What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?

What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?
Remember: "When God closes a door, He always opens a window!" You never know what might be out there waiting for you!

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Time Out for Tea

What a lovely surprise today when I discovered a new friend who loves tea-time possibly more than I.  Actually, she has a lovely blog totally devoted to tea time savored with other blogging friends... My friend Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage is someone I'd love to meet in person someday! She lives way up in Prince Edward Island...Anne of Green Gables country...and that is definitely a location on my most desired places to visit list.  You may ask why? Well, I refer you to a story I wrote some time ago entitled "A Kindred Spirit", which will fill you in on the history of my interest in Anne of Green Gables.

All that aside, I realize that I am a couple of days late for the "Savor the Summer Tea" at Rose Chintz Cottage, but perhaps I can "crash" the party just this once.  It's a little late in the evening here to set out my tea party things, so I will add a few pictures that might be appropriate for the occasion.  Next time I will try to be better prepared. 

To properly set the mood, why don't you "Come into my kitchen and chat with me while I prepare a pot of tea?"....I love this needlepoint picture created by my Grandma Mursch and given to me after her death. My grandmother and I always shared the love of a good cup of tea together, so I was thrilled when I was able to receive this from her home.  It now graces my kitchen and invites all who enter to sit and visit over a pot of tea.

I have chosen for my cup of tea this delightful bone china teacup that fittingly enough is named
"June Bouquet", and is a Duchess Bone China teacup from England. And guess what else makes this cup extra special?  It was a gift from my Grandma! I know she is smiling up in heaven right now knowing that I am treasuring her gifts to me in this way and sharing them with you.

Remember...click on the pictures to enlarge and enjoy!

I love the delicate little rosebuds that grace the saucer and the cup.
Roses are my favorite flower anyway...so that makes this even sweeter.
Now I suppose I need to also find just the right teapot to go with this little cup.  Let me see....Oh, here's the perfect teapot... one of my Hall Teapot collection...a rose colored teapot...and guess what else? You are getting good at this...you guessed it!  Yes, this also once belonged to my Grandma! You know, I really didn't plan this at all...it just happened this way...or maybe I just needed to remember my Grandma today.  She was such a dear sweet lady.  But then again, aren't all Grandmas sweet?

My Grandma Mursch's Hall Rose Teapot and my June Bouquet Teacup, a gift from my Grandma when I was a young lady...   To see a few more of my teapots I refer you to the page  entitled "A Few of My Favorite Things" . Be sure to scroll down to see the china closet and a few of the special treasures in my home that I cherish.  Another good place to visit is "I Come By It Honestly", which shows some other of my favorite collections.

So now, since you are joining me for tea, perhaps I'd better get another teacup for you! 

This lovely little tea set actually didn't come from my grandmother...it was a gift from a dear friend. I just love the whimsical style of this, don't you?  The pattern is called "Chintz Charming" by Julia Bullmore. It certainly fits its name.

I just thought of another teacup that you might like to use...

My Grandma Tedlie's Haviland Limoges China tea cup and saucer and luncheon plate.
"The Princess" design...perfect for a couple of princesses having a tea party,
don't you agree?
This is a very special teacup that came from my other Grandma...Grandma Tedlie...and I just recently received it from my Mother's home after we settled my parent's estate this past year.  Yes, this is a lovely teacup, and I just happen to have two of them, one for me and one for you!  We could do what my sister and I did this past September for my birthday...we had a little impromptu tea party, using these cups in memory of my mother (and Grandmother too)....


Can you tell we were having fun in our little impromptu tea party? Two sisters, doing what we enjoyed doing as little girls growing up together.


So now, I've given you several choices...and they are all uniquely lovely.  You know, a tea party should be something that is designed to bring out the best in each of us...it doesn't matter if we use my Grandma Tedlie's Haviland Limoges china, or my Grandma Mursch's June Bouquet Duchess Bone China ...or the newer "Chintz Charming" set.  The important thing is to just do it...have the tea party...you may only have ironstone mugs made in China...that's okay too (although it'd be better if they were made in the USA)...it doesn't matter.  Invite your friend(s), sister, mother, grandmother, the little old lady next door, or a couple of young teenagers who need to feel special...and do just that...make them feel special.  Share yourself with them...whatever God leads you to do...

"Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.  Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life."  I Timothy 6:17-19.

We are so blessed with such treasures...let us use whatever we have to honor and glorify our Lord...and who knows...by opening our homes to share what we have with others, we may even be entertaining angels!
Hebrews 13:2 says,
"Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels."


This little angel is tuning up the violin to serenade us while we have our tea!
She is standing in front of that beautiful antique flow blue china platter that belonged to my mother.

Now THAT'S a group of Angels! What a tea party that would be!






 Y'all Come!

13 comments:

  1. Hello Pamela,
    Well, I'm very late visiting. It's after 11:00 PM here on the Island. Hubby and I just closed down our last Bible Study group for the Summer months this evening, and I've just now been able to check my tea party and lo and behold, you were there! So nice to have you join me!
    Your teacups are just lovely and so is the teapot from your grandmother. Precious treasures and memories! I have a Haviland Limoges teacup too but not the saucer. I'll be keeping an eye out for one.
    Thank you so much for coming to my party and enjoy the rest of your week. I look forward to many more visits with you.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Sandi, for the invitation to join you at your tea party. I am so glad I was able to make it in time for the festivities! I will look forward to future "invitations" and perhaps will plan some of my own parties for the future. Since I work full time it is difficult to indulge my passions as fully as I'd like to...one day I hope to "retire" and then have time to enjoy the things I love! Maybe even get to take that trip to PEI someday!! Oh, on the Haviland teacup/saucer, my sister and I divided what my mother had inherited from her mother between us, so we each were able to keep two teacups and saucers, and 6 luncheon plates. Some day I hope to host a "live" tea party and use them for that occasion. I will be certain to send you an invitation when that happens...maybe you could come in person! Ever been to Florida? It's a wonderful place to visit in the winter!! Have a blessed day...and thank you again for providing a lovely respite from my work day.

      Delete
  2. Hi I agree with you about meeting Sandi, I may do it someday, we haven't been to PEI in years and getting close to going although not this year.
    I really liked your tea cup and I saw a pretty tea cozy sitting on a shelf -looked pretty. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Betty, Thank you for taking time out for tea with me! I look forward to having further tea parties with you in the future! Yes, there is a lovely tea cozy on that shelf...I will try to post a better picture in the future. There may be one already in my "archives" here to the right. I will be checking out your "place" next. Looking forward to getting acquainted!

      Have a blessed day!

      Delete
  3. I enjoyed this post, especially how you use teacups from family. Each tea party brings new memories, joined with those from the past.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, I am a "sentimental fool" when it comes to the wonderful gifts I have received from my dearly departed ancestors. It gives each memento much more meaning when I think about how my grandmothers enjoyed these little treasures...and now I am carrying on their legacy. Thank you for gracing my tea table today with your presence!

      Delete
    2. Note to Sandy: Is that YOU? My niece Sandy? Now I am happy you graced my tea table today...hopefully someday we can do this together...Love, Aunt Pam

      Delete
  4. Good morning Pamela, thanks for visiting my blog and the for the nice comments you left! I am now your newest follower. I love your tea cup, roses are one of my favorites. I love your blog and all the scripture you put on it. I am so richly blessed and wanted to share all the blessings that God has showered on me, that's one reason I started my blog. I hope you have a blessed day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Sylvia...you are another "Kindred Spirit" I can tell. Where in Georgia do you live? I've lived in Ga. before...Toccoa Falls, Gainesville area. Love the foothills of the mountains. Thank you for sharing your blessings with me today as well. Yes, that is why I started my blog as well...I love that God has opened this window of opportunity for us to connect in this way! Looking forward to getting to know you better!

      Delete
  5. Can I come to your tea party? I don't really have anyone to sit with and sip tea. When I visit a friend, she makes us a cup of herb tea. You have a lovely set of tea cups and tea pots.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Quietspirit...Yes, oh yes! Please come to my tea-party! Bring your favorite cup if you have one, or you may certainly choose one of mine! We can have herb tea or any regular tea you happen to like. The most important part is the fellowship of sisters in Christ, sharing the joy of being His children together. That makes every occasion something to celebrate! Thank you for joining me today. I look forward to more such tea parties in the future!

      Delete
  6. Your tea party looks like fun. How I wish I had a sister; instead I make our daughters and granddaughters have tea parties with me. Notice the word 'make'. :-)
    Welcome to the weekly gathering.
    Judith

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for stopping by my little impromptu tea party! Alas, I only have sons and one grandson...and my daughter in law lives all the way up in Maine (we are in Florida)
      so I am fortunate to have my sister close enough to have an occasional tea party with me. I'm certain that someday your daughters and granddaughters will appreciate the fact that you "made" them have tea parties with you! If I were nearby, you wouldn't have to "make" me!!
      I am looking forward to future events...not sure if I will be able to make it weekly as I work full time and can't always participate as fully as I'd like, but I will jump in again when I am able. Thank you for writing!
      Pam

      Delete

Thank you for visiting here today. I would love for you to sign my guestbook and let me know you stopped by. I always enjoy reading your comments and words of encouragement! May you be blessed as you go on your way. Please come back and visit again soon.