HOME

Welcome HOME friends! {Heart  Of  My Environment} I am so happy to have you join me today.

"Home is where friendships are formed and families are grown;
where joy is shared and true love is known;
where memories are made and seeds of life are sown.
This is the place that people call HOME." ~ Author unknown


What a wonderful turn-out we had last week for my first HOME party! Thank you everyone for your participation, comments, and visits. You are such lovely blogger friends!  

My heart and my prayers go out to all of you who have been affected by superstorm Sandy! I do hope and pray that you are all safe today. God bless you all!



What are little boys made of?
Snips and Snails and puppy dog tails,
That's what little boys are made of! ~ Mother Goose Nursery Rhyme


Little boys, big boys; don't you just love 'em!?!
Today, October 31, is a very special day in our family. We celebrate it because it is our little grandson's birthday. BJ is a nature lover just like his daddy and his grandmother. If there is a bird's nest, a butterfly, a salamander, or a frog to be found, he will find it and bring it home.

I get such a kick out BJ's interest in wildlife because it conjures up such sweet memories of his daddy when he was growing up!

My son is in Wildlife Conservation Technology and he is right in his element when he is caring for God's little creatures. Isn't he handsome!

Like father, like son....

                     BJ and his salamander                                                    BJ and his frog

So because it is BJ's birthday today, I am serving Snails aka Cinnamon Rolls. Where did the name Snails come from you may wonder? My son started calling cinnamon rolls "Snails" when he was just a little tyke, about four years of age, because they reminded him of, you guessed it, snails!


Here is my recipe, nothing fancy, just a comfortable down HOME treat.

Snails aka Cinnamon Rolls

2 cups flour
2 TBSP white sugar
1 tsp salt
4 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup softened butter
3/4 cup milk, adjustable

Preheat oven to 375 and grease a 12 cup muffin tin well. Mix ingredients and knead. Roll out on floured surface, aim for a rectangular shaped dough. Spread on generous layer of butter, sprinkle with a mixture of about 1 cup brown sugar and 1 TBSP cinnamon. Roll dough into a log, with a strand of dental floss cut 1-1/2 inch slices {Ta-da! the easiest, neatest way to cut into rolls} or a sharp knife, and put into muffin tin. Bake for 12 minutes or until golden brown. Enjoy!

Sometimes I drizzle icing over them too but I am serving them plain today.

Happy Birthday BJ!

Do you have something special which is HOME related that you would like to share with us? Any of the following are welcome....

Cooking and baking, recipes, antiquing, artwork, home decor, ceramics, crafts, crocheting/knitting, quilting/sewing, floral arranging, gardening, homemaking tips, hospitality, refinishing furniture, renos, tea time, tablescapes, thrift shopping, etc....You get the idea!
Maybe there's a new baby in the family or you have a new fur baby you would like to introduce us to. They are welcome too! Anything and everything which makes your HOME more enjoyable to come HOME to for your family, your friends, and yourself.  

I'm afraid I have been rather preoccupied with watching the news about my American friends on the east coast of the US and in Canada as well who have been affected by the superstorm Sandy, so I didn't get my thumblink account set up yet. In the meantime, please use the Inlinkz below.

As a courtesy, please link back to me so that your visitors may find their way here.

I am joining the following parties too~


Share Your Cup Thursday
Home and Garden Thursday
Cottage Style Linky Party
Home Sweet Home
Open House
Potpourri Friday

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Tea Time Tuesday

"Remember the tea kettle - it is always up to its neck in hot water, yet it still sings." ~ Unknown

Welcome dear ladies to my last tea party in October!

I pray all of my American friends are staying safe and not finding themselves in hot water or any kind of water in the wake of "Sandy." Also, for my Canadian friends, please take care! Hopefully,we here on our fair little Island won't lose our power or sustain any damage. 

I decided to do a white tea today with a little pink in honour of Breast Cancer Awareness once again.

Today I am serving tea in my white lattice teapot with its little  birdie perched on top.
 

I have a creamy white cup.... 

....as well as this pink teacup.

When I saw this pink teacup, well, I just couldn't resist it! According to the info I found on-line, it is a rare Colclough teacup, number 6495.

It is a beautiful shade of pink with gold floral and leaf filigree adorning it. I had seen it months ago in an antique shop and when I went back to the store weeks later, it was still there so I knew it was meant for me. The price was too good to pass up, eight dollars. Isn't she lovely!

I think it had been someone's favourite because some gold has been rubbed off the handle. I would love to be able to have a chat with this teacup and hear the stories it could tell! If only teacups could talk!

For many years, I liked everything to be brand new. It took me a long time to appreciate the value of antiques. I wasn't one for thrifting. I think perhaps it's because my mother never showed any interest in such things. Indeed none of my relatives appeared to show much interest either. But since I started collecting JB Rose Chintz china, teapots and teacups, I have found a kinship with old worn furniture pieces, china, and linens. There is something oh so charming and comfortable about them; sort of like turning back the clock to another  time.

I am not serving dessert today, just some plain cookies.

Hubby and I both have to watch our cholesterol these days. I know some of you would prefer just a cookie for tea anyway.

Are you one of my Followers? If you are and you have not entered my Giveaway, then I invite you to leave a comment on my Giveaway post. You can find it here. I am giving away a beautiful table cloth, a set of Anne of Green Gables coasters, and a Tea Shop Mystery by Laura Childs.

Thank you for visiting today and I hope you all have a beautiful day. Stay safe!

"How precious are Your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered." ~ Psalm 139:17

"When you go through deep waters, I will be with you." ~ Isaiah 43:2

I am delighted you have stopped by for tea today! Your presence always makes my tea party that much more special and I am happy to see all your tea things, whether you have shared them before or not. This tea party is all about sharing your joy of tea time and any thoughts you might have on the subject. You may be as creative, fancy, or as laid back with your tea time as you wish!
Do you have a favourite teacup/teapot or mug that you would like to share with us today? I would love to see it and I'm sure others would too!

If you wish, you may do coffee instead of tea or the following is acceptable too:
Hot Apple Cider, Hot Chocolate, Lemonade, Iced Tea or iced coffee, Punch in a lovely bowl.
No alcoholic beverages please.

The Tea Time Tuesday 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! To be sure everyone has a visit, it would be nice if you visited the participant before and after your name. Inlinkz is available below for you to sign up for my tea party.

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

I am joining the following parties as well~

Heart and Home ~ http://angelwingsandapronstrings.blogspot.com/
A Return to Loveliness ~ http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/
Tea Cup Tuesday~ http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/
Tea Cup Tuesday ~ http://www.marthasfavorites.com/
Tuesday Cuppa Tea~ http://antiquesandteacups.blogspot.com/
Friends Sharing Tea ~ http://bernideensteatimeblog.blogspot.com/
Blissful Whites Wednesday~ http://www.timewashed.com/
Tea Cup Thursday~ http://missspensersblog.blogspot.com/
Share Your Cup Thursday~ http://jannolson.blogspot.com/
Cottage Style Linky Party~ http://lavendergardencottage.blogspot.com/
Home Sweet Home~ http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/
Potpourri Friday~ http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com/

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Pink For Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Hello sweet bloggerettes~ Welcome to Pink Saturday with our hostess Beverly!

As we all know October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and I had hosted a tea party a couple of weeks ago featuring some of my pink teacups. Today I thought I would share some photos from my party. 

Pink tulips dance over a cup of tea. They remind me of fairy bells. These tulips were purchased in support of Breast Cancer research.

Would you like a cuppa tea and a cookie?

Or perhaps you would enjoy a little treat like this raspberry coconut marshmallow.

 

And since we're on the subject of pink, how about some of this in your powder room.

 

 

I pray a cure is found for this dreaded disease soon. Too many have suffered with it and too many have died from it! 

Thank you for visiting and please take good care of yourself. Have a beautiful pink weekend and thank you Beverly for hosting a special Pink Saturday this weekend.

~ In memory of my friend Carol ~

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

HOME

Welcome HOME! {Heart Of My Environment}

Hello lovely friends ~ I am so excited to begin my new HOME party!  And would you believe my camera broke when I was planning this? The whole bottom broke right off.

Then my knight in shining armour came to my rescue and surprised me with a brand new camera to get me by until we can get a better one. He is my hero!

Old one to the left, new one to the right.

I'm telling you, I have the best hubby there is!! I have also been having many issues with Blogger, have you? So my very first post this week will be short and sweet.

Home is far more than a residence; home involves the character of living that goes on inside the house. A real home is a shelter from the storms of life, a place to enjoy, a place in which to relax, a place of peace and rest. ~ Dr. Clifford R. Anderson

Over the years as a home maker, a mom, and a pastor's wife, I have done a lot of entertaining. Something I gained a reputation for was my desserts. So today I thought I would share this very easy, very pretty, and very decadent dessert with you ~
Black Forest Torte. This is a wonderful treat for your family or when you're expecting company.

Easy Black Forest Torte

You will need:
1- Chocolate cake mix. I used Duncan Hines deep chocolate. 
I - 8oz. container of Cool Whip.
I - 21oz. can cherry pie filling.

Mix and bake cake according to directions on the package.
Bake in a greased 10-inch tube pan @ 350 degrees. Cool.
When cool, split the cake into three layers. Spread 1/3 of whipped topping, then 1/3 cherry pie filling, between each layer and top.  If you wish, you may add chocolate curls for an extra special touch.  Refrigerate until set. Enjoy!

This cake always brings a smile to someone's face so I hope you will give it a try. Bake Someone Happy!

Do you have something you would like to share? You are welcome to share anything pertaining to your HOME such as ....

Cooking and baking, recipes, antiquing, home decor, ceramics, crafts, crocheting/knitting, quilting/sewing, floral arranging, gardening, homemaking tips, hospitality, refinishing furniture, renos, tea time, tablescapes, thrifting etc.... Maybe there's a new baby in the family or you have a new fur baby you would like to introduce us to. They are welcome too!

Anything and everything which makes your HOME more enjoyable to come HOME to, for your family, your friends, and yourself.

My tea friends are welcome to link up their tea posts here as well.

I am joining these wonderful parties too~

Share Your Cup Thursday
Cottage Style Linky Party
Tutorials, Tips, and Tidbits
House and Garden Thursday
Home Sweet Home
Open House

I am working on getting an Inlinkz thumbnail account set up so I hope you will be patient with me. In the meantime please use the Inlinkz below. Have a delightful day everyone!




Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Can Anyone Help Me?

Good morning friends~ I hope you're all enjoying your day!

I wonder if one of you lovely ladies out there could help me.
Ever since I removed the Word Verification thingy, I am overloaded with Spam. Could you tell me how to keep the Word Verification thing off but put a stop to the Anonymous comments? Sorry to those of you who are for real but I need to fix this thing!

Hope to see you later for my new HOME party!

PS~ Thank you ladies, I think I got it! I guess time will tell.

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Tea Time Tuesday

"Come, little leaves," said the Wind one day; "Come to the meadows with me - and play. Put on your dresses of red and gold; for Summer is past, and the days grow cold." ~ George Cooper

Hubby and I took a walk through the trails yesterday and these trees were in the clearing on the way back to our car. Aren't they gorgeous?

Welcome back to Tea Time Tuesday dear friends~

Thank you to all who participated in my Pink Tea last week. Everyone was so kind and left such lovely comments. A warm welcome to all my new followers too! I'm so happy to have you join me here at Rose Chintz Cottage!

After all the pretty pink last week, my tea today is going to be in a blue theme. Surprised? You don't have to share blue. It's just that I found something blue and wanted to show it off.

"I would rather sit on a pumpkin, and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion." ~ Henry David Thoreau 

I was out browsing the shops about a month ago, and I found this teapot. Isn't it cute?

It is the matching teapot to the teacup I found a few months ago!

I was so pleased to find it and since I didn't have a blue teapot, it came home with me. These pieces are porcelain, called Botanic Blue. I think it will be happy in my little cottage. 

Please make yourself at home and let's enjoy some Twinings Black Orange tea and some double chocolate brownies.

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




I normally make my brownies from scratch but I have to confess that these are from a mix. They are wonderful; nice and moist with a cup of tea.

Tea is a time to enjoy simple pleasures.

It is a time to slow down and reflect.

"Autumn is a second Spring when every leaf is a flower." ~ Albert Camus

View in our back yard

The Autumn season is well under way bringing with it fields of gold and trees ablaze with colour. Fruit is ripe and veggies are brought in to enjoy. It is the season of the harvest and thanksgiving.

It is also the time of year that I really get the urge to bake and nest which brings me to an Announcement....

As some of you may know I am starting up a new meme this week called HOME. I love being a home maker and I enjoy making my home welcoming for my family and friends. I invite you to come along with me and join me again on Wednesday afternoon for that. You can read about that here or just go to my previous post to read all about it.

My HOME button is available for you to post on your sidebar or your HOME post if you wish. Just copy and paste.

Also, if you are a Follower of Rose Chintz Cottage, don't forget to enter my GIVEAWAY. You can read about that here.

"He existed before anything else; and He holds all creation together." ~ Colossians 1:17

I am delighted you have stopped by for tea today! Your presence always makes my tea party that much more special and I am happy to see all your tea things, whether you have shared them before or not. This tea party is all about sharing your joy of tea time and any thoughts you might have on the subject. You may be as creative, fancy, or as laid back with your tea time as you wish!

Do you have a favourite teacup/teapot or mug that you would like to share with us today? I would love to see it and I'm sure others would too!

If you wish, you may do coffee instead of tea or the following is acceptable too:
Hot Apple Cider
Hot Chocolate
Lemonade
Iced Tea or iced coffee
Punch in a lovely bowl.

The Tea Time Tuesday 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! To be sure everyone has a visit, it would be nice if you visited the participant before and after your name. Inlinkz is available below for you to sign up for my tea party. As a courtesy, please link back to me so that your visitors may find their way here to visit with all my lovely participants.

I am joining the following parties as well~

Heart and Home ~ http://angelwingsandapronstrings.blogspot.com/
A Return to Loveliness ~ http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/
Tea Cup Tuesday ~ http://www.marthasfavorites.com/
Tea Cup Tuesday~ http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/
Tuesday Cuppa Tea~ http://antiquesandteacups.blogspot.com/
Tea in the Garden~ http://bernideensteatimeblog.blogspot.com/
Tea Cup Thursday~ http://missspensersblog.blogspot.com/
Share Your Cup Thursday~ http://jannolson.blogspot.com/
Home Sweet Home~ http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/
Potpourri Friday~ http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com/

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

A New Party

Hello everyone! I hope you're all enjoying your weekend.

Well, it's happened! During the Summer months, I am always busy but once the Autumn and Winter set in, I am at home more and I tend to get bored restless.

I have been hosting tea parties for close to three years now and for almost two years, I have been wanting to make some changes.....

Now all my tea friends, please don't go and get all nervous on me, I'm not shutting down Tea Time Tuesday. 
I just want to do something different.

Ever since I was a little girl, all I ever wanted to be was a home maker. And even though I have worn several hats, nothing has ever brought me the joy and contentment that staying at home being a mom and home maker has brought me.
I am a domestic diva, you see. My home is my domain; the heart of my environment. I guess you could call me ''Little Susie Sandi Home Maker.'' *smiles*

Over the years, as a home maker, a mom, and a pastor's wife, I have done a lot of entertaining, and I have oodles of recipes and ideas to share with you such as this easy Black Forest Torte.

I have been pondering this for quite some time as I have already mentioned and several of you already have these kinds of parties but I really do feel led to start one of my own up. I hope my blogger friends who already host these types of parties will forgive me for starting up yet another one.

I feel the need to express my creativity more in my blogging and I always operate better in a structured environment.
So, I am starting up a new HOME Party.

H-Heart  
O-Of  
M-My  
E-Environment

HOME is where your story begins....

Picture this.... There is a nip in the air and frost is beginning to  paint lovely pictures on the windows but inside all is warm and cozy. A crackling fire is dancing in the fireplace and sugar cookies are fresh from the oven. Big mugs of hot chocolate topped with whipped cream are being savoured by those within. Mom has made HOME a nice place to be.

When my children were growing up I took great pains in doing  special things for my family. My nesting instincts brought me joy.
They still do.
Favourite cookies and pies were baked, warm beds were made up for everyone, and there was always a HOME cooked meal ready for hungry tummies.
I relished having the smell of cookies fresh from the oven or the spicy scent of a freshly baked apple pie greet their noses when they came home from school and work!

There was always a kiss good night and every day of their lives, they were told they were loved.
I longed to make my HOME a haven and for the most part it was, or so I've been told by my family. *smiles again!*

Now, I want to give each of you a chance to share what you are creating in your HOME to make it a delightful place for your loved ones to come HOME to. You are under no obligation to join my party but if you would like to, you may share any of the following:

Cooking and baking, recipes, antiquing, artwork, home decor, ceramics, crafts, crocheting/knitting, quilting/sewing, floral arranging, homemaking tips, hospitality, refinishing furniture, renos, tea time, tablescapes, thrift shopping etc.... 
Whew, well, you get the picture! Anything and everything which makes your HOME more enjoyable to come  HOME to, for your family, your friends, and yourself.

So, beginning next week, Tea Time Tuesday will go up on Mondays at 11:00 AM instead of the afternoon and my new HOME party will go up on Wednesday October 24th at 1:00 PM.

This will be my new HOME button and you are welcome to take it for your post or sidebar if you wish. Just copy and paste.


I would love it if you joined me! Enjoy your day everyone.

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Pink Saturday and A Giveaway

Hello bloggerettes~ The weekend is upon us once again and that means it's Pink Saturday time.

Beverly's theme today is Autumn flowers and foliage. I can't share very much because they have been working on our street for over a month, filling in the ditches. Therefore everything has been a muddy mess. They finally got the sods down but because of the mess I don't have much in the way of Autumn decor going on outside at my house.

I do however have a wreath on my front door. It was difficult getting a good picture because the sun was playing havoc with my camera.

A few pumpkins are sitting on the steps and a pumpkin is in the birdbath. You can see where they just laid the new sod down.

This is my wreath closer up which had been hanging on a closet door until the red clay settled down before hanging it out on the front door.

I took a grapevine wreath and added a leafy garland and sunflowers as well as bullrushes.

Now for something pink....

One last little pink geranium sunning itself on our side step.

We have been getting rid of some old coffee mugs and buying new ones when we see one we like. Hubby got me this one.

Isn't it pretty? Lovely pink roses, adorned with soft green and gold filigree make sipping from this mug a real pleasure!

It has a pretty handle too.

It is bone china called Classic Rose made by Dunoon in England. Who wouldn't want to sip coffee or tea from this?

I also have a Giveaway for all my Followers. If you would like to enter then just click here and I will tell you all about it.

Thank you Beverly for hosting Pink Saturday and I wish you all a wonderful Pink weekend!

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi