74th Tea Time Tuesday

Happiness is sharing tea with a friend.~

Hello tea friends and welcome to Tea Time Tuesday; a time to sit and relax and get to know one another over a cup of tea. I'm so glad you are here! Please make yourself at home and let's visit for a few moments before we have to get on with our busy day.

I want to thank you all for joining me for my Summer Dreams Tea last week. I know I really enjoyed myself! This is our last tea party for the month of June and how quickly the month has flown by.

I am always trying to think of ways to make Tea Time more interesting, so this week I am featuring one of our tea friends. I would like you to meet Charlotte of  For Such A Time As This ~ http://myfathersgirl.blogspot.com/ 

This is a photo from her tea post today. Isn't it lovely? I love her red, white, and black theme; so charming!

Charlotte has this to say about herself....
"I reside in California on a small farm in the foothills. I'm a wife, mom of five boys, and grandmother of six. When I'm not pulling weeds or feeding animals, I am usually writing with one hand and holding a cup of coffee with the other. I've been a Christian for many years and love serving in Women's Ministries and leading Bible study.  I spend a lot of time flower gardening, and growing fruit trees and vegetables. I have several hobbies but I really like collecting vintage things because I like to imagine what their story would be if they could tell it. My camera is never far from me; if I don't have a picture of an event, it didn't happen! Being the only female in my home, I cherish the times I can sit in a flowery spot and drink from a dainty china cup, preferably outside where I can hear the birds singing."

We have a few things in common, Charlotte and I... We both love the Lord and we both have all sons. She participated in Tea Time last week and her post really struck a chord in me as she shared her thoughts on why we ladies love flowers so much. This is her post from last week and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did. http://myfathersgirl.blogspot.com/2011/06/having-tea-with-bumble-bee.html
Please be sure to pay Charlotte a visit. I know she would love to have you stop by.

A man {or lady} should be like tea; his real strength appearing when he gets in hot water. ~ Unknown 

Today's teacup is one I haven't shared with you before. I actually have two of these as I got two for the price of one when I purchased them a while back. Doesn't it look sweet filled with the friendly little faces of these pansies from my garden?

Each teacup has a ruffled saucer and its own porcelain spoon. I may give one of these away in my next Giveway.

White roses and violets on a white background and trimmed in gold.

You can see the fluted edge well in this shot.

Such a feminine teacup!

Doesn't it look pretty with a sprig of lilacs in it?

Lilacs and a vintage spoon.

The last of the lilacs for this year. *sigh*  I'll miss them!

It's the month of June,

the month of  leaves and roses,

when pleasant sights salute the eyes,

and pleasant scents the noses.

- Nathaniel Parker Willis

My roses are just starting to bloom so you will be seeing lots of them in July's posts, I'm sure.

These teacups are made of porcelain by Royal Meda and have very comfortable handles.

And speaking of ROYAL....Our fair Island is going to be honoured with a visit by the royal couple, Prince William and his new bride Kate this upcoming weekend as part of their honey-moon tour.

They will be spending some time at Dalvay-by-the-Sea which is a gorgeous hotel on our north shore.

This is actually all part of my hubby's old stomping grounds when he was growing up. He spent many years in and around this area.

Many of you might remember this grand hotel as the White Sands Hotel from the Anne of Green Gables series. The prince and his new bride will be having a boat race across this pond at Dalvay. It should make for an exciting weekend coming up!

Now for a nice cup of Earl Grey tea and a peek through the new Victoria magazine which is always filled with lots of inspiration and eye candy.

"Peace be to you, and peace be to your house, and peace be to all that you have." ~ The Book of 1 Samuel

I am delighted you have stopped by today and I would love for you to join me for Tea Time Tuesday! All you have to do is share a favourite tea cup or teapot, a coffee mug, or something tea related. If you wish, you may do coffee instead of tea or the following is acceptable too: apple cider, iced tea or iced coffee, hot chocolate, lemonade, or punch. The TTT button on my sidebar is available for you to use in your post or place on your sidebar if you wish. A poem, tea quote, or scripture verse would be more than welcome! Please link back to me so that your visitors may find their way here to visit with all my lovely participants.

I am pleased to join the following 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
Pam~ http://breathoffreshair-paperbutterfly.blogspot.com/
Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday
Wanda Lee~ http://theplumedpen.blogspot.com/
Tea For Two and Wednesday Tea For Me and Thee

Donna~ http://thehomemakingarts.blogspot.com/
Tuesday Tea

Trisha~ http://sweetology101.blogspot.com/
Tea Party Tuesday

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

Trish~ http://angelwingsandapronstrings.blogspot.com/
L.A.C.E.

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

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Spiritual Sundays- "Time"

Hello friends and welcome to Spiritual Sundays with Charlotte and Ginger~

This is a re-post from a couple of years ago.

As you enter our den, I have three clocks displayed on the wall. One is Atlantic time where Hubby and I live along with our eldest son and his family. One is Toronto time which is where our youngest son is going to university; and one is Vancouver time which is where our middle son and his family live.
All I have to do is glance at those clocks and I know what time of day it is in each of those places and I can pretty much figure out where my boys are.....

I had written the following for the church bulletin and hope you will enjoy it.

TIME
Time often seems to drag its feet when we are young. I remember as a young girl, summer vacation seemed to last forever. I could never quite comprehend why the older folks used to say that Time passed by so quickly, they wondered where it had gone! Now that I am well past my girlhood, I do indeed find that Time flies by quickly. The older I get, the quicker it seems to go too. Indeed, Time seems to have sprouted wings!

I often told my sons when they were growing up that one must try to live each day as though it is their last. That way, we would appreciate the day and we wouldn't be so apt to take anything or anyone for granted. We need to use our Time wisely.

I believe each one of us has been ordained a certain amount of Time to live our life. As Christians, we can sometimes become too busy and too self-centered. We sometimes forget that there are those around us who are lost, lonely, and in need of a friend.

How do we spend our Time? Are we selfish with it or are we generous? Do we spend Time only with those with whom we are close or do we reach out to the lonely and those in need?

When was the last Time you 'stopped to smell the roses?' Or you listened to the birds sing or watched a butterfly flutter by?

Our lives should reflect Christ in us for we are called to be like Him. The Lord Jesus was never in a hurry and He gave all He had - to the point of death on the cross. 

Each day is a gift from God and we should thank Him for it.

"Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." PSALMS 90:12

As I wait for July 8th, the day of my biopsy, I am doing a lot of thinking about Time. Like, how much time do I have and am I spending my time wisely? Of course, none of us has the answers to those questions. Only God knows!

I sincerely hope I am spending my time wisely and I hope that when I stand before God someday He will be pleased with how I used the time I had been given.

LIFE IS HARD BUT GOD IS GOOD - ALL THE TIME.

Thanks for stopping by today and I hope you will spend some Time visiting Charlotte and Ginger and the other participants at Spiritual Sundays ~ http://bloggerspirit.blogspot.com/
God bless you!

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Pink Saturday

Happy Pink Saturday~

Hello bloggerettes and welcome to another weekend of Beverly's Pink Saturday.

Today, I have a few pinks to share with you but before I show you around would you like some pink lemonade?

Summer is here and my Bleeding hearts are doing very well. I love these drippy pink heart-shaped flowers which grow abundantly by our back door.

Some Asiatic lilies to the far right of the garden ...pink of course!

Here's a close-up. These have just been planted so there are not very many yet.

Looking forward to using these in a bouquet.

Oh, my little fairy friend Breena has been sunning herself in the garden.

She really gets around!

My first pink rose bud of the season.

The lilacs are not pink but my Rose Chintz is adorned with many shades of the scrumptious colour. I love how the lilacs compliment the pink and tiny purple-blue flowers. I get to enjoy lilacs a little longer this year because they got a late start and the weather has been so cool.

Lastly, a cloche of pink floral teacups.

Breena just flew in fresh from the garden and she has a wee bit of pollen on her pink frock. She is day-dreaming on my green teacup which is sprinkled with pink rosebuds.

Thank you for visiting today and I know if you visit our hostess Beverly - http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/  she will have oodles of pink posts to share with you from our pink friends all around the world. Have a lovely pink weekend everyone.

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Summer Block Party~ Rose Chintz and Lilacs

Hello bloggy buddies ~ I hope you all enjoyed your first week of Summer.

Today I am sharing some old-fashioned lilacs arranged in my vintage Rose Chintz pitcher. As most of you know by now, the pattern Rose Chintz was produced by Johnson Bros. of England. It is a lovely summery pattern of pink and purple-blue florals sprinkled on a creamy white background. 

Most of this romantic looking china was passed down to me by my beloved Auntie P. who had received her first pieces as a wedding gift. This china has been a favourite of mine ever since I was a little girl. My aunt always served her meals on these dishes and so they conjure up wonderful memories of my childhood and visits to her home. 

Some vintage teacups look charming stacked beside the lilacs.

Creamer

A string of pearls from Scotland and a vintage silver spoon accompany the teacup with a sprig of lilacs. Lilacs don't bloom very long but I will enjoy them displayed in my vintage china for as long as I can. 

Thank you for visiting today. I am joining these lovely parties ~

Sherry for her Home Sweet Home party - http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/

Debra for her Blogger Block Party / Vintage Inspiration Friday - http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com/

Courtney for her Shabby Cottage Summer - http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/    
Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

73rd Tea Time Tuesday ~ A Summer Dreams Tea and Savoring Summer with Kathy

A perfect Summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken. ~ James Dent

Welcome dear friends to Tea Time Tuesday ~

I am so happy you have stopped by! Please come in and make yourself at home as we celebrate Summer together. Alas, it doesn't feel much like summertime here on the Island with temperatures 10-15 degrees below normal, but surely it will warm up one of these days! I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Today I am celebrating Summer with  two parties ~ my own Summer Dreams Tea and Kathy's seasonal party ~ Savoring Summer.

I have some refreshments for you as well as some photos from around my home and the Island. There might even be a wee bit of whimsy.... I apologize ahead of time because this post is a bit longer than usual. But then again, I am participating in Kathy's party too. 

Would you like a nice glass of lemonade before we get started?

Summer~ It is always with a sense of wonder that we watch Summer unfold before us. It is a time to bring out the iced tea and lemonade, to enjoy its carefree spirit, and take a little time for ourselves as we refresh, restore, and begin anew.

It is a time to get outdoors and become reaquainted with our gardens; the blossoms, the birds and the bees, as well as watch the butterflies flutter by.

One might even spot a wee fairy friend if one looks closely enough.

Indoors or out, the fairies are around especially this time of year!

Happiness flutters in the air whilst we rest among the breaths of nature. ~ Kelly Scheaffer

This adorable gold finch is one of my favourite little feathered friends who comes to the feeder outside my front window every morning. He and his mate are frequent visitors and oftentimes he brings his friends with him. I do love being entertained by the birdies, don't you?

The summer morn is bright and fresh, the birds are darting by/ As if they loved to breast the breeze that sweeps the cool clear sky. ~  William Cullen Bryant

Every bird likes its own nest best. ~ Randle Cotgrave

One of my havens for solitude at home is the back deck. I like to take my cup of tea or cold glass of iced tea and sit quietly, surrounded by my flowers, and just soak in all the beauty of the season. On a clear sunny day, I even like to watch the clouds drift by. At night, I love to watch the fireflies.

The only sounds that permeate the fresh air are the sweet serenade of feathered friends, the whisper of rustling leaves, and the trickling tempo of a fountain.

This is the view I have from the back deck...
My Caledonia Garden which is planted with annuals and bordered with stones from my grandmother's childhood home on Caledonia Mountain. Hubby just got this one planted over the weekend before it started to rain again. Not quite finished but getting there.

I love the trees which lend us all kinds of privacy and in among those trees our feathered friends live, sing, and build their nests. To the right you can just see the top of the bird bath which is centered in our garden.

Summer brings with it any number of pleasant pasttimes such as walking barefoot, picnics, barbeques, and bonfires, as well as long walks on the beach...

...or just basking in the warmth of the sunshine. Sometimes we enjoy a picnic out there. This is our little grandson Brent enjoying a juicy peach while he enjoys the scenery.

One of my favourite things to do is sink my toes into the warm sand. For some reason I find that almost medicinal. I can totally forget all my troubles when I'm at the beach.

We always choose the most private spot and just lie back and relax. For me, nothing is more enjoyable than sitting with the one you love and listening to the sound of the lacy-edged waves as they lap on the seashore.  

Walking along the shore is both invigorating and soothing.

We have the loveliest beaches here on the Island and this is where Hubby and I will spend most of the summertime!

I enjoy walking along a path through the woods too. Tranquility at its best; a time to reflect and give thanks to the One who created this beautiful world in which we live.

By oneself...

Or with a friend...

The beach and the woods both offer a peaceful interlude away from the comforts of home; a time to get out and breathe in the fresh air laden with the scents of nature.

This time of year, the fields and roadsides are abundant with lupins. I usually get out and take my own photos but this one I had to borrow from the internet. This is Clinton, PEI, and are they not beautiful?

Summertime also brings a new crop of potatoes. Did you know that PEI is famous for its potatoes? Well, yes, it is! This is a photo of my good friend, William Visser's potato field. He is a big potato farmer here on the Island and we should be enjoying new potatoes within a month or so.

The picture was taken by someone else but you can see the red soil we have here and Visser's farm is right on the water.

Of course with Summer also comes the re-opening of Green Gables where our famous Anne lived and dreamed. Again, I borrowed this one from the internet.

Meanwhile, back at home....

It's the month of June which means it's the month of roses and...

Summer means taking time to stop and smell the roses...

If I had a rose for every time I thought of you, I'd be picking roses for a lifetime. ~ Swedish Proverb

The delights that begin in the garden can be extended indoors with the enticing fragrance of the flowers. Blissfully fragrant and enchanting in their timeless beauty, roses have the power to charm their way into anyone's heart and home. They remind me of gracious Victorian ladies, dressed in their finest frocks, taking tea with their best friends. I love bringing them indoors to enjoy in bouquets.

The greatest gift of the garden is the restoration of the five senses. ~ Hanna Rion

These are my Teresa Bugnet roses and they are my favourite. They are so old-fashioned in their apparel and their scent is heavenly. I look forward to their appearance every summer. Mine are still in bud form as everything is late this year. These photos are from last year. 

I love the romantic shade of pink and I'm certain little fairies dream within their buds.

I love making bouquets in my teapots too; they're so fluffy and frilly...

Summertime is also the season for lilacs. I love the scent of lilacs wafting through the air. These too, I like to bring indoors and enjoy them in bouquets if only for a day or two. 

Each cup of tea represents an imaginary journey. ~ Catherine Douzel

Now, time for tea...

A lovely cup of tea in a chintz teacup...

I have prepared a light tea for you today.

Candlelight and pearls, as well as a swan holding the silverware, and a double impatiens in a hatbox makes our tea a wee more whimsical...

My tiered plate stand holds tuna salad, and heart-shaped cucumber, cream cheese, and strawberry tea sandwiches on the bottom and...

...raspberry tarts and blueberry-topped lemon tarts on the top.

Please help yourself!

Breena, my little fairy friend, has decided to join us for tea.

"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

I am delighted to celebrate Summer with you and thank you for letting me share some of the beauty and loveliness in my world. I hope you will take some time to visit Kathy @ http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/
and all my lovely participants as we partake of tea and all things summery.

Happiness is sharing tea with a friend. ~

I would love for you to join me for Tea Time Tuesday! All you have to do is share a favourite tea cup or teapot, a coffee mug, or something tea related. If you wish, you may do coffee instead of tea or the following is acceptable too: apple cider, iced tea or iced coffee, hot chocolate, lemonade, or punch. The TTT button on my sidebar is available for you to use in your post or place on your sidebar if you wish. A poem, tea quote, or scripture verse would be more than welcome! Please link back to me so that your visitors may find their way here to visit with all my lovely participants.

China patterns and accessories used in this post:

Red transferware teapot and teacup bear no name

Historic America plate by Johnson Bros.
Rose Chintz by Johnson Bros.

Rose Bud by Maxwell and Williams

Rose Chintz by Gracie China
Silverware- Evening Star by Oneida
Lace tablecloth was a gift from a friend
Pink swan was a gift from my mother
Pearls from Scotland were a gift from my Auntie P
Pink candle lantern was a gift from Roselle at Seaside Rose Creations- http://roselle-seasiderosecreations.blogspot.com/

All photos, except the three which I got off the internet, and the one of me holding the roses which was taken by my hubby, are my own. The birds, the flowers, the beach, woods, etc. were all created by God.

Some excerpts have been taken from Victoria magazine.

I am pleased to join the following parties as well~

Kathy~ http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/

Victoria - Savoring Summer

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

Pam~ http://breathoffreshair-paperbutterfly.blogspot.com/

Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday

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

Tea For Two and Wednesday Tea For Me and Thee

Donna~ http://thehomemakingarts.blogspot.com/

Tuesday Tea

Trisha~ http://sweetology101.blogspot.com/

Tea Party Tuesday

Lady Katherine~ http://ladykatherineteaparlor.blogspot.com/

Teatime Tuesday

Trish~ http://angelwingsandapronstrings.blogspot.com/

 L.A.C.E.

Miss Spenser~ http://missspensersblog.blogspot.com/

Teacup Thursday

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

Tea in the Garden

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi