You’re Never Too Old for a Tea Party
Inside: As an introvert, one of my goals this year has been saying “yes” to more social events–a tea party being the latest. Which proves you’re never too old for a tea party.
Recently I was invited to a tea party. Mom asked if I’d like to go to one of our favorite haunts, Sugar Grove Growers, for one of their events, and I happily agreed. As the date approached, she mentioned that she’d found out the Sparkle Tea Party was actually geared toward children, a fact which she shrugged off. She’d been wanting to go to more of the doings at her place of employment and didn’t mind. After all, she reasoned, I was a writer and it would be interesting to meet a local author.
The day of the tea party, as we headed up the stairs to a quaint makeshift tea room, I felt a little self-conscious without bringing a seemingly essential element to the gathering–a little girl. No worries, though. The author, Stephanie Paasch, welcomed us, introduced herself, and told us a little about her presentation. She explained how she’d gone from someone who wasn’t particularly fond of tea to a passionate tea drinker and promised we’d learn some interesting facts about tea.
Soon other guests arrived, and we found our place cards and sat down to a gorgeous table setting complete with small, delicate tea cups and a teapot centerpiece with cuttings that morning from the greenhouse. (Mom knows all about that, as this is her thirty-fourth year of working in the greenhouses there.) Alana Fravell, co-owner with her husband Bob Theobald and his father Bill, explained a little bit of the history of Sugar Grove Growers–how her inlaws, Bill and Ellyn Theobald, had started out with just a cart selling produce and plants and now their thriving business was turning 40 this year. I was touched when she spoke of Ellyn (who passed away several years ago) and how Alana wanted to continue Ellyn’s legacy. Ellyn had been the heart of Sugar Grove Growers, adding so much with her attention to detail and creativity, and it was so good to see Alana bringing those same talents to the store.
Next Stephanie read from her children’s book Sparklepants: Terrific Tea Party. And, you know what? I did learn a lot about tea! The story, although written for children, was informative and fun, and I like how she didn’t speak down to her audience. She introduced “big words” in such a way that kids could learn yet still remain engaged with the story. I certainly enjoyed it. So will the little girl in your life.
Meanwhile, as Stephanie read, Alana served us various teas and a plate of goodies–a ham and cheese finger sandwich as well as the ever-popular peanut butter and jelly version, along with apple slices, and two different kinds of cookies. (Definitely cleaned my plate. Well, you know, to set a good example.)
Stephanie answered questions about tea, signed copies of her book, and told us about other adventures she had planned for The Adventures of Sparklepants series. All too soon, the party was over.
Afterward we shopped downstairs–more goodies!–and chatted with folks. Such is life in a small town. What a way to spend an afternoon.
And there we were, Mom, a seventy-four-year-old, and me, fifty-three, proving that you’re never too old for a tea party!
Have you ever been to a tea party? Tell us about it in the comments.
Resources:
More about Stephanie Paasch
Teas the author recommends: PersnickeTea
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Uprooted, Seeing Green, and Other News Fresh From the Farm
Inside: Uprooted and grounded, watching the grass grow, and when birds become optimists. Check out all the latest news fresh from the farm on A Rural Girl Writes.
Uprooted and Grounded
The wind brought us a present the other night. One of the Chinese elms out front toppled over, thankfully not hurting anything else aside from a smaller tree next to it, and that one might survive after all.
Under a wind advisory from the National Weather Service, I had a hard time sleeping as the gale force winds descended upon us right before midnight. Sometime around five thirty I opened the door to let Clarence outside and happened to notice one of the trees in the yard looked short. I squinted again and realized that was because it had been uprooted during the night. Strangely, though, I didn’t hear the tree fall. Mike said it sounded like a big thud, though he didn’t think at the time it was a tree falling over.
This isn’t the first time we’ve lost a tree. But this time around has got me thinking of the word uprooted. More often I’ve heard the term to describe a person who has moved away from home or lost a job, but I’ve never stopped to think much about it. When you see a tree lying flat, roots pushed up from the ground, it leaves a mental picture which conveys just how devastating that can actually be. A wide, gaping hole is left behind. Not something that can be easily filled.
Only something new can fill it. Which gave me a great idea. I was having trouble figuring out what to ask for my birthday, but now I know. A tree with beautiful fall leaves that will sink its roots deep into the soil.
Watching the Grass Grow
I’ve been seeing green lately, and not of the seven deadly sins variety. I’ve been watching the grass grow. Yes, literally. Day by day I’ve been watching fields of tan slowly turn sage in color. It’ll be a while before we get to kelly green, but we’re getting there.
Thank that yellow ball in the sky I’ve been spotting lately. We haven’t seen a lot of it this winter, but this past week has been sunshiny and bright. One of these days we might even be able to say sun-drenched. We’ve got a while before that, though.
And it’s not just the grass that has benefitted from the sun’s appearance. My disposition has improved immensely.
You might say it’s downright sunny.
When Birds Become Optimists
You have to admire the birds this time of year. It can’t be easy out there, in the cold, singing up a storm so that maybe spring will wake up and notice. Adverse conditions don’t keep them down. They don’t pay attention to the gloomy forecast the weather people have served up for the next ten days. It never stops them from their tasks. And here I am, complaining about the weather, often letting the temperature or wind chill determine my mood.
Large flocks of blackbirds stopped by yesterday on their way north. Despite the lingering winter, they’re actually a little early from when I normally see them. A good note to end February on.
Tomorrow March comes.
More green.
More bird songs.
Spring.
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25 Ways to Be Good to Yourself
Inside: So often we focus only on the needs of others–and much to our detriment. Today it’s time for a little self-care with our 25 ways to be good to yourself.
*This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on any product links and purchase items, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps pay for my website.
Why Self-care?
If you’re like me, the idea of self-care isn’t something you learned about until later in life. I was introduced to the concept years ago after coming off a serious bout of depression, and I remember how foreign it seemed at first. Thoughts like “put others first before yourself” and “love your neighbor as you love yourself” ran through my mind. Wasn’t I being selfish, focusing on my needs?
I obviously wasn’t the only one with doubts. The author of a book I read on the subject said that when she presented her views on a popular talk show the audience of mostly women booed her. Their reaction re-enforced the message that focusing on your own needs was bad.
But what’s the first thing flight attendants tell you as they run through the safety procedures? Put your own oxygen mask on first before helping others. The reason is simple: You’re not able to take care of anyone if you haven’t attended to your own basic needs. It’s hard to water others when your own well is dry.
Upon thinking of the second greatest commandment–“Love your neighbor as you love yourself”–I’ve come to realize something that had oftentimes been glossed over in my growing up years. If you’re doing a poor job loving yourself, then the “as” part of the commandment would mean that you should do just as poorly loving your neighbor. But here’s the point–the commandment assumes that you’re taking good care of yourself, therefore that should be your guide when dealing with your neighbor.
While it’s still difficult sometimes to change my mindset in this regard, I strive to make sure I am looking after myself. That way I can be there for the people I love as well as treating those I come in contact with kindness because I’m not coming from a place of scarcity.
Being Good to Yourself
With that in mind, here are 25 ways to be good to yourself. While not every point will be right for you, likely you’ll find a handful of ideas you can use as you develop the habit of self-care.
- Treat yourself like you would your best friend. Would you criticize your BFF if she gained twenty pounds? Most of us would never do such a thing! More than likely we would listen from a place of compassion and offer encouragement. Do likewise to yourself!
- Schedule time for yourself. Make yourself a priority as you would any appointment you make. Pencil in time for you and make sure you keep the appointment. You are worth it!
- Take care of your health. Eat right. Take supplements. Exercise. Get plenty of rest. Cultivate habits which help you feel your best.
- Reduce your stress load. Can you get rid of any of the activities that cause you stress? Whatever you can eliminate will make your life more manageable and give you less headaches.
- Give yourself permission to say no. While consciously purging the stress from your life, don’t turn around and add in more. Remember: What is good is not always appropriate. While volunteering in the children’s department at church is not a bad thing, if you’re spread thin already, then it’s not appropriate for you–unless you drop other items off your schedule. When you say yes to something new, you’re also saying no to something you’re currently doing.
- Spend quiet time with yourself. We live in a noisy world that doesn’t encourage introspection. Spending quiet time daily can be life-affirming. Slowing down to hear yourself think reduces stress, and in the absence of noise, mental clarity is often a benefit. Try it. You just might like it.
- Journal. If you’ve been reading my posts for a while, you know my love/hate relationship with journaling. The truth is, though, it’s often a good way to process your life, and thus deal with your emotional issues as they come.
- Soak in a tub. This is the only suggestion that comes with a doctor’s prescription–Dr. Teal, that is. A good mineral soak with a wonderful scent is the frugal woman’s spa treatment, and it does a body good. I highly recommend it!
- Take yourself out on a date. A leisurely day antiquing. Coffee and a good novel. Dinner and a movie. Who says you can’t have fun by yourself?
- Buy yourself a bouquet of fresh flowers. You don’t have to go for long stem roses. Many lovely (and affordable) floral arrangements can be found cheaply at the grocery store. The pop of color and fragrance is so welcome, particularly during the winter months.
- Watch your favorite movie. This used to be an occasional guilty pleasure of mine years ago when Mike was at work and Emily was in school and I was between morning and night chores around our dairyfarm. Something about watching a movie alone made me feel like I was getting away with something. Not sure what that was about, but it was quite fun!
- Meet a friend for lunch. And not the sort of friend who tends to be needy. Iron sharpens iron, so choose someone who is equally good at listening as she is sharing her heart.
- Steal a few minutes (or hours) with a good book. Whether you take something off your bookshelf or pop into a book store to buy the latest bestseller, give yourself permission to get lost in a good book.
- Give yourself the gift of convenience. There are times when shortcuts can save us time, stress, and energy. Takeout meals can regain minutes lost from other activities. A cleaning service can help you stay on top of things. Don’t feel guilty when you need a little convenience to make your schedule work.
- Indulge in something decadent. Now you probably don’t want to do this every day, but every so often it’s nice to have a treat. On a special diet? See if you can find dessert recipes within your dietary restrictions. On Pinterest, for example, you can find so many ideas for low carb and keto desserts. (On this blog, too!)
- Bake. (I’m imagining the British bake show and the hosts giving the command to bake to worthy contestants.) I don’t know about you, but sometimes I need a little TLC in the form of baked goods. Comfort food. Find a recipe and measure and mix to your heart’s content. Be sure to lick the spoon.
- Do handwork. There is something quite healing in making things with your hands. I’m not sure what the magic is, but I highly recommend handwork for so many different reasons, especially how therapeutic it is.
- Put on your favorite album. Yes, I said album. I know, I’m showing my age. Okay, playlist if you’re not old school. Dancing shoes optional.
- Give yourself a non-food treat. Whether a magazine off the newsstand or plants from the gardening center, a small gift can be a boost to your day.
- Go for a walk in nature. Studies suggest that spending time in the park can be healing as well as healthy. Stepping out of your normal environment to one surrounded by trees and plants, fresh air and sunshine can be invigorating.
- Enroll in a class. Whether continuing your education or taking a how-to class at the community college, learning something new or honing a skill can be rewarding.
- Shop. While I’m not a recreational shopper, I know quite a few people who are. If you like browsing or bargain hunting, make a day of it. As long as you stay in your budget, have fun.
- Be a hobbyist! What do you like to do but never get time to do it? For me, gardening is fun, but maybe you like fishing or rock climbing or working out at the gym. Do what brings you joy.
- Make a list of your achievements. This is a good exercise when you’ve taken a hit to your self-esteem. Make sure to keep your list handy and refer to it when you need a confidence boost.
- Celebrate! Celebrate spring or Mondays or cute little fuzzy kittens. Or simply that you’re breathing! It’s okay to actually enjoy life. After all, Someone came so we’d have it abundantly.
What do you do to take care of you? Tell us about it in the comments.
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Make Our Keto Red Velvet Mug Cake for Valentine’s Day
Inside: Need a quick little something special for that someone special? Make our keto Red Velvet Mug Cake for Valentine’s Day. You will “heart” it.
It starts with ingredients you likely have on hand. (If you’re doing the keto diet, that is.) Almond and coconut flours, sweetener, and baking powder. Eggs and butter and cream. Easy? You bet. And oh, so little time to prepare. Mug cakes are about as instant gratification as you can get when it comes to making a cake. I’m a fan, can you tell?
A little recipe testing confession: if you use a half pint mason jar like I did, you’re likely to watch it rise a couple of inches above the rim during the microwaving process. Thankfully it quickly deflated and fit nicely in the jar, though I had wondered if it was going to spill over. I ended up microwaving for one minute, letting the cake deflate, and then continuing for another 30 seconds. Every microwave oven is different, so you’ll have to experiment with a watchful eye.
But how do you know when the cake is done? If you check it after one minute and see it’s wet on the top, then you need to microwave it a little longer, like 20 or 30 additional seconds.
A word about the icing. . . It’s a lovely little cream cheese and butter concoction with sweetener and a little lemon juice and walnut pieces. While the icing will still be good without the lemon juice, the lemon really brightens the flavor. And who doesn’t love walnuts? Pecans would be nice, too. And I certainly wouldn’t object to slivered almonds, either.
All right, time’s a wastin’. Let’s get to that recipe, shall we?
- 3 tablespoons of almond flour
- 1 tablespoon of coconut flour
- ½ tablespoon of cocoa
- 1 tablespoon of sweetener (I use a stevia blend with erythritol)
- ¼ teaspoon of baking powder
- pinch of salt
- 2 tablespoons of butter
- 1 tablespoon of heavy cream
- 1 egg
- ¼ teaspoon of almond extract
- ¼ teaspoon of red food coloring
- 1 ounce of cream cheese
- 1 tablespoon of butter
- ½ tablespoon of sweetener (I use stevia and erythritol blend)
- ¼ teaspoon of fresh lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon of walnut pieces
- Mix almond and coconut flours, cocoa, sweetener, baking powder, and salt in a bowl and set aside.
- Melt the 2 tablespoons of butter in a 12-ounce mug. (Or take a risk and try an 8-ounce mug.)
- Add the cream, egg, almond extract, and food coloring and mix well.
- Add in the dry ingredients and mix well again.
- Microwave for 1 - 2 minutes until there is no moisture on top.. (I suggest checking after a minute.)
- While the mug cake cools, cream together cream cheese, butter, sweetener, and lemon juice.
- When cake is cool, spread with the icing and top with walnut pieces.
- Enjoy!
Notes: If you aren’t into doing keto, simply replace the almond and coconut flours with regular flour. Same goes with the sweetener if you want to use sugar, though it might take two tablespoons with regular sugar. As previously mentioned, an 8-ounce mug is a tight fit, but it looks more attractive for gift giving than if the cake only comes up so far inside your mug. You can always mix up two versions for trying. A pretty ribbon and a cut-out heart made this a simple but cute gift.
Just ask Mom.
Did you celebrate Valentine’s Day? Tell us about it in the comments.
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