THE THREE LITTLE LIBRARIANS CELEBRATE ANNIE

Book One of Celebration Stories featuring
THE THREE LITTLE LIBRARIANS
Copyright October 2015

[part 4]

If you, the reader, had been at the tea party that night, your bulletin would have looked like this:

The Nineteenth Annual 
Annie Armstrong Tea Party

   

Menu: Miniature Sandwiches, Crudités,

Baklava with Strawberries and Grapes,

Peach Tea, Ginger Ale

WMU Watchword 2011-2012:  “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  (Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV) 

Lydia of Thyatira was the first recorded convert to Christianity in Europe.  Thyatira was approximately 40 miles inland, across the Aegean Sea from Athens: “A certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, one who worshiped God, heard us; whose heart the Lord opened to listen to the things which were spoken by Paul. When she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, ‘If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and stay.’ So she persuaded us.”  (Acts 16:14-15 World English Bible)

The Annie Armstrong Easter Offering:  Annie Walker Armstrong (1850-1938) was born in Baltimore, Maryland.  After giving her heart to Christ, she became interested in mission work among African Americans, Native Americans, Chinese American immigrants, and women stricken by poverty.  In 1888, Armstrong led the creation of the Woman's Missionary Union, helping draft its constitution and serving as its first correspondent secretary (a position that functioned as executive director).  In her role as the head of the organization, Annie Armstrong facilitated communication between denominational leaders, local congregations, and missionaries on the field. She was an extensive letter writer, hand writing 18,000 letters in one year alone.  During her tenure as head of the WMU, Annie Armstrong refused a salary and traveled at her own expense on behalf of the WMU.  (Wikipedia)

Making a Tussie Mussie:  The tussie mussie (also tussy mussy) was a popular way to preserve flowers during the time of Annie Armstrong.  Annie both wore and carried tussie mussies during special events, as did other ladies of her day.  The tussie mussie is made of flowers that symbolize different messages (love, devotion, purity, etc.) and is designed to celebrate both the colors and the fragrances of the flowers chosen.

Song:  “Lavenders Blue” [also, in France, “Les Lavandes Bleus,” (LAY LAH-VAND BLUE)]

(verse 1)  “Lavenders Blue, dilly, dilly, lavenders green.

When I am Queen, dilly, dilly, you shall be king.

Who told you so, dilly, dilly, who told you so?

I told you so, dilly, dilly, I told you so.”

(chorus)  “In a pretty little church, on a soft and breezy day,

I’ll be wed in a dilly, dilly dress of … “  (repeat verse 1).

A very, very special thanks goes to Ellen of Beagle Ridge Herb Farm in Wytheville, Virginia for a rush order of dried lavenders, Lavande de Provence, the most essential ingredient of tonight’s tussie mussies.  We hope to one day visit her herb growing emporium, gardening education site, and Butterfly House.  Read more about it all at www.beagleridgeherbfarm.com.   

See also:  “Tussie Mussie Weddings” by Leanne Kesler (4 minutes) from the Flower Design Institute at http://www.floraldesigninstitute.com/Media/Movie0184-Trailer-Tussie/Trailer-Tussie.htm.  A tussie mussie or poesy bouquet is assembled during the movie KATE AND LEOPOLD (2001) with Meg Ryan and Hugh Jackman, and a small tussie mussie in a metal clip is worn by the character Clara in BACK TO THE FUTURE III (1990) with Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, and Mary Steenburgen.

(THE THREE LITTLE LIBRARIANS CELEBRATE ANNIE is a fictional book based on true events and real characters.)