Faith Family Friends

Celebrating the Joy of Living & Home Making ~

Baking, Cooking, Decorating, Tea Time, and taking Inspiration from those I love and the world around me...

A sharing of my heart and my home from a Christian perspective

...with a wee bit of whimsy added.

Monday 30 May 2011

Tea Time Tuesday


Hello dear friends and welcome to another Tea Time Tuesday. Can you believe this is my 70th tea party?

I want to wish all my American friends a Happy Memorial Day weekend! I hope it's been a safe and happy one for you.

Whew! What a week it has been with Blogger! I'm sorry that some of you didn't get a comment from me on your tea post last week but I want you to know that I did visit each one of you. Your posts are always a delight and I want to thank you for making Tea Time such an enjoyable pasttime.



Now, it's a whole different problem with Blogger! I can't log into my blog these days. The only way I was able to do this post was by going through another's blog to get to mine. I have no idea how that works, I'm just so thankful that it does! I must really meditate on Philippians 4:8 these days.

So, because I am having problems with Blogger and it took me hours to do this post, this tea post is going to be short and sweet!



To be overcome with the fragrance of flowers is a delectable form of defeat.~ Beverly Nichols
{Excerpt from Victoria Gardens of Bliss magazine 2011}

I had made a cake for the Pink Saturday Birthday Party that took place over the weekend and I am sharing it with you today. It is a single layer pound cake with pink icing, spray roses and baby's breath. I think it looks pretty on the Rose Chintz plate.



The spray roses were so tiny and delicate when I got them and now they are full-blown fluffy roses. My tea today will include them. Hope you enjoy!



The tea cup I am using is one you have seen before. I thought it looked nice with my roses.




It is Pierced Lace made by Skye McGhie. The creamy colour of this set with the lacey edged saucer makes it a very romantic tea cup. There is a slight scallop around the rim of the cup and the pedestal base. The cup itself is adorned with fleur de lis.



Did you know you can make tea from rose petals? Brew 2 cups of black tea and mix with 1- 1/2 cups dried rose petals {unsprayed}, 3/4 cup lemon verbena leaves, and 2 tablespoons dried lemon peel. Strain. Keep out of bright sunlight as the light affects the taste of the tea.



"He existed before anything else, and He holds all creation together." ~ Colossians 1:17

I am delighted you have stopped by today and I would love for you to join me for Tea Time Tuesday! All you have to do is share a favourite tea cup or teapot, a coffee mug, or something tea related. If you wish, you may do coffee, iced tea, lemonade, hot chocolate, apple cider, or punch instead of tea. The TTT button on my sidebar is available for you to use in your post or place on your sidebar if you wish. A poem, tea quote, or scripture verse would be more than welcome! Please link back to me so that your visitors may find their way here to visit with all my lovely participants.



FYI: I will be hosting a tea party as usual every week but on June 13, I will be hosting a Father's Day Tea and on June 20, I will be hosting a Summer Dreams Tea. 
Also Kathy @ A Delightsome Life - http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/ is hosting her seasonal party, Savoring Summer on June 21. You can find her button on my sidebar. I hope you will make plans to participate in one or all of these parties.



I am pleased to join the following parties today as well~

Victoria - A Return to Loveliness

Marty~ http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/
Table Top Tuesday

Martha~ http://www.marthasfavorites.com/
Teacup Tuesday

Terri~ http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/
Teacup Tuesday

Wanda Lee~ http://silkenpurse.blogspot.com/
Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday

Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday

Wanda Lee~ http://theplumedpen.blogspot.com/
Tea For Two and Wednesday Tea For Me and Thee

Tuesday Tea

Trisha~ http://sweetology101.blogspot.com/
Tea Party Tuesday

Lady Katherine~ http://ladykatherineteaparlor.blogspot.com/
Teatime Tuesday

Trish~ http://angelwingsandapronstrings.blogspot.com/
L.A.C.E.

Miss Spenser~ http://missspensersblog.blogspot.com/
Teacup Thursday

Sherry~ http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/
Home Sweet Home






Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Friday 27 May 2011

Happy Birthday Pink Saturday!

Happy Birthday Pink Saturday!


Welcome to Rose Chintz Cottage, bloggerettes ~

The big day is here~ Beverly's 3rd Pink Saturday Birthday Party!
Pink lovers from all over the world are celebrating with our wonderful hostess today. It's sure to be a pinkalicious time for all!

I have made a pink cake for this special occasion and I invite you all to come in and enjoy some with me.

All of the flowers in this post are real!
First up is a pink cupcake adorned with a pink mini carnation. I think pink looks mighty pretty on my Rose Chintz plate!


Are you ready for more pink?


A Lavender Rose "Shirley" figurine by Royal Doulton is keeping company with a votive and my favourite pink vase filled with gorgeous soft pink tulips.


And then there is the pink cake! My cake is awaiting you and it's going to taste wonderful with a nice cup of tea. Would you like some? I have arranged some sweet spray roses on the cake. The roses are white with just a blush of pink in them.



I've poured you a cup of tea in a lovely vintage tea cup, a gift from my sweet hubby...

Can you see the pink in the roses?

And I've lit three candles....Happy Birthday Pink Saturday!
But here is the best pinkie of all! I can't help it; I have to share this most recent photo of my granddaughter, Jenna-Lynn! Her mommy took this especially for the party today. She will be 6 months old next week and she's smiling for the camera as she cuddles her pink teddy bear that we gave her when she was born.


You see that streak up in the sky? That is my son on his way to Paris! Can you imagine how beautiful it would be looking out into those puffs of cotton candy clouds? He will be there for three weeks on a Math Conference and then two days in Hungary visiting friends. He has a tough life!


Thank you for visiting today and please visit our sweet hostess Beverly ~ http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/
and her party of pinkies for a wonderful weekend of pink eye candy. I hope you all have a lovely weekend and Blogger gets ironed out!


Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Any One Still Having Blogger Problems?

Good morning blogging friends~





I am still having problems with Blogger. I can't log in to my blog. It just keeps sending me in a loop when I try to sign in!


I can't get into my dashboard either. It sends me back into the loop again.

The only reason I was able to post this is because of some glitch yesteday when by surprise, I was able to get on my blog and get into it through old posts. I know, it doesn't make sense!

I don't dare turn off the computer or take my blog off because I won't be able to get into it again. Is any one else having this problem?



I'm glad I have my post all ready for the weekend otherwise I would not be able to participate in anything.



Sharing from my heart~Sandi

Wednesday 25 May 2011

Tea Time Tuesday

A kind word is like a Spring day.~ Russian Proverb

Welcome to Tea Time Tuesday ~
Hello tea friends! I hope you all enjoyed your weekend! This is the second last tea party for the month of May. Summer is on its way!

NOTE~ I have been making my rounds visiting this morning but Blogger will not let me leave a comment. I did want you all to know that I have been stopping by and I am enjoying your posts.


I was going to have a Cream Tea today but since it is rhubarb season here on the Island, I have made some Rhubarb Crisp to enjoy for our respite.


It is hard for me to fathom that some of you have never had this wonderful and versatile treat. Rhubarb, I mean!


There are so many things that you can make with these bright red stalks: Rhubarb cake, chutney, cobbler, crisp...


...jam, muffins, pudding, pie, sauce, etc. It's almost endless the things that you can make with it! The bright red stalks make for a pretty and yummy dessert.

Add a dollop of fresh whipped cream and yum!!


For a lovely cup of raspberry tea, you might add a few fresh raspberries to the bottom of your tea cup and pour in your tea. Let sit for a bit and if you wish, add a slice of lemon.


For today's tea, I thought I would use something a wee bit unusual. Why not use my cranberry jug and basket for the containers to hold the milk and sugar instead of the usual china ones.



Cranberry glass, or Gold Ruby glass as it is known in Europe, is a red glass made by adding gold {111} chloride to molten glass. The most famous period of cranberry glass production was in the 19th century Britain during the Victorian era.


These pieces were given to me by my hubby once upon a time. I have set them on a little Royal Albert Lavender Rose tray to catch the spills... Add a sugar tong and, Voila!


The cranberry glass goes well with my Lavender Rose so I chose to use this teapot today.


All God's pleasures are simple ones; the rapture of a May morning sunshine, the stream blue and green, kind words, benevolent acts, the glow of good humor. ~ F.W. Robertson


This past weekend we Canadians have been enjoying the long Victoria Day weekend.


We celebrate Queen Victoria's birthday today...


and also our own Queen Elizabeth's which is actually April twenty-first.


Canadians consider this to be the unofficial start of Summer. Barbeques have been fired up and the garden centers are very busy. Very soon I will be enjoying my tea out on the deck.

Hubby and I also enjoy taking our coffee or tea down to Victoria Park to watch the boats sail in the harbour. This time of year we get many cruise ships in as well.


When I think of Victoria's birthday, I automatically think of Victoria magazine from which the magazine takes its name.


Queen Victoria brought much beauty and loveliness into her era and those of us who enjoy all that loveliness try to incorporate some of it into our homes. Victoria magazine helps us do just that with pages of inspiring and pleasing ideas.


This sweet little teapot is adorned with the pearls my Auntie P gifted me with. She found them while she was in  Scotland and thought I would like them. She was so right! The creamy white rose is one from my anniversary bouquet and I'm drying it.

Anyone for chocolate?


The Victorian era corresponds with the reign of Queen Victoria in England 1838-1901.


The period is beloved for its attention to high morals, modesty and proper decorum, as inspired by Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert.


I like to incorporate a little beauty and loveliness into my home, don't you? I enjoy using simple things like flowers and candles; sometimes even a strand of pearls. What are some of your favourite ways of adding loveliness to your home?


"A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones." ~ Proverbs 15:30


Thank you for stopping by for tea today. It's always a pleasure to have you!
On June 13, I will be having a Father's Day Tea and the following week on June 20, I will be hosting my Summer Dreams Tea. I hope you will join me for both of those parties as well as the usual ones I host every week.

If you would like to participate in Tea Time Tuesday please use the inlinkz below to sign up.

I am happy to join the following hostesses as well:

Kathy~  http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/
Victoria - A Return to Loveliness

Marty~  http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/ 
Table Top Tuesday

Martha~  http://www.marthasfavorites.com/
Teacup Tuesday
Terri~  http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/
Teacup Tuesday

Wanda Lee~  http://silkenpurse.blogspot.com/
Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday
Pam~  http://breathoffreshair-paperbutterfly.blogspot.com/
Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday
Wanda Lee~  http://theplumedpen.blogspot.com/
Tea For Two and Wednesday Tea For Me and Thee

Donna~  http://thehomemakingarts.blogspot.com/
Tuesday Tea

Lady Katherine~  http://ladykatherineteaparlor.blogspot.com/
Teatime Tuesday

Miss Spenser~  http://missspensersblog.blogspot.com/
Teacup Thursday





Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Oh, My Poor Tulips!

Good morning bloggers~ I am still not able to comment on most blogs today. It seems the blogs that have a certain format are the ones that are having difficulties. If you have to sign in to your Google account to leave a comment, it just sends you in a loop over and over again. It's frustrating!

Now for the ongoing saga of the crows and the tulips~



Well, the crows have broken off every single tulip in my back bed and now they are working on the other bed. We have had tulips in this bed at the top of our driveway for years and they have never bothered with it. Now, all of a sudden they are picking at these tulips too.



There were at least two tulips picked off last evening.



I'm thinking the only way I'm going to get to enjoy them this year is to cut them and bring them indoors to enjoy for a few days.




Some of you have suggested getting a big owl and putting it near the garden. We don't want to do that because it will scare the songbirds too.

Some have suggested taking down the birdbath because that is where the crows are dumping the broken tulips. We would prefer not to do that either as we enjoy watching the songbirds drink from it.

We are just heartsick over this! Last year, the black bandits pecked the begonias to death and put their food in the birdbath. They also were dancing in the silver mounds.
This year they started putting food once again in the birdbath so Hubby is no longer feeding them.

Who can understand the mind of a crow? We have fed them for years and never had any problem with them. Now it seems they have declared war on our property and us!

Anyway, the black bandits will have to look elsewhere for their dinner because our hands will no longer feed them.

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Tuesday 24 May 2011

Blogger Won't Let Me Comment!



Good morning my friends~ I have been making my rounds to visit each of my tea party participants but Blogger is giving me grief again. Now I can't leave a comment! I will try to go back and comment later.

Hope they get this fixed soon!

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Sunday 22 May 2011

Calling all gardeners~ World war three has just broken out in my back yard!

Hello everyone~ First of all I want to thank you all for your lovely comments on my previous post.

I have a problem! I have gone on the internet trying to find a solution to this problem and found none.


First of all, let me start by telling you how this came about...

My hubby feeds the crows and he has been doing this for years. They recognize our car when he pulls up to the mailbox and they start calling to let their family know that supper will soon be ready. Pretty smart, eh?

We had planted tulips in the garden out in our back yard and they were finally up and ready to open when I noticed they were missing! Then I noticed bits of red in the bird bath. My heart sank as I realized the crows had broken off the tulip heads and put them in the bird bath. They had done this last year with the begonias!

Any of you gardeners know what can be done about this? Hubby is threatening to get a pellet gun! He is as upset about our flowers as I am and he won't be feeding them any more. They will have to go elsewhere for their meals!

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Friday 20 May 2011

Weekend Break

Hello dear blogging friends~ I am going to be on a short blogging break for the weekend. I will be back on Monday to bring you Tea Time Tuesday. Have a safe and happy weekend everyone. Hugs to you all!


Sharing from my heart~ Sandi