Tea Time Tuesday

"The very sight of a teapot puts a smile on the face of most people. One cannot help but think of more serene and genteel times. From the whimsical child's teapot to an elegant English teapot, to collectible teapots that adorn some homes, they are a subtle reminder of all that is good in this world." ~ Barbara Roberts

Hello friends and welcome to my last Tea Time for the month of July! I hope you're all enjoying your summertime.

We have been having a lot of dreary wet days here lately. It's been rather cool too so I've set a happy table for you.

I cut some old-fashioned roses.

And some freshly picked Queen Anne's Lace from the roadside. I do believe there is more Lace this year and I'm not sure why. The roadsides and fields offer a giant playground for fairies and pixies alike.

I'm using an assortment of china pieces which always makes for a charming setting.

My Maxwell and Williams Rose Bud teapot holds  Earl Grey tea which is always a favourite with me.

"Strange how a teapot can represent at the same time the comforts of solitude and the pleasures of company." ~ Author unknown

You have all seen my Royal Albert Summer teacup before but I decided to use it again today because of course it is a 'Summer' pattern. This is the backside.

I love the quaint cottage scene on it! It does not boast a gold trim but a soft pink scroll instead which is lovely for a change. 

The other is one I found at a thrift shop quite a while ago. It too is Royal Albert and is called Buckingham. I believe it was made between 1970-1980. The colour is a rich deep green accented with pink roses.

What do these teacups have in common besides being vintage Royal Albert? They are both designed in the Gainsborough shape with their split handles; very lady-like with their footed cups and curvy rims.

I especially like the handle on the Buckingham cup. Can you see the row of leaves outlined in gold?

Do you like lemon with your tea? Generally I take mine black but now and then I enjoy a slice of lemon.

I haven't been baking at all this week as Hubby and I have been on the go so much but we did visit a good bakery and chose a mini lemon meringue pie for our tea. We simply split it between us and it is almost as good as my own.

Making these would be easy enough. Just use your pie crust recipe in a mini pie pan and bake. Then fill with lemon pie filling and top with meringue. I think it makes a 'sweet' presentation!

Happiness is sharing tea with a friend.

Now, I have something else I want to share with you. May I be completely honest with you? I hope as my bloggy friends you will understand....

As most of you know, I had an accident in January and I have had two to three appointments every week since February. I am exhausted and I feel I need a break. 

I had a short one when my boys were home in June but as some of you know, I took another fall while they were here so it really wasn't a break at all.

I feel I need some time away from blogging and the computer in general. I need time to rest and not stress about hosting parties on top of everything else. I know you will all understand.

Also, my hubby is on vacation and I don't want to be sitting in front of the computer preparing posts. I may be away for only a couple of weeks, perhaps three. We'll see. But I hope to have lots to share with you when I get back.
When I return I will tell you more about my Anne of Green Gables Tea which I will be hosting on August 19.

I will be cancelling my HOME party on Wednesdays too for at least a couple of weeks.

Enjoy your Summer and I will leave this Linky open for a couple of weeks so you may link up any tea posts you may have.

The Lord bless you, and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine on you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance on you,
And give you peace. ~ Numbers 6:24-26 {NAS}

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 party is all about sharing your joy of tea time and you may be as creative, fancy, or laid back as you wish.

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, or Punch in a lovely bowl.

To be sure everyone has a visit, it would be nice if you visited the participant before and after your name. 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~

Inspire Me Tuesday ~ http://www.astrollthrulife.net/
A Return to Loveliness ~ http://www.adelightsomelife.com/
Tea Cup Tuesday~ http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/
Tea Cup Tuesday ~ http://www.marthasfavorites.com/
Tea In The Garden ~ http://blog.bernideens.com/
Share Your Cup Thursday~ http://jannolson.blogspot.com/
Home Sweet Home~ http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Welcome to My HOME!

"May your home always be too small to hold all your friends." ~ Author Unknown

Happy Wednesday everyone and welcome to my HOME!


It's hard to believe that July is winding down. The Summer goes way too fast! Here on the Island we try to cram in as much summertime activity as possible; like barbeques and going to the beach. There is something so peaceful about being out in that fresh air and listening to the sound of the waves and the seagulls.

You will find us at the beach most of the time at this time of year. We love to take long walks, ankle-deep in the water.

Another thing we enjoy is taking our coffee down to the park to sit and watch the sail boats in the harbour.

Visiting tea rooms and enjoying a treat is also another favourite pasttime.

We love walking the trails through the woods, such as the Haunted Wood at Green Gables.

And we usually try to visit my family out of province at least once during the summertime too.

How do you spend your Summer?

This week I am hosting my Christmas in July Tea Party and I invite anyone who would like to participate, to link up with me. You may link up here at my HOME party or the Tea Party below. You are welcome to link up at both parties if you wish.

This party is all about sharing something HOME related and your teascape or tablescape is most welcome!

At the tea party, I featured my Old Country Roses china and a yummy dessert which I only make at Christmas and once in the summertime.

Sit a while and enjoy a cup of tea with me, won't you. I love having the company!

Now here are my features from last week. Enjoy!

Check out Southern Seazons French Country kitchen reno. I love the white cabinets and her island.



Wendy @ Once Upon A Rose Haven shared her talented hubby's bird carvings as well as her adventure with a baby swallow.

Poppy @ With a Dash of Color shared an enchanted summer evening in her garden with mason jar candlelight and flowers. 



Elizabeth @ The Porcelain Rose shared a darling vintage ballerina tutu. Makes me want to be a little girl again!

And for those who cannot get enough fresh strawberries, Kitty @ Kitty's Kozy Kitchen shared her recipe for scrumptious strawberry pie.

Thank you everyone for your lovely comments, visits, and to those of you who welcome all of us into your HOME, an especially big thanks!
Every week I choose a few features from the previous week's party. If you want to be featured here at my HOME, you must have a link back to my party.

Have a beautiful day everyone and God bless you!

"Lord, this humble house we'd keep
Sweet with play and calm with sleep.
Help us so that we may give
Beauty to the lives we live.
Let thy love and thy grace
Shine upon our dwelling place." ~ Edgar A. Guest 


I am joining the following parties as well~

What's It Wednesday ~ http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/
Home and Garden Thursday ~ http://www.adelightsomelife.com/
Share Your Cup Thursday~ http://jannolson.blogspot.com/
Home Sweet Home~ http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/

 Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi

"Christmas in July" Tea Party

"I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month." ~ Harland Miller


Welcome friends to my Christmas in July Tea Party!

Today's tea party is all about sharing something festive. It could be a teacup, a teapot, a coffee mug, or dessert you make only during the holidays. I invite you to share it with us.  

Maybe, like some blogger friends I know, you have a little tree up for the month of July or maybe you have some shortbread to share with your tea.

"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all year." ~ Charles Dickens


You need not share anything Christmasy if you are unable to. I will be happy to enjoy your company here today and you may share whatever you like.

"Christmas isn't just an event - Love came Down and is among us! All year long, we can celebrate the Greatest Gift." ~ DaySpring

I know you all may be somewhat surprised but I have pondered and pondered what to share today!
You see, it has been so hot here that it has been really hard to get into the Christmas spirit.


I was going to bake some mincemeat tarts.

I have two Christmas teapots I could have used, a holly teacup, and a set of new Christmas mugs that I found out in Vancouver.

However, twice a year I make my Sticky Date Pudding with Hot Toffee Sauce; for Christmas and once in the summertime. So once I had my pudding made, the rest was easy.

I thought rich reds and golds would be perfect for today's Christmas in July Tea Party.

As well as some red roses.

"A red rose is not selfish because it wants to be a red rose. It would be horribly selfish if it wanted all the other flowers in the garden to be both red and roses." ~ Oscar Wilde

This time of year I always think of my Daddy because his birthday was on the 27th of July and he adored Christmas. He passed his love for  Christmas and all its magic on to me.
"Celebrate love. It is the breath of your existence and the best of all reasons for living." ~ Author unknown


And as some of you know, my father loved the Old Country Roses pattern. Two guesses what pattern I am featuring today.

Last year, sweet Hubby gifted me with this teacup on my Daddy's birthday in remembrance of him.

Then, this past year, Hubby and two of my sons gifted me with the OCR teapot for my birthday. These pieces are very special to me in many ways and I know my father would have been delighted that I have them!

Royal Albert's Old Country Roses is the most famous china pattern in the world.

I love the attention to detail that Royal Albert is known for such as the roses on the spout.

And the gold leaf on the handle.

Please make yourself comfortable and join me for a cup of orange spice tea, won't you.

There is more than enough dessert so you are welcome to help yourself.

I love the sparkle of silverware and just like tea always tastes better in a china teacup, a pudding always tastes better when eaten with a pretty spoon!

Mmm! Warm date pudding sitting in a pool of warm toffee sauce and topped off with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

"Perhaps that is the true gift of a

teatime celebration:
It fills our cups with joy and 
warmth and friendship.
May the echo of the teacup's 
message be heard
only at Christmas, not only on 
special occasions, 
but anytime friends come together." ~ Emilie Barnes

"Christmas is a time to open our hearts to God and His gifts. Just like the rest of the year." ~ Author unknown

In August I am planning to host another Anne of Green Gables Tea. I will talk more about that next week. Last year we had a progressive tea party; ie., some ladies prepared certain tea treats mentioned in the Anne story.  Would you like to do the same this year? I welcome your feedback on that.

Thank you for the pleasure of your company and I am happy to see your tea things whether you have shared them before or not, whether they are Christmas inspired or not.

"And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." ~ John 1:14

This tea party is all about sharing your joy of tea time and any thoughts you may have on the subject.

Have a Happy and Blessed Christmas in July, dear friends!

I am joining the following parties as well~

Inspire Me Tuesday ~ http://www.astrollthrulife.net/
A Return to Loveliness ~ http://www.adelightsomelife.com/
Tea Cup Tuesday~ http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/
Tea Cup Tuesday ~ http://www.marthasfavorites.com/
Tuesday Cuppa Tea~ http://www.antiquesandteacups.info/
Tea In The Garden ~ http://blog.bernideens.com/
What's It Wednesday ~ http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/
Share Your Cup Thursday~ http://jannolson.blogspot.com/
Home Sweet Home~ http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/

Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi

HOME

"Come and share a pot of tea,
My home is warm and my friendship's free." ~ Emilie Barnes

Welcome to my HOME, dear friends!

It has been very hot here on the Island so we've been spending every spare minute out at the beach. It's the place to go living here in the summertime.

This week, I had my tea out on the deck with a beautiful bouquet of peonies and fresh berries.

My little garden at our side door is looking good! You may not be able to tell but it is in the shape of a heart. There is my weeping caragana, euonymous, ground cover bleeding heart, pink lilies, silver mounds, and my white iron lantern.

In the early springtime, there are tulips. The rocks came from New Brunswick which is where I was born and some are from the old site where my grandmother lived when she was a little girl, growing up on Caledonia Mountain.


Last week I shared with you how we had gotten new chairs for the living room which calls for a whole new decor. The chairs are Lane recliners and we got a steal of a deal on them!

We have to do new paint, new rug, sofa cover, new accessories, pretty much everything. I promised to give you a few peeks along the way.

Here is this week's wee glimpse into a whole new decor.

Here are my Features from last week's HOME party...

Judy @ Gold Country Cottage shared her fabulous Grand Illumination at her cottage. I love traditions like this one!

Penny @ Penny's Vintage Home shared her beautiful garden with us. Lots of things to enjoy at her home; love all the soft pink!
 



Kitty @ Kitty's Kozy Kitchen shared her fabulous recipe for ice cream dessert. Yummy, yummy!




Still Woods Farmhouse also shared a summertime treat, a delicious Five Layer Dessert!

Gina @ Victorian Wanna Be shared her adorable doll house complete with miniature furniture; a true delight! Love the wallpaper!

Thank you everyone for your visits and lovely comments. To those of you who open your doors and welcome us into your homes, an especially big thank you to you!

If you have a post about anything HOME related, ie., DIYs, cooking/baking, crafts, artwork, home decor, tablescapes, quilting, etc: please link up and share it with us.

"Lord, this humble house we'd keep
Sweet with play and calm with sleep.
Help us so that we may give
Beauty to the lives we live.
Let Thy love and Thy grace
Shine upon our dwelling place." ~ Edgar A. Guest

I must apologise as I have had to stop linking up on a number of blog parties because I was having too much trouble doing so. My computer just did not want to cooperate.

I am happy to be joining these parties this week ~

What's It Wednesday ~ http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/
Home and Garden Thursday ~ http://www.adelightsomelife.com/
Share Your Cup Thursday~ http://jannolson.blogspot.com/
Home Sweet Home~ http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/


Sharing from my heart~ Sandi