Still here! Fall Reports, Time Change, Peach Blueberry Coffee Cake

Hi there! Just wanted to check in and let you know I am still here!

Great report from the cardiologist this week...best in years, so that is a blessing.

On the Parkinson's Disease front, we are adapting to a new phase lifestyle change... probably brought on by changes from the last 8 months of other health issues.

We now have a strict schedule and need to carefully plan, in a 4 hour dosage window, when he has protein. The problem is, is that now interferes with medication absorption.

Doesn't sound like much, but it's a real challenge...so...

Photo Pinterest, source unknown

And speaking of time issues...

November has arrived...so a reminder to change your clock if you are in the US.

 We "Fall Back" tonight, or early in the morning tomorrow, November 4th... MUCH better than the spring forward direction.

I had time to make a dessert this week in between labs and doctor appointments, and because I had the last of the organic peaches to use and needed some comfort food!

So I pulled a post out from 2015 which was very popular which I hope you will enjoy.

"So I says ""My dear if you could give me a cup of tear to clear my muddle of a head, I  should better understand your affairs." " So we had tea and the affairs too..."  ~ Charles Dickens, Mrs. Lirriper's Legacy

My tea today in the sunroom features a family set from the 1950s, brought home from West Germany in the 1950s, bought at the Arzberg pottery, which had been in business since the 1880s.

The thin porcelain set has a great design of seeds, leaves and pods...perfect for fall. They also got a set for my aunt, which was left to my sister because it had a pink and grey modern star design while this was more me. We got to choose bedroom furniture in high school...she chose Danish Modern, I went for French Provincial!

The mark is simple...just the name and the shape number. The reason it doesn't say Made In Germany is because it was purchased in Germany, therefore was not required to have the Made In Germany stamp. If it had been ordered from the USA, it would have. Anyway...a wonderful family set! What are you sipping your tea from this week?

And for a treat for tea...I made a Peach Blueberry Coffee Cake, which is a family recipe from my mother. I have seen some similar ones... I think she got it from a flour bag if I remember correctly, but I have adapted it for my allergies, etc.

The  photo below is from the 2015 blog post...the one below it from this week...

Blueberry Peach Coffee Cake

Makes in round 9 inch cake

Cake:

1 cup of flour...(I used half white winter wheat from our local organic farm store)

1/2 cup granulated sugar...(I used organic unrefined/bleached)

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp dried orange rind

1/4 cup butter...(I used Vegan)

1/2 tsp Vanilla

1 large egg

1/2 cup milk...(I used almond milk)

1 can of sliced peaches...(12-14 ounces) well drained.. this time I used sliced fresh

1/2 cup or more fresh or frozen blueberries

Glaze:

1/2 cup sifted confectioner's sugar (Powdered sugar)

1/4 to 1/3 tsp Almond extract

2 to 2 1/2 tsp milk...(I used Almond milk)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and grease an 9 inch round cake pan.

Sift the flour, sugar, salt and baking powder into a large bowl. Add the orange rind and mix well. Cut the butter into small pieces and using a pastry blender or 2 knives, cut it into the mix until the mix resembles crumbs.

Whisk together the egg, milk and vanilla and add to the dry ingredients, and stir with a fork to mix. Pour 2/3 of the mix into the prepared pan, and arrange the peach slices on top, filling in and around with the blueberries. Pour the remaining batter on top, spreading to cover as much as possible.

Bake 25-30 minutes until cooked through...don't test an peach...and golden brown at the edges. Cool on a rack in the pan for 20-30 minutes before adding glaze.

Whisk together the glaze ingredients being careful not to add too much milk. Drizzle all over the cake and let cool completely before cutting.

Thanks so much for joining me! 

And thank you so much for your kind comments, emails, thoughts and prayers.

With the Lord's help... we can do this!

May your week be filled with friends, cups of tea and joy!

Just wanted to say...am having a 15% Off sale with coupon code THANKFUL at Antiques And Teacups! Come by a visit! Ends Nov. 13th.

News Flash! I be HOME!

I just wanted to say...I'm back after a break to recover from the Christmas season...the busiest on our 4 websites that augment our social security...that had the added stress of 2 months of heart issues for my husband as well as the normal Christmas stress....

I am so happy to report everything is balanced now with his medications for his heart, Thyroid and Parkinson's Disease, all of which have side effects affecting the other so that balance is even more of a challenge than usual. So...we took a break.

We visited friends in Southern California for a bit of warmth, and got an email for a Mexico cruise, last minute, for a price we could not believe! Cruises are our favorite vacations...if I can find a deal. And this was incredible! The Crown Princess on a 10 day Mexico cruise for what usually a 3 day goes for. John rests, I rest...none...or at least not much internet, I put the business on hold and relax with nothing to do BUT relax. We do a lot of napping, walking the decks and read...oh, and of course a Seahawk game or 2 for my Honey this time. 

We didn't even go off the ship...this is Cabo San Lucas...but being on the ship when everyone is on shore is so peaceful and uncrowded...just what we needed!

I just want to thank everyone for their prayers, thoughts, emails and comments...God bless you, my friends! Now it's back to work...have to call an Endocrinologist and make my Honey an appointment tomorrow....We are indeed so blessed!

Drifting Leaves China, Fall Decorations

Hello! It is definitely fall outside...showers and wind...branches and leaves down everywhere! I am joining Beverly at How Sweet The Sound for Pink Saturday...with a fall theme.

For a pink...this is one of the last blooming fuschias in the garden. I will miss the blooms during the winter.

And here is some Shelley China, England pieces that I have in the pattern called Drifting leaves. Thought that was appropriate for today!

I have a teacup, sandwich tray and cups and saucers in the pattern. I think it is perfect for fall. The set was made only between 1956 and 1966 when the pottery closed. For more info on the china at Antiques And Teacups, click on the photos.

I don't do a lot of seasonal decorating anymore...with a business to run and a husband with Parkinson's Disease, I don't have a lot of extra time. I did put up a fall leaves garland around our dining room mirror. I also put a couple of items on the buffet. I had to look a long time a few tears ago for a fall runner that had blue in it, because the house is basically blue and white. I have Waverly toile in the dining room and kitchen with coordinating stripes.

Simple, but I like it. I was glad I'd already gotten them out when the kids called last week on Thursday to say they were flying in on Friday morning!

Tomorrow we go to a special meeting given by my husband's neurologist, Dr. Jennifer Witt of Swedish Neurological Institute in Seattle, about current research and treatment for Parkinson't in Port Angeles, 15 miles away. It is always wonderful when we get someone over here on the Olympic Peninsula, and we don't have to drive into Seattle which is a horrendous thing at the moment with all the retrofit work they are doing. So that will be an interesting day...they're even throwing in lunch! The meeting is at the Red Lion Hotel. Nice!

Have a great time visiting the blogs participating in Pink Saturday, and have a wonderful weekend.

Beverley ~ http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/ 

Pink Saturday

Teatime Needlepoint Pillow Pattern

I don't know how many of you are familiar with Sunset Magazine. I was born about 1 1/2 miles from Sunset and it has always been a part of my life from visits to a whole lot of recipes I use. A Western magazine to be sure, but regional now as well.

Because the magazine specializes in lifestyle, gardening, food and travel, I was surprised to see a full page add for a needlepoint company called Ehrman Tapestry advertising needlepoint kits. I do cross stitch, not needlepoint, although at one point (no pun intended) I did needlepoint a chair cover for an antique chair I inherited many years ago.


But in the ad is a wonderful needlepoint kit for a design called Teatime featuring teacups. The central is a Shelley China teacup in the Queen Anne shape. That is so cool! So thought I'd post it in case anyone is interested or is looking for a tea related project. The cup cake pillow is pretty cute as well!

Ehrman Tapestry

Toll Free order line 888 826 8600

www.ehrmantapestry.com

Sunset also surprised me with a few pages of tea related things which I will be sharing in the next few posts.


We are off in the rain to a Parkinson's Disease monthly support group today, after which we have a lunch out and hit the antique/thrift shops in case we find something we can't do without. We chinwag with a local dealer pal at his shop The Mouse Trap in Port Angeles, and generally have a neat wander-around day. Hope yours is as much fun!

This Christmas Wish Of Mine Antique postcard and

This Christmas postcard has a lovely vignette...I just love those small focal points...with a holly border and is another B.B. London card printed in Germany. The poem reads:

This Christmas Wish of mine

Just on heartfelt line

All happiness be Thine

The card was canceled Dec. 1910 Keene, N.H. and was addressed to Mrs. Josie Kingsbury from Mrs. W.L. Jr.

Antique postcards are such a link to the past. I love the designs, and cards with vignettes are my favorite. I also love the texture of the embossed cards, and they are such little nostalgic works of art!

You can see more about the card at Antiques And Teacups at this link:

Christmas Postcard Poem Embossed Snow Scene Holly

Off to Port Angeles for a Christmas get together of the Parkinson's Disease support group this morning. We enjoy the monthly meetings (my DH has parkinson's) and always learn so much. We are grateful for how well he is doing and also what research is doing toward treatment and a cure.

For more information or to donate, this is our local organization:

Northwest Parkinson's Disease Foundation

Have a wonderful day...stay warm, have a cup of tea and put on the Christmas carols "It's the most wonderful time of the year...."