Christmas Preparations and Tea with The Friendly Village

November ~ the month of crimson sunsets, parting birds, deep, sad hymns of the sea, passionate wind-songs in the pines. ~ LM Montgomery - Anne of Green Gables

Hello my lovely friends! It's been a couple of weeks since I last posted. I have been really busy with appointments and life in general.

November is here and although it is becoming gloomy out there what with bare branches on the trees and more rain than sun, I am not minding it too badly. I am thinking about Christmas, you see. 

I have my fruit for my fruit cakes and one cake has already been baked and is cooling. I just took this one out of the oven. This cake is so pretty because it looks like the batter has been baked with bright jewels in it. A perfect Christmas cake!

I will let it ripen a bit before I cut it. The dark cake will get baked in the next couple of days. One son who lives out of province will receive some light cake and the other will receive some dark. Both of my fruit cakes are my grandmothers' recipes. And who knows where they got them? I do love recipes passed down from one generation to another, don't you?

I love tradition and this is one I keep every year; making my Grannys' fruit cakes. These are my "Memory Cakes." Just like many ornaments on the Christmas tree that hold such beautiful memories, the Memory Cakes hold special memories too. When I bake them, I remember those lovely women who loved me and played such an important part in my life. 

Once November arrives, I begin using my Johnson Bros. Friendly Village. This charming pattern of yesteryear will take us through till February or March. I love how each piece represents a different scene of days gone by such as The Ice House depicted on the teacups.

I am sharing a new Grace teacup as well. I like the creamy white with the iridescent overglaze. The fluted edges make it a very pretty set. 

In the display at Home Sense they had these teacups accompanying the Friendly Village pieces and they looked really pretty together so I'm doing the same. It just adds a little interest to an otherwise matchy-matchy tea table setting.

Now, how about some tea?
I had a friend over the other day and we enjoyed some lemon pie with our coffee. There are still a few slices of pie left so that is what I am serving today with my tea.

Tea is a symbol of friendship and hospitality around the world. - unknown

I know my American friends have Thanksgiving on their minds but has anyone started their Christmas decorating yet?

My next post will most likely have some Christmas in it. Till then, my friends, take care and thank you for your visit. Have a splendid weekend. 

I am joining the following parties as well~

Tuesday Cuppa Tea
Friends Sharing Tea
 Tea Cup Tuesday
 Share Your Cup Thursday
 Home Sweet Home


 Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi