Treated Like Royalty

Just this week, a friend and I flew from Baltimore, Maryland to Ann Arbor, Michigan to visit a treasured mutual friend. Our hostess' family dubbed our coming "the state visit."
She certainly rolled out the red carpet.

The American flag was flying when we arrived.

Flowers sat in each of our guestrooms.

A tray table sat on my bed holding a gift bag, bottled water, and magazines to peruse.

Our hostess even outdid the Ritz by presenting our towels like a pretty present.

On her dining table, yellow tulips surrounded by lemon slices nodded their sunny hello, an idea she borrowed from Southern Living.

Finally, at each meal we used their best silver handcrafted by Old Newbury Crafters in Amesbury, Massachusetts. "Old Newbury Crafters...is credited with bringing the art of silversmithing to New England. Today, some fourteen generations later, the skills and methods of handforging sterling silver are still employed..."

Having lifted one of these beautifully balanced pieces of silver, I can attest to what the website claims: "the machine cannot match the quality, durability, look and feel of handmade silver"(www.silvercrafters.com).

How appropriate for our "state visit" that their pattern is "Windsor Shell".

Gourmet meals, plenty of laughter, and shopping crowned our visit.

Over the years, these friendships have been forged during a weekly Moms in Touch prayer time for all our children. For information on this non-denominational, international ministry which is in every state and 120 countries go to: www.momsintouch.org.

Finally, I thought you might enjoy seeing some vignettes from my friend's home. She majored in design at Notre Dame and has a real flare!