Posted by Alice Gunther on June 20, 2007 in Food and Drink, Games, Golden Gate Gunthers, Humor | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBack (0)
Noah's New York Bagels is a popular eatery here in San Francisco. I smile whenever I go inside to see its emphatic subway motif and list of coffees with homey names like "Midtown," "Gramercy," "Soho," and "Chelsea." We have become regulars at our local establishment, instantly lining the small shop to the walls and drawing amused glances from the locals every time we show up. (San Francisco is chock full of spry young mothers with babies in every kind of carrier imaginable, but not many moms with a double stroller and five children besides.)
The other day, I was shivering on a bench outside the shop, warming my hands round a piping hot cup of Soho, when Agnes observed, "These don't really taste like New York Bagels."
"No?" I asked. "What do they taste like?
"They taste exactly like the bagels we get at home."
Noah's should hire us for their next ad campaign!
Posted by Alice Gunther on June 20, 2007 in Food and Drink, Golden Gate Gunthers, Humor | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
What do you do when you have less than twenty-four hours to prepare for Our Lady?
Tuesday afternoon, I found out that the pilgrim image of Our Lady of Guadalupe would be coming to our house on Wednesday! This image holds a deep significance for our family and all the members of our local homeschooling group. Four and a half years ago, it was brought to the bedside of our beloved friend after a near fatal and appalling car accident. I still have pictures of my children gathered round the image in the living room of our first home, just before bringing it to Brigid's bedside in the hospital:
Imagine my joy to learn that this miraculous image would be visiting us again, this time gracing our new home. More incredibly, my beautifully recovered friend and her two children would be on hand to greet Our Lady, thanking her for the precious gift of a mother's life.
Late Tuesday night, I had a moment of panic. With very few flowers blooming in the yard, I wondered how the children would welcome Our Lady, or prepare our home to receive her beautiful image. It had been on my mind to revisit the Marian May Baskets craft from last year, this time re-inventing it with pretty paper cones and ribbon for the first of May. Happily, it occurred to me that these simple cones would be perfect for crafting with a crowd, and the children could take the baskets home afterward to give as May Day gifts. Please take a look at this hastily prepared--but very well received--Marian activity:
Marie presents her First Communion-themed basket.
Two unfinished samples wait to be filled and hung on the front door of a loved one.
This Irish-themed basket, with a turf Madonna fringe of moss, graces our front door.
We started with patterned collage paper from the scrapbooking aisle (rectangular works best--one package makes twenty):
These were formed into cones with hot glue with two holes punched on each side for ribbon:
The pastel, blue, and lavender patterns on our collage paper were just perfect. If you are crafting with a crowd of children, it helps to fashion the cones in advance. (Hot glue and crowds of children don't mix!)
The cones store inside one another for easy transfer.
As a central element of each basket, I gave each child a small floral notecard to create a spiritual bouquet, encouraging them to write down prayers they will say for the recipients of their baskets.
The children hung their baskets in the shrubs surrounding the image, making April bloom like May!
The cones were such a happy sight, offering a festive atmosphere of love and welcome.
At the last possible moment, I arranged for a friend (a high school music teacher off this week) to join us for the afternoon leading the children in song: "Bring Flowers of the Fairest," "Salve Regina," "Regina Caeli" and other devotional hymns. The children said the Rosary with love and reverence, each one offering prayer requests to Our Blessed Mother.
I prayed for all of you--particularly those trying to conceive and Heather, a young mother diagnosed with a brain tumor. Here is a partial group shot of the children. (Too bad the pole from our volley ball net is in the way!)
The glorious Spring weather seemed an earthly reflection of the graces showered on our home and families. What a blessed day it was!
[A special thanks to Theresa F. for bringing the image to our home yesterday! You are beautiful inside and out!]
Posted by Alice Gunther on April 12, 2007 in Cottage Garden, Crafts, Crafts, Crownings, and Celebrations, Faith, Feast Days, Food and Drink, Home Education, Living the Liturgical Year, Marian Activities, Music | Permalink | Comments (26) | TrackBack (0)
is celebrated with spoon saints this year!
I wish I could express to you how much good it does my heart to see these St. Patrick spoon dolls, created by thoughtful Cottage Blessings reader Jean Boyer and her wonderful 6th grade CCD class!
And wouldn't I love a slice of this clever and elegant Celtic Cross cake, also created by Jean for the incredibly lucky children in her class!
Jean, may God bless you, not only for taking the time to share these images, but also for all you do to bring our precious Faith to a new generation!
Posted by Alice Gunther on March 16, 2007 in Crafts, Faith, Feast Days, Food and Drink, Spoon Saints Craft | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)
Our first celebration of Candlemas was one we will not soon forget.These two photographs show our Candlemas Tea centerpiece. Three pure white rose candles--one for each member of the Holy Family--floated in a bowl of holy water to signify the Purification and Presentation. At the last moment, Margaret decided to perch two turtledoves on either side. The effect was dazzling, soothing to the eye, and rich with symbolism. Earlier in the day, our beloved Pastor blessed the candles, doves, and several other religious articles, adding so much to the celebration for us.
Here are a few highlights from the menu, beginning with "Holy Simeon's Arms":
Eleven-year-old Theresa had the brilliant idea of adding mustard to represent the stinging, yet divinely inspired, words of Simeon's prophecy to Our Lady. (Mustard is spicy and even burny, yet it is good, not unlike the words of Simeon.)
I would have preferred sword-shaped toothpicks for these "piercing swords," but there is always next year! The children liked the combination of tomato and mild cheese, a good accompaniment for salty pretzels.
(As you will see, I am not above improvising on my own menus and do so often!)
Although Mallomars (Nabisco) would have been far better to represent "Anna the Prophetess," they were unavailable at our local grocer. Hershey's brand York Peppermint Patty cookies were a perfect substitute--black on the outside to represent Anna as a widow, with a pure white (minty) center to show her goodness and holiness, and a cookie bottom to remind the children that Anna never left the floor of the temple, but stayed there praying day and night.
If there is one thing I love to serve, it is a bowl of strawberries. The children are always so pleased, and nothing is so lovely on the table. Of course, the bowl of fresh and lightly sweetened whipped cream helped to make "Pure Hearts" a hit. The children were interested in the fact that Mary's heart was completely sinless, yet she went to the Temple to be purified as an act of humble obedience. I reminded them that their hearts should remain as pure as Our dear Lady's, the perfect discussion to precede our First Saturday trip to Confession.
The table was set simply, in white with hints of red and gold.
There was more than enough for all!
As the children picked up their warm pretzels, I repeated not only Simeon's prophecy (that the Child would be a light to the gentiles), but also the words Our Lord would say to his followers--"You are the light of the world"; "You are the salt of the earth."
Even these dear "snowman" teacups, a gift from Marybeth Foss to my daughters, served a purpose--blue for the Blessed Mother, white for her purity, and red for the love she bore her Son.
Just for fun, I told the children I'd hidden two more birds in the room (not exactly turtledoves, but close). It took all of two minutes for them to find this glistening pair of ornaments tucked in the chandelier, a gift from Lissa at Christmas.
Then it was off for the celebration worth infinitely more than all the Tea rituals ever planned: The Holy Mass! Our Mass was held in the evening, no less, with a slight sleet coming down from the heavens--just the way Alice O'Brien and Anne Maloney would have wanted it.
My heart swelled when little Patrick slipped into the Sacred Heart chapel to say a prayer. Here he is--the picture of scruffy, lovable boyhood.
Maureen stood at the holy water font blessing herself for no less than ten minutes. As you can see, she has her "Name of the Father" down cold.
The celebration continued when we returned home. What would Candlemas be without a flood of candlelight, and where better to find it than our Advent Log, a tradition inspired by my dear friend Rebecca and her father? Candlemas marks the traditional end of the Christmas season, and the white birch bark just seemed to cry out "Purification"! Now I have no doubt that most of you good housekeepers put away your Advent Logs weeks ago, but, at least this year, it payed to procrastinate. I replaced the mottled cranberry Christmas candle with a pure white one, exchanging the tired greenery for silk dogwood and cherry blossoms in honor of Our Lady. A pair of Presentation turtledoves completed the picture, looking almost ready for Valentine's day nestled atop a scarlet bloom. Next year, I hope to use blue flowers and blue ribbon for this display, but, to make it happen on Friday, items on hand were better than nothing. (We are firm believers in using whatever is around when an idea strikes, and these silk flowers had been languishing in the garage since Margaret's First Holy Communion almost two years ago.)
By the flicker of that brave little row of candles, we sang "Oh Most Holy One," "Sing of Mary," and "Hail Holy Queen Enthroned Above." To be sure, there are better Candlemas hymns, but these were songs we knew and could sing with joy. No doubt the gentle Virgin from Nazareth heard and appreciated them--I could not help musing that hte pleasant glow of tapers felt almost like the light of her smile. Snuffing out our candles for the last time until next Christmas, we stayed a while longer to say the Rosary--the Sorrowful Mysteries for Friday, plus an extra decade to remember the Presentation.
The children went to bed happily after that, lingering only for a few extra kisses before heading upstairs. Agnes seemed to speak for all of them in observing smilingly that it had been "such a happy, holy day." With God's help, a few more precious seeds were sown in those seven ready hearts.
*******
Production Crew
Centerpiece construction: Mom and Margaret, with Patrick to pour the two bottles of holy water
Mantle decoration: Mom and Margaret
Table Settings: Agnes, Theresa, Margaret, and Marie, with a word here and there from Mom
Menu Tweaking: Theresa
Pretzel piling and mustard mounding: Theresa
Cream whipping: Agnes
Strawberry arrangement: Margaret
All other food and beverage preparation: Mom
Best Boy: Patrick
Babysitting: Marie, with help here and there from the older three
Comedy Relief: Maureen
Posted by Alice Gunther on February 04, 2007 in Crafts, Faith, Feast Days, Food and Drink, Home Education, Liturgical Teas, Living the Liturgical Year, Mothering, Pondering, Teatime at the Cottage | Permalink | Comments (21) | TrackBack (0)
Thank you so much for the kind comments expressed here this week, particularly the cheering words for the "Coffers of Grace" and "Cottage Catastrophe" posts, not to mention today's Candlemas Tea and plans. After reading the Candlemas Tea Menu, my dear friend Jennifer commented:
"Simply is the key word there, I appreciate how your Teas can be done with simple, common ingredients."
This was significant and deeply gratifying to me, because the philosophy behind the Liturgical Teas is simplicity. My hope is that mothers will be able to read the suggestions, make a run to the grocery store, and have everything on the table in an hour or so. The Teas are meant to create an impression on the children, and--simple beings that they are--they are happy with sugar cubes and pretzels and cherry tomatoes, God bless them! Is it any wonder Our Dear Lord tells us to "be like a little child"? My dearest wish is that, thanks to you good mothers who make things happen, a handful of children may never look at a Mallomar or a strawberry again without thinking of something happy and holy.
Candlemas will be upon us soon. From your comments, I see that our family will not be the only one celebrating for the first time. Let's make this a great Feast and remember to pray for one another during the day. Perhaps you might consider saying the Purification Novena Prayer after grace--it is perfect for a Tea with children:
"O Blessed Mother of God, who went up to the Temple according to the law with your offering of little white doves, pray for me that I too may keep the law and be pure in heart like you.
Sweet heart of Mary, be my salvation."
--from the Novena for Purification.
To help you all with that last minute shopping trip, here is a list of the ingredients you need for the Candlemas Tea:
Tea (Look for package marked "pure tea.")
Sugar Cubes
Milk
Spring water (optional)
Turtledoves (see note below)
Twisted Pretzels
Toothpicks (preferably swords)
Grape or cherry tomatoes
Cubes of cheese
Mallomars (Nabisco)
Strawberries
Whipping Cream or Cool Whip
Optional:
White chocolate morsels for melting
Shoestring licorice for edible tapers
*******
A Note on Turtledoves: We are using craft store doves, but something white would work well here--try mini bagels, split in half with a bit of cream cheese, or, if you don't mind something sweet, white meringues. The brilliant Amy suggested Marshmallow Peeps. Believe it or not, this occurred to me too, but I am not sure if they are available yet. Fear not, however, the Mallomars will make up for it!
If you are feeling a bit too rushed, it might make sense to consider hosting something like this over the weekend. It will be First Saturday, after all!
Posted by Alice Gunther on January 30, 2007 in Faith, Feast Days, Food and Drink, January Activities, Liturgical Teas, Living the Liturgical Year, Teatime at the Cottage | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
O Blessed Mother of God, who went up to the Temple according to the law with your
offering of little white doves, pray for me that I too may keep the law and be pure in heart
like you.
Sweet heart of Mary, be my salvation.
--from the Novena for Purification
I have a confession to make--we have never celebrated Candlemas in our house. Candlemas, for me, is a pleasant sounding holiday with a name that makes me think of medieval times, kind of like Michaelmas and Martinmas, two other celebrations we only discovered recently.
This year a series of events led me to believe that the Holy Spirit might be prompting us to do more for this great feast of the Purification of Our Lady.
First, the Purification Novena scheduled months ago at Loreto Cottage began (prayed especially for the wonderful Theresa)--it was several days before I even realized that The Purification and Candlemas are the same Feast! (So that's what Candlemas is!) Then out of the blue, a local friend emailed a beautiful Candlemas prayer. Another friend announced she would be hosting the Loveliness of Candlemas Fair. (I could not wait to read it, but did not at first even think about participating--after all, we had *no* plan to celebrate the feast at all!) The final straw--a straw from the manger perhaps--came when a dear friend from our local homeschooling group presented me with a bright yellow folder on Friday. Tucked inside were page after page of Candlemas prayers and hymns collected from several of her treasured out of print books--all painstakingly photocopied just for me.
At that point, I knew God was telling me something!
For those of you unfamiliar with Candlemas (myself included up until about a day or so ago), it is the Feast of the Purification of Our Lady and the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple. Traditionally called Candlemas because candles are blessed on this day to help us remember the words of holy Simeon who called the babe in his arms, "A light to lighten the gentiles and the glory of your people, Israel." Luke 2: 32.
As we often do with feasts, the girls and I are planning a Tea, along with a special centerpiece and craft. It is admittedly hastily planned, but we never let perfectionism stand in the way of fun!
Candlemas Tea Menu
Pure Tea
Sugar Cubes for Our Lady
Milk for St. Joseph
Water
A pair of turtledoves
Holy Simeon's Arms
Piercing swords
Anna the Prophetess
Pure Hearts
Theresa's edible tapers (optional)
Reading: Luke 2: 22-40.
Recipes and Suggestions:
1. Pure Tea
I hope this will not sound too silly, but many boxes of tea are marked "pure tea." It seems to me that this might be pointed out to the children in conjunction with a discussion of the ritual of purification.
2. Sugar Cubes for Our Lady and Milk for St. Joseph
This is an idea borrowed from Our Epiphany Tea, and the explanations fit just as well here. When discussing Our Lady, I would point out that the whiteness of the sugar reminds us of her purity. Out of obedience and humility, she went to the Temple for the ritual of Purification, but she was at all times sinless and spotless from the moment of her conception.
3. Water
Water is so associated with purity and purification that a pitcher of spring water for the table makes sense for this celebration. We are also planning a holy water centerpiece (below).
4. A pair of turtledoves
There are so many possibilities for this offering--anything from delicate white sandwiches to small meringues, but for this celebration, the children in our family will be preparing a small craft for the table featuring craft store doves in a basket. (I purchased the doves on Saturday, and it has been all I could do to keep the children from playing with them! I found one attached to a handwrought floral fairy's car today!)
5. Holy Simeon's Arms
Holy Simeon held the Christ Child in his arms saying, "Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to Your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation." Luke 2: 29-30. To remember the loving arms of Simeon, twisted pretzels (first invented in the middle ages to represent arms folded in prayer) will be a readily obtained and simple symbol.
As you are serving them, remind the children that Christ would later preach, "You are the salt of the earth . . . . You are the light of the world." (Mt. 5: 13-14.)
6. Piercing Swords
Simeon was moved by the Holy Spirit to declare to Our Lady, "Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted, and you yourself a sword will pierce, so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." Luke 2: 34-35.
A simple cube of mild cheese, topped with a grape tomato and pierced with a toothpick would provide a good visual for the children. If you have a party store near you, you might even pick up the perfect box ofSword Toothpicks.
7. Anna the Prophetess
Oh, how I love Anna--worshiping in the temple day and night at the age of 84. [This would be my mother if she did not have grandchildren. : )]
Because Anna was a widow, something black might represent her well. I can think of many possibilities, but our family will pick up a box of Mallomars. They are perfect for Anna. The black outer shell shows that she is a widow, but inside you will see the purity and goodness of her devout heart represented in the white center. Note that the marshmallow stands on top of a graham cracker, and remind the children that this good woman never left the floor of the Temple day or night.
(By the way, up until recently, I would have told you I could not stand Mallomars, but I tried one around Christmas, and it was surprisingly good.)
8. Pure Hearts
Have the children dip strawberries in fresh whipped cream to represent Our Lady's pure and innocent heart. If you managed to get sword toothpicks, it would be very effective to skewer each strawberry for added significance.
Another possibility:
We have a small fondue pot that rarely gets used. I may let the children dip the strawberries into melted white chocolate kept warm over a candle, just because I like the idea of the candle for Candlemas.
9. Theresa's Edible Tapers
Speaking of fondue pots, 11 year old Theresa made a creative suggestion we will not have time to test in advance. Cut small pieces of shoestring licorice--dip several times in melted white chocolate leaving a bit of licorice exposed as a wick. If it works, you will have tiny and adorable edible dipped tapers.
Here are some photographs of our Candlemas supplies:
On Friday morning, we will attend Mass at our parish, asking the priest to bless these floating white rose candles. The white rose seemed the perfect symbol of the Purification of Our Lady, and I plan to give the centerpiece added meaning by floating the candles in holy water, allowing the children to bless themselves (before the candles are lit, of course!)
A print of the Presentation will grace the table as well, along with a children's project--doves in a basket. We only have six doves, so, just as Mary and Joseph shared a pair of turtledoves, each pair of my children will share a pair as well.
I never did post pictures of my glorious Advent log in its fully lighted beauty. (Thank you, Rebecca!!!) Fortunately, I am a procrastinator, and the log is still on our living room mantle. I plan on replacing the red Christmas candle with a large fat white one, decorated with Marian symbols to become a Mary Candle. We will light the white side candles and sing Candlemas hymns, processing out afterward to bid a last farewell to our outdoor creche. It will be a fitting end to the official Christmas season, and for once I am glad we never got around to putting some things away!
And a word about treading water. As you know, the learning room of our cottage is soaked through. Yesterday, a workman brought me over to survey the cleanup effort, and I was shocked to see the room stripped down to the studs. The walls and ceiling were ripped out, and even part of the adjacent bathroom wall was no more. The place looked worse, if anything, so much worse than when it was merely wet with a ceiling piece hanging down. Still, I knew it had to be done if the room is to get better.
Then it occurred to me that the stripped room was a perfect metaphor for purification--in many ways, to improve our hearts and become true followers of Christ, we need to strip them down to the studs, lopping away all that is festering within us and holding us back from Him. Even Our Lady, pure and sinless though she was, was pruned and groomed in the school of suffering--told on the very day of Purification of a sword that would pierce her heart.
And so, Candlemas has come to call this year, in more ways than one.
Posted by Alice Gunther on January 30, 2007 in Crafts, Epiphany, Faith, Feast Days, Food and Drink, Home Education, January Activities, Liturgical Teas, Living the Liturgical Year, Mothering, Music, Teatime at the Cottage | Permalink | Comments (12) | TrackBack (0)
"Joshua and the battle of Jericho, Jericho, Jericho! Joshua and the battle of Jericho! And the walls came tumbling down!"
I can still see the scene in my mind's eye: the cafeteria of St. Mary's School, surreal to me at night, with an assortment of neighborhood children pressing round a fortress of cardboard milk cartons. The gang of us are singing at the top of our lungs, before bolting forward with a whoop to topple the flimsy firmament at just the right moment. This simple, boisterous game was all part of "Family Night," an event promoted in those days by a young priest named Father Daily and filed away forever in my treasure chest of joyful childhood memories. I am not sure what I knew about Joshua or Jericho at the time, yet the fun and wild abandon of the game remains with me still.
Then there was Lent at St. Mary's Church and the 7:30 evening Mass in its dimly lit basement. My mother and our neighbor, Mrs. Maloney, would rarely miss it. Anne Maloney and I could not wait to pile into the car for the novel nightly outing, or better yet walk under the train trestle with its flourescent lights and cooing pigeons, pretty sure of a soda at Alexander's afterward, and, if we were very lucky, a piece of creamy white chocolate to split between us. How I loved those Masses with Anne at my side and holy Father Callahan on the altar. The memory of them brings a pleasing mist to my eyes even now.
Looking back on my early "spiritual" experiences, I see now that, although they were in some ways less than ethereal, those blessed moments are cloaked in a mantle of simple childish gladness and mirth. To this day, I love the Mass and the Church and the Holy Bible and our parish priests, and, it seems to me, the seeds of Faith and love and loyalty were sown deep, sown in the ready heart of a child and fed and fertilized with soda and smiles, war whoops and white chocolate.
In passing on the Faith to our children, it is a great hope of mine that we will allow them to form many happy associations like these. Armed with a childhood of fond religious memories, they surely will fare far better against the world's onslaught than those tottery milk cartons in the cafeteria. With this in mind, we have begun a new tradition in our home--First Saturday Outings.
The idea was born over hot chocolates in Starbuck's back in December. I had taken the four older girls and my favorite slingrider to do a little window shopping while dh watched Patrick and Maureen. The night was pleasingly temperate, and our spirits were so high that it made me wonder why we rarely go out together in the evening. It happened to be First Saturday, and I considered what fun it would be make a special trip every First Saturday night. The girls were at once taken with the idea and talked about the first Saturday of January for a full month. Even the wonders of Christmas and New Year's could not dilute their eager anticipation.
First Saturday morning, the children awoke already talking about Mass and Confession and the special trip planned for afterward. This month, our outing consisted of omelettes at a local diner with a walk through Border's Bookstore afterward. Dh and I decided to spring for a round of hot cocoa at the cafe, but, much to everyone's dismay, they were all out of (gasp) cocoa powder. Fortuitously, the girl behind the counter offered white chocolate as a substitute, and, you will be glad to learn, the pale variety was accepted by today's young Catholics as readily as it was by Anne Maloney and Alice O'Brien those many years ago.
We arrived home late and began the usual bustle of toothbrushing, pajama hunting, and laundry rounding ("It's like herding cats," quipped dh.) The little three were asleep in an instant, when I remembered we had not yet said a Rosary or meditated an extra fifteen minutes on the Mysteries for First Saturday. The four girls were only too happy to stay up a while longer for a cozy, quiet Rosary, and I was just about to remind them of the quarter hour's meditation, when an idea struck me.
"Get on your coats, girls."
Eight eyes opened wide, and even dh uttered a disbelieving, "Did you say 'coats'?"
Within two minutes, we were outside under the stars--barely chilly with the springlike weather we have been having--and singing around our outdoor creche. Everything but the creche was pitch black, and the children's voices rose sweetly in the thin night air. Hymn after hymn of their own choosing: "Lo, How a Rose E're Blooming," "Adeste Fideles," "Hark the Herald Angels Sing," "Do You Know What I Know?" "Away in a Manger"--they formed the merriest little quartet of carolers you ever heard, inventing harmonies and smiling toward the stable. I listened silently, my heart swelling with hope that these blessed hymns might be their "Joshua and the Battle of Jericho," with each heartfelt note girding them for adulthood.
As we walked back to the house, I found more than one young hand had made its way into mine, and a couple of the girls walked ahead arm in arm. Margaret turned to me with a face as bright as the moon above our heads and proclaimed, "This was such a fun day!"
More music to my ears.
Posted by Alice Gunther on January 08, 2007 in Cottage Christmas, Cottage Garden, Epiphany, Faith, Feast Days, Food and Drink, Games, Humor, January Activities, Living the Liturgical Year, Mothering, Music, Pondering | Permalink | Comments (18) | TrackBack (0)
Our Tea for the Twelve Days of Christmas and Epiphany was appreciated by all the children, and I am hoping it will become a tradition in our house for many years to come.
How perfect is this teapot (coffee pot, actually)? Its deep burgundy and woodsy hues form a cozy backdrop for the lyrics to "Silent Night." I found this treasure at an after-Christmas sale and almost did not purchase it. That is, until I caught site of the nesting sugar and creamer and was smitten instantly and irrevocably. I had never before seen a creamer resting atop a sugar bowl, and, although I realize it will never hold enough milk to accommodate that hulking coffee pot, true love isn't necessarily practical. Believe it or not, it was only when I brought these home that I realized how perfect they would be for our Christmas Tea! After all, tea may be brewed in a coffee pot!
"Tea from the Innkeeper":
"Sugar Cubes for Our Lady":
"Milk for St. Joseph":
As you can see, the creamer actually forms a lid for the sugar bowl, reminding us that St. Joseph is the protector of Our Lady:
I had planned on heading out to the bakery for a baguette and rolls, but a busy morning prevented the errand. Theresa saved the day by whipping up a blueberry quick bread from a mix to represent "Bethlehem, House of Bread":
"Babes in the Manger":
"Shepherd's Staffs":
Margaret, Marie, Patrick, and Theresa spent part of the afternoon creating dozens of angels out of coffee filters. There were several different designs, but my personal favorites were the ones made out of our cut-up Christmas photograph. "A Host of Angels":
An angelic centerpiece, with seven angels--one for each of the children:
Agnes' letters were a highlight for all of us. She read them aloud while the others gathered round the tree. Has it truly been a year since she surprised me with that Wise Man Figure?
"Wise Men's Gifts":
At the very end, the children opened yet another very special surprise on behalf of the Christ Child:
The gifts of the Magi--gold, frankincense, and myrrh in ornate boxes--an extravagance purchased two days ago for a clearance price at yet another after-Christmas sale. I never would have thought of purchasing these, but the price was too good to pass up. You see, there are many advantages to being one of the minority who celebrates the Twelve Days of Christmas:
Of course, it wouldn't be a Cottage Blessings Party without our usual rag tag band of party crashers. Oh, how I love the ever-growing Raggedy Family:
So Eileen, what did you think of your first Christmas Tea?
Happy Feast of the Epiphany, dear friends!
*******
Production Team
Babysitters: Theresa, Agnes, Marie, Margaret (in shifts)
Baking: Theresa
Poetry: Agnes
Angel Crafting: Margaret (lead designer), Theresa, Marie, Patrick
Best Boy: Patrick
Direction and Cinematography: Mommy
"Babe in a Manger" assembly: Marie, with help from Mommy
Tablescape Design Advice: every single person in the family, with final say given to Mommy
Music: Christmas Choirs (BMG), 3 CD set purchased at Staples for $7.99.
*******
A word about the three letters. A dear friend asked permission to read Agnes' letters aloud during her Tea. Agnes was honored beyond words and hopes anyone who wishes will feel free to do the same.
Posted by Alice Gunther on January 06, 2007 in Cottage Christmas, Crafts, Epiphany, Faith, Feast Days, Food and Drink, Home Education, Homemaking, January Activities, Liturgical Teas, Living the Liturgical Year, Music, Photos, Teatime at the Cottage | Permalink | Comments (25) | TrackBack (0)
Occasionally, I post a plan only to discover it is not working quite as smoothly as I had hoped. The other day, I mentioned an activity called Wise Men's Gifts as part of our Twelve Days of Christmas and Epiphany Tea. The idea itself --preparing boxes of monetary and spiritual gifts for the Baby Jesus representing Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh--could be adapted as an Advent activity next year, but we have not managed to pull it together this week.
Instead, the three older children are going to write letters on behalf of our family containing promises to the Christ Child for the coming year. Here is a sample of how a child's letter might sound. (I will encourage the girls to use their own wording, or this could just as easily be prepared by Mom):
Dear Jesus,Thank you for listening to the prayers of our family. In memory of the gift of Frankincense, we offer you all our prayers and thoughts during the New Year.
We love you with all our hearts.
The Gunther Family
The children could enclose the letters in pretty envelopes or decorative boxes to represent the Gifts. They also might enjoy taking turns reading them aloud at the table or by the creche. This is what we can manage for this year, and hopefully it will work well.
It just so happens that I have a very special surprise for the Tea picked up at an after Christmas sale this afternoon, but because my daughters read this blog, mum's the word for now. In the meantime, please pay a visit to our Creche in the Woods.
Posted by Alice Gunther on January 04, 2007 in Cottage Christmas, Crafts, Epiphany, Faith, Feast Days, Food and Drink, Home Education, January Activities, Liturgical Teas, Living the Liturgical Year, Teatime at the Cottage | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)