Issue of Nov. 15, 2007
Issue of Nov. 15, 2007
Offering comfort and love of home
Tea party book for girls includes recipes, teaches art of homemaking
Every year since she was five, Mary Beth and her friend, Bailey, have
had a tea party in the autumn to celebrate Mary Beth's birthday. Sometimes,
they've been larger affairs with several friends. Sometimes they've been "tea
for two." And twice, they included infant sisters. A few of years
ago, the tradition changed ever so slightly to include Bailey's little
sister, Hope, and Mary Beth's sister, Katie, and to include celebrating
Katie's birthday, too. Four little girls, dressed for tea, giggling in
the dining room — an autumn ritual I wouldn't miss for the world.
Mary Beth worried this year, a bit. For the first time, Bailey has gone to school.
The ease of scheduling a day for tea and play is forever gone. This was her friend
who played “Little House” with her for hours (in costumes made for
both girls by Bailey's mom), her friend who loved to "craft" out of
whatever they could scrounge up, her kindred spirit. Both girls worried about
how school would change their friendship.
Happily, Bailey had a scheduled day off from school during the week of Mary Beth's
birthday. The tradition lives. Mary Beth had the distinct privilege and pleasure
of reading an advance copy of Tea and Cake with the Saints by Alice Cantrell
when her party was still in planning mode. Tea and Cake with the Saints: A Catholic
Young Lady's Introduction to Hospitality and the Home Arts is so much more than
just another tea party book. It's a gentle primer on Catholic homemaking. In
this beautifully illustrated book, Cantrell, author of Sewing with St. Anne,
gently inspires young ladies to be charitable and hospitable at home with their
own families, in groups with friends of all ages and even outdoors.
The book begins with a note to parents. After that, it is written directly to
the young ladies. Cantrell’s tone is not didactic at all — she writes
directly to the girls in a friendly, respectful manner. Any good tea party book
should include a brief history of tea time and directions for brewing a fine
cup of tea. This one does that and Cantrell is such a gifted artist that even
the tea bag is darling. Some time is spent going over the basics of kitchen safety
and hygiene, complete with gentle reminders to clean up well.
Girls are encouraged to begin to keep a homemaking notebook. Here they will gather
wisdom and inspiration for homes of their own and will begin to thoughtfully
organize all those components to homemaking. Clear, inspiring directions are
given for making and adding to a personal household record book. Mary Beth is
looking forward to watching her household record book grow right alongside mine.
This pleases me to no end since she is the reason I began to keep my own homemaking
notebook.
Tea and Cake with the Saints is organized according to the seasons of the year,
beginning with winter. For every season, there is a full tea time menu and recipes.
Throughout the book quotes from classic children's literature are sprinkled amid
helpful kitchen tips and instruction, and many, many ideas for bringing grace
and beauty to life through homemaking. In the winter section, in addition to
a tea featuring hot chocolate and cheddar muffins, girls will be inspired to
make some simple but meaningful gifts and to consider hosting a recipe swap or
cookie exchange party.
Cantrell reminds the girls that manners are simple: a sensitivity to the feelings
of others. In a few short pages, she gently encourages Christian charity at home,
and over time and distance. Examples of simple thank-you notes and written invitations
give girls a springboard for many future correspondences.
The spring section sings with the joy of new life. Girls learn to set a pretty
spring table, to make and deliver May baskets and to plan and plant a Mary garden,
the perfect setting for a tea in honor of the Mother of God. All the gardening
notes, of course, are to go in the gardening section of the notebook. Enthusiastic
young gardeners will want to share. Ideas for a seed exchange (complete with
a simple gardening apron idea) provide plenty of fodder for yet another party.
In the summer section, there are lots of ideas for summer parties and many variations
on iced tea. This book is infused with Southern charm and nowhere is it more
apparent than on the pages where Cantrell writes and paints about picnics. Even
the ants are too cute for words. I was glad to be reminded that picnics are lovely
in the autumn, too, since I doubt I could wait until next summer to put some
of these ideas in motion. The summer section also offers ideas for letter writing,
an nearly lost art in this electronic age. Lazy summer days, with a thermos of
lemonade, are perfect for writing long letters in the shade of a tree.
The autumn section was the inspiration for Mary Beth's birthday tea. I'm happy
to report that this new 11-year-old was able to plan and prepare and decorate
for the party all on her own, using Cantrell's clear instructions (though I admit
I was close by, if for no other reason than I didn't want to miss out on the
fun).
The book closes with a section on "beautifying your bedroom.” Isn't
that much nicer than saying "Clean up your room!?" Cantrell perches
on a young girl's bed and, with all her Southern graciousness, inspires our daughters
to clean their rooms. She doesn't shout. She doesn't threaten. She doesn't storm
into the room with a big, green trash bag and start stuffing everything in sight
(not that I know anyone who does that). She just gently inspires them to clean
and organize and then to keep it that way. Personally, I was tickled pink by
the results in my house. The book is worth the purchase price if only for those
few pages.
I plan to tuck a copy of this book, with supplies for making homemaking notebooks,
and an apron, into a basket for Christmas gifts for young ladies on my list.
It could also be included with a recipe box full of family favorites, or with
provisions for any one of the craft ideas. It could be tucked into a picnic basket
for a very special, happy gift. However you package it, do put the books into
the hands of a girl you love. Let Cantrell come into their lives and gently inspire
them to be gracious and Godly keepers at home.
I think this book is an important one. That seems like a very serious thing to
say about a "tea party" book, but this book is about much more than
tea. It's about home. At its core, it's about Christian love. It is a book that
brings to life the importance of hospitality and genuine charity. In a society
of increasing disconnectedness and unbridled competition, it is necessary and
urgent that we slow down and deliberately teach our daughters to offer the comfort
and love of home. We take the time and care to do this not because we are eager
to outdo Martha Stewart or to put on an impressive show, but because we love
our families and friends. And we even love the stranger.
This is a book about beautiful service, the service of young women to their families
and then to the people at their gates. This book starts the conversation of true
charity with our daughters. How can we begin to think of them as women of love
and genuine charity? How can they begin to think of themselves that way? They
can begin by doing small things with great love. And this book is a treasure
trove of those small things. If every one of our daughters read it and implemented
the ideas found in it, we'd be well our way to ensuring comfort and joy in the
homes of the next generation.
Foss is a freelance writer from Northern Virginia. Her blog is www.ebeth.typepad.co.
Looking for it?
Tea and Cake with the Saints available solely at www.chcweb.com.
***
For the most part we’ve received positive feedback from our readers
regarding the Catholic Herald’s redesign. A couple of people said
they had to do a double take when the newspaper arrived in their mailboxes
last Thursday because they didn’t recognize the new front page.
Generally, readers like the larger headlines and expanded information
boxes. They used words such as awesome, inviting, sharp, clear, classy,
clean and eye-catching.
One way we’re attempting to expand the paper’s circulation
is by installing newspaper boxes at the Ballston and Clarendon Metro
stations, as well as at a bus stop near our Arlington office. We’ll
monitor the success of this effort over the next couple of months to
determine if it’s worth expanding.
As I mentioned last week, good or bad, we’d love to hear what you
think about the redesign. Send your comments to letters@catholicherald.com.
Offering comfort and love of home
Tea party book for girls includes recipes, teaches art of homemaking
By Elizabeth Foss
Every year since she was five, Mary Beth and her friend, Bailey, have
had a tea party in the autumn to celebrate Mary Beth's birthday. Sometimes,
they've been larger affairs with several friends. Sometimes they've been "tea
for two." And twice, they included infant sisters. A few of years
ago, the tradition changed ever so slightly to include Bailey's little
sister, Hope, and Mary Beth's sister, Katie, and to include celebrating
Katie's birthday, too. Four little girls, dressed for tea, giggling in
the dining room — an autumn ritual I wouldn't miss for the world.
Mary Beth worried this year, a bit. For the first time, Bailey has gone
to school. The ease of scheduling a day for tea and play is forever gone.
This was her friend who played “Little House” with her for
hours (in costumes made for both girls by Bailey's mom), her friend who
loved to "craft" out of whatever they could scrounge up, her
kindred spirit. Both girls worried about how school would change their
friendship.
Happily, Bailey had a scheduled day off from school during the week of
Mary Beth's birthday. The tradition lives. Mary Beth had the distinct
privilege and pleasure of reading an advance copy of Tea and Cake with
the Saints by Alice Cantrell when her party was still in planning mode.
Tea and Cake with the Saints: A Catholic Young Lady's Introduction to
Hospitality and the Home Arts is so much more than just another tea party
book. It's a gentle primer on Catholic homemaking. In this beautifully
illustrated book, Cantrell, author of Sewing with St. Anne, gently inspires
young ladies to be charitable and hospitable at home with their own families,
in groups with friends of all ages and even outdoors.
The book begins with a note to parents. After that, it is written directly
to the young ladies. Cantrell’s tone is not didactic at all — she
writes directly to the girls in a friendly, respectful manner. Any good
tea party book should include a brief history of tea time and directions
for brewing a fine cup of tea. This one does that and Cantrell is such
a gifted artist that even the tea bag is darling. Some time is spent
going over the basics of kitchen safety and hygiene, complete with gentle
reminders to clean up well.
Girls are encouraged to begin to keep a homemaking notebook. Here they
will gather wisdom and inspiration for homes of their own and will begin
to thoughtfully organize all those components to homemaking. Clear, inspiring
directions are given for making and adding to a personal household record
book. Mary Beth is looking forward to watching her household record book
grow right alongside mine. This pleases me to no end since she is the
reason I began to keep my own homemaking notebook.
Tea and Cake with the Saints is organized according to the seasons of
the year, beginning with winter. For every season, there is a full tea
time menu and recipes. Throughout the book quotes from classic children's
literature are sprinkled amid helpful kitchen tips and instruction, and
many, many ideas for bringing grace and beauty to life through homemaking.
In the winter section, in addition to a tea featuring hot chocolate and
cheddar muffins, girls will be inspired to make some simple but meaningful
gifts and to consider hosting a recipe swap or cookie exchange party.
Cantrell reminds the girls that manners are simple: a sensitivity to
the feelings of others. In a few short pages, she gently encourages Christian
charity at home, and over time and distance. Examples of simple thank-you
notes and written invitations give girls a springboard for many future
correspondences.
The spring section sings with the joy of new life. Girls learn to set
a pretty spring table, to make and deliver May baskets and to plan and
plant a Mary garden, the perfect setting for a tea in honor of the Mother
of God. All the gardening notes, of course, are to go in the gardening
section of the notebook. Enthusiastic young gardeners will want to share.
Ideas for a seed exchange (complete with a simple gardening apron idea)
provide plenty of fodder for yet another party.
In the summer section, there are lots of ideas for summer parties and
many variations on iced tea. This book is infused with Southern charm
and nowhere is it more apparent than on the pages where Cantrell writes
and paints about picnics. Even the ants are too cute for words. I was
glad to be reminded that picnics are lovely in the autumn, too, since
I doubt I could wait until next summer to put some of these ideas in
motion. The summer section also offers ideas for letter writing, an nearly
lost art in this electronic age. Lazy summer days, with a thermos of
lemonade, are perfect for writing long letters in the shade of a tree.
The autumn section was the inspiration for Mary Beth's birthday tea.
I'm happy to report that this new 11-year-old was able to plan and prepare
and decorate for the party all on her own, using Cantrell's clear instructions
(though I admit I was close by, if for no other reason than I didn't
want to miss out on the fun).
The book closes with a section on "beautifying your bedroom.” Isn't
that much nicer than saying "Clean up your room!?" Cantrell
perches on a young girl's bed and, with all her Southern graciousness,
inspires our daughters to clean their rooms. She doesn't shout. She doesn't
threaten. She doesn't storm into the room with a big, green trash bag
and start stuffing everything in sight (not that I know anyone who does
that). She just gently inspires them to clean and organize and then to
keep it that way. Personally, I was tickled pink by the results in my
house. The book is worth the purchase price if only for those few pages.
I plan to tuck a copy of this book, with supplies for making homemaking
notebooks, and an apron, into a basket for Christmas gifts for young
ladies on my list. It could also be included with a recipe box full of
family favorites, or with provisions for any one of the craft ideas.
It could be tucked into a picnic basket for a very special, happy gift.
However you package it, do put the books into the hands of a girl you
love. Let Cantrell come into their lives and gently inspire them to be
gracious and Godly keepers at home.
I think this book is an important one. That seems like a very serious
thing to say about a "tea party" book, but this book is about
much more than tea. It's about home. At its core, it's about Christian
love. It is a book that brings to life the importance of hospitality
and genuine charity. In a society of increasing disconnectedness and
unbridled competition, it is necessary and urgent that we slow down and
deliberately teach our daughters to offer the comfort and love of home.
We take the time and care to do this not because we are eager to outdo
Martha Stewart or to put on an impressive show, but because we love our
families and friends. And we even love the stranger.
This is a book about beautiful service, the service of young women to
their families and then to the people at their gates. This book starts
the conversation of true charity with our daughters. How can we begin
to think of them as women of love and genuine charity? How can they begin
to think of themselves that way? They can begin by doing small things
with great love. And this book is a treasure trove of those small things.
If every one of our daughters read it and implemented the ideas found
in it, we'd be well our way to ensuring comfort and joy in the homes
of the next generation.
Foss is a freelance writer from Northern Virginia. Her blog is www.ebeth.typepad.co.
Looking for it?
Tea and Cake with the Saints available solely at www.chcweb.com.
To donate
Collection boxes are located in both the school and church foyer, St.
Bernadette Church, 7600 Old Keene Mill Rd., Springfield. 703/451-8696.
A woman dressed in traditional hanbok roasts chestnuts for Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde (right) and Fr. Thaddeus Kim, former pastor of St. Paul Chung Parish in Fairfax, during their tour last month of a traditional Korean folk village in South Korea. (FR. RICHARD MULLINS | COURTESY PHOTO)