Sugar Plum Fairy Tea for "Celebrate the Season" ~ Christmas Tea

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and makes everything more beautiful." ~ Norman Vincent Peale

Hello dear friends and welcome to this week's  Celebrate the Season ~ Christmas tea!

As I look out the window, there is a winter wonderland spread out before my eyes. We had a snowstorm yesterday and the new blanket of snow has covered up the remnants of dead leaves and all is bright and beautiful out there. It's a marshmallow world and it's a perfect day for a little fantasy!

"Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love." ~ Hamilton Wright Mabie{1845-1916}

I took my inspiration for today's tea from a favourite piece of Christmas music, The Nutcracker Suite. Most of us are familiar with the story of Clara and the Sugar Plum Fairy who introduces Clara to the Land of Sweets. A little fantasy is fun for a change, don't you think? Especially at this time year! Are you feeling a little nostalgic?

The Nutcracker Ballet was first performed on December 18, 1892 in St. Petersburg, Russia. It is one of the most famous ballets to be performed this time of the year. I have never had the pleasure of seeing a live performance but I would love to.

"Would you like an adventure now or would you like your tea first?" ~ Peter Pan

My table is sitting in front of the Christmas tree which I think lends a magical feel to our tea today. So please make yourself at home as we indulge in some spicy Christmas tea and lots of goodies.

My Sugar Plum fairy is dancing about in her lovely white tutu while the Nutcracker looks on.

"She balanced on one toe on the floor and spun around in a tutu that looked as though it had been fashioned from clouds and snowflakes. " ~ The Nutcracker

The Gingerbread house plays "The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy." When you ring the door bell  the gum drops on the roof light up and keep time with the music. It's a child's delight!

This green Staffordshire teacup trio is a set I found in town a couple of weeks ago. It is made in England and represents the charm of the country  so well.

I think they look lovely paired with the creamy white.

I didn't have any green transferware in my collection so I was thrilled to find these!

                         

Most of you know that I am totally smitten with transferware! I love the different pastoral scenes and the lovely borders each piece is adorned with. I find it so very charming. How about you, do you like transferware? Do you like to collect it? 

My other teacup is one you've seen before, Cream Lace made by Skye McGhee. It has such a sweet saucer.

At Christmas-time, I really enjoy the holiday teas such as this Stash Holiday Chai.

The teapot is also Cream Lace by Skye McGhee.

My Land of Sweets consists of a fruit cake I made
for the holidays.

There are also some mincemeat tarts, melt-in-your-mouth Swedish Butter Balls, and Snowballs.

I hope you're not watching your waistline!

There are gum drops and candy canes and chocolate of course.

"Tykes on sleds and shouts of glee, icy-window filigree, sugarplums and candle glow, part of Christmas long ago." ~ Jo Geis




I plan to share my fruit cake recipe at my HOME for the Holidays party on Wednesday. I have been making this cake for over thirty years and I have never had one fail me. It is a lovely buttery cake and even those who don't care for fruit cake do like this one. 

Happiness is sharing tea with a friend.


"Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time." ~ Laura Ingalls Wilder

Thank you for joining me for tea today. I hope you have enjoyed your visit. Next week, I will be sharing an Angelic Tea so please join me once again for Celebrate the Season ~ Christmas Tea.

"Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, And love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children In Thy tender care,
And take us to heaven, To live with Thee there." ~
From the Christmas carol "Away in  a Manger" - John T. McFarland, {1851-1913} John R. Murray, {1841-1905}

Merry Christmas!

I am joining the following parties as well~

Pink Saturday~ http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/
Inspire Me Tuesday ~ http://www.astrollthrulife.net/
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/
Friends Sharing Tea~ http://blog.bernideens.com/
What's It Wednesday~ http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/
Share Your Cup Thursday~ http://jannolson.blogspot.com/
Home Sweet Home~ http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

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