A Special Moment with Mom ~ A Royal Harvest!

I have to tell this story.

 

The last time I had a break from school

{back in February}

...it was a working vacation...

We had tile & grout repair work to do.

A very, very dusty operation.

Dust coated everything.

Then, we discovered that some of the grout was the wrong kind.

I had to go back to Best Tile to get more.

But only after more grout was removed.

Dust on Dust

I spent a whole day mopping and washing

washing and mopping

On my way home from Best Tile, I drove past a Salvation Army Store.

I haven't visited one in years.

{Inspired by some very ingenious blog friends that find the most amazing things at Good Will stores}

 

I took a sharp right and pulled in.

I be-lined to a small corner of the large store: kitchen/dishes area 

There were some sets and random dishes here and there.

On the second shelf down... all by themselves were plates...

That Were of My Mother's Dish Pattern!

I almost fainted!

Mom!

This is the pattern she had for years... we grew up with dinner on

"Royal Harvest" dishes.

 

{No one knows what happened to her plates... many were broken over the years}

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It was like getting a hug from Mom after such a long, hard week.

The dinner plates, all in excellent condition, were only $1.49 for all four.

The sandwich plates were only .99 for six.

To add to the wild surprise... it was apparently half-price day!

I was Laughing Out Loud!

The covered casserole dish, dessert plate, sugar bowl and creamer were only 

$19 on eBay!
{I did pay a little extra for shipping so that they would have a safe trip to my home}

You see, a few years ago, 
I spotted this pattern in a local antique store.  I was so excited! But then, I turned over the handwritten tag on the sugar bowl... $29...for just the sugar bowl!
{It was sad leaving them behind}

Oh This was Such a Fun Find!
First the plates, then the extras!
...and at a heavenly price...

It's so nice to get surprises!

Thanks Mom!

{She never quite leaves her children at home, even when she doesn't take them along}

—Margaret Culkin Banning

Thanks for reading my strange but true story.

*
For me, it was a heavenly moment - well orchestrated by the Master ~
- and with a mother's touch ♥

Do you have stories like this?

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A tablescape

of love and memories being created!

Join Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch
...and many others who share their creativity and hospitality!

Doing the Bunny Hop After Easter!

Easter was a Glorious Day

 Sun and Son
made it perfect!
*

I made two more Swedish Tea Rings

and lots of

{tempting}

cookies

My brother and sister-in-law hosted.

Family * Food * Fun

~ ~ ~

Monday morning

Chris and I were off to my hometown

to bring Dad back home.

We talked and talked all the way home.

But then there's that

Maria part of the trip.

A stop to Pires Flower Basket.

Springtime wreaths on every door.

pussy-willows, pansies, daffodils and tulips

{these came home with me}

I fell in love with that color!

...On the way home...
{traveling east on I-88}

hills and valleys and farms

...fill the senses...

...with the sunshine...

that followed us home

*

We returned to our home at 5:30 just as Rachael pulled in the driveway...

She was ready

to dig in to the exciting world

of tax prep.

As we ate a quick dinner of spaghetti and meatballs ~ I thought of a Robert Brault quote:

"You'll never have a more enjoyable Italian meal than on the Saturday night after Thanksgiving."

It seems to work for the day after Easter too! 

It was certainly a Bunny Hoppin' Day!

Dear Family and Friends,

I hope you had a wonderful Easter...

Filled with

Sun and Son

Have a wonderful Week.

{without too much hoppin'}

Inspired

Every Good Friday
our community has an ecumenical service.
It involves all the churches in our village and surrounding area.
They take turns hosting the service.
This year it was held at Altamont Reformed Church.

Today was Glorious.
 ~

I n s p i r e d,

We walked

...to where we worshiped a Shepherd...

 ~ A Good Shepherd ~

Who laid down his life

for his lambs.

After singing,
Psalm 22 was read.
"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

Years ago,
Rev. Luidens explained that it was customary
for the beginning words of a psalm to be spoken aloud,
then the rest to be remembered silently.
His lesson that day was a gift of teaching I will always remember.
Please read all of Psalm 22.

It will amaze you.

Whereas most of the time only the first sentence,
that dreadful question,
is heard on Good Friday...
why is it that we rarely hear about the rest?

It proclaims the fulfillment of His purpose.

". . . Posterity will serve him;
future generations will be told about the Lord,
and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn,
saying that

he has done it."

After the service,

we carried the beams.

Ev told stories of

f o r g i v e n e s s

and

r e j e c t i o n.

The beams of the crosses were originally roof rafters
from a pioneer home in our area.
During renovation, these beams were rejected.
Ev saw them along the road and knew they still had purpose.

For over twenty years, 

they have been used for Good Friday...

and are carried to St. John's Lutheran Church, where they remain standing for several days after Easter.

I  will  never  stop  loving
Y O U

~Easter Blessings to you and yours~

love,

and Chris

Thank You Dianne @

{Everything Else Thrown In}
for inspiring me to post about two of my local churches.
Dianne creates amazing posts that take her readers
on

beautiful visits to churches.

. . . Weekend Worship at . . .

Showers of Mercy

I am humbled by God's mercies

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

His mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning;

great is Your faithfulness.

“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,

“therefore I will hope in Him.”

Lamentations 3: 22-23

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Rain or Shine

I feel His Presence

As I drive to work each morning

I see open sky

sweeping fields

a city of people in the distance
~
and I know

He is here

♥

Not only during this week,

but every day

I pray to be still and know

that

He is here
 *

Thank you to our Sky Watch Friday hosts: 

Klaus Sandy Sylvia Wren Louise Fishing Guy 
*

Happy Birthday Wanda!

Since today is her birthday, I thought you should all meet

Wanda, from Moments of Mine.

She has shared so many of her beautiful moments!

Family

A beautiful family

Nature

Such beautiful property that surrounds her home

Beautiful walks

Such wonderful photos of God's creatures, big and small

Cooking

Meals that speak comfort and love

Her wonderfully written commentary,
lovely videos
and when you read to the bottom,
a special treat of soothing music
{the kind that you do not pause, but let play through while your heart opens to enjoy} 

Moments of Your Own

Thank You, Wanda!

and a

*Very, Very Happy Birthday*

Betty Crocker's Swedish Tea Ring {A Family Favorite}

Palm Sunday I was busy baking

Three Swedish Tea Rings!

Chris will be bringing them to work as a

Thank You

I've baked this sweet bread recipe for years;

it's a favorite for gatherings and holidays.

I always thank my mother for being the angel that whispered in my ear:

"Maria, you need a good electric mixer."

It's not a super fancy one, just a Sunbeam
...and I love it!

It's lasted for years and years and I'm so grateful to have it.

*

I'll be making two more tea rings for Easter Sunday.

And, these sweet little flower decos will go on top.

I can hear my lil' nieces telling me which flowers they want on their piece!

*

Dear Family and Friends,

Have a blessed week 
filled with

The Peace that He came to Bring.

~ Blessings for Each Day ~

and always, 

Recipe for Betty Crocker's

Click HERE a PDF of recipe

SWEDISH TEA RING

(Sweet Roll Dough)

Recipe for Betty Crocker's  SWEDISH TEA RING

(Sweet Roll Dough)

๏ 1 package active dry yeast

๏ 1/4 cup warm water for proofing the yeast (105-115)

๏ 1 cup lukewarm milk (scalded then cooled - not really necessary IMO)

๏ 1/3 cup sugar

๏ 1/3 cup margarine - or butter - softened

๏ ½ - 1 teaspoon salt

๏ 1 egg.   Mix all wet ingredients and add 1 tsp. Vanilla

๏ 3-1/2 to 4 cups all purpose flour 

PROCESS: 

๏ Dissolve yeast in warm water in large bowl.

๏ Stir in milk, sugar, butter, salt, egg, vanilla and 2 cups of the flour.

๏ Beat until smooth. Wait about 5 minutes to let the liquids absorb the first 2 cups of flour… Then mix in enough remaining flour to make dough easy to handle.   (too much flour makes the tea ring dry)

๏ Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.

๏ Place in greased bowl; turn greased side up. Cover; let rise in warm place until double, about 

1-1/2 hours. (Dough is ready if an indentation remains when touched.) Punch down dough. 

AFTER RISING FIRST TIME:

๏ Roll 1/2 of the Sweet Roll Dough into a rectangle, 15x9 inches, on lightly floured surface. {I use all the Dough}

๏ Spread with one of the fillings (below).

๏ Roll up tightly, beginning at 15-inch side.

๏ Pinch edge of dough into roll to seal well. 

Stretch roll to make even.

๏ With sealed edge down, shape into ring on lightly greased cookie sheet. Pinch ends together.

๏ With scissors, make cuts 2/3 of the way through ring at 1-inch intervals. Turn each section on its side.

๏ Let rise until double, about 40 minutes. 

BAKING: Heat oven to 350o. Bake until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Test with a small knife

(If tea ring browns too quickly, cover loosely with aluminum foil.) Spread ring with Glaze (below) and, if desired, decorate with nuts or cherries while warm. 

(APRICOT CHERRY FILLING) 

Mix 1/2 cup finely cut-up dried apricots and 1/2 cup finely chopped marachino cherries, 

drained on paper towels. 

(CINNAMON-RAISIN FILLING) 

2 tablespoons margarine or butter softened, 1/2 cup packed brown sugar, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, 1/2 cup raisins 

Spread margarine over rectangle; sprinkle with brown sugar, cinnamon, and raisins. 

(DATE  FILLING) 

1 cup cut-up dates, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/3 cup water, 1/3 cup coarsely chopped nuts 

Cook dates, sugar and water over medium heat; stirring constantly, until thickened. Stir in nuts; cool. 

~for ring after filling and putting together

GLAZE 

Mix 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon milk and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla until glaze is smooth and of desired consistency. {I add a little softened butter too- sooo creamy} 

Thank you Michael Lee for hosting

* * *

Visit Foodie Friday for Fabulous Recipes!

{the great-great-great-great... grandbunny} of Ralph the Bunny

When
Ralph's descendants 

come to visit

and spruce up their homes,
I know that

Spring is Here

{12 years ago, a baby rabbit needed rescuing from a neighborhood cat. 
He was the only baby left in the nest.
My daughter, Amanda, wouldn't rest until "Ralph" was safe.
She cleaned out our old guinea pig cage and kept him in there
until it was "safe" for him to be free.}

Photo taken early this morning

{March 27, 2010}

while enjoying my first cup of

Saturday Morning Coffee.

~the best cup of coffee of the week~

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Dear Family and Friends,

I hope you enjoy a wonderful Saturday

of rest and weekend joys.

*