Tea Time Tuesday

Hearts are aglow when we fill our homes with domestic warmth, nostalgia, and the beloved trinkets that symbolize the season. ~ Victoria magazine
Welcome everyone to another Tea Time Tuesday. 

One of the really nice things about celebrating our Thanksgiving in October here in Canada is that one can start decorating for the holidays early. And so I have. Please come in and join me for some nice hot tea and spicy warm apple pie.

Today is my son's birthday and since he shares my love for the holidays and music, we are going to enjoy our tea in the den where I have set up one of my little Christmas trees on the stereo cabinet.
So, put your feet up and make yourself at home on the couch as we relax and listen to some soft music. The sun is filtering through the window, bathing the room in coziness; just right for tea time.

My little tree underwent a makeover last year which you can read about on my Christmas blog, Christmas Pudding. I like it with the fairy lights added so it will stay like this for awhile. Snuggled up to the tree is my newest rocking horse. Isn't he cute?

Tea is steeping in my red transferware teapot...

...and in the glow of the fairy lights, is a tray of warm mini apple pies fresh from the oven, waiting to enjoy with our tea.

I found this recipe on another blog but I can't remember where. I have altered it a bit and the recipe is below if you would like to try it. The ramekins were filled with apples but when they cooled, they shrunk down just like a big pie.

Mini Apple Pies
6-10 apples; cortland, granny smith, etc.
Peel and slice apples then mix with:
1 cup of sugar
1 TBSP. flour
1TBSP. cinnamon
Fill greased ramekins with the cinnamon-coated apples and add a pat of butter to each.
Roll out pie pastry and cut into circles with a cookie cutter. I used Pillsbury pie crust.
Layer on top of each ramekin and cut slits to allow steam to escape.
Place ramekins on a cookie sheet. Bake at 400 for approximately 45 minutes.
Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

I have added thick whipped cream which I have scooped out like ice cream for the pies. I think next time I make the pies, I will add some raisins or dried cranberries. Hubby's favourite pie is apple so he really enjoyed these.

Which teacup would you like to use?

The top one is Chantilly Lace by Skye McGhie and the other one is Victorian Chintz by Burleigh. The Burleigh pattern is no longer in production so I'm thrilled to have some pieces of it. This china was gifted to me by my cousin this past Summer. The cup does not have the matching saucer so I borrowed one from another set. I think they go well together, don't you?

I love both teacups.

Tea is like a hug in a cup.~

I love Christmas! November on the Island is always rather dreary with bare tree branches and sleeping gardens, so I like getting my Christmas decorations out as early as possible to brighten things up. Everything looks better with a little sparkle, don't you think?

Soon all the lights will be twinkling and the baking will begin. I enjoy the smell of Christmas baking wafting through the house. As we near the holidays, I wonder, how do you celebrate the upcoming season? Do you ever have an Open House Christmas Party or perhaps a Christmas House Tour? One thing I am planning this year is a Christmas Tea for three special young ladies.

Would you like another cup of tea? There's plenty and there is lots of apple pie with whipped cream.

Today as I celebrate my son's birthday, I give thanks to God for him. He was an adorable child with the face of a cherub who too soon grew into a very rebellious teenager. A few years later, with God's help, he became a very sweet and lovable young man. Here he is at the 2010 Olympics with his son Zachary.

When my son was growing up, he and I certainly had our battles but today we are very close. Unfortunately, we live on opposite sides of the country so I won't actually get to sit down and have birthday cake with him. We will however talk on the webcam later today. He and his wife have blessed us with two little ones, one being our only granddaughter. We have four little grandsons.

So, here's to you Joel... Happy Birthday and the Lord bless you! May this be a very special day for you. Thank you for all the joy you have brought into my life... Love from your Mum.

As you can see by his hockey jersey and cap, he is a huge Philly's fan!

Happiness is sharing tea with a friend.

When I think of birthdays and Christmas, I also think of presents.
I received a present/Giveaway in the mail the other day from Celia. It is a wonderful treasure trove of note cards and other writing materials all inside this hard covered book. She included a coffee mug with her signature high heel on it and some tea as well as a big chocolate bar. Yum! Love tea and chocolate!

Celia has two blogs; one on which she shares her regular tea posts and the other is one which she shares her story and journey following her accident, Falling Off A High Heeled Life. I hope you will take some time to visit her at both of her blogs. She is an inspiration! Thank you, Celia, for being you and for your generous Giveaway. God bless you!

"Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see." ~ Hebrews 11:1

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!
As a courtesy, please link back to me so your visitors may find their way here and visit with all my other lovely participants.

I am pleased to join the following parties as well~

Bernideen~ http://bernideensteatimeblog.blogspot.com/
Friends Sharing Tea
A Wise Woman ~ http://proverbs14verse1.blogspot.com/

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 

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

Tea Party Tuesday

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

L.A.C.E.

Sue~ http://suelovescherries.blogspot.com/
REDnesday

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

Teacup Thursday

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi