Winter is the Time for Home

Winter is the time for comfort,
For food, and warmth,
For the touch of a friendly hand 
and a talk beside the fire: 
It is the time for home. ~ Dame Edith Sitwell

Happy New Year to you all, dear friends! I hope you all enjoyed a happy Christmas and you are anticipating what 2017 will bring.

Now that all the busyness is behind us, we can relax and savour the new memories made.

"I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month." ~ Harlan Miller

Our Christmas dinner this year was the usual turkey and all the trimmings. I made crustless pumpkin pie for dessert and I'm so glad I did because my son and his girlfriend joined us for dinner and she is gluten free. I didn't know that until they arrived.

She gifted me with this lovely Dutch Almond cake which we are going to have with our tea today. 

It is the consistency of a soft almond cookie and slices wonderfully well.

Wintertime is the perfect time for cozying up by the fire and sipping a cup of something warm. So, lets enjoy our tea and cake today. 

The mere chink of cups and saucers tunes the mind to happy repose. ~ George Gissing

I am using my RA Old Country Roses china. I love this pattern and it always reminds me of my Daddy because he admired it so much.

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

These birthday roses are from my hubby. I do love white roses. 

I know some of you are taking a look back over the past year and sharing favourite blog posts but I will save that for another day. Meanwhile, I am going to savour tea in this beautiful teacup and give thanks for all the blessings this past year. 

The birth of a New Year is a time of reflection, bringing with it an opportunity for change....for developing a greater appreciation of what is most important in life. ~ Victoria magazine


Dear friends, may the New Year bring you good health, happiness, and may your cup be overflowing with blessings from above. God bless each and every one of you! 

I am joining the following parties as well~

Tuesday Cuppa Tea
Friends Sharing Tea
Share Your Cup Thursday
Home Sweet Home


Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi

The Miracle of Christmas

Christmas is forever, not for just one day,
for loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away
like the bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf.
The good you do to others is good you do yourself. ~ Norman Wesley Brooks - 1976, from "Let Every Day Be Christmas"


Merry Christmas all my lovely blogger friends!
Christmas is almost here. 

I just want to thank you all for your visits and comments over the past year. I've mentioned this before but I find Blogland to be much like a friendly village where we all know each other and care for one another. Some folks we know better than others but we're still all part of this great big community of bloggers. 

I pray your heart would be full this Christmas. 

May the angels watch over you and your loved ones.

Take time to sit back and enjoy the sights and sounds of Christmas. 

Enjoy spending time with your family and friends.

My little grandson and granddaughter were able to build their first snowman this year. They seldom get this much snow where they live.


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 Christmastime. ~ Laura Ingalls Wilder


May your table be bountiful, not just with good food but with the love of family.

While we are enjoying all the wonderful festivities, let's not forget to worship the One who came so long ago to Bethlehem as a Baby born in a humble stable. Without His coming, we wouldn't be celebrating this beautiful and joyous season. The Miracle that is Christmas!

Our world was dark and in need of a Saviour. At just the right time, our Lord left His home in glory to come down among men. He could have been born in a castle for He was and is a King. But He chose a humble stable. A peaceful but smelly stable. His earthly parents were specially chosen by God to bring up this newborn King who would change the world forever. 

We who know Him recognize that it is because of Him we celebrate. Jesus, Son of God, is the Miracle that is Christmas. 

Joy to the world! the Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King.
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing....
Issac Watts, 1674-1748   Arr. from George F. Handel, 1685-1759

If I were a wise man, I would do my part.

Yet what can I give Him - give Him my heart. ~ Christina G. Rossetti

May His Light and Love fill your heart and home this Christmas, my dear blogger friends. 

Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi