Year in Review!

What a fun year of blogging! It's been great getting to know so many wonderful and supportive people. 

Thank you so much for indulging me, and for giving up your precious time to visit as I share my life with you. It means so much to me, and brings me such joy.

Thought I would review some posts

to bring this year's blogging to an end.

 

 

JANUARY


I shared some fun about one of my best & very favorite frugal finds.

 

 

 

FEBRUARY

I shared some hearts from all around our nest.

 

 

 

MARCH

I shared with you some of my shamrock china.

 

 

 

 

APRIL

I shared a tutorial on making egg favors.




 

 

 

MAY

I shared a Mother's Day tablescape.





 

 

JUNE

I shared a pretty summer tea party.

 

 

 

JULY

I shared a simple RW&B teascape.

 

 

 

 

AUGUST

I shared some outdoor life captured in photos from our garden!
(Hummingbirds were very photogenic for us this summer!)




 

 

SEPTEMBER

I enjoyed having my busy sister over for outdoor dining.



 

 

 

OCTOBER

My sweet friend Mary D. hosted a birthday party tea in my honour!
 

 

I also shared a lot of fun Halloween things,
 such as our annual pumpkin carving party!






 

 

NOVEMBER

I shared my Thankful for Friends tea.

 

 

 

DECEMBER

I shared an amazing Progressive Christmas Tea
 hosted by three awesome tea friends.



 

~and~

 

I shared an easy Christmas tea and cookies party I myself hosted.

 

 

I hosted a few give-aways this year:
(Click on pics below to see the winners)

























I WON a couple of FABULOUS giveaways, too!


I won the most incredibly gorgeous lavender sachet & tag beautifully hand made by Dawn from A Feathered Nest. I am a lazy blogger and haven't blogged about it yet because I got it in late October and posted nothing but Fall and Christmas since then! I have been "saving" it for the time I decide to post a house room tour (about the room it is kept in.) I guess that's something to look for in 2013!  ~Sorry, Dawn!

 
I couldn't find the link to her original giveaway post, but here is one of her posts showing the amazing sachets she makes.

The Feathered Nest

I HIGHLY recommend her etsy shop
when you are looking for the perfect gifts!

Her shop is called Sew Many Roses.
 

************************************



From our wonderful tea lady Angela I won both her autographed book....which is highly recommended as a gift for every historic tea room lover you know and a tea themed journal book.

Hop on over to her blog and check out
 the book she's written to see what I mean!

 You can find Angela at her blog called
Tea With Friends.








Angela also sent me  this wonderful tea journal!







*********************************


And from Melanie, all the way from Australia I won
 all sorts of treasures - soaps, powders, handmade tags, etc.

You can visit Melanie's post about it here.








I received an amazing "Pay it Forward"
beautifully handmade gift from Cindy!

You can visit her post about it here.








I too paid it forward, making a teacup
 floral arrangement for a sweet lady from the blog
At Nann's Table.

You will want to visit her blog and check out her amazing tablescapes and fantastic recipes. She may not blog much but when she does it is usually quite special to read!

Here is where Nancy posted about receiving her PIF giftie from me.

Nancy has rights to this pic.

And last, but certainly not least,
you all met my sweet kitty, Romeo!

In fact, my second blog post was about introducing him!

I realize now that I have reviewed my posts how many of them are about tea themes!

(at least those that I seem to have chosen to feature in my year's end review post!)

My blog isn't totally about tea parties, truly it isn't!

 I haven't even done a house tour, or hardly any before and after renovations!
I vow to do this and more in 2013! I have lots to share with you!

 

Thank you for stopping by
 ALL YEAR LONG!

 

I will be hosting another giveaway in early January to

celebrate my first year! Look soon for details!

 

Till then, see you all next year!

 

Happy New Year hugs!

 

♥

 

~Michele

 

 

Linking:

 

Masterpiece Monday * Make it Pretty Monday * Tweak it Tuesday 

New Year's Eve Tablescape

 

It's never easy making the transition from Christmas

 to New Year's Eve within just a few days for me.

 

 It's really difficult to let Christmas go....

such preparations......so much work...........

and when it is all over is a bittersweet, isn't it?

 

 It is a special time to find peace and in reflection

enjoy our beautiful surroundings

 without that never-ending "To Do" list running through our heads.

 

Then it hits us! Yikes!

 

New Year's Eve Dinner is in a few days!!!!

 

 

 

I decided to keep things unfussy and simple. 

 

 

I am using my red starry plates and gold flatware again but brought out crisp clean and bright white Damask and my clock plates. The clock face plates have blue and gold stars which work with the red and gold starred dinner plates.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My clock salad plates also have Christmas scenes on them,

 so they are a great bridge between one holiday ending

 and another new year beginning.

 

 

 

This beautiful bouquet of flowers was a Christmas Eve gift

from  my youngest daughter's new boy friend.

 

(They were my inspiration to use red with this tablescape.)

 

The backdrop of this pristine perfect snow

makes any colour look lovely!

 

 

 

 

Clock face salad plates: Dickens by Department 56

14K Gold Red Star plates: Galaxy by Sakura

Large solid white dinner plates: Crate and Barrel

Crystal stemware - ?

Best Wishes for a Happy, Safe, Healthy,

 Prosperous, Joyous & Wonderful

NEW YEAR 2013!

 

♥

~Michele

 

Linking:

 

Tablescape Thursday * Inspiration Friday * Let's Dish

Show and Tell Friday * Pink Saturday (Snow Party)

A Few Christmas Whites

 

What a wonderful Christmas this year!

Every single thing about it was just oh-so-perfect!

 

I truly hope and pray yours was, too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The entire month of December went flying past me.

 

I had really hoped to share a home tour and lots of

pretty pics of the white Christmas world surrounding me...

such as all my shell ornaments, angels and stars

 on our gold and white tree!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...but alas, it is now the day after Christmas

so I may just have to

share it all next year, God willing.

 

 

I am extra fond of angels playing flutes, since

I have been playing the flute since the 3rd grade.

 

Though, just to share, it makes me crazy

 when I see them played backwards like this one below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have been collecting shell ornaments

 for many years.

 

This pretty one below we purchased on

Grand Cayman Island on our honeymoon!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have all sorts of gilded and jeweled silk poinsiettas

and pearl ropes embellishing our tree.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of course we have all sorts of pretty birdies whenever possible!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But truly the BEST white I have to share

is what we woke up to today!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is out backyard - wasn't it a gorgeous snowfall?

 

(And there's another big blizzard coming we're warned!)

 

I simple opened the back door as soon as it stopped falling

and stood inside to take these two photos

 

I "spliced" them together to try and give you a panoramic view.

(Sorry about the screen in window showing but I like the cold from seeing in warmth, lol)

 

Now I'm going to put the kettle on and enjoy teatime....

...and consider putting away the Christmas china.

 

Thank you for your visit!

 

♥

 

~Michele

 

 

 

Linking:

 

WOW Us Wednesday

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

T'was Night Before Christmas....

 

 

T'was the night before Christmas

and all through the house

Not a creature was stirring....

not even a mouse!

Original artwork by Mary Engelbreit & Co.

 

 

 

 

Did you know about who wrote this traditional Christmas poem?

Credit for info and poem: internet Google search 

 

Clement Clarke Moore (1779 - 1863) wrote the poem Twas the night before Christmas also called “A Visit from St. Nicholas" in 1822. It is now the tradition in many American families to read the poem every Christmas Eve. The poem 'Twas the night before Christmas' has redefined our image of Christmas and Santa Claus. Prior to the creation of the story of 'Twas the night before Christmas' St. Nicholas, the patron saint of children, had never been associated with a sleigh or reindeers!

 

(And here's an example of two I used this December in various posts!)

 

 

A sleigh:

 

 

 

 

 

 

A reindeer:

 

 

 

 

 

Clement Moore, the author of the poem Twas the night before Christmas, was a reticent man and it is believed that a family friend, Miss H. Butler, sent a copy of the poem to the New York Sentinel who published the poem. The condition of publication was that the author of Twas the night before Christmas was to remain anonymous.

The first publication date was 23rd December 1823 and it was an immediate success. It was not until 1844 that Clement Clarke Moore claimed ownership when the work was included in a book of his poetry.

 

 

Good Ole St. Nick!

 

T'was the Night before Christmas Poem

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

 

Have a wonderful evening, dear friends.

 

May the birth of the Christ Child and Santa fill your hearts with glee.

 

♥

 

Linking:

 

Teacup Tuesday

Peace to You this Christmas

 

We are finally at the 4th Sunday of Advent.

 

 

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given.

And the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called....

 

Wonderful Counselor  *Mighty God *   Everlasting Father

 

 Prince  of  Peace.

 

 

                                                                                                  Isaiah 9:6

 

 

 

 

 

I wish for you peace always, in your hearts and minds,

and those of your families

as we enter into this holy time of the birth of our Savior,

Jesus.

 

 

 

 

Intimate Christmas Tea

Christmas gifts all purchased, wrapped and placed under the tree.

 

Cookies baked, cards mailed...............time to unwind!

 

A few invitations were sent for three friends

 to join me for an intimate little tea party today.

 

Coffee, tea, cookies - that's all that was needed...........

to have a few wonderful hours with friends, old and new.......

and to wish them a joyous and Very Merry Christmas.

 

When there's just cookies being served

 there is no need for flatwear -

 just used little gold demitasse spoons for their sugar and/or milk.

 

Using some plain easy whites
 allowed the colourful themed items to work well together
 without seeming too busy or overdone.

 

The goblets, teacups/saucers, platemats

and napkin rings had the Christmas theme.

Rum Balls

Gingerbread Trees

Snickerdoodles

Cut-out Sugar Cookies with Almond Icing

Mayo Cookies

Chocolate Pretzel Rods

(Hershey Kisses for added colour)

 

Tea: Cranberry Orange - Harney & Sons

 

 

 

 

I took a few red green and white
 Christmas Tea-Related Ornaments
 off the colourful upstairs tree and
lined them down the center of the table as a centerpiece.

Hope you're not TOO sick of seeing Christmas stuff yet!

The little china teacups below were the favors I gave each of them.

This below is a favor I gave to my guests
 at a Christma tea I hosted  a few years ago.


I always try to save one for myself-
 to remind me of our fun together!

Thank you for visiting!

Hope you find a moment soon to unwind, too!

♥

~Michele

Linking:

 

Tablescape Thursday

 

Share Your Cup Thursday

Home and Garden Thursday

Show and Tell Friday

Foodie Friday

Seasonal Sundays