Karen's Cottage and Castle

Sunday, December 14, 2014

An Old Fashioned Christmas Tea

Welcome Sweet Friends to

"An Old Fashioned Christmas Tea"!

Today I am very pleased to participate in Sandi's "Old Fashioned Christmas Tea".
http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.ca/

I was wondering what I had that was "old fashioned" and realized that my whole home decor was anything from modern and most of my inherited antique furniture and china is like a "Granny's". Lol!!

Well, guess what?
I will be a "Granny" soon so that is just fine with me. My son and daughter in law are expecting their first child in February.

But instead of "Granny", I hope to be called "Nana"!

Today I am sharing one of my favourite china patterns that is "new" to me.

The tea set is Royal Albert's "Old Country Rose".

I found it at a wonderful thrift store "Second Chance" in Lynden, Wa. The complete tea set with two teacups, four luncheon, four tea plates, teapot and cream and sugar was just $40.00!

Love it's rich coloured roses colours with the gold trim!

I have made two of my special Christmas square recipes for our tea; Peppermint Square and Butterscotch Square.

The Royal Doulton Figurine is called "Rachel". I ordered it on ebay many years ago for my darling daughter Rachel.

Do you find Christmas Time makes you reminisce?

This vintage doll carriage is one of my Christmas Gifts over 50 years ago!

The china doll is not a collectible.

Although I did find a set of my mother and father's vintage Christmas tree collectibles in the box under the nesting table.

They used vintage thin brown twine or string and not modern attractive ribbons to hang these pretty collectible decorations on the tree.

Such happy carefree times when you're a little child.

As I reminisce I wonder if you would like me to share a very old pic of my grandmother (my Nana), and my great aunts. My nephew, Andrew, has become quite a genealogist and is enjoying studying our heritage. He recently showed me this and I thought you may enjoy it.

Isn't this a perfect

"Old Fashioned Christmas Tea?"

My dear grandmother (Nana) is Helen Knudsen. She is the tallest of her sisters - second to last in the black and white photograph. My mother happens to resemble her auntie Jeanette who she was named after. (Unfortunately they have spelled my Nana's last name incorrectly in this article).

Don't the ladies look so dressy and classy with their lovely hats happily enjoying their time together at this church tea? You rarely see these fine china teacups and silver teapots at church functions today.

I must share a pic of my dear mother from last week. She will be 94 in January. She used to wear hats to church every Sunday too.

She is a Nana to 6 grandchildren and soon to have 6 great grandchildren!!!

So pretty in pink and enjoying some chocolate that I brought. But unfortunately her tea is in a plastic mug from her senior's home. My sis and I took in several of her pretty teacups but all of them gradually got broken after three and a half years. So we are reluctant to take in more.

My sweet mother has alzheimers but we still
smile and laugh together. And she is one of the few elderly there who can still walk. She doesn't have a walker either!

The vintage pink and gold teapot was once my Nana's.

I was overjoyed to find this Pink Fenton candy dish for $6.00 in Redding, California while we were there last month.... because my sweet mother once had one just like it!

I hope that you will enjoy

"An Old Fashioned Christmas "

this year!

Treasure your fond Christmas memories friends!

See you next week!

Karen

Remember to visit: Sandi's "Old Fashioned Christmas Tea".
http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.ca/

I will also be joining:

Bernideen's ~http://blog.bernideens.com/

Friends Sharing Tea

Beverly ~http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/
Pink Saturday

Martha ~ http://www.marthasfavorites.com

Tea on Tuesday

Ruth~ http://www.antiquesandteacups.info/

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Sandi~http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.ca

Teacup Tuesday

Monday, December 8, 2014

Tea by the Christmas Tree

Welcome Sweet Friends to

"Tea by the Christmas Tree!"

This year we had to move the location of our Christmas tree. It is now in front of the window.

Usually it sat where guests would see it as they walked in the front door.

But after purchasing this china cabinet and positioning it here we had to make the change.

A perfect place to store my Royal Albert China.

By the way, all of the teapots were found when thrifting.

Teapots in a living room you say. Aren't I naughty?

So now the Christmas tree sits by the the window and near the grand piano.

The photo of my dear father is surrounded by pink angels. My father loved Christmas and his excitement and enthusiasm made every Christmas morning so very special for our family! The memories remain close to my heart.

The teacup was a lucky find for $3.00 at "More than Antiques" in Lynden Washington.

Hubby actually spotted it.

It is pale mint green in colour, with a border of what could be gold snowflakes but is likely flowers. In the center of the cup and saucer is a beautiful pink rose.

The rosy teapot was just $4.99 at Salvation Army.

I can't understand how anyone could part with such pretties. Perhaps they are better than I am at de-cluttering?

Today is my daughter, Rachel's, twenty-first Birthday. We celebrated last night since she has an exam tonight as well as two on Wednesday. I hope you like her choice of Tuxedo Birthday Cake.

December Birthdays always make life a little more challenging. Please forgive me dear friends if I am a little late to respond to your lovely comments this month. Hubby's birthday is this Saturday and soooo..... a shopping I must go!