Tea and Hospitality and the Good Old Days

Something about the times we are living in has me longing for days gone by.  Not centuries ago, although that sounds lovely as well, but the days of my early adulthood and marriage.  You know the good old days of the 80's and 90's. (Technically I guess that was a different century but in my mind it can't have been more than 20 years ago.)

Do you remember the days of Romantic Homes, Country Living and Victoria magazines?  The days when we looked to still pictures in books and monthly publications for our tips and style inspiration.  The days before fast moving reels and flashing images?  The days when you went to a thrift store and old dishes cost a dollar or two?

Our move last winter was a considerable downsize for us and I was brutal in the editing of my possessions.  Countless sets of glassware, dinner plates and serving bowls found their way to the donation center. There is nothing like a move to motivate you to reassess everything you've accumulated over the years.

Long forgotten about boxes of chintz china and teacups that fell out of style, were unearthed from a previous move and lovingly hand washed and repackaged to be brought to our new home. No longer concerned with the latest decorating trends they are proudly out on display and I am determined to use them routinely. 

This year, as this brutally hot summer comes to a close, I am excited to reconnect with my love of the art of afternoon tea.  Nothing fancy but a purposeful slow down with a fine china cup and saucer, a little sweet treat, a time of quiet contemplation, a good book to read or the browsing of an actual magazine.  A little time just for me.

Or perhaps I will send a handwritten note to a friend (there was no text messaging in the good old days) and invite her over to join me? Nothing says hospitality like tea and conversation, don't you agree?

Just because this world seems to be spinning faster and faster, doesn't mean we have to hop on for the ride.  

We are still in control of what happens under our roof and between our four walls and if I want to go back in time to circa 1985 and open up one of my treasured Mary Engelbreit magazines, then by goodness that's just where you'll find me.  

The outside world will intrude eventually, but until it does, here's to the good old days.

xo, Patty

pop up halloween party

While we were in Texas a few weeks ago my grandson missed one of his good friends birthday parties.  I know there will be plenty of birthday parties but a friend that moved a town away was going to be there and he was especially bummed not to see him.

When we got back I decided to contact the boys mom (thank goodness for facebook in this case) and see if he could come over for a play date.  She thought it was a great idea so I decided why not invite a few friends to add to the fun.

We (by that I mean I) decided to make it a Halloween themed event.  Not wanting to invest a lot of money, I headed down to my local Dollar Tree and picked up a few fun and scary things.

I threw a festive quilt over the buffet table, put out a few snacks and just like that we had ourselves a quick pop up Halloween party.

Needless to say, it was a big hit.  All six boys had a fun time and enjoyed being able to help themselves to as many snacks as they wanted.

Can I just say it is so much easier entertaining for small people.  They didn't care about dust bunnies or dishes in the sink...or maybe I didn't care, which is probably more important.  They just had fun.

Happy Hallo's Eve Eve Eve.

xo, Patty

on hospitality

When I was a kid I was certain that when I grew up I was going to have the house where all the kids gathered and people were always welcome.  There would always be room for one more at the dinner table and the guest room would always be at the ready.

And then I became an adult.  Life got busy, I married an introvert, kids came along and my house was never quite finished.  So I settled for yearly birthday parties for the kids and meeting friends at the local Chili's.

Which is not bad, it just wasn't what I imagined...

And then about ten years ago I decided to accept and respect the boundaries in my life with regards to company but to figure out a way that I could still live the life I dreamed of as a kid.  I gave up the notion of having pop in friends, extended house guests in a perfectly decorated room and a completely done home.  I instead focused on inviting a few friends over just for their company, not to impress them and not to feel embarrassed by a house with mismatched dishes that more often than not looks like an active family lives here.

What a revolutionary notion that was for me.

What I learned is that when family needs a place to stay they aren't looking for a luxury hotel, just a bed with clean sheets and a smiling face handing them a hot cup of coffee in the morning.  When friends come to visit they don't expect a gourmet meal and a pinterest ready atmosphere, they just want a safe place to talk about the ups and downs of life.

I love this quote from Edie at Life in Grace...

"Hospitality is not about inviting people into your perfect home, it's about inviting them into your imperfect heart."

Doesn't that just say it all?  Who might need an invitation into your less than ready home and your perfectly imperfect heart?

xo. Patty

pink Christmas home tour

I had such a wonderful time at my friend Laura's home yesterday.  She prepared a lovely brunch for us followed by some sweet coffee and....time.  She graciously let me take pictures to share with all of you.  I think I'll cut the chit chat short today and just show you her beautiful home.

Isn't her attention to detail amazing?  It's no wonder her home has been featured in several publications including Romantic Homes.  Every time I visit her I come away with a renewed spirit and fresh inspiration to live life beautifully.

What's more amazing is that she is even more beautiful on the inside than her home.

You are blessed if you have one or two ladies in your life who make you feel special.  My cup certainly overflows with them. 

I'm joining Betweens Naps on the Porch...
and Dittle Dattle...

Have a wonderful day.  Patty

bringing back "coffee and..."

My friend Elaine has the sweetest term for that special time women have sitting around the table and sharing life.  It's a phrase she learned from her mom.  It's called, "Coffee and..." time.  Coffee and a cookie and a little conversation...Coffee and a tissue and a little encouragement...Coffee and advice and a little motivation...You get the picture.  

I think that's something sorely missing in women's lives today.  Coming together to encourage each other as we share the every day struggles and joys in our lives.

(Elaine - left and Debbie - right)

My time with my new blogging friends this weekend was wonderful.  We shopped and ate and shopped some more.  Then we came back to my house for some coffee and... a little dessert and a lot of conversation.



(Kris - left and Shelly - right)

I'm sure that all of us left behind a long list of things we needed to get done that day but nothing that couldn't wait as we fed each others souls and shared the Christmas spirit.

We are already planning our next time together after the holidays.  I say it's time we women fought to bring back our "coffee and..." time.  I know it's a different time, a new era but in so many ways I think we need to be there for each other now more than ever.  Don't you agree?

lunch with friends

I'm meeting up with a few blogging friends tomorrow for lunch and a little shopping.  We'll be starting the day over at Elaine's and ending here at Lemon Lane Cottage.

I am so excited to see these cottage loving girls and have been busy adding those little extra touches that help make everyone feel special.  The pillows are fluffed, the table is set, the candy jars are filled with Christmas goodies.

All that's left to do is pop dessert in the oven and  push start on the coffee maker.  Wish you all could join us!

faith walk friday #6

I guess it's no secret that I love my little cottage so sharing my faith walk today will be a joy.

On living where I do - I always wanted to live on a little farm somewhere with chickens and horses maybe a cow and a pig thrown in for good measure.  I would grow my own vegetables and the hugest sunflowers you ever did see.  That hasn't happened yet, and I'm okay with that.  I firmly believe that God has us exactly where he wants us.

After trying on a few different houses (three moves in an eight year span) we finally found one that fits.  This little house on Lemon Lane suits our family to a tee and we knew it the first time we walked through it.  It has odd shaped ceilings, lots of nooks and crannies, a nice size kitchen that was newly remodeled when we moved in with beautiful barn red cabinetry, a dining room big enough to seat 10 comfortably, crown molding, a fireplace, diamond paned windows, a little front porch, a detached garage, a sun room, my very own craft room and a beautiful backyard with large park like trees and enough sun for a vegetable garden.  It sits on a tree lined street close to shopping and the downtown village that lights up at Christmas and even has a hometown Christmas parade.

That being said, I know with certainty that if for whatever reason this house was taken away, we would be okay because the truth is this old house is just wooden studs and pretty decorations.

A home is created with the heart and spirit of the people and relationships that inhabit it.  The "stuff" that I love about this house could be recreated in a two bedroom apartment or a small travel trailer. 

I love seeing beautiful homes on blogs and in magazines and it can be so easy to get caught up in making my home pretty at the expense of those living in it. 

My prayer is that the people who feel safe, secure and loved within these walls would feel the same under any roof and if that's not the case...I need to examine what this house really represents, where my priorities are and who I am serving.

God's ultimate desire is to have a relationship with us, it's why he gave us free will.  If relationship is so important to Him, shouldn't it be just as important to us?  I want my friends and family to want to come by, not just to see my latest project but to feel comfortable and wanted.  I want warm conversation and the smell of a fresh cup of coffee to leave more of an impression than the expensive cup I pour it into.

Faithfully His,
Patty