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10 Year Anniverary & New Releases Winners: Carrie Fancett Pagels' Butterfly Cottage - Melanie B, Dogwood Plantation - Patty H R, Janet Grunst's winner is Connie S., Denise Weimer's Winner is Kay M., Naomi Musch's winner is Chappy Debbie, Angela Couch - Kathleen Maher, Pegg Thomas Beverly D. M. & Gracie Y., Christy Distler - Kailey B., Shannon McNear - Marilyn R.

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Independence Day Liberty Tea Party!!!





Liberty Teas

In the 1770's Colonists forsook the partaking of tea imported from the British, and thus American women looked to their own gardens and the world around them to create their own teas.  Ribwort, sassafras, willow bark, birch, strawberry leaf, lemon balm, verbena, and currant bush were used as substitutes, as well as raspberry leaves which were used to make "Hyperion Tea".  Spearmint, peppermint, wintergreen, orange bergamot, and catnip were used to create mint teas.  Flowers such as red rose petals, blossoms of linden, elder, red clover, chamomile, violet, red rose petals, rosehips, linden blossoms, elder, red clover, chamomile, violet and goldenrod were also brewed into tea.  Teas were also made from sweet fern, spicebush, ambrosia, twigs of sweet gum, fennel and dill seed, parsley, thyme, marjoram, rosemary, and sage.


 Liberty Tea

Four-leaved loose-strife was pulled up like flax, its stalks were stripped of the leaves and boiled; the leaves were put in an iron kettle and basted with the liquor from the stalks. Then the leaves were put in an oven and dried. Liberty Tea sold for sixpence a pound and drunk at spinning bees and women's gatherings.
Earle, Customs and Fashions in Old New England


Indian Tea, Redroot, New Jersey Tea

"Tea made from a plant or shrub (Ceanothus americanus) grown
in Pearsontown about 20 miles from Portland, Maine, was served to
a circle of ladies and gentlemen in Newbury Port, who pronounced
it nearly,  if not quite, its equal in flavor to genuine Bohea tea.
So important a discovery claims attention, especially at this crisis.
If we have the plant, nothing is wanted but the process of curing it
into tea of our own manufacture."
From The Boston Gazette, 1768


Balm Tea

Balm, or lemon balm alone, or with sage is much
recommended, with a few flowers of lavender; it has
a most delicious flavor and taste, but is most agreeable
when green" (freshly cut, from garden to teapot). In a
cup, bruise the leaves of 3 generous sprigs of fresh
lemon balm leaves, a sprig of sage, and three lavender
blossoms. Pour boiling water over the herbs and let
them steep for 5-10 minutes. Add honey to taste.
Drink hot or cold.
From Family Receipt Book, 1819


Please allow our server to pour you a cup of one of our Liberty Teas, which shall it be? We also have a wonderful Colonial American Independence Cake and hope you will try a piece as well. How are you celebrating our Liberty this 4th of July? Commenters are eligible to recieve a prize from one of our giveaways!



Giveaways:

Susan F. Craft will give away a copy of The Chamomile, some chamomile tea, and a small colonial "Betsy Ross" flag and a "Don't Tread on Me" flag. Leave a comment and your email address.

Elaine Marie Cooper is offering a copy of The Legacy of Deer Run to one of our winners.

J.M. Hochstetler will give away a copy of Daughter of Liberty to one of our winners.


86 comments:

  1. Happy Independence Day to my favorite Colonials! =) I just poured myself a cup of lemon balm tea--and of course, selected a slice of cake to go along with it. And now I'm ready to enjoy the day of remembrance. How lovely to have a gathering place!

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    1. Good morning, Ro!!! My little man and his Papa are off to the parade in Yorktown. I am preparing a mid-day celebratory feast in honor of our independence! Huzzah!

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  2. As an Irish Daughter of Liberty, I will have some herb tea and two slices of cake with my refill coming up. Happy Liberty Day!! Kathleen
    lanehillhouse[at]centurylink[dot]net

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    1. KATHLEEEN!!! Top o' the mornin' to ye this fine Independence Day! T'is peach cobbled cake for us! Welcome!

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  3. Thank you so much for the lovely cup of Hyperion Tea. Delicious. I'll leave the cake be for now, tempting as it is. It does look delicious.

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    1. Mistress Gade might serve that, but I confess I've a secret stash of black tea. No honey, though. Sure you can't be convinced to try my peach dessert?

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  4. Drinking black tea this morning and now am wondering if I could make do for the sake of the war effort.

    Am in for the drawing. Just don't put my email out where spammers can pick it up.

    Happy Fourth!

    Peace, Julie

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    1. JULIE! We know where you reside! Like you, I have hidden away my lovely black tea. Happy 4th of July!!!

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  5. Happy Independence Day to America! ncmom@att.net

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    1. CATHY! Happy Liberty Day, Huzzah! Come back for some tea--I think I even have some ice left down in the ice house!

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  6. Good morning, everyone! What a lovely selection we have for our tea! I believe I'll have a cup of the Indian tea to go with a slice of the cake. It certainly looks quite delicious! Today I'll be celebrating with some cousins I haven't seen for some while, so I'll be out for the day, and the tea will be quite bracing. Thank you so very much!

    I hope you'll all be able to celebrate the day with the traditional fireworks. Alas, here in Indiana, where I'm spending the summer, the hot, dry weather has forced our communities to suspend any fireworks until the drought is relieved. So we will content ourselves with visiting and sharing a meal with family and friends. I wish you all a very happy day celebrating our nation's birth!

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    1. JOAN! Do wish Shadrach Clark, a scout and dear friend of mine, a wonderful day if you see him in your territory. And fortify him also with tea, honey, and cake if you spy him! Happy Independence Day!!!

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    2. So glad to see you on this cheerful, fourth of July, Joan. Do enjoy your visits with your cousins, even though you must forgo the fireworks for safety's sake. Have a glorious day!

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  7. Happy Independence Day, Quillers! Please a little peppermint tea for my tummmy's sake this morning, and I had better pass on the cake. I hate to be such a party pooper.

    Today family and friends will getting together---they are coming as far away as NC to celebrate with us today. I need to go find my fan, dears, as it promises to be another very hot one here in SC. Thankful that Cathy above is bringing me some homemade lemonade. Well, I must pick out my most awesome gown to outdo my cousin, Phoebe, who always thinks she is the most gorgeous one in attendance. Oh, I should have had my dressmaker make me a new gown! I know Phoebe will have on a new one, with her corset as tight as possible, of course! ta ta for now.

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    1. DIANA!!! Do tell Phoebe to loosen that corset! Peppermint and sassafras tea coming up! Dear me, they must be taking the old Indian trails to get to that back country of South Carolina where you live! Such a rural area around Columbia! Have you considered relocating to the coast, for safety? Blessings!

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    2. Yes, I do hope they will be careful! Too many hurricanes along the coast for my liking. Thank you for the tea, deah CARRIE. I must check on my cooks and see how the food preparation is coming. Trust me, you can't tell my deah cousin, Phoebe, anything. Unless it is a compliment, of course!

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    3. Why Diana I do believe you will still be the sweetest and prettiest lady there even if your cousin wears a new dress. Hope you have a marvelous day of celebratin'.

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  8. Happy Independence Day! I fancy a cup of balm tea if you don't mind. My nerves could use soothing with the ruckus the neighborhood children are raising. You'd think the bombardment of Boston had ensued.

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    1. REGINA, I can only imagine how loud that must have been! Balm tea and Independence cake coming right up!

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    2. Balm Tea it is, Regina. I hope it soothes your nerves from the joyful noise of those youngsters!

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  9. Happy Independence Day! We don't celebrate that in the Netherlands of course, but seeing all those nice pics on Facebook etc. I feel like I'm celebrating with y'all!
    Enjoy your day!

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    1. MARIAN! Yes, it almost feels like you are American, and since the Dutch settled New York in the 1600's who knows how many long lost relatives you have over here!

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    2. I have an American friend who lives in the Netherlands. I like to tease him and tell him that he's just an European born in the US. :)

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    3. Happy to have you join us for our country's grand celebration, Marian. And many of the early colonists to the Mass Bay Colony resided in the Netherlands for a spell before their journey here, we are grateful to your country for providing safe harbor.

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  10. That redroot tea sounds intriguing! I shall have me some, thanks. And thank you Carla for the wonderful tea options. You did my research work for me in this instance. Bless you!

    A writer's work is never done, my loved one is away for the day, and my church has postponed its midweek meeting until the morrow, so I shall endeavor to keep busy today and comfort my unhappy dog this e'en when the black-powder firecrackers begin to bang and pop around our town.

    Meanwhile, there is tea and cake. Happy Independence Day!

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    1. LORI!!! CARLA did a great job on this post, didn't she?!!! Poor pup. Share a little cake with him! Tea and cake coming right up.

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  11. Good Day, dear Ladies! 'Tis delightful to celebrate this day of Independence with all of you! Of course, I shall partake of the Liberty tea to submit to our Massachusetts patriotic endeavor to avoid all tea from the East India Company. Whilst I confess to my own private stash in the event of a headache, I am blessed today with no such malady. Thus, I shall make a toast to our nation of these United States with your fine liberty brew! Perhaps, I shall partake of just a small slice of your delicious cake as well. Too large a piece and I shall be forced to loosen my corset!

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    1. Good Day to you, dear Elaine. And congratulations on your successful book signing in Springfield, MA! I hope you enjoy the tea, but you do bring up a good point, that women had to be careful of how much food they would partake of if their stays were too tight to begin with, they might burst!

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  12. Happy Independence Day! I shall have mint tea, thank you. Today my family will be celebrating with our Baptist church family, remembering such great men who dreamed of our liberties. Men like Dr. John Clarke, a Baptist minister in Rhode Island who wrote in that colony's charter:

    "...that no person within the said colony, at any time hereafter shall be any wise molested [harassed], punished, disquieted, or called in question, for any differences in opinion in matters of religion, and do not actually disturb the civil peace of our said colony; but that all and every person and persons may, from time to time, and at all times hereafter, freely and fully have and enjoy his and their own judgments and consciences, in matters of religious concernments,..."

    Praying that this dear country will continue in the tradition of religious freedom.

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    1. It is wonderful to see you, dear Lynn. Thank you for sharing that inspiring quote from your forebearer. It is especially important that your Baptist ancestor enjoyed that freedom, as many Christian denominations are able to today. It is good when brothers (and sisters) live together in unity!

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  13. Interesting to read about all the teas in your post today, many I did not know of. I hope many today will stop and think what Independence day is about. we tend to take for granted so much that our great country has to offer.
    I have these books so dont put me in the drawing today.
    Thanks Paula O

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    1. PAULA, you are so right--we do take our freedom for granted and all the blessings we have!!! Thanks for coming by! Cake?

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  14. We have so much to be thankful for on this Independence Day.
    ~ for life
    ~ for the freedoms we enjoy
    ~ for those who were willing to sacrifice everything for our liberty
    ~ for those who have served , often at great peril, throughout our history to preserve those unalienable Rights endowed by our Creator. May God always bless America.

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  15. Happy Independence Day! I'll go with the Hyperion Tea. Thanks for the giveaway.
    pj4824(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. Shhh, PAT, but I made cinnamon coffee and my daughter ran out to get a birthday cake for her friend, Katie, who joined us on this Independence Day! Don't tell on me for not having herbal tea! Blessings!!!

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  16. Wishing each and every one of you a Happy Independence Day! I'm celebrating with a cup of chamomile tea. During the war, my neighbor experimented with boiling acorns. Bless her heart, it looked like tea but was a tad bitter. Because of the high tax on sugar, we even tried to sweeten the brew with honey, but it would not temper the bitterness. My husband, who became accustomed to drinking coffee, is readying for the festivities tonight by preparing the rockets and the punk sticks.

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    1. SUSAN!!! No acorn boiling dear! Cake and tea (the real deal) ready in a flash! Be careful around those rockets.

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  17. Happy 4th! I am celebrating today with a bang! My flag is out and I am wearing colonial clothing. For lunch, I am having sloppy joes. I could think of nothing better to remember the fourth, the soldiers who fought and died for our freedom we celebrate today, and the signers who risked their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

    I hope everyone has a fun and safe fourth! May God bless you!

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    1. American Revolutionary War Fanatic, welcome to our tea!!! Love your picture! May God bless you as well!

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  18. I'll have a cup of lemon balm tea, please!

    It's so dry that fireworks have been canceled this evening, but I plan on spending time with my family. I'm so grateful to be able to gather with them!

    Thanks for the chance to win one of these awesome prizes!

    Beth
    bharbin07[at]gmail[dot]com

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    1. Lemon balm tea coming right up. Sorry about the canceled activities! Thanks for coming by BETH!!!

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  19. I love herb teas. Like them a lot more than traditional tea. Especially mint, raspberry, and chamomile.

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    1. DINA, try this one then - a mix of mint, raspberry and chamomile just for you! Happy 4th of July!!!

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  20. 'Tis so hot, I'll take my tea iced, please! With a nice helping of the cake, of course. A welcome dessert after lunch of fire roasted chicken and potatoes with cold slices of watermelon.

    On a serious note: I was very surprised to see pennyroyal in the list of herbs used for teas. Please strike this one off the list. Pennyroyal has been linked to abortions in women. We don't want someone to try this!

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    1. PEGG we'll have to tell Mistress GADE about that. No, we don't want that happening!

      Here is some ice from the ice house for your tea. Yum, fire-roasted chicken, potatoes, and watermelon! And here is some cake! Thanks for visiting with us!

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    2. Oh, dear! I looked that up and even in small doses it is dangerous. I have removed it from the list! Thank you, Pegg, for bringing this to our attention.

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    3. Thanks for removing it. I learned about pennyroyal while growing it for a natural moth repellant. It does keep moths away, but it's not worth the risk when other herbs will work.

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  21. It is grand seeing all of you here today! We are having quite the tea party celebrating our glorious Liberty! Blessings to you all!

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    1. I used some of this wonderful tea research in a scene this week, so thank you again!

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  22. I thoroughly enjoyed this article today! I love tea, many types. I grew up drinking tea with my mother and my grandmother who came to the United States in the 1920s from The Netherlands. Hi, Marian! One of our favorites is green tea, another Earl Grey with bergamot, and of course, common black tea. I'm growing lemon balm and I'm going to try a cup of fresh lemon balm tea this evening! Thanks so much for sharing so much of yourselves on this blog! Have a very Happy 4th of July!

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    1. NANCEE, good to see you here! I love tea, too. Earl Grey does not love me (bergamot is bad for inflammation). Wow, growing lemon balm--and you're not even colonial. I am very proud of you! Cake to go with your tea? Happy 4th of July!

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  23. I drink a lot of green tea and the green tea with lemon and honey is delish. Great party and hope everyone is enjoying. Everyone Have a very Happy 4th of July and watch out for those fire works.

    misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

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    1. MISS KALLIE, welcome! We were blessed to have my daughter and her friend here earlier. Her friend, Katie, had her 23rd birthday today!!! That was fun. And we had our close friends over, too, for lunch. We are all very happy to be free Americans! Tea coming right up!

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  24. My favorite tea is Plantation Mint because it's made with Spearmint instead of Peppermint. I would love to try some of your Liberty Tea if you don't have the mint :)

    We celebrated at lunch with family and had gingerale!

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    1. ANNE!!!! So glad to see you here! Mint it is! We had a nice lunch, too.

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  25. Happy Independence Day everyone. Thank you for the great post and prizes.
    I will have some Rosehip Tea with Lemon (it is my favorite)and of course a piece of Cake (smile).
    I hope you all enjoy the Fireworks and thank a Soldier that is fighting for our Freedom.
    Blessings to all.

    ingrids62448(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. INGRID!!! Happy Independence Day! Here is your rosehip n lemon tea and cake! Ingrid, do you have dual citizenship? And how old were you when you celebrated your first 4th of July?

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  26. I went to a parade and a pot-luck lunch. visited with family and friends. A great way to celebrate
    JWIsley(at)aol(dot)com

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    1. JOYE, that sounds great! What a wonderful way to celebrate our country's birthday! Tea?

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  27. Ach! What did I miss?????!!!???

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    1. MARY!!! So good to see you here! Are they doing fireworks up your way? They are shooting them off over the York river right now. That was where the French sailed in to help us for the Battle in 1781! Tea and cake?

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  29. Lemon Balm Tea, please. Thank you so much for having me. It is lovely. Thank you for the giveaway; it is quite kind of you. Happy Independence Day!

    ks4readin@yahoo.com

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    1. Lemon Balm it is! The fire works are starting here in Yorktown. How exciting!

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  30. I enjoyed this article! I didn't know there were so many teas. I don't drink coffee so I drink almost any kind of tea. I have never had the "Hyperion tea" or the spearmint though i am going to try to find some. now. Thanks. Have a very Happy 4th of July!

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    1. Happy 4th of July, VIC! Mistress Gade is talented with her quill pen. I have never tried hyperion tea, either. Spearmint is rather nice! Cake with that?

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    2. Why, thank you, Mistress Pagels! You are a dear.

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    3. Vic, we are delighted to have you here and do hope you enjoy your tea with us! Happy 4th to you!

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  31. Carrie I hope I am not too late to stop by..I had a few difficulites in arriving earlier. I so love seeing all the lovely ladies here for Independence Day. Such a joyous occasion it is!

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    1. TERESA!!! So glad you came by! I hope you are having a wonderful Independence Day!!! Tea?

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    2. Yes please, perhaps something to relax me after such an exciting day. :)

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  32. I spent the day in Old Salem, North Carolina. This is the site of a Moravian settlement and the first public celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1783. The morning began with a naturalization ceremony for 60 new American citizens. In the afternoon we listened to a brass band play both patriotic and religious songs; my two favorites were "God Bless America" and "Amazing Grace." The day ended with a reenactment of how the Moravians celebrated that day. We listened to the reading of Psalm 41 and then walked around the square singing "Now Thank We All Our God." It was an amazing experience that caused me to reflect once again on the gift of freedom we have in our country.
    Happy birthday, America!

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    1. SHEILA, that sounds like so much fun!!! I think our member JENNIFER HUDSON has visited there and perhaps even posted on it. She has said it is an awesome place to visit! God bless our new fellow Americans! Thanks so much for sharing with us!!! Want some birthday cake?

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    2. Sheila, what a wonderful time! A true blessing to get to celebrate there in Old Salem!

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  33. We have the winner of "The Legacy of Deer Run!" Beth at bharbin! I will contact you by e-mail. Congrats!!

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    1. BETH, CONGRATS to our WINNER!!! Thanks so much ELAINE!!!

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  34. The Winner of The Chamomile, the chamomile tea, and the flags is ...... drum roll, please --- MissKallie2000.

    I'll be in touch ASAP. Huzzah!!!!!

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    1. CONGRATS to MISS KALLIE!!! I think she is quite a winner!!! Thanks Susan!

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  35. Hope everyone had a safe and happy Independence Day!! We had two mishaps with our firework fun, no injuries....just fast movement! Its becoming quiet in the neighborhood. Just wanted to comment before bedtime. I have NEVER been a coffee drinker, I just don't understand the appeal. Tea is my drink of choice, love a good cup of Darjeeling with a little milk and sugar. I know its not one of the types listed in the blog, but it sure is good.

    Blessings,
    Tammy

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    1. TAMMY, I agree-love Darjeeling! Glad no injuries last night. None here on the blog, either, lol! Blessings!

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  36. cool giveaway thanks for the celebrations

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

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  37. So sorry I missed the celebration yesterday, Carla and Carrie.
    It looks as if you had a fun time here. We do indeed have so much to be thankful for here in the U.S. I enjoy raspberry tea especially. Now for my husband I brew loose Yorkshire tea in a teapot with the rosy placed over it to keep the tea very hot. Yes, he's British and I'm a Philadelphian. Loved my visit to the Betsy Ross House recently. I learned so much more about this heroic woman. Thank you for the giveaway.
    patjeannedavis[at]verizon[dot]net

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  38. PAT!!! I hope you had a wonderful time visiting there! Like I mentioned to you before--when we went last year I did not get to go because they were closed both days by the time I got there. Okay, now you've got me--what is the rosy? Haven't heard that term before. Blessings!

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  39. I apologize for being so late in announcing the winner of a copy of Daughter of Liberty. We're in the process of moving, so things are kinda chaotic. But finally got online and the winner is Ingrid Stukey!! Congratulations, Ingrid!

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