It's Hard to Say Good-bye and Feeling Blue!

Hello my dear friends! Before I share my tea time with you today, I have some sad news to share.

The past week has been a hard one. Last Tuesday my brother, Dennis, who lives in Indiana, was taken to the ER with pneumonia. As some of you know, he had called me on New Years Day to tell me he had lung cancer. I got word last Wednesday that he was being moved from the ER to hospice. Early Thursday morning, he passed away. I am devastated! The whole family is. I thought he might not last long but I never dreamed he would go so quickly. How do you say, "Good-bye," when you haven't seen your brother for a few years and then you are not even there to tell him you love him? 

I am grieving for my brother. His son who lives in Victoria, BC could not attend the service nor could anyone else in the family. My oldest son, who lives here on PEI, I named after my brother, and he is devastated as well. My other boys live in British Columbia and Michigan. None of us could attend. It is hard to lose your loved one at any time but right now, with the coronavirus making its rounds, it is so much harder because we have to stay put. 
Dennis was too young to go so soon. I am trying to cope as best I can under the circumstances. I'm just so terribly sad. Please pray for my family, especially his wife, Marsha, and his son, Chris.

My tea time today is one I posted some time ago but I know you will understand. I'm not up to taking pictures at the moment. I hope you enjoy it.

Spring would not be spring without bird songs. ~ Francis M. Chapman

Knowing the weather will eventually turn warmer, I am setting my table with blue and white. Those colours echo the colours of the sea and the sky which are predominant when you live on an island.

These striped napkins I got from Avon and they go perfectly with my blue and white china. I also have these adorable bird napkin rings. 

Now you know my theme for today.

Soon the birdies will be building their nests. As you might have guessed, I love the wee bird's nest my son found for me!

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

I used a variety of blue transferware for my tea table. Johnson Brothers Devon Cottage, JB Old Britain Castles, and Churchill Victorian Calico.

Tradition gives us a sense of solidarity and roots,
a knowing there are some things one can count on. ~ Gloria Gaither

Every afternoon we enjoy our refreshment, be it tea or coffee, between two and three o'clock. It is a tradition here in my home and oftentimes it is taken without a treat of any kind although Hubby prefers a sweet. Personally, I prefer a little tea sandwich. It is just lovely to sit in a cozy room and have that time to relax and a little chat. Do you set aside a time for tea?

Thank you dear friends for stopping by for a visit. It's lovely having you! Do take care of yourselves and stay well out there. The Lord bless you all!

Friendship is a word the very sight of which in print makes the heart warm. ~ Augustine Birrel


Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi

Tea Things Tuesday

That is one good thing about this world...there are always sure to be more springs. ~ LM Montgomery - Anne of Avonlea

Hello dear friends! I pray this finds you all safe and well. I have been sick the past two weeks with the flu and it has left me very tired and weaker than usual. But I wanted to share a post with you. Perhaps it will brighten your day.

I heard a song sparrow outside my window and it made me smile. Spring is indeed here. In my backyard, I watched a robin hopping about looking for food, a junko was pecking away at some loose seeds on the ground and the chickadees were busy at the feeder. Earlier this morning Hubby and I saw a fluffy red fox sniffing his way along the edge of our backyard. We hadn't seen one in a while so it was wonderful to see him out there as well. Nature is going about its business and has no idea that the humans are isolating themselves in their homes and trying to stay well. But seeing all the wildlife outside my window this morning made me happy and for a few minutes, I was able to forget that our world is in turmoil.

Outside the front window, a mom and her little guy were walking by. Well, she was walking, he was on his wee bike with training wheels. It's nice to see life outside my window. I haven't left the house in over two weeks.

Whatsoever things are lovely ... think on these things. ~ Philippians 4:8

I was looking through my pictures and came across these that I had shared several years ago for one of my many tea parties. So, I thought I would share them with you today. I hope you enjoy them.

A red eyed vireo's nest which my son found me years ago. It had been abandoned so he brought it home to me.

Pink and yellow tulips bring a touch of spring on the table.

A vanilla cupcake with fancy icing topped with lemon curd and one of my Avon birdies which I have had for years. The sweet birdhouse in the background is one my youngest son gifted me with for my birthday one year. 

The goldfinch is my favourite bird.

My signature pattern, Rose Chintz, by Johnson Brothers holds many fond memories of my childhood, when my auntie used to set her table with them. 

The beautiful Serena trio by Royal Albert. 

Raisin spice scones with almond glaze and cream cheese and cucumber tea sandwiches.

Whipped cream for your scones served in a lovely pink sherbet.

Homemade raspberry jam.

The bluejays are coming out again after the long winter.

The robin with his bright red breast.

One must have a teapot so I took down my Victorian Bird teapot. 

Milk or sugar for your tea? I take mine black.

If you are cold, tea will warm you; if you are too heated, it will cool you; if you are depressed, it will cheer you; if you are excited it will calm you. ~ William Ewart Gladstone

Are you sipping many cups of tea these days? 

Before I got hit with the flu bug, I had baked cinnamon rolls, chocolate chip-peanut butter cookies, and bran muffins because our grandson was flying home for March break. Sadly, I didn't get to see him except on a video call. 
Hubby took the treats over and set them on the doorstep. Our grandson came out and stood on the step to talk to his grandfather for a few minutes while his Papa stood by the car. No hugs, just big smiles and thankful hearts that they could at least talk to one another from a safe distance. Our grandson flew back yesterday. These are sad times! Our family is a family of huggers and the hugs will have to wait until it is safe again.

My handsome grandson. He is just as sweet as he looks too.

Speaking of the treats I made, Hubby had cut back on sugar so I wasn't doing much baking lately. But I wanted to bless our son and his family with the treats. This is all there is left once the treats were delivered to my son and Hubby helped himself. The jar had been full of muffins, the cookies filled the container, and there were enough cinnamon rolls to fill another jar. 

Mind you, I still have a few cookies in the freezer yet. But when the hubby is home, he snacks! What can I do? Did you know that chocolate makes you happy? It can change your mood and makes you happy. It has antioxidants. So we won't begrudge him a few cookies, will we? Especially right now. I think by the time this is all over, many of us won't fit into our jeans quite as well as we did.

Today it's snowing again, but Spring is here, and hopefully all of these strange times will be behind us soon. There is a lot of prayer going up these days and God is still on the throne. May He watch over you and your loved ones! Until next time, do take care.


Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi

Spring-ing Up the Mantel

I don't know what lies around the bend in the road but I'm going to believe the best does. ~ LM Montgomery

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone! Hope you all enjoy a little green today.

My photo above is from a Tea Time Tuesday post several years ago.

I have been down with the flu for over a week and there is no sign of it going yet. I did manage to take a few pictures of my Spring mantel so I will share some of those today.

My finished wreath

Little birdie on the mantel

For flowers that bloom about our feet;

For tender grass so fresh and sweet;
For song of bird and hum of bee;
For all things fair we hear and see,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee!  

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder. ~ unknown

The little bird's nest is one my son found me several years ago. It was abandoned and the eggs are Easter eggs. I love bringing the nest out this time of year!

Sorry the reflection isn't great and the closeups show the cords, but you get the idea.

Please take care, my dear friends. In these troubled times, let your mind dwell on lovely things {Philippians 4:8}. We all need to take good care of ourselves and stay positive. Thank God for your family, your friends, and your blessings. Stay safe!

Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God. ~ Corrie ten Boom


Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi

Tea Things Tuesday

May the friendships you make,

Be those which endure,
And all of your grey clouds
Be small ones for sure.
And trusting in Him
To Whom we all pray,
May a song fill your heart,
Every step of the way. ~ Irish blessing

Hello dear friends and welcome to this week's Tea Things Tuesday! Next Tuesday, St Patrick's Day will be here so I decided to share some green today because I want to concentrate on Spring next week.

I adore transferware and my favourite is red and white as most of you know but I like blue and white and green and white too. One Christmas my hubby gifted me these lovely green transferware cups and saucers and dessert plates. The green and white is hard to find so I was thrilled to receive these!

Tea is instant wisdom, just add water. ~ Astrid Alauda

I love the pastoral scenes on this transferware. It is totally charming, don't you think?

I usually make an Irish tea cake every March but no cake this year because Hubby is trying to cut down on sugar. This photo of the Irish tea cake is served with strawberries and whipped cream.  

The teapot is one I have had for years. It has no marker on it but it is sporting a green lacy motif. It holds about two to three cups of tea.

My youngest son had visited the botanical gardens in Michigan a few years ago and he chose this Claddagh cup for me. Hubby likes it a lot because he is half Irish. It is a unique cup with a large handle for holding.

I know you Irish ladies will appreciate this cup!

                                   

The last few days I have been decorating my mantel for springtime and this is a wreath I'm working on. I'm basically just getting started but I will share next week, the finished mantel all decked out.

Today is a special day. My sweet Auntie P is celebrating her birthday. I imagine her family will treat her to dinner and presents. She is 84 years young and her granddaughter takes her out several times a week for a drive and lunch. The photo below is one of Auntie visiting a Fairy Garden last summer. She is enjoying her outings and I pray that she is able to enjoy them for a long time to come.

Happy Birthday, Auntie! You are loved! 

I hope you have enjoyed my green tea things today and I do hope your week is lovely. May showers of blessings pour down upon you and your loved ones this week!

Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi

Tea Things Tuesday

There is so much in the world for us all if we only have the eyes to see it, and the heart to love it, and the hand to gather it to ourselves -- so much in men and women, so much in art and literature, so much everywhere in which to delight, and for which to be thankful. ~ LM Montgomery

Hello friends and Happy March! I am delighted you have stopped by! 

March

The month of cold mornings and warm afternoons
when the Fairies weave rugs with flowers
adorning the meadows and roadsides with colour. ~ Edith Holden

Well, March may be here, but the fairies around here won't be weaving anything along our roadsides until probably May. Those of you who live further south, no doubt are enjoying the first sprouts and leafing trees but we don't really have a Spring here on the Island. Most of us call our Spring, Sprinter; which is part Spring, part Winter. It is fairly cold here until mid-May but once the snow disappears, I am doing the happy dance! I cannot wait to put away the winter boots and the heavy coats. Oh, don't get me wrong. I can enjoy a lovely snowy day but my body just feels better in warmer weather.

I will be sharing some of my tea things once a week, at least for a while, until I come up with some new things to blog about. When I have something else to share, I will also share that. 
Most of you have seen these pieces today probably through my Tea Time Tuesday parties. 

This particular teapot is one I found at our Anne of Green Gables Store in Charlottetown several years ago. She has pretty pink peonies adorning her and she's ready for Spring, as am I. It holds about four cups of tea.

This sweet teacup is called Chantilly Lace made by Skye McGhie and it is just one set of a few Skye McGhie pieces I have. Love the saucer!

The pink plate underneath the cup and saucer is vintage and made by Johnson Brothers; a favourite maker of mine. The wee teaspoon is part of my mother's silver which she passed on to me when she downsized. As most of you know, my mother passed away last August so I am grateful I have a few of her treasures.

Life is like a teacup to be filled to the brim and enjoyed with friends. ~ unknown

There are no treats for our tea today because my hubby is trying to cut back on sugar. But I will bake something once a month for him. Tea anyone?

What are you sipping from this third day of March? 

Memory is a way of holding on to the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose. ~ Kevin Arnold

Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi