Little Tidbits of This and That

More snow came before New Year’s, and the harbor froze over, but the gulf still was free, beyond the white, imprisoned fields. The last day of the old year was one of those bright, cold, dazzling winter days, which bombard us with their brilliancy, and command our admiration but never our love. The sky was sharp and blue; the snow diamonds sparkled insistently; the stark trees were bare and shameless, with a kind of brazen beauty. - "Anne's House of Dreams" - LM Montgomery

Hello my lovely friends! It's a new year and I'm one year older. To be honest, I'm really thankful that 2016 has come to an end. It was not a good year for me in many ways. The majority of it found me in a lot of pain. 

I could sit here and regale you with my woes but I won't do that. Suffice it to say that I'm glad 2016 is behind me and I'm looking forward to having a better year.

The Island has a major winter storm bearing down on us this evening and into tomorrow. They are calling for 30 to 40 cm of snow with winds. So by Monday morning it will really be a winter wonderland outside my window. Good thing I have lots of tea and coffee in the house!

This post is going to have some little tidbits of this and that. So, pour yourself a nice hot beverage and make yourself at home as we indulge in a little conversation.

The tea table above was from my Blossom Time on the Island Tea. You may click on the link to visit that post if you wish.

I promised myself I wasn't going to purchase any more china for a while because we plan to down size this year. However, Sears was carrying Spode Christmas Tree china and I already have four mugs and four plates in that pattern. I always thought it would be nice to have the teapot too but I told myself I have enough teapots. Hubby even offered to get me the teapot for Christmas but I declined. 

See, the will power I've got?? Aren't you proud of me? 

Then I visited Margie at her blog over Christmas and she was sharing her adorable Spode Christmas Tree teapot with its candy cane handle. I told her I would love to have one too but I really don't need another Christmas teapot. Well, Margie, in her wisdom, suggested I get the new teapot and get rid of one I already have. 

Now why didn't I think of that?

So, Hubby got me the teapot for my birthday! *smiles* I love it because I now have a nice set for the Holidays and it has so much personality!

I love the story that accompanies the pattern... 
"In 1938 Harold Holdway a young designer in Spode's England office was asked to design a Christmas pattern for the American market. He was faced with a dilemma...he had never seen a decorated Christmas tree! In his first sketch the presents were suspended from the branches. "Wouldn't that cause them to droop?" he wondered. He amended his sketches when told the American tradition was to place gifts under the tree. Holdway used another Christmas icon in a most delightful way, adorning the top of the tree with jolly St. Nick. We find his design both unique and charming, as do Spode Christmas Tree lovers the world over."

Thank you to my hubby and to Margie for her sensible solution! Now I will enjoy this pattern for a few more days and then put it away till next Christmas.

A number of you have already shared past blog posts from 2016. 

Have you ever wondered what your most popular posts were? Since I began blogging, I have hosted several parties, the main one being Tea Time Tuesday. The most traffic I received on a post was from that party which I hosted between 2010 and 2015. The post which received the most traffic was my Anne of Green Gables Tea on July 9, 2012. Anne always generates a lot of interest.

Second was the Tea on the Titanic which I also hosted that year on April 15th, 2012.

A favourite post from this past year would have to be Tea Time With My Girls from August when my whole family was home for a big Reunion.
We shooed the guys out of the house so we girls could enjoy a tea party. My little granddaughter had such a good time and she was quite taken with the parasol. The little lady drank three cups of tea that day!  

And finally, one post I really enjoyed putting together was my Farewell to Downton Abbey Tea. I still miss the highly popular series as I'm sure most of you do.

I know this has been a long post but I also shared a few posts so it was bound to be a little longer than usual. I hope for the most part you enjoyed it. 

I am always pleased when you stop by my little Rose Chintz Cottage and I hope you all enjoy your weekend. I will end it with a favourite prayer I used to share at the end of my No Place Like Home party.

Lord, this humble house we'd keep 
Sweet with play and calm with sleep. 
Help us so that we may give 
Beauty to the lives we live. 
Let Thy love and let Thy grace 
Shine upon our dwelling place. - Edgar A. Guest 



 I am joining the following parties as well~
Tuesday Cuppa Tea~ http://www.antiquesandteacups.info/
Friends Sharing Tea ~ http://blog.bernideens.com/
Share Your Cup Thursday~ http://jannolson.blogspot.com/
Home Sweet Home~ http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/

 Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi