.
Go and brew yourself a cup of hot tea or pour yourself a glass of iced tea. Sit on your porch and enjoy God's beauty while you sip your tea. Have a great summer.
In Christ,
Caiti
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The Cottage Pantry
This is a wonderful muffin recipe. It is a combination of a recipe for blueberry muffins from cooks.com and my own. I hope you enjoy them.
Maraschino Cherry Muffins
1 stick of unsalted butter (real butter), melted
3/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 teaspoon almond extract
3/4 cup sour cream
2 cups plain, all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 -10 ounce jar maraschino cherries, drained and quartered
slivered almonds
Cream together butter and sugar and add eggs, vanilla and sour cream. In another bowl sift together flour, salt and baking soda. Add this to your wet mixture and stir until blended well. Add cherries mixing them well. Spoon into greased, texas size muffin pans. Sprinkle with sugar and almonds. Bake in a 375 degree oven (that has been preheated) for 30 minutes. Let cool a few minutes and they will lift right out of your pan.
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Sparrow Post
You are cordially invited to attend a tea given by
Miss Josephine March
And
Mr. Theodore Lawrence
At the March home on August 19, 18- in the year of our Lord.
Jo March had been following Amy March’s advice for decorating a table for tea well nigh over an hour now. Amy was the artistic one in the March family and when anyone needed advice for decorating they would go to her. Each place setting had a place card with a flower drawn on for decoration. In the center of the table was a bouquet sent to the March’s from Teddy. Amy had been learning to paint and with her artistic talent she hand painted a teacup for each place setting which was only six: Marmie, Meg, Beth, Amy, Teddy and of course Jo. Meg had donated six of her best cloth napkins trimmed with lace and Beth had given ribbon to tie them with. All of the sisters in some way helped prepare tea sandwiches and mini desserts. And as for Teddy, he aided in the process to make sure enough flowers were sent to the March’s for their tea.
“I think that is it Jo.” Amy said as she admired the table and gave a sigh. A few knocks came from the front door. Jo with her best manners answered it and Teddy stepped into the parlor. He bowed as if he were a proper gentleman and took off his top hat Jo in return gave a curtsy. “Well Mr. Theodore Lawrence,” she said. “We have taken great pains trying new recipes for our tea. So if it is not to your expectations do not tell us of it.” “Yes indeed ma'am” The two made their way into the dining room where they would have their tea. Marmie, Meg, Beth and Amy were waiting patiently for the hostess in the dining room.
“Take your seats my friends!” Teddy said. The party sat down and Jo began pouring tea. Sugar cubes had been meant to put in the sugar bowl but since Jo had been unable to get them she was to use fine sugar instead. However to any of us sugar and salt looks quite alike in all due respect. Jo was in a hurry earlier that morning trying to prepare tea food and make things look nice at the same time. The sugar jar and salt jar looked so much alike and since Jo was in such a hurry she had mistaken the salt jar for the sugar jar. Poor Jo! Into Beth’s cup of tea she put two nice spoonfuls of fine salt, into Amy’s cup she did the same thing. In all the cups of tea salt was added. Marmie lifted her teacup and sipped her tea. “A queer taste,” she thought. She sipped it again and then puckered her lips. “Jo put salt in not sugar this morning. Poor thing! “ She watched Amy and Beth as they sipped their tea and did the same thing as she herself had done. Jo had also saw Beth and Amy pucker and instantly sipped her tea. “Oh dear!” she said “I am sorry everyone. I put salt instead of sugar in the bowl. Beth will you help me pour out this tea and give them new tea.” Marmie came to the rescue and helped pour new tea. Everything was back as normal. Amy started putting two delicate tea desserts on Teddy’s plate. As you remember he had been told: “If it is not to your expectations do not tell us of it.” The tiny desserts where decorated with small flowers and leaves. Teddy picked one up and took a bight. A bitter taste entered his mouth. Oh! How he wanted to dispose of the taste but slowly swallowed it instead. “How do you like them?’ Meg asked. “I have not tasted anything like them before, Meg!” Teddy replied with a most unusual smile.
Now as you probably already know Beth loved cats and had quite a few herself. But even though Beth trained her cats and told them not to do something ahead of time does not always mean they obey. You see even with the kindest master cats sometimes have a mind of there own. And one of Beth’s cats in particular was hard to train. Tiger, the cat, had been eyeing the tea table for fifteen minutes now. Finally when the tea desserts were beginning to be served Tiger made its jump. In an instant the party did not know what was going on and the platter of desserts had been dropped on the floor by shock. Beth got up out of her seat and shooed Tiger off the table and started scolding him. All the delicate desserts that had taken so much time to make were now inedible. Now the March’s were very upset about this matter, they would have been surprised of how happy Teddy was.
The tea started to take its end and Mr. Lawrence sent his carriage over to pick Teddy up. He said goodbye and told them what a wonderful time he had had.. The March’s started cleaning the table off. All of them except Jo were in the kitchen cleaning dishes or putting things away when Jo noticed one of the beautifully decorated desserts laying on the table. She picked it up and ate a bight. Jo’s face was turned into the most hilarious sour expression. “Oh yuck!” she said to herself. Then remembering Teddy’s smile and what he said to Meg. Jo repeated it “ I have not tasted anything like them before.” That poor boy…”
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Our Window Seat
Book Reviews
Sandy's Tea Society by Sandy Lyman Clough
I spent a refreshing couple of evenings "visiting" with the dear fictional ladies in Sandy's book. Each lady is so very different and yet Sandy brings each of them together and helps them to begin a tea society. All have their strengths and weakness and as we watch them plan teatimes we see how each can be creative. The book is really ideas and themes for tea parties but Sandy uses the story line of these dear ladies to bring it all together and to show ministry opportunities that can happen through a tea society. I hope that you will take the time to "visit" with these lovely ladies too.
Jenny
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The Rose Garden
Websites that you may enjoy. We may or may not agree with everything that you find on these pages!
Anne of Green Gables site: Planning an Anne tea party.
http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Theater/5299/teatime.html
Eras of Elegance: Tea with Friends article:
http://www.erasofelegance.com/teawithfriends.html
Seeds of Knowledge: How to start a book club tea group.
http://www.seedsofknowledge.com/teaclub.html
Lady Renee's Rose Garden Tea Room
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Park/6804/teatime.html
Creative Ladies' Ministry: Planning a ladies tea for your church
http://www.creativeladiesministry.com/planningatea.html
and
http://www.creativeladiesministry.com/mothersdaythemes.html
Sandy's Tea Society: How to start your own tea society.
http://www.sandysteasociety.com/
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Marmee's Nature Journal
I heard it yesterday, that little difference in nature that always happens this time of the year. I have always wondered what it was. The little birds do not chirp very much anymore. There is a stillness in the air as if everything is resting. There is the little hum that the insects make. I become aware that the summer is slowly fading away. Soon the swirl of autumn leaves and the silence of winter will descend upon us all. I can imagine all the little creatures in their burrows taking tea and a long winter's rest.
Jenny
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Till Next Thyme
Dear Mothers and Daughters,
We hope that you will find time to share a cup of tea and the hand of friendship with someone special this month.
Blessings
Jenny and Caiti
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Little Women Home Companion is a monthly (when possible) bimonthly (when not)
newsletter for mothers and daughters.
Copyright 2003-2004 Little Women Home Companion
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~Blessings~
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