At Home With Friends

Teatime
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Getting out and about to pay afternoon calls on one's friends and social connections was a pleasant duty for Victorians.
Hostesses, on their "at home day" were sure to provide a cake, sandwiches and of course tea. Guests supplied polite chatter and, just possibly, a scintillating bit of gossip!

Now that calling cards are a thing of the past and friends connect through email, we tend to look back on those stuffy parlour formalities with amusement. And maybe some envy?

Imagine having time just to sip and visit and nibble, to catch up on the doings of sons and daughters? So why not borrow the best of an old custom and annouce your own "at home afternoon?"

Simply get out pretty teacups and those little linen napkins you rarely use. Then brew the tea and light the candles. Friends are coming to call.

I copied these paragraphs from a book (I can't remember which one!) a few months ago.
Do you have a friend that you could invite over for a visit this week? Maybe someone you've known for a long time or someone you've been wanting to get to know better.

The print can be found at www.art.com

Banana Bread

Banana Bread
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

This recipe comes from the New York Times Cookbook that I got right after Phillip and I were married. That means I've been making this banana bread for over 10 years!!

John Harper's Banana Bread
(This banana bread has won awards at the Michigan State Fair. It is excellent served warm from the oven or cut into slices and toated.)

1/2 cup vegetable shortening (I get the kind of no trans fats)
3/4 cup sugar
1 large egg
4 teaspoons lemon juice
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup mashed (2 to 3) ripe bananas
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped coarsely (optional)

1. Preheat the oven to 350.F
2. Put the shortening and sugar into the bowl of an electric mixer. Cream together until smooth and well blended. Beat in the egg and lemon juice.
3. Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt. Fold the mixture into the batter and blend well. Stir in the mashed bananas and walnuts. Pour the mixture into a 9x4x3-inch loaf pan and bake 60-70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean. Turn out on a rack to cool.

I always make two loaves at a time because it disappears so quickly! :0)

Black Cherry Berry

Cherry
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

I was making some Iced Celestial Seasonings Black Cherry Berry tea the other day and read this cute story about summer, that was printed on the side of the box.

"When Mother thought to build a monument to summer, that brief, sweet season, her neighbors were skeptical. 'What will it look like?' they asked. "Where will she build it?' But Mother, renowned maker of pies, was undeterred. She chose a spot in her backyard, drew up plans, and asked for help. 'It's a cup to hold summer's essence,' she explained, 'made of summer's fruits.' The stonecutter cut fruit from a rock; school chidren painted each cherry a deep, delicious purple, and the whole town gathered to assemble the monument. When the last stone slipped into place, the people cheered, understanding that even in the deepest snows of January, the cup would hold enough summer to tide them through."
-Cullen Bailey Burns

We are having our 30th day in a row of temperatures over 100F so reading little stories like the one above helps me keep my cool. ;0)

~Loyalty~

girl
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

LOYALTY

Be faithful to family, friends, community, country and religious beliefs.

~Build solid and lasting relationships.
~Discover self-possession.
~Initiate an all-for-one, one-for-all mentality.
~Count on others and be accountable.

Loyalty in Action:

~Develop a family code of honor.
~Keep promises.
~Gather around the table at least once a day.
~Initiate or carry on family traditions.

I've been tagged!

Mrs. Linebarger tagged me for this little survey. Here are my answers:

1. Five Things in the Freezer: A frozen washcloth. I suspect someone got a "boo-boo" and got some ice inside a cloth and threw the whole thing back in when they were finished! Ground turkey, raspberries, hotdog buns, coffee beans.

2. Five Things in the Closet: Lots of clothes that don't fit anymore. ;0) Pillows, my craft supplies, yarn that the kitty keeps getting out and a plastic ballet bar.


3. Five Things in the Car: My cell phone, paper, pencil crayons, books, and crumbs. It's actually pretty dirty in there right now.


4. Five Things in my Purse: Keys, receipts from 3 months ago, pens, post-it notes and a pretty hankie. :0)


5. Five Things in my Wallet: A blockbuster gift card, a Starbuck's gift card, various membership cards. Most of the grocery stores use them around here. Very obnoxious! Loose change and a nice spot for cash that is empty as usual!


Let me know if you want tagged too!