Smitten!

You never know what peace is until you walk on the shores or in the fields or along the winding red roads of Prince Edward Island in a summer twilight when the dew is falling and the old stars are peeping out and the sea keeps its mighty tryst with the little land it loves. You find your soul then. You realize that youth is not a vanished thing but something that dwells forever in the heart. ~ L M Montgomery

Smitten? Yes, I am smitten with our little Island this time of year! I can't think of any other place I'd rather be in the summertime. 

The beaches, the old red roads one can happen upon while taking a drive out in the country, and because we are out away from the city, one can see clearly the stars overhead at night. 

One might even catch a glimpse of fireflies darting among the trees in our back yard at dusk. Intriguing little creatures, they are! They have been a source of inspiration for years, for young and old alike.

I am also completely smitten by roses in the garden...

...in a flower shop, and under a glaze on beautiful china. Oh, I do love other flowers as well but there is just something about a rose with their satiny petals enfolded around a bud. They look as though they are giving each other a hug. They really are the flowers of love.

God opens millions of flowers without forcing the buds. It reminds us to not force anything, for things happen in the right time. ~ unknown

It's July and it was my father's birthday month. Every July I use my Old Country Roses which he was always fond of.

I love each piece adorned with deep red, pink, and yellow roses. Almost every piece I have was gifted to me by my family. It's like a little bower on the table when I have set out this china. 

Royal Albert Old Country Roses is a unique, iconic design, and the world's most popular china pattern in the world. It was designed by Harold Holdcroft in 1962 who took his inspiration from English country gardens where there was a riot of colour. Each piece is trimmed in 22kt gold which gives the china an extravagant appearance. The handles are an 18th century rococo style that goes well with the fluted saucers and plates. Thank you, Mr. Holdcroft, you have given us a beautiful pattern that will grace our tables for decades to come!

The very sight of a teapot puts a smile on the face of most people. One cannot help but think of more serene and genteel times. ~ Barbara Roberts

Friday morning I thought I had broken my rib again so Hubby had to get all the china down on to the table for me. Turns out I ripped a muscle in my ribcage which will take as long or longer to heal than a broken rib. Unfortunately, my son and his family are arriving this week and I'm going to have to take it easy AGAIN. I enjoy being in the kitchen and making everything special for my family. I pray one of these years I will be fine and all will be well when they come home. One of my sons threatened to tie me to a chair and I think that may happen yet. *smiles* 

This sweet china basket was my mother's which my father gifted her with. I keep my little tea spoons in it when using OCR.

I made a pan of No Bake Peanut Butter Bars. The recipe I will share below. I found it years ago at Six Sisters Stuff  

Some we will enjoy today but the majority of them will be frozen for when my family arrives.

No Bake Peanut Butter Bars

1 cup butter melted

2 cups graham cracker crumbs

2 cups confectioners sugar

1 cup + 4 TBSP peanut butter

1-1/2 cups milk chocolate chips

Directions-

In a medium bowl, mix melted butter, graham crumbs, confectioner's sugar, and 1 cup peanut butter until well blended. Press evenly into the bottom of an ungreased 9x9 square pan. If you want a thinner bar, press into a 9x13 pan. In the microwave, melt the chocolate chips with the 4 TBSP of peanut butter, stirring every 30 seconds until melted and smooth. Spread over the peanut butter layer and refrigerate for at least one hour before cutting into squares. Keep refrigerated.

When asked if my cup is half-filled or half-empty; my only response is that I am thankful I have a cup. ~ unknown 

Before I close, I want to take this opportunity to brag a little bit about my youngest grandson who lives here on the Island. He just won Offensive Player of the Year as quarterback in his football league. He's a couple years younger in this picture and ready to cut his cake but you can see how handsome he is. He's grown taller than me and he loves looking down at Nanny! 

Congratulations, Sweetie! We're so proud of you! 

This will be my last posting until the first week in August after my family leaves so I will bid you farewell until then. Please take care dear friends and please be kind to one another. We never know what the next person you meet is going through. God bless and keep you!



I am joining the following parties as well~

 Tuesday Cuppa Tea
 Friends Sharing Tea
 Home Sweet Home

 Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi

Peonies and Roses

I question not if thrushes sing,
If roses load the air;
Beyond my heart I need not reach
When all is summer there. ~ John Vance Cheney- Victoria magazine 

Hello dear friends! We are having the loveliest weather right now. What do you love about summertime? One of the many things I love about Summer is the flowers.

The other day Hubby and I went out for breakfast at our favourite spot; The Prince Edward Island Preserve Company. 

This photo was taken last summer when the hydrangeas were out. 

We had a wonderful breakfast of blueberry pancakes, sauteed potatoes, bacon, and scrambled eggs with cheese and chives. Coffee too. Lots of calories but oh so yum!

Through the windows guests are entertained by the hummingbirds at the feeders and the River Clyde with the gardens beyond.

After our lovely breakfast, we strolled through the gardens. Gorgeous peonies, roses, and shrubbery greeted us.

If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden. ~ Frances Hodgson Burnett -"The Secret Garden"

Here are some of the beauties we enjoyed -

I especially loved this one. It was like a big rose and isn't that the most scrumptious colour?

Another all by itself planted among the hosta.

Lavender with the river behind.

Not sure what this bush is but it's so pretty! Roses are snugged up beside it.

All of these photos were taken with Hubby's phone. I am amazed at the clarity of the pictures.
I have a good camera and his phone often takes better photos than my camera.

They had a small garden of pansies planted in oversized teacups with a teapot in the middle. Isn't it cute? The garden was edged with Island sandstone. 

Back home...
It's the month of July and my world smells like roses! I have had the windows open for days because of the heat and in wafts the exquisite fragrance of roses. My rose bushes are just beyond the windows off to the side so I can smell them. It is so intoxicating! 

Of course they are pink roses!

"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 set out a simple little tea and I'm using some of my roses as well as some rose inspired teacups. Won't you join me?

I baked chocolate chip muffins while Hubby was at work. I have to tell you, it is so satisfying to be able to bake again. Only those of you who do bake will understand the sense of accomplishment it brings when you can take a recipe and bake something wonderful for your family. 

I love this Aynsley teacup with full blown blooms on it!

I also love this Old English Rose by Royal Albert. I always drink my tea black. How about you?

I actually have three teacups in this pattern which you have seen before so I won't share them today.

Well, that's it for this week. I'm so happy you have stopped by for a visit. I hope my post brought a smile. Please come again because I sure enjoy your company. 

Your smile is the front porch of your heart. Everyone benefits from smiling. Did you know that smiling actually releases endorphins that make you feel better? And it blesses the person you're smiling at too. ~ unknown 


I am joining the following parties as well~

 Tuesday Cuppa Tea
 Friends Sharing Tea
 Home Sweet Home


 Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi