True Love Story

Fog on her glasses  From the still steaming tea  A book in her hand  As she casually reads.  She's deaf to the world:  The book's all she can hear.  She's completely lost now,  Or perhaps she is found  In this strange paper world  That's far from the ground. - Unknown - Sweet friends, boil some water, add your favorite tea to a well-loved tea pot, pull your favorite tea cup from the shelf, grab a soft blanket, and settle down for a little bit of quiet time with a book that is sure to put a smile on your face. Tea Shop Folly by Carrie Francett Pagels Almost destitute, Lilly has run out of hope when she inherits her great-aunts home- but it's not the Tea Shop that a handsome young gentleman thinks it is. Lilly's inherited house is crammed full of tea cups. Theo, a Soo Locks engineer, visits frequently in the hopes he will find the perfect antique tea cup for his mother and is charmed by the lovely 'Shoppe owner.' Lilly can't turn the bachelor a...

Good apple pies are a considerable part  of our domestic happiness. - Jane Austen - This isn't an apple pie, my friends, but it's an apple cake and I must say it's just as good as pie. Apples. . . a wonderful fruit to enjoy during the autumn season. Here is the recipe, lovelies. For the cake 1 c vegetable oil 2 c sugar 3 eggs 3 c flour 1 tsp baking soda 2 tsp vanilla 1 c chopped pecans 3 c peeled and chopped apples For the frosting 1/2 c butter 1 c brown sugar, packed 1/4 c evaporated milk 1/2 tsp vanilla Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 9 x 13-inch pan.  Combine oil, sugar, and eggs.  Stir in flour and baking soda.  Add vanilla, pecans, and apples.  Spread in prepared pan  and bake for 45-50 minutes.  Cool for 2 hours before adding the frosting. For the frosting. . . Boil all ingredients in a small saucepan for 2 minutes.  Set the pan in a bowl filled with ice water.  Beat the icing until it's of spreading consistency.  Sprea...

My soul in sad exile was out on life’s sea, So burdened with sin and distrest,, Till I heard a sweet voice, saying, “Make Me your choice”; And I entered the Haven of Rest. I yielded myself to His tender embrace, And faith taking hold of the Word, My fetters fell off, and I anchored my soul; The Haven of Rest is my Lord. The song of my soul, since the Lord made me whole, Has been the old story so blest, Of Jesus, who’ll save whosoever will have A home in the Haven of Rest! O come to the Savior, He patiently waits To save by His power divine; Come, anchor your soul in the Haven of Rest, And say, “My Beloved is mine.” Chorus I’ve anchored my soul in the Haven of Rest, I’ll sail the wide seas no more; The tempest may sweep o'er the wild, stormy, deep, In Jesus I’m safe evermore. - Henry J. Gilmour -  Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul,  both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered,  even Jesus, made an...

Young lawyer Parker House is on the rise - until his grandfather’s mysterious past puts both of their lives in danger. Parker House’s secret inheritance is either his greatest blessing . . . or his deadliest curse.  The fresh-faced North Carolina attorney shares his German grandfather’s uncanny ability  to see future events in his mind’s eye - a gift that has haunted 82-year-old Frank House through decades of trying to erase a murderous wartime past. While Parker navigates the intrigue and politics of small-town courtroom law,  Frank is forced to face his darkest regrets.  Then, a big career break for Parker collides with a new love he longs to nurture  and the nightmares his grandfather can no longer escape.  Sudden peril threatens to shatter not only Parker’s legal prospects  but also his life and the lives of those dearest to him. Two witnesses, two paths, an uncertain future. My Thoughts The Witnesses was the first book that I've read by Robert Wh...

Happy day to you, dear ones! And since tomorrow is the first day of autumn may I just say Happy Fall! Since I have tea on the brain due to the Tea Cup and Mug Exchange I thought I would show you a lovely little pin cushion I made out of a vintage sugar dish. So here I have the sugar dish. . . I cut a round piece of fabric larger than the lid. Then I sewed a gathering stitch around the edge of the fabric. I filled the circle with some batting, pulled the thread tight, and knotted to close. I glued on some sweet daisies to cover the batting. I added a little glue to the bottom side of the cushion and pressed the little cushion into the lid of the sugar dish. Then I flipped the lid upside down and tucked it into the dish. You can take the lid off and store buttons, thread, needles, etc inside the dish. Then you can place the lid properly on the sugar dish as the cushion should fit inside. Or simply leave the lid upside down  for easy access to your pins. I also made a pin cushion out ...

 I will extol thee, my God, O king;  and I will bless thy name for ever and ever. Every day will I bless thee;  and I will praise thy name for ever and ever. Great is the Lord,  and greatly to be praised;  and his greatness is unsearchable. - Psalm 145: 1-3 - Here is a beautiful version of How Great Thou Art. Enjoy the music while you ponder the precious words of this hymn. O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder Consider all the worlds thy hands have made, I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed. When through the woods and forest glades I wander And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees, When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur, And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze. And when I think that God, his Son not sparing, Sent him to die, I scarce can take it in, That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin. When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation And take me...

{{{Registration Closed}}} If you missed this exchange than you can participate in the next one which will likely be in March. Life is like a cup of tea. . . to be filled to the brim and enjoyed with friends. Sweet friends, it's time for the 9th Tea Cup and Mug Exchange! If this is your first time participating in the exchange  than let me warmly welcome you - I am so glad you are going to join the fun. If you are a returning participant than let me say "Welcome back!" The past Tea Cup and Mug Exchanges have brought many women together from all over the world and lasting friendships have been made. The idea of this exchange formed one day while I was looking at my collection of tea cups and I thought to myself that it would be a joy to bring ladies together over a cup of tea. The first exchange was a success and soon mugs were included since everyone has different tastes and styles. At the end of this post you can visit the links to previous exchanges and see what others h...