Tea Party Across the Ocean

November was the month when Covid restrictions tightened 

so much so that we were not to have anyone in our homes.

It was also the month that our Indonesia family finally got their visas to return

after a hasty departure back in March.

The hard thing in the timing was that we could not have a final family get-together

and, instead of the tea party I had planned for the girls,

I packed up a tin box with a variety of teas, tea cups, 

sugar cubes, cookies and dried flowers from our garden.

In my disappointment, this "tea party in a box"  filled that desire to create something special.

Whereas we had many wonderful memories tucked away,

it was time to pack one up for these best friends who had been separated for some time.

Life overseas filled up quickly with much of the same .... quarantines, family life and school.

We celebrated Christmas the way that many celebrated around the world.

And the day came when the tin box got unpacked, treats were prepared

and the after-school tea and craft party came about

with Grammy as the unseen but very happy guest. 

In a strange way the  tea party may give me an excuse to write,

but in a greater way, 

I have come to see that the opportunities 

and life experiences our grandchildren are having

may outweigh the times they cannot be at our table.

Life may well  be more like many parents would wish for their kids,

simple, with a focus on loving people rather than things.

I can't quite express what I see, 

safe to say that I can't help but take pride in this girl,

the friends she cares about 

and her unselfish attitude in how she lives her life. 

We love you, Makenna!

Tea Party in a Box

 I'm going back now to the week that our kids left for Indonesia.

With new restrictions, plans for that week got changed again and again,

as we tried to figure out how to say our family goodbyes.

One of them, being a surprise cousin tea party for Makenna.

I decided to put together the ingredients needed

and send them along for a party with her friends overseas.

It was actually a lot of fun, given the initial disappointment, especially when I realized that her friends there had never had such a party. I had a large tin box. Inside I put three teacups with wrapped cookies tucked into the inverted cups, tea and sugar cubes.

For a craft, I bagged dried flowers and pine cones etc. from our garden.

Two different combinations, one woodsy and one floral.

Also, essential oils to enhance the scent and small organza sacs.

I did a practice run of what they could create.

It all fit into the tin like it was made for exactly that. 

The note included a recipe for scones and ideas for tiny sandwiches.

We both teared up when I handed it to her,

realizing that out of an initial disappointment,

something maybe even better had come about. 

Paper Bag Stars

I saw the idea for these paper bag stars at an Amish Farm tour shop

and it was fun to see how my American Thanksgiving Day visitors got into them!

I bought a few packages of lunch bags and we were set.

For each star we used about eight or nine bags -

gluing the shape of a T on each bag -

the top of the T on the closed end -
stacking them and letting them dry for a bit.
Well, that was the goal. It seemed to work not to let them dry.

The open end got marked off to make a tip.
Stars will vary in size and shape, depending on angles and  how much is cut off.

 and cut - using sharp kitchen scissors.
Some supervision was needed for the younger ones.

 It was fun to see how they fanned out!

Koen imagined himself being a helicopter. (Of course!)

We clipped them with paper clips 

so that way they could be closed and stored.

Natalie found out that the cut off parts made fun chains

or crowns.

Just another easy and fun way to 

hang out in Mimi's kitchen!

Tiny Christmas Boxes

Last week when the one family of grands stayed with us for a few days, I saw again how they love to work with paper. They can keep busy for a long time drawing and coloring. Natalie also loves it when I let her get into my boxed cards, so she can write cards to people.
Something reminded me of how, years ago, our kids made tiny boxes, using recycled Christmas cards, and somehow I knew this could still go over well today.

To begin, I showed them a video I found on line and then, with some 

reminders, they went to it.

First they cut the card at the fold. 

Then they marked an X across the inside page, drawing  diagonal lines from one corner to the next.

For the top of the box (the picture part) they

folded the edges of all four sides to the center of the X

(these lines should be as crisp as possible)

When all four sides were folded,

they cut into the short end along the vertical fold just  toward the horizontal fold.

Next, they folded in the ends, overlapping the center and folding it over the top of the box,

then taping it in place.

This was repeated with the inside page of the card to make the bottom,

this time folding the edges a bit past the center of the X, to make it a wee bit smaller.

To cover any written words, you can line the box with tissue.

They were very proud of their boxes

and in no time each box had something small tucked in and was assigned to a lucky receiver. 

From precious memories of friends and family sending wishes
to this present day of cutting and folding -
I'm reminded again of how the past and the present meet in a wonderful cycle of life.
There were cards in the mix that may have been 20 or 30 years old
and I never would have guessed that my grandchildren would be the ones to use them.
It was definitely time.

Dropbox Tutorial (for sharing photos)

I think I can speak for a number of us when I say that our day to day life 

is an interesting adventure from the kitchen to the computer.

One day I'm fine tuning the basics of making Perishky or pinching Zwieback

and the next I'm trying to figure out how to upload a video  to share

or how to send a whack of photos to someone.

One moment we may be planning a menu on a group email

and the next moment the plan is put in place on a shared google document.

Like I said in my last post . . . installing a new gadget on my computer can be 

time consuming when I do not understand the way the steps are explained online. 

It's very much like learning another language and, unless I have need of it, I will not learn it. 

Dropbox has been one of those things I had to learn recently and,

  although the process, first time around, took me a few hours, 

in the end . . . once I knew what to look for and when to right click

 it only took a few minutes.

So, no more flash drives and trying to figure out how to get that to the right person.

First off, you need to install Dropbox by following the prompts.  This is a free service. Once that is done you will find the Dropbox icon on your taskbar for quick access.  Here you see it on the left sidebar in my Pictures.

The idea is that you can send a file via drop box by sharing the link with whomever you wish. Only the ones you share the link with will be able to access it.

So, first you need to create the folder. I like to choose my photos from my Picasa and then export them to a folder in my Pictures. You can also go straight to Pictures and open a new folder,  copying and pasting the photos you want to share into that folder.

Once you have chosen the photos in Picasa and clicked Export, you will get this pop up. You can rename the folder or just leave it and then click on Export.

It will take you to your Pictures where your exported/new folder will be highlit. Right click on this folder and you will get a pop up with a number of options. Click on Move to Dropbox.

Okay... now check the taskbar at the bottom of your screen and you will see Dropbox  . . .Click on it.

It will take you back to the Dropbox library/folder. Look for your new folder, right click on it and open it. You will see the photos uploading. Once they have uploaded they will have a checkmark on them.

When they are all uploaded go back (to Dropbox) and right click on the folder name. Then click to Share Dropbox link.

Now you have to look quick or you miss it . . . a bubble will show up (highlit) above the bottom bar for just a second . . . Click on the bubble. If you missed it or wish to send it later, go to the dropbox icon on the taskbar (dropbox.com), click on your file and right click option to share link.

You will see the link with the photos. 

Click the Share button on the top right.

The pop up will give you the link. You do not need to worry about that. Just put in the email of the person you wish to share with and send. That's it. At least that is how I got it . . . possibly coming in the back door.

PS I did only a few photos for the example, but the idea here is that you can easily share way more photos than you'd send in an email. Great for sharing with family and friends who live out of town. To save free space, you can delete the link after the time you choose. To learn more about dropbox in general, check out this video with Anson Alexander, but don't forget to let me know if this was helpful. 

To Iron or Not

I threw the new cotton napkins in the wash and pulled them out of the dryer

 while they were still a bit on the damp side, 

Looking at them, I was reminded of a trick I learned from Kristal. 

Crunch them up real good and make them look like they are intended to be like that.

I couldn't decide what to do. 

I like the billowy, crunched look for a more casual table setting

 but in a funny way, find it hard to break old habits.

What do you prefer?
Maybe you have still new napkins sitting in your closet
just because you dread the thought of ironing.
Your problem is solved. Use them.
Either way . . . take them out of the dryer while damp -

grab the center and pull through a napkin holder and crunch to shape 

OR

easily iron while still damp and fold.

Little People's Baking Set

I found out recently that it's pretty well impossible to find a useful boxed up baking set for children.We all know that there are a few more things needed than some wooden spoons, whisks and chef's hat.

I decided I'd have to collect individual pieces to make up the set I planned to wrap alongside a pretty little girl's apron. Because this was not as easy as one would think, I thought it worth to share my find at the Cobblestone Kitchen Store . . . not to advertise for this store . . . but simply to tell you where I found these cute tiny tools. Probably any Kitchen Store would do . . . as opposed to the local toy department.

The smile on the face of a special four-year old, back in January, was worth the search! To top it off, I did not realize how fun this gift had looked to another girl in the room, until she recently requested the same for her Birthday. So back I went.

Both times, the hardest to find were tiny baking pans. I know there are pie plates etc, but I like the idea of a child having his or her own cookie sheets . . . especially since what we mostly bake together is buns and cookies.  For the first gift, I got some little pans at the MCC store and bought them all. So now I scoured places that sold toaster ovens, to see if one could buy extra little pans that go with a toaster oven. I came up empty handed several times, until I found a rack at Walmart that sold an assortment of tiny Wilton cake pans . . . and on the very bottom rung hung these little cookie sheets that just made my day! Sometimes it really is the little things that matter most.

From Summer to Fall

Sunrise . . . sunset . . . softly flow the years
one season following another . . .

As much as I love summer,
I also really like living where seasons allow for change ...
especially a change in wardrobe.

Just the thought of adding a new scarf helps me out of the remorse of summer fading.

My summer jeans will quickly blend into the Fall wardrobe
with a loose fitting sweater or cardigan and boots.

Even my white jeans will be good for a while yet with a sweater or jean jacket - or both.
Closed shoes and a scarf  for that warm hug feeling. . .
for now it's all good.