Clothed With Scarlet

Teacup Tuesdays - Sleek & Fancy

From The Archives - December 2006

Mema Simpson...she died when I was 10-years-old.  I remember so many times with her however.  She used to sit in a funny little chair at the end of the bar in her kitchen and drink coffee.  Mema had several sisters, Neva lived there in town with her.  We used to go and visit Neva all the time.  Mema had a dishwasher in her kitchen that sat against the wall.  When she wanted to use it, she had to push it over to the sink and attach a hose to the kitchen faucet.  She had a small shelf in her dining room that would hold six teacups and their saucers.  I can only recall there being two cups & saucers that hung there but my memory might not be serving me well.  This is one set:

It is blue and white with gold rims and designs.  It is a rather sleek and fancy looking teacup.  I do not know where it came from or why she only had one nor do I ever recall seeing her use the cup and saucer. 

Whatever the history, she is seeing her share of tea and coffee in our home.  More importantly...my daughters and I are filling her full of memories...

** The music that you hear is from a movie.  I have never seen the movie and have absolutely no intent in watching it.  It would ruin the beauty of the song for me.  Mema had a little music box on her coffee table and this was the song that it played.  The music box was actually a type of picture frame that held six family photos in a hexagon shape and as the music played, the photos turned in a circle.  I can remember sitting on her floor and listening to the music and watching the pictures go around.  For years I didn't know what the song was and had no way of describing it to anyone as it was just a distant memory in my mind.  One day I heard the music and tracked down the title.  I don't call the song by it's name.  Instead, it is Mema's Musicbox Song.  :)

posted by Mrs. Klause

Music:  Theme from 'Love Story'

Happy 3rd Birthday Addison!

 

We kept it very small with only our immediate family, my parents and dear family friends, the Sliders joining us to celebrate Addison's third birthday.

Addison really likes orange.  Most little girls always pick pink and purple...the pink cup, the pink popsicle, the pink shoes, etc.  Addison always picks all things orange.  So, she had all things orange with flowers and butterflies.

Mother and Daddy got her a real cowgirl hat.  

  

She has been waiting her turn very patiently.  Kennedy and Bailey already have one.  She said to me, "Momma, now I can weal-wey (really) be a cow-ga-oil (cowgirl)."

 

She was quite excited.  Mother made some lovely hat-bands for her.

 

Pawpaw Slider gave them all Silly String but it wasn't the children that started playing with it first!  :)   For those of you that know my beloved husband, you already know he was the one to start the Silly String "fights".

 

Daddy laughed the entire time while trying to help Kennedy spray her pink string.  I didn't get any photos as we were laughing too much but Kennedy never actually shot the silly string intentionally.  Her first pile of pink string was on the dining room ceiling!  She was trying to figure out how to hold the can and depress the button at the same time.  Her entire can was 'spent' in this manner...

to the side into the living room,

toward the back door and stuck to the wall,

back into the living room, over the sofa and onto the dog...

 

Nana Slider, Bailey and Kennedy.

I know.  It is blurry but it is the only photo I got of Mother.  She looked just lovely that day.  I should be ashamed of myself for not ensuring a good photo of her! 

 

I thought that a wonderful gift for Addison would be a sandbox...with an umbrella over the top.  Her Daddy built it for her.  Pipaw (my Daddy) and Addison went to play in the sandbox.  Sadie (the dog) was on their heels and enjoyed a sliver of shade in the grass while they played.

 

My Little Cow-ga-oil from Deep In The Heart of Texas.

~~~

She is often seen in her lovely orange dress with her new orange sandals and her new cowgirl hat with the orange hat-band. 

:)

{sigh}

~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

July 22, 2009

Music:  Yellow Rose of Texas

His Reward

 

Once a woman came upon three mothers at work.  "What are you doing?" she asked of them.

"I'm doing the weekly washing," answered the first.

"I'm doing a bit of household drudgery," replied the second.

The third woman replied, "I'm mothering three young children who someday will fill important and useful spheres in life, and wash-day is a part of my grand task in caring for these souls who shall live forever." 

Only the third woman had caught the vision of the great work she was doing.

-Author Unknown

~~~

     "A home without children is only a fragment of a home.  Its life, however happy, is a song with the sweetest part left out.  Where no children come the husband and wife miss much that is deepest and richest in life.  Their wedded joy never realizes its fullest measure of tenderness.  There are chords in their hearts that are never waked.  There are whole fields in their natures that are never brought under culture.  There are powers and capacities in their souls that are never developed.  They lose many a deep lesson that can be read from no book save from the pages of unfolding child-life.  They miss many an inspiration of purity, of gentleness, of unselfishness, of beauty, for God has so constituted us that only in loving and caring for children are the richest and best things in us drawn out.  Then when old age comes on, how lonely is the childless home, with neither son nor daughter to come back with grateful ministries, to bring solace and comfort to the declining years!"

     "Our homes would be very cold and dreary without the children.  Sometimes we weary of their noise.  They certainly bring us a great deal of care and solicitude.  They cost us no end of toil.  When they are very young they break our rest many a weary night with their colics and teethings, and when they grow older they wellnigh break our hearts many a time with their waywardness.  After they come to us we may as well bid farewell to living for self and to personal ease and independence, if we mean to do faithful duty as parents.  There are some who therefore look upon the coming of children as a misfortune.  They talk about them lightly as "responsibilities."  They regard them as in the way of their pleasure.  They see no blessing in them.  But it is cold selfishness that looks upon children in this way.  Instead of being hindrances to true and noble living, they are helps.  They bring benedictions from heaven when they come, and while they stay they are perpetual benedictions."

     "It is a great thing to take these young and tender lives, rich with so many possibilities of beauty, of joy, of power, all of which may be wrecked, and to become responsible for their shaping and training and for the upbuilding fo their character.  This is what must be thought of in the making of a home."

                                      ~ Excerpt from Home-making by J. R. Miller, originally published in 1882

~~~

Psalm 127

 1Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

 2It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

 3Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

 4As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

 5Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

July 17, 2009

Music: Fur Elise

Once a woman came upon three mothers at work.  "What are you doing?" she asked of them.

"I'm doing the weekly washing," answered the first.

"I'm doing a bit of household drudgery," replied the second.

The third woman replied, "I'm mothering three young children who someday will fill important and useful spheres in life, and wash-day is a part of my grand task in caring for these souls who shall live forever." 

Only the third woman had caught the vision of the great work she was doing.

-Author Unknown

~~~

     "A home without children is only a fragment of a home.  Its life, however happy, is a song with the sweetest part left out.  Where no children come the husband and wife miss much that is deepest and richest in life.  Their wedded joy never realizes its fullest measure of tenderness.  There are chords in their hearts that are never waked.  There are whole fields in their natures that are never brought under culture.  There are powers and capacities in their souls that are never developed.  They lose many a deep lesson that can be read from no book save from the pages of unfolding child-life.  They miss many an inspiration of purity, of gentleness, of unselfishness, of beauty, for God has so constituted us that only in loving and caring for children are the richest and best things in us drawn out.  Then when old age comes on, how lonely is the childless home, with neither son nor daughter to come back with grateful ministries, to bring solace and comfort to the declining years!"

     "Our homes would be very cold and dreary without the children.  Sometimes we weary of their noise.  They certainly bring us a great deal of care and solicitude.  They cost us no end of toil.  When they are very young they break our rest many a weary night with their colics and teethings, and when they grow older they wellnigh break our hearts many a time with their waywardness.  After they come to us we may as well bid farewell to living for self and to personal ease and independence, if we mean to do faithful duty as parents.  There are some who therefore look upon the coming of children as a misfortune.  They talk about them lightly as "responsibilities."  They regard them as in the way of their pleasure.  They see no blessing in them.  But it is cold selfishness that looks upon children in this way.  Instead of being hindrances to true and noble living, they are helps.  They bring benedictions from heaven when they come, and while they stay they are perpetual benedictions."

     "It is a great thing to take these young and tender lives, rich with so many possibilities of beauty, of joy, of power, all of which may be wrecked, and to become responsible for their shaping and training and for the upbuilding fo their character.  This is what must be thought of in the making of a home."

                                      ~ Excerpt from Home-making by J. R. Miller, originally published in 1882

~~~

Psalm 127

 1Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

 2It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

 3Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

 4As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

 5Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

July 17, 2009

Music: Fur Elise

Teacup Tuesdays - Cozy Cupboard

 

Married nearing 17 years and I have never had a china cabinet.  :)

All of my teacups have always lived on shelves or hanging on interesting racks designed just for teacups but now they have their very own cupboard!

A couple of months ago we bought a dining room table and chairs and a matching china cabinet from some friends.  I was terribly excited to get my new cupboard settled into our dining room!  ;0)

And...it even has a light in the top that shines down on the little teacups...

  

 

:0)

Blessed beyond measure...it isn't the cupboard or the teacups, it is what fills the cups and saucers and pots and creamers.

...little girl giggles...

...the image of chubby little hands grasping the ceramic handles...

...the many puddles of spilled tea or cream followed by the words, "Oops, Mommy, I spwilled!"...

...the memories of friends along the way...

...hearty laughs and streaming tears shared with friends over a cup of tea...

...sweet memories of the women in my family...

No, it isn't the cupboard or the teacups.

:0) 

~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

July 15, 2009

Music: I'm A Little Teapot

Teacup Tuesdays - A Surprise Saturday Afternoon Tea

I know...it is not Tuesday but sometimes you just have to jump right in and get started with things...

Poor old Teacup Tuesday has fallen by the wayside in the last three months.  Let's see if we can start again.  :)

~~~~~~~~~

Several days ago Kennedy was privileged to spend a day with her Daddy.  While they were gone, Addison and Bailey prepared a tea party for me...as a surprise.

It was planned last-minute so Bailey was creative and used what she had on-hand.

~~~~~~~~~~

 

Here are the little party planners.

 

The girls set our pretty glass plates and selected teacups from the cabinet.  Addison and I had prepared oatmeal cookie dough that morning and it was in a bowl in the fridge awaiting further work.  Bailey decided to bake some cookies (with permission).  The pan that the cookies are on is still hot.  I was just getting ready to put the cookies on a plate.

 

What you see here is a lovely bouquet of tissue paper flowers and skewered pickles. 

:)

The plan was to make a nice arrangement of skewered fruit but none of the fruit that we had on hand was suitable for Bailey's cutting and skewering so she and Addison talked about it and Addison (age 2) suggested pickles instead. 

In the teapot is grape kool-aid.  We have kool-aid about once a year around here and we had prepared a pitcher the day before.  Bailey thought and thought and could not remember the order of operation to prepare hot tea.  She was trying to keep this a surprise so she decided that grape kool-aid would be a nice alternative.

~~

Bailey sweetly and lovingly scolded me for not doing a better job of teaching her how to make hot tea.  :)  She actually does know how but I suppose it has been too long since she did it all on her own.  Addison is typically the one that selects and prepares tea with me.  Bailey and Kennedy usually take care of setting the table, pouring the cream and such.

So...

It seems that a bit of Teatime Tutoring is called for...

It was a lovely and yummy surprise Saturday Tea Party.  I am so thankful for oatmeal cookies, sweet pickles and grape kool-aid.  What a sweet memory to tuck away. 

In my rocking chair with a lovely teacup in my hand is where I can be found at least once every single day. 

I suspect that one day...

...when I am old and grey...

...you will still find me rocking...

...teacup in hand...

...perhaps enjoying spearmint tea...

...or blueberry tea...

...steaming coffee...

...or even grape kool-aid...

:0)

~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

July 9, 2009

Words that humble...

 

This is my Kennedy.  She is four now.  She is such a unique and amazing little girl.

This evening she came up the stairwell, headed to bed, and walked to me.  She wrapped her arms around me and said, "I am so glad that God gave me to you."  She held me and kissed me and walked away to her room.

~~~

God has taught me a great deal through this little child.  She never ceases to amaze me.

I am so glad that God gave Kennedy to me.

~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

July 7, 2009

Twigs & Feathers -- Part I

Nesting...

:)  An interesting part of God's creation...

I think it is an amazing and curious part of how God created a woman.  Every pregnant woman that I have ever known has gone through a period of time during her pregnancy in which she has an overwhelming need to get all things in her home in order. 

I am so thankful for this "nesting". 

~~~

My To-Do List - Cleaning & Organizing

1.  Clean out my closet - Done!  Whoo-hooo and it wasn't so bad.

2.  Clean out the school closet - Done!  And it took quite some time to sort through stray game & puzzle pieces and get all the crayons back to their containers and such.

3.  Clean out coat closet - Done!  My dear friend, Mrs. Spangler, came with her children on Tuesday and announced upon their arrival that at least one household project could be done while we visited. -- All done!

4.  Clean out Bailey's closet

5.  Re-organize sewing cabinet

6.  Clean out the garage

7.  Sort through, organize and store all children's clothing.

8.  Clean out the junk drawer in the kitchen (and the junk cabinet - who put all that stuff in there?)

~~~~

My To-Do List - Acquiring Items for the Wee Littlest One

When we moved out-of-state, we got rid of all items that were not absolutely necessary which meant almost all baby items. 

1.  Cradle and/or Crib

2.  Car seat

3.  Wee tiny clothes for a wee tiny girl.

4.  Sew burp rags, changing pads and bibs.

5.  Locate (in the garage) the box of baby items we kept and clean them for use.

~~~~

Nesting...a time to give thanks to God for this new life...

Nesting...a time to pray for the life of this new little girl...

Nesting...a time to praise the Lord for the blessing of this child...

Nesting...a time to seek guidance from the Lord on how to raise up this child for His glory...

~~~

Time to go!

There are twigs to be gathered and soft feathers that need to be woven into the nest! 

~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

July 4, 2009