39th Tea Pots and Tea Things Tuesday, soup and cranberry dishware in kitchen

Welcome to....

38th, Teapot And Tea Things Tuesday

Winter is the time for comfort,

for good food and warmth,

for the touch of a friendly hand

and for a talk beside the fire:

it is time for home.

Dame Edith Sitwell



Thank 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 .  Perhaps today you will linger a little longer for lunch.  Homemade soup is simmering on the stove.  I will  arrange our luncheon in my hearthroom, by the fireplace.

Cold! Artic, bone chilling cold.

Windy! A wind so strong that it ensures its frigid fingers
grasp your very essence.

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.

Each 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.

Getting organized in my kitchen

Cute detail - button hole in napkin

What better way to serve a piping hot soup than in

pretty cafe au lait cups that my friend Wanda, gifted me with.

Perhaps some fresh bread and butter to accompany our soup

Better yet, tea biscuits or soda bread.

My favorite McKelvie's Bannock

(I will tell you more about that in a future post)

They know tea time is coming

We have counted up to 15 cardinals

and their mates in the woods at one time.

Cozy cushion

Muffie is wanting patiently for you

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   uncooked 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.




OPTION

I have used  homemade chicken stock or ready to use chicken broth and added leftover chicken or turkey, for a heartier soup.

( 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 67th, '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/

~ A Return to Loveliness with Kathy
@ http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/

*~ The 39th, 'Teapot And Tea Things Tuesday', with Wanda Lee and Pam @
http://breathoffreshair-paperbutterfly.blogspot.com/
and http://silkenpurse.blogspot.com/


Other favorite places I may visit this week:

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

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

~Show and Tell Fridays with Cindy
@ http://romantichome.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






* Photo credit - "Cardinal in Snow Storm" by Jayne