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.

Friday 24 June 2016

Serendipi-Tea and A Good Book

Then followed that beautiful season... Summer....
Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape
Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow


Hello my lovely friends! I hope you're all enjoying this first week of summertime. I know I certainly am. After all the cold rainy weather we've had, I am soaking up the sunshine and loving it.

It is always with a sense of wonder that I watch Summer unfold as cold gives way to warm days and balmy evenings.

I wonder what it would be like to live in a world where it was always June. ~ LM Montgomery - Anne of the Island

Last week I showed off some Rose Chintz china with my lilacs. I also mentioned that I had bought some new teacups. I had gone into a shop looking for a vintage lace table topper and I found none. 
But what I did find could only be described as being serendipitous. 

This was a sneak peek at one of the teacups. Isn't it sweet?



Now, would you like to see the whole teacup? Here she is in all her vintage splendour!



Do you see why I couldn't resist her? She is adorned in one of my all-time favourite colours, turquoise. She is called Blue Crocus and she is adorned with a sweet surprise of purple violets just inside the cup and lots of gold filigree. I would say I found a superb teacup. 



Who would have thought to put these two colours together? Well, Aynsley did. You were right, Margie!


I honestly don't need any more teacups but when I feasted my eyes on this one, well, my heart went pitter-pat and she had to come home with me! It is not often that one finds a teacup in this scrumptious colour. The amount of gold filigree makes it a stunning work of art, don't you think?



Hubby said I would be sorry if I didn't bring her home. He knows me so well!



So, shall we sit and have some tea using my pretty aqua tea ware? A nice cup of tea with a friend or two or three, makes for a lovely afternoon of camaraderie and conversation. 

Serenity is a solitary cup of tea; pleasure is sharing it with another. ~ Victoria magazine



I brought out my Gracie China teapot. The aquas all go together so well.

Another Aynsley teacup that you have seen before.



Fresh posies from my yard; roses that just bloomed this morning and some bridal veil.


My bridal veil is heavy with blossoms this year, the best it's ever been.





I had made some rhubarb batter pudding for dessert this week when I had my son and his family over for taco night. I have just enough left to serve with our tea. It is a lovely dessert consisting of sweetened red rhubarb baked beneath a cake-like pudding. A dollop of fresh whipped cream and a strawberry for garnish, it makes a delightful accompaniment with your tea.



Tea is Four O'Clock Almond Biscotti, a white tea indulgently flavoured with almond biscotti notes. Good to the last crumb...uhhh drop...!


A table set for friends.


A couple of months ago Linda @ Friendship Tea held a giveaway for an autographed copy of Laura Child's newest book, Devonshire Scream, and I was the winner. Thank you, Linda.



I do most of my reading at night so it took me a couple of weeks to finish it. It was hard to put down and I must say, I think it is Laura Childs' best tea shop mystery to date. It is a story that will keep your interest from beginning to end. 

Those of us who enjoy a good mystery and have read the Tea Shop Mystery series are familiar with tea shop owner and amateur sleuth Theodosia Browning. Her friends and co-workers, Master tea blender, Drayton, and baker extraordinaire, Haley, are always on hand to help find clues. With her sharp mind and nose for hunting down the bad guys, she, along with her friends, as well as Detective Burt Tidwell, delves into solving the mystery. Lots of fun! 

Childs always includes some delicious recipes in the back of her books too so be sure to pick up a copy. It is well worth the read!


When you have flowers, books, and tea, you are never alone. ~ Alexandra Stoddard

Enjoy your cup of tea today and a good book. 

I am so happy you have stopped by for a visit today. I always enjoy your company. Have a wonderful weekend and I'll see you on Monday for No Place Like Home.

Remember
Aways remember to forget,
The things that made you sad,
But never forget to remember,
The things that made you glad.

Always remember to forget,
The troubles that passed way,
But never forget to remember
The blessings that come each day. ~ unknown


 I am joining the following parties as well~

 Tuesday Cuppa Tea
 Bernideen's TTCG Blog Party
 The Art of Home-Making Mondays
 Share Your Cup Thursday
 Home Sweet Home~ http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/
Marthas Favorites
 Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi

27 comments :

  1. Good Afternoon, Sandi. I love your new Aynsley teacup. Aqua is a favorite of mine, too. Great color. I know all about having too many teacups and then you see that "special" one. So glad you decided it must live with you. It has found a very good home ... good tea and lovely eats!

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  2. When I saw the reveal of your new teacup, I said, "Oh my gosh", for it is unbelievably gorgeous! I never would've expected that turquoise color when you gave us the peek of the violets. However, the colors are stunning together. I'm so glad that your sweetie knows you so well and that you brought that pretty teacup home. Your tea looks so pretty with both teacups, your lovely teapot and your scrumptious dessert.
    I loved your "Remember" poem at the end. Happy summer, Sandi!

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  3. Hi Sandi, I have been missing for quite a while but I'm back.

    You aren't going to believe this, I have the same cup. How ironic is that. It was my grandmothers. When she I received her tea cups. They're beautiful and many have those details

    Cindy

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  4. What a beautiful visit I've had today, Sandi. That Alexandra Stoddard quote really spoke to my heart, as did the quote from Victoria Magazine. Such lovely words.

    I love that Gracie teapot. She's adorable! But as you probably remember from a recent blog post of mine, my adorable little puppy is named Gracie. I guess Gracies and cuteness just go together!

    Your teacup is certainly gorgeous. I love the turquoise. I also love how you refer to the teacup as "she." So much lovelier than "it."

    Enjoy your weekend.

    Love,
    Patti

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  5. I'm so glad that you brought this gorgeous teacup home with you, Sandi! I recognized the violet pattern because I have a similar Aynsley teacup. However, mine is a seafoam green orphan teacup that I rescued at a church sale a few years back (still looking for the matching teacup).

    I also just finished reading Devonshire Cream last week and quite enjoyed it! Now we gotta wait until next year to read about Theodosia's next adventure...

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    1. Whoops, I meant that I was still looking for the matching saucer!

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  6. A wonderful find Sandi, I would have brought the teacup home too because of the turquoise. I have most of the tea shop mysteries on my Kobo ereader and will probably start them all over again. A nice read with a cup of tea.
    I just heard our strawberry farm closed because they're out of berries due to the dry spring; hopefully they still have more to ripen - that was only 5 days that they were open.

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  7. Dear Sandi:
    Your cup and saucer is lovely and as unusual as this sounds, I saw one like this a few years back in an antique mall in Colorado. The colors are so unique that is why I remembered. It is lovely. I am so happy you won the Laura Child's book. Her tea murder mysterys are great fun although I have gotten behind reading them. I enjoyed your pretty post with all the Rhubarb Pudding!

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  8. This cup is beautiful and such an interesting mix of pattern/colors! Aqua/turquoise is such a beautiful color. I don't have any, and will have to remedy that!

    I enjoy Laura Child's Tea Shop mysteries, too!

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  9. Sandi,
    That is one beautiful tea cup!! And I also like the tea pot and other cup! Such pretty colors!! Thanks so much for stopping by my new blog and being my first new Follower... I have slowly been adding all my posts from this year and a few others to the new blog...
    Have a lovely Sunday!!

    Hugs,
    Deb

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  10. I love that quote by Longfellow....it's so summer!!! and I love your spirit Sandi. The poem you posted, always remember, shines your positive heart. Enjoy every minute of this wonderful weather.

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  11. Beautiful photography of an absolutely scrumptious teacup and saucer - I would definitely purchase that if I came across it! Lucky you!
    Denise

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  12. Love the teacup, of course! I haven't read the new mystery...how wonderful you won! Will be looking for it...I do so enjoy the series. Have a wonderful week.
    Ruth

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  13. Those aqua teacups of yours are really gorgeous. Such rich colours, and the new-to-you one has all that lovely gold filigree. Your tea party looks delightful. I've read a few of the Tea Shop mysteries, will have to look for more.

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  14. Oh what pretty blues. Your photo's are so pretty. I enjoyed reading this. Thank you for sharing.

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  15. Oh what a beautiful find! The whole set looks lovely together!

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  16. What a lovely teacup and saucer! Your husband was right. You would have kicked yourself from now 'till doomsday had you not brought that set home with you. I love reading books by Laura Childs but haven't read this one yet. I'll definitely be on the lookout for it now. Thank you so much for sharing your lovely things.

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  17. I love laura childs tea series and your tea cup is just lovely have a great week

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  18. Yes, you definitely had to bring this stunning teacup home! It is really unusual to see the violet floral design on an aqua teacup. Makes for an impressive teacup. I just love the artistry of vintage cups.
    Thank you for your review of Devonshire Scream. I've only read two books from Childs and am happy to hear that this one is a winner. I hope my library has a copy.
    Thank you for hosting...the rhubarb pudding looks yummy!

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  19. I just love your new tea cup such pretty color and goes well with your newest teapot which I really love. With love Janice

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  20. Hi Sandi! Beautiful tea cup and pot!!! I am a huge fan of cozy mysteries, so I will definitely download the book! Happy Canada Day!
    Rebeca

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  21. Lovely post! Thank you for sharing at SYC! :) Jo

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  22. Another lovely post! Beautiful teacup and teapot! The poem is just what I needed to hear! I have so many blessings, and must focus on them. I think I'll read the tea shop mysteries, they sound delightful. The last series I read was Jan Karon's Mitford Series, and found there was a cookbook from those stories! Your rhubarb dessert sounds delicious! Love, Linda

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  23. Sandi, Love the aqua cups. The purple surprise on the inside is wonderful. Thanks for sharing your tea with me. Sylvia D.

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  24. A sweet tea cup and a cozy mystery, you made my day. Love the little flowers peeking out of the cups.

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  25. Oh Sandi, your new teacup is just precious! Hubby certainly was right. Love your entire tea setting. The rhubarb pudding sounds yummy. Haven't had a chance to use my rhubarb this year, but hope to this weekend. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  26. That cup is a great find! My hubs tells me to get them too when I see them. They won't be there when you go back and they aren't! Thanks for sharing at Home Sweet Home!

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I am delighted to have you visit me and I read every comment. Please forgive me for not being able to visit you all as there are so many of you lovely bloggy friends now. I will visit as much as possible. I wish you a day filled with JOY!

Also, due to the amount of spam I've been getting, I have had to set Comment Moderation. ~ Sandi

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