Warm feelings abound when I think of a tea party.  My first experience with drinking tea was as a young adult.  I was visiting a friend and her new baby.  She introduced me to the lovely ritual of making a pot of tea.  I am a pushover for ritual.  Although I’m one of those people with taste buds that don’t process the tea flavor well, I’ll always gladly accept a cup of tea.  I’m accepting what it stands for more then how it tastes.  Serving tea is an act of friendship and love.  This ritual can begin at a young age.

My Grandchildren received a tea set as soon as they began pretend play.  Their imaginations soared around the idea of preparing and serving “tea” to their Mimi.  While sitting in a child’s size chair, perched beside a miniature table I watched as they prepared our tea party.  Water went into the pot (and elsewhere) tea from the pot into the teeny, tiny cups, stirred with an even teenier, tinier spoon, then sipped, not gulped.  A celebration of life shared with some of the most special people I know!

   Madge & Dennis Coombs   They were my paternal grandparents.  This is their home that was located on the corner of “the lane” and Main St.  in Winter Harbor, next door to Colby & Marilyn Coombs.  Dennis was a lobsterman and Madge worked for folks on Grindstone Neck, took in laundry and knit a few bait bags.  Her full time job was keeping Dennis under control.

Dennis used the shed, better known as “the shed chamber” as his place of business, the lobster business.  This is where he tended to the upkeep of his traps and buoys as well as his own personal needs like strip fish and liquid refreshments.  The “shed chamber” was his sanctuary.  Many of the lobstermen in town had buildings like this attached to their homes and also on the shore.

We did not see Dennis dressed in a suit and tie often but he was the kind of man who could be comfortable in most situations.  He would often keep everyone else entertained with stories and laughter, a game of cards or sharing some refreshments in the “shed chamber”.  His lobstering career was cut short due to an amputation but he kept his sense of humor and love of life in spite of the restrictions on his activities.  I will always be grateful for having Dennis as a grandfather.

16 X 20 mixed media

Owned and operated by Laura Bickford and daughter, Freda Smart at the top of Bowarrrer Hill Opened in 1947.

I made this mixed media piece last summer and can thank Sheldon  Bickford for the photograph that I used as inspiration.  I remember Hamburger Hill with great fondness.  They made wonderful Italian sandwiches that I picked up for my Grandmother on a regular basis.  They also made many wonderful burgers and fries.  I know that there were many more items on the menu, and I also know that homemade pies were a specialty.  It would be very interesting to hear from other people about their memories of this fabulous establishment.