On this particularly stormy, rainy afternoon, I puttered into the kitchen to put on a pot of tea...that delicious, aromatic Earl Grey Creme. While the tea was brewing, I opened the package that had arrived earlier in the day. Two beautiful mugs, to compliment the teapot I received as a birthday gift from my 'daughter-in-love', were carefully wrapped in their beautiful 50th anniversary gift boxes. I fell in love with the mugs when I saw they displayed pink parrot tulips, and because I will be celebrating my 50th "anniversary of my birth" this year, as well. They came at the perfect time...teatime. Wishing my sweet girl could have enjoyed it with me, but we happen to be in the midst of tornado warnings; best she stay put!
I was made aware that yesterday was the birthday of Marjorie Tudor, beloved daughter-in-law of Tasha Tudor. It brought to mind a charming little book I found in an antique store titled 'Marjorie's Little Doll School,' as Ms. Marjorie is an incredibly talented doll maker, writer, and artist. The book begins with,
"I like to play with dolls; do you?
I comb their hair and dress them too;
I make-believe they talk and say
The things real people do all day;
And they seem more than little toys
When I pretend they're girls and boys."
When I gingerly turned the century-old pages, I came upon a photo picturing the dolls making fudge by their cookstove, similar to mine. My parents had purchased a cookstove for me, when I was a little girl, while visiting Asheville, North Carolina. It was the centerpiece of all my childhood, homemade log cabins, sitting upon moss "carpet" gathered in the neighboring woods. As a young mother, the stove came to its demise after tumbling from its shelf. I grieved its loss...thankful, though, for sweet memories.
Several years ago, my mother presented me with an early Christmas gift...it was an exact replica of the stove I had cherished! The flood of emotion, I was not prepared for!
Now, there is a young grandson who enjoys preparing meals of peas, corn, and 'scrandled' eggs for his Grammy...do you see the little rocks...I mean food...in the miniature pots and pans?
Sweet Tasha was blessed to have such a devoted daughter-in-law, who shared her love of dolls and afternoon tea, and I am reminded how blessed I am as well.
