The tea was laid out, the sandwiches made with Arnold’s Brick Oven crustless bread. Salmon spread from Klein’s, Cracker Barrel cheese and pimento. Gladys had mentioned Girl Scout cookies, so Ethel had not laid out dessert, though she had plenty of reserves. Hydrox, marshmallow creams, Chips Ahoy.
The cars began to arrive around 2, the ladies driven by grandchildren or sons-in-law, Chryslers and Hondas and Janice’s son’s glittering Mercedes.
The ladies of the club were escorted to the door, walkers and canes set aside as they seated themselves around the table on which lay this year’s quilt, the most glorious yet.
Dear Josh,
The list of refreshments brought back memories…some childhood favorites of mine. What? No Vienna Fingers? I can imagine the camaraderie as the ladies stitch a new creation. Well woven story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
My daughter was named Ethel Gladys after two of her great-grandmothers, so it was fun to use both those names. As for the menu, it’s pretty much what my grandmother would lay out when when had friends over. Usually the cookies and brownies were homemade, though ;-). Thanks for stopping by.
A foodlover’s delight, Joshua
I would love to know what those ladies gossiped about. Bet they are lively characters.
Nice job setting up the scene – it is easy to imagine. It’s outings such as this that make them truly live instead of just being alive.
I like the way you use the food to tell us which generation was expected to the party. It could also be viewed as a metaphor – a patchwork of disparate foodstuffs – foreshadowing the reveal of the quilt. Lovely writing Josh.
A tradition that has lasted through the years. Like the new layout.
Great piece of scene setting. Well done.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
Sigh. I loved this. Every word and image it prompted. So well quilted! :)
Hydrox cookies! I’d forgotten how much I loved them :) And an old-fashioned quilting bee, to top it all off. Beautiful story :)
Wonderful! I love quilting bees. Something we should go back to… they provide such a wonderful time for community! Great story!
What a wonderful build-up to end with the gathering of the old dames creating the quilt. Though the ladies aren’t that old, I could not help but think of the movie “How to Make an American Quilt” – and all the stories each of the ladies shared…
I bet they have a good old natter as they munch their way through all those biscuits!
I could just see the picture. And loved revisiting old treats, only some of which are known over here.
What a wonderful way to spend a day. Simply delightful.
Here’s my story!
I can sew – can I join their group and eat their tea?
A quilt gathering, well i’ve never heard of such a thing, but a brilliant insight into these people’s lives, what a peculiar event! Good stuff!!
Lovely images, those old dears coming together for the quilt. You get the feeling it is so very important to them, being part of that circle. That comes through brilliantly. I knew the Cracker Barrel cheese but not the rest, so thank you for the introduction to a new range of treats!
A great social event – I expect there is all the usual gossip.
What an enticing and delicious beginning. I expect gossip will follow. A quilting circle, slightly aged, with delicacies of a bygone era.
All this preparation to see a quilt! My attention would invariably be drawn to the other spread on the table = sandwich and salmon.
A beautifully descriptive story of friendship!
A homemade quilt is a work of art with so many different ways it could end up – a different fabric, different kinds of thread, different batting. Nicely done!
Lovely details — really made it real. I get the feeling these ladies have been doing this for a long time, and will for a long time to come. Well done.