Rose Chintz Cottage: 06/20/11

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/