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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.

Friday 22 January 2016

A Hopeful Tea


Hope is the thing with feathers, that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words, and never stops at all. ~ Emily Dickinson

Hello friends. That beautiful quote always reminds me of a song bird that never stops singing. He is so happy that spring is on its way that his heart is overflowing with music so he sings with all his might. 





It also reminds me of the new kitten my son just adopted. This kitten was found on the streets of Denver starving and with a broken hip. The Humane Society believes he was hit by a car and he was transported to Boulder. 



My son went to the Humane Society to adopt a kitten and there were no doubt several kittens to choose from but my son with his big heart took pity on this kitty and took him home with him. I'm sure the kitty is happy and feeling very grateful for having been rescued by such a kind caregiver. It will take a few weeks for his hip to heal but meanwhile he is safe and warm and well cared for. My son has given this once abandoned kitty HOPE.


This also brings to mind Earl Grey the abandoned 'dalbrador' that Theodosia adopted in the Tea Shop Mysteries written by Laura Childs. 



Theodosia gave Earl Grey hope when she found him scrawny and shivering in the alley behind her tea shop. She took him in, fed him, and named him. He became her companion and is now a therapy dog, bringing joy to seniors and children at nursing homes and hospitals. Have you read the Tea Shop Mysteries? They are fun reading! I have all of them. 

They say a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world: someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for. ~ Tom Bodett

What would life be like if we didn't have hope? Anytime we reach out to someone who is hurting, hungry or alone, we are giving that person hope. This also extends to animals.

I can think of many instances when I hoped for something. Many times I got what I hoped for because I had prayed and God saw fit to bless me with my request.

Sometimes it has been just a very little thing and oftentimes it has been a very big thing. Like the time my mother was taken two hours away from her family and it took much time and effort for her family to make the visit. She was lonely and didn't see her family very often. I asked God to have her moved back down to Charlottetown so we could visit her on a regular basis. 
When the call came, I sat down and cried. I couldn't believe it had finally happened {after two years} and she was being moved back down to Charlottetown, only ten minutes away. It was a very big deal with a big story behind it. I won't go into any details today but suffice it to say, this was a miracle! Hope became a reality.

What do you hope for today? It could be a very big thing like a healing for your body or someone elses', safety from a big storm that is bearing down on the east coast of the US, or a very little thing such as a longed for teacup being spotted at your favourite thrift store. Whatever you hope for, I pray you receive it.

It's really a wonder that I haven't dropped all my ideals, because they seem so absurd and impossible to carry out. Yet I keep them, because in spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart. ~ Anne Frank - The Diary of a Young Girl

Time for tea ~ I am having my tea in this Vista Mason teacup which was a gift from a friend. A few short years ago I had no red/pink transferware nor was there any to be found around here. But slowly, it has been coming my way. I had hoped to begin collecting it as I do favour the red and pink. I am happy that I now have a nice collection of it.


The little silver spoon was a gift from my cousin who collects vintage spoons among other things.

The pretty plate was a wonderful find at an antique shop last Fall. It is made in England by Copeland called Spode Tower.



The plate and the teacup are almost a perfect match which is one of the many reasons I love transferware. The patterns are all complimentary to each other which makes it very charming!



Won't you join me for a cup of tea and some sticky date pudding?



Where there is tea there is friendship and serenity. 



Mmm, and is it ever good!


The warm pudding and sauce melted the whipped cream so it ran down and pooled on to the plate.



Thank you for your visit. I hope you are enjoying your day today and be sure to treat yourself to a warm cup of tea or coffee in a pretty cup and saucer. Have a lovely weekend, dear friends, and stay safe!


But now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. ~ 1 Corinthians 13:13


 I am joining the following parties as well~

Tuesday Cuppa Tea
Bernideen's TTCG Blog Party
Tea Cup Tuesday
Share Your Cup
Home Sweet Home


Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi

28 comments :

  1. What a lovely post, Sandi. Yes, hope is very important - and faith even more so!

    I hope for God's mercy upon the unbelievers - for their time is coming to be judged.

    I pray for strength to the weak and weary, clarity for the doubters and peace to the world, in Jesus' name!

    As for myself, I hope my good health and rest returns soon, and that I can tackle some physically (looming and big to me) tasks I promised myself to accomplish this year.

    As for you, along with all my other friends and family - I hope for you all to always be full of joy. Hugs. ♥

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  2. Thank you Sandi for such a lovely post. Just beautiful, your quotes are all so perfect, and the Bible verse. I adore birds too, and every time I hear their beautiful song I think to myself.. Wow, to have that sound come out of your mouth every time you open it would be amazing. I thank God for my ears to hear his glorious creation (and eyes to see it) and pray that the words that come out of my mouth would be pleasing to others.
    Thank you for sharing your stories of hope with us too.
    Have a wonderful weekend Sandi!

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  3. Dear Sandi: I just read Gina's comment above. Would you believe she lives just a few miles from where we are moving later in Missouri! Isn't that wonderful and also the blogger Janice at Curtains In My Tree. I hope to have them over for tea. I certainly got off in another direction here -
    Your posting is lovely and also I love the Copeland Spode Red with the Mason's Vista Red! Your words will bring encouragement to many today. I have a dear friend from the 70's and she had breast cancer surgery Wednesday. I appreciate any prayers for her!

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  4. I appreciate your thoughts on hope. I've learned that not every prayer I pray, no matter how fervently, is answered in the way I like. But I do know that I must continue to trust my Lord for his best.
    When I see a feather on the ground, I think of those lines of Emily Dickinson and remember that my God is a God of hope.
    Beautiful transferware!

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  5. As always a lovely post and photos ! I am soo glad this kitty has a loving forever home with your son . My HOPE is that all creatures great and small are happy , safe and healthy ! Thanks for sharing , Have a good weekend !

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  6. Such a sweet post, dear Sandi. I am so thankful for the HOPE found in Jesus Christ - oh, what a precious blessing.

    Tha cat your son adopted looks like a sweetheart! And Denver, only two hours away from where I live :) Hugs to you!

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  7. A lovely read Sandi, from beginning to end! Loved your quotes, and your thoughts on hope, and how the Lord has answered those prayers in your own life! Loved the picture of your birds! And such a blessing that your son took home a hurt kitty to love and nurture! So awesome! And your mother is back home with family, oh our Lord is so good isn't He! Indeed without our Lord to have faith and hope in, how dreary our lives would be.

    And I can assure you that if miles didn't separate us, I would be joining you for tea! Your date pudding looks sooo good! And your tea sets are just beautiful. I do love transferware too :)

    Have a blessed and wonderful weekend! :)

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  8. Sandi, what an uplifting post! The quote from Anne a Frank is so inspirational. I strive to see the good in others, but I hope and pray God continues to strengthen me with patience with this task.
    Your date pudding looks delicious. I hope to try it one day.
    Enjoy your weekend.

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  9. Your son has a heart like yours. I love that he named the little kitten Hope. And Sandi, your quotes are the best on this post. Happy weekend.

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  10. This is such a trite reply to a lovely post, but I am hoping that the red & white transfer ware dishes I spotted at TJ Maxx last week are still there. After seeing your dishes, I am now kicking myself that I didn't buy them.

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  11. Such a beautiful post, Sandi. It touched me more than I can express. I read it last night but couldn't comment right away as I was a bit emotional. Back today with some resolve! Thank you, thank you.

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  12. I am so glad your son rescued that kitty and I hope they have years together of unconditional JOY. I just love your blog and all your teacups.Susie

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  13. What a breath taking post and wonderful reminder of HOPE! How kind of your son to do this for this sweet kitty. Your tea and pudding look so delicious and wonderful. I have never heard of those books I am so excited to look into them. I would love them I am sure. Have a super weekend.

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  14. Sandi,such a beautiful post! God bless you and your family and your new addition little hope! This truly touched my heart! I will save this post!

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  15. A wonderful story about your son. I was told by a vet that cats have amazing healing powers so it is wonderful your son gave this kitty hope and a loving homW. He will prosper there! We adopted a stray a few years ago after he kept coming by for food. Before he would "admit' he wanted to stay with us he was hit by a car and messed up his hip. After we took him to vet to have him taken care of he came to live with us permanently. I guess he knew a good thing. That was about 8 years ago or so.

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  16. seems HOPE would be a perfect name for the kitty...:)

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  17. What a lovely post, Sandi! A few years ago, my mom gave me a teapot that says, "Where there is tea, there is hope". I've also enjoyed reading Laura Childs' Tea Shop mysteries and look forward to reading about Theodosia's latest adventure in March! I also like to mix and match transferwares.

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  18. I am linked for your party but can't find your Mon party post...?

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  19. Wonderful! All of our pets...during 40 + years of marriage have always been shelter adoptees and wonderful, every one! Our current cat Tinker is no exception. I love your transferware, and I love the Laura Childs books. I have a new one am saving up for a treat! Thanks for linking to Tuesday Cuppa Tea!
    Ruth

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  20. I loved the poem by Edgar A. Guest, Sandi. Isn't it a sweet one? Isn't it wonderful that your prayers were answered for you dear mom to be moved so close? Don't we all hope and pray for some miracle in our lives?
    I do love your red transferware and how they blend together. I must make the sticky pudding recipe sometime soon because I know I would love it!

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  21. Hello Sandi. It's been a while since I stopped in. What a lovely post you have shared. Does kitty have a name yet? He looks exactly like my Russian Blue who I adopted off the streets of my neighborhood during the rainy season. His name is Max. Russian Blues have very distinct personalities which are great fun. There are photos on the net of them traveling in cars with their owners. They love to sleep stretched out, belly up...like a dog!...little weirdos! He was around 6 months when we got him, so we set his birthday as Valentine's Day :-)
    Re: The tea books. I used to read those...but I found most of the stories so similar, I stopped. I love your details about Earl Grey. I don't recall it, and it's a lovely story. Of course I love that you shared scripture as well.
    I am drinking Celestial Seasonings Peach Blossom (green & white tea) today. Blessings to you!
    Heather

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  22. Sandi, I'm so excited about the kitty, Hope. We lost our beloved Pumpkin two days before Christmas. He came to us as a foundling 15 years ago and we miss him so much. But, like you mentioned, we gave him a home that was safe and warm and he was loved-and he loved us. I'm sure Hope's hip will improve with your son's care.
    Now, that transferware in red. I'm secretly wanting some. Yours is just beautiful.
    I made some delicious cranberry orange scones last night. I think I'll stop for a scone and a tea break--your post was inspiring!

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  23. Sandi,
    I love your transferware!! And how wonderful it was for your son to adopt Hope which is the perfect name!!

    Thanks so much for your visits!!

    Hugs,
    Deb

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  24. First, I have to say that you are causing me to go shopping tomorrow. I passed on some red transfer ware dishes recently at TJ Maxx and now I have to go back to see if they still have the cup and saucer.

    What I am hoping for now is easy transitions for my children. Each of them is making a big move in February. My son and his wife are moving to a different city and starting new jobs. The jobs are for lots more money and a step up the rung of the ladder in their fields. They aren't too much farther from us, but they won't just drop in as often.

    Our daughter is moving to a different city, but retaining her same job so she will have a commute.

    I hope the moves go smoothly for all because Steve and I are not helping with the physical moving this time.

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  25. I love all things Tea! I have a virtual tea party tomorrow night and am so excited! I've read a few of the Laura Childs' books. I hope you can stop by:

    http://collettaskitchensink.blogspot.com/2016/01/book-review-sweet-olive-by-judy.html

    Colletta

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  26. Sandi, Thanks for sharing. I will make myself a cup of tea shortly and will remember the one you presented here. Sylvia D.

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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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