A Family Tea Affair

This is my latest article published in Grandma Rae's online newsletter for tea enthusiasts called The Cracked Teapot.

A FAMILY TEA AFFAIR

How an impromptu tea party at a dining room table evolved into

an annual full 3-course afternoon tea for almost 50 guests

Little did I know four years ago when I took my cousin in Texas a teacup and a box of one of my favorite teas that it would be the beginning of a lovely family tradition.  My cousin suggested that we invite a few of our female relatives that lived nearby for a “little tea party” to be held a couple of days later.  Because I had recently hosted a tea party back home for a dozen of my Red Hat friends, I had wonderful recipes for Pecan White Chocolate Scones and for Mock Devonshire Cream.

As we were going to have an afternoon tea anyway, we decided to include other nearby sisters, cousins, and nieces, and soon we had a dozen on our guest list.  We set the date and time and started calling everyone, suggesting that they might like to dress up a bit and wear a pretty hat.  We started making a list of everything we would need to buy for the tea party and began pulling out teacups, saucers, dessert plates, teapots, and table linens. The next day we shopped for the supplies, ironed the tablecloths and napkins, washed all the china and teapots, and baked the scones.

My 87 year old cousin wearing hat. She is now 90

On the day of the tea party, we set my cousin’s large dining room table, made the Mock Devonshire Cream, prepared the teapots, and awaited the arrival of our guests. In addition to the Scripture Blackberry Tea from Cracker Barrel that I had given my cousin, I had taken with me to Texas two other teas that I had served at the Red Hat tea party, Tisano Cacao Tea and American Classic (the only tea grown in the United States).  Our guests enjoyed trying the three different teas with their scones, Devonshire Cream, and lemon curd, and for most of them it was their first afternoon tea experience.

There were eleven of us around the table that day for our 1st Annual Moore Ladies Afternoon Tea.  Everyone had so much fun that it was unanimous that we should get together for another tea party again the following year, and that is exactly what we did.

For our 2^nd Annual Moore Ladies Afternoon Tea, invitations were sent out via email and snail mail to every single female in our family, and we held the tea in the fellowship room of my cousin’s church.  Fortunately, the church had plates and tableware that we could use, but they had no teacups. The solution was to ask everyone to participate in a teacup exchange by buying a thrift shop teacup and saucer for $10.00 or less.  The idea was that each guest would use the teacup that she brought and later rinse it out to take part in the teacup exchange.

On the day before the event, my cousin and I went to the church and arranged the banquet tables in an open square configuration, laid out tablecloths and flatware, and even set out some centerpieces of silk flowers.  This was to be a full three-course afternoon tea:  scones with Mock Devonshire Cream and lemon curd, three different finger sandwiches, and three kinds of bite-size sweets. I had pre-printed our menus on fancy paper (with a short list of tea time etiquette guidelines on the back) for each place setting. My cousin and I spent hours and hours in planning, shopping, baking, and preparing sandwich fillings and sweets, as well as setting up tables and chairs in the days preceding the event, but all of these efforts paid off because our 2^nd Annual Moore Ladies Afternoon Tea was a resounding success.

Sitting around the table

There were thirty-two guests present that day, with ages ranging from six to eighty-six.  Needless to say, it would have been impossible for my cousin and me to serve all thirty-two guests.  On the morning of the event, two volunteers helped us assemble the various sandwiches at the church and then wrap and store them in the refrigerator there. During the tea, we had a couple of volunteers in the kitchen helping to fill trays with food for each course, prepare pots and pots of tea, and help serve. It was really a fun day, and many of the ladies asked for recipes and offered to help with next year’s tea. My cousin wrote an article about our family tea party for the local paper and submitted pictures, which were indeed published the following week.

Because the guest list for our tea was expected to grow even larger for our 3^rd Annual Moore Ladies Afternoon Tea, it was decided to change the venue again, this time to the local hall where our family reunion is held on the day following the tea.  And because it was becoming humanly impossible for just two people to do all the work involved in putting on the event, I had to come up with a way to involve more people in the food preparation, set up, and serving.  Fortunately, I came across an article in the local antique advertiser about having “table hostesses.”

Here’s how it worked:  I asked six ladies to serve as “Table Hostesses” for the tea.  After I explained what all was involved, I followed up with an email to them with a detailed list of what they needed to do.  The first step was to decide on a theme and then to develop a tablescape around that theme.  Each table hostess would provide a cloth tablecloth, cloth napkins, teacup and saucer, dessert or salad plate, flatware, and a centerpiece that went along with her theme. Then, on the day of the tea, each table hostess would act as a server, pouring tea and delivering trays of food to her table for each of the three courses.  She would come to the kitchen, pick up the teapots or trays of food for each course, serve her table, and return the empty teapots and trays to the kitchen at the end of each course.

On the day of the tea, I was really impressed with the variety of delightful tablescapes created by the table hostesses. “Vintage Spring” featured china that had belonged to the table hostess’s husband’s grandmother, a green linen tablecloth and pink and yellow linen napkins, two huge bouquets of fresh flowers, party favors, and pink gauzy bows tied to the backs of the chairs. The striking red-white-and-blue Texas Bluebonnets table was adorned with a red tablecloth, white napkins, Texas-flag dishes, a table runner of blue with white stars, and a huge Texas boot vase containing silk bluebonnets and other wildflowers of Texas. Next was a lovely “Sunflowers and Roosters” table highlighting the table hostess’s collection of ceramic rooster pieces with touches of delicate ivy and big, bold sunflowers, white dishes, a green tablecloth under lace, and crisp orange and yellow napkins folded into an upright position. 

Across the room was a simple but elegant table that represented “Texas Summer,” featuring a pale blue tablecloth, white napkins, white dishes, and a centerpiece of white flowers and seashells. The color scheme of “Cowgirl Click” was established by the red napkins and western print tablecloth laid on top of a larger turquoise one, and featured two ceramic cowboy boots at one end of the table, a turquoise graniteware coffeepot and red flowers as a centerpiece, and red canopied chuck wagon at the other end, clear glass dishes, and goodie-filled Mason jars for each lady that sat at that table. Finally, there was “A Lovely Irish Table,” representing our Irish roots and featuring a white lace tablecloth over a green tablecloth, a large centerpiece of ivy and Irish knick-knacks, green-and-white Irish china, and soft yellow napkins.

Another part of delegating the work that my cousin and I had done ourselves for the first two teas was the food preparation.  Although I again baked the scones and made the Mock Devonshire Cream and the Homemade Orange Curd, I called on six volunteers to prepare three sandwich fillings and three different sweets.  Once I had decided on the menu, I saved these recipes in .pdf format and then emailed them to the ladies who had agreed to prepare each of the sandwich fillings and sweets. My cousin and I purchased the bread and butter and prepared the various shaped finger sandwiches on the morning of the tea, with the aid of three volunteers.

Names of our Grandparents' offspring incorporated in menu

 We didn’t do the teacup exchange for the 3^rd Annual Moore Ladies Afternoon Tea because I wanted to come back to it the following year with better organization, but I did again print the menu for the three courses on pretty floral paper. One improvement for this tea was the addition of soft background music which helped create the ambiance that such an event deserves.  I had saved five hours of light classical music, primarily piano and violin, on my iPod and then played this during the tea using the sound system at the hall.  Also, there were a few small tea-related gifts that I shared with the guests as door prizes.  Every one of the 48 guests agreed that this was our best afternoon tea yet, and several guests signed up to help next year.

In 2014, we will have our 4^th Annual Moore Ladies Afternoon Tea, which will move again, this year to a lovely gathering room in a larger church. The tables for six are round (rather than rectangular), and the room itself is more elegant than the hall where last year’s tea was held.  The kitchen is much larger, and there’s a wonderful sound system available to us.  Save-the-date emails will be sent out very soon, and then I’ll be planning the menu, selecting the teas to serve, calling on ladies to be table hostesses and to prepare the food, and emailing recipes.  Then the official invitations will go out as the time for our tea draws near.  Before we know it, we’ll be donning our pretty hats and gathering together again to share in this lovely annual family affair.

English Charm with Southern Hospitality at Inspirations Tea Room in Edmond, OK

Following is my review of the Inspirations Tea Room in Edmond, Oklahoma, which appeared in the September 2013 issue of Grandma Rae's Cracked Teacup Gazette, a quarterly online newsletter for tea lovers.....

 

 

If you happen to find yourself traveling down I-35 north of Oklahoma City, take the Edmond exit and treat yourself to a lovely lunch or afternoon tea at Inspirations Tea Room, which truly lives up to its claim of  “English charm with Southern hospitality.” 
                                                                       
                                                          
                                                              

                                              

                          (Photo courtesy of Inspirations Tea Room)                        

                                                
In early June, my friend Mary Lou and I were on our way from Central Wisconsin to Blooming Grove, Texas, to host my family’s 3^rd Annual Moore Ladies Afternoon Tea. We had heard about the Teaoli Inspirations Tea Room from one of my cousins who lives in Oklahoma City, so Mary Lou and I decided to take the short detour off the interstate to have lunch in Edmond.

The elegant décor in the Inspiration Tea Room features massive gold framed mirrors, deep bold colors, and rich fabrics, with black and white as the primary color scheme at each of the small tables.   Crisp tablecloths and napkins as well as fresh flowers on each table complete the lovely setting.

 

                                                                                  

                                                       (Photo courtesy of Inspirations Tea Room)

 

We discovered that each of the entrees on the extensive lunch menu offers fresh ingredients, large portions, and a scone baked fresh each day served with homemade lemon curd.  Just a few of the delicious sounding lunch items include Chicken Salad on Mixed Greens or Fresh Croissant, Veggie Quesa-tea-a, Lemon Blackberry Salad, Orange Turkey Club, and Queen’s Quiche. The prices are quite reasonable, with lunch items priced from $10 to $14 and bottomless pots of the tea of your choice for $2.95 per person.  To download a copy of the menu, go to:   http://inspirationstearoom.com/?page_id=1112

 

Both Mary Lou and I and I decided on the Walnut Apple Berry Salad, and next it was time for us to select our teas from over 100 varieties, including Inspiration’s own special blends as well as Harney, Adagio, and Tea Forte.  It was tempting to try Blue Sapphire, French Caramel Crème Brulee, Loves Kiss, or Lemon Souffle.  However, after being on the road for a day and a half, we were both in need of chocolate therapy, so we ordered a blend of chocolate and hazelnut tea called Florence. These turned out to be most excellent choices!

 

                                                                                    

 

 

                                            (Thanks to our server for taking our picture after lunch.)

 

It’s a good thing that we had called ahead and made a reservation because the tea room was very busy that Friday.  In fact, the parking lot was full, and we had to park at a little strip mall next door. The service was understandably slow, but the wait staff was friendly, courteous, and congenial. The lunch experience was just the respite from the road we needed that day. The food was superb (and the salad was indeed a generous portion!), the tea was yummy, and we were pleasantly surprised that a Bible scripture on a small strip of paper accompanied our check.   

 

Before hitting the road again, we spent half an hour or so wandering through the Gift Store, where we found all manner of tea cups, teapots, tea-themed décor and gift items, and of course, all of the varieties of fine teas offered in the tea room.  In addition, a full line off Teaoli Extra Virgin Olive Oils and Balsamic Vinegars is available.

 

Because Inspirations is a very popular spot with the locals for bridal showers, mother-daughter teas, and other special occasions, reservations are strongly recommended, particularly on Fridays and Saturdays.

 

With a 24-hour advance reservation, you can enjoy “The Ultimate Tea Party Experience” for $19.95 per person.  A three-tiered tray features savories and sandwiches on the first tier, fresh fruit, scones, and lemon curd on the second tier, and delectable desserts on the third tier. These are served with soup or salad and your choice of tea.

                                                               

                                                       (Photo courtesy of Inspirations Tea Room)

 

Inspirations Tea Room and Store is located at 2118 West Edmond Road in Edmond, OK. The Gift Store hours are 10 AM – 4 PM on Mondays through Fridys and 10 AM – 5 PM on Saturdays.  Inspirations Tea Room seating is 11 AM – 3 PM on Mondays through Fridays and 11AM – 4 PM on Saturdays.

 

Adjoining Inspirations Tea Room and Gift Store is a lovely bed and breakfast called Two Hearts Inn, featuring five luxurious suites. There are also two other Teaoli Stores:  a second store in Edmond, OK at Spring Creek Village on East 15^th Street, and a third one at Brookhaven Village on West Robinson in Norman, OK.

 

For more information, you can visit www.inspirationstearoom.com or their Inspirations Tea Room Facebook page, or better yet, call and make a reservation at (405) 715-2525 and treat yourself and a girlfriend to lunch or afternoon tea at Inspirations the next time you’re in the Oklahoma City area.  As their menu states, “Tea time is the coming together to enjoy sweet fellowship face to face and heart to heart.”

 

 

 

Afternoon Tea at Fort Worth's Ashton Hotel - Elegant and Sumptuous

Following is my review of afternoon tea at the Ashton Hotel in Fort Worth, Texas, which appeared in the March 2012 issue of Grandma Rae's Cracked Teapot Gazette, a quarterly online newsletter for tea lovers.....

 

 

On the first Thursday in October 2011, my friend Kay and I experienced Chef Ismael’s sumptuous 3-course gourmet afternoon tea at the Ashton Hotel, an elegant boutique hotel in downtown Fort Worth that has been fully renovated from two buildings that are listed on the National Register of Historical Places.    A lovely tea service is offered Thursday through Saturday, from 2:00 till 4:00 PM.  Reservations must be made at least 24 hours in advance, and the cost is $29.00 per person.  A “Teddy Bear Tea” with a special menu for children is available for $16.00 per person, and for many fans of afternoon tea, the Holiday Tea in December is an annual tradition.  Free valet parking is provided.                                                                               

                                                                                     

The setting for the afternoon tea is the Ashton’s intimate dining room, the Six Ten Grille, where the modern Euro-style decor is both elegant and comfortable.   When Kay and I were seated at a table by the big picture window overlooking the hustle and bustle of downtown Fort Worth, our waiter brought us warmed lavender-scented towels and presented us with a menu of an assorted selection of teas from which to choose.  Kay decided on Passion Fruit with Flowers, and I chose Vanilla with Pieces.  Next, our waiter brought us each a complimentary flute of champagne and a small cup of Sweet Potato Soup, followed by Garden Vegetable Crudites,  with a goat Cheese & Lemon Dip, and Florentine Stuffed Mushroom.  We delighted in our pots of tea and continued to feast.  Assorted tea sandwiches came next; all were delicious, but our favorites were the Curried Chicken Salad on Sourdough and the Pear & Blue Cheese on Foccacia.  Fresh-from-the-oven  Apricot Scones were served with Devonshire Cream, Lemon Curd, and Lingonberry Preserves.  And, finally, we were treated to decadent Mini Chocolate Tarts and Mini Fruit Tartlets.

 

                                                                                

Kay and I found the tea fare to be delightful and the service to be excellent!  The Ashton is located at 610 Main Street, and you can make reservations for afternoon tea by calling 817-332-0100.

                                                                                 

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WATCH FOR FUTURE TEA ROOM REVIEWS!

 

 

                                                                

  

 

 

                                                                                            

 

                                                                                       

 

Retrospective: 4 Unforgettable Events in My 2012

By all counts, 2012 has been what I'd call another "banner year." (The last occurrence of such an outstanding period in my life was 1981, the year in which Jim completed his doctorate degree, we bought our dream vacation home on Lake Sherwood, and I got pregnant three weeks after we signed the mortgage on that lake house.)

So, here you go. Here's my list of unforgettable highlights of the year 2012:

1) Techie Stuff

The year started off with two not-so-good happenings. In January, my desktop computer died, and then I slipped on the icy sidewalk just outside our back door and both broke and dislocated the little finger of my left hand. After much online research, and with guidance from my son, I purchased a laptop. You're probably wondering where all of this is going. Well, being the glass-half-full-person that I am, I considered myself lucky to have that laptop to keep me occupied during the recovery time following surgery to repair my finger. I had a reaction to my pain medication which left me "wired" and unable to sleep for a couple of days. Holed up in the master bedroom with pillows supporting my stitched together ice-packed finger, I must have watched ten or fifteen Netflix movies one after the other on my laptop during that first forty-eight hour period at home.

Then, in August after I was paid several hundred dollars for a friend's house cleaning and staging-for-sale, I used most of the money to buy myself an iPad. I really love playing with it and find myself learning more and more about it every day. Now I consider one of my "things" I couldn't live without, right up there with a microwave oven and Post-It Notes!

2) 2nd Annual Moore Ladies Afternoon Tea

Little did I know when I started developing an interest in teacups, teapots, and afternoon tea that I'd be responsible for starting a new tradition among my Moore relatives in Texas! Last year, when I went to visit my cousin Mary Joyce in Blooming Grove, I took her a box of one of my favorite teas, Celestial Seasonings Moroccan Pomegranate. She suggested that we invite her sister-in-law from down the street and two of her daughters who live nearby to share the tea. Then, we decided to have an impromptu tea party. We invited ten of our female relatives that lived nearby and served three kinds tea and homemade scones. Some of us even dressed up and donned hats. I posted pictures on Facebook and called the event "The First Annual Moore Ladies Afternoon Tea." That little gathering was such a success that we decided to have another tea this year, but this time we'd invite every single one of our female Moore relatives.

For the 2nd Annual Moore Ladies Afternoon Tea, thirty-two of us gathered in the Fellowship Room of the Blooming Grove Church of Christ, all decked out in our fancy clothes and frilly hats. We had a full three-course afternoon tea, featuring homemade scones. finger sandwiches, and sweets, along with three kinds of tea. Each of us had brought an inexpensive but pretty teacup for a teacup exchange. Many pictures were taken that day, and a few days later the Corsicana Daily Sun published a nice article about the event.

                                                                      
I already have some ideas about how to make our 3rd Annual Moore Ladies Afternoon Tea even better!

3) Across the Pond Again

My travel buddy Gayle and I traveled to Italy in October on a 12-day tour with a group from Boston. The good part was that we got to visit all the wonderful places in Italy that we've read about and heard about in movies. The bad part was that because we covered so much of the country in ten days, we had early wake-up calls every day and spent a lot of time on the bus. More than once we heard the tour director say, "No stopping, no shopping!"

Nevertheless, we will never forget our first glimpse of Michelangelo's David in Florence or our gondola ride in Venice. Visiting medieval towns like Assissi and Siena and the lunch and wine-tasting at the vineyard in the breath-taking countryside of Tuscany!

                                                                               
Seeing Ancient Rome and throwing a coin into the Trevi Fountain! Visiting Vatican City and craning our necks to marvel at the Sistine Chapel! Walking among the ruins of Pompeii and spending the day on the Isle of Capri and driving along the Amalfi Coast! These are memories to last a lifetime.

4) The Best for Last

When Josh told us at the Thanksgiving table that he had asked Stephanie to marry him, we realized that 2012 would be forever thought of as one of those "banner years." You see, we fell in love with Stephi the first time we met her last year at Thanksgiving. She is a delightfully sweet, charmimgly poised, very intelligent, and extremely pretty young lady who has the same old-fashioned values as our son. In other words, we could not be more pleased to have Stephi as our future daughter-in-law!

Then came Christmas Eve when Stephi opened the final gift from Josh. . .a big box containing a smaller box, containing a smaller box, containing a smaller box, etc. And then, there it was. . .the diamond solitaire engagement ring! Pictures with Diana's "flat camera" and pictures with Stephi's, and more pictures.

                                                                        
It was a couple of days later before Stephi could Skype with her family in Germany. Then came the Facebook announcement with pictures of the ring and the "I said yes!" sign and my email blast. What fun!

2013 promises to bring more joy and fun times. . . first the civil ceremony in Lawrence KS in January and then the church wedding in Germany in July! I can hardly wait!!!

WEDDING BELLS

Wedding bells will ring this week-end when my 88-year-old cousin Mary Joyce Johnson is joined in matrimony with her 90-year-old sweetheart Elwood Ferrell.  The double-ring wedding ceremony will take place at the Blooming Grove Church of Christ at 5:00 PM Sunday, with a reception immediately following in the Fellowship Room of the church..

When Mary Joyce called me a few minutes ago to tell me the good news, the happiness in her voice made her sound more like an 18-year-old than an 88-year-old.  The invitations and wedding announcements are being sent by word of mouth rather than by the traditional engraved or printed form...because, you see, the decision to go forward with the marriage was just made earlier this week.

Mary Joyce told me that when they went to the county court house today to get the marriage license, they created quite a storm.  Imagine...a 90-year-old and an 88-year-old applying for a license to get married! Several people took pictures of the happy couple, and Mary Joyce promised she'd send me a picture of Elwood signing the marriage license application.

Refreshments at the wedding reception will be provided by the members of Mary Joyce's Young at Heart Club.

Young at heart.  We hear that expression used frequently, but in this case, it is a reality. Mary Joyce and Elwood only recently rekindled their pre-World War II relationship.  (See my earlier post dated October 23, 2012, for the first half of this story.)  If they had listened to some of their children or some of the care-givers at Elwood's retirement home, they would have resigned themselves to behaving like other "old people."  But Mary Joyce and Elwood are not like other "old people."  They figure that they deserve to spend whatever time they have left on this good earth together.  I say, good for them!

My only regret is that I won't be able to attend the wedding.

                                                                                                 
                                                     

My Own Gratitude Log Blog

                                                                           
Less than a week from now we will be celebrating Thanksgiving, and I've noticed that many of my Facebook friends have been posting daily comments about aspects of their lives for which they are thankful. Not wanting to go entirely public with my own gratitude log, I've decided to post my thoughts here.  Please note that my list is not in any particular order of importance, but rather an off-the top-of- my-head stream of consciousness (that's redundant, I know).  Also, I may add to my list from time to time.

I am thankful for. . .

. . . my amazing husband of almost fifty years (my soul-mate through thick and thin, good times and bad).

. . . my truly remarkable thirty-year-old son (our gift from God when we least expected it).

. . . my overall excellent health at age sixty-nine (no medical problems and no daily prescriptions).

. . . being born in a free and prosperous country.

. . . growing up in a home in which I knew beyond a doubt that I was loved.

. . . having the opportunity to pursue a college education.

. . . being able to become a teacher and enjoying that profession for over twenty years.

. . . my glass-half-full attitude about life.

. . . my kind and gentle father.

. . . my loving and supporting mother.

. . . growing up in the 50s, when life was simpler and the music was a lot better than it is today.

. . . having re-connected with the Moores, my mother's side of the family.

. . . having a younger brother that I'm close to.

. . . friends that have come and gone over the years, but mostly for the ones that I enjoy today.

. . . locating and re-connecting with my long lost forty-something nephew.

. . . having a "sousin" (that's a coined word for my first cousin who is more like a sister to me).

. . . my son's sweet girlfriend.

. . . the fact that winter lasts only six months in Wisconsin!

. . . the opportunity to travel the world (France, England, Ireland, and Italy . . . so far!)

. . . having discovered yoga.

. . . having developed an interest in afternoon tea and scone-baking.

. . . being a native of Texas (and holding out hope that we'll move back there some day).

. . . the beautiful sunsets on Lake Sherwood.

                                                                         

Post-Election Depression

That's it!  I'm done! As a confirmed political junkie for the past nine years, I have finally made the decision to cut the cord!

No more

No more

                                                                                   
                   
No more

                                                                   

And, no more

                                                     

When I think of how much time and energy I have wasted keeping up with all the political pollution, it makes me heart-sick!

Let's see, I'd usually start my day by checking my inbox and reading all the forwarded anti-Obama articles and political cartoons.  (I'd even forward a few my self to like-minded souls.)  Then, I'd read USA Today online, where most of the paper was devoted to poll results (and the absence of Benghazi news).  While I got dressed and put on my make-up or if I was going anywhere in the car by myself, I was tuned into 99.9 FM, the local Fox affiliate radio station out of Wausau, and listened to Jerry Bader give us his take on how the election was shaping up.  This was just a time-killer until the main event...Rush Limbaugh.  Then, of course, our evening entertainment consisted of a solid diet of Fox News:  Bill O'Reilly (I really can't stand this arrogant, verbally abusive man!), Shawn Hannity (he's really turned into a rude pit-bull!), and Greta Van Susteren (basically a re-hash of all the "news flashes" that we'd already heard).

I threatened to become apolitical after the 2008 election, but after last night's sad and disappointing election results, I am now adamant about divorcing myself from anything to to with politics.  I will not watch BHO on TV or listen to any pundits rant and rave about him.  I will not listen to any of the president's press conferences, nor will I listen to any more State of the Union Addresses.  I don't want to know how he's continuing on his mission of fundamentally changing this county into a socialist nation.  I don't want to see any pictures of him smirking and Cheshire-grinning.  I don't want to see Michelle or the two daughters.  I don't want to know!

Instead I will get back to what I used to do before I became so infected with the political bug....I will catch up on my fiction reading and devote more time to creative projects that I have on my mental to-do list.  I will walk on the treadmill and listen to music on my iPod to drown out the sounds of Fox News coming from the other room.

I have deleted CNN and Fox News from my iPad.  I'm still debating about whether to delete USA Today from my laptop and my iPad.

For once, I think that ignorance may just be BLISS!