What are Sisters For?

"Fall into Lavender Dessert Tea under the garden gazebo.

Tucker and I sharing a quiet moment.

After four events in three weeks and through all kinds of fall weather from sun and wind to rain to freezing frost and back to sun and wind again, Tucker and I need to sit down and take a breather.  Don't get me wrong.  I thoroughly enjoyed myself but I haven't sat down for more than ten minutes since somewhere around October 2!  In fact, by early last week, I had to call in the Calvary (my sister Chris) in order to get soaps, pomanders, pumpkins and everything else in order for one of our last big celebrations of this year's lavender harvest...The 2012 Loudoun County Fall Farm Tour!

Chris already in action after just arriving last Wednesday night.

Ohhhh...my artistic loved ones!...sighhhhh.

Who remembers TAB?  I didn't even know they still made it!

The Calvary, you say!?  Yes!..The Calvary and she arrived all smiles and full of energy.  We wasted no time in getting her started, before her energy could even think about waning. After all, what are sisters for if she can't come to your rescue and start painting as soon as she sets her suitcases down and grabs her favorite beverage...I did mention that she is my older sister, right?...TAB?...REALLY??

Tote those chairs, lift those tables!

I'm not sure, but I think I heard Chris whistling while she worked.

Chris with her current favorite nephew...sorry Kevin!

We had her doing everything from organizing cards to cleaning windows...And then, she, for whatever reason, noticed that she was the only one working as I piled on more and more tasks. So, I threw in P.Lorenz, just for good measure in the crafting process, just so she wouldn't think we were taking advantage of her.  I even got her to Tucker sit a little.  Then we gave her a Blooming Hill Shirt to wear. It made her feel all the more special...Older sisters, they are so gullible.

 The fork goes on the left side!

P. Lorenz and I were really busy!  Of course, we had to do some taste testing!

Anyway...where was I?  Oh yeah, then I made some more sad, sighing sounds and laid the back of my hand to my forehead, which totally worked, and she immediately went down and whipped the shop into Farm Tour readiness just in time to set up all of the chairs, tables and teacups on the patio for lavender-honey ice cream and apple pie or lavender scones and vanilla ice cream, topped off with tea and lavender-infused apple cider, all for Farm Tour guests to savor and enjoy!...MMMM....MMMMM....Good!

Loving sisters and the calm before the storm.

Back to the sister saga...We weren't through with her yet.  When the guests started coming, we had Chris running solo and after a few technical difficulties with the IPAD,  and us completely ignoring her desperate phone calls, only from time to time, for help (she is a retired elementary school teacher--she should be used to crisis management, don't ya think??) Okay..Peter and I  were really busy serving up dessert, lavender style for two days of lavender-infused bliss.  And we had to make that look effortless, too...oh Chrisssss!

Tote those chairs!  Lift those tables, again!

Never a younger sister to waste a single moment of older sisterly love and sympathy, I again sighed and ran my fingers through  my hair and tried to look my most tired so big sister Chris, never hesitating, once again jumped into action and helped clean up.  I tell you..this little sister thing is a sweet deal!

So, I'm thinkin' that will not fit into her suitcase.

Of course, the best shopping is right here at Blooming Hill.

Oh, don't feel sorry for her...I did give Chris the day off this past  Monday after the Farm Tour and let her browse a few shops, but, for whatever reason, it seemed as though she could hardly wait to be on her way back to Wisconsin, her own home and possibly some peace and quiet.  See you in the spring for that Farm Tour and Virginia Garden Week and The Leesburg Flower and Garden Show and.... and...Miss you already, Chris!