Perspectives and AI

A few weeks ago while Googling my blog, I stumbled upon two reviews by members of Tea Forum [an online Tea Knowledge & Friendship group that I'm not a member of].  The reviews were written in July and November of 2020 in response to the question, "What are your favorite tea/teaware blogs"?  The reviews pertaining to my blog were quite thought provoking to me.  

The first member said she liked reading my blog because I was a non-internet tea-drinker of the classic older American type, who normally live in an almost completely offline tea-world.  Instead of being exclusively about tea, it is about her family, friends, and tea.  More time is spent on teahouses than on tealeaves... 

The second post was in response to the first post written by a fellow member:  Your post inspired me to try the relevant tea leaf blog.  I find that it is a very personal blog - so personal that reading it made me feel uncomfortable in the same way as if I had read someone's private diary without their permission.  

Wow!  I never thought of my blog as a private diary but I have likened it to a journal of sorts where I've recorded experiences/events with photos to capture memories.  I've never shared private/personal thoughts that I'd be uncomfortable with someone else reading.  As a teen I kept diaries that locked with a key for those kind of things [which I disposed of long ago].   

It prompted me to research diaries and journals.  Long story short, they may overlap, but they aren't the same.  A diary is a type of journal but a journal isn't always a diary.

I know blogs aren't as popular now as they were when I began blogging in 2012.  Many blogs that I used to follow don't even exist anymore.  Reader comments are scarce, bordering non-existent these days and there've been times when I've considered abandoning my blog as well.  A post is very time consuming if it includes any research or photos, and time is usually in short supply.  

My blog, however, is just as important to me as anybody who reads it [if not more so] and I've never been driven by how many followers I have.  I eliminated the followers box on the sidebar of my blog early on in my blogging days.   My family and I have referred back to the blog many times over the years looking up outings and events, and it's been invaluable when making Shutterfly photo albums because it's so easy to forget dates and details.   

On Christmas Eve this year my son was wondering what he wore last year so he wouldn't wear it again this year, to which my grandson replied, check the Relevant Tea Leaf blog.  ;-)

 ~ Christmas Eve 2024 ~

Christmas Eve 2025 [below].  As a side note, Jeremy is my only child who is a tea drinker.  He received three tins of tea this year that he specifically asked for.  I haven't given up on the other two kids.   ;-)

I make no apologies if some feel they are reading my private diary without permission.  It's a public blog so no permission is necessary.  Readers can take it or leave it, but it'll be one form of legacy I'll leave behind that will express my passion for tea, hospitality, family, and faith [not in that particular order].   

AI is the big thing in technology these days.  I'm not a techy person so no worries about my posts and pictures being authentic. To be truthful, I'm very skeptical of AI.  My granddaughter, Brooke, is techy and shared these pictures with me on Christmas Eve that she generated through the AI app on her iPhone.  It made me feel like I don't ever want to believe anything on Facebook again because I won't know if photos are legit or AI altered.

The photo below is a photo that was taken of me in 2018 when I first started working at the Whitney, and a photo of my dad in the early 1990's, and an AI photo generated from the two photos to make one.  It's incredible, yet scary at the same time!

 It even has wrinkles and a finger print on the side to make it look old and authentic.

The second photo was taken of Steve on his birthday this year and his six-month-old baby picture.  Brooke, with the help of the AI app, turned it into a picture of him holding himself!  She also did one of of my daughter with a recent picture of her and one when she was 5 years old [not shown].

I like the AI smile she put on his baby picture that wasn't on the original.

On this last day of 2025 I hope your reflections of this past year reveal God's faithfulness in the good times as well as the difficult times, and may we look forward to the New Year as a blank book with new chapters, keeping in mind the front windshield is much larger than the rearview mirror for a reason!

Christmas Eve & Christmas Day Recap

Here are some of the gifts I received from family on Christmas Eve...

An Autographed 20th Anniversary copy of Tom Hegg's book and a box of Chocolate Covered Cherries [these take me back to my childhood as they were always under the Christmas tree for me growing up].

Plates and napkins for a Christmas Tea in my favorite color - blue!

A Scone Mix [Cherry Almond] for tea time and a miniature Christmas teacup.

Some tea for tea time!

The inside flap of my Mary Frances purse.

Inside that fancy little coin purse a $100 bill was tucked and another miniature teacup ornament.  Of all the wonderful gifts under the tree, the best is the gift of God's Son, Jesus, and having most of my family to celebrate with.

We always play a game after the Christmas story is read from Luke Chapter 2, and all the presents are opened.  This year I ordered the Family Edition of Tales.  It was a fun game.  A sample question is:  What's your go-to comfort food that reminds you of home?

Christmas Day was a lazy day for hubby and me.  In the afternoon we went to our son and daughter-in-law's house [Steve & Sharon].  More of Sharon's Gingerbread decorations [I shared some at Thanksgiving].

Everyone loves having Brianna home for the holidays.  She returned to Nashville today.

After we ate, we began watching the classic movie, "It's a Wonderful Life."

Many miles away in Oceanside, California was granddaughter, Tiffany, husband John, and our two great-granddaughters, Evie and Jules.  We couldn't Facetime them on the holiday because they had church commitments [John is Worship Pastor at Calvary Chapel] but Tiffany shared these pictures taken on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning.

What gifts were under your Christmas tree?  How did you celebrate?  I hope it was a blessed day from beginning to end!

Last Sunday of 2025

2025 is quickly winding down.  We spent the last Sunday of 2025 in church, and had our picture taken in the foyer after the service.

We don't have a Christmas Eve service at our church, but we did celebrate our Savior's birth the Sunday night before Christmas with a live nativity at 5:00 o'clock and a special service at 6:00 o'clock that concluded in candle light while singing Silent Night.  He is the light of the world and may His light shine through us.

Stable animals, but no camel this year.

My hubby had to get some stable things ready for the Romeo High School reenactors, so we arrived early.  While he was outdoors, I listened to the praise team rehearse indoors.

Granddaughter, Brooke, on the right.

Before the service started everyone was treated to hot chocolate and "Parlor Donuts" in the foyer provided by the Dudgeon family - Paul, Sue and Donna [brother and two sisters].  If you're a local reader, Parlor Donuts has locations in St. Clair Shores, Shelby Twp. Sterling Heights, Lake Orion and Grand Blanc.  They are the best donut you will ever eat.

The beginning of the beautiful service.

...and the ending.

It was a perfect way to prepare our hearts and minds for the true meaning of Christmas.

 

Christmas 2025

 Merry Christmas!

We're leaving shortly to go to our son's house [Steve & Sharon], but I wanted to write a quick post to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas!

We celebrated with all our family last night at our house.  A family Christmas Eve celebration has been our tradition ever since Jerry and I married.  The tables were set and awaiting everyone's arrival for a 4:00 o'clock dinner.

With s0 much going on at church and work I was late getting our Christmas tree decorated, but I finally got it done on Sat., Dec. 20th!  It will stay up now until mid-January.

Five of our eight grandchildren. It's always good to have Brianna home from Nashville, Tennessee.

Our daughter, Lori, and husband, Dave.

Steve, Sharon, Brianna & Brooke

Jeremy, Samantha, Izzy, Landon & Ellie

Our children and their families were very good to me!  I received a Mary Frances Tea Time beaded purse that I had been wanting.

Izzy gave me [among other things] an autographed copy of Tom Hegg's book, A Cup of Christmas Tea, so I read it to everyone.

After all the gifts were opened and games were playeed [more on that in another post] we had birthday cake for Jesus - the Reason for the Season!  I bought a decorated cassata cake from a local Italian bakery and I made the chocolate mound cake.

I hope you are enjoying a beautiful Christmas Day with your loved ones.

High School Girls Christmas Lunch

This year it seems there hasn't been much to write about or if there is something there's no time to write a about it.  These have been very busy days for me, as I'm sure they've been for you too.

Last week I drove down to my childhood stomping grounds to have lunch with a group of gals I went to high school with.  When possible, we have lunch once a month.  When I first started going to the lunches [around 2008] there were nine of us in the group.  Two have since passed away and one has dementia and no longer attends, so our group is down to six and of the six two have become widows.  Life is full of change.

We had a fun gift exchange.  My girlfriend, Sandy, gave each of us a tea-themed key chain, and I gave everyone a Napier Christmas brooch.  I love their Christmas brooches this year and bought one for myself too.  ;-)

After our get-together, one of the gals texted me about a pair of tea-themed Cuddl Duds pajamas at Kohl's.  I ordered a pair online [there were none left in the stores near me] and they're on sale for $24 regularly $40 [excluding shipping and tax].  

Only three more days until Christmas.  The clock is ticking.  My shopping [gifts and groceries] is done, the tree is up and decorated, gifts are all wrapped [thanks to my hubby] and I've begun cooking for Christmas Eve dinner with my family.  I had to work today and will be going in tomorrow also.  A lot of tea lovers are coming to tea at The Whitney for the holidays.  Are you ready for Christmas?

Christmas is Children... and Friends

Last Sunday, during the morning worship service, the children of Orchard Ridge presented a short Christmas program.  As always, they were delightful.

After church, a group of us who have been friends for many years, went to a Chinese restaurant for dinner.  I ordered Chicken Lo Mein and it came with bottomless pots of Oolong tea.  So good!

Children, Friends and Family [my hubby, daughter and son-in-law] are the perfect combination for a lovely day!

2025 Whitney Christmas Tea

Last Saturday, December 13th, was The Whitney's Christmas Tea.  160 guests were anticipated, but by my calculations there were about 141 attendees.  I took lots of pictures but will just share a few of them here on my blog.

We had a 11:00 a.m. seating on the first floor and a 12:00 o'clock seating on the second floor.  The flow and timing was so much smoother than last year's tea.

There were strolling carolers who were delightful.

First floor guests were seated in the Receiving & Drawing Rooms, Library and Music Room.

I took a picture of the soup and salad course when it was plated in the kitchen.

Below are the Sandwiches/Savories.  And, of course, there were bottomless pots of Mistletoe Kiss black tea on the tables for the guests to enjoy with their meal.

After the guests finished their third course, they assembled in Great Hall where Dave Dewey, Director of Operations, read A Cup of Christmas Tea.

While the guests were in the Great Hall, the servers put their favors at each place setting so they'd be there when they returned to their seats for the dessert course.  I was pleased with the way they turned out and relieved when all 160 were assembled!  Behind the ornament [but it's not visible] was a half oz. package of loose-leaf Mistletoe Kiss black tea - enough to make 7-8 cups of tea.

~ Dessert~

Me with Joel, The Whitney pianist.

I was delighted to see Amy, a sweet tea lover and Whitney patron, at the tea.

Then it was up to the second floor to repeat everything again with the guests who were seated in Mr. Whitney's bedroom, Mrs. Whitney's bedroom and her sitting room.  Below is Max Ceaser, our new General Manager, who read A Cup of Christmas Tea in the Ballroom.

A good time was had by all.  Now that the two big teas on my calendar are done I can focus on Christmas Eve for my family.  The Christmas tree is up and the lights are on, and it's waiting to be decorated.  Thankfully almost all my Christmas shopping is done.