Faith Family Friends

Celebrating the Joy of Living & Home Making ~

Baking, Cooking, Decorating, Tea Time, and taking Inspiration from those I love and the world around me...

A sharing of my heart and my home from a Christian perspective

...with a wee bit of whimsy added.

Monday 9 July 2012

Anne of Green Gables Tea Party




"Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It's splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world." ~ LM Mongomery- "Anne of Green Gables"  

Welcome dear friends and kindred spirits to my Anne of Green Gables Tea Party! I am simply thrilled to have you come for tea today and I hope you will make yourselves at home. Anne and I have been expecting you.





The little Anne doll above was a gift from my father. She is dressed in her green calico print dress with a white collar and white apron. A simple straw hat sits upon her red braids. She is a sand doll made with Island sand in her arms and legs. Isn't she cute? 

Anne has always been one character in whom I have felt a kindred spirit. I'm sure it comes from being a lonely child growing up because my family moved around so much, thus making friends very difficult.

Anne and I both possessed wild imaginations as children. A great deal of time was spent daydreaming about silly romantic notions although it proved to be beneficial, as our way of expressing ourselves. She couldn't help but express herself verbally, whereas I liked to write my thoughts down on paper. 

"May your life always be like a pot of tea...overflowing to warm the soul." ~ Irish Proverb


This Anne doll was also a gift from my father. Indeed, she was the very last gift I would receive from him as he died a few months later. I will cherish these dolls always!




She has such a pensive expression on her face which is peppered with freckles across her nose. She has green eyes, something else Anne and I have in common. 



The story Anne of Green Gables, written by our beloved author Lucy Maud Montgomery, was first published in 1908 and has since been read and treasured by millions of readers all over the world. Anne is our most famous celebrity here on the Island and she draws folks from all over the world every year. 

Mark Twain once said of Lucy Maud Montgomery's writings, "The sweetest creation of childlife yet written." 

Unless otherwise stated, all the quotes throughout this post are taken from the story Anne of Green Gables written by our beloved Island author Lucy Maud Montgomery. All the photos are my own unless otherwise stated.

Now, to really appreciate the incredible imagination of Lucy Maud Montgomery, one must walk the grounds of Green Gables and tour the house and woods. This, I have done many times over the years.

 



After my family moved to Prince Edward Island, my father used to go golfing at Green Gables and he would always take my brother and me with him.



As a young girl, I was enchanted by the house and grounds. It was like walking back in time. 
My imagination soared as I walked the trails that Maud walked and I loved to breathe in the magic that fairly tinkled in the air. 
I was totally in love with Green Gables and I felt blessed to be able to visit there so often. 

This is a picture of Anne's room at Green Gables which I took last Summer on my last visit.


"It has always seemed to me, ever since childhood, amid all the commonplaces of life, I was very near to a kingdom of ideal beauty. Between it and me hung only a thin veil. I could never draw it quite inside, but sometimes a wind fluttered it and I caught a glimpse of the enchanting realms beyond - only a glimpse - but those glimpses have always made life worthwhile." ~ LMM



As sweethearts, and as husband and wife, my hubby and I have walked hand in hand many times through the Haunted Wood and Lovers Lane. It still takes my breath away and offers so much scope for imagination!



"Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive- it's such an interesting world. It wouldn't be half as interesting if we know all about everything, would it? There'd be no scope for imagination then, would there?" ~ Anne of Green Gables 

Now that you've had a bit of a tour of Green Gables, let's have some tea and refreshments, shall we....



I have cut some fresh roses for the tea table.




Pink roses grace the tea table because, "After all, the only real roses are pink ones. They are the flowers of love and faith." ~ Anne Shirley of Anne of Green Gables




"Isn't it lovely? Don't you think it must be glad to be a rose? Wouldn't it be nice if roses could talk? I'm sure they could tell us such lovely things. And isn't pink the most bewitching color in the world?" ~ Anne of Green Gables




I have pink lemonade ready in my pink depression glass pitcher. I acquired this pitcher just recently and I love it!



I hope you also enjoy the theme from Anne of Green Gables playing in the background which is a new feature added to my blog just for this party. If you're not hearing the music then go to the bottom of my blog and hit the play button.

"Some people go through life trying to find out what the world holds for them only to find out too late that it's what they bring to the world that really counts." ~ LMM

Roses adorn the teapot which joins the party. I got this teapot at the Anne of Green Gables Store here in Charlottetown. It stands at the ready holding Lady Grey tea....





"I can just imagine myself sitting down at the head of the table and pouring out the tea," said Anne, shutting her eyes ecstatically. "And asking Diana if she takes sugar! I know she doesn't but of course I'll ask her as if I didn't know. And then pressing her to take another piece of fruit cake and another helping of preserves." ~ Anne of Green Gables 

The Teacups....

I have been saving my new Royal Albert teacup just for Anne's party. It is called Buckingham and I only paid seven dollars for it at an antique shop. It is a rich forest green adorned with lovely pink roses and gold trim. The cup is footed and has a fancy handle. The inside of the cup is encircled with a golden garland. Isn't it pretty? I'm quite sure that Anne would love it!



Mmm... tea really does taste better in a china teacup!




Another vintage Royal Albert teacup, Old English Rose.



And a hand painted green teacup sprinkled with sweet pink rosebuds.



As well as lemonade and tea, I have chicken salad sandwiches....



Chicken salad with cranberries on whole wheat bread....

....and Sticky Date Pudding with Hot Toffee Sauce. I promise there was no mouse involved!




I make this pudding twice a year; at Christmastime and once in the summertime. I thought my Anne Tea would be a splendid time to serve it.


"Life is worth living as long as there's a laugh in it." ~ LMM




"I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens, but just those that bring simple little pleasures, like pearls slipping off a string." ~ LM Montgomery  

  
Today's Tea is a sort of Progressive Tea and I have had a lot of help with this party. I would like to thank these lovely ladies who so graciously offered to serve these tea treats today ~ 


Judith @ Lavender Cottage has scones and jam waiting for us at her blog so please make your way over there. Then come back and visit ~

Beth @ Beyond the Garden Gate who is serving wonderful cucumber sandwiches. 

Clara @ Rosewalk Cottage is serving one of Anne's special treats, strawberries and ice cream, so please be sure to visit her. 

Jina @ Pink Piccadilly Pastries is serving Raspberry Cordial and Plum Puffs which are of course from the Anne story. So be sure to stop by her blog for a visit.

Michele @ The Nest at Finch Rest is serving her lovely Zucchini Tea Bread so be sure to stop in and visit with her too.


It has made the party so much more fun to have you ladies pitch in and help! Thank you so much.


"This day's done and there's a new one coming tomorrow, with no mistakes in it yet, as you used to say yourself. Just come downstairs and have your supper. You'll see if a good cup of tea and those plum puffs I made today won't hearten you up."  ~ Marilla speaking to Anne.

"Plum puffs won't minister to a mind diseased," said Anne disconsolately. ~ LM Montgomery - Anne Shirley in "Anne of Avonlea."


Anne was always such a drama queen but she stole our hearts from the moment she landed at the train station on Prince Edward Island.

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Marilla and Anne courtesy of the Internet.

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Anne and her bosom friend Diana courtesy of the Internet.


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"Marilla, isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?" ~ LMM

Below Anne and Marilla courtesy of the Internet.

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Happiness is sharing tea with a friend.


"Anne-girl" and another kindred spirit, Diana's Aunt Josephine at tea courtesy of the Internet.

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"God's in His heaven, all's right with the world," whispered Anne softly. ~ LM Montgomery - "Anne of Green Gables"

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Thank you for coming to my tea party today. I hope you have enjoyed yourself, I know I have!

I thought it only fitting to end with The Lord's Prayer which was the first prayer Anne ever learned.

"Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
In earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." ~ Matthew 6:9-13


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I am happy to see all your tea things, whether you have shared them before or not. This tea party is all about sharing your joy of tea time and any thoughts you might have on the subject. And for the summer months, I would love to see your teacups and teapots indoors as well as out in the garden, at the beach, on a park bench, etc...
Also I would enjoy seeing your teacup and teapot crafts as well as recipes and any stories you might have to share about tea time. So, let's have fun this summer with our teas. Get out there and be as creative, fancy, or as laid back as you wish!


I am delighted you have stopped by for a visit today. Your presence always make my tea party that much more special! Do you have a favourite teacup/teapot or mug that you would like to share with us today? I would love to see it and I'm sure others would too!

If you wish, you may do coffee instead of tea or the following is acceptable too:
Hot Apple Cider
Hot Chocolate
Lemonade
Iced Tea or coffee
Punch in a lovely bowl.
No alcoholic beverages please. You know what happened to Diana!

The Tea Time Tuesday button on my sidebar is available for you to use in your post or place on your sidebar if you wish. A poem, tea quote, or scripture verse would be more than welcome! To be sure everyone has a visit, it would be nice if you visited the participant before and after your name.

Inlinkz is available below for you to sign up for my tea party.

As a courtesy, please link back to me so that your visitors may find their way here to visit with all my lovely participants.

I am joining the following parties as well~

Home Sweet Home~ http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/
Show and Tell~  http://romantichome.blogspot.com/
Heart and Home ~ http://angelwingsandapronstrings.blogspot.com/
A Return to Loveliness ~ http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/
Table Top Tuesday~ http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/
Tea Cup Tuesday ~ http://www.marthasfavorites.com/
Tea Cup Tuesday~ http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/
Tuesday Cuppa Tea~ http://antiquesandteacups.blogspot.com/
Tea in the Garden~ http://bernideensteatimeblog.blogspot.com/
Tea Cup Thursday~ http://missspensersblog.blogspot.com/

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi