38th, Teapot And Tea Things Tuesday; marmalade

Welcome to....

38th,  Teapot And Tea Things Tuesday

Each small task of everyday life is part
of the total harmony of the universe.

                                                                                                         St. Therese of  Lisieux

A warm wintery welcome to all of  you.  I am pleased to be part of the festivities this week as I am well.  I hope you are well too!

Do  you sometimes dream of  lounging in a luxurious bed, clothed in an etheral gown, eating the best pastries and fruits as you read your favorite books?  I do.  But the reality this week for me, was a mound of rumpled bed linens , wound around a limp flannel-gowned body, nibbling on toast and tea , one hand on the remote.  Quiet time but not enjoyable.  I am now attending to the daily tasks at hand, just enjoying each moment.

While you settle yourself  in a cozy chair I will set off to the kitchen to boil the water for the tea.  Its tea and toast today.  What do you prefer on your toast?  Friends have shared a jar of homemade marmalade.  The oranges are from their orange tree, which grows in their bay window.   I will be inquiring about ingredients and technique and share it with you.

GOOD Morning Sunshine

I may not be awake or do I need those

glasses more than I thought?

Mismatched cream and sugar??? and I didn't

notice until my shoot was done

They look quite cute

An amazing vibrant orange jam

Placed butter and marmalade on a mirror to protect the table.

Thank you for sharing your time and talents with all of us.

~ I encourage you to stop by and savour another cup of tea while you enjoy her pretty vignettes.

The more the fun!



*Mr. Linky will arrive soon.

We don't want to miss a single teacup or teapot!

As always we cherish your comments and participation

in our Tuesday meme.

 ~You will be warmly welcomed if you choose to

become a follower!~

Welcome to..,

 Tuesday Tea Time In Blogland!

These are the links to the other oh-so-delightful tea parties and tabletop parties that I attend.

I invite you to drop in. Many thanks to those who faithfully host each week.


                                                                                                 ~ Hope to see you there!!


(Our own memes are marked with an asterisk*):





*~The 66th, 'Tuesday Tea For Two'
@ http://theplumedpen.blogspot.com/

~ Tuesday Teatime with Lady Katherine
@ http://www.ladykatherineteaparlor.blogspot.com/

~ Teatime Tuesday with Sandi
@ http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com/

~ Teacup Tuesday with Martha
@ http://marthasfavorites.blogspot.com/

~ Teacup Tuesday with Terri
@ http://artfulaffirmations.blogst.com/

~ Tabletop Tuesday with Marti
@ http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/

*~ The 38th, 'Teapot And Tea Things Tuesday', with Wanda Lee and Pam @
http://breathoffreshair-paperbutterfly.blogspot.com/
and http://silkenpurse.blogspot.com/


Other favorite memes:

~Tablescape Thursday with Susan
@ http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

~ Foodie Friday with Michael
@ http://www.designsbygollum.blogspot.com/

~Sunday Favorites with Chari
@ http://happytodesign.blogspot.com/


Cheers and hugs from Pam and Wanda Lee; ( Wanda Lee is the other half of our weekly blog tea party meme; 'Teapot And Tea Things Tuesday' @ http://silkenpurse.blogspot.com

36th, 'Teapot And Tea Things Tuesday', New Year:

Welcome to....

36th,  Teapot And Tea Things Tuesday

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of

the year: "Give me a light that I may tread

safely into the unknown!"  And he replied: 

"Go out into the darkness and put your hand

into the hand of God. That shall be to you

better than a light and safer than a known way."

                                                                                                              Minnie Louise Haskins

A warm winter's welcome to all of you who have gathered for a cup of cheer today, whether it be tea, coffee, mulled cider (wine) or hot chocolate. I trust that you had a wonderful Christmas and look with anticipation to the new year. Let's sit awhile and catch up the events we best loved the last few weeks.  For me, it was having my daughter home from the East coast, sharing time with my son and fiance and the numerous phone calls from my son and his fiance from the West coast.

As I begin this new year there are many unknowns for me. We have decided, with heavy hearts that we must move from our home of only three years. Alot of time and energy and dreams have been invested in this house to make it our home but life changes and we must adapt.  Now complete, it is time to hand it over to some one else to enjoy and look for our next venture.

The new year has always been a time of closet and cobweb cleaning for me but this will be more extensive as I stage the house and start packing.  Don't worry my luvs, no teacup will be left behind, but evenually there will be fewer and fewer to share on Tuesday.  So TTTT may have a different flavour as the weeks go by.  I don't know how that may look at the moment.  We will both be surprised I am sure, but tea will always be served and your attendence most welcome.

I hope you will enjoy one of my favorite postings:  

"Our Annivarsary" 22nd Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday



( the link for that other half of our weekly tea party with Wanda Lee is @
 http://silkenpurse.blogspot.com).



~ I encourage you to stop by and savour another cup of tea while you enjoy her pretty vignettes.
The more the fun!



*Mr. Linky will arrive soon.

We don't want to miss a single teacup or teapot!

As always we cherish your comments and participation

in our Tuesday meme.

 ~You will be warmly welcomed if you choose to

become a follower!~

Welcome to,

  Tuesday Tea Time In Blogland!

These are the links to the other oh-so-delightful tea parties and tabletop parties that I attend.

I invite you to drop in. Many thanks to those who faithfully host each week.


                                                                                                 ~ Hope to see you there!!


(Our own memes are marked with an asterisk*):





*~The 64th, 'Tuesday Tea For Two'
@ http://theplumedpen.blogspot.com/

~ Tuesday Teatime with Lady Katherine
@ http://www.ladykatherineteaparlor.blogspot.com/

~ Teatime Tuesday with Sandi
@ http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com/

~ Teacup Tuesday with Martha
@ http://marthasfavorites.blogspot.com/

~ Teacup Tuesday with Terri
@ http://artfulaffirmations.blogst.com/

~ Tabletop Tuesday with Marti
@ http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/

*~ The 36th, 'Teapot And Tea Things Tuesday', with Wanda Lee and Pam @
http://breathoffreshair-paperbutterfly.blogspot.com/
and http://silkenpurse.blogspot.com/


Other favorite memes:

~Tablescape Thursday with Susan
@ http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

~ Foodie Friday with Michael
@ http://www.designsbygollum.blogspot.com/

~Sunday Favorites with Chari
@ http://happytodesign.blogspot.com/


Cheers and hugs from Pam and Wanda Lee; ( Wanda Lee is the other half of our weekly blog tea party meme; 'Teapot And Tea Things Tuesday'..,@    http://silkenpurse.blogspot.com/

The 7th Teapot And Tea Things Tuesday; How Does Your Garden Grow?

Welcome to the 7th,

Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday

God loves each of us as if there were

only one of us.

St. Augustine

I am constantly amazed by the delicate, intricate designs of the flowers in nature. How many different hues of color on each petal. What a miracle each and every plant is! be it prolific or rare, each with its own unique fragrance and qualities.  Just like us. How incredibly awesome God's imagination must be!



So this tea is to honour the gardeners in our midst. Those of you who have a passion for all things living and green, outdoors and in. Those compassionate souls who nurture seedlings and cuttings; water, fertilize and tug out the weeds with determination, from the damp cool days of spring to the dog days of summer. To you I want to say thank you. Thank you for the multi coloured gardens that speak to my soul. Thank you for being such great stewards of God's paint brushes and assisting the master in creating such awe inspiring splendor. I savor the stimulus it gives my senses in sight, smell and wellbeing as I walk by your tended gardens. It is a gift you share with those looking over your fences and this is my note of appreciation.


And so I was inspired to choose tea treasures with delicate flowers from my china cabinet to share with you, this week. I do hope you have a moment to sit, chat and rest over a cup of tea.  Warm scones from the oven, butter and fresh strawberry rhubarb jam .
Simple and simlpy delicious, because I am sharing them with such good friends.  You can tell me how your garden is growing.

The table is being set...

My mom always had an embroidery project

on the go. Don't you agree, she did beautiful work.

I look forward to showing more of them in future posts.

I felt the need for an all white teapot.

I thought it wouldn't distract from the other floral china.

I am sure it will be used for many other occasions.

Homesense $14.99

Cornflower cream and sugar,

just like my Aunt Orpha's.

Depression glass dish for either

lemon slices or rose-shaped butter pats.

Cake stand for the scones and

a creamer with a spoon for the jam.

Which one would you like?

Or maybe one of these?

Some how all colours go together in a garden.

My friend Edith made these before she moved away.

How I miss Edith and her creative spirit.

Three or four on top of white sugar cubes add a

sweet touch of colour.

Just fo fun.

Silhouettes

It has been a pleasure to spend time with you.  Always feel so honoured when my friends take the time to drop in. Hope you feel refreshed and ready to resume your projects in the garden.

Wanda and I would love to know who has dropped in.

Please sign in the guest book with a comment.  We are excited to see what your favorite tea treasure is this week. 

Luke 12:27 (NIV)
"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

Luke 12:27 (The Message)
25-28"Has anyone by fussing before the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? If fussing can't even do that, why fuss at all? Walk into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They don't fuss with their appearance—but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. If God gives such attention to the wildflowers, most of them never even seen, don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?


I look forward to seeing your creative adventures in pictures this week. I may see you at the following blogs.
I will also be joining the other tea ladies this week for, 'Tuesday And Wednesday Teatime In Blogland', at:

~Tabletop Tuesday @ astrollthrulife.blogspot.com

~ Tuesday Tea For Two @ http://theplumedpen.blogspot.com/

~ Teapot And Tea Things Tuesday @ http://silkenpurse.blogspot.com and  http://breathoffreshair-paperbutterfly.blogspot.com/

~Teatime Tuesday @ http://ladykatherineteaparlor.blogspot.com/

~Tuesday Teatime @ http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com/

~Teacup Tuesday @ http://www.marthasfavorites.com/

~Wednesday Tea For Me And Thee@ http://theplumedpen.blogspot.com/



~Tablescape Thursday @ http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/









Cheers and hugs from Pamela, (and also from, Wanda Lee) @ http://silkenpurse.blogspot.com

Winds of Change

“Sometimes in the winds of change we find our true direction”

T hank you for dropping by today.  Its a perfect day to ”nest” and savour the aroma and warmth of a steamy brew with a heart-warming chat .


C old! Artic, bone chilling cold.


W indy! A wind so strong that it ensures its frigid fingers


grasp your very essence.


C old! Windy!  The wind is a fierce force of nature today. I can hear the


roar of each gust, echo in the ravine outside my home.  As I watch the


cardinals perched on the barren branches, dancing hither and yon I


too feel an unsettling in my soul.


E ach day this week has brought its challenges and with that, decisions on


what direction our lives should take.  With an eye to the future, and its


uncertainties, I am trying to look at it, as opportunties, with positive


possiblities.   I suspect, if God wasn’t blowing change into my world, I


wouldn’t even take a glance outside my comfy circumstances any other


way or embrace the idea of change.

I would like to share a recipe for soup that my family enjoys on cold days, like today.
 
 

RIB STICKIN' BEAN & BARLEY SOUP

 

1  TBSP  olive oil

2             large carrots,  sliced

2             stalks celery, sliced

1             large onion, chopped

1 BOX     (900mL)    Campbell's Ready to Use Organic Vegetable Broth

1 CAN     (19 oz/540mL) red kidney beans, rinsed and drained

2 CUPS    diced plum tomatoes, fresh or canned with liquid

1/4 CUP   nucooked pearl barley

2 CUPS    firmly packed chopped fresh spinach leaves, washed

Ground pepper, garlic, your favorite herbs to taste

 

1.   Heat oil in large saucepan, over medium-high heat.  Add the carrots, celery and onion, fresh garlic.      Cook and stir until vegies are tender.

2.   Stir in broth, beans, tomatoes and barley.  Heat to a boil.  Reduce heat to low.  Cover and cook for  30 minutes or until the barley is tender.

3.   Stir in spinach and seasonings to taste .  Cook until spinach is tender.

 

I have used Campbell's Chicken Ready to Use Broth and added leftover chicken or turkey, as well.

 

 

W hat better way to serve a piping hot soup than in pretty cafe au lait cups that a friend gifted me with.

 

Photo credit "Cardinal in Snow Storm" by Jayne

Teacups and Friends: Never Too Many

Teacups and Friends:

Never Too Many

Our lives went through quite the transition a couple of years ago. If there had been a road map of where events would be taking us I would have stayed in bed for the entire time with the bedcovers clenched firmly in my hands covering my head and all parts due south. A very good reason, I believe that God does not want us to have a crystal ball to tell us the future. Not many brave souls would embark on life’s journey if they knew what lay before them. Taking one step at a time, or one bite of the sandwich at a time, is so much more do-able.

As we prepared to sell our house, some dining room furniture was sold and its precious contents gently wrapped like mummies were boxed and stored. The same scene unfolded several months later at my parents’ home as I helped my Mom downsize to a seniors’ home. Later that year, when our renovations were complete in our new home and furniture bought through the ever famous Craig’s List (http://www.craigslist.com/) I started unwrapping the contents from both dining rooms. Mingling the old with the new.

What a joy it was to see each teacup, plate, and serving dish, as I gingerly peeled the packing paper back. It felt like I was reconnecting with family and friends. Some more than others stirred memories of happy times. As I sorted the contents of both homes I mingled them together as I would introduce friends at a party.



































I  nestled each piece carefully into its new home anticipating the next gathering when I would have an opportunity to share it ….I challenge myself to think of my  friendships the same way. Each person comes into our life with their unique perspective, gifts and needs. God would have me handle them with care. Not hiding them on a shelf but inviting them into experiencing life and relationships.

Do I have room for one or two new teacups? My husband would doubt that there is any room to spare. As in my china cabinet, my life too looks very full. But I would not turn away a new purchase any more than I would pass by on a new friendship. I am up to the challenge. Teacups and friends, never too many!