First Christmas Tea in December

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening,
In the lane, snow is glistening
A beautiful sight, 
We're happy tonight,
Walking in a winter wonderland. ~ Dick Smith, Felix Bernard 1934

Hello my dear bloggy friends and welcome to my 1st Christmas Tea in December here at Rose Chintz Cottage!

The weather outside is turning frightful but inside it's warm and delightful. I have the fireplace lit and my tea table is set in the glow of Christmas lights. I was hoping to replace my coloured lights with all white this year but it's hard to get Hubby away from the coloured lights. Maybe next year! Do you use white or coloured lights? 

There's more, much more, to Christmas
Than candlelight and cheer;
It's the spirit of sweet friendship
That brightens all year.
It's thoughtfulness and kindness,
It's hope reborn again,
For peace, for understanding,
And for goodwill to men!" ~ Author unknown


I have decided on a Winter White Tea today. Out came my Skye McGhie Cream Lace teapot ....

...as well as my Skye McGhie teacups with their lacy saucers, all sitting out on a red toile tablecloth.

The most trying hours in life are between four o'clock and the evening meal. A cup of tea at this time adds a lot of comfort and happiness. ~ Royal S. Copeland




I have also set out my granddaughter's tea set which is an adorable miniature of my own. 

This sweet little lady has a birthday this week and very soon this wee set will be hers to play with. I hope it brings her many hours of joy.

Speaking of gifts, I received a wonderful gift in the mail last week from bloggy friend Kitty at Kitty's Kozy Kitchen. She embroidered this just for me. Isn't it sweet? Love the gold thread and tassels too!

This will have a special place in my home and whenever I look at it, I will think of you, Kitty, and your kindness to me. I so appreciate your friendship and all you bring to blog land and our tea parties.

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.

It turns what we have into enough, and more.

It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. ~ Melody Beattie

Today we are having Trader Joe's Vanilla and Cinnamon tea with some gingerbread cake and mince meat tarts. I make these tarts often this time of year. And oh my, is the tea ever good! It was another little something Kitty sent me and it tastes like Christmas.

The gingerbread is served on a Queen's Christmas plate called Season's Greetings made by the Myott Factory. Sauteed apple slices and vanilla ice cream all drizzled with warm caramel sauce accompany the warm gingerbread. It's delish!

On December 15th, I will host an Old-fashioned Christmas Tea. Let's bring out our reds, greens, golds, and silver. Maybe you are decorating in a totally new colour this year, feel free to share that with us. Perhaps you have a favourite sweet you like to make for the holidays. Cookies, cake, pudding, a special punch in a pretty bowl, or a savory treat; all are welcome. 

The holidays are such a busy time of year. Please be sure to put your feet up and take time to enjoy a nice cup of tea at least once a day. Thank you for joining me today and I hope you have a joyful week ahead.


I am joining the following parties as well~ 


 A Return to Loveliness
 Tea Cup Tuesday
 Tuesday Cuppa Tea
 Friends Sharing Tea
 Share Your Cup Thursday
Home Sweet Home

An InLinkz Link-up

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Time for Tea and Preparing for the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

It's the most wonderful time of the year.
With the kids jingle belling,
and everyone telling you,
"Be of good cheer,"
It's the most wonderful time of the year. ~ Eddie Pola, George Wyle, 1963



Welcome friends to Tea Time and Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends this week!
  
When we forget the obvious, the little joys, the meals together, the birthday celebrations, the weeping together in time of pain, the wonder of the sunset or the daffodil peeping through the snow, we become less human.~ Madeleine L’Engle

Do you like my posies? The bouquet of roses was a good deal at the grocery. Two yellow, two white, three pink, and three red roses makes for a colourful arrangement for my tea table today.

A month from today is Christmas Eve. Are you getting ready? 

This time of year always brings a bit of nostalgia as I unpack the treasured ornaments from over the years.... 

The special little rocking horse my second son gave me when he was ten years old.


The drummer mouse my youngest son gifted me with for my birthday one year. He had played the snare drum in The Little Drummer Boy in the school band.

For Christmas is tradition time - 
Traditions that recall 
The precious memories down the years,
The sameness of them all. ~ Helen Lowrie Marshall

These two boys get a little sentimental around this time of year. For one, it's the music which brings back fond memories of his mom in the kitchen baking holiday treats and trimming the tree while the music played. 

For the other, it's the music, the food, the decorations and everything else the holiday inspires. He is truly a kid at heart at Christmastime. He takes after his mom and grandfather who always loved the holidays.

Both of these boys live far away, one in Vancouver, BC and the other in Illinois, and I will not see them during the holidays so it's an extra sentimental time for this mom. I am so very thankful for Skype however, and very thankful that my oldest son and his family live just five minutes away!

As you all know, I am a bird watcher and I enjoy our little feathered friends. I love the cardinals but I have never seen one as we don't have them here. My son who lives here on the Island gifted me with three red cardinal ornaments one year because he knows I love them. 

I have used this one in a wreath which hangs in the dining room. 

I have the best kids!

You should always be the best decoration in your own house.~ Phoebe Howard 

For our tea, I have set out some of my Johnson Bros. Friendly Village. 

It's perfect for this time of year with each scene of yesteryear transferred on to each piece!




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

All of my Friendly Village; dinner plates, salad plates, bread & butter plates, bowls, teacups and saucers, is vintage except for the teapot and the creamer.

I have made a short cut version of a Victorian Sponge cake for our tea. The cake is layered and filled with strawberry jam and fresh whipped cream; yum! Hubby isn't a big cake lover but he sure enjoys this one.

I liked Karen's sentiment from her last week's post. She said blog land is like a Friendly Village and I agree with her. It's a lovely place where we can stay in touch and share one another's interests, especially pretty china and tea. 
We are inspired by each other and care deeply when one of our friends is going through a difficult time. Blog land is a wonderful community of bloggers and I am so happy to be a part of it.

Next week is the first of December and I will begin sharing some Christmas inspired teas with you. I also have a special Christmas Tea planned for you on December 15th. I will tell you more about it next week.

I am delighted you have visited today and I am always happy when you join me for tea and conversation.  

If you have something related to tea time or coffee break, please link up with me and I will be happy to visit you. All teacups/coffee cups, teapots/coffee pots, chocolate pots, tablescapes, tea time recipes, and visits to a Tea Shop are welcome.

Have a wonderful day, dear friends, and I wish all of you in the US, a bountiful and beautiful Thanksgiving Day!




I am linking to these lovely parties as well this week~

A Return to Loveliness
Tea Cup Tuesday~ http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/
Tea Cup Tuesday
Tuesday Cuppa Tea
Friends Sharing Tea
Share Your Cup Thursday
Home Sweet Home

An InLinkz Link-up

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi