Slow Stitching - April 2025 - Week 3

K3N Cloth Tales - Comfort Coverlet - Week 3   

The theme for April is tea which I just love.

I added a tea house over my table of tea which I put in last week.

It is kind of modeled on a Japanese tea house.  I chose a dark grey floss for this addition to my composition.

Again, using the stem stitch to make nice even lines.

I am enjoying this composition.

Sylvia's Simple Shots

The Heart of an Angel - Henry K. Ripplinger.  This is the seventh and final book in this series.

Henry is again facing a life and death decision.  Jenny lies in a coma but very pregnant with their child.  A little girl who has been named from the very beginning.  With complications in the pregnancy Jenny was advised to terminate it but absolutely refused.  She risked her life to give this baby a chance to live when delivered premature. With Jenny unable to respond, Henry must decide.  The father of Julean (Henry's first wife who died) a pastor was very helpful. 

The baby is delivered premature and survives and fortunately so does Jenny.

Father Engelmann is nearly finished the love story book he is writing about Henry and Jenny. He knows the end is near. 

This has been a very heart warming, encouraging, tearful at times series. A wonderful series that promotes Christian beliefs and at times quite Catholic practices.

The embroidery scissors I bought on sale when Fabricland was closing one of its stores spend time on the sewing machine.  There cutting surface tends to be at the end so not always great.

They have been relocated to the embroidery box along with the other bits and bobs which I have accumulated to support my slow stitching habit.

There was a great coupon at Michaels this week and I was thinking what high priced item could I splurge on with a 50% coupon?

I decided to buy a pair of scissors for the sewing machine.  I did buy the more expensive pair that are all steel because they remind me so much of the pair my Mom had at her sewing machine.

I miss her a lot.   I am grateful that she taught me to sew which I very much enjoy in retirement with more time on my hands.

A red sun due to forest fires in the province and further a field.

There have been some evacuations again this year.

This maybe a contributing factor to having to use allergy drops for my eyes again this year.  In general, only my eyes are affected so it is better to use a targeted solution.

My aunt and I headed to the tea house for lunch this week.

This is a place we try to visit at least once a year and more if possible.

It is run by volunteers and business had been slow so they were very happy to see us.

Of course, the fact that you can choose a real porcelain tea cup means I am all in.

I did not turn it over for a trademark but it was a lovely blue floral pattern.

The crumble was a treat all home made.  With cutting down on sugar, we still have to enjoy the simple pleasures.

Sylvia's Simple Shots

Day lilies are amazing plants. The grow on boulevards, gardens, or any place with light.  They are hardy, frost resistance and bloom for months! Just doing what God made them to do. 

This flower is named Persimmon which I think is very fitting for this rich orange yellow flower.

This one I found at on city property when I attended an Art Walk recently.

It brightened my day!

I've moved my sofa for now so that I am less likely to lay down on it to watch TV.  That habit is not good for my back and I have been suffering the last couple of weeks because of it.

It is not the best placement of the furniture in the living room but it is temporary because the sofa will be going and the room will be emptied to install flooring later this fall.

Just trying to take care of myself for the long run.

I have several books by this author on my shelf but had not read one of them.

Kingdom of the Blind by Louise Penny.  She is a Canadian author so always good to support local. 

This is book is in her Chief Inspector Gamache series. It is book 14 and was written after her husband passed away.  Her husband was an inspiration for this character and she was not sure she could continue to write in this series once he passed but she produce 3 more books in the series.

The setting the province of Quebec in Canada.  It is winter which features prominently in the story. Inspector Armand Gamache is under suspension when he receives a letter which leads him to learn he has been assigned as executor in an estate. The catch is he does not know her.  The mystery is to determine who she is, why has she chosen these 3 people as executors and how money is there to be distributed.  I read this book in 2 days so it was very engaging and I enjoyed the book very much.   I am looking forward to read the other books she has written.

I bought this book mark at an art walk earlier this summer but forgot to blog it till now.

I can always use an extra book mark and this one was done in watercolor. 

I love the stack of books which is the main element.

It has been laminated so it will stay clean and last a long time.

I purchased some ceramic pieces recently.  The white dish on the left will be used for Macro Mondays. The star may but used in Christmas decorations and the blue dish was just really nice and is a good size for macro photography as well.

I spent the morning on Saturday with my aunt.  We met at the art gallery as we were dropping off our pieces for the Open Art Show.

We took in the farmer's market, the pottery guild shop, had lunch, discussed art and classes, then headed back to Michaels to investigate supplies which came up during lunch.

Lunch was at the Stony Plain and Parkland Pioneer Museum Tea House.

I had the hamburger soup, we shared an egg salad sandwich and I had lemon meringue pie for dessert.  I chose the blue and yellow teapot and the beautiful yellow tea cup.

I had several cups of Earl Grey tea.

We like to do this at least once a year and we had a wonderful morning.

The challenge at Flickr Macro Mondays was school supplies which I thought was a great idea. 

The variety of options is great.  Not too many of the photo represented what kids may take to school these days with all the technology.

On the right are pens and pencils where I focused on the ball point and lead.  Have keyboards replaced these in modern schools? 

The limit in size is 3 inches but these objects did not present a challenge there.  Some included the clip of a back pack which was a good idea. 

You can check out my Flickr Photostream (SMDPics100) to see my submission to the challenge.

I am sharing with Angie who hosts Mosaic Monday #189 and Mersad who hosts Through My Lens #353.

Tea House Visit

I recently visited the Tea House in a couple of towns away from where I live.  I was out of town and it was near by.  It is only open on the weekends and likely managed by volunteers. It is housed in a summer cabin which was built in 1922.  It was moved to this site in 2000 and opened as a tea house in 2003.

Here's the baker's rack that houses all the china tea cups and you get to choose the one you would like to use.  I selected a roses and yellow pennant one by Paragon. 
Based on this mark it was likley made in the early 1920's.

I selected Earl Grey tea which was served in as small tea pot.







I ordered Hamburger Soup and the Raspberry Rhubarb Crisp which was served once I finished my soup. The hamburger soup was home made and very good.  I was able to just relax and enjoy my meal as the lunch rush was over and there were just a few of us in the tea house.





I managed 3 cups fulls of tea from the teapot which hit the spot.  I loved the scalloped shape of the bowl of the tea cup.  The roses had a black background but it was not overpowering.  The yellow triangle pattern in between was very charming. 

You can see the subtle pattern in the china itself in this saucer as well.

Dessert was again homemade.  I was not expecting the ice cream but it was excellent with the Raspberry sauce on top. 

It was an overall excellent experience and I will be back.

Check out the Pioneer Tea House if you are in Stony Plain.

Sharing with Share Your Cup #300 hosted by Jann at Daily Cup Mrs. Olson.