Feeling Blue

Flowers were the language of happiness and always the gifts we gave to others. They seemed as necessary as food. ~ Elizabeth Cerutti

Welcome to tea time, my lovely friends! It's hard to believe that a month ago, it was Christmas!

Today, I decided to share a tea time with you. It is a dreary and snowy day, so some hot tea and a lovely bouquet help to perk up the day.

When you choose joy you feel good, and when you feel good YOU do good, and when YOU do good it reminds others of what joy feels like, and it just might inspire them to do the same. ~ unknown

Hubby found this soup tureen for me for Christmas one year. Isn't it wonderful? It is fabulous for holding my baked beans, homemade soups and chowders, chili, stew, or in this case, a beautiful bouquet of posies!

Yellow roses, white tulips, and a few white roses from last week's bouquet fill this tureen up nicely.

Is there anything prettier in the dead of winter than blue and white enhanced by a sunny bouquet?

Naturally I brought out my JB Old Britain Castles teacups to compliment the tureen.

This 2011 Victoria magazine looks pretty in the vignette. I save all my magazines so I can look back on them. How about you?

Yellow roses are like a burst of sunshine!

Happiness is sharing tea with a friend.

I am serving Victorian Garden tea in my little glass teapot which comes with its own infuser. I have had this for a number of years but I don't use it very often.

Victorian Garden is a Ceylon black tea with all kinds of lovely things in it like China green gunpowder, vanilla, and rose and lavender flowers. I had purchased it from our PEI Preserve Co. in New Glasgow where they have a splendid tea room.

Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world revolves- slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future. ~ Thich Nat Hahn


Tea is ready, how about a little nosh with your cuppa?

For some reason, I am feeling like a little chocolate these days. Perhaps because Valentines Day is on the way? Home made Chocolate Pudding with a dollop of whipped cream and some grated chocolate. Mmm! 

The plates are Blue Willow by Churchill.

My little creamer has no mark. I paid a dollar for it at an antique shop several years ago. 

Tea is quiet and our thirst for tea is never far from our craving for beauty. ~ James Norwood Pratt

This is an old post which I have updated a bit. I hope you have enjoyed it. As always, it is a pleasure to have you come for a visit. 

The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. ~ Proverbs 11:25

Wishing you JOY today!

Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi

Friendly Village and Chocolate

Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home. ~ Edith Sitwell 

Hello my lovely friends! We have been having the loveliest weather here and oh, to have the whole winter like this would be grand! Then the rain came on the weekend! But it has been mild, and until the two days of rain came, we had sunshine; what bliss!

I have most of our Christmas put away now. I replaced the little tree in the dining room with a tray of some Friendly Village china and one of the little trees I used at Christmastime.

We shall have our tea using this china today. Johnson Bothers, one of my favourite makers, produced this charming pattern first in 1952 and it has attracted generations of admirers and collectors over the years. Each piece depicts a different scene which creates a delightful story for your table. It's appeal is as great today as it was when it was first introduced more than a half century ago.

I was planning to make these little nuggets for Christmas but just didn't get around to it. So, I made them on the weekend. 

The chocolate raspberry truffles are very small and delectable, and they are a delightful little treat with your cup of tea or coffee. I have served them in one of my King's Crown red rimmed sherbet glasses. The truffles would be lovely for Valentine's Day. A little chocolate also makes you feel good.

All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt. ~ Charles M. Schulz

The truffles recipe is from a mystery novel authored by, Joanne Fluke, a New York Times bestselling author. A number of her books were made into movies as well, and I have them all. This particular recipe is from the book, "Plum Pudding Murder." Sorry, I do not have permission to share the recipe, but if you go to her site or Pinterest, you can find the recipe there. 

When you have flowers, books and tea, you are never alone. ~ Alexandra Stoddard

I have acquired quite a number of mystery novels and other books over the years. I love a small library of books that I can go to at whim. I love to read. How about you?

Some of these mystery novels are written by Joanne Fluke and some are written by Laura Childs, who is also a New York Times bestselling author, of the Tea Shop Mysteries. I have every one of Laura Childs' tea mysteries. I really enjoy Childs' character, Theodosia Browning's exploits along with her tea shop employees/friends, tea master, Drayton, and baker extraordinaire, Haley. Their adventures take place in Charleston, South Carolina. If you enjoy a good mystery and a cup of tea, you will enjoy her books. She always includes tea recipes and tips. 

Joanne Fluke's character, Hannah Swenson, on the other hand, owns The Cookie Jar, a coffee shop in Lake Eden, Minnesota. She too loves to solve a mystery, oftentimes at the chagrin of her detective friend, Mike, and dentist friend, Norman. With the help of her family and partner at the coffee shop, she has helped solved many sticky situations, and loves to share her many recipes. 

I recommend both of these authors' books. They are wonderfully entertaining and good books to curl up with on a winter's day.

Thank you for visiting today and I hope you have an especially lovely week. Take one day at a time and glean every drop of JOY you can from it. 

Every day is a second chance. ~ author unknown {from the Hallmark movie- A Joyous Christmas}

Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi

A Birdie Theme in Red and White

January opens the box of the year

And brings out days that are bright and clear.

And brings out days that are cold and gray;

And shouts, "Come see what I brought today." -LB Jacobs

Hello dear friends and Happy New Year!

The majority of us are thrilled that 2020 is behind us and we are hoping for a better year ahead.

I shared in my previous post how difficult the past year had been for most folks, including me. Well, since I wrote that post, I have had some more bad news. I have just been diagnosed with Glaucoma. Last Monday, the day of the diagnosis, I was a bit upset! I thought, "Dear Lord, how much more can go wrong? How many more meds am I going to have to take? I feel like a walking pharmacy."

The eye drops I have to administer twice a day for the rest of my life, brings me to a total of thirteen times a day, I am taking medication. Alas, many of my issues are genetic so I'm literally stuck with them for better or for worse. This is not a good way to start the year off.

But today is another day, and things look a little brighter because I know the Great Physician! I am in the Lord's hands, and I am trusting Him to take me through this. I don't know why I am so afflicted with all these health issues. I only know His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He is watching me. 

Music has always ministered to me and the song, His Eye is On the Sparrow, is what has been going through my head the past week.

Why should I feel discouraged, 

why should the shadows come,

Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heav'n and home,

When Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He:

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Refrain:

I sing because I'm happy, I sing because I'm free,

For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me. 

Words- Civilla D. Martin 1905

Music - Charles H. Gabriel 1905

This is my little sparrow which I painted and distressed years ago.

Since my last post, I have celebrated another birthday. I never bake my own cake so my hubby ordered me a white pound cake with white buttercream icing and roses. When he went to pick it up, they discovered my cake had been sold to someone else. He was surprised of course, so they straight away got another cake and decorated it with white roses. They are not the original roses he wanted but it was all he could get at the last minute. The good news is, they gave him the cake for free which was nice! Wouldn't it be nice if the plastic plate they put the cake on was white or ivory? At least they didn't put my name on it. I don't like script on a cake unless one is a little child.

I received the sweetest card from my son and his family in the States! It is uniquely made in several layers with cutouts. So pretty!

My oldest son, who had the ear surgery just before Christmas, is still having some pain, but it is getting better. The good news is, he is beginning to hear some sounds in his ear, so that is encouraging! His surgeon told him last week that it could take up to three months before his ear is completely healed. We are hoping for the best possible results, and if you have been praying, please pray a little longer? He was so encouraged to know that my blogger friends were praying for him!

I have set the tea table with a piece of my cake. Would you like to join me?

I am using my red and white transferware because of the lovely table cloth and roses. The lace topper was a gift from a friend quite some time ago. I love it! 

The bird inspired teapot is being put to use today because I am so enjoying all the birds at the feeders. I saw several Juncos actually fly inside the feeders. They are normally ground birds so I was happy to see them getting in there and having their lunch. We have been seeing a lot of birds lately. Chickadees, Juncos, Goldfinches, and Evening Grosbeaks seem to be around a lot.

The bird teapot was a Christmas gift a number of years ago and it is rather heavy so I don't use it very often but I do love the birdie motif. It holds a good amount of tea. 

My tea today is one sent to me by a sweet blogging friend. It is Dessert by Deb, Orange and Ginger Shortbread Rooibos tea. Can't wait to try it!

Serenity is a solitary cup of tea; pleasure is sharing it with another. ~ Victoria magazine

The teacups are Masons Vista and  Burleigh Felicity by Staffordshire, England.

The creamy roses were a lovely surprise.

We have had some snow the past few days and those who can, are enjoying it. My neighbour was outside helping his boys build a snowman.  

The finished snowman with his hat and scarf.

I enjoyed watching the little family play together in the snow. It is the simple things in life that make me happy.

Sometimes you have to let go of the picture of what you thought life would be like and learn to find joy in the story you're living. ~ unknown

Before I close my post, I must share this lovely snowy scene taken by one of our talented Island photographers; Ian Carter. 

His caption read, "A beautiful sight, we're happy tonight walking in a winter wonderland." - in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

Yes, even in the wintertime, the Island is a beautiful place.

Beauty of Our Friendship

Friendship is a priceless gift that cannot be bought or sold,

But its value is far greater than a mountain made of Gold.

For gold is cold and lifeless, it can neither see nor hear

And in the time of trouble it is powerless to cheer...

It has no ears to listen nor heart to understand,

It cannot bring you comfort or reach out a helping hand

So when you ask God for a gift

Be thankful if He sends not diamonds, pearls, or riches

But The Love of Real True Friends. ~ Helen Steiner Rice

Have a wonderful week, dear friends!

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi