Tea Time Tuesday

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

Hello my lovely tea friends and welcome to my 81st Tea Time Tuesday.

Vacation is over and it's back to work for Hubby today. Sad to say, our Summer vacation did not offer us our frequent visits to our gorgeous beaches this year because the weather just wasn't warm enough. We did however spend the entire day there yesterday and it was so appreciated after a cool and wet Summer. We did enjoy many outings and daycations the few weeks he was off though. I will share some photos later in the week of some of the places we have visited.

While Hubby and I were visiting my relatives in New Brunswick, my cousin and I went junking one evening. While browsing one second hand store, we found some wonderful treasures! Wanna see?

But before I show you what I found at the thrift store, I want to share this little beauty I found at HomeSense. A sweet footed dish with basket weave detail and a little birdie perched on it. It is made by Gracie China and can be used for all sorts of things; candy, compote, cookies, fruit, flowers, etc... I have decided to float some roses in it today.

At the thrift store, I found this...

Pretty? I wonder whose table it once graced.

Was it the center of many tea parties?

Perhaps it was once a wedding or an anniversary gift.

I thought it very cute and elegant too; lots of lovely detail and ornamentation.

I cleaned it all up and arranged it on my silver tray which also needed to be polished. I do like the patina of silver but today I thought I would share it in all its sparkle. The tray was an Anniversary gift a few years ago. 

I placed a doiley on the tray then I set the coffee/teapot in the upper right corner of the tray. In front of the teapot I placed two teacups. In the upper left corner, is a vase of flowers. In the bottom left corner, is the cream and sugar. A napkin is placed in between the c/s and teacups. On the napkin, the silverware is placed with the handles pointing out towards the guests. This is usually the proper way in which to set a tea tray.
I have sprinkled some rose petals around too. It looks and smells wonderful. I have not included a receptacle for holding hot water which should go between the vase of flowers and the teapot.

I am using Judith's ~ http://lavendercottagegardening.blogspot.com/   silver sugar tong today as well as two teacups, Rose Chintz by Gracie China and Rose Bud by Maxwell and Williams.

I thought these teacups looked pretty with the rose petals.

My mother's Oneida silverware is a pretty good match to the silver teapot, cream and sugar. Notice the little flowers.

The flowers are almost identical!

I have no idea who made the silver tea service as there are no marks on it.

I am loving the little feet!

Ah, silver and roses!

I was quite pleased to find this silver service as I had been looking for one for quite some time. It was a great find at a great price too. I'm afraid my photos don't do it justice. It truly is a pretty thing with a mirror finish!

If I should invite just one special guest to join me for afternoon tea, I'd pick someone who knows all my faults and even still, loves me.

This Summer has been such a disappointment beach wise but it did offer us a few trips to antique shops and such. My roses have been in bloom longer than usual too. So, it would seem there are blessings to be found even in our disappointments.

Next week, I have even more finds to share with you.... Isn't this fun?

"Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart." ~ Psalm 37:4


I am delighted you have stopped by today and I hope you have enjoyed seeing my new finds.
I would love for you to join me for Tea Time Tuesday! All you have to do is share a favourite tea cup or teapot, a coffee mug, or something tea related. If you wish, you may do coffee instead of tea or the following is acceptable too: apple cider, iced tea or iced coffee, hot chocolate, lemonade, or punch. The TTT button on my sidebar is available for you to use in your post or place on your sidebar if you wish. A poem, tea quote, or scripture verse would be more than welcome! Please link back to me so that your visitors may find their way here to visit with all my lovely participants.

I am joining the following parties as well~

Kathy~ http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/
Victoria - A Return to Loveliness

Marty~  http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/
Table Top Tuesday

Martha~  http://www.marthasfavorites.com/
Teacup Tuesday
Terri~  http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/
Teacup Tuesday

Wanda Lee~  http://silkenpurse.blogspot.com/
Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday
Pam~  http://breathoffreshair-paperbutterfly.blogspot.com/
Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday
Wanda Lee~  http://theplumedpen.blogspot.com/
Tea For Two and Wednesday Tea For Me and Thee

Trisha~  http://sweetology101.blogspot.com/
Tea Party Tuesday

Lady Katherine~  http://ladykatherineteaparlor.blogspot.com/
Teatime Tuesday

Trish~  http://angelwingsandapronstrings.blogspot.com/
L.A.C.E.

Miss Spenser~  http://missspensersblog.blogspot.com/
Teacup Thursday

Sherry~  http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/
Home Sweet Home

Debra~  http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com/
Vintage Inspiration Friday



Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Pink Saturday - Spiritual Sundays Miracle Weekend Party

It's A Miracle Makeover Weekend

Hello friends and welcome to another Miracle Makeover Weekend with Kelee Katillac, Pink Saturday,  Spiritual Sundays, and Country Wings in Phoenix.

It is a pleasure to participate in these parties especially this weekend as it is for a very good cause!
Please go to these links to watch a video and meet the Grady Bunch. This is a story about 8 year old Charlie Grady who has brain tumors. His is a heart warming story. When he was five years old, "Charlie Santa," undergoing chemotherapy himself, began leading a toy drive to help other kids with cancer have a happier holiday.

It is sure to tug at your heartstrings! Every comment left on any one of these blogs earns one dollar towards Friends of Kids With Cancer.

Kelee Katillac - http://www.katillacshack.com/  or http://www.designgivesback.com/
Beverly - http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/
Charlotte and Ginger - http://bloggerspirit.blogspot.com/
Sherry - http://countrywingsinphoenix.blogspot.com/
Susan - http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

My Pink Saturday/Spiritual Sundays offering this week is a combination of the two parties. I have posted this with a very thankful heart to God and my family. I have had two cancer scares myself and both turned out to be benign. The most recent one was just a few weeks ago.

Now for some pink!
I have some eye candy which was found while visiting my relatives in New Brunswick, Canada. My cousin and I had gone junking and at one place she found these. There were two of each.

Two pink depression glass bowls and two little goblets. The goblets are etched; very sweet! Can you see the etching? The goblets also have a gentle green pedestal.

Do you see the pink floral dishes on which the bowl and goblet are sitting?

My cousin gave me these dishes from her collection! She collects blue china and I collect pink/red. So, out of the goodness of her heart, she gave me these three dinner plates, three salad plates, three bread and butter plates, and three teacups. The pattern is Victorian Chintz made by Burleigh Staffordshire England. Aren't they pretty?

She also gave me the two pink depression glass bowls and goblets because she thought that I would like them. Wasn't that darling of her? My cousin has a heart of gold! Thank you, Val!

While shopping with my cousin, I also came across this pretty white footed dish. Isn't it sweet?

I love the little birdie and the basket weave pattern on it. I have any number of uses for it but today, I am floating my pink roses for Pink Saturday in it.

Next to the footed dish, is a pretty peachy-pink teacup which my hubby gifted me with a while ago. It is vintage and has beautiful posies of every hue on the inside of the cup, including pink!

Have you ever thought about the process a teacup has to go through to look beautiful? I have never made a china teacup but I have made ceramic pieces before. It is quite a long process but I'll give you the shorter version...

A teacup starts out as a piece of clay which the potter moulds in his hands. He designs it, shapes it, chooses the artwork, and fires it. When the teacup comes out of the oven, it is finished and ready to be used. The potter looks at his work and admires it. It is his treasure which he has created and in which he is very pleased.

Our lives are like the teacup. We too are made of clay, designed and moulded by our Creator who loves us. Every one of us goes through trials and times of  testing, or firing. When the firing is finished, we are beautiful, just like the teacup and hopefully, stronger because of the trial we have endured. He has designed us on purpose and for His glory.

"It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Him and got our hopes up, He had His eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the over-all purpose He is working out in everything and everyone." ~  Ephesians 1: 11-12 {The Message}

Thank you for stopping by my blog today. I hope you liked what you see; a little pink eye candy as well as some food for thought. Thank you to all the ladies who have joined together this weekend to make it special for Charlie and others like him. God bless you all and be sure to visit the links above and leave a comment to earn dollars for Friends of Kids With Cancer. Wishing you all a delightful weekend.

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi