Faith Family Friends

Celebrating the Joy of Living & Home Making ~

Baking, Cooking, Decorating, Tea Time, and taking Inspiration from those I love and the world around me...

A sharing of my heart and my home from a Christian perspective

...with a wee bit of whimsy added.

Wednesday, 31 October 2012

HOME



Welcome HOME friends! {Heart  Of  My Environment} I am so happy to have you join me today.

"Home is where friendships are formed and families are grown;
where joy is shared and true love is known;
where memories are made and seeds of life are sown.
This is the place that people call HOME." ~ Author unknown


What a wonderful turn-out we had last week for my first HOME party! Thank you everyone for your participation, comments, and visits. You are such lovely blogger friends!  

My heart and my prayers go out to all of you who have been affected by superstorm Sandy! I do hope and pray that you are all safe today. God bless you all!



What are little boys made of?
Snips and Snails and puppy dog tails,
That's what little boys are made of! ~ Mother Goose Nursery Rhyme


Little boys, big boys; don't you just love 'em!?!
Today, October 31, is a very special day in our family. We celebrate it because it is our little grandson's birthday. BJ is a nature lover just like his daddy and his grandmother. If there is a bird's nest, a butterfly, a salamander, or a frog to be found, he will find it and bring it home.

I get such a kick out BJ's interest in wildlife because it conjures up such sweet memories of his daddy when he was growing up!

My son is in Wildlife Conservation Technology and he is right in his element when he is caring for God's little creatures. Isn't he handsome!



Like father, like son....

                     BJ and his salamander                                                    BJ and his frog

So because it is BJ's birthday today, I am serving Snails aka Cinnamon Rolls. Where did the name Snails come from you may wonder? My son started calling cinnamon rolls "Snails" when he was just a little tyke, about four years of age, because they reminded him of, you guessed it, snails!


Here is my recipe, nothing fancy, just a comfortable down HOME treat.



Snails aka Cinnamon Rolls

2 cups flour
2 TBSP white sugar
1 tsp salt
4 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup softened butter
3/4 cup milk, adjustable

Preheat oven to 375 and grease a 12 cup muffin tin well. Mix ingredients and knead. Roll out on floured surface, aim for a rectangular shaped dough. Spread on generous layer of butter, sprinkle with a mixture of about 1 cup brown sugar and 1 TBSP cinnamon. Roll dough into a log, with a strand of dental floss cut 1-1/2 inch slices {Ta-da! the easiest, neatest way to cut into rolls} or a sharp knife, and put into muffin tin. Bake for 12 minutes or until golden brown. Enjoy!


Sometimes I drizzle icing over them too but I am serving them plain today.

Happy Birthday BJ!

Do you have something special which is HOME related that you would like to share with us? Any of the following are welcome....

Cooking and baking, recipes, antiquing, artwork, home decor, ceramics, crafts, crocheting/knitting, quilting/sewing, floral arranging, gardening, homemaking tips, hospitality, refinishing furniture, renos, tea time, tablescapes, thrift shopping, etc....You get the idea!
Maybe there's a new baby in the family or you have a new fur baby you would like to introduce us to. They are welcome too! Anything and everything which makes your HOME more enjoyable to come HOME to for your family, your friends, and yourself.  

I'm afraid I have been rather preoccupied with watching the news about my American friends on the east coast of the US and in Canada as well who have been affected by the superstorm Sandy, so I didn't get my thumblink account set up yet. In the meantime, please use the Inlinkz below.

As a courtesy, please link back to me so that your visitors may find their way here.

I am joining the following parties too~


Share Your Cup Thursday
Home and Garden Thursday
Cottage Style Linky Party
Home Sweet Home
Open House
Potpourri Friday

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Monday, 29 October 2012

Tea Time Tuesday


"Remember the tea kettle - it is always up to its neck in hot water, yet it still sings." ~ Unknown

Welcome dear ladies to my last tea party in October!

I pray all of my American friends are staying safe and not finding themselves in hot water or any kind of water in the wake of "Sandy." Also, for my Canadian friends, please take care! Hopefully,we here on our fair little Island won't lose our power or sustain any damage. 

I decided to do a white tea today with a little pink in honour of Breast Cancer Awareness once again.


Today I am serving tea in my white lattice teapot with its little  birdie perched on top.
 

I have a creamy white cup.... 


....as well as this pink teacup.



When I saw this pink teacup, well, I just couldn't resist it! According to the info I found on-line, it is a rare Colclough teacup, number 6495.


It is a beautiful shade of pink with gold floral and leaf filigree adorning it. I had seen it months ago in an antique shop and when I went back to the store weeks later, it was still there so I knew it was meant for me. The price was too good to pass up, eight dollars. Isn't she lovely!



I think it had been someone's favourite because some gold has been rubbed off the handle. I would love to be able to have a chat with this teacup and hear the stories it could tell! If only teacups could talk!

For many years, I liked everything to be brand new. It took me a long time to appreciate the value of antiques. I wasn't one for thrifting. I think perhaps it's because my mother never showed any interest in such things. Indeed none of my relatives appeared to show much interest either. But since I started collecting JB Rose Chintz china, teapots and teacups, I have found a kinship with old worn furniture pieces, china, and linens. There is something oh so charming and comfortable about them; sort of like turning back the clock to another  time.

I am not serving dessert today, just some plain cookies.


Hubby and I both have to watch our cholesterol these days. I know some of you would prefer just a cookie for tea anyway.

Are you one of my Followers? If you are and you have not entered my Giveaway, then I invite you to leave a comment on my Giveaway post. You can find it here. I am giving away a beautiful table cloth, a set of Anne of Green Gables coasters, and a Tea Shop Mystery by Laura Childs.


Thank you for visiting today and I hope you all have a beautiful day. Stay safe!

"How precious are Your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered." ~ Psalm 139:17

"When you go through deep waters, I will be with you." ~ Isaiah 43:2

I am delighted you have stopped by for tea today! Your presence always makes my tea party that much more special and I am happy to see all your tea things, whether you have shared them before or not. This tea party is all about sharing your joy of tea time and any thoughts you might have on the subject. You may be as creative, fancy, or as laid back with your tea time as you wish!
Do you have a favourite teacup/teapot or mug that you would like to share with us today? I would love to see it and I'm sure others would too!

If you wish, you may do coffee instead of tea or the following is acceptable too:
Hot Apple Cider, Hot Chocolate, Lemonade, Iced Tea or iced coffee, Punch in a lovely bowl.
No alcoholic beverages please.

The Tea Time Tuesday 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! To be sure everyone has a visit, it would be nice if you visited the participant before and after your name. Inlinkz is available below for you to sign up for my tea party.

As a courtesy, 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~

Heart and Home ~ http://angelwingsandapronstrings.blogspot.com/
A Return to Loveliness ~ http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/
Tea Cup Tuesday~ http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/
Tea Cup Tuesday ~ http://www.marthasfavorites.com/
Tuesday Cuppa Tea~ http://antiquesandteacups.blogspot.com/
Friends Sharing Tea ~ http://bernideensteatimeblog.blogspot.com/
Blissful Whites Wednesday~ http://www.timewashed.com/
Tea Cup Thursday~ http://missspensersblog.blogspot.com/
Share Your Cup Thursday~ http://jannolson.blogspot.com/
Cottage Style Linky Party~ http://lavendergardencottage.blogspot.com/
Home Sweet Home~ http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/
Potpourri Friday~ http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com/

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi