Tea Time Tuesday

Good morning all my bloggy friends~

Welcome to my little blog and the second post of my new adventure in blogging; "Tea Time and Testimonials."

The little button above is courtesy of Olde Dame Penniwig. I thought it would make the perfect button! Thank you Ms. Penniwig. You can visit her here http://penniwigs.blogspot.com/

The tea set I would like to share with you today is my beloved Rose Chintz. It is produced by Johnson Bros. of England and pieces are very hard to come by. All of the original pieces will be found bearing this stamp as well as the green mark. There are reproductions today which are dishwasher safe and microwaveable. Most of mine are the originals and have been given to me by my sweet Auntie P. Some I have also found on eBay. I love the pretty flowers that adorn the dishes and because I am a girly-girl, I love anything pink or has roses on it.

Would you care for some tea? There are freshly baked carrot muffins as well as chocolate truffles in the little candy dish. Please help yourself. The little birdie has also dropped by to say hello.

Today's post I have taken from the little book, "Tea Time with God." It's a rather long excerpt but I rather enjoyed it; hope you do too.

The brief respite known as afternoon tea is said to have been the creation of Anna, Duchess of Bedford, in the nineteenth century. At that time the English customarily ate a hearty breakfast, paused for a light lunch at midday, and didn't return to the table until late evening. Understandably hungry long before dinner, the duchess asked to have a small meal served in her private quarters in the late afternoon. Eventually, she invited close friends to share the repast. The sensible custom was quickly adopted throughout England.

While the Duchess' invitation of tea time was aimed at nourishment of her body, she and the rest of England soon discovered that adding beautiful china and good friends to the occasion also nourished the soul. In fact, the real value of formal tea lies in its ability to enrich and brighten the everyday routine by stressing the importance of courtesy and friendship.

We are wise to recognize our need for a "spiritual tea time" each day. Even if we have a "hearty breakfast" in the Word each morning, there may be times when the pressures of the day come to bear in late afternoon. Our spirits long for a little peace and refreshment in the presence of our loving Saviour. Just as enjoying a muffin with a few sips of tea can give something of a lift to our lagging physical energy level, a quick prayer or voicing of praise can give our spirit a lift.

Set aside some time in the middle of the afternoon to turn your attention to the beauty of life that the Lord has set before you. Find beauty and comfort in the people around you, the flowers on the table, or simply the delicious aroma of tea brewing. Create a few moments away from the hustle and bustle of your life before returning to the tasks that await you. Give thanks to the Lord for sharing His presence with you.

"He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul." ~ Psalm 23: 2-3

This post I would like to dedicate to my sweet Uncle Doug, a true English gentleman, who hails from merry old England, settled in Canada, and married my sweet Auntie P. A true Brit, he loves his tea time in the late afternoon! Love you Uncle Doug!

Thank you for stopping by for Tea Time today. I would be delighted if you also shared a photo of a favourite teacup, china mug, or tea pot along with a short story, testimonial, or scripture verse. Perhaps you would like to share a favourite recipe with your tea time post. I will be happy to add your link if you want to participate, just let me know. All you need to do is grab the button on my sidebar.

Heather @~ http://thewattsfamilyhomeschool.blogspot.com/

Have a beautiful day and God bless you.

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Trees

Good afternoon everyone~ Winter has arrived here on the Island and our trees out back were dressed in their snowy white garments after the storm we had last Friday. As much as I don't like the Winter, I have to admit, the new snow is beautiful and just brightens every thing up.

This is one of the pictures taken on our trip to Vancouver in January. That is me standing inside this massive tree trunk. One could have a picnic inside that tree, it is so big! I could not get over the size of the trees to be seen in British Columbia! Beautiful!

Today I would like to share a poem with you.

TREES

Many a tree is found in the wood,

And every tree for its use is good:

Some for the strength of the gnarled root,

Some for the sweetness of flower or fruit,

Some for the shelter against the storm,

And some to keep the hearthstone warm;

Some for the roof and some for the beam,

And some for a boat to breast the stream.

In the wealth of the wood since the world began,

The trees have offered their gifts to man.

But the glory of trees is more than their gifts:

'Tis a beautiful wonder of life that lifts

From a wrinkled seed in an earthbound clod

A column, an arch in the temple of God,

A pillar of power, a dome of delight,

A shrine of song and a joy of sight!

Their roots are the nurses of rivers in birth,

Their leaves are alive with the breath of the earth;

They shelter the dwellings of man, and they bend

O'er his grave with the look of a loving friend.

I have camped in the whispering forest of pines

I have slept in the shadow of olives and vines;

In the knees of an oak, at the foot of a palm,

I have found good rest and slumber's balm.

And now, when the morning gilds the boughs

Of the vaulted elm at the door of my house,

I open the window and make a salute:

"God bless thy branches and feed thy root!

Thou hast lived before, live after me,

Thou ancient, friendly, faithful tree!" ~ Henry Van Dyke

Thank you for stopping by today. I hope you will come by and join me tomorrow for "Tea Time Tuesdays and Testimonies." Have wonderful day friends.

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi