Making Chai in a Happy Cottage Kitchen

I love our happy kitchen.

 Even when it's cold or dreary or rainy or dismal outside...

it is happy in here....

I am happy that we finally have our dream kitchen..

..that we modeled after the charming display we saw a few years ago in

 Penzey Spices, Winter Park, Florida..

I'm especially happy when I see this happy Santa looking back at me....

Thank you dear Susan Branch for creating a new Christmas dishtowel...

...and for a pretty Christmas Recipe book to remind us that our kitchen truly is the heart of the home...

...especially in the midst of this season.... 

And a huge thank you to fellow girlfriend, Janie, for the snowflake garland! 

Phia and I love the pretty shimmery flakes:)

So when I saw what Alicia Paulson had whipped up in her kitchen

at www.rosylittlethings.com

and decided it would be just the right thing to whip up for those on my Christmas list,

I commenced planning and ordering.

(and thanked her for the perfectly perfect idea;)

Once everything arrived, via express mail,  (for time was of the essence) I was quite excited.

Penzey spices ...mini-weck jars ....disposable paper tea bags....

recipe printed...

check...check...check....and....check

cute little stickers on the spice jars...

intoxicating fragrance..

(I'm now in love with fresh Cardamom pods)

chop...

Heaven!

Everything into a pan and into the oven for 5 minutes...

and when your entire Happy Kitchen is filled with the fragrance of cloves,  cinnamon sticks, and the blending of the remaining spices...

...be prepared..

for when you open the door of your oven...

You will want your home to always smell just like this.

Allow the spices to cool and then distribute evenly on a cutting board.

Using your rolling pin...crunch carefully over the spices, in order to release even more fragrance..

as if it can possibly get any better.

In a bowl, mix the spices with PG Tips loose tea.

(I went for the big bag, as this tea is fabulous with the mix, but equally as delicious by itself)

After filling all my little mini-weck jars, there was just enough left over to fix a batch for taste-testing....

I brewed the Chai tea mix, according to instructions...steep ....add milk...

and used my Emma Bridgewater tea pot and mug...and a cute little strainer....

(I didn't use the fillable tea bags or infusers for this batch)

I'm just going to tell you right now...have honey handy...

it is THE perfect sweetener...trust me...

I also loved having a good reason to use my special honey spoon....

a treasure, crafted by Julie Whitmore. 

 (Google her...she creates the MOSt darling pottery)

...and since I mentioned Julie...I have to show you the first spoon I purchased from her...

Really! ...is there anything sweeter than a bunny bun sniffing hollyhocks?

I just don't know that there is!

Okay...back to the preparing... 

I guess I could have copied a set of instructions for everyone, 

but you know me... 

....It had to be cute...pretty...pleasing to the eye...

The little jars were tucked into gift bags, along with enough fillable teabags, and the Instruction card.

I had so much fun with this gift preparation. 

I am sure it's because it was a combination of baking and crafting.

...my two favorite things... 

...especially because I was in my happy cottage kitchen...

The Heart of our Home

*******

Hoping your Christmas was wonderful ...

and 

that you were blessed with the comforting fragrances of home

Blessings for a Happy New Year

Welcome to Christmas at Rose Water Cottage

I cannot believe all that has taken place since my last post.
Where do I even begin?

Okay...so let's see....

I finished the bookmarks for sister-in-law, and her ladies' retreat was a huge success...

My book, Eliza Visits Martha's Vineyard, is off to the publisher, Vineyard Stories, on Martha's Vineyard (we should have a wonderful little hardcover book by next Spring)..

We celebrated Halloween by trick or treating with a little ballerina...

...who has a passion for playing the piano...in a hat...

My son Matthew married his Jenny under the Hunter's moon...

in October...
and words cannot describe what an incredibly beautiful event this was...

and my dear husband saw to it that I acquire the most exquisite confection for the occasion...
(a 1900's edwardian 3 piece ensemble of silk, with hand-embroidered detailing....words fail me...)

We were fortunate to have a long-time friend of our family drive our newlyweds off into the moonlit night. We love you, dear Beverly!

....and then Matthew turned 30 in November. Where did the time go?

Mom and Dad arrived home safely from Africa, after a 4 month stay, just in time for his 82nd birthday.

We adopted the sweetest little kitty girl (my birthday present) and named her Lucy Maud (of course, because we LOVE Anne of Green Gables with a passion!)

Here are a few sweet photos...(Susan's Girl Kitty is her hero:)

She has mastered every adorable pose ...We LOVE her...

This was the ride home, snuggled in my arms, after adopting her from our local Animal Shelter...

It didn't take any time at all for her to know this is HOME.
It was so wonderful to have Susan Branch and some very supportive SB girlfriends (Karen, Patricia, Debs, Rosinda, Laura, Belinda, Jane, Cathy, Georgie, Erin, and even a new GF, Jane Hissey ...author/illustrator of the Old Bear books, which Sophia ADORES) along for the journey.
I wore my "Girlfriends" bracelets with SB and Martha's Vineyard charms...

We tweeted, wildly, back and forth, until we were home with our sweetheart, safe and sound...and even into the next few days...checking in on her progress and how she and little Scout were getting on...

And here they are today...continuing to "warm up" to each other, just a bit more each day...

Whew!  Now that you're all caught up...

...fetch your cup of hot tea, hot cider, or hot coffee (assuming it is chilly/cold/raining/snowing where you live:)...

....come up the flagstone path...

Welcome...
to Christmas at Rose Water Cottage....

It's beginning to look like Christmas.  With fresh pine and cedar garland hanging along the gingerbread trim, I feel as if we live in our very own storybook cottage, nestled somewhere in a storybook wood...

Speaking of storybook cottages...and storybook woods...I read a blog post at Natalie Jo's "Piccalilli Days."  She had visited the real Grandmother's House in New Hampshire, the house that served as the illustrator's inspiration of the 1948 edition of Little Red Riding Hood. In a photo she had taken in the cottage, there was the sweetest shelf holding a display of storybooks. (I imagine they were all versions and editions of the famous story.)

I showed husband the photo, he searched the internet, and it wasn't long until we had our very own, 100 year old storybook shelf for our storybook cottage...

It serves as a perfectly perfect spot for those wonderful old books and some sweet little characters...and a Merry message, by way of old alphabet blocks.

Here is our Little Red, a 1940's Nancy Ann doll, her storybook wood (unpainted trees found at Hobby Lobby, painted by yours truly) alongside the sweet old book.  Eliza has loaned her sweet picnic basket she received as a housewarming gift from cousin city mouse...

Sophia, so intrigued by the story, dressed as Little Red Riding hood (using the Tasha Tudor scarf that had recently arrived by post) and acted out the entire story, over and over and over...
Oh, my dear, what big blue eyes you have!

This book, entitled Prayer for a Child (the same author/illustrator as Little Red Riding Hood), is filled with images of Wendt and Kuhn figurines. I loved this page "Bless the lamplight, bless the fire"...

...as it reminded me of how thankful I am for the blessing of a warm fire and candlelight....

I fell in love with those little figurines...  their faces are so sweet.

Also, on Natalie Jo's blog, she mentioned Woodettes... the cutest set of toys from the 1940's...hard to find... I mean..INCREDIBLY hard to find! So when I found this set on ebay, I snagged it...

...but they were in rough shape.  Someone had their share of fun, though, painting away with the watercolors provided in the set. This is Alice in Wonderland (before the makeover:)

and this is Mary with her Little Lamb (who had apparently lost his head somewhere through the years)...

So I had my work cut out for me...but I was so excited to have a few more characters for my shelf.

And because I love the sweet faces of the Wendt and Kuhn figurines, I decided to apply the same sweet features to these two little girls. This was the result ....

I found a tea set for Alice and a little lamb for Mary. Everyone is happy.

(Thank you sweet kindred, Patty, for the teeny tiny silver candlesticks and the hand made teeny tiny beeswax candles)

Next, came Little Jack Horner...who was also quite a mess...but with a bit of paint and a lot of love, he has turned out to be such a darling boy, sitting on his tiny red stool with his yummy Christmas pie (and a big purple plum on his thumb) ....

I had so much fun painting Mary's straw hat...(I suppose you might have noticed I chose not to paint the characters as shown on the box...we sure love our Peter Rabbit colors;)

Side note....Sophia has watched the painting of these characters and has been so curious. It has been a wonderful way to teach the nursery rhymes and songs, while she falls in love with each "story come to life"... She inspects the plum and the pie and their shoes and their faces... it is all so precious!

She loves our new shelf, with all her friends, and all her favorite books...

She loves that Little Bo Peep has found her sheep...

She reaches up to the book stand to gently touch this tiny bit of forget-me-not sweetness...

The British Garden Flowers book was acquired through Natalie Jo's Etsy shop. This illustration is my most favorite....with that wisp of a blossom to the right of the roses.  The little girl reminds me of Phia, always toting a baby doll.

So, here, in our storybook cottage, nestled in an imaginary storybook wood, I hang fresh pine and cedar garland and inhale the fragrance...

and set a table with pink lustreware atop a turkey red tablecloth as Tasha Tudor, did.

The mantel...which is new to our home but formerly resided in a 1920's home in the area...has a length of crocheted lace woven throughout the garland and twinkle lights, mingling with pink lustreware teacups and a gold open-weave ribbon ... and through the antiqued mirror, you see a glimpse of the storybook shelf...

The bird's nest amongst the garland and lights, sits above Take Joy, on the old piano.  The beeswax candles, crackling as they drip, light the room as they lit Tasha's cottage, with such a soft glow....

They're lit atop the table, as well...

...alongside my most favorite Christmastide storybook, Tasha Tudor's Snow Before Christmas.

Now, Bella with Rose Stockings (handmade by Christine LaFever) would argue that The Doll's Christmas is my favorite...as it has been quite the inspiration for the doll's house extreme makeover and festivities...(more on that subject, at a later date)...

I have been the busy little elf in Santa's workshop, these days, so I am unable to show many of the projects in progress...but this is one I am happy to share...

This evening I completed a precious little felt ornament for our precious little Phia...I couldn't get over how much it looked like her...and my hope is that she'll remember this Christmas, always, as the celebration of the year she found that this is HER Home ... and Tim and I are HER Family ...and that THIS is where Love lives....

...where visions of sugar plums can dance in her head...

****************

When I look through the lace curtains of the front window,  I see a lovely log home....

...and when I look out through the screen door, with its gingerbread trim....I see pine and cedar draped around my little porch...

...and I think...
.. this is the next best thing to a storybook cottage in a storybook wood,
 and I am one happy, thankful, loved Grammy.

Blessings, friends....
...Rabbit Rabbit,  SB girlfriends...
..and may you all have a warm and peaceful Christmastide season.

Eliza takes Flight

At an Autumn book signing, Eliza sat alone on her lovely sofa, amongst the books and kits and cards....

Grammy realizes, as she is searching through her purse for a handkersniff, that John Jacob has been hiding there since her visit to Xavier's house. After searching through the boy's toy box, the little mouse had been found, and made his way into Grammy's hand bag. He had missed his friend Eliza, and Xavier said he would have called her if she had had a tiny phone of her very own.

Grammy surprises her sweet mouse with the presence of her dear friend, whom neither have seen in over a year...

Eliza hardly recognizes him.. his fur has turned white and his ears are very pink.  She inquires regarding his present condition.  It just so happens, that being tucked inside that little boy's pocket, caused the predicament...for the short pants Xavier had been wearing went straightaway to the washing machine...along with John Jacob! What a washing he received! But he is still her dear friend, nonetheless, and they have much to discuss, for many many adventures have taken place.

Now, it is time, in early November, for Eliza to accompany Grammy on a most exciting adventure...a flight on an airplane.

Xavier wants to be sure that Eliza will be able to call her friend, while she is away.

Eliza gives instructions on how to use the tiny phone that Grammy has purchased for them...

It came all the way across the ocean from England..  (if you have acquired the book Eliza Celebrates a Royal Wedding, you may refer to the map, inside, of England)

Eliza tells him he must always use his very best manners when answering and speaking on the telephone.

Grammy and Eliza are awake very early, on the day of the adventure, and travel to the airport.

She is rather anxious about the idea of flying through the air, but Grammy assures her she will be tucked safely inside her satchel, alongside her books and paint sets and sketchpads and paintbrushes...all the familiar things from the art table in the pleasant sunroom...

She asks if Eliza might want to take a peek out the window, to check the weather conditions for flight...

When the surrounding passengers on the plane meet Eliza and are informed of this first experience for one nervous little mouse, they commence telling funny stories and tall tales, and in no time, Eliza is at ease. How wonderful to make new friends.

Grammy has told her of the exciting event they will be attending, as presenters...Art in the Garden, at a school in Florida...and what fun it will be to meet the boys and girls who have been so excited to meet her.

Grammy dons her dress and hat and prepares for the day...

Her sister-in-law, who will be assisting at the event, is prepared for the day, as well...

Arriving at the school, we meet the principal and the art teacher, who welcome us to the beautiful campus and into the lovely garden...

We are introduced to one of the musicians...

...and we then find the perfect spot for our table.... under the beauty berries and in close proximity to the fountain, with its trickling sound, reminding us of our own fountain outside the window of our sunroom studio...

Children come, one class at a time, to our table.
This is Ms. Lowry's class of 1st and 2nd graders...

They were so very excited to see us, and being ever so clever, asked meaningful questions of how a story comes to be.  They wrote down my responses and even drew darling pictures of our dear Eliza, their new friend...

Eliza poses for these sweet girls...

It is now time for lunch, and we are famished. A delicious meal is prepared and enjoyed out in the garden. Vases of freshly gathered sunflowers, grace the tables....

The creator and coordinator of the event, my brother Brad Jones....

After lunch, another precious child returns to my station to ask more questions, for she has fallen in love with Eliza...and Grammy...and we love her...

We will come again, to this garden, to these children.

The next morning, we venture out into the garden, once more, to gather cotton for the new and improved mouse making kits, for it is the very softest material for plumping newly stitched mice..

There are such beautiful blossoms on these cotton plants..

This is a freshly picked cotton boll..

We then sampled the fresh cucumbers from the garden...

This Edible Schoolyard has become quite a success, and how exciting is its future.

At my brother's home, in his very own garden, I snap a few photos.

His outdoor shower inside the enchanting secret garden..

and the bright green moss growing amongst the flat rocks..

the gorgeous, fragrant orchid that hangs nearby..

and at last, the roses reaching for the sky...along with the dreams of this brother and sister...

Back at home... in the quiet little sunroom...we assess the cotton and marvel at the stages of its transformation...

Here is the quantity of cotton, picked and processed by the students....

Small amounts will be placed in tiny bags and tied with tiny ribbons and placed in the mouse making kits.

A package is sent to the 1st and 2nd grade class, as they will be creating a classroom abode for their very own Eliza mouse. They have been awaiting the package for several weeks, and it has finally arrived.  Mr. Jones presents the package to the class...

How exciting to think of what is inside...what is a kit, exactly...

Ms. Lowry's class is now able to create a mouse for their classroom, and they will begin enjoying their very own adventures.  They plan to help Grammy as she creates her book for spring, Goat's Milk and Gardening, in which Eliza will grow peas.
Thank you, to this incredible educator who gives her love and talents to this active, creative, and incredibly clever group of students.  I am blessed to know her, and to have the opportunity to engage with these loving children.

Hoping you are blessed, as well, this Christmas season.

Enjoy the warmth of the hearth in your home as the days have become shorter and colder...

Those of you who are friends of Susan Branch and follow her blog, will know how truly inspiring it was to view the sweetest vignette in her "Peter Rabbit Room"...I just could not resist creating my own version here at Rose Water Cottage.

Everything is just Ducky

Rain, Rain, go away...we've had too much
for this May day!


We are beginning to feel like Pooh....on that rainy day...

But we shall find other things to do...
Certainly not bending and touching our toes! No, no, no!

Let's go to the flower beds and see what has bloomed after the morning showers...

Our pretty Annabelle!

And what do we have here...

These petals look like the shades of purple and blue in the ribbon worn by Daphne Delphinium Duckling!

(She coaxed Grammy Christie to purchase the silk hand-dyed ribbon, called by her middle name, and it is so lovely about her pretty yellow feathers.)

We shall ask Daphne to share some of her favorite books, so she refers to Tasha Tudor's miniature book, The Bouquet...

Miss Tasha has given a list of books that all should keep in their library...for "they have a good understanding of Bears, Ducklings, Dolls and others of like spirit."

Daphne Delphinium is quite proud of Grammy's library, which continues to expand, and includes some of the books on the list...

The Tale of Two Bad Mice, by another favorite author, Beatrix Potter, tells a wonderfully fantastic story of a little mouse named Tom Thumb...(you simply must acquire this book, for it is quite exciting!)

Daphne Duckling, encourages us all to read fun little tales such as these, even if you are a grown-up...for they keep smiles on our faces.

Look and see if you might have some of these books on your bookshelves,  in your closets, or in boxes in the attic....

And little duckling dearest is hoping Grammy Christie has spied the pretty little frock in the picture at the top of the page..she thinks that would be ever so lovely!

She believes the soft pink of the Blushing Bride hydrangea, would be perfectly perfect!! What do you think? Maybe one of pale green silk, as well?  How tremendous will be Grammy's effort to find such beautiful fabrics and trimmings...

Do you see the little fly perched above, on the fresh green petals?


Please Remember:
We pray today for those who have lost their homes because of the recent floods, tornados, and terrible storms. We ask for God's provision and guidance through these difficult days and months ahead.

Preparing for a move...

....it's never fun...weeding out things...has begun. 

A Big House, we've lived in, a Cottage we're buying. Where did all this come from?  Downsizing?...I'm trying!

3 weeks till we're moving, so daylight is wasting...to pack it all up, is surely exhausting!

News spreads to the Dormice...John Jacob is ready.

Eliza says, "John, will you pack and be tidy?"

"All of our things are precious possessions, made with great care and lots of affection."

Christmas wrappings are rounded up...

Dishes to disburse...

Teacups to be tucked away...

Like a bunny, I must hop!

For on I go to every room... and more and more I find....

shelves of Spring and Easter things...

books and books, galore!

In every single little nook...

I'm finding more and more..

...oh, my word, will you just look!

my books, I love to hoard!

So...

          Teacups and books... are all I shall be packing,

           If more than that is needed, I will not have a care!

          For in my nest, with tea and story, nothing will be lacking.

           The world may go on in a hurry, I shan't be with them there.

         A cozy cottage...with cushions fluffed and plenty,

          Will comfort tired bodies, and never leave us weary.

         The fireplace a-glow and dancing, what could be more enchanting?

          We'll drink tea for hours, 'til our eyes become bleary.

         We'll nod off to dream...dreams that are lovely,

          waking as moonbeams lay soft on the floor.

         Our prayers we will offer...prayers that are humbling,

          thanking our Maker that less shall be more!

                                      

Christie "Grammy" Ray

                                      

May 2011

Eliza and Grammy prepare Victorian Cookies for Royal Wedding Day

A Royal Wedding! What a lovely time to bake ...Eliza is ever so excited to learn! She and her mistress are anxious to try a recipe from their dear friend Laura at "Our Scented Cottage." Victorian lavender cookies with Rosewater Icing will be most special for celebration tomorrow as William and Kate exchange their vows.  (Mistress Grammy watched a royal wedding many, many years ago...a bittersweet recollection.)

Grammy and Eliza place their "receipts" (Tasha Tudor used this old fashioned term, meaning recipe) and folders on their new art stands, skillfully crafted by Seth Tudor, and collect the needed ingredients. Culinary Rosewater and Lavender have been special ordered.

Eliza is excited to begin a folder of her own! She is grateful that her Mistress Grammy has taken care to save a dormouse-sized chair, carved by her great grandpa, Fred Aly, Sr. for mistress' mother when she was a toddling little girl ... Now she can read how much lavender to scoop into the mixing bowl.

Sniff, sniff, sniff. Oh, so very ....intoxicating! No other word describes the fragrance wafting through
the kitchen.

Now, the cookie dough must be dropped by teaspoonfuls, for it is very, very gooey!

The waiting begins....John Jacob is very anxious to taste Eliza's first batch of cookies...

Finally, hot from the oven, the tiny cookies must cool completely before the rosewater icing may be drizzled....What delicious smells they smell!

Mistress Grammy has decided the scrumptious cookies will be more scrumptious if they take the shape of miniature teapots. What a splendid idea! (Eliza wishes there was a teeny tiny teapot cutter for her teeny tiny cookies)
Teapot cookies....3 in a row!

This is the little secret: Before the cookies have cooled completely, and while they are still on the cookie sheet...carefully cut them out with your favorite teapot cookie cutter..

When the cookies have cooled completely, and using a fork, drizzle the rosewater icing.. back and forth.. over the cookies...

Patty Patty and Tara Squirrel smell the wonderful smells coming from the kitchen. When they peek and see Grammy in her prettiest pink apron, they are now certain it is cookie baking time! They run with their tiny little feet, and climb up to the top of the little black cookstove, to find the tiniest little iced cookies. 

With delightful congratulations to their new friend Eliza Dormouse, mannerly manners are remembered, and they decide to send the tiny cookie-filled cookie sheet to their City Mouse cousin and ask if Grammy will include some teapots for her mistress. (and because they are thoughtful little country cousins, they will dine together with Mistress Grammy, savoring her portion of the delectable treats with a teeny tiny cup of tea, as the Royal Wedding plays on the television) 

How exciting to prepare a package for family...it brings a warm feeling in their teeny tiny hearts. (Eliza insisted that being a City Mouse, her cousin needed a receipt and folder of her own, so one more is created.)

What an exciting time it is...Spring...lovely cookies....wonderful, lingering aromas....and a Royal Wedding!!

Wishing God's best for Prince William and his Princess Kate!

Those who visit Mistress Grammy's House always feel like a prince and princess!