Faith Family Friends

Celebrating the Joy of Living & Home Making ~

Baking, Cooking, Decorating, Tea Time, and taking Inspiration from those I love and the world around me...

A sharing of my heart and my home from a Christian perspective

...with a wee bit of whimsy added.

Monday 5 January 2015

First Tea Time of 2015



The birth of a New Year is a time of reflection, bringing with it an opportunity for change....for developing a greater appreciation of what is most important in life.~ Victoria magazine


Happy New Year and welcome dear friends to my first Tea Time of 2015! A time I like to share some tea and conversation as well as bring a little joy and friendship into your day. 

A brand new year always leaves me feeling a bit soppy and thankful for the blessings that come my way. I love having you visit Rose Chintz Cottage and I want you to know that you all bring joy to my heart and a smile to my face. 

My New Year always begins with a visit from my oldest and dearest friends. We get together to celebrate my birthday and have a nice visit. Keith and I used to hang out together in High School and then he met and married his wife, Heather, a wonderful artist who likes to paint sheep into her paintings. The tourists just gobble them up!
I am so tickled with the gift she gave me but I will save that for another day.  

Rainy days should be spent at home with a cup of tea and a good book.” ~ Bill Watterson

The tea table is set with some blue and white china and my beautiful white birthday roses. I adore white roses and pale pink as well. With a dozen roses, I get two bouquets.



I found my little china birdies that had been missing for several years. One day last week, I found them accidentally so I just had to show them off. The wee birds were made in Vancouver and I knew they would be in perfect company with a blue and white tea setting.



My mother had given me these wee birdies many years ago and aren't they adorable?

The smallest birdie is less than two inches. The other one is about two inches.





The teacup below is Johnson Bros. Blue Willow



The teapot is also Blue Willow made by Churchill.



For tea, we enjoyed my fruit cake, both dark and light, mincemeat tarts and sugar plum cookies. 



Tea! Bless ordinary everyday afternoon tea!” ~ Agatha Christie



My tea is one my hubby gifted me with for Christmas and it is absolutely delicious! 

It actually tastes like Christmastime and I'm enjoying it in an Enoch Wedgwood teacup. 



David's Organic Cinnamon Rooibos Chai is a rich and spicy tea of organic rooibos, apple, and cinnamon with natural cinnamon flavouring. Mmm!


A cozy little nosh....

What better way to begin the New Year than with loved ones, good friends, and a lovely cup of tea! Thanks for the smiles everyone!


''A smile costs nothing, but gives much. It enriches those who receive, without making poorer those who give. It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None is so rich or mighty that they can get along without it, and none is so poor but that they can be made rich by it....Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as one who has no more to give.'' ~ Author unknown

A smile is the best facelift.



I am joining the following parties as well~

A Return to Loveliness
 Tea Cup Tuesday
 Tea Cup Tuesday
 Tuesday Cuppa Tea
 Friends Sharing Tea
 Share Your Cup Thursday
 Home Sweet Home


Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

40 comments :

  1. Happy Monday, Sandi!
    I'm glad to be with you today. Please save some of those awesome treats for me. I'll start my diet tomorrow! Lol
    Hugs,
    Linda at Beautiful Ideas

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  2. I do love blue and white. That plate is so pretty and the little birdies add to it like they were meant to be there! Happy New Year to you dear Sandi!

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  3. My favorite! Blue and white! Love your setting of course, and the birds are so cute! Perfect! Thanks for hosting and have a wonderful week!
    Ruth

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  4. I love your little birds. I'm sure you have some wonderful memories to to with them. Blue and white -- my favorite! Your nosh has made me hungry! Happy New Year and thank you for hosting!

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  5. Hi Sandi,
    Your wee birdies are so sweet and how perfect they look with the blue and white transferware! It is so special to get together with old friends and visit. Thank you so much for hosting today! Karen

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  6. Good Morning, dear Sandi, although I expect it's afternoon there right now :) Your tea times are always so beautiful and charming - a welcoming sight for sure.

    Those birdies are just too sweet! And your treats.....oh my, they look delicious! Have a wonderful week. Hugs to you!

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  7. Blue and white is always so pretty, and those birds so sweet. The baking looks very delicious also. Thanks for hosting each week...it's a day I always look forward to.

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  8. A belated happy birthday Sandi, your roses are beautiful and I'm glad you finally found the little blue birds. They are sweet!
    The tea table is nice with your blue and white china, I really like the square plates.
    Thanks for hosting the tea gathering.

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  9. Blue dishes are perfect for gray January days, huh? I like your little birds!

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  10. Happy belated Birthday wishes, dear Sandi! When is your exact birthday? Your tea looks so fresh with the blue and white color scheme. Your little birdies are adorable and the tea flavor sounds wonderful. Thank you for hosting your first tea of the year and Happy New Year to you and your hubby!

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  11. I forgot to mention that I loved the quote on smiles, especially the sentence about a smile being the best face lift!! xo

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  12. Happy belated Birthday Sandi! Hope your New Year is off to a great start!
    Sherry

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  13. Sandi, your tea looks pretty in blue and white and how nice that you found the sweet birds that your mother gave you. They are really cute! Happy New Year!

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  14. O my I just love those wee birdies... I adore them I love love birds... and love Blue & White always.. Have a wonderful new week with Love Janice

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  15. Happy New Year Sandi. As always, everything is gorgeous. I love the little birds that your gave you. They are adorable. And I also love the little napkin. The sweets look delicious too.

    Blessings for a beautiful week ahead.

    Janet

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  16. Beautiful blue and white dishes with the cute birdies dear Sandi.
    Thank you for the lovely party.
    Have a wonderful 2015!
    FABBY

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  17. I love your wee birdies, Sandi! Your blue and white tea time and delicious treats are wonderful.
    Thank you for hosting.

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  18. Loooove the blue and white and those gorgeous flowers!

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  19. What a lovely tea table. Blue Willow is always so lovely. You treats are perfect for a holiday tea.

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  20. Cute birds and I love the Blue Willow teaset. I will take some of the Rooibos Chai tea- yum

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  21. Dear Sandi,
    your tea posts always give me a smile. Happy Birthday to you and a wonderful New Year to you, too! The white roses look so fresh and luxury at this time in the year. I love the cute little birds. What a luck you discovered them again. Blue and white china makes always a wonderful table. And your treats look fabulous, too. I hope you had a wonderful birthsday with all you loved ones. Thank you for sharing this tea time and for hosting this party.
    Best greetings, Johanna

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  22. Happy New Year Sandi! and belated birthday wishes. White roses are my favorite, too! I love your little blue birdies, so charming, and cheerful tea companions.
    I'm sorry I didn't link this week; I had a teacup in my post, but I didn't think it was really a tea post. I'll be back next week, Lord willing!
    Your treats look delicious!

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  23. What a perfectly delightful pair of birds! The blue & white tablescape is perfect for winter's renewal and a warm refreshment. Blue willow is one of my favorite patterns, especially since my Grandmother gave me the first full-size item for my collection. She had a beautiful and roomy serving bowl that I received from her estate. That piece began my Blue Willow habit.
    Enjoy!
    Vickie at Teacups & Toadstools

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  24. Hi Sandi,
    Happy Belated Birthday! I am sure H & K enjoyed their visit with you.
    So nice to have found the little birds from your Mom and they go well
    with your tea today.
    Hope you are staying warm on this cold day!
    Carolyn

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  25. I love the white and blue tableware !!! a happy new year wishes angie from Germany

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  26. So glad you found your sweet little bluebirds, such a lovely gift. Love you tea and all the treats, your fruitcake looks yummy. Would you consider sharing the recipe? All the best to you and yours in 2015. Patty/NS

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  27. Hi Sandi......
    I just found you! How delightful! I just love your blog, will be back often.....Your Tea's are inspiring and I love the romance of your blog.....
    Happy new Year....
    Lois@pineridgehills.com

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  28. Happy New Year Sandi:
    Your fruitcake looks so pretty cut into the thin slices. I enjoyed seeing your treasures and treats and hearing about your visit with friends. Can't wait to see what see gave you! Thanks for linking.

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  29. I also have some blue and white,but i don't have any little birds,they are precious.Thank you for sharing and have a great day,oh,and Happy Birthday.

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  30. Happy New Year to you Sandi! I adore your little birdies. I think we were a bit on the same page. I am sharing blue and white dishes and white roses. Not as gorgeous as yours, but bought them to dry. Wishing you the best for 2015. Hope I can have more tea time posts to share with you sweet friend!
    hugs,
    Jann

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  31. Happy New Year and Belated Birthday, Sandi! I've been following your blog for years now and am excited to participate in "Tea TIme" Tuesday for the same time. I also love the Blue Willow pattern and have the same Johnson Bros cup and saucer. I'm still in search for a Blue Willow teapot though...

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  32. I so enjoyed sharing this tea time with you! Your little blue birdies are so sweet! And yes, they definitely complement the lovely blue willow china. Your home is always so lovely and hospitable. How I'd love to visit in person someday! Thank you for your "visit" to my tea time this evening as well. Always a pleasure to have you as a "guest". Have a blessed and joyful New Year.

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  33. Tank you for your comment to my blog, dear Sandi. ♥

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  34. Great to be linking in this week! Happy New Year!

    ~ Haley

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  35. Hi Sandi: Hope you had a wonderful week as well as a very Happy Birthday. A great way to start a new year. Sending hugs your way, Martha

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  36. Just stopping by to wish you a Happy New Year. I love blue and white China, your post is stunning. Hope you had a lovely Birthday.

    Karen

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  37. Happy New year Sandi, I am glad I could link up to Tea time, and hope not too late to send my best wishes for your birthday. Love the smile poem on this post. looking forward to joining more of your fab tea parties.

    Blessings,
    Aida

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  38. So glad to know your mom is getting stronger. It's so hard to watch someone you love struggle or hurt. Praying for her Sandi that she continues to do well. And wishing you guys a wonderful weekend.

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  39. Hello Sandi - wonderful post! So happy for you that you found your beautiful birdies! I will be featuring your post in this week's A Return to Loveliness,
    Kathy

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I am delighted to have you visit me and I read every comment. Please forgive me for not being able to visit you all as there are so many of you lovely bloggy friends now. I will visit as much as possible. I wish you a day filled with JOY!

Also, due to the amount of spam I've been getting, I have had to set Comment Moderation. ~ Sandi

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