November 27, 2012

• Tea and Trouble Brewing

  I love tea.  In fact, our entire family loves it.  We have tea for breakfast almost every day.  

  I enjoy different flavors but I must admit that my favorite is Lipton’s black tea.  I love to brew a cup, sit down, relax, sip it slowly, and enjoy it. I found these really cute teacups/pots to make the experience more enjoyable but alas, the little pots only hold one cup of tea.  

  

  Although I love drinking tea, it seems that more often I end up pouring a cup and end up gulping it down in a hurry, due to my busy schedule.  It seems I rarely have the opportunity of just taking my good ol’ time to sip and relax.

  I started out reading this book I slowly sipped each story in a relaxed fashion.  But, then, I suddenly found that I needed to start gulping to finish up with the book by the time my turn for the weblog arrived.  

  

   

  I met Dorcas several years ago when she came into my fabric store with her sister-in-law, Anna, who lives down the road from us.  Anna introduced us and we chatted a bit while they shopped.  I never gave it any more thought.  Then five years ago, I went to Borderland Ladies’ Retreat in International Falls, MN where Dorcas was the guest speaker.  I told my sister, (PC in VA) about meeting Dorcas.  

  Pam’s response was: “You know who she is, don’t you?”  

  Well,  ”Nooooo, I guess not.”  

  “She is Amos Yoder’s Dorcas.”

  “WHAAAAAAAATTTTT????   Really???!!!!!”

  What a surprise.  I knew and played with Dorcas when we were little girls!  Talk about a very small world.   

  My mind went back to the time our family went to visit the Yoder family when families lived near Somerset, Ohio.  We played hide and seek outside in their yard until it got dark.  I remember thinking that Fred was an odd name and it was the first time I remember hearing the name Marcus.  

  Another time I remember their family coming to visit our family.  Of course, horses and buggies were fascinating, especially when the horse just couldn’t make it up the hill.  I still can “see” the children getting out of the buggy and pushing it on up the hill.  Recently, I mentioned that to Dorcas and her response was “Ah, Fern…”  She remembered that event too but hadn’t remember who they had gone to visit.  

  So our connection goes way back into the mid 60′s.  Both our families left that part of Ohio and lost track of each other over time.  It was nice to reconnect after so many years.

   

  I have copies of Dorcas’ first 2 books and loved them.  (Somehow I missed getting the third one.)  So when the opportunity came up to do this blog for her, I jumped at the chance.  Believe me, I wasn’t disappointed.  This book is written true to form and I enjoyed it immensely.  Dorcas is such a candid writer and tells it how it really is.  I find that honesty so refreshing and on the most part humorous.  I can often identify with what she’s trying to say.

  I am not going to try to give you a run down on all this book has in it, some of the other bloggers did do some of that.  With a 10 year-old son of my own, who seems to think he’s a rocket scientist, the story about Boys and Explosions was perfect.  I was thinking that Jonny was maybe a little too obsessed with things that went pow, bang and ka-boom, I was relieved that at least he didn’t try some of the stunts the Smucker boys did!  Yet, (cross my fingers) yet.  

  Then the article on Joining Facebook brought back some of my own recollections.  The list could go on……I am quitting here….I want to leave something to the imagination and I know that you will enjoy this book.

  Now for the punchline or whatever.  Dorcas has sent me three (3) signed copies of this book.  One for myself, one for me to give to anyone I chose and the third for someone who visits my blog and leaves a message.   I will randomly draw a name from the list of messages on Monday and mail that lucky person the last copy.  

  Remember, you will have to make sure I will be able to get a hold of you if your name is drawn.  (Any comments on Facebook counts too.)

  You can purchase Tea and Trouble Brewing on Amazon or directly from Dorcas by sending $15.00 to:

   

  Dorcas Smucker

  31148 Substation Drive

  Harrisburg, OR 97446

   

  She is also offering a great deal right now of all four books for only $40.00  postage paid.

  

  They would make an excellent Christmas gift or a wonderful addition to your own bookshelf.  

  Have a wonderful day.

   

  By the way, look what I found at Connections (second hand store) today?  They had about 5 sets but I couldn’t afford them all.  

  

  I think I shall start collecting mini tea sets too. 

   

  • 11:08 pm
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