Time for tea? (Feb 14)

Many warm thanks to Abi, over at Creating Paper Dreams, whose lovely meme this is! Do pop over and catch up :).

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... or coffee, or a little herbal something? I'd be so pleased to see you, I'd tell you - we've been having a bit of turbulence here, what with illnesses (of others), torn muscle (mine), bereavement (wider family), but hoping that a calmer space is hoving into view. As I took your coat, I'd ask if I could tempt you to a toothsome morsel  - I've tried a little gluten-free baking in your honour. Would you guess they contained finely grated courgette (zuccini)? If you've been reading the latest reports on sugar in the press here and want to avoid the PDW (pure, white and deadly), there are some lovely plums instead - I've been nursing them along for about a fortnight. Am I the only one infuriated by supermarket signs like "Specially selected for you to ripen at home"? I'd ask, as we settled ourselves at the table, and you'd either smile in sympathy or roll your eyes at me ...

I'd want to hear all your news, and be most apologetic about failing miserably to keep up with blog-reading and posting. What's the gossip in the scrapbooking world, I'd be longing to know - what's exciting you right now? I'd be hoping you had brought some of your lovely craft work along, for my own has been at a standstill. Fiona's quilt-square making has been the only thing I've achieved this month, I'd confide, but it has made me get out my sewing machine and I've just booked myself into a workshop next month on how to do simple free-motion stitching; perhaps my Mum's love of fabric is finally surfacing in me, I'd say, and we'd smile. Another cup? And if you asked me about the family, I'd tell you the younger ones are hale and hearty, and how glorious it was to have my dearest daughter here for five days around my birthday. We managed to get out to a nearby market town for lunch ...

... and she told me all about her own creative ventures: hand quilting and lino-cutting. Do you see the little pile of pieces over there on the window ledge? I'd ask, and bring them over to show you. These are the ones she used to make me a beautiful lino-print as a present; and that memory stick from my wonderful son holds videos and photos of our grandchildren, one for every year of my life. Plus another photo or video every day for the next sixty days popping into my email folder - I am not going to be short of scrapbooking material! The brochure? Ah, that's another glorious gift from my children - a spa weekend ...


But I'd be suddenly anxious I was boring you and doing the 'doting parent' thing, so I'd ask how any intentions you've had for the new year were going, or how your 'word for the year' was showing up in your life. Have you been managing the walking, or swimming, or gym-ing? And I'd ask if you'd like, perhaps next time we meet for a catch-up, to go for a walk in our beautiful countryside or along by the reservoir? We could take a flask and a little box of nibbles, and lean companionably over the stone walls and enjoy the view ...

As I pass you your things, for I realise you need to be on your way, we'd speculate if next month we might be able to do without coats and gloves, and how freeing that will feel! I'd walk with you out into the little paved area by the front door and you might notice that we have some leaves appearing on our clematis - it's never been as early as this. A quick hug, or a hand-squeeze, and you'd be off, and we've wave ... And I'd be thinking of all the things I meant to ask, and making a mental note for next time, hoping you'd like to come again. It has been just lovely. Thank-you :).

Comments

[Mary-Lou]

Thank you so much for this most welcome tea break & chat. How kind of you baking gluten free, I myself am leaning into this, not quite gluten free but reducing the amount of carbs in general. Ah my one little word, enjoying the set of monthly exercises, not enjoying the dear diary F/B content. My word is showing up in so many blog entries, funny how that works. What lovely thoughtful children & oh yes happy belated birthday wishes; that spa coupon is just the trick for the gloomy March days. And oh so many crafts you can do, I admire. I think it will be months before we see the snow gone, what a winter, I cannot wait for the appearance of buds. Well must dash, see you next month & thank you again ...

[Jacky S]

What lovely,thoughtful children you have....and so pleased you were able to have 5 days with your daughter.
Enjoy your class....I'd very much like to do one of those myself.

[Karen]

What a lovely visit, and no, I am never bored by hearing about your lovely children. What thoughtful gifts, and ones you surely will enjoy! I just typed up a blog entry about my progress with the OLW. It should get posted in a day or so.

[Prairie Jill]

Oh, what a delightful visit! It's always so nice to catch up. I love hearing about your family, and all the lovely gifts. All those photos and videos! I'd love to go for a stroll next time - it looks beautiful there. Who knows, it might even be warmer when you come for tea with me next month?!

[Paul B]

A walk in the breathtaking countryside and reservoir would be delightful :) It looks wonderfully tranquil in your photo. Belated birthday wishes from me too, I hadn't realised (or remembered) that it was a special one. The spa sounds a perfect present, I wouldn't mind a day trip to one myself. Enjoy!!!! :) Pxx

[Julie K]

Such a treat Alexa to dip into your life like this. So sorry I've missed your birthday - if I was there with you *I'd* be putting the kettle on and waiting on *you* to make up for it! And I'd ask to see some of the lovely videos + photos and hear all about the well-deserved spa break!

Hoping the warmer days to come bring you improved health and time to get your craft on! xx

[Wendrie Heywood]

What a lovely cake, coffee and chat - I'd want to explore your garden and exclaim over the differences betwixt yours and mine. What a lovely set of gifts you got for your birthday.

[Jen Hart]

Happy Birthday Alexa, it sounds as though you were correctly spoiled with thoughtful and useful gifts :-) Having recently gone through a big birthday I can empathise with the strangeness and the niceness about it I think.

Your reservoir looks lovely, you will think I am copying you if and when I do get round to blogging as our reservoir is where we went for a couple of walks this winter :-)

I hope you find time to craft, I am retreating soon and I am hoping to get lots done there.

[Abi]

What wonderful children you have Alexa. I am busily thinking up ideas for mothers day. The photos from your son have given me some ideas! Thank you so much for catching up with me for tea. It was so lovely to sit and chat with you again. I am hoping this month brings more good health to you and yours. x

[Sian]

Maybe some day we will get to have a cup together for real. I think we'd have lots to talk about. I'm so sorry to hear about all the turbulence..gosh, Spring can't come soon enough, can it? A bit of a lift in the lift would do us all good!

[Miriam]

Thank you for such a lovely catch up. Very happy if belated birthday wishes from me Alexa, and I will never tire of hearing about your family. Yes a walk and a lean on a wall would be just perfect next time. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could indeed leave our coats at home, or in the car, just in case.
Ripe & Ready is my current complain! Ripe? no! Ready? for what? Aaaargh!!!!

[JoAnn]

What a fabulous post - when I was done I was surprised to find myself back in my own house, in my own chair. It felt so much like I was visiting with you.

[Deb @ PaperTurtle]

You are such a sweetheart, Alexa. Your words are always so kind and lovely. I am fascinated by your son's birthday gift for you, and I can't think of anything more wonderful than having those memories of your grandchildren to carry you through the next couple of months. Thanks for the tea and the zucchini cakes! xo

[Helena]

yes I also frown at the supermarket thinking I am eager to be responsible for ripening my own fruit (and dubious it will happen).

What lovely, thoughtful birthday gifts. Your class sounds fun, look forward to seeing the results

[Wanda]

Lovely photographs celebrating lots of wonderful things. That soup in the center photo looks amazing--I can almost always enjoy soup, even in the hottest weather. It does seem you had a wonderful birthday, with more to come of the photo and video variety.

[Amanda]

What a lovely tea and a chat. I'm sure the Zucchini cake is wonderful. What a fabulous idea for your birthday- I hope you enjoy everything that you hold dear-oh and by the way i have the very same anthropologie mug- we both must have great tastes:)

[Jemma @ Just-Jimjams]

Happy (belated) birthday! What a lovely gift from your son! I'd love to pop in for real one day - it would definitely be a hugging occasion!

[Melissa Gross]

Such a lovely visit today Alexa! Sounds like you had a nice visit with your daughter and what a wonderful gift from your son. It's still cool here and I'm longing for spring, been exercising regularly & started meeting with a personal trainer once a month, lots of scrapbooking, a little reading, and some home improvement projects.

[Ginger]

Hmmm I do like zucchini in baked goods :) I would love to go for a walk in your countryside, I'm sure there would so much to see over our visiting. I would tell you how excited i am that the weather seems to be improving and it sure has my mind thinking of spring and planting some flowers :) Its been lovely catching up with you!

[SueTR]

Yes, thank you I'd love some tea, and cakes or treats or whatever you have baking in the oven (and I eat sugar and butter and all those lovely old fashioned things). And yes, it would be lovely to compare notes on projects done and not done and in the middle, and how exciting it is to start a new class or new venture, and oh how much fun it would be if you could come to our craft days and work with us around my table or cozied up on the sofas knitting. And I truly wouldn't be bored at all and yes, a ramble about the country would be lovely and could we bring my dog because she's getting very lazy for 3 1/2 yrs. And, yes, we definitely have to do this far far more often than we get to do, let's make plans and really stick to it next time! And I'd exclaim that I didn't even know when your birthday was and we must make plans for a celebratory lunch next time round. And yes, it would be really really lovely to be able to do it in person next time 'round but I guess this is the next best thing.

[Julia]

So lovely to catch up with you over a brew (even if I am a bit late and it's gone cold!)and it was beautifully written as always. The birthday gifts were so thoughtful - especially the photo a day to look forward too. I would so enjoy a walk around that reservoir some time. 'Til next month :)

[Nathalie]

A bit late but I did enjoy catching up with you :) A cup of tea sounds really good right now especially with those wonderful looking treats you have prepared! Life goes on for us as well and on the creative side I am still busy working on two kit club design teams. I have lots more I would like to do but not enough time... My OLW was Healthy and it keeps popping up especially when my dear husband is trying to convince me to go for a walk in the evening.... I think of my word and then I can't be lazy and end up lacing up my shoes too. Thank you for the warm visit! I hope you get more and more sunshine these days.