"Winning Purse Luncheon" at Churchill Downs

Mary and I attended the 4th annual "Winning Purse Luncheon" held in the Churchill Downs Trophy Room on Wednesday. This is a fundraiser event sponsored by Mom's Closet Resource Center. Mom's Closet is a Christian organization founded by Sheila Day, wife of retired jockey Pat Day, and benefits single mothers in Kentucky. The luncheon theme this year was taken from the popular 1960's all white party. This wonderful fundraiser event was attended by 150 women. As you can see in these photos, the table decorations were all white and the guests were encouraged to wear white. Additional fundraising included a silent auction of donated items, a silent auction of donated Beijo purses, $10 grab bags (in the shape of the white purse above), a live auction for a Sapphire necklace, a raffle of 5 different exquisite pieces of jewelry, and a $5 "pool" on race # 3, the Mom's Closet Classic. A delicious buffet lunch, fabulous desserts and later veggies and chips and dips as everyone enjoyed the day of horse racing at beautiful Churchill Downs.

The table decorations, white roses in a mint julep cup, were available at a silent auction at each table.

Kentucky Derby Week 2009

This is a big week of celebrations in Kentucky. Is it about horses or hats and parties?

I enjoyed Wednesday at Churchill Downs in Louisville (Lou-a-vull) with Mary. More photos and details are coming.

Kentucky Hot Brown

The Kentucky Hot Brown is a legendary dish developed in the 1920's by Chef Fred Schmidt at The Brown Hotel in Louisville, KY.

There are a gazillion versions of the Hot Brown served in Kentucky restaurants, but basically, it is an open-faced turkey sandwich with tomatoes, bacon and Mornay sauce baked in an individual dish. You can find the original recipe on the hotel's web site. My favorite version includes a slice of Kentucky country ham in addition to the turkey.

I took the above photo at the Kentucky Artisan Center Cafe. I chose southern green beans and corn pudding as my side dishes.

By the way, nine-year-old A. J. ate my corn pudding and the roll. He is growing by leaps and bounds and appears to be taller every morning these days!

Kentucky Derby week is an exciting time in our beautiful state!

Kentucky Derby Barbie 2009

A special 50th Anniversary collectible Kentucky Derby®Barbie® commemorates the 135th "Run for the Roses." She wears a floral dress, a string of pearls, holds two Derby tickets in her hand, and of course, wears a beautiful hat to complete her ensemble perfect for the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville.

And, best of all, she is mine! Yes, I bought this special Barbie just for me! I love the hoopla of the Kentucky Derby! Granddaughter Kaitlyn had a difficult time understanding that Grandma did not buy this Barbie for her considering Grandma has presented her with many Barbies over the past seven plus years.

This Barbie will remain in the box for this Grandma to admire until such time she decides to do otherwise. I am not a Barbie collector like my friend Leona, who has hundreds. I only own two Barbies. This one and my original 50-year-old Barbie in the original black and white striped swim suit. That one looks like a ragamuffin and has a hole in her swim suit, a dirty face and stringy hair after many years of play by me, my friends and my daughters and their friends. But, oh what fun memories!

April Tea - "Tea Time in the Garden"

The Richmond, KY Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary held their 15th annual fundraiser tea on Saturday. It was a very successful event attended by 225 guests. The theme was "Tea Time in the Garden" and featured special guest and speaker, Jon Carloftis, a Kentuckian and New York Roof-top Garden Designer.

Table decorations were a little different this year, as the center pieces were cake stands holding the desserts and accented with flowers.

The menu included Ham Stacks, Lemon Basil Tea Scones, Herbed Strawberry Sandwiches, Stuffed Pea Pods, Broccoli Squares, Cheese Wafers, Pinwheel Roll-ups, Tomato and Bacon Cups, Vegetable Surprise Sandwiches, Lemon Drops, Pecan Sticks, Raspberry Fudge Cakes, Strawberry Nut Bread, and Shortbread Hearts.

Favors of individually wrapped miniature loaves of cinnamon bread were at each place.

In addition to the ticket price of $18 per person, they held a silent auction and sold booklets of the recipes served.

My daughter Melissa drove two hours to join me for tea.

Other guests at our table were my special friends Patty and her mother, Norma (above), and Mary, Delores and Phi (below).

I have attended several of the Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary teas and this was the best!

Britain Magazine

Do you enjoy travel in Britain? Or do you dream about travel in Britain? If so, this is the magazine for you! I picked up the latest issue at a local book store. The front cover features a photo taken in Chipping Campden, one of our favorite Cotswold towns. We spent a week there last June in a self-catering cottage. And, we are dreaming of our next trip.

A Teapot Stand?

No!

It is actually an Victorian wig stand I found in an antique shop.

However... I am not Victorian, and I don't own a wig, but I do have MANY teapots! So for me... it is a "Teapot Stand."

DAR Teapot

Are there any DAR tea sippers out there?

This teapot design was "created exclusively for the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution." It is a 30 oz. teapot and features Memorial Continental Hall in blue on the front. This beautiful building is located in Washington, D.C. and is the national headquarters of the DAR. It is located just a few blocks from the White House and is open to the public for touring. It you are a DAR member, in my opinion, it should be a 'must' on your next visit to D.C.

Tea Tray

This is a Russell Hobbs Tea Tray I purchased on sale at Macy's for $39.00. It is an electric power base tray with a kettle (right) for heating water and a 6-cup glass teapot (left) with a removable tea filter/infuser on a warming tray. I thought it would be nice to have to keep tea warm while leisurely enjoying a couple of cups of tea tea with a friend or two, or perhaps during a meal or dessert when family members want refills.

Tea Apron

I have learned to appreciate aprons.

I have many memories of my mom and aunts wearing aprons as they cooked and worked around the house. At the time, I didn't appreciate them and thought they were unnecessary. After ruining several pieces of clothing while cooking, I now see the necessity of aprons. And, I am thankful to have some of the vintage aprons of my mother and aunts as keepsakes.

While Mary and I were having lunch at the Garden Cafe on Friday, I spotted this apron on display in the gift shop. It is by Kay Dee Designs and is a "Classic Tea Apron." I can't wait to wear it when serving tea.

The Garden Cafe Lunch

Mary and I met for lunch today at the Garden Cafe at Flag Fork Herb Farm in Lexington. It is one our favorite places for lunch and fun shopping. I ordered the chicken salad served with pumpkin bread and a side. I chose one of the three pasta salads of the day, with turkey, dried cranberries in a dill dressing as my side. It was so yummy! We didn't order dessert but they are all delicious and very tempting.



Flag Fork Herb Farm and the Garden Cafe have been mentioned in Southern Living Magazine several times. They have a gift shop, an antique shop and a garden shop.



And, best of all, I escaped the noise of the construction "digging" in my back yard today!

Fort Boonesborough Field Trip

Today I accompanied 100 second graders on a field trip to Fort Boonesborough located on the Kentucky River on the north boundary or our county. We spent the day touring the fort and had a picnic lunch.

Did you know that Daniel Boone really did not wear a coonskin cap? However, most folks my age remember the Daniel Boone TV series starring Fess Parker who always wore a coonskin cap! As result of the TV show, the gift shop sells many coon skin caps daily. (Including the one I purchased today for the four-year old grandson!)

The fort is a Kentucky State Park property and is a replica of the original Fort Boonesborough. The children enjoyed watching a movie about the history of Daniel Boone and life at the fort, and talking with the demonstrating blacksmith, soap maker, spinner, potter, candle maker, woodworker, gunsmith and land surveyor.

They enjoyed seeing the Kentucky Long Rifles and various weapons and tools on display. Each teacher or approved parent volunteer was in charge of three children.

Kaitlyn, our granddaughter, is pictured above with a buffalo skin and below with the other girls in our group snacking on...

pieces of buffalo jerky! They loved the taste and insisted I try a bite. Yuck! Buffalo jerky is definitely NOT my cup of tea!

Oh, by the way, our PTO purchased a different color of shirts for each grade to wear on field trips for safety purposes. Anyone want to come over tomorrow and help me launder 100 red tee shirts?

These Are Before...

...After will come in a few months!

We have given much thought (for several years) about adding to our house. We have looked at new houses, at lots, and farmland (even purchased 138 acres), and finally decided to add to our house because we love the location. We are located in the middle of town on a cul-de-sac street with 16 other houses. We are surrounded by woods and a nine hole golf course adjoining our back yard. The children can safely play in the street if they want. We have lived here for 20 years. It was not the perfect house when we bought it and won't be the perfect house when we complete this project. In my opinion, there is no such thing.

A local architect worked with us and drew up plans for adding rooms to either of the views of the house you see in the photos. We talked with builders, and finally selected two brothers who have been in the business for many years. They actually were laborers on this house when it was built in the mid-1970s. Again, we were going to add either to the back of the house in the bottom photo, or add to the side in the top photo. Decisions, decisions!!

As it turns out, the work began on both additions late last week. Trees and landscaping had to be removed. That was difficult for hubby, GJ, because he loves his trees and plants so much that I jokingly tell people he was a tree in an earlier life!

I won't have much quiet tea time at home due to all the noise and workmen, but I look forward to the addition of four new rooms to the house! And, I look forward to escaping the noise at afternoon tea time out and about!

Another Tea Caddy

Last week I posted a photo of my tea caddy/canister collection. Today at TJ Maxx I spotted the black ceramic one above with the wood lid. As I rearranged a few things around on my kitchen counter to make space to take the photo of the new tea caddy, I realized I should also include my 1991 Longaberger® Tea Basket (below) with painted lid in the count of tea caddies. So now, I have eight tea caddies.

I have a long way to go before to acquire as many tea caddies as I have teapots, but the fun search is on!

Comment Moderation

Yesterday Sarah at BritGal in the USA posted that she had been hit with a bunch of unreadable junk comments on many different posts and she felt it necessary to turn on Comment Moderation. Unfortunately, I too have been hit and have turned on comment moderation until they lose interest in my blog. (hopefully soon!) Sorry for the inconvenience. I appreciate the comments from my blogging buddies!

While We Are on the Subject of Tea Towels...

Several blogging tea friends and I have been discussing "tea towels" and whether to use or save them.

This is an example of an everyday dish towel/ tea towel. This one is special to me and I have not yet used it. It has been used many times, however, by a lovely Kentucky lady named Laura. Two of these dish towels were given to me by my friend, Mary, when she cleaned out Laura's kitchen and house in preparation for selling. Laura is living in a local nursing home with several health problems including Alzheimer's. Mary and I have been friends and extended family members for nearly forty years. We have been a support to each other during both our mother's journeys with Alzheimer's.

I will think of Laura, and my own mother, Naomi, when I use these dish towels.

Soccer Bunny

The "Soccer Bunny" came to our house and brought soccer ball chocolate candy!

We are a year-round soccer family --playing indoor in winter, and outdoor in the spring and fall. GJ is the coach and AJ is a star player. Yesterday he scored four goals and our team with with a 12 - 2 victory! Go Stingrays!!

Celebrate...

...and have your happiest Easter ever!

Thank you Phyllis in MI for this adorable card with bunny friends having tea. I am sharing it with all my blogging friends!

Happy Easter!

Tea Towels

OK, if you read yesterday's post, you know that I am not, and that none of my fellow tea bloggers/tea collectors are hoarders. We are merely collectors of many tea things, craft supplies, kitchen gadgets, and whatever else we enjoy!

Angela at Tea With Friends, collects, and often shares with her blog readers, lovely vintage tea linen finds. I don't have any of the vintage tea-themed linens she has, but I do have a few linen tea towels. The blue one above is one of four alike I purchased on my first trip to Scotland in 1995 at a National Trust Shop.

The next two below were sent to me in an online tea group gift exchange several years ago.

The last one, is a souvenir from a delightful afternoon tea we enjoyed at Miss Mable's Tea Room in Dickson, TN.

Each of these tea towels provide memories for me of special tea places and tea friends.

Tea Caddy "Collecting"

These are my vintage-looking Tea Caddies/Canisters, a combination of caddies I purchased and received as gifts from friends. I'm still looking for more.

I saw an interview with Candy Spelling on Good Morning America promoting her new book and talking about her plan to down-size from her huge house to a "small" 17,000 square-foot house. Candy Spelling has concluded she is a hoarder. She showed various collections stored away in special storage rooms as large as her new down-sized house.

I started thinking about my many tea things and wondered at what point does a hobby become hoarding?!? Oh my, I believe I'll just make myself a cup of tea and not think about that thought-provoking question!

Enjoying Spring Break

These are the final photos I will show of our trek to the Great Smoky Mountains for Spring Break. (However, I have many more. *LOL*) I was so proud of the children for going beyond the go-carts and arcade games to enjoy the natural beauty. I gave each of them a digital camera to use. Both of them took many photos and videos. Kaitlyn, the 7-year-old taught the rest of the family how to video.

By the way, the only tea I drank was what I took with me (along with my electric tea kettle) to the beautiful cabin we rented at Alpine Mountain Village.