HOME for the Holidays

"Christmas is a season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame for charity in the heart." ~ Washington Irving

Welcome dear friends to my "HOME for the Holidays" Christmas Party!

Christmas is on its way and time is really flying by. I find the busier I am, the quicker time goes. Soon it will be time to hang the stockings.
But in the meantime, do take some time to enjoy the music and the sparkle. Pour yourself some hot chocolate or tea and savour the special season we are in.

I finally have my tree finished. It is much more than a Christmas tree, it is really what I call my Memory Tree because it is filled with memories and gifts from family members and friends.

I used two kinds of sheer ribbon and added more white lights this year. All the colours are soft and give the tree a fairy like appearance. I really like the way it looks.

I will share just a few of my 'memories' with you. A trio of angels under a cloche covered with snow  was gifted to me by my oldest son and his wife.

A porcelain Lena Liu butterfly ornament was gifted to me by my mother.

 This is a little drum which was one of the very first ornaments Hubby and I ever got for our first Christmas tree. It's been around for a long time!

This ornament came from my second son when he was eight years old. I love rocking hoses!

This glass harp was the last Christmas ornament  my best friend gave me before she went home to be with the Lord. I will always cherish it.

A teddy bear drummer gifted to me by my youngest son. All three of my sons play the drums, by the way. They are all very musical.

I have so many special 'memories' that it would take an entire post to share them with you.

This week, I am hosting a Celebrate the Season ~ Christmas Tea party.

My little tree sits sweetly in a toile hat box.

I think Royal Albert's Old Country Roses is perfect for December because of its rich golden, red, and deep pink roses. The teapot was a birthday present from my family this past year. I found the matching sugar and creamer while out thrifting last Summer.

I made Snowballs for our tea this week and promised to share the recipe today.

This recipe comes from an old Purity cookbook that I got when I was first married. Every Christmas I made these little nuggets and my children love them. Hope you do too.

Snowballs
Mix until smooth:
1- 4oz. package softened cream cheese
Gradually blend in:
1-1/2 cups sifted icing sugar
1 cup vanilla wafer crumbs {or graham wafer crumbs}
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup chopped maraschino cherries
Cover and refrigerate for one hour.
Shape into 1 inch balls.
Roll in vanilla wafer crumbs. I used graham wafer crumbs.  Chill. Makes about three dozen cookies.

I was hard pressed to choose some features from last week's party because there were so many fabulous posts which caught my eye. However,  these are my picks for this week:

 Joy @ a Vintage Green shared her wonderful holiday vignette using graters. Isn't it pretty?



Eileen @ The Pink Home shared her darling little pink tree.




Kitty at Kitty's Kozy Kitchen shared her recipe for a delicious ham and potato soup. Yum!

Judy @ Gold Country Cottage welcomed Christmas with a variety of vignettes but this is the one that really caught my eye. I love her little truck under the cloche! Isn't it adorable?
Judy also had the most views on her post; Congratulations!

Debbie @ Debbie-Dabble Christmas showed off the outside of her home all decked out for Christmas. Beautifully done!

Penny @ Penny's Vintage Home simply stole my heart with her darling vignette of dollies decorating the tree in her bedroom. Being a doll lover, I couldn't resist this one.



Carmen @ Country Blessings shared her tree of memories. She has such special little ornaments each representing her children. Charming!

Thank you sweet friends for visiting today. And thank you for welcoming us into your homes every week. I appreciate each and every one of you and I especially love it when you leave a comment to let me know you have been here. 

If you have a HOME related post please feel free to link up with my party. I would love to see what you have to share with us.

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

Jesus is the Reason for the Season!

I am happy to join these parties this week~

What's It Wednesday~ http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/
Home and Garden Thursday ~ http://www.adelightsomelife.com/
Creating Christmas ~ http://jannolson.blogspot.com/
Home Sweet Home~ http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

"Celebrate the Season" ~ Christmas Tea

"Celebrate the happiness that friends are always giving, make everyday a holiday and celebrate just living." ~ Amanda Bradley


Hello all my lovely friends and a warm welcome to my "Celebrate the Season" ~ Christmas Tea!

We just had our first snow storm of the season the other day and it was wicked! We are expecting more snow today. It's a good day for baking and at the moment there is a fruit cake baking in the oven.

"Kindness is like snow. It beautifies everything it covers." ~ Anonymous

"Remember this December, that love weighs more than gold."~ Josephine D.D. Bacon


My teapot and teacups are all decorated with roses. Roses in December is my theme for today's tea.

I think Royal Albert Old Country Roses is a lovely pattern for December because of the deep red and gold roses and the amount of gold trim adorning  the pieces. The teapot was a birthday gift from my family this past year and the sugar and creamer were finds last Summer.

"What a lovely thing a rose is." ~ Sir Arthur Conan Doyle



I am using my silver sugar tong from Judith which she gifted me with a few years ago.

Royal Albert Old Country Roses boasts a rich array of red, golden yellow, and deep pink florals for December.

 A Royal Albert Old English Rose teacup that looks lovely with the other.

"God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December." ~ JM Barrie

Please make yourself at home as we enjoy some hot chai tea and some homemade cookies in the soft glow of my little Christmas tree.

"What is the Christmas spirit? It is the spirit which brings a smile to the lips and tenderness to the heart; It is the spirit which warms one into friendship with all the world, which impels one to hold out the hand of fellowship to every man and woman." ~ Anonymous

I made some of my children's favourite Christmas cookies for our tea today. They are called, SnowBalls, and they are delicious! I will share the recipe at my HOME party on Wednesday.

I'm not sure why they're called Snowballs because they are not white. The recipe is from an old Purity cookbook. These are simple little nuggets filled with cherries and oh, so good with a cup of tea or two!

"Love and friendship are the best sweeteners of tea." ~ Unknown

Please help yourself as I have plenty of these little goodies and a little something sweet is always nice with a cuppa tea.

Next week, I hope you will join me once again as I host a Sugar Plum Fairy Tea for our "Celebrate the Season ~ Christmas Tea."  

Merry Christmas! dear friends and thank you for visiting today. If you have a pretty teacup or teapot, a coffee mug, or tablescape, please link up and I will be happy to come and visit you.

"In the light of that star,  Lie the ages impearled;
And that song from afar Has swept over the world.
Every hearth is aflame, and the beautiful sing
In the homes of the nations That Jesus is King!" ~ From the Christmas Song, "There's a Song in the Air"- Josiah G. Holland {1819-1881} Karl P. Harrington {1861-1953}

I am joining the following parties as well~

Bernideen for her "2013 Christmas Thyme Tea"

Sherry for her Home Sweet Home Christmas Linky Party

A Return to Loveliness ~ http://www.adelightsomelife.com/
Tea Cup Tuesday~ http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/
Tea Cup Tuesday ~ http://www.marthasfavorites.com/
Tuesday Cuppa Tea~ http://www.antiquesandteacups.info/
Share Your Cup Thursday~ http://jannolson.blogspot.com/


Sharing from my heart~ Sandi