Wednesday Treasures~ Teapots Galore!

I have recently decided to feature some of my "treasures" each week...things that have been collected through the years...some were inherited, many were gifts, all are special in one way or another...so this would definitely be a great time to pour yourself a cup of tea and enjoy this little tea party!

I kind of decided to share the teapot collection today at the last minute...so these photos are pretty much just as you'll find them in my home...I didn't take the time to dust or make special arrangements beyond how they normally are displayed...so if you happen to notice a speck or two of dust, please just consider that you are a guest in my home, and no white gloves are allowed! LOL!

We will begin our tour in my little "den" room, which is actually where my computer is looking out to the pond, but behind me are the china closet, Hoosier cupboard and hutch that my son made for me a few years ago.

First, in the antique china closet we will discover this lovely Bavarian Tea Set is actually what they call a "Demitasse" set, "A demitasse (/ˈdɛmɪtæs/; French: "half cup") or demi-tasse is a small cup used to serve Turkish coffee or espresso. It may also refer to the contents served in such a cup (though that usage had disappeared in France by the early 20th Century). "   After reading that description, I guess this was really intended for  coffee, not tea, but either way, it is special. This belonged to my husband's grandmother, "Nanny Martin", and was brought to her from Germany by a special friend many years ago. (The china closet also belonged to Nanny Martin).

This next tea set also belonged to Nanny Martin. It was brought to her by her son in law from his travels in the Navy. He was a Rear Admiral.  There is a complete china dinner set for eight.  We have often used it for Christmas because the colors are red and green, but the design is actually of Japanese Cherries.

"Each cup of tea represents an imaginary voyage."  

Catherine Douzel

Sitting next to my desk is a lovely little bookshelf, filled with delightful books about tea times and special gifts of friendship.   This particular teapot below was a gift from my sister Doris. I love the little bird on top of the lid, eating his berries. The little sign behind it says: "Sisters are Forever"...again, a gift from my sister. One of the girls has red hair (me), and the other is a brunette (Doris). 

On the next shelf is another special teapot, a gift from my dear friend Sharon, who sadly passed away following a hard fought battle with cancer just about exactly a year ago.  She gave me this teapot when she was first diagnosed with cancer, so that I would remember to pray for her every time I looked at it. And I did. I keep a special note inside the teapot, written by Sharon before she died. She will never be forgotten.

"If instead of a gem, or even a flower, we should cast the gift

of a loving thought into the heart of a friend,

that would be giving as the angels give."

George MacDonald

These teapots are on the hutch my son built for me a few years ago. The white teapot above I bought at a yard sale last year to help raise funds to restore an historic schoolhouse here in our community. I love the design and shape of the teapot. But alas, when I tried to use it, I discovered a very small crack and it leaked, so I can't use it, but it is too pretty to just throw away!  The lovely rose-covered cream pitcher next to it came from my parents' home. My mother loved pretty things like this too, and although I don't know its history, I love it because it belonged to my mother.

"The spirit of the tea beverage is one of 

peace, comfort, and refinement."

Arthur Gray

On the top shelf is  an old ironstone coffee pot (or tea pot) that also came from my parent's home.  (The family pictures are of grandparents...they are pretty special too!)

And another pretty burgundy colored little teapot* that I found at a flea market...

The tea set below I bought at a yard sale at the church where I worked for several years.  I kept it in my office while working there, to give me something relaxing to look at when I was stressed...and then I often just made myself a cup of tea and sat a while in peace and quiet.

"There is no trouble so great or grave that cannot be much diminished by a nice cup of tea."

Bernard-Paul Heroux

In my Hoosier Cupboard, (which belonged to Nanny Martin), I don't really have teapots, but there a few cream pitchers and one lovely red milk or juice pitcher, *which was a gift from my parents.

The Hoosier Cupboard itself is a storehouse of treasures, but I'll save that for another day.

Another favorite teapot and matching cup and saucer...A friend gave me the teapot, 

and I bought the cup and saucer to match...

"Friends are kisses

blown to us by angels."

Author unknown.

The lovely blue items below are each special in their own way...

This is a "Hall" brand pitcher...I remember my mother having one similar to this when we were growing up, and I loved it so much, that when I saw it at a flea market I couldn't resist it. I remember she always put milk in it. 

And it matches these serving bowls that actually did come from my mother:

And this is also a "Hall" teapot, which belonged to my paternal grandmother.  She and I both loved tea, and so I was thrilled to receive this from her estate.

Oh, Hello! Pinky flamingo isn't a teapot, but he hold cookies to have with tea! LOL.  The little flowered teapot to the right was a gift from my sister...and the sweet card was a gift in the mail from a dear friend.

Here is another "Hall" teapot, "Aladdin's Lamp"...and this also belonged to "Nanny Martin". 

The cobalt blue teapot below is another "Hall" teapot.  Here is a history of Hall teapots that I found on the internet: 

"History of Hall Pottery (Click link for more details)

Hall China Company first began production in 1903 in East Liverpool, Ohio making utilitarian wares like jugs, bedpans, and mugs. Thanks to a single fire process developed by Robert Taggert Hall between 1903 and 1911, Hall China is durable, non-porous, and unlike other types of china, it doesn't craze.

Founders: Robert Taggart Hall

Parent: Homer Laughlin China Company

Date founded: August 14, 1903"

*The Red "milk or juice pitcher" in the Hoosier Cabinet was also made by Hall, and the burgundy teapot on the hutch was created for McCormick Tea company by Hall.

My Christmas teapot is tucked away in the cabinet, awaiting her seasonal debut...(another gift from a dear friend)

And here is my current daily teapot, which I use each day to make a pot of hot tea in the morning for my first cup of tea, and then the rest is used to make iced tea.  It is also a Christmas teapot, but I like it so much that I just use it year round.

I do have some interesting teabag collectible tins: This one below belonged to my husband's cousin Janice, who passed away two years ago. So I keep this to remind me of Janice, a very sweet and thoughtful person who died way too young.

And this tea tin I've had for many years, and keep my daily tea bags inside.

"There is always a great deal of poetry 

and fine sentiment in a chest of tea."

Ralph Waldo Emerson 

And here is another favorite:

Wouldn't you love to have been sitting at that table with those ladies and listening in on their conversation?

"There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour 

dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea."

Henry James

I've turned my Tea Time calendar over to August...

I love that little oriental looking teapot above, don't you? I'm  not sure where it came from...hmmm, maybe a gift from a special friend...Yes, I believe I remember now!  And actually, it says on the bottom it was from Austria, so not oriental at all!

Now we move to the curio cabinet, and here is a sweet little pansy teapot that was a gift. It is small and dainty, and perfect for a small garden tea party.

"Meanwhile, let us have a sip of tea.  

The afternoon glow is brightening the bamboos,

the fountains are bubbling with delight, 

the soughing of the pines is heard in our kettle.

Let us dream of evanescence,

and linger in the beautiful foolishness of things."

Okakura Kakuzo

Finally, I come to the buffet, and there sits this lovely chrome tea service (or could be used for coffee). 

It looks like silver, but it is chrome.  It was a gift to "Nanny Martin" from a dear friend, who was a nurse at the old  "Pirie Estate", where they lived and raised their family of girls, (my mother in law was one of 4 daughters).  But that is another story for another time.

The sweet blue card and crocheted doily coaster on the left was a recent surprise gift from a dear friend, who is "one of us" bloggers...a very dear person who shall remain unnamed, but she knows who she is, and I love this sweet gift. Thank you~

 

"There is magic in long-distance friendships.

They let you relate to other human beings

in a way that goes beyond being physically together

and is often more profound."

Diana Cortes

And that is how I feel about all of you out there in blogland. We have profound friendships here that are somewhat magical and uniquely wonderful.

I hope you have enjoyed this little tour of my treasured teapots. Now you have a better idea of why it is so difficult for me to "downsize". Everything you see is so special to me because they bring back memories of dear friends and loved ones who have often gone beyond the call of duty to be special friends to me in one way or another, and I treasure them all.

"A true friend reaches for your hand 

and  touches your heart."

Author Unknown

All quotes used in this post were taken from the book 

"The Art of Tea and Friendship"

"Savoring the Fragrance of Time Together"

by Sandy Lynam Clough

Have a blessed and beautiful day dear friends...You are my best treasures of all.

Someone Said Today Was National Pack Rat Day?

I noticed on a couple of my blogging friends posts that today was National Pack Rat Day, or something like that...and I thought...there's a day to "celebrate" that? Or is it one of those "awareness" days...to be on the lookout for those "hoarding tendencies" that tend to creep up on us when we think we are just "collectors"...

I'll admit to having a latent gene inherited from my ancestors in there somewhere that causes me to want to collect and keep certain things...well, maybe not so latent...it rises to the surface quite often...but I manage to keep it under control by not having any money to spend on such frivolities...however, when things are free...or inherited...or gifts...or really a great bargain...well...watch out! Before you know it, things can begin to pile up...

• in the corners, in the closets, in the drawers, under the beds, in the garages, attics, sheds...wherever there is an empty spot that just needs to be filled...
• and then you realize that you just can't put one more thing in that room or closet or on that shelf...
• but you see this "thing", and you love it and just have to have it...
• it reminds you of Mama, or Grandma, or Daddy, or Aunt so and so, or a friend, or a place, or a memory of your childhood that you want to hold on to...

and then the collections become an obsession...and we find that we are powerless to

• let go
• walk away
• say NO
• throw it away
• give it away

and we begin to dream about just moving out and leaving it all behind for someone else to deal with.  But then we think...Oh, but I don't want to leave my pictures, my books, my dishes, my tea cups, my tea pots, my dolls, my tools, my antique furniture....my "Collections"

Yes, I admit it...I totally understand this problem...I HAVE this problem.  They say admitting it is the first part of winning the battle, right?  So, okay, ... but I don't think I hoard things in the true sense of the word Hoarding (click here for that definition).  

I don't keep things because I think I'll need them someday...no, I keep things because I like them...they are special in some way...they have sentimental value to me for whatever reason...they have historical value, and I enjoy them. Or they are gifts that I've been given, and it wouldn't be nice to not keep them.   And for the most part, my "collections" are neat and orderly (sort of) and not totally overflowing the whole house...well...not yet...

Hubby and I have been talking about wanting to "downsize" to a more practical, manageable home in the future, when our sons are truly finally moved out on their own and we don't want to have so much house and property to maintain on our own as we get older.  When we start thinking about this and really talking about it, I do admit that I have some issues about what to keep and what to let go. So much of our furnishings, etc., are actually inherited from our families...and they do have sentimental value to us.  BUT...the day is coming when I know I will have to let go of some things and move on.

As a matter of fact...that day could come in a moment...in a twinkling of an eye (See I Corinthians 15:52) ...and the Lord will come and catch us up into the air and take us home to heaven. (See I Thessalonians 4:17)...either via the Lord's return, or via the end of this life as we know it and the beginning of the new life in heaven that I so look forward to.   And then what will happen to all of these things??? (See Luke 12:16-21)  

Well...

Matthew 6:19-21 tells me what I need to do:

19.  "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth,

where moth and rust destroy 

and where thieves break in and steal;

20.  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,

where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

21.  For where your treasure is,

there your heart will be also."

So, does this mean that it is wrong to collect things that I enjoy, or that have been passed down from our ancestors?  

The key verse here is "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

 I need to honestly look at myself and ask this question..."Where is my treasure? and Where is my HEART?"

Verse 24 of this chapter says:

"No one can serve two masters;

for either he will hate the one and love the other, 

or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.

You cannot serve God and mammon."

Do I put these "treasures" ahead of my relationship with God?  Do I love God enough to be able to give up these "treasures" in order to serve Him?  Do I allow these treasures to come between myself and my relationship with others?  

God has not yet asked me to "give up" anything that is in my house, but I believe I am understanding that if He were to call us onward to a different place...a new kind of ministry, or even to something that would be better for our household/life situation...I may have to relinquish my hold on these things...

If the Lord were to call me home to heaven today...I know I can't take anything with me...EXCEPT for the TREASURES that I have built up in heaven!  And what, pray tell, are those???

Lord, I hope that I have built up some treasures in heaven...I hope I haven't been so busily collecting these things here on earth that are just going to eventually collect dust, (daily), rust, break, be thrown into someone's trash heap and be forgotten...that I've neglected to store up the more valuable treasures in Your safe treasure store....things like:

• Souls that have been drawn to and led to Christ because of my testimony or life of faith
• Treasures of kindnesses that have been done for others 
• Gifts that You've given me to use for Your honor and glory here on earth that have blessed the hearts of Your children here
• Prayers that I've prayed for others
• Songs that I've sung to You in praise and adoration
• Love that I've hopefully given to others 

These material things that I've been given or have somehow obtained...they do have their place...and some have even been used in service to the Lord in some way...but they are still just things...

and I do not ever want to be guilty of putting any thing ahead of my relationship with Christ or any person.  That would actually be a form of idolatry...and we know that we are not to worship any thing in place of God....we are not to let any article, dream, or idea take the place of our relationship with Christ and His kingdom.

So, on this "National Pack Rat" day, I confess that I may be a bit of a pack rat...and I also confess that I struggle with letting go of these "things"...but when it comes right down to what is really important in this life and the life to come...I want my heart to be secured in heaven...and I want my REAL treasures to be stored there, where nothing can destroy them.  

Thank You, Lord, for this little wake up call to show me where my heart truly is.  Help me, Lord, to always invest my life in YOU, in heavenly treasures, so that I won't be sad to see some day that my heavenly cupboard is bare.  Amen.

Ben's Country Woodshop has some new ideas!

We haven't posted much lately from Ben's Country Woodshop, because our chief woodcrafter was busy helping to care for his elderly grandfather, who recently passed away.  Now Ben is getting ready to tune up his saws and drills and get back to work...so we have posted a few new items and some neat ideas on the page for Ben's Country Woodshop.  Check it out and give us some ideas of your own. We are looking for some unique ways to repurpose and rejuvenate some old furniture and items and bring them back to life. We'll be posting some of those ideas in the upcoming weeks and months, so stay tuned!! Thanks!!

You may just see a pile of old chairs and stacks of wood,
but I guarantee you there is great potential waiting to be
re-discovered there.  This may be the new chapter in the life of
Ben's Country Woodshop...so keep watching for updates!

I love this bucket of antique china doorknobs...they are from old
"Closed Doors" waiting to be re-opened!  Can't wait to see what they will become in their new life!

Be sure to click on the pictures to enlarge for details.

See you over on "Ben's Country Woodshop" page....

"Collective Reasoning..."



Pretty Colonial Doll from my husband.  Tea Time from
my sister.

 Psalm 119:36-37: "Incline my heart to Your testimonies, and not to covetousness. Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your way."






A Few of My "Favorite Things"

(Click on pictures to enlarge...then hit the back arrow to return to blog)

Japanese Cherry China from husband's Grandmother Martin

My "Margie Doll", given to me by my Aunt Margie for my
7th birthday, and "Valerie", given to me by my Dad for
Christmas several years ago.

I have inherited a fondness for going "shopping" at interesting looking antique shops and other stores full of old "treasures"...you know, stuff like old books, dishes, furniture, kitchen utensils from bygone days, etc., etc., etc.! I come from a family of "collectors", collecting anything from old trains, dolls, postcards, toys, and certain kinds of glassware to just plain "junque" (classy junk) that someone else may be collecting and willing to pay a price for. So I come by this tendency honestly. My personal preference is old fashioned books, preferably novels and historical fiction from the late 1800's and early 1900's. Anything later than that is subject to keen evaluation for suitability for my "old-fashioned" values. I also love dolls, teapots and tea-cups, both antique and new if interesting and unique enough.



"A Child's Tea Party"...special dolls from special friends
The love of dolls and  pretty things from my mother.



When we lived in New England the opportunities for searching through such treasure-troves were endless. Almost every small village and town had several antique shops and other such collectible markets to lure the tourists as well as the newly arrived local people. I've also noticed that central Florida, where I currently live, has it's fair share of such places as well. The problem is certainly not in having a place to investigate, but finding the time to spend on such a pleasure trip, and then having the spending money available with which to purchase something when I've found it! I have set for myself strict limitations on the price I will spend on any of my favorite passions, and with our limited budget it is not often that I can indulge. Sometimes the opportunity to spend an afternoon leisurely shopping with a friend or "sister" comes along but usually the funds are not available at the same time. Perhaps that is a blessing in disguise.

It seems as though lately either I am maturing in my pursuit of "worthless things", or my taste is just changing. Maybe the Lord is helping me to realize the true value of spending my time and energy on developing a closer relationship with Him and with His people rather than on living in my collections of the past. Not that there is anything really wrong with having such a hobby or collecting things one enjoys...unless those things begin to interfere with one's relationships...either time-wise or monetarily. I have been shopping with some people who were true collectors...and have even felt a bit covetous of the amount of money they were able to spend on something they just had to have to complete their collection. To them the "having" was worth almost any price! Little by little the Lord has opened my eyes to the worthlessness of such a pursuit. It seems as though the more one has, the more one wants! There is no end to the "collection"! And yet, what are all these things with which we fill our houses and barns when we are facing eternity? On the day we leave this world, whose will they be? Something for the remaining relatives to squabble over or set upon the auctioneer's block for sale!

Teapot with a bird on top, from my sister Doris.
Calumet Baking Powder vintage cookbook
Teacup and cookies...you must see this one!

Please don't misunderstand me. I still enjoy the reminders from the past that have been passed down from generation to generation and will pass them on to my children when the time comes. But more importantly, I want to pass down to my children a testimony of faithfulness to the Lord, a memory of a mother who truly loved the Lord and His people, and didn't just spend all of her time and money on "worthless things" that have to be dusted and protected from sticky little fingers.

Lord, thank you for this lesson today. It appears as though the older we get, the more attached we become to the things of the past. We're afraid to let go of them for fear we'll lose a part of our identity. Help me to be always identified with You, my Lord and Savior. Revive me in Your way, and help me to leave behind a heritage of faithfulness and a testimony of a mature relationship with You and Your people. And forgive me when I am tempted to covet what another has. I know that I have all I need in You. Amen.




The Hoosier Cupboard
from husband's grandmother Nanny Martin ~ Teapots and Teacups from
Friends and Loved Ones



"Baby Elva Cynthia", a precious gift from a precious friend.



By the way, everything pictured above were either gifts to me or items I have received through inheritance from family members.  As I scanned the pictures I realized that I had not purchased any of those items...and each item is very special because of the fact that they were gifts from dear friends and loved ones and all have significant sentimental value attached.  Nevertheless, when the day comes that God calls me home, I cannot take these precious gifts with me...but I will inherit eternal life...and as an extra bonus I will once again enjoy the company of those who have left these things behind for me to enjoy in the meantime! That's one of those "lasting treasures" that moth and dust cannot destroy!!! Hallelujah!! (See Matthew 6:19)

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

(Matthew 6:19-21)