Tea Time, Dress Ups and Angels

I'll welcome you all to my Jane Austen week, with a picture of Johnny nibbling on a copy of Persuasion.  I used it for an Instagram post, saying something like, "My grandson also devours Jane Austen books."

I pulled all of my brown transferware pitchers out of the cupboard, and put them together, on the buffet level, and I think it looks much less cluttered than it did before as the cupboard really was over full.

After Davin and Bri's kids went to school, I spent several hours at the antique mall, moving anything connected to a tea party, into one booth, moving everything else out. 

These are my teacup and saucer orphans.

I included several of my children's tea sets that I bought at the flea market in Texas.

I even moved my teacup display from my front booth.

I picked up the kids from school when I was done at the mall .... here the girls are in the guest room, it was so fun to see them giggling and chatting, like the last set of little girls who lived in this house, Becca and Emily. That took me back.

After Papa went to Barbershop, we played the Farm Game.  Poor Adi kept getting OTBs (Options to buy) but was making no money to buy with. 

I reminded her that she had handily beat us all in Zilch, the only other time we played a game together. 

I saw these darling shoes online, on an old post of my niece Kristin's daughter Leigh, who had painted them for a friend.  We know where the artistic gene went in her generation, for sure. How fabulous.

Davin and Bri came and picked up the kids that evening.

On Tuesday I spent the day cleaning, clearing, decorating and cooking in anticipation of my Jane Austen tea party for my book club as we had read the 6th of Austen books, Mansfield Park .  Our book club has been going for 25 years, and I have been a member for 24.  The paper runner is made from pages of a paperback Pride and Prejudice book.  I also used the pages to make flowers and a banner with miniature Austen books and pennants hanging from it. I also used all 3 sets of Jane Austen books that I own, along with a couple of other Austen volumes.

When Dad and I went shopping for the rest of the food for the tea party, he ran into Gary Ellsworth who used to work at Macey's and who was also living in this ward when we moved here in 1999.  Reunions are always good. 

At work on Wednesday, I added this cute valentine to the middle of this red heart wreath and thought about taking the 1950's pink satin pixie home to do a Valentine's display here.

Its good I didn't because a girl from the cutest family decided she needed the pixie.  She was shopping with her mom and sister, with whom I spoke, and of whom I was somewhat envious, as the whole family, including the Dad and another sister are all antique collectors.  How fun is that?

When I got home, I madly rushed around finishing up the food. The first gal on the left is new to book club, this is her first time, then there is Ann, Heather, Sandy, Tina, who was also there for the first time, but whom I invited, as she lives in my ward. Then Brittany, me, Carolyn, KD, Joyce, Lilly and Suzanne.

Here is my plate, as you see, on the edge of the runner, so you can see the cute detail of the lace edge punch I used to finish it.   There is a cherry tart, a ribbon sandwich, a cucumber sandwich, and envelope heart tart and a crumpet with clotted cream and lemon curd.  

Here's a shot of us all visiting. 

Here's a meme that Emily sent, that had Dad and me in stitches.

Dad had spent the day on Wednesday finishing up the cutting out of the back and placement of the cupboard to cover the unsightly utility boxes on the wall.  What a puzzle!

Dad went to do his temple shift on Thursday, and of course I worked that day.  After the temple he took Brother Haskel to give our neighbor Caren Kirk a blessing.  After breaking her second hip in two years last summer, she had heart valve surgery, and picked up an infection at the hospital.  To make matters worse, she fell and broke one of the vertebrae in her neck, which put her back in the hospital, poor girl. She seemed like herself, and talked about moving to a rehab center next week. 

On Friday I went to work at The Grove, for my one day a month that pretty much covers my rent there.  It was fun when Lynde Mott, a local artist came in.  I've known her for many years, as she has shopped at Treasures pretty much from the beginning.  She was dressed so cute with this felted flower hat, that I asked her to let me take a picture.  Doesn't she look like she's headed to a tea party?

Then I went out to get a picture of her darling Volkswagen van.

She's so cute.

You have to love it.

Then this cute girl came in.  She reminded me of a brunette Kimi, and she also looked ready for a tea party. Kimi's daughter owns Retro Betty in SLC, and I suggested this gal should check it out, but she's just visiting from Arizona.

While I was at work on Friday, Dad put this mirror back together.  It goes with a little dresser that I had at The Grove until I redid my booth there a couple of weeks ago.  I put it on Instagram and ended up selling it to a customer from Treasures.  I think I mentioned that she recognized my verbiage in the add, and knew it was me selling it.  Anyway, bringing it home Dad accidently had the mirror assembly break up, and thus his time repairing it that day.  He also delivered it to Linda in Springville.  What a great guy. 

After work I met up with Dad, Darby and Davin et al at K's kitchen for dinner.  Dave and Bri treated us as a thank you for watching the kids.  Adi and Nenna were wearing clothes they'd gotten at a once a year clothing clearance at a SLC gently used clothing shoppe's blowout. 

Her mom sent me this picture later showing all the fun things that just Adi found.

We were stunned when we got home to see this amazing sun set that made it look like the sky was on fire.  Believe it or not, it was actually brighter than you see here.

On Saturday Dad was up early to do a Barbershop Webinar for the district, dealing with leadership things, now that he is the treasurer of his chapter. I had to take off and head back to The Grove because I had brought home the register key in my pocket.  Oops.  When I got there, I was telling Sheila about Lynde's adorable outfit, and that never having met Lynde's husband, I had been surprised that he was hot.  Another customer started laughing and said I had made her day. (an obviously old lady saying that a 50ish guy was hot?)  I showed her my pictures of Lynde, whom it turned out she knows.  She was telling me how amazing Lynde's house is, and showed me some murals, and decoratively painted antique furniture items she has.  She also told me that people pay Lynde to tour her home .... I'm in, how fun would it be to take my art group there?

Then, just for kicks and giggles, I thought I'd share this 'broke Texan's' tour of Europe.  Dad  and I are thinking we would get a kick out of doing it some year.  In fact, maybe we could take a dog leg down to McAllen, Texas on the Mexican border to see the new temple there. 

Dad and I went to dinner at Applebee's that night, then stopped off at Dave's house to drop off a book on 'Spyology', for Nenna who had told me that she wants to be a spy when she grows up ... the girls dressed up in some of their newly thrifted clothes, which was very fun ... did you notice that Nenna's on her toes?  Hard to believe they're just a little over a year apart in age.

Eli has a unique way of photo bombing as he pretends to bring the book he's reading down on their heads.

How cute are they!

I asked Adi to pose with these Lego flowers, aren't they amazing?

They actually come as a set to assemble.

Then Nenna started checking out the spy book and

 is here shown with her notebook trying to decode the secret message she found in the spine of the book.  I was right, it was so perfect for her.

Best buck and a half I ever spent.

This morning we were up early again, this time for a zoom meeting with other former Finnish missionaries, and the Kervinens to plan their reunion here in April. 

Here is his screen showing the Mottishaws moderating.  The Kervinens are second from the left on top.

I subbed for Tina, who was sick this morning, in primary.  This little boy, who is turning 7 soon, was so fun.  When I asked him how old he was, trying to figure out if this class was the oldest class in the Junior Primary, he told me, then asked how old I am, I told him to guess and he said 27.  I told him he was my new best friend.  But later in class he remembered that I was really 69, which I was very impressed by.

Sister Murphy who I taught with, well actually she taught, was so well prepared and the kids were all so very engaged the whole time. 

Last of all I did want to mention that today is Pride and Prejudice Day, as the book was published on January 28th, 1813. So 111 years ago. Remember:  Payson's Paula Perkins Prefers Pride and Prejudice!

And in other perusals of preferments, I found this artist, Annie Henrie Nadar, whose work I love.  This one represents the fruit of the tree of life being handed down from generation to generation ... I feel such a great connection to my ancestors, and I am so grateful that so many of them, actually all of my 8 great grandparents, with entirely different stories, chose to make the sacrifices (of which we have become so aware, with our mission at Mosida)  necessary to bless me in my life with the gospel plan that has brought me such great joy in my life.  I remember my faithful mother, whose growing up years after the death of her father when she was three, was so full of trials and difficulties, once told me.  "If I knew for a fact that the church was NOT true, I would still be active in following its precepts, because this way of life is so joyful."  Yes, I miss her so much, and it won't be long before I see her again.  I remember thinking that when Ben died, and it truly is a comfort.

I received news last week, that my sweet sister Julie is having some health issues and is in the hospital.  Scott is looking out for a care center for her, when she get's strong enough to leave the hospital.  I was very touched, though, in her email when she told me what was going on, that she said, "Odd, I am living in some surreal calm.  More strange is a sense of okay. Gotta do what has to be done, no sense making anyone miserable.  Even more oddly, I'm curious as Hell!" I found her words very comforting, as I figure Mom and Dad are there, perhaps, on and off, prepared for the time when they will welcome her.