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.

Wednesday 31 October 2018

Home Made Memories

When I was a little girl,
I always wanted to be in the kitchen
because it was warm,
and that's where my mother was.
You never lose that feeling. ~ Dolly Parton

Actually, that was where my grandmother was. My mother didn't like being in the kitchen. She preferred to paint or sketch. She was more artistic and she loved to decorate rather than cook. 
Although I did paint and I did a lot of sketching, it was my grandmother who I took after. I loved being in the kitchen creating a lovely pie or chewy molasses cookies for my family. 

I can still see my Granny's pantry off her big kitchen. It was always filled with jams, jellies, and pickles, cakes, pies, and her jars of cookies. Like most grannies in those days, she baked bread every day too. Her home was a real haven for me.
It was in my Granny's pantry that I decided as a little girl, when I grew up my counter would hold jars of home made cookies and other treats just like my Granny's. 

My children never wanted for home made goodies. It always gave me a sense of accomplishment to see their little faces light up when they got home from school to find Mommy had been baking. How I miss those days!

She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. ~ Proverbs 31:27

Last week I shared a war cake which I had watched my Granny make and today I am having tea biscuits with my tea. 



Why biscuits? Well, they are somewhat of a staple in our home. Hubby loves them with peanut butter or jam. I won't share the recipe because I have shared it before and I imagine most of you have your own.


Some folks call these scones but when I make scones, they have fruit and nutmeg in them and are sprinkled with sugar or a glaze. I also usually cut them into triangles. 

I have never made my own lemon curd. Now I realize, for Jean and others who take their cooking seriously, you may be surprised but for some reason I have just never gotten around to it. 
I do have a jar of lemon curd that I picked up at the tea room we frequent during the summertime. It comes from Britain and so far, it is the best I have had. 

I am sharing a beautiful vintage Royal Albert teacup which my Auntie P blessed me with. It is from the Regal Series.
The other teacup I shared last week and I thought the blues would go together nicely.

I pulled out these sweet Adelaide Blue plates to use for our biscuits. The butter knife is vintage and came with my mother's silver.




It is dreary out right now because the sun is taking its time coming out. So, my pictures are a bit dark, sorry.

The table is set. Won't you join us?
Through the doors, you can see the larches are bright yellow now and soon their needles will fall. I miss their splendid bright green and look forward to when they bud again in the Spring.

Today is a special day in our family because it is our grandson's birthday. Happy Birthday Brent! What a sweet young man he is!


Tomorrow is November 1st and soon the decorations will be going up. The most  joyous time of the year is almost upon us. Thank you for visiting and take care, dear friends.

Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing. ~ Camille Pissarro



Sharing with :

Home Sweet Home

Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi

Tuesday 23 October 2018

Vintage Treasures

Hello everyone! It is a beautiful sunny day out there but quite cool.

October was a beautiful month at Green Gables, when the birches in the hollow turned as golden as sunshine and the maples behind the orchard were royal crimson and the wild cherry trees along the lane put on the loveliest shades of dark red and bronzy green, while the fields sunned themselves in aftermaths. ~ Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery

It has been cold here on beautiful Prince Edward Island. A gardener-landscaper we know said it has been the coldest Autumn in ten years. 
In any case, we are trying to enjoy the show that nature is putting on. 

A drive in the country on an old clay road.

A walking trail close to our home.

Now that the cooler weather is here, I'm in the kitchen more. The other day I had a craving for war cake or boiled fruit cake as some call it. I looked through 'search this blog' on my sidebar and I don't think I've ever shared this recipe before so I will today.

I have my Granny's recipe and my mother's. There is not much difference between the two recipes except my mother's recipe has more spices in it so that is the one I use.

What Keats aptly called 
'the season of mellow fruitfulness'
is the season for simmering pots on the stove,
pies in the oven,
canning jars in the cupboard,
and trusted family recipes
on the kitchen counter. ~ Celebrating Home


This is my Granny's recipe book which she started when she was probably about thirteen. I am the proud owner of it now. The book is over a hundred years old. The pages are worn and fragile, and soiled from all the baking my grandmother did in her day. It is precious to me just as she was! All of her recipes were written with a fountain pen.

I love things that bear the touch of time; chips and all - they're more beautiful than perfection. - Victoria magazine

This is Granny's War Cake recipe.

The recipe I use is one I copied from my mother's recipes. I should have added 1/4 tsp ginger when I wrote it down but I always remember. Call it baker's intuition.


I'm sure most of you know that War cake, Boiled Fruit cake, or Boiled Raisin cake is a depression cake which was baked avoiding ingredients that were scarce or being rationed for the soldiers in the war. It was egg less, butter less, and milk less which also earned this cake the name Poor Man's Cake. No matter what we call it, it is a wonderful dense cake filled with spices and raisins; sending a delicious aroma throughout the house while it is baking and cooling.

I baked the cake on Friday evening and I let it cool over night. Then I wrapped it in wax paper and tin foil to sit for a couple of days before slicing it for tea. 
Boiled Fruit Cake or War Cake
2 cups white sugar
2 cups raisins
2 cups water
2 TBSP shortening
1 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp ginger
Mix together above ingredients and boil for five minutes. Cool completely.
When raisin mixture is cool add:
3 cups flour
2 tsp soda
1/2 tsp salt
Pour batter into a greased long loaf pan and bake at 350 for 1-1/2 hours.
I used a loaf pan 16 inches long x 5 inches wide x 4 inches deep.

It makes enough for two loaves if you cut it in half after baking. Half you could freeze or give away. I think next time I will bake it in a ten inch tube pan for a change.

I brought out this beautiful and rare CL Oxford China England teacup and saucer. It is vintage, circa 1930s, with rust coloured swags and cobalt blue and gold. I looked it up and it sells for $73.78 on Etsy which means I got mine at a bargain price of $12.99 at the Seventy Mile Yard Sale several years ago. The pattern is Imari and very striking.
Now, it's time to enjoy a cup of tea and a slice of this delicious cake. Yum!





May your days be steeped with joy
And warmed with love. 

Have a wonderful new week, dear friends, and God bless you! 


I am joining the following parties as well~

Share Your Cup
Home Sweet Home

Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi

Monday 15 October 2018

Pumpkin Tales

Fall....the time when everything bursts with its last beauty, as if nature had been saving up all year for the grand finale. ~ Lauren DeStefano

Welcome, dear friends! October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month so I am sharing some pink today.

This is a long post, so pour a cup of your favourite beverage and join me, won't you?

I like the softer side of Fall and I love pumpkins. I especially like the white ones because they are so wonderful for decorating with. 



I have painted a few Baby Boos over the years.
Of course some of the wee ones have to have a little sparkle like this pink one. Glitter makes everything prettier, don't you think?



But there is some orange around too. Our bird bath has a pumpkin squatting in it as is the norm this time of year.
I came across this little quote this morning which I thought was cute...

Advice From A Pumpkin
Be well-rounded
Get plenty of sunshine
Give thanks for life's bounty
Have a thick skin
Keep growing
Be outstanding in your field
Think big! ~ Ilan Shamer

What is it about pumpkins that fascinates us so?  



Could it be that deep down, it is our love of Cinderella? That sweet innocent fairy tale that lives on inside of each of us since we were little girls. At least for we girly-girls, I believe that to be true.



Courtesy of the Internet

I watched Disney's Cinderella movie again the other night and once again found it simply charming! Hubby watched it with me and we both really enjoyed it. Downton Abbey's Rose, played by Lily James, was simply delightful as Cinderella!



I still love the story of the young girl who was orphaned then forced to become a servant to her wicked step-mother and step-sisters. 


Courtesy of the Internet - Disney's Cinderella

Before her beloved mother died, Cinderella promised she would always "have courage and be kind." Because she had such a kind heart, she was adored by all but her step family. She had a very special rapport with all the little critters too and they were the best of friends. 
  
These are my niece's three adorable baby hamsters. She carved the pumpkin for them to play in. They are so tiny that all three of them can fit in your hand. I know Cinderella would have loved them and I thought how serendipitous it was that my niece posted this picture while I was getting this post ready.

....Getting back to the story, one day Cinderella had a visitor who transformed a pumpkin into a beautiful carriage. 

Courtesy of the Internet

The carriage whisked her away to the castle to attend the Prince's ball. 

When she arrived at the castle, all eyes were turned upon her including those of the Prince.

Courtesy of the Internet - Disney's Cinderella

The Prince and Cinderella only had eyes for one another and they danced away the evening until the clock began to strike midnight...

Courtesy of the Internet - Disney's Cinderella

As we know, Cinderella had to leave the gala quickly and while fleeing to her carriage, she lost one of her glass slippers.

Courtesy of the Internet - Disney's Cinderella

The Prince looked high and low for the maiden who had lost the glass slipper until he found her. Of course the slipper was a perfect fit. 

She forgave her step-mother for her treatment of her and as the story goes, the Prince and Cinderella fell in love, got married, and lived happily ever after! 

I thought Cinderella forgiving her wicked step-mother was a wonderful lesson for all of us.

All stories should have such a happy ending! 


Every second brings a fresh beginning,
Every hour holds a new promise,
Every night our dreams can bring hope and
Every day is what you choose to make it. ~ unknown author


Do you have time for tea? 



This is my Cinderella. Well, we'll pretend she's Cinderella.



This Royal Dalton figurine used to be my mother's but she gave it to me and it reminds me of Cinderella so she is joining us for tea today. As you can see her frock is the Royal Albert Lavender Rose pattern.


A Dream is a wish your Heart makes. ~ Cinderella



I am using my Royal Albert Flower of the Month teacup; the Cosmos to display my little golden bejewelled Baby Boo in. Kind of reminds me of Cinderella's coach.



The tea party is a spa for the soul. You leave your cares and work behind. ~ Alexandra Stoddard




For tea time, I am using my Aynsley teacup. It is a favourite because I love the crocus shape with the pink roses sprinkled all over the cup and saucer. The roses inside the cup add a little something special too. 





My Royal Albert New Country Roses teapot which was a Christmas gift a few years ago, holds our tea.



The tea is David's Tea Pumpkin Chai.



It is a black tea with cinnamon, cloves, lemon peel, squash, carrot, caramel, and wee pumpkin candies. The perfect tea for autumn and dare I say, Cinderella?


I have home made Cranberry muffins. The crunchy sugar topping makes them a sweet treat with the tart cranberries. 



The vintage butter knife is part of a set that once belonged to my mother.




Happiness cannot be travelled to, owned, earned, worn, or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude. ~ Denis Waitley








To all you beautiful ladies who have survived breast cancer, to those of you who are living with breast cancer, and to those of you who have lost a loved one to breast cancer or any cancer, my thoughts and prayers go out to you. God bless you all!


Thank you for stopping by today and I hope you enjoyed my post. Some of it is a re-post that I added to. 
I consider you my friends and I thank you for keeping me company for just a little while. Have a beautiful day everyone!

May God give you...

For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer. ~ An Irish prayer

 I am sharing this with ~


 Tuesday Cuppa Tea
Share Your Cup

Home Sweet Home

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Wednesday 10 October 2018

Thanksgiving

Life is a gift! Today, and every day you wake up, is a gift from God. Remember to thank Him for it.


Hello everyone ! I hope all my Canadian friends had a lovely and bountiful Thanksgiving!

Monday was turkey day in Canada. Roast turkey, potatoes and gravy, stuffing and cranberry sauce, and of course pumpkin pie with real whipped cream; what a feast! 


A few shots of Hubby's cousin's Thanksgiving table. She goes all out to set her table.




Give Thanks was attached to the two head chairs at the table.


I don't know about you, but I love turkey leftovers! I have any number of delicious recipes I can use the turkey in so I find it very economical. I like to make turkey pot pie, hot turkey sandwiches, "turkey" a la king, soup, casserole, turkey stir-fry, etc...What do you do with your leftovers? Do you even like leftovers?


Today it will be a quick cuppa tea and a piece of pumpkin pie. The cup and saucer are Skye McGhie called Pierced Lace.

The plate is part of a set of four my son gave me for Christmas two years ago. It is the under plate to a set of pumpkin soup bowls from Sur la Table and he got them in Colorado when he lived there.  

The lovely table topper underneath it all was part of a give away win from Bernideen several years ago. I bring it out every October.  

Question for you! I have my father's violin. When my middle son was a teenager and in band at school, my father gave him his violin. When my son graduated and left for the west coast to go to bible college, he left the violin here with me. I removed the strings and the bow is inside its case. I've had this violin hanging in the family room for years so no one really sees it. Now, what I'm about to tell you may horrify some of you! 

I have been wanting to paint it white and distress it for years and my son would never give me permission to do that. 
Well, seems he's had a change of heart especially since his nephew, my grandson, said I should paint it! My son feels it would be even more special to have Mom's stamp on it. So, now that I have my son's permission, I'm re-thinking whether I should or not. What do you think? Would you paint it or do you think it would be best to leave it as is?  

NOTE: I have decided to NOT paint the violin. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that painting it would alter it in every way. I wish to keep the integrity of it intact. Thank you everyone for commenting.
Some of you may remember this prayer that I used at the end of my HOME and No Place Like Home parties.


"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 bounty and Thy grace
Shine upon our dwelling place." ~ Edgar A. Guest

God bless you all and remember to be thankful every day. 




Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi

Monday 1 October 2018

October


I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. ~ LM Montgomery - Anne of Green Gables

Are you glad October is here? October is the time of year when we celebrate Thanksgiving here in Canada. Our kitchens will be filled with the wonderful smells of spicy and savoury goodness as we prepare for our big dinners next week. 

It is also the time of year when we really start thinking about the Holidays. There are lists to get ready and all sorts of preparations in the making. Of course, here in our home I don't start decorating until after Remembrance Day on November 11th.

And the sun took a step back
the leaves lulled themselves to sleep
and Autumn was awakened. ~ Raquel Franco


October is a colourful month because Autumn has arrived and with it, all its golden splendour. Nature is beginning to put on a final show before resting for the winter. We have become accustomed to fires burning in the fireplace and stove again. 

From His abundance we have received one Blessing after another. - John 1:16

I found these lovely hydrangeas at the grocery store. They have a tint of blue so I thought it was a good time to use my blue and white china.

Time to bring out the Blue Willow teapot. It's been a while since I've used it.



Instead of a sweet, today I'm serving tuna salad tea sandwiches cut into rounds and dressed up with cucumber and strips of pepper for a little eye appeal. A couple cubes of Swiss cheese round it off for a little nosh. What is your favourite tea sandwich?


These are sitting on a Johnson Brothers Devon Cottage plate.

I'm sipping my cinnamon rooibos chai tea again today. It is perfect for Fall. Pity Hubby doesn't like it! He's always insists on his Red Rose tea. 

Tea and tasty sandwiches, a world of beauty outside my window, and a happy home. I am content! What more could a girl ask for?

Life is a gift! Today, and every day you wake up, is a gift from God. Remember to thank Him for it.

With Thanksgiving next week, I'm wondering, what are you thankful for?

People who live the most fulfilling lives are the ones who are always rejoicing at what they have. ~ Richard Carlson 

I am joining the following party as well~

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

 Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi