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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 2 January 2019

Home for Christmas

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

Happy New Year, dear friends, and welcome back to Rose Chintz Cottage! I trust you all enjoyed a wonderful holiday with family and friends. We certainly did.

We had two snow storms in a row the week our boys flew in and we were walking on eggshells wondering if they could get in or not. They did fly in and right on time too; just before midnight. Apparently the landing was a bit bumpy but they made it for which we were very thankful! Home for Christmas! 

We had another snow storm yesterday. It's going to be a lo-n-g winter this year.

"She had a good sleep that night and had awakened in the morning to find herself and the world transformed. It had snowed softly and thickly all through the hours of darkness and the beautiful whiteness, glittering in the frosty sunshine, looked like a mantle of charity cast over all the mistakes and humiliations of the past." from LM Montgomery- Anne of Green Gables. 

Back to our Christmas and company... 
There were eight of us around the dinner table on Christmas Day. The first time in a number of years that we had that many sharing Christmas dinner with us. I had a lot of help so it was great!

We were busy visiting, and eating, of course. Dinner was perfect; the turkey, the gravy and the dressing, the whipped potatoes and the Brussels sprouts, the candied carrots and turnip. Not to mention, the apple pie, pumpkin pie, and raspberry cream pie smothered in whipped cream. Yes, we had a grand feast.

I had a birthday too and one of the boys made me this spectacular cake the day before they left! The icing was a dark chocolate ganache which he beat until it was spreadable. The cake is topped off with strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries. Isn't it lovely? He made the whole thing from start to finish.

Cakes are special. Every birthday, every celebration ends with something sweet, a cake, and people remember. It's all about the memories. ~ Buddy Valastro

The table was set and the cake took centerstage. It was a wonderful treat to eat that cake with my guys.
All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt. ~ Charles M. Schulz



They also brought me flowers for the dinner table but I should have taken a picture when I first got them. They are starting to wilt a bit, but still beautiful!

The guys wanted to help decorate a tree so I left the four foot one till they got here. I think they did a pretty good job.



One of the gifts I received this year from my guys was this antique teacup and saucer which was found in a Michigan antique shop. 

It is made by Lefton china and hand painted with a cardinal and sprigs of holly and berries with the number 1297 on it. The teacup is footed and both pieces are trimmed in gold. The boys know I like cardinals so they thought it was perfect for me. I would love to see a real cardinal someday!

Being a bit of a collector, I was curious about Lefton china so I looked it up on the Internet. 
George Zoltan Lefton arrived in the US from Hungary to Illinois in 1939. Previously, he had made his living in sportswear, but his passion for fine china turned from a hobby into a business when he founded the Lefton Company in 1941 in Chicago. The Lefton mark can be found on a wide array of pottery, porcelain, and glass. 

I'm still using my Ganz teapot and the Royal Stafford teacup. The December cup has been put away for another year. So I'm enjoying my tea in this pretty vintage Lefton china cup with a slice of my cake.

It's a brand new year. A good time to reflect on the blessings of the past year but also a time to look ahead and set goals for the future. CS Lewis once said, "You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream."

Do you have a goal or dream for 2019?
Thank you for your visit and enjoy your day.


 Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi

13 comments :

  1. How lovely to have your family with you for Christmas. It makes it extra special doesn't it? I love the little teacup and saucer. Such a pretty little thing and I bet you bring it out every year now... Or maybe drink tea from it throughout the winter months... I certainly would

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  2. I love all your photos and a very happy Birthday! That cake looked scrumptious. My dream for 2019 is to visit Maine. We hope to stay in the Portland Area. I have always wanted to see PEI, maybe another year. I think all of us who watched the Sarah Polley, Anne of Green Gables, want to visit her home.

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  3. What delicious cake...I love your gorgeous cardinal teacup!Happy 2019!

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  4. Happy New Year and Belated Birthday, Sandi! So glad that you had a wonderful Christmas visit with your family.

    Your son's birthday cake made my mouth water. I have the exact same Lefton cardinal teacup--I acquired it a few years ago from a thrift store.

    I've been battling a nasty cold over the last week so I haven't really thought much of my 2019 goals...

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  5. Happy belated birthday dear Sandi . What a beautiful tea cup . I love the red birds . Such a sweet gift . So glad your boys made it safely and you all enjoyed s wonderful Christmas . That cake! My mercy what a beautiful cake . Too pretty to eat . You are having lots of snow . Stay warm friend . Reflect on your seeet Christmas and birthday . Happy New Year . Hugs and blessings , Cindy

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  6. Sandi, your menu sounds perfect--not a thing on it I wouldn't like! Your boy did a fabulous job of that cake--beautiful! Love that "never too old" quote. Hadn't yet thought of a goal or dream for 2019, but now you've got me thinking.

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  7. What a wonderful Christmas you had with your family gathered round your table! I can imagine it was truly sweet from start to finish. And that birthday cake! What a masterpiece! Happy Birthday, btw! You are blessed to have such thoughtful sons...that teacup is beautiful. Love the cardinal. I am sorry that you do not have them there. We have so many here, I would be happy to share some with you if I could!! My goal for 2019 is hopefully to sell our house and move to the little community north of here where our son and his wife live, and where we are now attending church. It is about 30 miles away. Also, my "One Word" for 2019 is "Abundance"...not in the material sense, but in a true spiritual sense...waiting on God to show me the way to more abundant life in Him. Should be a great year. Praying for you and and yours to have a wonderfully blessed New Year!

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  8. Happy Birthday Sandi. What a beautiful cake. It sure looked delicious. I have that cardinal cup and saucer. I found it in Dec. at a Thrift Shop. For the first time ever, I had a cardinal at my feeder in Gaspé last Fall, and they have been sited in New Brunswick. It must be climate change. Hopefully they will go your way and you'll see one. Happy New Year.

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  9. The best part of all was being with your boys, dear Sandi! Didn't they spoil you with the most spectacular birthday cake and the pretty cardinal teacup? I do see cardinals every now and then in my backyard, and someone told me that they are messengers from heaven. Your Christmas menu sounded perfect, and I know was enjoyed by all. Happy Birthday and Happy New Year, my friend. Yes, I dream of good things to happen this year and pray that they do.

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  10. What a wonderful Christmas for you all and I can tell it was extra special having your boys with you!
    What a cake- its amazing! Did you teach him to bake?
    "happy Birthday" and many more to come.
    Wishing you, peace, good health and happiness in the coming year.
    Shane x

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  11. Your Christmas sounds like a most delightful time with your boys. How sweet that they wanted to decorate a tree, and that one of them made that gorgeous cake! I often wonder just which direction Anne was looking in some of the descriptions in the Green Gables books. Love those quotes.
    Happy Birthday. Happy New Year!

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  12. Beautiful and delicious pictures. Have a happy 2019. Greetings.

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  13. Sandi- What a beautiful recap of the year. If no one has told you lately- your blog is just beautiful! I love that the 'kids' wanted to decorate a tree and I bet they had a ball doing it. I can't believe one of your boys (well-I really do believe it) made you that gorgeous cake from start to finish. How special is that!!!

    Your footed cardinal cup is beautiful. I don't know much about that manufacturer but glad you found some info. We have lots of cardinals here. They are gorgeous but are quite territorial and chase the other birds from the feeders. Good thing they are pretty so that we can love them. lol

    Have a wonderful week and a great 2019!!! xo Diana

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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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