Pearls and Lace Thursday

Hello my sweet friends~ Today I am joining Doni at Faith, Grace, and Crafts http://faithgracecrafts.blogspot.com/ for her "Pearls and Lace Thursday" party.

I am a girly girl, in case you haven't already guessed, and I love all things feminine and pretty; that's where pearls and lace come in!

Today I am sharing something from one of the happiest days of my life; the day my oldest son Jeff married his sweetheart. I had had a peachy pink suit made for the occasion and I had also bought myself a new hat to wear, with a little clutch bag to match.

The photos I am sharing with you today are those of my wedding hat. It is a lovely hat, adorned with cream satin and satin ribbon roses.

The little bag is also of cream satin with ruching on the front of it. The lace blouse and my string of pearls make a perfect acompaniment for it all.That beautiful wedding day has brought many joys our way! We now have three darling little grandsons from that union. God gives good gifts! I don't normally like to put my face out there, but this is me wearing my hat and a pearl choker and earrings that day.I always like to end my Pearls and Lace post with something as beautiful and timeless, and endearing as the pearls and lace themselves, and that is the Bible.

Please join our hostess Doni for more of Pearls and Lace Thursday.

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Tea Time Tuesday

Happy Tuesday bloggerettes and Welcome to my 14th Tea Time Tuesday!

Over the weekend, I had emailed some of you regarding your participation in today's Tea Time. Unfortunately, I don't have access to everyone's email and therefore couldn't email everyone. I was trying to find a simpler solution to adding links to my post and in the end, I really just made more work for myself. So, having said all that, I am going back to the original way I have been doing things; adding your link as you post your Tea Time post. I will continue to do this until I can figure out how to hook up Mister Linky. Do I hear a sigh of relief from everyone?

Today I am sharing one of my favourite things: red transferware! I absolutely adore red transferware and I have several pieces of it in my home. I love this tea pot which I found at Lillibet's in our local hospital's gift shop. I have no idea where this pretty tea pot was made because the only stamp on it is this one, which really doesn't tell me much. It is more than likely produced in England or China. In any case, I love it!

Please help yourself to the mince tarts and clotted cream; I have plenty. Mince tarts are something folks usually bake in the cooler weather, but I can eat them anytime! As you can see, I have several pieces of this particular pattern. All of these pieces I purchased separately but they all blend together so well. In fact, they appear to be a matching set.Don't you just love the shape of the tea pot? I also have a Featherflake Orange cake to serve with your tea if you prefer this to the tarts.Snuggling up to the cake is my tiered dish which is filled with hydrangea petals.Tea is the second-largest consumer beverage in the world - ranking only behind water. Its origins reach back four thousand years in time.

The story goes that one day the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung knelt before a fire while he was boiling water. The wise Emperor was called, the "Divine Healer," and always boiled water before drinking it. Nobody knew the causes of illnesses, but Shen Nung had observed that people who boiled their drinking water had better health.

Shen Nung's servants had made a fire from the branch of a nearby tree. As the water began to boil, some of the topmost leaves of the branches were blown into the pot of water.

The Emperor exclaimed, "What a delightful aroma!" as the fragrance of tea floated into the air for the first time. He then sipped the aromatic steaming liquid. "Ah!" he said, "What a flavour!" And that is how tea was discovered in China in the year 2737 B.C.

Tea is now consumed in every nation of the world.

***

Two thousand years ago, Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life" {John 14:6} and His Word is true today. You can count on it, no matter what new ideas you encounter in the world. As you sip your tea - just as people have for centuries - remind yourself that God's Word stands the test of time and serves as your foundation in every situation.

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever." Hebrews 13:8

***

Thank you for stopping by for tea today. I hope you enjoyed your visit. If you would like to participate in Tea Time Tuesday, please leave me a comment indicating you would like to and I will gladly add your link to my post.

Just share a favourite teacup, tea pot, or a piece of china used in a tea. A short story, poem, or scripture verse would be appreciated as well but not absolutely necessary. Please feel free to take either of my Tea Time Tuesday buttons at the top of my sidebar to link back to me. Thank you.

***

The participants below are listed in the order in which they first started to participate.

PARTICIPANTS

Carolyn~ http://warrengrovegarden.blogspot.com/

Tina~ http://beansiebabbles.blogspot.com/

Judith~ http://lavendercottagegardening.blogspot.com/

Beth~ http://foodasart-beth.blogspot.com/

Lorena~ http://rosechicfriends.blogspot.com/

Cielo~ http://houseinroses.blogspot.com/

Marilyn~ http://colorado-heartsong.blogspot.com/

Ladynred~ http://cookandbaking.com/

Bernideen~ http://bernideensteatimeblog.blogspot.com/

Wanda Lee~ http://theplumedpen.blogspot.com/

Debbie~ http://debbie-dabble.blogspot.com/

BJ~ http://sweetnothingsbj.blogspot.com/

Doni~ http://faithgracecrafts.blogspot.com/

Martha~ http://www.marthasfavorites.com/

Natasha~ http://5minutesjustforme.blogspot.com/

Sandy~ http://teacuplane-sandy.blogspot.com/

Anne-Marie~ http://anne-mariewithadash.blogspot.com/

Sarah~ http://hyacinthforthesoul.blogspot.com/

M~ http://talesfromanoccottage.blogspot.com/

Garden of Daisies~ http://patchofzinnias.blogspot.com/

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Attention Once Again All Tea Time Tuesday Participants!

Hello bloggy friends~ I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend!

Last week I had decided to email everyone about participating in the tea party but I don't have access to everyone's email. So, I have decided to go back to my original way of doing things; adding your link as you post your Tea Time post. I will continue to do it this way until I am able to get Mister Linky up and running. Sorry for any inconvenience.

I will be posting my Tea Time Tuesday on Monday evenings to make it easier for everyone. Hope you all have a beautiful day and I look forward to having tea with you all.

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Spiritual Sundays

Hello everyone~ I hope you're all having a good weekend!
As I was thinking about what to share this week for Spiritual Sundays, I came across this excellent devotional which I think we could all benefit from.

GLOATING AT THE ENEMY

Obadiah is the shortest book in the Old Testament.Yet hidden away in its brief record is a vital question that affects us all. How should we respond when we see an enemy experience misfortune?

The prophet Obadiah ministered during the time that the city of Jerusalem was under fierce attack by the armies of Babylon. The neighbors of Jerusalem, the Edomites, were actually cheering on the enemy armies to destroy and kill {Psalm 137:7-9}. Ironically, these hurtful jeers were spoken by blood relatives of the Jews. They were descendants of Jacob, and the Edomites were descendants of Esau.

Obadiah condemned the Edomites for gloating: "You should not have gazed on the day of your brother in the day of his captivity; nor should you have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction" {Obad. 1:12}.

If someone has repeatedly been hurtful to us, it is easy to give in to vindictive pleasure when they experience misfortune. But Scripture admonishes us, "Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles" {Proverbs 24:17}. Instead, we are to maintain an attitude of compassion and forgiveness and trust God to bring justice in His time.

- Dennis Fisher

*****

This particular message struck a chord in my heart because of a situation I find myself in with a relative. Years of slander by this person still does not give me the right to rejoice when this person suffers in any way. My relationship with God gives me a reason to love and yes, forgive even when I find myself being wronged over and over again. This is what the difference is between 'walking in the Spirit and walking in the flesh.'

Please join Charlotte and Ginger for more Spiritual Sundays inspirationals, songs, and testimonies. Click the link http://bloggerspirit.blogspot.com/ or the Spiritual Sundays button on my sidebar. Praying you all have a blessed weekend!

See you on Tuesday for Tea Time Tuesday!

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Beth's Giveaway

Hello friends~ My friend Beth over at Food As Art is having a wonderful Giveaway. She has given some interesting history on Johnson Bros., the makers of many extraordinary pieces of transferware, including my beloved Rose Chintz.

She is giving away this beautiful Old British Castles platter. If you would like to be the winner of this fabulous platter then go see Beth and put your name in the hat. Just click on the link: http://foodasart-beth.blogspot.com/

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Attention All Tea Time Tuesday Participants!

Hello everyone~ I am really enjoying my Tea Time Tuesdays and I thank you all for participating. I am so happy that many of you are joining me each week. I love seeing your wonderful teacups and tea pots! I feel it is a wonderful way to connect every week with friends who enjoy their tea.

I am however running into a bit of a problem!

I find that because I am adding your links through out the day, I am having to spend too much time at the computer because I don't want to miss anyone! I have had a total of twenty-three participants link up since I began Tea Time Tuesday and some of them have returned and some haven't.

In the past, I have had people tell me they were going to participate and then they don't for one reason or another. A couple of bloggers have asked me to add their link to my post but they don't acknowledge me on their post which is a courtesy so others can find you and me.
So, there must be an easier way to do this!

I have thought about emailing you all and asking whether or not you planned to participate somewhat like Beverly does for Pink Saturday. I also thought about adding a Mister Linky but unfortunately, I don't know how to do that. I have looked into it but I can't seem to get anywhere with it. He and I can't seem to come to an understanding.

So, those of you who are enjoying my Tea Time Tuesdays, can you offer any advice or suggestions for me? I am still rather new at this blogging thing and I still have much to learn about many things.

Hope you're all having a beautiful day.

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Tea Time Tuesday

Hello bloggy friends and welcome to my 13th Tea Time Tuesday!

I cannot believe how fast the weeks are flying by! Just last week I was celebrating my son's birthday on Tea Time and here I am posting another tea. We are having so much fun getting together for tea, aren't we? I invite you to join me if you haven't already.

All you need to do is leave me a comment letting me know you would like to participate and then post about a favourite teacup, tea pot, or a piece of china used in a tea. A scripture verse, poem, or short story would be appreciated as well. Either of the two Tea Time buttons at the top of my sidebar are available for you to take and use for your Tea Time Tuesday post.

The lovely little teacup I am about to share with you today had also been a shower gift once upon a time. It is made in England and the pattern is called Veronica. It is fine bone china and made by Royal Albert.

This teacup has long been a favourite of mine because of the shape of it and the colour; robin egg blue! It is trimmed with gold and has little roses on the inside of the teacup.
Would you care for a piece of caramel cake?

Unfortunately, this sweet little teacup has gotten broken in two places! First the handle broke off and now there is a piece of the bottom of the teacup broken off. I have had to glue both these pieces back on. Of course, the teacup can no longer be used to drink tea from, so what to do with it? Rather than throw it out or break it further into pieces to use in mosaic art, I have opted to use it as a votive candle holder.

It looks pretty sitting on the little robin egg blue chest in the living room. The little birdie thinks so too!

How do you use a broken teacup? I would love to hear some of your ideas!

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." ~ Matthew 5: 14-16

Thank you for stopping by for Tea Time Tuesday. The participants are in the order in which they started to participate.

Participants

Judith~ http://lavendercottagegardening.blogspot.com/

Beth~ http://foodasart-beth.blogspot.com/

Diann~ http://thethriftygroove.blogspot.com/

Lorena~ http://rosechicfriends.blogspot.com/

Bernideen~ http://bernideensteatimeblog.blogspot.com/

Debbie~ http://debbie-dabble.blogspot.com/

BJ~ http://sweetnothingsbj.blogspot.com/

Vicki~ http://bunnycottage.blogspot.com/

Chari~ http://happytodesign.blogspot.com/

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Spiritual Sundays

Happy weekend everyone and welcome to my Spiritual Sundays post! For more inspirationals please click on the link to visit Charlotte and Ginger and all the other Spiritual Sundays participants. http://bloggerspirit.blogspot.com/

My youngest son had given his father a book for Christmas penned by N.T. Wright which I am also reading at the present moment. I like his writings and I came across this quote which I would like to share with you:

"Our task as image-bearing, God-loving, Christ-shaped, Spirit-filled Christians, following Christ and shaping our world, is to announce redemption to a world which has discovered its fallenness, to announce healing to a world that has discovered its brokenness, to proclaim love and trust to a world that knows only exploitation, fear and suspicion.... The gospel of Jesus points us and indeed urges us to be at the leading edge of the whole culture, articulating in story and music and art and philosophy and education and poetry and politics and theology and even-- heaven help us-- biblical studies, a world view that will mount the historically-rooted Christian challenge to both modernity and postmodernity, leading the way.... with joy and humor and gentleness and good judgement and true wisdom. I believe if we face the question, "if not now, then when?" if we are grasped by this vision we may also hear the question, "if not us, then who?" and if the gospel of Jesus is not the key to this task, then what is?" - N. T. Wright

Thank you for stopping by and I pray you will be blessed and be a blessing this weekend.

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Pink Saturday

Hello pinkie friends and welcome to my Pink Saturday post!

April showers bring May flowers and when I was preparing this post, it was raining out. So I have brought out my pink striped umbrella.

I have this pretty Limoges plate which my Aunt Judy gifted me with. The plate is made in France and adorned with pink roses and edged with gold.

I have a new plate hanger for it so I thought I would share that today also. I have it hanging in the dining room.

Thank you for stopping by for my little bit of pink. Please visit our hostess Beverly with her lineup of pink participants http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/

and have a lovely Pink Saturday weekend!

Hope to see you on Tuesday for Tea Time!

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Pearls and Lace Thursday

Hello friends! Do you love pearls and lace? Well, if you do, I invite you to join Doni at Faith, Grace, and Crafts for her Pearls and Lace Thursday party. http://faithgracecrafts.blogspot.com/

I love pearls and lace myself. There is something romantic yet mysterious about them. They are such a lovely combination and give a lady such a feminine appearance when she wears them, and yet there is the aura of mystery attached to them too.

Today I'm sharing my crocheted doilies which my Aunt Ethel made for me years ago. She has since gone to be with the Lord, but I am thankful to have these elegant beauties around my home which always remind me of her.

Aunt Ethel was my Daddy's oldest sister. She was from another time; a time when life was simpler. She was part of that generation where everything or almost everything, was made by hand, whether it was clothing, jams and jellies, or pretties for the home.

A lovely doilie on the coffee table, under a lamp, or just by itself can stand the test of time. They lend a touch of yesteryear and they whisk me back to a time when ladies walked in high buttoned boots and wore long frocks. A time when ladies carried parasols as they walked through the garden and they always carried a lacy handkerchief.

A lady never knew when she might behold the sight of a new born baby or attend a wedding where the tears flowed freely.

It was a romantic time, when ladies were ladies. This is what doilies and lace in general remind me of.

Today, we the romantic at heart, still use doilies to soften a shelf in a china cabinet or use them in other ways to bring a bit of romance to a vignette. Some of the younger generation may think of them as being too grannyish, but I tend to disagree!

Pearls and lace? They lend a certain femininity which has much more character than the hard modern lines of a naked shelf!

Pearls and lace; feminine and timeless!

Please take some time to visit Doni and her Pearls and Lace Thursday party. Sit yourself down with a hot cup of tea and wander back through the years and visit a more romantic time.

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi