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Tuesday, May 07, 2013

A Vintage Mother's Day Tea


Mother’s Day.  Although it has its roots in honoring the mothers who lost sons in the Civil War, this special day has evolved into a celebration for honoring and remembering all mothers. On May 8, 1914, the U.S. Congress passed a law designating the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day.  Since then, special  customs have become associated with the day—sending greeting cards, giving carnations or other flowers, offering handmade or purchased gifts, going to church, taking mom out for lunch.  Each family has its own traditions, but all have one goal—to celebrate someone we call “Mother”.

In my life, I was doubly blessed.  God gave me a second mother when I married my husband almost 28 years ago.  Although both are gone, this year I honor those most precious gifts--my two mothers and celebrate the bond that I have with my own daughter. You are cordially invited to attend a Vintage Mother's Day Tea.

As I began to plan this special Mother’s Day Tea, sweet memories from my childhood flooded over me.  One Mother’s Day in particular stands out among the rest.  1964.  I can still see my mother, dressed in her prettiest dress, wearing gloves, a pillbox hat adorned with flowers, and a corsage of roses, as we prepared to go to church.  I can still smell her perfume and hear her voice.  I remember the pride I felt in surprising her with the first gift that I had bought (together with my brother) with my own money.  I wanted to capture the essence of that day.  And so began the search through my china cabinet, bedroom, and linen closet for a few of the treasures that she loved and were passed down to me—a hat, her dresser tray and perfume bottles, a favorite table cloth, her celluloid jewelry case, a crystal vase, her wedding china, and a collection of mismatched teacups. As I step back and survey the table, I think I have succeeded.  My fondest wish is that you will find inspiration to host your own special celebration as you enter my dining room…

 




Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Happy Birthday, Daddy

 
March 21, 1958
  Dad turned 31.  I was 1 day old.
 
My Dad was a poet.  He wrote this one for me last year after I had visited him in Houston--an early celebration of our birthdays.  It was our last.  Dad is having a heavenly birthday this year.
 
Your Gift To Me
 
You gave me a gift today---
as you always do
when we’re together!
 
You told me I’m a father
who’s made you feel loved
every moment of your life.
 
You let me know you’ve felt
a special relationship with me
as far back as you can remember.
 
You made me feel that my life
has touched you at the depths of your being
and helped you blossom into who you are.
 
You made me feel deeply loved
simply because I am me
living openly in your presence.
 
You gave me a gift
of the grace of God
transmitted through you.
 
 And, Karen, I accept your gift
knowing how blessed and full my life is
because you are my loving---beloved---daughter!
 
---J.W. (Bill) Turner
March 4, 2012.
[Copyright by J.W. (Bill) Turner. 
 
 I miss you, Daddy...
 

Thursday, March 07, 2013

Watching and Waiting


Waiting for Lindsey to come home for Spring Break...Friday.    Me, too!

Tuesday, March 05, 2013

Estate Sale Treasures


Just look at my treasure I recently found at an estate sale!     A 23-piece Japanese Lusterware tea set for six....   

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Morning Has Broken




Morning Has Broken
Morning has broken, like the first morning.
Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird.
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning,
Praise for them springing fresh from the Word.

Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlight from heaven.
Like the first dewfall, on the first grass.
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden,
Sprung in completeness where His feet pass.

Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning.
Born of the one light Eden saw play.
Praise with elation, praise every morning;
God's re-creation of the new day.

Morning has broken, like the first morning.
Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird.
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning,
Praise for them springing fresh from the Word.

--Hymn written by Eleanor Farjeon
(First published in 1931)

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

A Personal Note

Sweet Necessi-Teas will be closed from 8/28/12- 9/10/12 while I am preparing for and recovering from surgery on 8/29. Any orders placed during this time will not ship until after 9/10/12. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Tuesday, August 07, 2012

Comic Strips and Post-it Notes


 
 
My dad was an amazing man.  He had so many dimensions.


His poetry was a big part of who he was and many will remember him because of a particular poem he wrote.  For though he was a great oral communicator of deep, intellectual thought, his poetry was his way of revealing his more personal, emotional thoughts.


I loved his poetry and treasure it for the legacy it is—an intimate portrait of who he was and what he believed.  But what I treasured most was something much simpler, his “comic strip and post-it note” love. 


When I went away to college I think he spent more on postage than he did on my tuition.  Nearly every day I would get something in the mail from him—a comic strip, or newspaper article, sometimes a Dear Abby or Ann Landers column with a little yellow post-it note attached.  The message varied but it always ended with “I love you, Karen.  Love, Dad.”


When he got a computer, the post-it notes evolved into e-mails.  Daily he forwarded funnies and political messages, and, of course, poems.  Our new mode of communication began with something called the “reply” button and one line responses back and forth.  His always ended the same way as the post-it notes.  “I love you, Karen.  Love, Dad.”


The internet was down on Thursday, so he didn’t get to reply to my reply to a poem he had posted the day before.  But, when we talked by phone that evening, he ended with those same cherished words-- “I love you, Karen.”


And that is what I will miss the most.


I love you, Daddy.


Love, Karen

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Mother's Day


"Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices in the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails."   1 Cor. 13:4-8a


Happy Mother's Day!