Rose Chintz Cottage

Monday, 9 November 2015

No Place Like Home # 2

But what on earth is half so dear -
So longed for as the hearth of home? ~ Emily Bronte

Welcome friends to No Place Like Home! I am so happy with the turn-out we had last week. You all shared a wonderful variety of posts and I hope you all enjoyed yourselves and my new party. I know I did.

Over the weekend I celebrated my son's birthday and I shared with you my pretty new blue transferware. If you missed this post you may find it here.

I also made Gingerbread cake. I borrowed the recipe from Carolyn at Aiken House and Gardens.

Here is the recipe.

Old Fashioned Gingerbread Cake

2-1/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp cloves
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp soda
1/2 tsp nutmeg
3/4 cup oil
2 eggs
3/4 cup water
3/4 cup molasses

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Generously grease and flour a tube pan. {I never flour a pan. I just spray the pan well with Pam or I use coconut oil to coat the pan}.
Combine all the above ingredients and blend at low speed until moistened. Beat three minutes at medium speed. Pour into pan and bake 45-55 minutes. Enjoy with whipped cream, apple sauce or lemon sauce.

Now, here are the posts I am featuring this week.

Suzanne at Blueberry Cottage has a charming blog where she offers tips on home making and some godly advice for other ladies here in Blogland. Her blog had the most visits.

Two posts were tied for second place for having the second highest amount of visits.

Deborah at The Beautiful Matters shared her beautiful November teacup and her thoughts on being a stay-at-home mom.

Bernideen at Bernideen's Tea Time, Cottage and Garden Blog shared her gorgeous hunting scenes tea set and home made pillows out in her charming garden.

The post that caught my eye was Spot On Cedar Pond where Kathy B. shared about her hen Prudence. Prudence lays beautiful olive coloured eggs. Kathy's post brought back such wonderful memories of my grandparents' farm where the chickens ran freely about the yard. Oh, such lovely memories!

And for a wonderful snack, Kitty at Kitty's Kozy Kitchen shared her recipe for this wonderful Pumpkin cheese ball. I love that she used a pepper stem for the pumpkin. Looks delicious!

Thank you everyone for participating last week. As a courtesy, and if you would like to be featured, you should have a link back to this party.

Because this Wednesday, November 11th, is Remembrance Day here in Canada I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our veterans, soldiers, and military. Those who have fought and still fight to this day to keep our country free. My late father-in-law fought in WW2 and I remember him with a thankful heart.
Canada is my home and I am proud to be a Canadian. God bless and keep our country free!

Thanksgiving is a day when we pause to give thanks for what we have.
Veterans Day and Remembrance Day is a day when we pause to give thanks to the people who fought for the things we have. ~ Author unknown

Now let's see what you are creating in your home to make it a cozy place to come home to for your family, your friends, and yourself.

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 love and let Thy grace
Shine upon our dwelling place. - Edgar A. Guest

An InLinkz Link-up

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Saturday, 7 November 2015

Gingerbread and Pretty Blue Dishes

Autumn's robust richness is reflected in everything from our radiant decor to our seasonal cuisine, and gatherings with friends and family abound during this celebratory time of year. ~ Holiday Victoria Bliss magazine

Hello my sweet friends. I hope you all had a wonderful first week of November.

Today is my second son's birthday and because he lives out on the west coast, I won't be able to share his birthday cake with him. But my thoughts are with him today as I think of him and the little boy who grew up and became the man he is today.

He was the one who kept me on my toes as he was a handful while growing up. You can tell just by looking at this picture of him on the rocking horse that he was full of mischief. Adorable, but still full of mischief! He taught me a lot about myself.

Motherhood is challenging at best but I like to think our children make us better and help us to focus on what is important in life. It is an awesome responsibility taking a wee life and helping to mold it into someone who is a blessing to others and able to contribute to society in a positive way. I wouldn't trade those years for anything. I loved being a mom. I still do.

My children are my special blessings and each one is a gift from above. The good thing about these gifts is that they keep on giving. This is my wonderful son with his little family. This photo was taken a couple of years ago.

I received this lovely ornament in the mail this week. They wanted to surprise me. I'm glad their new puppy is in the photo too. Aren't they a sweet family!

This photo was taken a couple of weeks ago. It has 2015 on the other side. I will cherish it always and I can't wait to hang it on the Christmas tree!

Happy Birthday Sweetie! I love you!

Now before this mom goes and gets all weepy on you, I had better serve the tea.

My Auntie P sent me this cute tea quote which we have all seen before but it is surrounded by teapots. The teapot in the top left hand corner reminds me of my Royal Albert New Country Roses.

I have set the table with blue and white today. I have become smitten with blue and white lately and I must put the blame on Martha at Lines from Linderhof and Phyllis at Relevant Tea Leaf. I have to blame someone, right?
For years I collected red/pink and white but I now am also captivated by blue and white. Let's face it, I just adore transferware.

I went into HomeSense one day shortly after they opened their new store here in Charlottetown and I spied these blue and white pieces. The prices are always very affordable.

I fell in love and had to bring two plates and two bowls home. These are The Victorian English Pottery est. 1819 by Edward Challinor.

I love the florals and the quirky birds!

Another day I found these mugs and dessert plates which are Johnson Bros. Devon Cottage.

I was so excited to find them because Hubby gifted me with the Devon Cottage teapot last Christmas and I was hoping I could find some other pieces.

I am so enamoured by how well all the blues go together.

Isn't this a cute hand made coaster that a blogger friend sent me? Love the embellishments.

I thought the yellow and blue would look nice on my tea table today.

Tea is a symbol of friendship and hospitality around the world. ~ unknown

I had a friend in for coffee the other day and I made Gingerbread. When it gets cold outside I long for comfort food and this is the best recipe for gingerbread by far. It is moist and delicious and tastes scrumptious served with whipped cream, apple sauce or lemon sauce. I got the recipe from Carolyn at Aiken House and Gardens. I plan to share the recipe on Monday for my No Place Like Home party.

Please help yourself to a cuppa tea and some gingerbread.

Please come back on Monday and join me for No Place Like Home; my new party where you may share tea time and anything else pertaining to your home and garden.

Have a wonderful weekend, friends!