Christmas Roses for Tea Time

Celebrate the happiness that friends are always giving, make everyday a holiday and celebrate just living. ~ Amanda Bradley

Merry Christmas and welcome to my last Tea Time Tuesday before Christmas! Are you ready for the big day?

We are all so very busy and sometimes it's easy to lose sight of why we are celebrating. We get caught up in the preparations and many of us don't take time to relax and listen to the music or 'smell the roses'.

That is why we are having Tea Time today. It is a time to sit still and enjoy a cup of delicious tea and reflect on this most joyous holiday. 

Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love. ~ Hamilton Wright Mabie {1845-1916}  

For those of you new to my blog and have never seen my miniature teacups and creamer on the tree, I thought I would share them with you today.

These were all from my hubby except for the cardinal teacup which my youngest son got me at Cracker Barrel.

I was undecided what china to feature today; my green transferware or Royal Albert Old Country Roses. The funny thing is that our friend Karen  featured her Friendly Village one week and I had planned to feature mine the following week which I did. I plan my posts about a week in advance and just work on them as time allows. Then last week Karen featured her Old Country Roses and I had planned to feature mine this week. I had to smile as I read hers. I guess great minds think alike! 

Anyway, I used transferware last week so I decided to feature fine china this week, so Old Country Roses, it is!

Royal Albert Old Country Roses boasts a rich array of red, golden yellow, and deep pink florals; perfect for December. 

God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December." ~ JM Barrie

Some of you may remember that OCR was my Daddy's favourite pattern and Christmas was his favourite holiday so I will share my tea table today in his memory.

Each Christmas I remember

The ones of long ago;

I see our mantelpiece adorned

With stockings in a row.

Each Christmas finds me dreaming

Of days that used to be,

When we hid presents here and there,

For all the family.

Each Christmas I remember

The fragrance in the air,

Of roasting turkey and mince pies

And cookies everywhere.

Each Christmas finds me longing

For Christmases now past,

And I am back in childhood

As long as memories last."

~from Christmas Past by Carice Williams~

Our tea is Stash Holiday Chai and our treats are Granny's donut holes. There are also what used to be called my mother's saucepan cookies which are now called sugar plums with the addition of glace cherries, Judith's recipe, and candy cane fudge.

Hubby and I made donuts the other night using my grandmother's recipe. 

 As you can see, some of them have been enjoyed already. I made plain and sugared.

Making donuts was always my Daddy's and my Christmas tradition. I miss those days but Hubby and I enjoyed making them together so it will be our new tradition!

My teapot was a birthday present from my family a couple of years ago and I am thrilled to have it. I have set it out on the coffee table accompanied by other pieces.

The teacup was an antique find from Hubby in memory of my father and the china boot and basket had belonged to my father.

The sweet little china basket holds the teaspoons.

Now because you are here for tea, I am using the RA Old English Rose teacup which was also an antique find. I think the roses compliment those on the Old Country Roses pieces fairly well. You may choose whichever cup you like.

Did you know...? It was Queen Victoria's influence that allowed children to play more and work less. The queen held parties at Christmastime especially for the children, encouraging them to take part in the festivity of the season. ~ from Emilie Barnes' Christmas Teas of Comfort and Joy

So, shall we enjoy a wee nosh?



A dear friend surprised me with Emilie Barnes' book Christmas Teas of Comfort and Joy so we can take a peek through its lovely pages while we enjoy our tea and company. 

The greatest Christmas gift of all
Was never placed beneath a tree,
But lay within a manger
Beneath a star, for all to see. Unknown

O holy night! the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Savior's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope- the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!
Fall on your knees! O hear the angels voices!
O night divine! O night when Christ was born!
O night divine! O night, O night divine! 
Words - John S. Dwight {1813-1893} Music - Adolphe C. Adam {1803-1856}


Thank you dear friends for joining me today. I will see you next week and in the meantime...Merry Christmas!

May your Christmas be Joyful, 
Peaceful, and Bright,
And filled with the Love of that very first night. ~ Unknown


I am joining the following parties as well~

A Return to Loveliness
 Tea Cup Tuesday
 Tea Cup Tuesday
 Tuesday Cuppa Tea
 Friends Sharing Tea

An InLinkz Link-up

 Sharing from my heart~ Sandi