DAY 14 -- INA AND SADIE'S EXCELLENT FARMHOUSE CHRISTMAS

Politely pour for Aunty. First, a half cup of hot milk. Then add hot tea. But slowly. Would she like sugar? Onelumportwo? Pass the toast. Then fix your cup. Just like Aunty’s. – A Child’s Christmas Cookbook

This was the day of the “Tea for Aunty.” Aunt Shirley arrived early in the morning, bringing supplies with her. After a light breakfast, Ina, Shirley, and Sadie began to prepare for the tea. Jack loaded the woodbox and made sure there was plenty of water on the stove. Then he took Sadie, and followed by Dick, they went out to cut a few fir boughs for Shirley’s use in decorating the table.

Shirley placed Ina’s best linen tablecloth on the diningroom table along with matching napkins. Next, she brought out the bowl of pinecones that she and Sadie had prepared last weekend and wove a half yard of bright red ribbon through the sparkling pinecones, placing the greenery that Sadie brought in and around the bowl and pronouncing it festive -- "just the thing," in fact.

Since the tea was Sadie’s idea and a learning experience for her, Shirley filled Ina’s little teapot with hot water and instructed Sadie in the art of “pouring.” (It’s not as easy as it might look. It’s important not to overshoot the cup!) She was also instructed to nibble the treats slowly, focus on the conversation, and not to talk with her mouth full.

The table was set with cups and saucers, a plate of frosted ginger cookies, and Ina’s fruitcake (her mother's recipe for "pork cake"). Perhaps it’s worth noting that the dining room was separate from the kitchen, not all one room as we so often see today. Any untidiness in the kitchen was not seen by the guests.

All was in readiness when the guests of honor, Aunt Bertha and Mrs. Boehm, arrived promptly at 1:00. (They scheduled early in the afternoon in deference to the short days.) Aunt Bertha presented a plate of beautifully decorated shortbread cookies, and comments were made that the table would rival anything they had in town – maybe even in the city.

Ina invited everyone to sit down. Taking a deep breath, Sadie commenced to pour a little tea into each cup. I say a little tea because Ina’s teapot was small. A second round would soon be offered.

Cordial conversation ensued. Aunt Bertha pressed Sadie for details about the upcoming school pageant, but Miss Johnson had said the program was a secret, and Sadie knew that Aunt Bertha, the "Gilbert Gossip" and correspondent to the weekly tribune in town, couldn’t be trusted not to reveal the secret to the world. "Please just come to the pageant and be surprised," said Sadie politely, and Ina nodded to her approvingly.

After an hour, Shirley went to the barn and invited the men to come to the house for coffee and cookies. Sadie was excused to color by the fireplace while the adults visited. 

It had been a wonderful day!