Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Tea Time with my Sister


My sister and I have tea each March to celebrate our birthday month.
This year we had tea at Gerry Frank's Konditorei in Salem, Oregon.
Gerry Frank is part of the department store Meier and Frank, which
was bought out by Macy's some years ago.  He is well known in Oregon
for many things from the department store, associations with politics, wine expertise,
and judging chocolate cakes at the state fair.
It was fun when we walked in the door and he greeted us.
Coming by our table I told him we were there celebrating our birthdays.
His reply, "Life is short, eat dessert first".
Now my sandwich might look like dessert, but it was one of the signature
recipes from Meier and Frank's lunch room, a ribbon sandwich.
I must say what was indeed their specialty was the cakes with at least 20 different cakes on the menu.
The cake was so good, I forgot to photograph it.
We shared a pot of loose leaf earl grey tea, so definitely there was tea.

Now what is special about my sister and I having tea is that we have different mothers
and my sister didn't know she had any sisters until about 20 years ago.
Our father was good at keeping secrets.
So once we found each other and realized we both had birthdays in March,
this has become an annual gathering of two sisters.
A very special way to celebrate.

Don't forget the give-away on Friday's post.

20 comments:

martea said...

Birthday wishes to you and sister, Marilyn. It is fun to see a photo with you together, celebrating.
Fun memories seeing the photo of the sandwich loaf. I made so many of those in the 60's and 70's for parties! My favorite one to make had layers of crab salad, egg salad, avocado mashed with lemon juice and grated cheddar with pickle relish.

GardenOfDaisies said...

So glad you get to enjoy this special celebration each year. I Happy birthday! I wish I lived closer to my sisters.

S. Etole said...

It sounds and looks like a very special time.

Steph said...

I must visit there! And I'm happy that you've found each other. Happy Birthday month!

Rosemary said...

Happy Birthday to both of you! What a fun place to celebrate!

Butterfly 8)(8 Bungalow said...

This is such a wonderful story. Happy birthday to both of you!

Laurie said...

What a special sister time Marilyn, cherish these times!

Laurie said...

What a special sister time Marilyn, cherish these times!

Bernideen said...

That is so touching Marilyn - what a sweet post and Happy Birthday!!!

beth said...

i love the story of you and your sister and your birthdays and how and when and because and all that good stuff!

Jeanie said...

Oh, I love that you and your sister found each other -- and that you celebrate your birthdays together! What a delightful afternoon you must have had -- and a delicious one, too! Happy Birthday later this week. (I have a card addressed to you -- must get stamps!)

Mary said...

Such a lovely photo of the two of you celebrating March birthdays…….so happy you found one another. I've always wished I had a sis, just have the one brother, who's lovely, but of course I don't see him much as we're separated by 'the pond'!

Hugs - Mary

Anonymous said...

Sounds like the perfect day! I love Earl Gray. I think I may make a cup tonight!

Adrienne said...

Happy Birthday month to you and your sister. I'm so glad you were able to meet and have lunch together. I need to visit Gerry Frank's sometime when I'm down that way!
~Adrienne~

Gwen said...

What a nice story. Happy Birthday to both of you.

Angela McRae said...

I love that you two sisters met and now have such a great way of celebrating your birthdays together! And of course being a fan of department store history, I especially loved all the newsy bits in this post. I wish I'd had the recipe for that lovely ribbon sandwich recipe in my first book!!!

Tracy said...

Oh, such FUN to see you & yours sister together... Such happy smiles. :o) YUM-O food... that ribbon sandwich especially! Yours is a special and beautiful story. Finding each other after so long--but not knowing--I would think it makes you treasure this time together now even more. :o) Thank you for sharing this happy occasion with us, Marilyn! And Happy Birthday Year to you both! ((HUGS))

Linda P said...

What a touching post, Marilyn. It must be very special to be able to celebrate a birthday month with your sister you found out about only twenty years ago.

paris parfait said...

Lovely pic of you and your sister - wishing you both the happiest of birthdays (very belatedly, alas)!

Joy said...

Happy Birthday to each of you!