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 16 July 2018

Smitten!


You never know what peace is until you walk on the shores or in the fields or along the winding red roads of Prince Edward Island in a summer twilight when the dew is falling and the old stars are peeping out and the sea keeps its mighty tryst with the little land it loves. You find your soul then. You realize that youth is not a vanished thing but something that dwells forever in the heart. ~ L M Montgomery

Smitten? Yes, I am smitten with our little Island this time of year! I can't think of any other place I'd rather be in the summertime. 


The beaches, the old red roads one can happen upon while taking a drive out in the country, and because we are out away from the city, one can see clearly the stars overhead at night. 



One might even catch a glimpse of fireflies darting among the trees in our back yard at dusk. Intriguing little creatures, they are! They have been a source of inspiration for years, for young and old alike.

I am also completely smitten by roses in the garden...


...in a flower shop, and under a glaze on beautiful china. Oh, I do love other flowers as well but there is just something about a rose with their satiny petals enfolded around a bud. They look as though they are giving each other a hug. They really are the flowers of love.

God opens millions of flowers without forcing the buds. It reminds us to not force anything, for things happen in the right time. ~ unknown

It's July and it was my father's birthday month. Every July I use my Old Country Roses which he was always fond of.

I love each piece adorned with deep red, pink, and yellow roses. Almost every piece I have was gifted to me by my family. It's like a little bower on the table when I have set out this china. 


Royal Albert Old Country Roses is a unique, iconic design, and the world's most popular china pattern in the world. It was designed by Harold Holdcroft in 1962 who took his inspiration from English country gardens where there was a riot of colour. Each piece is trimmed in 22kt gold which gives the china an extravagant appearance. The handles are an 18th century rococo style that goes well with the fluted saucers and plates. Thank you, Mr. Holdcroft, you have given us a beautiful pattern that will grace our tables for decades to come!


The very sight of a teapot puts a smile on the face of most people. One cannot help but think of more serene and genteel times. ~ Barbara Roberts

Friday morning I thought I had broken my rib again so Hubby had to get all the china down on to the table for me. Turns out I ripped a muscle in my ribcage which will take as long or longer to heal than a broken rib. Unfortunately, my son and his family are arriving this week and I'm going to have to take it easy AGAIN. I enjoy being in the kitchen and making everything special for my family. I pray one of these years I will be fine and all will be well when they come home. One of my sons threatened to tie me to a chair and I think that may happen yet. *smiles* 

This sweet china basket was my mother's which my father gifted her with. I keep my little tea spoons in it when using OCR.

I made a pan of No Bake Peanut Butter Bars. The recipe I will share below. I found it years ago at Six Sisters Stuff  

Some we will enjoy today but the majority of them will be frozen for when my family arrives.

No Bake Peanut Butter Bars

1 cup butter melted
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
2 cups confectioners sugar
1 cup + 4 TBSP peanut butter
1-1/2 cups milk chocolate chips

Directions-
In a medium bowl, mix melted butter, graham crumbs, confectioner's sugar, and 1 cup peanut butter until well blended. Press evenly into the bottom of an ungreased 9x9 square pan. If you want a thinner bar, press into a 9x13 pan. In the microwave, melt the chocolate chips with the 4 TBSP of peanut butter, stirring every 30 seconds until melted and smooth. Spread over the peanut butter layer and refrigerate for at least one hour before cutting into squares. Keep refrigerated.

When asked if my cup is half-filled or half-empty; my only response is that I am thankful I have a cup. ~ unknown 

Before I close, I want to take this opportunity to brag a little bit about my youngest grandson who lives here on the Island. He just won Offensive Player of the Year as quarterback in his football league. He's a couple years younger in this picture and ready to cut his cake but you can see how handsome he is. He's grown taller than me and he loves looking down at Nanny! 

Congratulations, Sweetie! We're so proud of you! 

This will be my last posting until the first week in August after my family leaves so I will bid you farewell until then. Please take care dear friends and please be kind to one another. We never know what the next person you meet is going through. God bless and keep you!



I am joining the following parties as well~

 Tuesday Cuppa Tea
 Friends Sharing Tea
 Home Sweet Home

 Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi

17 comments :

  1. Oh dear Sandi, I'm so sorry about your broken rib! I know having your family will definitely lift your spirits. How sweet of you to make the special treat for them and to share with us at your beautiful OCR tea. Congratulations to your grandson in being awarded offensive player of the year. I know you're a proud Nanny! Have fun with your family and we will see you again in August. xx

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  2. That is so distressing to have broken another rib! Do enjoy your precious family time regardless! ... I know how very difficult it can be having children and grandchildren living so far away, we want to soak up every moment to the fullest when they are able to visit.

    I love Old Country Roses also and I am completely smitten by PEI ever since our first visit many years ago. We really need to get back there. I say that nearly every time I see your photos!

    Congratulations to your grandson! What an achievement!

    The peanut butter bars looks scrumptious and I will be trying your recipe. Love the idea of no-bake goodies.

    Enjoy each and every moment you have with your precious family!

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  3. oh my gosh,, a broken rib,, that makes for a difficult time breathing lifting, moving well just about everything doesn't it,, I hope you heal quickly, such a beautiful post with a sweet treat and tea,, and two handsome fellas,, take care,,

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  4. I hope you get better soon and enjoy your dear family!Your post always enchanted me,just wonderful!Love your adorable roses,gorgeous china and your stunning island!Blessings!

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  5. Congratulations to your grandson! Thank you for the recipe for peanut butter bars. I look forward to trying them.

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  6. I’m sorry about your rib, Sandi! Take it easy!

    Enjoy your time with your family!

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  7. I'm sorry about your broken rib, Sandi. Ouch!

    OCR is also one of my favourite patterns. My family gifted me the tea set and table settings, but I don't use it as often as I should.

    Congrats on your grandson's football honour. Enjoy the family visit and I'll see you in a few weeks!

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  8. Beautiful pictures! And I am so sorry you have been injured again. I hope you do relax and enjoy your family.

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  9. First of all congrats to your adorable grandson. The beach is simply wonderful... I love the beach. We were there at our daughter Sofia's gorgeous apartment with a wonderful view, where I got a shell chicken here in my last post.
    Old country roses is my fav; I have a platter and a three tier I bought in Madrid last year. I hope to get the tea set in Miami. your collection is gorgeous dear friend.
    Fabby

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  10. Congratulations to your handsome grandson. Nothing like the grands. I LOVE your little china basket the spoons are resting in. How beautiful. The roses are beautiful and I can only imagine the delight the island brings to you. Wonderful pictures. Hugs and blessings, Cindy

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  11. I am so sorry to hear of your rib/muscle injury...that sounds really painful. Praying that your family will do for you instead of you having to do for them, even though I know that is your heart's desire to serve them and make things special. Just take it easy and enjoy their company. Love your flowers and the beautiful tea set...That is one of my favorites, but I don't have any of that pattern. I love the little basket for the spoons...what a treasure! Loved all the pictures on the island...you truly do live in a paradise. Congratulations to your grandson!! What fun to have him near!! God bless you dear friend. Enjoy your family time.

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  12. Your little island is so incredibly beautiful. What a magical place to live!!

    Old Country Roses is one of my faves too. I don't have an entire set, just one teacup/saucer, but it was my grandmother's, so it means the world to me. My daughter and I call it "the Princess Diaries" teacup, as it was used in that movie.

    The peanut butter bars look yummy, though if I made them, I would prefer to leave the chocolate portion off. I'm not too into chocolate. The peanut butter portion would be yummy on its own!

    So sorry about your injury. I am praying for your healing.

    Cute grandson...handsome son.

    Enjoy your family!!

    Love,
    Patti

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  13. Such a lovely post but I am sorry to hear of your ripped muscle. No wonder all the tea things are on the table for you to access without reaching too far.

    Old Country Roses is my own mom's china pattern. I love it. All your pictures of the teacups and the teapot felt so 'at home'.

    Love this saying you shared: God opens millions of flowers without forcing the buds. It reminds us to not force anything, for things happen in the right time. ~ unknown.

    Congratulations to your grandson for his achievement!

    Wishing you grace as you get well. Brendaq xox

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  14. Sandi, sorry about your injury. I thought of you recently when another season of Anne with an E turned up on Netflix. I started watching it, then I remembered why I didn't even finish the first season: it is completely different from the books. I hate it when films and television turn books into something entirely different. Thanks for the history on Old Country Roses!

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  15. Hi Sandi, It has been years since I've visited with you. Glad to see you still keep up your beautiful blog. It has been 10 years since Spiritual Sundays was started and to celebrate I went back ten years and clicked on some of the links from back then. So many of the blogs are no longer there. Time changes everything. Well at least almost everything. LOL Just wanted to drop by and say "Hi."
    Blessings,
    Charlotte

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  16. Hi Sandi, I would so love to visit your beautiful Prince Edwards Island. I also love the Old Country Roses china pattern.
    I pray you are feeling better, congratulations to your grandson!
    blessings,
    Sue

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  17. Oh my goodness, this post is three weeks old and I'm just getting around to visiting!! I guess that's summer for you. I hope you are healed by now and have been enjoying your family. You have such a beautiful island there, I hope someday to visit. And I think I'm making some of those peanut butter bars! xo Deborah

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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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