Meeting Martha

The blogging world is remarkable.


There are so many wonderful blogs to read -- beautiful, delightful, funny, informative, touching, inspiring -- and sometimes you meet a true kindred spirit through blogging.  Unfortunately, she may live many miles away in a strange and foreign land called "Kansas" -- as in "we're not in Kansas anymore," only she is -- and you think "what a shame we'll never get a chance to meet."

But then you do.

Meet, I mean.

You get to meet your kindred spirit!

On Monday, I met Martha of Lines from Linderhof.

Martha and her husband Jim are driving home from Boston to Kansas after a vacation cruise,

and meandering all over New England.  Connecticut was the closest they were coming to New Jersey,

and luckily -- that part of Connecticut was only two hours from That Old House!

We met for lunch.

And it was as if we'd known each other for years.

Here we are, hugging:

Yes, we were nekkid.

No, not really.  Actually, we dressed up as Jane Austen

characters, but with high heels and tiaras.

Because that's what you wear in Connecticut.

Hmmm -- looks like Martha's tiara is a lighted St. Lucy crown.  Don't worry -- it wasn't.

I really did have my camera with me.

But it had dead batteries.

So I enlisted the services of a skilled portrait artist to accurately portray the joyous meeting.

She is available for weddings and bar mitzvahs.

All kidding aside, Martha and her Jim were fantastic.

We closed the little cafe where we ate; we stayed so long chatting.

For the foodies among you, a picture of lunch:

That's supposed to be sauerkraut and relish on top.  In case you need a clarification.

We had delicious genuine Connecticut hot dogs, at a really fun roadside diner in Southbury.

That had, according to Martha, "Kansas prices."

Jim says they've had a little trouble getting used to the exchange rate between Kansas dollars,

and Northeastern dollars.  My financial-news husband Howard loved that joke when I told him later.

Martha -- I think it is very likely that we were somehow separated at birth.

It was such a gift to meet you.

And I hope yesterday's lunch meeting was

our first chance to hug, and not our last.

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Almost exactly a year ago, I did a Tuesday post about making

tea for Martha in the parlor here at That Old House.

So, here it is again, Tea With Martha!

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(September 28, 2010)

My blogging friend Martha lives in Kansas,

in a gracious house named Linderhof.

(That Old House is quite jealous that Linderhof 
has a real name, not a nickname that is pretty much
the equivalent of "Hey, you!")

Anyway, Martha is serving tea today at Linderhof, using her Johnson Brothers Indies Blue china.   I have Indies Blue china, too; Martha and I call it "our" china.  It was named one of the 100 most beautiful china patterns of the 20th century, but I can't remember which organization chose it.  But whomever did, I agree.  And so does Martha.  

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Martha doesn't know it, but she and I are having tea this afternoon in the parlor at That Old House,

while the winds outside batter the old cedar clapboards, shake the shutters loose,

and rip brown leaves from the trees.

Two cozy wing chairs and an old round tea table that belonged to my great-aunt Margaret, and we begin . . . .

One of the table's feet is a bit damaged, but after a hundred years or more I think that's acceptable.

I tossed on an antique topper in filet lace; the surface of this old tea table shows every year of its age.

If I had a pretty tea tray, I'd pop that on the table.

But I don't, so I won't.

Instead, it's just the stuff for tea.

I don't have the pretty Indies Blue tea pot that Martha got in England,

but I do have a sweet flow blue tea pot, a gift from someone, and I'll use that.

My dilemma?  Brew Earl Grey, Martha's favorite, and suffer through it myself,

or just go with a good strong Ceylon, my fave, and make believe

I don't know that Earl Grey is Martha's brew.

No, can't do that.  I'll make my brew in the flow blue, and  Martha's in this delicate Asian-inspired pot:

I know Martha likes shortbread -- another of our mutual loves.

I'm gilding the lily and serving it coated in chocolate, in a tiny Limoges dish on an Indies plate.

Also on the plate -- the cake I made this weekend for my Dad.

My Grandma Cake.  It's getting a little crunchy around the edges, but I like it that way.

Milk and sugar?  Yes, please.

I'll stir it in with the 1920-era Ambassador silverplate spoons.

Because it's such a gloomy gray afternoon, I'm adding a candle to trouble the darkness.

I think Martha and I would have lots to chat about over tea,

or coffee, or dinner, or Harvey Wallbangers (do they still make them?) . . .

as I know I'd have lots to chat about with so many of you.

You could bring your favorite doll; I couldn't resist this tiny tea set from Williamsburg for the table:

So, take a cup, and I'll be Mother and pour.

We are never too old to play.

Tuesday is the day that tea parties blanket the bloggy world!

Join in -- check out the wonderful blogs below, and their tea time or tabletop link parties.

Marty at A Stroll Thru Life hosts Tabletop Tuesday.  Click here!

The Plumed Pen and A Breath Of Fresh Air host Tuesday Tea For Two and Teapots And Tea Things.  Click here!

 It's Tea Time Tuesday with Katherine, at Lady Katherine's Tea Parlor.  Click here!

 Martha of Martha's Favorites is our hostess for Tea Cup Tuesday.

And she shows a "Father" cup that I have the "Mother" mate for!   Click here!

 

 Martha and Terri of Artful Affirmations share the hosting duties for this fun meme.  Click here!

 At Rose Chintz Cottage, it's Tea Time Tuesday.  Click here!

Whew!  That's a lot of visiting!

Who are you hosting for tea today?

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Have a lovely Tuesday, friends!
I've got a To-Do List and I better get to-doing it now.  -- Cass