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 25 May 2015

Pink and Pretty for Tea Time


...almost before Anne realised it, spring had come again to Green Gables and all the world was abloom once more. ~ L M Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables


Hello dear friends and welcome to my last Tea Time in May! Happy Memorial Day to all my American friends!

The month of May has brought many celebrations in our family and it has also brought green grass, trees leafing out, the spring peepers singing behind our home, and the tulips peeking up from their bed. Because Spring was so late in coming to the Island this year, May has been the month when we have watched the earth wake up and everything has become new. I do adore this time of year!

My tea today was inspired by these frilly pink carnations. Don't you just love their spicy scent?


I thought they would look pretty on the pink depression glass cake stand.


My Royal Albert New Country Roses teapot holds our tea. We are having Darjeeling tea today.




My two teacups are also made by Royal Albert ... 

The mere chink of cups and saucers tunes the mind to happy repose. ~ George Gissing

This Summer teacup is one of my favourites and although it isn't summer yet, it feels like a summer day. I can only use it for a short time so out it came. 



This quintessential English teacup depicts a charming thatch-roofed cottage scene complete with geese in the yard. I can picture the lambs frolicking in the meadow.

A whisper pink trim encircles the edge of the saucer as well as on the base of the cup and the top of the curvy handle.



And because the swan is closely related to the geese family, I have tucked in my little swan too.



This pretty teacup covered in little roses has no name that I can find but I love its brushed on gold trim and dainty design.  



Tea is a meal for all seasons; it's also suitable for all occasions. ~ Angela Hynes



I made a lovely dessert for our tea. Deb at Just Cats  had shared this recipe a few weeks ago and I decided to make it. It is wonderful and we really enjoyed it! Thanks Deb!



Layers of whipped topping, luscious lemon and cream cheese filling, all on a shortbread bottom. Dreamy!


I have used another piece of pink depression glass to serve my treat on. 



Care for a wee nosh?


We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures that we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open. ~ Jawaharlal Nehru




My little lambie is always looking for an adventure and she usually finds one.



Have a wonderful day everyone and look for the beauty and charm in your world.



I am joining the following parties as well~

A Return to Loveliness
 Tuesday Cuppa Tea
 Friends Sharing Tea
  Tea Cup Tuesday
 Share Your Cup Thursday
 Home Sweet Home



Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Monday 18 May 2015

Victoria Day Tea




I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life that are the real ones after all. ~ Laura Ingalls Wilder 

Happy Victoria Day to all my Canadian friends and welcome everyone to my Victoria Day Tea! 

We have been enjoying what we consider to be the first long weekend of the summer. Many of us have fired up our barbecues and many are visiting the gardening centers. 

We are celebrating Queen Victoria's birthday today and for those of you who may not be aware, Canada is part of the British Commonwealth and therefore we have a close relationship with the UK and the Royal family. This is one of the reasons why the royals visit our country so frequently. 

Queen Victoria, who was our reigning Queen Elizabeth's great-great-grandmother, was a much beloved queen and the third Monday of every May is set aside to honour her memory. It is also a day to pay homage to Queen Elizabeth whose birthday is actually on April 21. 


Queen Elizabeth - Courtesy of the Internet


For Your Interest~ Queen Elizabeth became the longest living British monarch in 2007 and, if she is still reigning on September 9 2015, she will surpass her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, as the longest reigning British monarch. 


Queen Victoria - courtesy of the Internet

Queen Victoria reigned from 1837-1901 and she was instrumental in bringing to her fellow countrymen and the world so many lovely fashions and mannerisms. The period is beloved for its attention to high morals, modesty and proper decorum, as inspired by the Queen and her husband, Prince Albert. I know many of you love Victoriana and the history of that era.


For my tea today I thought it fitting to share china which was made in England. Victoria's beloved husband, Prince Albert, also has an honourable mention as my beautiful Royal Albert china bears his name.

English bone china has always been admired for its beauty, its translucency and pearly white quality.



I am using a new champagne damask tablecloth called Spring Blossoms. It has a daffodil and tulip pattern, perfect for this time of year. Although I prefer anything with lace on it, I thought this one would be nice for a change.


Royal Albert Lavender Rose

Royal Albert Old Country Roses


Royal Albert Tea Rose



"May your life always be like a teapot...overflowing to warm the soul." ~ Irish Blessing


Royal Albert Old Country Roses

China basket holding the spoons


Love the creamer!


Made from scratch Blueberry Oatmeal muffins



Cake, strawberries, and cream



Cuppa tea, anyone?




"Serenity is a solitary cup of tea; pleasure is sharing it with another." ~ Victoria magazine




Happiness is sharing tea with a friend.

A simple cup of tea brings a little loveliness into one's day, don't you think? Especially when it is sipped from a pretty teacup. 

I am delighted you have stopped by for tea today!
This tea party is all about sharing your joy of tea time and I welcome anything tea related you would like to share. 

Do you have a favourite teacup or teapot, coffee cup or coffee pot? How about a chocolate pot? I would love to see it and I'm sure others would too! We enjoy seeing your collections as well; creamers, tea spoons, tablescapes, etc. A trip to a Tea Shop is always fun and if you have a tea time recipe you would like to share, we would love that 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 iced coffee, or Punch in a lovely bowl.

Have a beautiful day everyone and God bless you!

 I am joining the following parties as well~

 A Return to Loveliness
 Tuesday Cuppa Tea
 Friends Sharing Tea
Tea Cup Tuesday
 Share Your Cup Thursday
 Home Sweet Home


 Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Monday 11 May 2015

Floral Treasures for Tea Time


I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. ~ Maya Angelou

Welcome to Tea Time, ladies! Since my last party, Hubby and I have celebrated an anniversary, his birthday, and Mother's Day. 



I hope all you moms had a very special Mother's Day and you felt like a queen for the day!



The nursing home where my mother resides held a Mother's Day Tea on Saturday afternoon so Hubby, my niece, and I joined her for afternoon tea. They had a young man playing soft music on the piano and each table was graced with a vase of tulips. I forgot my camera so Hubby took a photo of the food with his phone.


Each plate held tuna, lobster, and egg salad sandwiches as well as chocolate balls, carrot cake with cream cheese squares, aero bars, brownies, and two kinds of tea breads. It was a huge crowd and every one of the residents enjoyed themselves. My mother, like many residents, feasted mainly on the sweets. 

There are always flowers for those who want to see them. ~ Henri Matisse

These are some of my celebration flowers and I thought they would compliment today's featured teacups. 



I don't know about you, but when I bring flowers into my home it's like I'm bringing in a little bit of paradise. 



I have two of these aqua vases and I had three bouquets of red and white roses and pink tulips. I took one in to my mother.


These lovely tulips were a gift from my son. 

I am using three teacups for my tea today. I was in the mood for pink and aqua or robin's egg blue which are two of my favourite colours and of course they are adorned with flowers.



The Aynsley has a profusion of golden vines inside the cup; a very elegant teacup.



Royal Albert's Veronica is looking pretty in aqua or robin's egg blue roses.



And Royal Albert's Old English Rose is lovely encircled with red and pink roses.



"The world becomes a lovely thing!
There's beauty as you'll see;
All because you briefly stopped
To brew a cup of tea." ~ Traditional verse

For our treats today I have tea biscuits with home made lemon curd. The lemon curd was made by a friend and it's delicious!



My hubby prefers pie to cake so he had butterscotch pie for his birthday. Would you like a slice?



Next weekend we here in Canada will celebrate our Victoria Day weekend. It is a long weekend and considered to be the beginning of Summer. 




I hope you will join me again next week for Tea Time. Have a lovely day everyone!




I am joining the following parties ~


 A Return to Loveliness
 Tuesday Cuppa Tea
 Friends Sharing Tea
 Tea Cup Tuesday
 Share Your Cup Thursday
 Home Sweet Home



Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Monday 4 May 2015

First Tea Time in May


What is so sweet and dear
As a prosperous morn in May,
The confident prime of the day,
And the dauntless youth of the year...? - William Watson

Welcome friends to my first Tea Time in May!

May is our family's month for celebrating anniversaries, birthdays, and of course, Mother's Day. This week, Hubby and I will celebrate our anniversary on the 6th and his birthday later in the week.

An anniversary is a time to celebrate the joy of today, the memories of yesterday, and the hopes of tomorrow. ~ Unknown


This picture of us was taken just a few months before we were married. It's very faded and crinkled but oh, the memories it holds!




I would like to thank a couple of ladies for featuring my Memories post. Kathy at A Delightsome Life and Sherry at The Charm of Home, I am honoured that you both enjoyed my story enough to feature it at your parties. It was written from my heart and if any of you, my friends, have not read it and you would like to, you can read it here.



"I feel as if I had opened a book and found roses of yesterday sweet and fragrant, between its leaves." ~ L.M. Montgomery- "Anne of the Island."




For a week with special occasions in it, I am featuring my favourite china.

You all know of course that Johnson Bros. Rose Chintz is my signature pattern and it is perfect for this time of year. It is fresh and girly, reminding one of days gone by; a nod to my childhood and my sweet Auntie P who gifted me with most of these dishes.



Who would not be delighted by a bouquet of old-fashioned roses accompanied by rose buds and little blue posies, all on a creamy white background? 



I am serving tea in my coffee pot today. I know you won't mind. It also holds more tea. Isn't it charming?



Vintage teacups and spoons.



A lovely cup of Lady Grey tea....



and a jam tart....



A wonderful start to a busy month of celebrations!

Tea time is me time, a time to savour and reflect. It's a time to share a cup with friends, a time of  comfort, camaraderie, and closeness. ~ Sandi 

If you have something tea or coffee related, I would love it if you shared it with us. Teacups/coffee cups, teapots/coffee pots, chocolate pots, creamers, tea spoons, tea time recipes, tablescapes, a visit to a Tea Shop; all are welcome here at Tea Time.

Thank you for joining me today and I wish you a fabulous day.

I am joining the following parties as well~

A Return to Loveliness
Tuesday Cuppa Tea
Friends Sharing Tea
Tea Cup Tuesday
Share Your Cup Thursday
Home Sweet Home



Sharing from my heart~ Sandi