Tea Time-Day 1 of the Quilters Weekend

Well, after 8 months of planning, the Mountain Meadows Quilters Retreat/Workshop has come and gone...

We only had one RV camping on the property, but, in retrospect, one was enough!!
Discovered, that with unpredictable weather, trying to put RVs in any of our fields, would probably not work out!!! This one was parked in the gravel parking area, which worked out just fine!

The tea was Friday's event - and it went off without a hitch!! I had nothing to do with that! All the credit goes to Julie and Susan!!!

Susan and Julie, of Julieanna, outdid themselves- hanging vintage quilts around the room, quilt blocks and pin cushions as table decorations - Susan even came up with a lunch plate design of finger sandwiches that looked like a quilt block!!










Vicky was the official photographer!





Bobbi and Judy

Bobbi, Judy, Effie, Karen, and Kelley in backround






Cold melon soup with a sprig of mint - delicious!!! Blueberry spritzer tea, and teacup pins for all!


the quilt block finger sandwiches- how clever is this?


Winona and Kelley




The delicious scone - we thought THIS was dessert - we were wrong!


This goes with the scone 

We had a choice of several hot teas, the cold blueberry spritzer tea was in the goblet, and 4 courses!
Susan shared the 3 proper ways to eat a scone, and there was a lovely dessert to finish off the meal, AFTER the scone!!
Somehow, I did not get a pic of that - and can't for the life of me remember what the dessert was!! But, it was GOOD!!!
I'll get back to you on that one!!!

I got to put a face to at least half the names of the people signed up for Pat Sloan's workshop that day.
It was a wonderful start to the weekend!

Stay tuned for a detailed account of the Pat Sloan Workshop coming soon!!!

Tea on Tuesday



Boy, Tuesday rolls around fast, and sadly, it seems that is the only time I post lately.
Sad commentary on things, when I don't find time to write, when there is always sooo much to talk about!!!!

I don't even have a photo of my teacup or tea today..........it is a lovely bone china mug- my mom found a pair of them in the thrift store for $2- not old, floral, dated 1996. Even tho' I have a pantry full of teas, it seems I always fall back on Lady Grey in the a.m., drowned in local honey..........

This morning, I thought, since I have already bored everyone on FB with my pictures and videos of my new baby donkey- that why not spread the wealth and bore everyone in blogland with the same?????

This past Saturday morning was the day - the day that Finnegan, (formerly known as Li'l Stevie) came to live with us!

Finn was born in January- I met him a few hours after he arrived  into this world.

Just born 1-20-12


a little pinto donkey


He has been living with his parents for 8 months. Altho' his big brother Yoshi, was over a year old when he left his mom and moved here- River and Ocean's owner, Jean, decided it was time for (Li'l Stevie) Finnegan to move in with his brother!

Mom, Ocean, with Li'l Stevie in the backround- getting ready to load him up this Saturday


The first few days of his life, Finnegan was thought to be a Fiona.......then it became quite obvious that HE was not a SHE!

As soon as his tiny hooves hit the ground, Finnegan was feisty and fierce, or as Katie calls him - FEROCIOUS ! He was not afraid of anything and would nibble and bite, and drive his parents crazy! Yoshi, on the other hand, was very quiet, retiring, and so laid back. I was hoping for similar personalities!

Saturday morning, Mr. Green Jeans drove the trailer over to pick up Finn, who needed a little convincing and some pushing from the rear, to get him on the trailer. AS we all know, donkeys won't move, if they don't want to - no matter what their size!!!

He rode very nicely, with Jean in back with him.

Altho' not lead trained, he walked off the trailer like a little gentleman, and into the paddock. We kept him separate for a while, so the horses and Yoshi could get acquainted thru the fence.

first meeting thru' the fence


at 8 mos old, Finn still has his baby fuzz


By lunchtime, I let Yoshi in with his little brother. For a few minutes they played it cool, then Yoshi decided to show Finn who was boss around here and chased him around the paddock for a solid 3 minutes. They were both worn out- it was a bit hot out. They took turns following each other, with Finnegan nipping at Yoshi's neck and face, and Yoshi letting loose with a few well placed kicks, to put this little whippersnapper in his place!!

                    Video


                                             The first day, Finn stuck to Yoshi like glue.





Yoshi's expression reminded me of a well loved Robert Louis Stevenson poem, from A Child's Garden of Verses, circa 1913

 :
I HAVE a little shadow that goes in and out with me, 
And what can be the use of him is more than I can see. 
He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head; 
And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed. 
  
The funniest thing about him is the way he likes to grow—        
Not at all like proper children, which is always very slow; 
For he sometimes shoots up taller like an India-rubber ball, 
And he sometimes gets so little that there’s none of him at all. 
  
He hasn’t got a notion of how children ought to play, 
And can only make a fool of me in every sort of way. 
He stays so close beside me, he’s a coward you can see; 
I’d think shame to stick to nursie as that shadow sticks to me! 
  
One morning, very early, before the sun was up, 
I rose and found the shining dew on every buttercup; 
But my lazy little shadow, like an arrant sleepy-head, 
Had stayed at home behind me and was fast asleep in bed.

By day 3, they act like they have been together forever, altho' Finn still sadly tries to nurse, and looks very depressed, and occasionally brays in response to the donkeys who live a few fields away. It seems like he is asking, are you my mother? I am probably anthropomorphising, but weaning has to be hard on these little guys.

Video




Finnegan being a bratty little brother!


Playtime


The horses were mildly interested in this new arrival. They are kind to him, and I hope he does not start chewing on their tails!! We got Yoshi over that bad habit, and the tails are starting to look good again!!! Time to get out the NoChew spray again!!!

Now, I have a goal to outlive these little donkeys, who can live for 35+ years, but most likely they will be left in the will to my daughter, so they are assured of a forever home together!!
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Please drop by for tea every Tuesday, and visit Patty and Kim for a list of other tea lovers

Tea on Tuesday- Pretty in Pink.....

It's August, so that means it's time for the annual August birthday mug!!! It comes out of the closet several times in August every year, only to be pushed to the dark recesses of the shelf when August is over!





I discovered a new locally made honey - available at Julieanna in Broadway, or thru' the beekeepers themselves! Blends perfectly with Lady Grey!!





And, today.................don't forget to take time to smell the flowers (or at least, just admire them!)


my ever blooming cyclamen




from a first (and last!)date bouquet that Katie received last night



Katie's hair clips


English bone china Royal Albert "Poppy" teacup- one of my bird feeders, available at Turner Ham/Fulks Run Grocery



portulaca in the rock wall



hyacinth bean


one scrawny little nursery plant that is now blooming like crazy!


Please join us every Tuesday for tea- and drop by Patty and Kim for a list of other tea lovers