Monday, 8 August 2011

Tea Time Tuesday & Heart of the Home Party

August
Fairest of months! Ripe Summer queen
The hey-day of the year
With robes that gleam with sunny sheen,
Sweet August doth appear. ~ R. Combe Miller

A warm welcome to you, dear friends. Please come in and join me for another Tea Time Tuesday.  This is my 80th TTT and I think there's a Giveaway coming up soon!

It's another rainy day here on the Island. My, it's been a poor Summer for the beach but today is a good day to stay indoors, read and sip a cup of tea.


Two of my favourite reads are Victoria and Tea Time. I just won a free subscription to Tea Time in a Giveaway from Trisha at Sweetology ~ http://sweetology101.blogspot.com/   Thank you, my friend!  Trisha is a very generous and talented lady whose blog is pure delight. I know many of you are already acquainted with her and for those of you who are not, you must check out her blog. Every week she entertains us with wonderful tea parties and recipes. 

Hubby and I just got back from a wonderful visit with my family in New Brunswick and I must apologize for being late with some of my visits.

Sheila over at Note Songs ~ http://notesongs.blogspot.com/  is having another Heart of the Home Party featuring roosters and chickens and since I love the creatures myself, I decided to join her. I just so happen to have a few of these handsome fellows around my home, so come along with me as I share some new finds and a few of my feathered friends.

I think my fondness for roosters and chickens stems from the years I spent on my grandparents' farm when I was a little girl. I used to help my Granny gather the eggs and the birds were always strutting about the yard. Such fond memories!

This fellow stands tall and handsome above my kitchen cabinets. He is in good company as this is where I have many of my teapots displayed. He reminds me of the rooster we hear every morning beyond the trees in our back yard. All of my roosters and chickens are made of cast iron. The big guy below was once a rusty brown and I gave him a coat of creamy white and distressed him. I think he looks so much better this way.


On top of the refrigerator is a vignette with a feathered family; a rooster and a chicken. There is a little sign hanging on the basket which says, "Families That Pray Together Stay Together."


Also above my cabinets is this little lady. She is keeping company with more of my teapots just like her handsome companion, Mr. Rooster.


I also have a rooster teapot which you've all seen before.


I also have this rooster plate which I found at HomeSense in Vancouver when I was visiting my son and his family.



Now, would you like to see my new finds?
One evening Hubby and I walked into a shop where we came upon this creamy white tea set complete with a wire carrier.


Decisions, decisions...So, what would you do?

A wonderful wire carrier holding all of these pieces...6 crystal edged saucers. I like the saucers most of all. Can you see the sparklies and raised floral motif? 


There were 4 crystal-embedded teacups and 2 mugs...,


A covered sugar with its own spoon, a creamer with a broken handle, and a teapot with its missing cover; all for less than twenty dollars! Each piece has a split personality as one side is adorned with the palest green floral motif while the other is studded with crystals and a sort of medallion.

Originally priced at $86.99, it was marked down due to some damage.



The creamer with a broken handle didn't bother me too much and the teapot was missing its cover. Two teacups were broken so they threw in two mugs and I was torn! I wasn't sure if I liked the crystal/ medallion side. I much preferred the plain side but they were growing on me! I had all kinds of ideas running through my head and the wire carrier itself would come in handy. So, they came home with me.

This is one side of the teapot with its florals and two crystals.


Below is what the other side looks like. When I want to use it, I just borrow the cover from another teapot. Can you make out TEA on it?


When not in use, this is how I re-purpose it. A vine and a book snuggled next to a wire cloche, and it makes for a cute vignette in a corner nook.


I think I got a good deal!

Now, how about a cup of tea?

I was hoping to set my tea table out under our maple tree but it was too windy with the threat of rain. So, I set the table up in front of the window with the tree in the background. I have used two different bouquets; one pink and one white. My hubby prefers the pink because he thinks all white is boring. LOL

I will share both with you.

The pink rose bouquet...Can't you just smell my roses? One of my roosters has joined us for Sheila's party.


And the white Queen Anne's Lace bouquet...


I had used this lace doily in an earlier post with silverware in it and I decided to tie it up with some Queen Anne's Lace for a softer look. I am so happy that these wild and lovely flowers grow abundantly around here in fields and along the roadsides! Free for the picking.




The spirit of the tea beverage is one of peace, comfort and refinement. ~ Arthur Gray


....Butter tarts...Yum!


The breeze was blowing the lace curtain because I had the windows open. Somehow I don't mind how this turned out because there's something charming about lace blowing in the breeze, don't you think?


Well, there you have it. I hope you have enjoyed seeing my newest finds. I love finding a bargain, don't you?
I know I said my posts would likely be shorter since I'm on vacation but they are just as long as before. LOL. Thank you for stopping by for tea and having a peek at some of my feathered friends too. Next week, I have yet some more finds to share with you.

"And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary." ~ Galatians 6:9

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~

Sheila~ http://notesongs.blogspot.com/
Heart of the Home Party - Roosters and Chickens

Victoria - A Return to Loveliness

Table Top Tuesday

Teacup Tuesday
Teacup Tuesday

Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday
Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday
Tea For Two and Wednesday Tea For Me and Thee

Tuesday Tea
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