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