The party was a success

 

I would do these again

Ham salad in a croissant

Yummy

Ham and cheese triple deckers

My bruschetta was so good

I could eat it for breakfast

Fresh tomatoes and basil onion and Garlic on a toasted garlic bread rubbed with fresh garlic

Oh my

Caramelized onion in phyllo tarts

Also yummy

Pineapple corn muffins

Unfortunately I didn't get many pictures

A couple didn't want to wear their hats

That's ok

One was a nun.   She is very reserved but had fun after a bit

A blurry pic as they didn't want one taken

The men were good sports and wore their hats

It started at 12:30 and they left at 5:30

We played LCR games and I had scratch tickets for prizes

Then everyone kept their hats and tea packets and another scratch ticket for souvenirs

They all hugged me and said they enjoyed the evening and food very much 

I was glad

They can't wait till pizza on the grill night

Things I learned.....

I don't need as much food

I sent them home with food and I still have leftovers galore

 my neighbors are so sweet and helpful

 ,

My menu was caramelized onion tarts, bruschetta, hotdogs in cocktail sauce, ham triple decker, ham salad croissants, pickles rolled in ham, chicken salad rollups, pineapple cornbread mini muffins, 

Baked beans, potato salad, broccoli chicken penne pasta

One lady brought watermelon, one brought brownies, one brought strawberry muffins, one brought ice cream bars

I went thru the history of the tea party that was  started my by Anna Marie a duchess of Bedford

No pinkies up, small items take at least 2 bites, no stirring tea you stir up and down and no noise,,, etc the rules

Then I said being if Portuguese decent Anna Maria DeJesus D'Souza Almeida of New Bedford was the one who was behind mine. Wear a fun hat, stir all you want, pinkies up or down, gulp slurp or whatever and have fun. They laughed and it broke the ice for a great day full of good food and fun

Of course behind the scenes......I could not get the wine cork out of the bottle to make my chicken sauce. I got some all over my shirt and smelled like a boozer.....I am sure that plus garlic bruschetta breath was a great combo right?

Anywho.....have fun, have a tea party

You won't regret it

Memorial Day

 Blow the bugal

Strike the drum

Ring the bell

Let your marching down the street 

Of your hearts devotion tell

At each fallen heros grave

Let a flag of freedom wave

Better still

Within your heart

Set a sacred spot apart

To the cause for which they died

Let us ever true abide

Blow the bugal

Strike the drum

Ring the bell

Let your marching down the street

Of your hearts devotion tell.

Let us thank all those who died for our freedoms today. May God bless them

Getting ready

I made some dollar store stands

Some were a fail.  Ugh

Doilies to decorate the trays

Candy for red cups

For the chocolate gang

I even have some of these prepped for sewing later

Plates and napkins

Pretty tray to serve

Picks to decorate

And a shirt for me for the festivities

It's a man's shirt

The ladies were 17dollars

Men's 6

Uh no brainer right

Prepping food today so will be quiet till after the party

Will hopefully show pics of the fun 

 

Friday busy busy

My herbs

I got myself a wind chime. I love the relaxing sound it makes

Perfect for morning coffee or afternoon tea in the screenroom

Fruits of my labor

Kale and tomatoes

Soup anyone? Lol

I recruited a city neighbor to garden too

She got this cute dog

And some pretty flowers for the front

She just stuck the pots on top of the soil in the planters

She was happy with her purchases

Now to help them grow

Today is veggie day at the y

And preparing for tea party on Monday

Wish me luck

Lots to do so if I am a little quiet on the blog I will post later 

 

Thurs tour

My lilac and marigold border

More marigolds as the daffys fade

Side view of annual border

Lettuce and radishes

Lemon geranium for mosquito repellent 

I need to plant lavender in side garden with fragrant allysum

My back regular garden area

Squash. Tomatoes. Basil. Thyme. Rosemary. Parsley curly and flat. Tarragon. 

I will need to rearrange the pots once done

The tomatoes need large pots. The herbs can stay in 8 inch pots

My squash in 2 days has already grown

It likes it's new pot

Tomato flowers.  Yay

Love you my pretties

Hoping to salsa you this fall

 

Cleaning up the yard

My garden is extended this year to the front side.here are my 120 onions and 20 tomatoes which need bigger pots

So.e of the tomatoes will need to be given away I think

My flag border

I planted marigolds and blue ageratum as a border. Should be pretty If they fill iI added

I added another petunia

Lowes was best price at 12 bucks. Home depot was 20 for hangers  yikes

A pink geranium in there and the start of a peony bush.  Hoping they thrive too

Starting to get my gardens a little tidier. Need to pay someone to weed for me lol

Do you garden?  What do you plant?

 

A comfy spot to sleep

No sooner do I put down blocks to get my camera and he claims it

What mom?

Just giving it the cat scan test

And if I tell him to get off I get the "she can't be talking to me" look

Such a Lil booger

I have 8 I think of these crumb blocks

So trying to do layouts to use just 8

If I do 2...1...2...1...2. That may work

The blocks are approx 15 so 3 across is about 45

And 5 rows down is about 75

Or I could make 1 block for 9

Set 3x3. Or about 45 square 

Just playing at this point getting that blue gray fab outta the stash

Thankful I have scraps and a stash to occupy my mind

What are you making?

 

Memorial day tea

I made these dollar store fascinators for Memorial Day tea with some neighbors

They cost 6 bucks to make out of headband, 

A hat

Flowers and ribbon mesh

Do I look English? Lol

Here's a red version

And another

I had fun making them

They are easy to wear with the headband 

And I hope the 5 ladies I invited to tea will like them

I figured they like me will be alone and it will be fun to get together in my screenroom for lunch

My next project is making the 3 tier tray for fancy schmancy stuff

I bought at dollar store 3 plastic clear trays and some fluted wine cups with stems for the separators between tiers. I just need my e6000 glue to finish it

My menu is baked beans with bacon and onion

Cocktail hotdogs with BBQ sauce and grape jelly

Potato salad

Maybe some triple decker mini sandwiches like BLT

I want to make a fruit skewer flag if I can find thin skewers

And some pretty flower cupcakes

I need ideas for maybe a cute hor'derve

Any ideas ladies???

I figure I have been here 8 yrs and need to know my neighbors

They are all excited to come as I hand delivered invitations in my best British accent inviting them to high tea

I pray the weather is nice for us to enjoy each other's company with a game of LCR planned as well

Help me out with some finger food ideas

One lady is diabetic and I need to make sure I have maybe grilled veggies drizzled in balsamic reduction or something on the healthier side

Or a carrot apple salad Maybe?

A caprese may work too

Can you help a Portuguese "English" chick out???

There are 2 men also attending and that's the reason for more traditional Memorial Day food

Hoping it will be fun.i bought a few boxes of sampler teas.i will package up 3 and tie with a bow for favors 

Oh yeah.....iced tea on menu too

With honey and lemon to add if wanted

Wanna have tea with us?

 

Busy weekend

During the week I went after work to grab plants

Here are some waiting to be planted

Thyme.  Curled parsley.  Basil

Marigolds. Blue ageratum

Look how pretty

This plant wasn't marked but looks like a mini petunia. Hope it will grow

Beautiful basil I had to have two

Curled parsley

Yum

Flat leaf parsley too

All snuggled in pots before I planted them

Tomatoes

This pretty petunia looks good on my hook in front

Just need something for the other hook

Look at my lilac.it is a nice bush but not the old fashioned one like I lost

The smell is nice though flowers to me are not as showy

My onions both yellow and red

Green thumb don't fail me now lol

I also still need Rosemary. Lemon balm. Lemon geranium. Oregano.  

Squash. 

We will see

How's your garden?