Midsummer Moments

If you were to ask what is most important in a home, I would say happy memories. ~ Lillian Gish

Hello dear friends! I'm back! I have been hiding under a mountain of laundry the past few days which is what happens when your family comes home for a visit. 

Call me old-fashioned but I believe that...creating a home your family loves to be...a place that nudges your loved ones to happily sigh,"Ahhh...it's good to be home!"...it makes everyone feel loved and nurtured. ~ unknown

My children never fail to say this when they come home. And it never fails to make my heart swell with gladness to hear them say it. I feel like all the preparations I've made are worth it. They are very good at telling me I make the best spaghetti or the best potato salad, etc. "'No one can make seafood chowder like Mom.'" I feel like I have accomplished what I set out to do. They know everything I do for them is because I love them. My guys are the best!

We had such a wonderful visit! The grandchildren are growing like weeds and we see such a change in them. I've seen the biggest change in my little seven year old granddaughter. She has gotten taller, quieter and loves pretty clothes. And cat ears! She wore them everywhere.

She loves shopping and she got a few t-shirts adorned with those sequins that change colour when you swipe them in a different direction. I told her I wish I had one because I love bling. I think it's the little girl in me. Jenna-Lynn also loves tie-dyed t-shirts. What fun to have a little girl around! As most of you know, I had three boys and then four grandsons before our little princess joined our family. I love them all to pieces but you can imagine the novelty of having a little girl around for a couple of weeks. 

I did not get to have tea time with Jenna-Lynn because I was "taking it easy" after sustaining my injuries just before they came. With a stretch bandage around my mid-section, it was pretty uncomfortable between the pain and the sizzling heat which more or less zapped me of energy. 

It is still hot, hot, hot! All July and now into August we are getting incredibly warm weather which is great for the beach combers. It is unusual weather for the Island especially with such a long run of it. 

Now, for a couple of minutes, I'm going to be one of those annoying grandmothers who shows off  pictures of her grandchildren. 

My granddaughter loves to do ballet.

She's very nimble, the way I used to be. I love watching her do the splits because I used to be able to do them too. My mother always said I was double-jointed.

Papa and I treated the kids to ice cream at Cows one evening when their mom and dad went out on a date night.

Hubby cut the top of the cow's head off but other than that, it's a great picture.

We all enjoyed breakfast together at the PEI Preserve Company. My sweet DIL and my grandson, Zachary.

My granddaughter colouring a picture for us with her daddy looking on who needed a shave.

We visited my mother who was overjoyed to see them. My DIL put some music on and Jenna-Lynn did some ballet for her great-grandmother. It made Mom's day! Mom is less than a month from her 89th birthday.

They loved walking around Charlottetown and enjoyed the sights and sounds as well as many ice cream cones.

I think they helped keep Cows Ice Cream in business while they were here because they ate a lot of it. 

We are having one of the hottest summers I can remember so many days were spent on the beach. They had so much fun! 

There is Beauty to be found in every Moment. ~ unknown

Boomer loved the beach too. 

My beautiful DIL; the daughter I never had. 

They spent a couple of evenings out at the beach so they could watch the sun set. The beach has to be one of the most beautiful places to be when the sun is going down.

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments that take our breath away. ~ Unknown

Jenna-Lynn capturing the sun. 

We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures that we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open. ~ Jawaharlal Nehru

My DIL did this split photo which I love. 

My son brought me home an iPhone so soon I will be able to take pictures like this too. I've heard people say that a camera is becoming obsolete and judging by some of the photos that have been taken with Hubby's phone, that may be so. I know his phone has taken some pictures that far outshine my camera and I have a good camera. Anyway, it will be fun to experiment.

One last shot of the beach at sunset. We all love shots taken on the beach when the sun is setting. There is just something magical about it. God created a beautiful world for us to enjoy.

One of our many red dirt roads that they like to drive down.

We enjoyed wonderful family dinners and outings together. My DIL snapped this shot of my middle son and me at a restaurant where our family gathered for a meal. This was a special moment.

I have oodles more photos but this is enough for now. 

Come for tea...I really need a cup after another load of laundry and I still have lots to do.
I'm having Earl Grey today. I still have a few sweets left over from my family's visit because I tucked a few away for my hubby. I had to hide them because my son, not the kids, just about cleaned me out. He kept sneaking them. *smiles*

I thought tea out on the deck would be nice before it gets too hot but it was already too hot. 

Aynsley made in England.

Summer made by Royal Albert. 

So I quickly took some pictures and moved indoors.

May you always have...Tea beside the fire, laughter to cheer you, those you love near you, and all your heart might desire. ~ an Irish blessing 



Thank you for your visit today. I know this was a long post but I wanted to share with you my family's visit. I hope you enjoyed it. God bless you and I'll see you next time. 


I am sharing this with these parties~

Tea In The Garden
Home Sweet Home~ http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/

Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi

Smitten!

You never know what peace is until you walk on the shores or in the fields or along the winding red roads of Prince Edward Island in a summer twilight when the dew is falling and the old stars are peeping out and the sea keeps its mighty tryst with the little land it loves. You find your soul then. You realize that youth is not a vanished thing but something that dwells forever in the heart. ~ L M Montgomery

Smitten? Yes, I am smitten with our little Island this time of year! I can't think of any other place I'd rather be in the summertime. 

The beaches, the old red roads one can happen upon while taking a drive out in the country, and because we are out away from the city, one can see clearly the stars overhead at night. 

One might even catch a glimpse of fireflies darting among the trees in our back yard at dusk. Intriguing little creatures, they are! They have been a source of inspiration for years, for young and old alike.

I am also completely smitten by roses in the garden...

...in a flower shop, and under a glaze on beautiful china. Oh, I do love other flowers as well but there is just something about a rose with their satiny petals enfolded around a bud. They look as though they are giving each other a hug. They really are the flowers of love.

God opens millions of flowers without forcing the buds. It reminds us to not force anything, for things happen in the right time. ~ unknown

It's July and it was my father's birthday month. Every July I use my Old Country Roses which he was always fond of.

I love each piece adorned with deep red, pink, and yellow roses. Almost every piece I have was gifted to me by my family. It's like a little bower on the table when I have set out this china. 

Royal Albert Old Country Roses is a unique, iconic design, and the world's most popular china pattern in the world. It was designed by Harold Holdcroft in 1962 who took his inspiration from English country gardens where there was a riot of colour. Each piece is trimmed in 22kt gold which gives the china an extravagant appearance. The handles are an 18th century rococo style that goes well with the fluted saucers and plates. Thank you, Mr. Holdcroft, you have given us a beautiful pattern that will grace our tables for decades to come!

The very sight of a teapot puts a smile on the face of most people. One cannot help but think of more serene and genteel times. ~ Barbara Roberts

Friday morning I thought I had broken my rib again so Hubby had to get all the china down on to the table for me. Turns out I ripped a muscle in my ribcage which will take as long or longer to heal than a broken rib. Unfortunately, my son and his family are arriving this week and I'm going to have to take it easy AGAIN. I enjoy being in the kitchen and making everything special for my family. I pray one of these years I will be fine and all will be well when they come home. One of my sons threatened to tie me to a chair and I think that may happen yet. *smiles* 

This sweet china basket was my mother's which my father gifted her with. I keep my little tea spoons in it when using OCR.

I made a pan of No Bake Peanut Butter Bars. The recipe I will share below. I found it years ago at Six Sisters Stuff  

Some we will enjoy today but the majority of them will be frozen for when my family arrives.

No Bake Peanut Butter Bars

1 cup butter melted

2 cups graham cracker crumbs

2 cups confectioners sugar

1 cup + 4 TBSP peanut butter

1-1/2 cups milk chocolate chips

Directions-

In a medium bowl, mix melted butter, graham crumbs, confectioner's sugar, and 1 cup peanut butter until well blended. Press evenly into the bottom of an ungreased 9x9 square pan. If you want a thinner bar, press into a 9x13 pan. In the microwave, melt the chocolate chips with the 4 TBSP of peanut butter, stirring every 30 seconds until melted and smooth. Spread over the peanut butter layer and refrigerate for at least one hour before cutting into squares. Keep refrigerated.

When asked if my cup is half-filled or half-empty; my only response is that I am thankful I have a cup. ~ unknown 

Before I close, I want to take this opportunity to brag a little bit about my youngest grandson who lives here on the Island. He just won Offensive Player of the Year as quarterback in his football league. He's a couple years younger in this picture and ready to cut his cake but you can see how handsome he is. He's grown taller than me and he loves looking down at Nanny! 

Congratulations, Sweetie! We're so proud of you! 

This will be my last posting until the first week in August after my family leaves so I will bid you farewell until then. Please take care dear friends and please be kind to one another. We never know what the next person you meet is going through. God bless and keep you!



I am joining the following parties as well~

 Tuesday Cuppa Tea
 Friends Sharing Tea
 Home Sweet Home

 Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi