At the risk of causing my friend Alice to crawl under her computer chair, I'm going to gush a little about a project she's been working on.
She has a lovely new book coming out: Tea and Cake with the Saints
Alice is a very talented artist.You can see some of her work here.
I was blessed---blessed, I tell ya---to attend a tea party given by Alice, her daughter, and a friend in Abbeville last month. 
It was a beautiful affair held at the Catholic bookshop in Abbeville: Breath of Life Bookstore
Here Marcie waves to all our 4Real friends. 
And the ladies are probably thinking by now that I wouldn't share this picture but I couldn't resist, because that's what teas with friends are all about...not just the beauty and the sweets and the danity tea cups...but the laughs, the giggles, and the fun as well. 
Here is the spread created by Alice (simple and perfectly elegant).
I was able to share a meditation and prayer on Venerable Zelie Martin with the ladies.
I hear-tell Alice's book due out November 10th but CHC will be taking pre-orders for those who would like to place orders for Christmas gifts.
And, if you are a mother like my friend Colleen who is simply dying to have a copy of this book but hasn't any pink rosebuds at home to share it with, I think you need this book more than anyone. Nurture your own Mother Culture. Read it over a cup of tea. Bake with it. Your husband and sons will be happy to eat the results. You might not have any little mother's helpers to assist you with the planning but the day might come when all those little boys present little granddaughters at your door and you will so wish you had this book in hand.
Don't forget, the September edition Beauty of Toymaking Fair ---inspired by Alice---is coming up on September 25th.
With all the talk of Made in China, you might want to join us in looking at the alternatives.
(from under the computer chair)
Oh, Cay. I don't care what you say, you ARE sweet! ;-) Thank you SO very much for he kind words.... I hope I can live up to them. (Yuck, what an awful picture I take!;-))
Posted by: Alice C | September 24, 2007 at 05:39 PM
Oh, I am glad to hear more about this sweet book.
It is one of the few new books for which I am budgeting this fall.
Posted by: Meredith from Merchant Ships | September 24, 2007 at 07:49 PM
Alice,
You are beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. All you have to do is smile and you take a great picture. :)
Posted by: Cay | September 25, 2007 at 09:23 AM
What a lovely book, thanks for sharing it Cay, what a fun day you all had!
Posted by: Meredith | September 27, 2007 at 06:46 PM