Pomeroy House

Last Friday a friend and I ventured to Yacolt, Washington for one last afternoon tea at the Pomeroy House before the tearoom closed. The tearoom is in the upstairs room of the barn building with a gift shop below. It was one of the best British style gifts shops and tearooms in the area. The log house to the left will continue to have special event teas several times a year, but there will no longer be the regular afternoon teas and gift shop. Inside the tearoom looking into the kitchen.

It is a simple afternoon tea, as you see here. I don't even remember what everything was, except the tomato ginger soup was very good. Each person also has their own teapot full of tea.

The scones are light and fluffy. You can ask for as many scones as you want.

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Eventhough afternoon tea at the Pomeroy House was simple, it was one of my favorites.
I will miss it.

Sometimes it is the simple things in life that make life moments special.

Vintage 1920's Children

Children clothes in the 1920's became shorter and looser, the same as the women's. There was still special details such as embroidery, tucks, and trim. Sashes also began to appear. There was more softness to their one piece dresses. The bob hair style became very popular on children and women during the 1920's.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

In search of the perfect Christmas tree, we were off to the tree farm.
The tree has been found. How nice to just stand by and have it cut and hauled to the car.

I was distracted while the men took care of loading the tree into our car. I love trees with lichen and apples still hanging.

A little hot chocolate is nice when taking our excursion too.

What a fun tradition to search for the perfect Christmas tree.

Next week I will show you the tree in it's full regalia.

Peanut Brittle

This time of the year always brings back memories of my mom making peanut brittle for gifts. She was so good at it. I have not conquered the technique, but I am determined this year to make a good batch. This is my first try and I over cooked it. Here is my mom's recipe.

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Peanut Brittle

3 cups white sugar

1 cup white Karo syrup

1/2 cup water

2 cups raw Spanish peanuts

3 teaspoons butter

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking soda

Boil sugar, Karo syrup, and water until thread spins.

Then add peanuts and stir continuously;

cook until it turn brownish gold; remove

from fire; add butter, salt, and baking soda.

Pour onto buttered cookie sheets to cool.

After cool and hardened break into small pieces.

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Now if I could just figure out when the thread spins and the right amount of brownish gold, I think I would have it.

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What memories do you have of your mom baking or cooking at the holidays?

Women at Play

Recently I decided I had a group of friends that were in need of some play. I pulled all my crafting supplies out and invited six women to come and play. We made tree ornaments and holiday gift tags. It was fun to sit around the table, laugh, and play. This is the ornament I created during our play night. I was so busy creating, I didn't get pictures of the other creations. My goals for the evening were met by having time to play and still come home with something created. Women, remember to play.

Christmas Time

At Christmas Time

When Christmas comes I always think

Of friends that I have known,

Whose kindnesses have touched my life

In ways that are their own.

Whose caring and whose loving

Can drive the cold away,

And always bring me happiness

On every Christmas Day.

When Christmas comes I always take

A walk down Memory Lane,

And all the joys I used to know

Still warm my heart again.

And it is times like this I feel

God's blessings through and through,

Not just because it's Christmas,

But because of friends like you!

by Grace E. Easley

Picture taken at a Carriage House near Portland, Oregon

1920's Cloche

Neighbor friends agreed to model for me to best show some of my vintage clothes and hats. I hope you enjoy them in the next few Monday's. I had so much fun photographing them.

As stated in The Mode in Costume, by R. Turner Wilcox, "Hats grew smaller and shed the trimmings, evolving into the cloche or mushroom shape about 1923 and surviving through 1930. It was a simple round crowned hat with tiny brim, enveloping the head to the neck in back and to the eyes in front." "Sometimes the simple hat was relieved by a grosgrain ribbon band or a single jewelled brooch or buckle." Childrens hats were embellished as you see above.

The velveteen hat above is my own pattern developed after a 1920's child's hat seen in books. I hope to have this pattern ready to sell on Marmalady's sometime next year. It is the perfect little hat for any little girl to wear to tea.