Good Morning!

A Very Special Tea Cup

A very special tea cup arrived in the mail last week.

Isn't it beautiful? 

I won Terri's give-a-way!

I do love Mail-Call!

I love the color, the wonderful flowers.

Terri included a sample of teas, too! 

Oh, my.

What fun I'm going to have!

She even picked a card to accompany her gift that is so me!

The beautiful Tibetan Buddha of Infinite Light.

Thank you so very much, Terri.

"The daintiness and yet elegance of a china teacup focuses one to be gentle,

to think warmly, and to feel close."

~Carol and Malcolm Cohen

***

I'm participating in ICAD.

(Index Card a Day)

Here are two that go well with tea.

Teacups, teapots and tea quotes ... some of my favorite things.

"Write It On Your Heart" The Buddha of Infinite Light

Thanks to our tea party hostesses.

These are just a few of the tea parties in the Land of Blog.

Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday

Tea Time Tuesday

Teacup Tuesday

Tea Party Tuesday

Tuesday Tea For Two

Wishing YOU well and a wonderful cup of tea! 

Cows On Parade!

Going through photos each week,

I never know what I will find.

Mr. Dragon had started putting photos in albums (the non sticky kind).

I'm trying to finish what he started.

This week I found photos we took of the Cows On Parade In Houston.

I just had to put the space shuttle cow in the middle to honor its final flight. 

The cows were painted by artists and sculptors and were on parade 

in the late summer and early fall of 2001.

We took photos of the cows we found in the museum area of Houston...

just a few of the 325!

They were auctioned off to benefit Texas Children's Hospital.

***

This is a Better Homes and Gardens Recipe that I just had to share.

Chocolate and strawberries ... a combination that is hard to beat!!

Better Homes and Gardens

CHOCOLATE STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKES

6 Servings

Ingredients:

4 cups sliced strawberries

1/4  cup sugar

1 2/3 cups all purpose flour

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup butter or margarine

1 beaten egg

2/3 cup milk

1 cup whipping cream

Chocolate ice cream topping (optional)

Whole strawberries (optional)

2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

Lightly grease a baking sheet.  Combine sliced strawberries and the 1/4  cup sugar. Set aside.

For shortcakes, in a medium bowl combine flour, cocoa powder, the 1/4 cup sugar, baking powder, and salt.  Cut in buter or margarine until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Combine egg and milk; add all at once to flour mixture and stir just until moistened. Drop dough into 6 portions on prepared baking sheet.

Bake in 450 degree F oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool slightly on a wire rack.

To serve, split warm shortcakes in half crosswise. In a chilled small mixing bowl beat whipping cream, the 2 tablespoons sugar, and vanilla with an electric mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form. Spoon a little whipped cream on shortcake bottoms. Top with sliced strawberries. Add shortcake tops and top with remaining whipped cream. Drizzle with chocolate ice cream topping and garnish with whole strawberries, of desired. Makes 6 servings.

MAKE AHEAD TIP

Prepare and bake shortcakes; cool completely on wire rack. Place in freezer container or plastic freezer bag; seal, label, and freeze up to 2 weeks.  To serve; wrap frozen shortcakes in foil. Bake in 350 degree F oven for 10 minutes or until warm.

***

Thank you to our hostesses:

Mary for Mosaic Monday

and 

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday.

Wishing YOU well and a wonderful, Joy filled week. 

Index Card A Day

I came to the ICAD (Index Card A Day) party a month late.

Better late than never!

It has been bittersweet.

I am getting paint on my fingers which is sweet.

But I am also going through Mr. Dragon's art supplies which is bitter.

I am almost finished getting all of his artwork framed. 

On with the ICAD show!

This ICAD #1 ... my elephant period!

Where am I going?

First, get up in the morning ... see what the day brings.

ICAD #3

Buster Says Be Peaceful

Buster is one of my favorites.

I was going through old magazines,

cutting out words, phrases, images that appealed to me.

When I was putting things away,

Buster and be peaceful were stuck together.

Sure brought a smile to my face!

Yes sir, Buster! I'm listening!

 

ICAD # 4

To celebrate the 4th of July holiday.

I'll try to post ICAD's more often.

Next Friday I promise to return to the regularly scheduled programming

Haiku My Heart and Postcard Friendship Friday! 

Wishing YOU well and fun filled weekend! 

Good Morning!