Tea Time Tuesday

It's 4:00 and that means it's time for tea! ~

Hello and Welcome to Tea Time Tuesday, my dear friends!

Wow! What a celebration we had last week! We had lots of friends join the tea party and we all had a splendid time; so many pretty tea things out there in Blogland. I am pleased to discover that graciousness is still a way of life for many of us and it's wonderful to know that there are many of you who enjoy the pleasures of tea time as much as I do.

I don't know about you, but this time of year I need books and magazines to get me inspired. I take many of my inspirations from tea books and magazines; one magazine being Victoria. My beloved Rose Chintz china also gets me inspired so I am using this pattern today.

Please come in and make yourself at home. Today I have placed a lace tablecloth over an accent table in the living room and set out my tea there. In some photos, I have also used a cranberry-red silk scarf. I like how the china pattern pops sitting on the red scarf! In the above photo, I have layered the scarf beneath the tablecloth. One doesn't always have to use the usual tablecloth to dress a table with.

There are any number of ways to dress a table for tea; a lovely scarf, as I've already mentioned, a beautiful tablecloth,  a wonderful quilt, a lace curtain, a piece of pretty fabric, etc. Use your imagination!

Are you comfortable? Then let's enjoy some tea while we have a little chat.

I have made some scones that I've just taken out of the oven.

Why not use a cinnamon stick placed on the saucer to stir your tea with, instead of a spoon?

Mmmm, scones fresh from the oven!

The scones are still warm and ready to enjoy with some Ginger Peach tea. These scones are filled with a mixture of dried fruit; raisins, cranberries, cherries, and pineapple, which is why I'm calling my tea, a Fruit Tea today!

Tea is served in my Johnson Bros. Rose Chintz teapot which once belonged to my Auntie P.

When Auntie down-sized, she passed the teapot on to me. I was happy to relieve her of it. My red silk scarf really makes the Rose Chintz pattern pop, doesn't it?

Love my Rose Chintz!



A bowl of strawberries is ready to enjoy with our tea.

The berries are served in the little Rose Chintz fruit nappie which was a gift from Patti @ Fill My Cup With - Beauty~ http://pattiannsblog.blogspot.com/ She had been out treasure hunting a few months ago and she found this little bowl and thought of me. Wasn't that sweet of her! She sent it to me with a delightful home made card and I have been blessed by her friendship. When you get a chance, do stop by and visit Patti. I know she would love to hear from you.

I also have some fresh Banana Oatmeal muffins on the cake stand. Perhaps you feel like a muffin with your tea. The beautiful clock you see in the background was an Anniversary gift from my hubby once upon a time. It is adorned with cranberry glass around the bottom.

I am going to enjoy a scone myself with some strawberry preserves and whipped cream. Mmm!

I think it looks so delightful on my Rose Chintz plate.

I have always cut my scone in half before applyng the jam and cream, but did you know that there is a proper way to eat a scone? One tea expert says when one is eating a scone, to break off a bite-sized piece and then apply your jam and cream. I have always eaten my dinner roll this way.

Please find the recipe for scones here below:
Scones

Blend or sift:

1-3/4 cups flour
2 TBSP. sugar
4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp allspice {optional}

Cut in:

1/3 cup shortening

Add:

1/2 cup raisins or mixed fruit
Combine:
1 beaten egg
1/2 cup milk

Add to dry ingredients and stir lightly with fork to make a soft dough. Knead 8-10 times.
Divide dough in two and roll out each to a 6 inch circle. Place on a greased baking sheet and brush tops with milk and sprinkle with sugar. Score each circle into fours and bake.
Bake at 450 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Serve warm with cream and jam. Enjoy. Yield: 8

A Challenge ~ For the next few weeks, in celebration of Valentines Day, I thought it would be fun to share some of our favourites with a LOVE THEME. For instance, how about next week as we share a piece of china, we all share our favourite love story. It can be a movie or a favourite novel. Please share, I would love to know!

If you are one of my blog Followers, I hope you have entered my Giveaway. I am offering a sweet little birdie creamer, a package of assorted tea, a package of pretty floral cards with matching envelopes, and a pink heart-shaped tea bag holder. I also have something else which I will share with you next week.
As I mentioned last week, this Giveaway is open only to my Followers and due to shipping costs, open to Canadian and US bloggers only. If you are a Follower and you participate in any of my tea parties between last week and the week of February 7th, you will be entered again for each tea party you participate in. I will announce the winner on my Valentines Day tea on February 14th.

Happiness is having tea with a friend.

Thank you for joining me for tea today; I love it when you stop by! I hope you were inspired in some way by your visit. To participate in Tea Time Tuesday please share a teacup, china mug, teapot, or any china used in a tea. If you wish, you may instead do coffee, iced tea, hot chocolate, or hot apple cider. A poem, scripture verse, or tea quote would be most welcome. You may use the TTT button on my sidebar in your post or on your sidebar if you wish. Please link back to me so your visitors may find their way here and visit with all my lovely participants.

I am joining the following hostesses for their parties as well:

Kathy~ http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/ - Victoria- A Return to Loveliness

Marty~ http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/ - Table Top Tuesday

Martha~ http://www.marthasfavorites.com/ - Teacup Tuesday

Terri~ http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/ - Teacup Tuesday

Wanda Lee~ http://silkenpurse.blogspot.com/ - Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday & Tea for Two

Pam~ http://breathoffreshair-paperbutterfly.blogspot.com/ - Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday

Wanda Lee~ http://theplumedpen.blogspot.com/ - Wednesday Tea For Me and Thee

Miss Spenser~ http://missspensersblog.blogspot.com/ - Teacup Thursday

Happy Tea Tuesday everyone!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. ~ Psalm 118:24

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Spiritual Sundays

Happy weekend everyone~ I am joining Charlotte and Ginger for Spiritual Sundays. If you would like to be  encouraged and inspired, please visit these ladies and their participants by clicking on the link-
http://bloggerspirit.blogspot.com/

UPSIDE DOWN
If you were to ask me who I am, I'd tell you that I'm a follower of Jesus. But I have to admit, at times following Him is a real challenge. He tells me to do things like rejoice when I'm persecuted {Matt. 5: 11-12}; to turn the other cheek {vv. 38-39}; to give to someone who wants to take from me {vv. 40-42}; to love my enemies,  to bless those who curse me, and do good to those who hate me {vv. 43-44}. This kind of lifestyle seems very upside down to me.

But I've come to realize that He's not upside down - I am. We have all been born fallen and broken. Being twisted by sin, our first instincts are often wrong, which inevitably leaves a big mess.

We're like toast slathered with jelly that has fallen upside down on the kitchen floor. Left to ourselves, we can make a pretty big mess of things. Then Jesus comes along, like a divine spatula, scrapes us off the floor of our sinful ways, and turns us right side up. And as we follow His right-side-up ways, we discover that turning the other cheek keeps us from getting caught in a brawl or argument, that it is more blessed to give than to receive, and that dying to self is life at its best.

After all, His ways are not our ways, and I've come to realize that His ways are always best! ~ Penned by Joe Stowell {Excerpt from Our Daily Bread}


WHAT MAY SEEM UPSIDE DOWN TO US IS RIGHT SIDE UP TO GOD


Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Pink Saturday

Happy Pink Saturday everyone! Hope you all had a great week and you're ready to enjoy some pink.

It's the last weekend in January and once again we are joining our hostess Beverly for a pink weekend. Pinkies from all around the world have gathered together to share their pink stuff, so make yourself at home, sit back and enjoy!

Would you care for a cup of tea? I just celebrated my Tea Time Tuesday Anniversary this past week and I have a Giveaway to celebrate it with. Please help yourself to the refreshments and enjoy the pretty pink tulips in the pink hobnail vase.

My Giveaway consists of a little birdie creamer, a package of sweet pink floral cards with matching envelopes, and a bag of assorted teas.

And for a little more pink, a pink heart-shaped tea bag holder, in honour of Valentines Day!

This Giveaway is open to my Canadian and US Followers only. Please leave a comment and let me know you are one of my Followers and that you would like to enter. Also if you participate in any of my tea parties from this past week to the week of February 7th, then you get another entry for each party you participate in. Please refer to my previous post for any information you may need.  Winner will be announced February 14th on my Valentines Day Tea Time Tuesday.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my blog today. I wish you all a lovely pink weekend. Please visit Beverly's pink party by clicking on the link~
http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Tea Time Tuesday is One Year Old

The birth of a new year is a time of reflection, bringing with it an opportunity for change. ~

Brrrr, it's the coldest day of the year here on Prince Edward Island, -22 Celsius with a wind chill of -35 when I got up this morning! It's a very good day to stay inside and curl up with a hot cup of tea!

Hello my dear friends and welcome to my 52nd Tea Time Tuesday celebration!

Tea Time Tuesday is celebrating its first Anniversary/Birthday this week. How wonderful the tea party has survived this long and how wonderful too that so many of you enjoy taking part in it!

I celebrate you too as your friendship is precious to me and I hope I can convey that throughout this post.

I think tea parties have somehow lost their appeal with much of the younger generation which is unfortunate and it is nice to be able to share with those of you who enjoy them as much as I do.

This year I may do a few more themes and I am thinking that it would be nice to feature one of my participants once a month or so. What do you think? Change can be a good thing!

Last January as I was pondering what direction to go with my blog, I decided to host a tea party because of my love for all things tea. You see, I adore teacups and teapots and pretty china. Rose Chintz in particular, but also other patterns too; especially red transferware, all make me swoon!

Are you an old-fashioned girl? I guess you are or you wouldn't be joining me today! I love flowers which means I have a garden in my soul and I believe you should bloom where you are planted. I love romance and I believe in love at first sight. Whimsy, music and poetry; all of these things appeal to my nature. Yes, I'm a girly-girl and I'm not ashamed to admit it!

All these elements spark my imagination and I try to incorporate each of them into my tea parties.

Books and magazines such as Victoria also get my creative juices flowing and offer up such lovely ideas and sentiments. My friend Kathy at A Delightsome Life hosts Victoria ~ A Return to Loveliness party each week and we are both having fun sharing all things lovely! You can visit Kathy here at her link~ http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/

Don't you just love this pattern! I adore my Rose Chintz! It always makes me smile!

We can't have a tea party without fresh flowers! Aren't these pink tulips pretty? A sweet reminder that Springtime is not far off! I just love the delicate shade of pink!
These tulips have wilted a bit and they almost look like they are curtseying as if to say, "We're happy to make your acquaintance!"

Add some fresh water, and they have perked right up! I think they're so pretty both ways. In the glow from the candlelight, they almost appear as if they are blushing.

Today's tea party is a Celebration and therefore I have a Giveaway to celebrate it with.

So without further adieu, on to the celebration!

I had this beautiful little cake made specially for the occasion. Isn't it sweet? Unfortunately I forgot to have them place it on a cake plate for me and in order to move it, I would have ruined it. So here it sits on a black plastic tray. Ugh! Even a white plastic tray would have looked better than this. It still tastes the same, it's just not as pretty a presentation as it could have been! Live and learn, they say!

Today I am using several china patterns; my beloved Rose Chintz, Lavender Rose, Rose Bud, and my pretty green teacup which I won in a Giveaway.

Have you made yourself at home? You can put your feet up if you like; I really don't mind! Which teacup would you prefer to have your tea in? I am serving spicy Chai and Earl Grey teas today.

For your pleasure, I have finger sandwiches, toasted macaroons, chocolate, and cake. Would you like lemon or sugar in your tea? I always take mine black.

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

My TTT Anniversary/Birthday marks many milestones~ I celebrated a big birthday this month and my Tea Time Tuesday is one year old. I want to thank each of you for showing your appreciation for what I blog about on here. I'm glad you like it! Over 400 of you like it so much that you have signed up to follow my blog! I am honoured and humbled! What lovely friends you are!

I have lit the candles and the fireplace as it is starting to get dark. The sun is setting and the candlelight adds a lovely ambiance. Now, it's time to get on to my Giveaway.

Happy Birthday Tea Time Tuesday!

For this Giveaway, I am accepting my Followers' entries only which I feel is only fair! You do not have to have your own blog. As long as you are a Follower, you are eligible! I have had Giveaways in the past and once in a while, a peep wins who I don't even know. So, this time around, it's open only to my beloved Kindred Spirits Followers and I'm very sorry, but due to shipping costs, it is open to Canadian and US bloggers only.
Also, Followers who participate in my tea party between this week and the week of February 7th, will receive an extra entry for each party you participate in. Please leave a comment and PLEASE BE SURE TO LET ME KNOW THAT YOU ARE A FOLLOWER. Entries will be so much easier if you let me know!
I will announce the winner on my Valentines Day tea.

Isn't this little birdie creamer adorable? It is one of the gifts in the Giveaway. I have two of them; one for me and one for you.

In celebration of Valentines Day coming up, I am also offering this sweet pink heart-shaped tea bag holder.

There is also a bag of assorted teas and a package of beautiful little cards with matching envelopes.

I may throw in a couple of other items too.

If this is your first time visiting Tea Time Tuesday and you would like to participate, please share a teacup or china mug, a teapot, or some china used in a tea. You may also do coffee, iced tea, hot chocolate, or hot cider if you prefer. Please refer to my last tea post for all the alternatives. A scripture verse, poem, or tea quote would be appreciated too.

The Tea Time Tuesday button on my sidebar is available for you to use in your post if you wish. And I would appreciate you linking back to me so that your visitors may find their way here to visit with all my lovely participants.

The following china patterns and accessories were used in this post:

Rose Chintz by Johnson Bros. of England

Lavender Rose by Royal Albert of England

Rose Bud by Maxwell and Williams

Green teacup was made by Amy at Vintage Porcelain Art- http://vintageporcelainart.blogspot.com/

Evening Star silverware made by Oneida

Rose Bud candle sticks by Maxwell and Williams were a gift from my son.

White lace tablecloth was a gift from a friend.

Pink tulips made by God

I want to thank you all for coming by to help me celebrate my Tea Time Tuesday Anniversary/Birthday. Each one of you have made it all the more special!

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you. ~ Philippians 1:3

I am joining the following hostesses today as well-

Marty~ http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/ - Table Top Tuesday

Kathy~ http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/ - Victoria- A Return to Loveliness

Martha~ http://www.marthasfavorites.com/ - Teacup Tuesday

Terri~ http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/ - Teacup Tuesday

Wanda Lee~ http://silkenpurse.blogspot.com/ - Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday

Pam~ http://breathoffreshair-paperbutterfly.blogspot.com/ - Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday

Wanda Lee~ http://theplumedpen.blogspot.com/ - Tea For Two & Wednesday Tea For Me and Thee

Miss Spenser~ http://missspensersblog.blogspot.com/ - Teacup Thursday

Beverly~ http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/ - Pink Saturday

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Pink Saturday

Happy Pink Saturday bloggerettes! Once again, Beverly has brought all her pinkies together from all over the world to share their pinks.

What is it about the colour pink that gets our hearts going pitter patter! Well, speaking for myself, I find it to be a very soothing colour. It's soft, feminine, and dreamy.
Pink is the colour of universal love. It is a quiet colour. A pink carnation means, "I will never forget you."

I can't imagine a world without pink, can you?

Imagine a sunrise or a sunset without a pink sky...this photo was taken on our fair Island.

...or a garden without pink roses or pink hydrangeas.

These pink tulips I picked up at the grocery store for $3 a bundle. Aren't they pretty?

And there is no pink more precious than this pink; my little granddaughter! Jenna-Lynn is wearing her pink too! She is seven weeks old and still weighs only seven pounds. She's a tiny little girl and still isn't quite fitting into her newborn sleepers!

I apologize for showing you yet another picture of her, but I can't help myself! She is so sweet and she is my first granddaughter; the first girl to be born into our family after my three sons and four grandsons; seven darling boys! I'm a proud Nanny so I have bragging rights!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all have a wonderful pink weekend. Be sure to visit Beverly and all her participants ~ http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/

Please join me on Monday for my Tea Time Tuesday party when I will be celebrating Tea Time Tuesday's first Anniversary/Birthday.

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Tea Time Tuesday

Welcome dear friends to my 51st Tea Time Tuesday!
I am delighted you are here! How is everyone today? I trust you all had a wonderful weekend and you're ready to join me for a cup of tea.

Valentines Day is just around the corner and one is seeing hearts and flowers everywhere. I am glad to see them because oftentimes after Christmas it can feel a little drab. The pinks and reds really perk things up, don't you agree?

Since love is in the air and everyone is thinking about Valentines Day, I thought I would share a photo of a little someone special who is wearing her hearts. This is my little granddaughter, Jenna-Lynn, who is six weeks old. Isn't she a little doll! I haven't actually met her yet because there is a whole country between us. I live on the east coast and she lives on the west coast. We do talk on the webcam however.

I don't think there is anything more beautiful or lovely than a newborn baby! God has given us so many wondrous gifts to enjoy; the love of family, friendship, nature's beauty, but life is the best gift of all. When I look at Jenna-Lynn's sweet little face, I am reminded of just how good and awesome life is!
I hope you are enjoying your life today!


Now here is my chance to play! Can you guess what is in this box? Teddy was a gift from my mother many years ago and he's all dressed up in his best fisherman knit sweater.

Teddy is getting impatient and he's saying, "Hurry up, please! I want to see too!"

OK, Teddy, here you go.

This lovely little tea set was a Christmas present. Two child sized teacups, a sugar and creamer, and a teapot all sit on a porcelain lacey-edged tea tray. Do you recognize the pattern? Isn't it lovely!

The set is made of porcelain and the pattern is called Cream Lace, made by who other than Skye McGhie! If you have been following my tea parties you know that I love Skye McGhie!

I couldn't wait to share this little tea set with you! Some gifts are meant to be given away and this is one of them. Someday I am going to give it to little Jenna-Lynn. She is only six weeks old right now but I am hoping that someday she too will love tea parties.

Now, how about something sweet to go with tea!
Do you like strawberry shortcake? Last week, one of our ladies had visited a Tea Room where she enjoyed a High Tea. She had shared some wonderful photos and one of the lovely desserts that she enjoyed at the Tea Room was a strawberry shortcake served up in a teacup. So I 'borrowed' the idea and I'm serving mine in a teacup today. Thank you, my friend, for your inspiration!

This is an angel food cake, cut into cubes.

The cake is layered into my Johnson Bros. Rose Chintz teacup. I do love my Rose Chintz with its pretty florals on a creamy background! They remind me of my childhood and my beloved Auntie P who gifted me with most of my Rose Chintz china.

Next, ladle some crushed strawberries over the cake.

Then a mound of fresh whipped cream is swirled on top! Mmmm, yum!

Teddy says, "How about some fresh chocolate grated on top; I love chocolate!" he quips.

That's better! "Yup, it tastes as good as it looks!" Teddy exclaims.

I'm glad you like it, Teddy! Here's your own helping of refreshments; tea and shortcake in a cup.

Oops, I forgot the chocolate! Oh, well, Teddy, you may have some of mine.

Skye McGhie has made an exact replica of the original teapot. The adult size and the child's size are so cute together, aren't they?

Both are the Cream Lace pattern and have the wonderful lacey cutouts around the top of the pots. And they both have the pretty Fleur de lis on them.

Sitting with a good book or magazine such as Victoria and a cup of tea, makes for a delightful respite.

Perhaps you don't care for tea. There are many alternatives:

Tea or...
* Coffee
* Herbal teas
* Lemonade 
* Fruit punch
* Hot cider {stir with a cinnamon stick}
* Hot chocolate


Last week I shared how I had reached my 50th tea post. Well, you know what that means! It means that my Tea Time Tuesday Anniversary is coming up and is in fact, next week. Tea Time Tuesday is one year old next week and I hope you will all come and help me celebrate.

In celebration of the Anniversary as well as all my recent milestones, I am having a Giveaway and the winner will be announced on Valentines Day. Please join me next week for all the details.

"Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honouring each other." ~ Romans 12: 9-10 {NLT}

Happiness is sharing tea with a friend.

Thank you my lovely friends for stopping by today. I hope you have found your visit enjoyable. If you would like to join me for Tea Time Tuesday, please share something related to tea; a teacup, teapot, or a china mug, etc. You may also do coffee, iced tea, hot chocolate, or any of the alternatives mentioned above. A scripture verse, poem, or tea quote would be most welcome. The Tea Time Tuesday button on my sidebar is available for you to use in your post if you wish. As a courtesy, please link back to me so that your visitors may find their way here to visit with my other participants. Thank you!

Please link up with the inlinkz below.

I am also joining the following hostesses for their parties-

Marty~ http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/ - Table Top Tuesday

Kathy~ http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/ - Victoria- A Return to Loveliness

Martha~ http://www.marthasfavorites.com/ - Teacup Tuesday
Terri~ http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/ - Teacup Tuesday

Wanda Lee~ http://silkenpurse.blogspot.com/ - Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday
Pam~ http://breathoffreshair-paperbutterfly.blogspot.com/ - Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday
Wanda Lee~ http://theplumedpen.blogspot.com/ - Tuesday Tea For Two

Lady Katherine~ http://ladykatherineteaparlor.blogspot.com/ - Teatime Tuesday

Donna and Miss Spenser~ http://missspensersblog.blogspot.com/ - Teacup Thursday





Sharing from my heart~ Sandi