This week I am working with my soon-to-be ten year old granddaughter on a tea party scheduled with five friends for tommorow. We are in the home stretch. Today I frosted six mini three layer cakes (it is a baking theme) for them to decorate and take home and learned to make a ham and cheese tortillia rose sandwich.

Spread cream cheese on a large flour tortillia.
Layer with ham and cut into 1" strips.
Use a glass to cut cheese circles and then cut those in half.
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| Roll and secure with toothpick. |
Meanwhile. Someone had asked about my "little family". The domestic violence victim who relocated from out of state and was couch surfing with two little girls. Between four churches we pulled together a security deposit and first month's rent and she moved in. I couldn't get her out of my mind and went shopping one Saturday and outfitted her kitchen from pots and pans to silverware.
I checked in with her a week ago Thursday and she still didn't have beds (she does have a toddler bed for the 2 year old). My son and his wife got a new mattress and I was trying to pull together a crew with my husband who has pulled something in his back, my sons who all have different days off and work weird shifts, the old mattress, a metal bed frame and a possible twin bed on Facebook Marketplace. I gave up and ordered two metal bed frames and two inexpensive-ish mattresses from Walmart and had them delivered. My husband did ask how much more we are going to spend on them, but we are done now.
I had a busy day in the office this week. I had a family of five, dad works on a dairy farm and his hours will pick up with the weather, mom had a serious back injury and had two surgeries and is off work. And they owed a big electric bill with a shut off as their furnace was out for a month and they were heating with space heaters.
I had a man (and this situation happened with a lady last month) who turned 65 and switched from disability to a very minimal social security check. When your income is below a certain point, we have a state fund (I think it is through the state) which picks up the $202.90 for Medicare. He was charged the $202.90 for January and February which put him behind on electric and he had a shut off notice.
I had a woman in her 50's with a $700 water bill. She has an unemployed daughter living with her and two grandchildren. No one is working. Another church offered to split it with us and there are children. . . She also was ranting to me about a local business that employs migrant workers on H2-A visas. I bit my tongue from saying, well they are at work in the fields all day and aren't here with bills they can't pay. . .
Well, back to the birthday preparations. I post my list so I can keep on track.
The peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are cut into flower shapes. The egg salad will go on Hawaiian rolls and I put the cucumber slices inbetween paper towels over night with a little salt before putting them on bread and butter in the morning.
The note in the middle says "1 cup oil" because my daughter needs a cup of cooking oil and this is not something she has in her kitchen. . .
Sunday I am taking my two best friends from high school to the restaurant that has the monthly tea to celebrate their birthdays. I will be taking photos of our gorgeous food. It will be nice to have someone cook for me!





My mouth was watering over those cakes! The ham and cheese rose sandwiches sure sound girly but I wouldn't mind wolfing a few of those down. You girls and your tea parties :^) Miss Merry, I hope you have fun on Sunday but these hardship cases... I'm so glad you were able to help that domestic violence victim. These poor people, I'm glad they know good people like yourself.
ReplyDeleteWhat an adventure the little girls will have. Those roses look great.
ReplyDeleteYou are amazing, Miss Merry! Everything looks beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThose little girls are going to have such a wonderful time. Blessings on you for what you are doing with them and for these other people.
ReplyDeleteShe's 10? Wow!! I'm impressed -- that's a cool party for anyone, much less a ten year-old! These all look just wonderful and I love the idea of the guests decorating little cakes! That's quite a menu, too. And I love it that your husband is as generous and kind as you are.
ReplyDeleteYou are the BEST Grandma! Another tea party! So much fun. Love all of the food you've had planned. Bless you for being so good to the little family that needed help. Have fun Sunday.
ReplyDeleteBlessings and hugs,
Betsy
Such a creative grandma! I love your tea party.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I notice about MAGA is that they are always complaining about handouts. When they get them they deserve it. Nobody else does, though. Just them.
Can't wait to hear about the tea parties Saturday and Sunday, Miss Merry. Sounds like a fun weekend...
ReplyDeleteOh very impressive baking! Your granddaughter is very blessed.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous party that must have been---I cannot think what made me so busy that I didn't go right to those magnificent white cakes FIRST thing Saturday! You and I have a LOT of Grandmothering under our belts, and I'd love to swap tales-over-tea. What a busy, fortunate
ReplyDeletebunch of young folks you have, and what wonders you are showing to them.
I remember a movie line from whom I seem to recall as Jane Wyman as a nun, and have thought of it off and on for perhaps fifty years: The stages of our Lives are Preparation, Meditation, and Dedication----I don't know how long your first two lasted, but your Dedication is beyond any parent/grandparent's I've ever been witness to. You GO, Girl!!! And then SIT DOWN!! I wish I could send you a Spa weekend! And I bet all your fans online would be clamoring to chip in. Maybe we could book one in PARIS.
I know this will be wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThe tea party sounds wonderful! What a generous idea! And I’m moved by the work you’re doing with others helping to secure people.
ReplyDeleteYou have been busy!!! I know biting one's tongue can be a challenge when people say mean spirited biased things. Especially when they need help and yet make biased ignorant assumptions about other Families they know absolutely nothing about and are painting with a broad prejudiced or racist brush stroke. Some folks just like to have Scapegoats to blame their own failures or troubles upon. I'm glad you were able to help so many in Crisis tho', I know the Needs far exceed the Resources and this is escalating as the Economy is in Crisis.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, Merry! I am so very impressed with all you do. I wouldn't be able to keep up. And you have a heart of gold to go with your amazing energy and creativity.
ReplyDelete