Pink Chintz Teacup I Won!!!

OH, my, what a blessing this is for me!

I've been in a really foul mood such a funk with our long snowy winter.

And along came a sweetheart of a tea cup lover

 who announced I won her giveaway for

this GORGEOUS Gracie china teacup & saucer set!

Isn't it precious?!?

 It positively LOOKS like SPRING to me!

It has that vintage tablecloth vibe to it, too.

I absolutely adore this cup!

The angel who sent this to me is Carrie -

from Teatime Journeys blog.

If you haven't had the chance to visit her,

please do - you will be very glad you did!

She loves All Things Tea.

(So she's a lot like you and me!)

Inside my package was this beautiful tea card

 with a teabag tucked into it in the front

(which I haven't tried yet it just looks too good in the card!)

And another envelope of tea was inside -

 which I am ashamed to say I already drank and have no pics!

I heated up my kettle immediately and I used my pretty teacup

 literally ten minutes after I received it!

I really thought I'd remember the kind of tea it was

to tell you all about it

(bonks herself on forehead.)

It was great tea, though and a wonderful win.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, CARRIE!

You have managed to make spring flowers

seem not so very far off now.

And you've brought me such joy,

 and for that I am humbly and truly appreciative. 

I hope each of you has a special few moments

to oneself today....perhaps sitting and finding some

peace & quiet

tucked in a favorite corner sipping a nice hot cuppa....

Happy tea time and happy pink and happy day

to each and every one of you today!

HUGS!!!!

As always, thank you for your visit!

♥

~Michele

Linking:

Pink Saturday   *   Sundays At Home   *   Teatime Tuesday    


Tuesday Cuppa Tea  *   Friends Sharing Tea   *   Teacup Tuesday


Return to Loveliness

Longing for Spring...

I am dreaming of warm weather today....

It's very cold and snowy and, frankly,
 I have had enough of winter.

The magazines and so many blog posts
are showing such lovely spring inspirations -
so I got out my moss cloth and some faux silk flowers
to put this little planter together.

It's too soon to keep it out in my decor yet  (to me.)
After all, it IS snowing out there right now.....

But it wasn't too soon to get dreamy about spring time!

I am desperate for looking so forward to its arrival this year!

To put the green back out, freshen things up a bit visually.
And possibly even a little bit spiritually...

Knowing soon the Earth Shall Be Made New.....

Birds and birdhouses, butterflies, all sorts of new life....

It sure will be nice to have those warm winds return 
and get back outdoors again -
 savoring the fresh air, flowers and plants all around us!

Plant seeds, and pot plants in urns and make a veritable
home outside in my little covered patio Zen room...

Set out our vintage wicker furniture again...
oh, and my hydrangea, can't wait they bloom again!

They're a real favorite come warm weather!

Oh, spring and summer -
it's heavenly to take tea time outdoors
when the gorgeous short-lived Peonies bloom.....

Well, I really could go on and on dreaming like this
and not get any work done today.

Hope you enjoyed dreaming along with me today.

Won't be long now, I keep telling myself.

It's my new mantra.

Today I wish you peace and joy,
content with life and all its blessings.




As always, thank you for your visit!

♥

~Michele

Linking:

Friday "Everything Else" Party   *   Home Sweet Home

A Beautiful Bird, The Bluejay

 Wow has this week past gone quickly!

Suddenly it's Monday again!

My word, how time flies.

Speaking of flying.....I took a coffee break this morning

and found this beautiful Bluejay at the kitchen window feeder.

He allowed me just enough time to quickly grab my camera-

no tripod, no time, just a few snaps of a bit of color

to match the gorgeous blue skies we've had today.

This is one glorious winter's day,

and certainly one glorious bird!

He was very skiddish, as there was another larger male Bluejay

 who swooped down and kept scaring him away.

My goldfinches would take turns nearby at the thistle feeders 

when they bravely could,  but not during this feeding...

 it was all about this cute little Bluejay.

And as beautiful as Bluejays are, they are fierce

and territorial and very aggresive birds.

But today to me they're just real purdy-like.

Do you have Bluejays where you live?

We're filling the feeder two times a day here,

it's our most popular feeder.

As always, thank you for your visit today!

♥

~Michele

Linking:

Mosaic Monday   *   Blue Monday

Tea at the Historic Kelton House

I was lucky enough again this year to be among those

 who were able to buy a ticket to attend the very popular 

Annual Valentine's Tea at the Historic Kelton House.

My dear friend Sharyn and I went together.

Sharyn is the friend whom I have shared

 two amazing themed tea parties she hosted.

In case you missed them you can read  my posts about them:

A British Afternoon Christmas Tea here.

 and A Giverny-Monet Garden Tea here.

Here is pretty Shayn without her cute Victorian maid's outfit!

Here is the large buffet table before we hungry guests got to it.

Menu:

Asparagus & Lemon Ricotta Tarts

Savory Parmesan Short Breads

Cheesy Cauliflower Bites

Prosiutto Artichoke Canapes

Cranberry & Bacon Chicken Salad Tea Sandwiches

White Chocolate Champagne Scones

Red Velvet Cream Cheese Thumbprints

Martha Washington Chocolate Truffles

Chocolate Panna Cotta with Lavender Cream

Italian Love Heart-Shaped Love Cakes

Raspberry Cream and Chocolate Napoleans

Everything was so beautifully displayed!

                                       Prosiutto Artichoke Canapes

                                 Savory Parmesan Short Breads

                                 Asparagus & Lemon Ricotta Tarts

                                         Cheesy Cauliflower Bites

                 Cranberry & Bacon Chicken Salad Tea Sandwiches

                           Red Velvet Cream Cheese Thumbprints

Raspberry Cream and Chocolate Napoleans

                            Italian Love Heart-Shaped Love Cakes

                           Martha Washington Chocolate Truffles

                      Chocolate Panna Cotta with Lavender Cream

                           White Chocolate Champagne Scones

What a wonderful memory!

As always, thanks for your visit!

♥

~Michele

Linking:

Mosaic Monday   *    Tea Time Tuesday   *   Tuesday Cuppa Tea  


Friends Sharing Tea     *   Teacup Tuesday

♥ HAPPY HEARTS DAY! ♥

When you were young do you remember ever

 having trouble saying "Valentine's" as I did?

I distinctly remember calling it "Hearts Day"

 because it was so much easier to say and remember.

 Same with the word "Thanksgiving."

 Yes, back then it was "TURKEY Day!" 

But, now I can easily and happily wish you all a very

HAPPY ST. VALENTINE'S DAY!

I like to include the SAINT part in the expression,

 because to me it is very important.

It's like choosing to say

 "Merry Christmas" versus "Happy Holidays."

Seems as though, with time, the religious parts of things

 just seem to disappear - one sneaky day after another.

But anyway- back to SVD decor!

Little hearts here and there tucked around the nest

makes it just a little more romantic.

I found these neat 'ole skeleton keys (above)

at the etsy shop of Rosemary from the blog

of the same name: Villabarnes.

Her artistic talents are unmatched in blogdom.

It's always major eye candy happiness visiting her blog.

(Candy without the calories for-the-win!)

I am sharing some past and new pics of hearts

around my home, to celebrate the Day of Love with you.

You are not forgotten. And you ARE loved.

Look at this beautiful card

Judith from Lavender Cottage 

blog made for me!

She sent me some incredible gifties too -

and I shall be sharing them in the future....

some time after our snow melts  and spring is in the air. 

Hope you (and she) - are/is okay with postponing it!

Thank you so much, again, dear Judith!

 ♥ HUGS!

I keep my cloth hearts out year 'round that

I bought from Kathy at Creative Home Expressions blog

 from her etsy shop .

(Go there for all sorts of hand crafted goodies!)

She has the CUTEST little cloth bunnies in the shop

right now - just in time for Easter!

 Perfect gift items!

I found a big bag of these wooden hearts

 at the GW last year for super cheap!

I had intentions of decorating them 

but I kinda like them raw and untouched.

I think I will leave them like this -

looks better in my colorless universe.

I may string them up with twine and decorate my mantle

with them next year. Perhaps.

My button heart from my friend Dawn stays out all year, too.

You are always welcome, and always prayed for at our nest.

You are welcomed and loved

 even before you walk through our front door!

The only new thing I bought this year for SVD is this ♥ sign.

I hung it on the right side of the door on the

outside cedar siding wall.

You cannot tell but it is fairly large - at least a foot tall.

So it is a good thing we seldom go out for St. Valentine's Day -
just look at this incredible snow storm we got today!

Here is a 6 second quick video of the snow storm 

my husband took a few hours ago

while we were having a beautiful and complete white out!

Thought you all having blooms and open windows

would appreciate this!

If you missed my Winter's Eve dinner party
tablescape just go to the last post before this one.

I hope you all have a wonderful day.

And for those of you still in the middle of winter

 and getting lots of snow, 

please stay warm and safe and dry.

As always, thank you for your visit!

♥

~Michele

Linking:

Pink Saturday   *   Snickerdoodle Sunday