Hello my lovely friends and welcome to my Anne of Green Gables Tea! I hope you are all enjoying the month of July.
I had company on the weekend and I am about to have a house full of company! My whole family, including all the grandchildren, will be home for the next three weeks. This will be my little granddaughter's first visit to PEI. Her Mommy and Daddy and her big brother, who all live in Vancouver, BC, as well as her uncle who lives in Illinois, are all coming home for a visit. My three grandsons, my son, and DIL who live here on the Island are all excited to finally meet their little cousin and niece. A lovely family reunion is about to take place and I'm so excited!
I have been baking, cooking, and getting our home in order for them all. As you can imagine, I have been and will be very busy, so I will be taking a blogging break after today.
I didn't have a lot of time to prepare a new post for you so I am sharing bits and pieces of an Anne tea I hosted a couple of years ago. I know a lot of you enjoy Anne of Green Gables so I thought I would share it again.
It's interesting to note that particular post has received the most pageviews of any on my blog; between four and five thousand. I have updated it a bit and added some new pictures and I hope you enjoy it.
While I am on my blogging break, I will leave this linky party open so that you can link up your teas. I thought it would be nice if you visited each other while I am away. I will likely be back to host Tea Time Tuesday the first week in August. In the meantime, have a fabulous July, my friends, and enjoy your cup of tea!
Now on to my Anne Tea ~ Anne and I have been expecting you.
The little Anne doll above was a gift from my father many years ago. She sits upon a stack of Anne books and is dressed in her green calico print dress with a white collar and lace apron. A simple straw hat sits upon her red braids. She is a sand doll made with Island sand in her arms and legs. Isn't she cute?
Anne has always been one character in whom I have felt a kindred spirit. I'm sure it comes from being a lonely child growing up because my family moved around so much, thus making friends very difficult.
Anne and I both possessed wild imaginations as children. A great deal of time was spent daydreaming about silly romantic notions although it proved to be beneficial, as our way of expressing ourselves. She couldn't help but express herself verbally, whereas I liked to write my thoughts down on paper.
"May your life always be like a pot of tea...overflowing to warm the soul." ~ Irish Proverb
This Anne doll was also a gift from my father. Indeed, she was the very last gift I would receive from him as he passed away a few months later. I will cherish these dolls always!
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This Anne doll is dressed in her green calico with a cute pinafore, stockings, and lace trimmed knickers. Her straw hat sits upon her famous red braids.
The story Anne of Green Gables, written by our beloved author Lucy Maud Montgomery, was first published in 1908 and has since been read and treasured by millions of readers all over the world. Anne is our most famous celebrity here on the Island and she draws thousands of folks from all over the world every year.
Mark Twain once said of Lucy Maud Montgomery's writings, "The sweetest creation of childlife yet written."
Unless otherwise stated, all the quotes throughout this post are taken from the story Anne of Green Gables. All the photos are my own unless otherwise stated.
Now, to really appreciate the incredible imagination of Lucy Maud Montgomery, one must walk the grounds of Green Gables and tour the house and woods. This, I have done many times over the years.
After my family moved to Prince Edward Island, my father used to go golfing at Green Gables and he would always take my brother and me with him.
This is the back of the house with the old carriage and that is my hubby sitting in it.
As a young girl, I was enchanted by the house and grounds. It was like walking back in time.
My imagination soared as I walked the trails that Maud walked and I loved to breathe in the magic that fairly tinkled in the air.
I was totally in love with Green Gables and I felt blessed to be able to visit there so often.
This is a picture of Anne's room at Green Gables which I took on my last visit.
"It has always seemed to me, ever since childhood, amid all the commonplaces of life, I was very near to a kingdom of ideal beauty. Between it and me hung only a thin veil. I could never draw it quite inside, but sometimes a wind fluttered it and I caught a glimpse of the enchanting realms beyond - only a glimpse - but those glimpses have always made life worthwhile." ~ LMM
This is a view of the Green Gables house from the Haunted Wood.
As sweethearts, and then later as husband and wife, {well, we still are sweethearts}, my hubby and I have walked hand in hand many times through the Haunted Wood and Lovers Lane. It still takes my breath away and offers so much scope for imagination! For those of you who don't know, my two favourite things to do this time of year are to walk along the beach or walk a path through the woods.
"Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive- it's such an interesting world. It wouldn't be half as interesting if we know all about everything, would it? There'd be no scope for imagination then, would there?" ~ Anne of Green Gables
Now that you've had a bit of a tour of Green Gables, let's have some refreshments, shall we....
I have cut some fresh roses for the tea table.
Pink roses grace the tea table because, "After all, the only real roses are pink ones. They are the flowers of love and faith." ~ Anne Shirley of Anne of Green Gables
I have pink lemonade ready in my pink depression glass pitcher if you feel like something cold.
Some of the china I will be using today.
"Some people go through life trying to find out what the world holds for them only to find out too late that it's what they bring to the world that really counts." ~ LMM
"I can just imagine myself sitting down at the head of the table and pouring out the tea," said Anne, shutting her eyes ecstatically. "And asking Diana if she takes sugar! I know she doesn't but of course I'll ask her as if I didn't know. And then pressing her to take another piece of fruit cake and another helping of preserves." ~ Anne of Green Gables
The chintz teapot and plate are made by Maxwell and Williams called Rose Bud.
Mmm... tea really does taste better in a china teacup! The teacup is Gracie China called Rose Chintz.
As well as lemonade and tea, I have chicken salad sandwiches and ice cream cookie sandwiches.....
I wish I were rich, and I could spend the whole summer at a hotel, eating ice cream and chicken salad. ~ Diana Barry to Anne Shirley
My chicken salad is served in croissants and is a favourite around here.
The chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches are a treat I have made many times and these I have made ahead for my grandchildren when they arrive. There are raspberries inside the ice cream, a little surprise. I suspect the big kids will like them too! And I just know Anne would approve. What better treat in the summertime than cookies and ice cream?
You know something, Diana? We are rich. We have sixteen years to our credit, and we both have wonderful imaginations. We should be as happy as queens.~ Anne Shirley
Look at that. {gesturing to the setting sun} You couldn't enjoy its loveliness more if you had ropes of diamonds.~ Anne Shirley
This teacup is Royal Albert with no name on it. I love the sweet rose buds and brushed on gold trim.Look at that. {gesturing to the setting sun} You couldn't enjoy its loveliness more if you had ropes of diamonds.~ Anne Shirley
"Life is worth living as long as there's a laugh in it." ~ LMM
Please help yourself to the treats, I have plenty.
"This day's done and there's a new one coming tomorrow, with no mistakes in it yet, as you used to say yourself. Just come downstairs and have your supper. You'll see if a good cup of tea and those plum puffs I made today won't hearten you up." ~ Marilla speaking to Anne.
"Plum puffs won't minister to a mind diseased," said Anne disconsolately. ~ LM Montgomery - Anne Shirley in "Anne of Avonlea."
Anne was always such a drama queen but she stole our hearts from the moment she landed at the train station on Prince Edward Island.
Marilla and Anne courtesy of the Internet
"Plum puffs won't minister to a mind diseased," said Anne disconsolately. ~ LM Montgomery - Anne Shirley in "Anne of Avonlea."
Anne was always such a drama queen but she stole our hearts from the moment she landed at the train station on Prince Edward Island.
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Anne and her bosom friend Diana courtesy of the Internet.
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"Marilla, isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?" ~ LMM
Below Anne and Marilla courtesy of the Internet.
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Happiness is sharing tea with a friend.
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"God's in His heaven, all's right with the world," whispered Anne softly. ~ LM Montgomery - "Anne of Green Gables"
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Thank you for coming to my tea party today. I hope you have enjoyed yourself, I know I have!
I thought it only fitting to end this post with The Lord's Prayer which was the first prayer Anne ever learned.
"Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
In earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." ~ Matthew 6:9-13
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I am joining the following parties as well~
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/
Share Your Cup Thursday~ http://jannolson.blogspot.com/
Home Sweet Home~ http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/
Sharing from my heart~ Sandi
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