What is a Coffee Quilt? Glad you asked. I made it up. But it celebrates Ethiopia, coffee, and especially friendship. One of my best friends hand made it for us (with a little help from her Phoenician friends). And I envision a friend or new friend snuggling up with a nice hot cup of coffee (or tea, or hot cocoa) with their quilt and enjoying a good book, or pondering & enjoying friendships, etc.
*Ethiopia's coffee ceremony is an integral part of their social and cultural life. An invitation to attend a coffee ceremony is considered a mark of friendship or respect and is an excellent example of Ethiopian hospitality.
Coffee holds a sacred place in their country -just the growing and picking process of coffee involves over 12 million Ethiopians and produces over two-thirds of the country's earnings. The best Ethiopian coffee may be compared with the finest coffee in the world, and premium washed Arabica beans fetch some of the highest prices on the world market. In a world where time has long become a commodity, the Ethiopian coffee ceremony takes us back to a time when value was given to conversation and human relations. Perhaps an ancient proverb best describes the place of coffee in Ethiopian life, "Buna dabo naw", which when translated means "Coffee is our bread!"
According to national folklore, the origin of coffee is firmly rooted in Ethiopia's history. Their most popular legend concerns the goat herder from Kaffa, where the plants still grow wild in the forest hills. After discovering his goats to be excited, almost dancing on their hind legs, he noticed a few mangled branches of the coffee plant which was hung with bright red berries. He tried the berries himself and rushed home to his wife who told him that he must tell the monks. The monks tossed the sinful drug into the flames, an action soon to be followed by the smell we are all so familiar with now. They crushed the beans, raked them out of the fire, and distilled the stimulating substance in boiling water. Within minutes the monastery filled with the heavenly aroma of roasting beans, and the other monks gathered to investigate. After sitting up all night, they found a renewed energy to their holy devotions. The rest, as they say, is history.
*Taken from http://www.epicurean.com/articles/ethiopian-coffee-ceremony.html
*** You may choose 1 lb. ground coffee or 1 lb. whole bean
of Arabica blends, including some Ethiopian.
QUILT RAFFLE
Ways to Win
1. Purchase a 1 lb.bag of COFFEE FOR HOPE: CHLOE’S CUP
for $15 (plus S & H) & get one chance.
2. Don’t like coffee?
Buy one chance for $10 or 3 chances for $25.
3. OR MIX-N-MATCH your chances…..buy some coffee and buy some chances. Whatever you wish. :)
Call 636.667.1811 to buy chances or for any ???
You may also donate online at http://www.active.com/donate/bringchloehome
But small fees apply so please only if you must (using credit card & must be over $25)
You can email me at tee.time4me@yahoo.com as well.
Drawing will take place Feb. 7th
(7 Month Wait-iversary)
.
