What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?

What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?
Remember: "When God closes a door, He always opens a window!" You never know what might be out there waiting for you!

Thursday, May 4, 2017

Thankful Thursday - The Secret Garden Chronicles~ Tea Time in the Garden Updated



Today is Thankful Thursday....and I have some things to be thankful for!  This week has been a little busy, and I haven't had much time to catch up with all my friends here in Blogland and beyond.  My sincere thanks to all who have recently commented on posts...I haven't had time to respond to all of your sweet messages, but I have read them and I give thanks to the Lord for each and every one of you.  I told my husband and son this morning that I feel so blessed to have such wonderful friends in so many different places in the world and our country...and even though we've never met face to face, I feel like we've known each other forever and that we are "old friends" just staying in touch and encouraging each other on good days and not so good.  It's a beautiful place to be, and I am very grateful to the Lord for bringing us together!

This little tea party was actually a little over a year ago, in what has now become "The Secret Garden".  When I originally wrote this, the Secret Garden was still a "secret" even to me!  Even though I had thought about and had even named it that in my mind, I rarely spent any time there and did not realize just what God was planning to do in the upcoming months to make this place even more special than it already was.  Come along back in time with me and let's have a little tea party in the Secret Garden!


Original Post 3/8/2016:


"Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful;
for beauty is God's handwriting--a wayside sacrament.  
Welcome it in every fair face, in every fair sky, in every fair flower,
and thank God for it as a cup of blessing."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Note to reader:  I started writing this last night when the cake was hot and bubbly and fresh out of the oven. However, this special treat deserved better attention...so this morning it became an occasion for "Tea Time in the Garden".  Enjoy along with me...and the recipe will follow.

(for china descriptions see postscript below)

"Let the thankful heart sweep through the day and,
as the magnet finds the iron,
so it will find, in every hour,
some heavenly blessings!
Henry Ward Beecher




"Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!"
Psalm 46:10

"As flowers carry dewdrops, 
trembling on the edges of the petals,
and ready to fall at the first waft of wind or 
brush of bird,
so the heart should carry its beaded words of thanksgiving;
and at the first breath of heavenly flavor,
let down the shower, 
perfumed with the heart's gratitude."
Henry Ward Beecher


Blueberry Cake
My good friend Diane sent this "Minnesota State Fair Prize Winning Recipe" to me a few years ago, and I hate to admit that I am just now getting around to trying it!  Chalk that up to retirement this past fall...which now gives me the time to try new stuff and experiment a little more.  (And to have tea time in the garden!)

I don't think Diane will mind my sharing this recipe with you...so here goes:

Cream together 3/4 cup sugar with 1/4 cup butter

Mix together one egg, 1/2 cup milk (or buttermilk...which is what I used because I had some left over in my fridge that needed to be used), and 1/2 tsp. almond extract.

Sift together 2 cups flour, 2 tsp. baking powder and 1/2 tsp. salt

Combine all ingredients and stir together.  Fold in 2 cups blueberries and sprinkle on the following topping.  Bake in a greased 10" springform pan at 375 degrees for 45 minutes.  (I didn't have a springform pan, so used an 8x11 pyrex pan.)

TOPPING:

1/4 Cup Sugar, 1/4 Cup Brown Sugar, 1/3 Cup Flour, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, 1/4 Cup Butter.  Mix together until crumbly.  Sprinkle over the cake batter before baking.


Now, why don't YOU bake this wonderful blueberry cake and have your own tea party in the garden? Or in your dining room...or on the porch...or wherever you can sit down and enjoy a cup of tea with a friend or even by yourself...and just enjoy!

"You will show me the path of life;
In Your Presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
Psalms 16:11


Postscript:  I know some people love to know what the different china pieces are.
The small Pansy teapot was made in Czech Republic by Flaas & Cajzek.  
The sugar and creamer and tea cup are actually more of a child's size, and are made by Lefton's China, #2912 violet pattern.  
The saucer under the cake is a part of a teacup set, also a violet pattern, made by Salisbury Bone China, England.

Note 5/4/17:  And yes, that little rusty brown chair in the garden above is none other than this one, that I painted with a can of spray paint and repurposed it for God's Glory as it sits at the entrance to the Secret Garden and adds a colorful bit of welcoming beauty...


 Amazing what a can of spray paint can do!!

Kind of like you and me...Amazing what Jesus can do with a tired old rusty person who feels like life is mostly over...and then Jesus comes along and says, "Not so fast! I've still got more work for you to do!  So put on a happy face and get ready to greet weary travelers along the way in this journey we call life."

Yes, I will say it again:


"You will show me the path of life;
In Your Presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

                      Psalms 16:11 


Until Next Time~
Be Thankful!!

19 comments:

  1. I love your pansy tea set! Good post and verses!
    Have a blessed day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Sylvia! I had such fun doing this. Now that I'm retired maybe I'll have more time for tea time! I hope your day is filled with joy and blessing as well.

      Delete
  2. Your cake looks wonderful, Pamela! I love home made. Your tea in the garden is lovely. I may be able to do that come the end of May. I enjoyed your poetry and scripture verses. Thank you for sharing with us and enjoy the rest of your week.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Sandi. I am so glad you stopped by for a visit today. I wish I could send you some of this glorious sunshine and warmth. It has actually come a little early even for us! Blessings to you my friend! Enjoy the beauty that is around you even during this season of waiting for spring to arrive.

      Delete
  3. Pamela: I love your china. When we get our porch fixed the way I want it, I hope to be able to do something like a tea party. It may take a while. I'll let you know when it happens.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Something to look forward to in the spring/summer. Sometimes we just have to create little corners in our homes or yards that can be a pretty setting, even if only temporary. The fun part is to JUST DO IT! Don't wait for everything to be perfect. I've discovered that nothing will ever be exactly the way I would like it to be, and if I keep waiting for that to happen, I will sweet opportunities along the way. Some food for thought.

      Delete
  4. What a lovely outdoor tea setting!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Margie! I am so happy that you could stop by and visit for a spell! Here in Florida our spring is already upon us and with the warm temperatures this week I am afraid summer is knocking at the door...so I wanted to get outside and enjoy "tea time in the garden" before it's too late! I see you must be in Canada, so I am sure you are getting anxious for spring to reach you. I will look forward to getting better acquainted with you in the near future! Blessings to you this day!

      Delete
  5. It's all so beautiful! I love the china--of course, and the pansies--of course, and the blueberry cake is to die for! I wish we were closer so we could have tea parties together! Good job!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know, I thought of you as I used the pansy teapot and arranged the pansies in their pots! I thought, "Doris would love this", and I wished that you would hurry up and just retire so we can enjoy some tea parties together. You need to come visit before it gets too hot to be outside!

      Delete
  6. Pam, your cake looks amazing! Sitting with tea seems to "invite" a sense of quietness. Thank you for sharing this wonderful reflection!

    Blessings,
    Kim

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Kim. It is good to take the time to sit and reflect on the beauty of joy of the Lord and His lovely creation. It's also good to have fellowship with friends over a cup of tea and encourage one another! Tea time is a great time to do just that.

      Delete
  7. A slice of a cake and a cup tea. Would be perfect for me, spending my week end. Thanks for sharing your moments with us.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Charlie. Glad you could stop by and enjoy this time with us! Have a blessed day.

      Delete
  8. Pamela, this was a blessing to read! I write that a lot on your posts, because it's true! :)

    I love walking into this garden, seeing the flowers, the tea...I would totally eat that entire blueberry cake, so it's a good thing I am reading this from faraway! You would get no cake.

    "When I originally wrote this, the Secret Garden was still a "secret" even to me!"

    God has good plans for us. While we are still sleeping, He is planning the day ahead. Ahh...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Sandi, for being blessed...you are a blessing to me! I love to see your smiling "face" here when you stop by for a visit. I would be very happy to bake you a blueberry cake...just let me know when! Yes, isn't it neat how God is always thinking of us...even while we are still sleeping...that is such good news! We can sleep blissfully and peacefully when we know that He is in control of our next day and all the days thereafter!!

      Delete
  9. Love your Secret Garden and your blueberry cake Pamela. Thank you so much for inviting us to tea. Have a day of blessings my friend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Toni! I am so glad you stopped by for tea and blueberry cake! Please let me know for certain when you really ARE coming, and I will gladly bake 10 blueberry cakes for everyone!! have a blessed day my friend!

      Delete
  10. Pam, Thank you for sharing this again. We all need those times of refreshing--refreshing in multiple senses of the term.

    Blessings!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for visiting here today. I would love for you to sign my guestbook and let me know you stopped by. I always enjoy reading your comments and words of encouragement! May you be blessed as you go on your way. Please come back and visit again soon.