Winter Tea

Every cup of tea is an imaginary trip.....Catherine Douzel

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Thanks Martha for this lovely quote.

I will be away for a few days, returning the first of January. Have a wonderful New Year's full of peace and joy.

Merry Christmas

Christmas Greetings from 1909 still are the same today.

Have A Merry Christmas!

May you all be blessed with the season of remembrance in the birth of Jesus.

Portland Christmas

Portland's Living Room with the official Christmas tree. The city square at Christmas time.
Christmas means music. Each year my husband and I look forward to the Christmas concert at the Old Church. It is hosted by Michael Allen Harrison, a local jazz pianist. There are always very talented children performing. Last evening we ventured through the snow to enjoy the season with music and lights of the city.

We found a downtown park and walked a bit. What a peaceful, beautiful evening.

Christmas in the Park.

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The YouTube below is a minute touch of the concert from last year.

Enjoy the season!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaVAeJOPquE

Christmas Blessing

May you be blessed

with vision

in these shadow times.

May light invade the darkness.

May it be a soft brilliance,

as bare as candlelight,

guiding you through

twilight 'til dawn.

And when the dawn breaks,

may you find yourself

upon a threshold.

May you enter

and go through,

and may you emerge

into the dance-a whole and holy

new dance of grace.

-Maureen J. Hilliard, SND

Vintage Monday

In the 1920's there was still the lacy trims and ribbons on little girl's dresses.
So cute!

A simple play dress with embroidery on the collar.

Photo shoot finished, now time for a cup of tea. Big sister is doing such a good job of pouring the tea. Thanks so much Ruby and Charlotte for modeling for me.

Church on a Snowy Day

Today we felt very snowed in. There was about 5-7 inches of snow with a layer of ice on top. We were surprised when the doorbell rang about 10AM with an invitation to come next door for church. Three girls in the neighborhood decided to plan church for neighbors. So at 11AM we ventured out to the neighbors. We sang Christmas carols, heard an abbreviated Christmas story, had prayer and a short sermon. It was an energetic threesome, but much fun for the holiday season. It is the little things that make the holiday extra special. Thanks girls for inviting us, we had fun!

Tea Tree

At the top of my tea tree is a bear angel waving her magic wand. This bear has been with me for about 10 years hanging over my desk at work, waving her magic wand over my work. Now she waves her magic wand at home and for Christmas is taking a place of honor at the top of my tea tree.

Two Margaret Furlong ornaments. Margaret Furlong is from Oregon and makes beautiful shell ornaments. These are called Tea for Two.

I love this colorful teapot.

Many of my tea friends probably have similar ornaments. Do you see any that are the same as yours? Most of my tea ornaments were given to me by a special friend. She knows me well and always surprises me with special little gifts. Thanks Caryl! I love each gift you find for me.

Red and White

Taking pictures outside today I had to hang a red ornament for the contrast. The snow was beautiful, but wet. I even was able to build a small snow woman. Can you see me in the picture? Oh what fun I had.

Christmas Flower and Snow

I love the red poinsettia in the pitcher and bowl. The contrast is striking.
As I sit here making my entry in blogland for today I am looking out at large, fluffy snowflakes falling in my neighborhood. This is so unusual for Portland, Oregon; we usually have rain. The snow has been falling for about 1 hour and is starting to accumulate on the ground and in the trees. What a winter wonderland. I must get out with my camera. It is calling me.

Lily's Christmas Tea

Lily and her family started celebrating Christmas by having tea in my home each year since Lily was 4 years old. She is 11 years old now. She is the guest of honor. We have missed two years during the years. Her family (all 8 of them) enjoy coming to have tea with me. The theme is a secret until they arrive. I think this year was a hit with Lily and her brother, Henry. It was the Magic of Christmas. Can you tell? The bunny, dove, and crystal ball sitting in the hat with cards and of course the crooked, festive candles. There were magic wands for Lily and Henry and magic candles on the cake served at the end of the tea.

There were Lucky Star Black Olive Sandwiches
Cranberry Stars

Domino Ham Sandwiches (Nancy Reppert's recipe) and King Neptune's Moon Shrimp Sandwiches

Stacked Decked Shortbread Cookies and Tuxedo Strawberries were part of the sweets.

There were also Cream Scones with jam and cream.

Magic Wand Cheesesticks

Chocolate Cake Surprise, which was a warm chocolate cake served with homemade vanilla ice cream.

The warm tea served was Ti Kuan Yin Oolong and for dessert we had a Witches Brew, which was a herbal berry tea with mineral water served cold. The Witches Brew was a very pretty red color and added to the festive feel of the day.

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Christmas Traditions are special and this is one I look forward to each year.

Christmas Home Tour

Welcome to my home. A family of deer are here to greet you.
As you enter into my home the alcove encloses a manager scene once found at a local bazaar. The baby Jesus is tucked into the basket.
Christmas trees.

A group of snowmen warming themselves by the fire. Oh, I hope they don't melt. I made these snowmen years ago. They stand on the mantle along with other snowmen and candles.

Part of my Santa's standing on top of the bookcase. The plastic one on the right was my first Santa, which I found a place in our home 42 years ago. The tallest Santa to the right of the birdhouse my husband carved for me this year.

Dolls and animals seem to be a part of Christmas. The cradle was found at Brimfield antique show in the middle of a rainstorm. The Baby By-low doll was part of a doll museum collection owned by one of my good high school friends grandmothers. I love having her sit in the cradle with her friends.

The antique sled holds a group of Swedish Tomten's.

This angel sits and gazes over all the festivities.

The top to a small primitive decorated tree.

This small tree holds minature teacups and teapots. Of course you must know I would have one tea related tree.

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I hope you have enjoyed a little tour of my home for the holidays.

International Tea Day

In honor of all those tea plantation workers, managers, and owners that produce wonderful tea for us; I am sharing my thankfulness for them. Today is International Tea Day, celebrate with a cup of tea.

The picture was taken by my sink in the kitchen and includes tea canisters from France, Italy, and Ceylon. I love finding special teas when I travel.

Vintage Christmas

As a beginning to the week before Christmas I decided to share pictures of a Christmas book my husband received from his grandparents in the 1940's. It isn't vintage clothing, as I have been showing you on Monday's; but it does show Christmas in the 1940's and you can notice the style of clothing during that time. We will return next week to more vintage clothing. Enjoy the delights of Christmas in these pictures.

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This week I will being sharing Christmas in my home as Christmas Delights celebration from http://www.deenasstory.blogspot.com/

Hope

Hope is the positive mode of awaiting the future.

~Emil Brunner

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Christmas time is full of magic

Hold it in your heart today

Celebrate with memories of past Christmas's

Thrill at relishing today

Have HOPE for a future full of delights

~Me to You

Break for Tea

Break for Tea during this busy Holiday Season

Oh Christmas Tree

Here is our Christmas tree decorated.

Noël

by Anne Porter
When snow is shaken
From the balsam trees
And they're cut down
And brought into our houses
When clustered sparks
Of many-colored fire
Appear at night
In ordinary windows
We hear and sing
The customary carols
They bring us ragged miracles
And hay and candles
And flowering weeds of poetry
That are loved all the more
Because they are so common
But there are carols
That carry phrases
Of the haunting music
Of the other world
A music wild and dangerous
As a prophet's message
Or the fresh truth of children
Who though they come to us
From our own bodies
Are altogether new
With their small limbs
And birdlike voices
They look at us
With their clear eyes
And ask the piercing questions
God alone can answer.