#thymefortea

[herbanwytch]

It’s thyme for tea and you’ve got to having something delicious to eat with that steaming cup of Earl Grey. Tea sandwiches don’t have to be complicated... these are actually really simple and took me about 5 minutes to put together with ingredients from my refrigerator and garden. I took bagged crostini and topped them with pieces of gruyere , a teaspoon of the fig compote I made earlier ( so simple, figs, balsamic vinegar, apples and honey cooked down) a slice of roasted chicken and I sprinkled them with savory , salt and thyme. They were just right. If I’d had burrata or cream cheese I would have used that... if I didn’t have the figs I could have used jam. If I hadn’t had smoked chicken, I could have used turkey or pork tenderloin or prosciutto. The goal is to simply have one tasty and satisfying bite, not too large except on flavor. What’s your favorite tea sandwich? #tea #teasandwiches #crostini #chicken #freshherbs #herbs #afternoontea #thymefortea #asanctuarycalledhome #farmcharm #cottagecore #schooloftheseasons #harvest #autumn #september #schooloftheseasons #kitchengarden #potagers #potager #earlgrey (at The Herban Inn) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTxl_MLp4Uf/?utm_medium=tumblr

[my-little-yellowbird]

Ok Birdy - you said you want a REAL storyline for the Turners. What would constitute a real storyline in your book? (Not being sassy, just curious)

A valid question. I should state first that by “real storyline” I was making no slight on stay-at-home-moms.  

Full disclosure, I happily left a career in education (one I loved!) to stay at home for 19 years with my kids. Clearly, I recognize that choice as a real story, and one that can be filled with the intense, daily-life sort of drama that Call the Midwife excels at producing. However, I don’t want that to be Shelagh’s arc in series 7.  Motherhood is just one facet of some women’s lives, and indeed full-time child raising is only for a fraction of our adulthood.  

If series 4 had featured a SAHM Shelagh, I would have embraced that arc. It seemed to follow, considering the mental and emotional energy at Shelagh put into having a child. And oh! It would have been a great chance to see those sweet little domestic Turnadette moments!  However, when they took the story in another direction (“making things better”), I embraced it.  A woman’s desire to have a child is not affected by her desire to have a career.  Yes, she struggled and wanted that baby so much (her little face when she said “What’s she like?” is overwhelming).  But why does that imply that she will be happy staying at home?  Motherhood is one of many facets of a woman.

Shelagh’s desire to work doesn’t seem like simply a feminist choice, it feels like her natural, very personal choice. She wants to “make a difference,” and she has the career and husband that enable her to make that choice. She chose the life as a Sister, a division of nuns dedicated to service rather than seclusion.  Sisters are truly working women, and that element of the order must have appealed to Shelagh from the start.  She doesn’t simply want to go to work, she must. It is her vocation.  

I did think, however, that the idea that Shelagh could run a clinic with a 6-12-month-old along for the ride was unrealistic and impractical.  You can only leave Angela in the pram, or in a playpen, or get someone else to hold her while she cries for so long. And a dirty nappy? “I���m sorry Mrs. McPreggo, can you wait until I’ve wiped my daughter’s wee little bum before I finish your chart?” It’s not just about proximity (sorry, Fred)– being with a baby is a full-time gig, so Mrs. Penney’s role worked for me. Clinic-parenting was not going to cut it. And a 3yo plus a baby? Shelagh would be lucky to pee without company, nevermind running a clinic or the Maternity Hospital.

Which takes me to the question @thymefortea asked.

Real stories? Post-partum could be interesting. The Pocket Soprano has shown us she’s got the chops for it. And of course, there will be some domestic fluff and angst created by three children. But for me, the fluff ship has sailed. My heart would enjoy those stories, but my head would be disappointed if we don’t see something that continues Shelagh’s growth as a modern woman.

Heidi Thomas said, way back in series 3, that Shelagh was sort of an everywoman for many of the changes women experienced in the Sixties. Let’s continue that line of thought. Why doesn’t she get any pushback from other women for working and leaving her children at home? That still happens today!!! Shelagh’s sharp as a tack–”the best midwife in Poplar”–let’s see some evidence. A story where Shelagh solves a medical dilemma, perhaps diagnoses a condition no one else sees?  Real conflict with Patrick, the ordinary, do-the-work-of-married-life kind of problems would be great to see, too.  I do think we have a tendency to canonize Shelagh (myself included). Let’s see a flaw other than “Bossy Shelagh” or “Hyper-Organized Shelagh.”

So while I would love to see more moments of Turners bathing Teddy, or a tearful, exhausted Shelagh, worn from the demands of child-rearing, I’m happy to leave that to us as fans to write, draw and discuss.  

Of course, this is my opinion.  Your mileage may vary, and all that.

So what is your mileage?

[missbergmans]

2.08 // 6.08 requested by @thymefortea :)

[ofhouseadama]

How did you choose the name "Eve Abigail" for baby T in your babyturnerland fic? (Also, will we get the last 2 chapters before baby's presumed arrival in the series finale? 😉)

Eve is for Sr Evangelina -- I figured since they already have an Angela they wouldn’t also have an Evangelina, too similar. So I was between Eve and Eva, and went with Eve. I chose Abigail half because of her place in the Bible, as one of the four women of “surpassing beauty” known for her unwavering faith, and half because the name itself means “my father’s joy.” 

[kienova66]

Since you're taking prompt requests (what a late Christmas gift to the fandom!)....how about some Granny Parker interaction? 1) Granny Parker meeting baby Angela for the first time and/or 2) How the drop-off of Angela and Tim at Granny Parker's went down before Shelagh and Patrick left for S Africa

I went with option one, hope that’s okay! and thank you!

—–

“Patrick, are you sure this is such a good idea?” Shelaghqueried, bouncing a sleepy Angela in her arms as she followed her husband intothe bedroom, watching how he was rummaging about in the wardrobe. He gave her aconfused look, cocking his head to the side as he liberated the tie he washunting for.

“What isn’t a good idea my love?” he asked, leaning againstthe vanity as he slipped the silk beneath his collar.

“Granny Parker coming round,” Shelagh replied, biting herlip. She had been going over all the possibilities surrounding this firstencounter for days now, ever since Timothy had phoned his grandmother to tellher he had a new baby sister. No matter how much she prayed about it, orattempted to be positive, every scenario in her head always ended up with theolder woman hating her.  Patrick raisedan eyebrow, confused at her worry.

“Why wouldn’t it be? Tim hasn’t seen her in a while and she’sexcited to meet the baby,” he said, tucking the tie down beneath the edge of hiswaistcoat. Shelagh sighed, carefully slipping the infant to one arm so that shecould push the few strands of her hair that had escaped the pins away from herface.

“The poor woman already probably thinks I’ve gone andreplaced her daughter to you and Timothy and now for me to bring a baby –” thewords rushed out of her, causing Patrick’s expression to quickly fill withconcern.

“Shelagh, I’m sure she doesn’t think anything of the sort,”he rushed, crossing the room to grab her chin, bringing her gaze up to hisface. Shelagh had only met Granny Parker twice before, the first time whileTimothy was ill with polio, and the second when she came round to collectTimothy before she and Patrick had ventured off on their short honeymoon.  “Margaret knows that you’re not me replacinganyone.” Shelagh let out a longsuffering sigh, eyes dropping to the floor themoment he released his hold on her, a knock sounding at the door downstairsquickly followed by Timothy’s exclamation of ‘Granny!’

“Let’s hope you’re right,” she mumbled, taking a deep breathbefore following Patrick out of the bedroom and down the stairs, her palmssweating against the blanket Angela was swaddled in, the child sleepingcontentedly. Margaret stood in the front hallway, smiling as Timothy went onabout something he had read recently while he took her coat, trying to usherher into the room while standing in her way.

“Tim,” Patrick admonished, smiling softly when the boyblushed, apologising bashfully before ducking down the hall to put hisgrandmother’s coat away. “Hello Margaret,” he added, crossing the floor to giveher a hug. The older woman patted him gently on the back, pulling away after afew seconds to peer around him, her dark eyes settling on Shelagh.

“Patrick, do forgive me but I’ve not come here to see you,”Margaret said, a hand on his arm, voice conveying little emotion. “I have comehere to meet this precious little one.” The neutral expression she had beenwearing the entire time melted almost instantly as she moved around Patrick andtowards Shelagh, stopping in front of the slight woman when she was finallyable to set her eyes on the baby.

“Hello Mrs. Parker,” Shelagh said meekly.

“Now dear, I’ve told you before to call me Margaret,” thewoman smiled, reaching out a weathered hand to trace a finger along Angela’scheek. “Oh Shelagh, she’s absolutely gorgeous. I never thought I would get tohave a granddaughter, but now I do.” Shelagh bit her lip, unable to stop thetears that were welling up behind her eyes. Margaret glanced up to see theyoung woman crying and instantly pulled her into a hug, careful of the infantbetween them. For their part, Patrick and Timothy stood at the other end of theparlour, looking uncomfortable at the strange exchange before them, unsure whatwas happening.

“Her name is Angela,” Shelagh choked out, allowing the olderwoman to gently take the baby from her as she grasped for a handkerchief from herpinafore.

“It suits her, the little angel,” Margaret beamed, watchingas Angela’s eyes fluttered open, slowly fixing on the woman’s face, taking inthe grey hair and lines that mapped her features. “Now, come, tell me all abouther. Maybe Patrick can fix us some tea, yes? Or maybe he and Timothy can justrun down to collect us some fish and chips while you tell me all about mygranddaughter.” Shelagh nodded, easily following her to the sofa while Patrickcollected his coat and wallet, heading out to find their supper with Timothy.He glanced back before ducking out the door, tossing Shelagh a wink over hisshoulder. He knew she had nothing to be worried about.

[miss-ute]

for @thymefortea​

[h4t08]

Tag 9 people you wish to get to know better

Tagged by @levinson-mannion 💕

Three Ships (I’m assuming this is currently):

1. Turnadette

2. Janeway and Chakotay

3. Sam and Jack (SG-1)

First ever ship:

Goodness, me… I honestly don’t remember. One that I was really gung-ho about when I was young was Mary Poppins/Bert and Han Solo/ Leia.

Last Song:

Jesus of Suburbia by Green Day. I know the lyrics of every song on that album.

Last film:

Yikes! Uhhh… The Bourne Trilogy with the hubs.

Currently Reading:

Fanfiction at home. Boring stuff for my job.

Currently watching:

I was watching a nail art video. 💅🏼

Currently consuming:

Food wise: pizza

Fan wise: Kendrick Lamar (that Super Bowl halftime show, tho 😍)

Currently craving:

Chocolate. Always chocolate.

Tagging: @aimee-jessica @weshallc @thymefortea @soph1988 @thatginchygal @wildlygroovybeliever @miss-ute @shelagh @gabolange

[wild-sage-growing]

@thymefortea replied to your post “ok so I kind of want to go back to knitlark but I’m also a bit too...”

YOURE KNITLARK???? I remember you from back in the day!

hahaha, yes, though I changed my url about a year and a half ago...possibly closer to two? And now I’m beginning to realize I wasn’t as thorough about advertising it as I thought I was. 

Before that, I was quelquunmadit!

[ilovemushystuff]

for @thymefortea 

With Patrick and Shelagh more busy than ever in series 8(see interview Heidi Thomas Media Pack) we have to wait and see.

also for @tangledupinmist and @weshallc and other nonnatuns.

[turnt4turnadette]

10 Facts!!

I was tagged by @tangledupinmist, @fourteen-teacups and @nurseturner , thanks for tagging me!! 

I am 20 years old 

I am in my second semester (out of five) in nursing school 

I am a multiple OTP person, and my other OTP’s (you all already know about Turnadette) are Bellward (Bella and Edward, The Twilight Saga), Fourtris (Tris and Tobias, The Divergent Series) and Merder (Meredith and Derek, Grey’s Anatomy) 

I have another blog which is my main blog @jesusthegreatest, (when I like things it shows up as jesusthegreatest, so just know that it is me)

I was a majorette in high school 

I love going to beach, especially on cruises to the Caribbean

I try to walk on the treadmill every day

It is hard for me to go a day without watching an episode of Call the Midwife 

I can play the flute 

I love cake about as much as Sister Monica Joan does 

I tag @ohpatreek , @thymefortea , @miss-ute , @beatrix-franklin @lunalove-blr, @doctor-shelagh , @clonethemidwife, @bbcshipper, @lovetheturners, @whateversstuffsworld, @alice1nwond3rland, @mg-bsl381, and anyone else who wants to do this!! 

[mg-bsl381]

The Staircase Question

I was going to wait until after the new year to raise this conundrum but posts by @thymefortea & @like-an-officer-and-a-sergeant have already brought this to the fore.  

1) The Turners new home (aka Mushy Mansion) - please note the little windows by the front door.

2) Shelagh greets Sister Julienne in the hallway - see again the little windows but from inside the house.

3) The beginning of the staircase - see the white painted wood finish

4)  The top of the staircase (with a pacing Patrick), again the white painted wood with the multiple lights hanging above it.

All straightforward so far,  no because in CS-17 we saw this -

5)  Another staircase in an open tread wood style!

As the “new” staircase is not in the hallway, I can only assume that the house has a second set of stairs, maybe leading to a guest room suitable for an au pair or a teenager lair away from tiny screaming and messy siblings. (My grandparents house had two staircases but it was built in Victorian times when servants were common)

This appears to be in the back of the house with a kitchen/family room and a downstairs cloakroom (through the door behind Patrick).  

I think that there is the hallway with the main staircase and some other rooms we haven’t seen yet and then this multi-purpose room at the back of the house. It is unlikely a house this size has only one living room, even though it is massive.

Here endeth my thoughts on the staircase question.  I am hoping we get to see more of the house in series 7 and it makes vague sense (unlike the old flat!)

[herbanwytch]

Yep. I fell for it. Whole Foods Pumpkin Spiced whipped cream. Absolutely delicious topping my before bed cinnamon spiced tea. I may be turning into my dad... that’s not such a bad thing. #whippedcream #thymefortea #tea #teatime #wholefoods #cinnamon @herbflowerlady this ones for you😘 (at Cleveland Heights, Ohio) https://www.instagram.com/p/B5RYAnGpr7r/?igshid=phev9hrt63qc

[my-little-yellowbird]

Alright, Birdy, admit it- you loved every minute of Babyturnerland in the episode, didn't you?

I made a post on Friday that seems to have disappeared. In it I said that I had come to the realization that TPTB wrote this series as if it was the last one. Once I realized that, it was easier to accept that this fanfic-like series was really a thank you note to fans. Which is kind of amazing. (No one should bother arguing the point. I am convinced)

And let’s face it, this episode really had a “last ep ever” kind of feel to it.

So now that we have this loveliness (which i felt free to squee at and even needed the support of a co-watch buddy fort the first time), I’m hoping the next three series will return to the pacing and direction of the earlier series, and fewer miracle pregnacies.

[missbergmans]

2.08 // 6.08 requested by @thymefortea

[ofhouseadama]

thymefortea replied to your post: i have so many ideas for the turner sisters late...

Ok well you have to *deliver* baby Turner first before you get cracking on future sister fixes ;)

I have never in my life followed any rules 

[snoopctm]

CtM Thursday Thoughts

Speculation Burn-Out (Probably Temporary)

I had originally posted comments on the post that @thymefortea  started that @the-old-bird-rockbird and others have commented on, but I deleted it because I decided that was the wrong place to put that comment. I just noticed something about myself lately and my attitude toward anticipating plots on the show that I wanted to share, and since I hadn’t posted  my Thursday Thoughts yet, I decided this would be a better way to share those thoughts than adding them to someone else’s only partially related discussion. More thoughts follow:

As I indicated in today’s 30 Days post, and mentioned before various times, I *really* did not want the Shelagh pregnancy story to happen. I spent a lot of mental energy last year getting overly concerned about the possibility of this plot when I started seeing clues. Yes, I said I would keep an open mind, but I was having trouble doing that when I saw how many other fans really *did* want that story to happen and kept acting like it would be such a great thing when I didn’t think it sounded great at all. But then, something else happened–Shelagh did get pregnant, and I ended up not just liking but LOVING the story! I know some others didn’t like that plot, but I did, more than I ever thought I would, and it also made me feel kind of silly for fretting before about not wanting something to happen that I ended up accepting and welcoming. 

So, at this point, while I’m sure I will still keep speculating about the show (it’s the way my brain works and I can’t really help that), I’ve decided I’m going to try my best to “wait and see” where series 7 is concerned, at least in terms of posting detailed essays about my wishes and guesses for what’s going to happen, at least for the near future. There might be a general “wish list” before the series airs, but I personally am going to try not to get too concerned about the future plots because I know that even when something doesn’t look like a good idea, it can turn out to be better than I thought.  Yes, the reverse is also true but I’m going to try not to worry about that either. 

There was a good side to my speculations before, though, and that was that, by the time I did find out for sure that it was going to happen (via the episode summary spoilers), I was at least somewhat resigned to it and ready to start thinking about how it could be a good thing. Still, I feel like I wasted a little too much energy getting concerned about a plot on a fictional show, although as a natural-born speculator I’m sure I will keep trying to guess what’s going to happen. For now, though, I’m going to be more in the “wait and see” mode, at least as much as I can be. 

I hope that made sense. This is not to speak to anyone else’s speculations and/or wish-lists for the show. I’m sure I will have a wish list soon enough as well, but ultimately, my biggest wish is for the show to continue to turn out the great stories that it has been already done, and I’m sure it will continue to do next series and beyond. 

Editing to add–this doesn’t mean I’m stopping anything in terms of my Tuesday and Thursday posts, contributing to discussions, etc. It’s just that for immediate future I’m planning to focus a lot more on what has actually happened on the show rather than what I think may happen in the future. I’m sure the speculations will return on my part when we get near the end of the hiatus, but even then I might be a little more general with my ideas. We’ll have to see what happens then.