Tea at Easter Time

Today I am taking a little tea time respite

 from the busy days of preparing for company

this weekend for our Easter Sunday feast.

We're having 15 people dine together this year.

(But two of them will only be in high chairs.)

I've had this sweet little painted & glazed Easter tea set

for years - and my lacy Spode ivory teacups match up well.

I love the little butterflies and rosette embellishments

on this set - just screams "Spring" to me!

I also love that everything on the set is all egg shaped-

the tray, the teapot and the sugar and creamer.

So, naturally the painted wooden yellow egg

 had to join in the fun, too!

And since I don't put milk in my tea he

thought the creamer was an eggscellent place to perch!

And frankly, I simply don't argue with eggs.

I'm enjoying some Earl Grey and freshly made lemon bread.

I *HIGHLY* recommend hopping on over to visit

our fellow tea blogger friend Angela

 from Tea With Friends for her lemon bread recipe!

It is without a doubt the best I have ever made.

Next time I make it I won't be deep in the basement working

without taking my baking timer WITH me, though.

Just saying.

If you all aren't reading Angela's Saturday posts 

tea-themed short stories

 every single week you are really missing out!

 Trust me!

THANKS SO MUCH FOR SHARING THE RECIPE, ANGELA!

You can find her post with recipe here.

She is such good "peeps."

The very first clear little teapot I ever owned 

I literally cracked five minutes after unwrapping it.

I was rinsing it out because I really wanted to

see one of my flower bud-opening teas I had recently been given.

I didn't quite break it through and through though-

so I kept it and use it for silk flower arrangements, 

and various seasonal items.

THIS year I used to house my wee Cadbury chocolate eggs!

Next to a Resee Cup Egg, they're the best Easter candy EVER!

These little clear teapots make excellent candy dishes!

Ok if you haven't  yet seen my living room's natural

spring and Easter decorating, that post was just before this.

I hope to share the rest of the house's Easter decor soon

so watch for it, and be as surprised as I will be

if I can work it in this crazy busy life! Ha!

As always, thank you so much for your visit!

♥

~Michele

Linking:

Tea Time Tuesday   *  Teacup Tuesday   *  Friends Sharing Tea     

Share Your Cup   *   Foodie Friday (aee)   *   Show and Tell

Natural Elements Easter - Spring Decor

I have never been one to decor with much whimsy or color.

All my life I have enjoyed using natural elements in my decor;

be in wood, metal, stone, wicker, paper, leather, etc.

(I know this was totally inherited this from my mother.)

And, as like most of you - I, too, like to mix new

 with vintage- they all mix so wonderfully together.

Pottery lamp....old pane....heavy iron decorative 

ceiling tray-turned-wall-art...old French bottles,

 antique wooden wardrobe, vintage wicker jug, burlap runner....

family heirloom cedar chest, painted wood & glass end table....

My basic anchor pieces stay put,

 but the seasonal items are always changing!

Leaves, twigs, feathers,......a frame with vintage nest print....

Rusty metal basket , moss, zinc tray
pussy-willow branches wrapped in twine....

Linen, grape vines, satin and silk....

Hand-turned vintage wooden compote

 holding a real storm-fallen bird's nest....

And to keep it safe from Kitty Romeo

and protect it from dust

I top it with a tall heavy glass cloche....

with my glass beaded crocheted doily

 on a tall painted wooden plant stand table.

I believe these doilies are actually made

to place over top bowls of food to keep the flies out.

Do any of you know for certain?

I just love the way the beads dangle here.

And flies don't stand a chance in our house, haha.

Plus it snowed the other day so

 we're basically fly-less anyway right now!

In a quiet reading corner next to the fireplace 

you will find an antique round table

with a stack of old books on a metal tray, metal lamp.....

stone bunny and raffia carrots.....burlap lamp shade...

Here's a little closer look....

"Behold the Lamb of God,

 Who takes away the sins of the world."

                                                ~John 1:29

Twigs, felted wool, rusty metal bells, wooden legs......

a little reminder of the Reason for the Season,

cute little lambs...

Stoneware Majolica cabbage platter.....old wicker

 covered bottle, felted wool...

So that's bits of our living room right as is right now.

Thank you for visiting me today.

This is a *very* busy week for many of us, 

so your visit today is especially delightful.

Time is our most precious commodity,

 and when given to me is very much appreciated.

God bless you.

♥

~Michele

Linking:

Tweak It Tuesday   *   Show and Tell   *   Inspire Me 

At Our Home   *   Make It Pretty    *   WOW Us Wednesday


Share Your Style   *   Show and Tell

Palm Sunday Blessings

As we begin the most Holy Week of the year,

I pray for all of you.

Glory be to God in the Highest!

May our spirits be renewed and our

 songs of praise to Jesus

 unending!

Love and Peace and Blessings to you all!

♥

~Michele

Easter at the Finch Rest Emporium

Hello, friends! Welcome Spring!

(Even though it snowed heavily this week...grrrr!)

I have been super busy adding lots of wonderful Easter items

 to my humble little e-bay store
called The Finch Rest Emporium!

Here is just a little sampling of the cuteness!

I would be delighted if you were to stop by there

 ~and take a closer look~

to consider adding a new little item to your spring collection!

And please do check back often,

 as I have more that I shall be listing as time allows!

My basement is choke full of new treasures to sell!

Now a public service reminder to those of you (and who doesn't?)
 who have something to sell -

( even if you DON'T have an online store...)

Stop by every Wednesday to the fun blog linky party called
 BLOG SHOP

 hosted by the sweet lady Beverly at How Sweet The Sound 
to show/share/sell your wares!

It's a free and easy forum

 to buy - trade - sell - your handmade, seasonal or vintage items!

YOU name your own terms!

(It's also a wonderful place to go to FIRST before hitting the big box retail places for your gift giving-

there are so many talented bloggers out there!)

Just get in the habit of
THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX
and try, when you are able, to support small business.

And by the way, if any of my readers from outside the USA
are interested in items in my store...for YOU I would
consider international shipping. I don't generally as a rule, 
but for YOU I will try and do my best to help you with your needs.
Just write me and we'll figure it out. ♥

Thank you for indulging me today!

I don't have advertisements on my sidebar or any pop-up ads,
but once a month or so I like to remind my readers
about my humble little store established in 1999....
and to also remind everyone about visiting this week's 
BLOG SHOP
and check out all the wonderful items available for you!

(click to enter store)

As always, thank you for your visit today!

♥

~Michele

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you all!

Finally getting the chance to share

 a few of my shamrock decor items!

I have, um, a few.

Some of you know what a special day this is to me.

: - )

Don't forget to wear your green!

If you have any orange on, take it off or I will come pinch you!

Or you just may find yourself getting pinched
by the wee faerie folk!

(Those leprechauns are tricky!)

I very seldom take off my Claddagh ring but did for this pic for you!

I got this on an Ireland trip with my father and 5 siblings years ago.

It's difficult to see it- but the heart is made

 of dark green Connemara Marble. 

(Just like the columns at St. Patrick's Cathedral!)

Another item I bought while visiting Ireland 

is this pretty vase.

One never knows where one will find shamrocks around here!

Naturally on this special occasion I must let you take a peek

 at my 15-year-old shamrock plant!

My first cousins on my mother's side gave them to us
for my father's funeral.

I recently divided it so now I have two.

They insist on very bright sunlight.

So, how is it they grow in cloudy rainy Ireland then?

....and last but not least, here is my very first shamrock china

from my dear eldest daughter many years ago!

"Lucky Shamrock" teacup set by Hammersley.

I adore this and only use it on St. Patrick's Day.
It's really one I would be heart broken to have break.

Here is the bottom.

HAVE YOURSELVES A SAFE AND FUN DAY!

  I'll Wear a Shamrock 

St. Patrick's Day is with us,
The day when all that's seen
To right and left and everywhere
Is green, green, green!

And Irish tunes they whistle
And Irish songs they sing,
Today each Irish lad walks out
As proud as any king.

I'll wear a four-leaf shamrock
On my coat, the glad day through,
For my father and mother are Irish
So I am Irish too!

[source]

As always, thank you for your visit!

~Michele 

Linking:

You're Gonna Love It  *  Inspire Me Tuesday

St. Patrick's Tea at Kelton House

My older sister visited a good portion of last week

and I treated her to her first visit to The Kelton House

for their afternoon St. Patrick's Day Tea!

I forgot my camera so my pics aren't great from my phone,

but I couldn't skip it and not share this tea party with you all!

I know how much you love tea parties!

And by my sharing with you,

 it makes me feel as though you kinda went with me.  

And I REALLY REALLY LIKE that feeling!

♣

The sweet lady sitting across from me had painted her nails

the prettiest shade of green for St. Pat's,

 so she let me snap a pic to share.

Interestingly, she always paints her ring finger a

different color than the rest.

Here's my huge plate of one of everything.

Sorry for blurry pic - didn't realize it was this bad till now.

Everything was SO delicious!

 And it was fun showing my sister the museum house

full of amazing antiques.

I hope she will be able to attend another

 of the Kelton House teas again- they're a very special treat!

It was fun to share my world a little more with her, too.

Here is a copy of the wonderful menu:

Reuben Canapes

Toad in the Hole

Colcannon Tots

Irish Cheese Bites

Apple and Cucumber Tea Sandwiches

Bacon Beer Scones with Smoked Cheddar & Carmelized Onions

Glazed Irish Breakfast Tea Madeleine (my favorite)

Irish Potato Candy

Bailey's Butterscotch Brownies

Irish Cream Puffs

Shamrock Bread Pudding

The speaker for the day was scheduled for St. Valentine's Day

but was stuck in Boston during one of the really bad snow storms.

(Her mother lives in Boston and she was visiting.)

So we were able to hear it this time - her presentation

was all about the history of White House Weddings.

It was so interesting!

I forgot to take a picture of her. Oops.

On the back of the menu it reads:

Wearing green on St. Patrick's Day is a tradition that started in the 17th century, when green ribbons and shamrocks were worn to celebrate Ireland's patron saint.

The tradition was popularized by Irish immigrants in the United States, who believed that wearing green made one invisible to leprechauns; the small fairy folk who would pinch anyone they could see.

Of course, with St. Patrick's Day comes the massive appearance of shamrocks. Whether you're wearing one pinned to your lapel or if you have them on your socks, shamrocks have become a central symbol for this day,

In the olden days in Ireland, the shamrock was seen as sacred.

 Due to its green color and overall shape, many believed it to represent rebirth and life. The four leaves of the clover are thought to represent faith, love, hope and luck.

Because of this, the shamrock has continued to be very popular in Irish culture. When the Irish were protesting British rule many people wore shamrocks as a silent reminder of their solidarity, and support of the Emerald Isle.

From then on the shamrock has become a very well-known symbol that represents Ireland and her Irish people.

♣

As always, thank you for your visit!

♥

~Michele

Linking:

Tea Time Tuesday   *  Tuesday Cuppa Tea   *  Tea Cup Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea   *