Puppy Love ♡

Hello precious friends!

I trust that you had a beautiful Valentine's Day ♡

I was sick all week, but I wasn't about to cancel a special tea party I had scheduled.

This Valentine's tea party was for my dear Stephenie and her little one,

but the Lord in His goodness made it possible for my dear husband's

schedule to change allowing him to join us.

Of all the tea parties I have hosted this was my husband's first and he loved it,
with the exception of the tea. 
My husband is Canadian, yet he has never acquired the taste for tea.
It was while living in Canada and spending much time visiting with the elderly
that I came to enjoy a good cup of tea.
Visiting these elderly ladies was how I came to learn
of tea parties and fine china.
Isn't it wonderful the way the Lord brings others into our lives
so that we can learn many beautiful things?

 I found these adorable dog dishes at Pier 1 Imports 
and although I really didn't need them
I just knew my grandsons would enjoy them .
It is a perfect set, complete with four plates and four matching drinking glasses.
Each plate is decorated with a different dog picture and is so adorable!
When my oldest daughter's three boys come for their next visit
I will host a tea party for them as well. 
I'm thankful my grandsons enjoy having tea with their Gamma.

I made heart ice cubes and served raspberry mint lemonade.

The color red was my prominent color in decorating ~

I usually decorate with soft colors and plenty of lace,
but for the boys I went with reds. 
That's partly why I purchased this adorable set.
My grandsons enjoy the finer things that grace the table  at a tea party,
but a tea party is usually on the feminine side, wouldn't you agree?
Though these dishes are adorned with hearts, 
they will get used a lot I'm quite sure. 

We played Valentine's Bingo ~

I prepared sandwiches made more for the guys.
BLT rounds ~ roast beef  with horseradish sauce ~ heart shaped grilled cheese ~

Potato fans made with mini potatoes ~

Of course we had to eat our veggies!
They always taste better with ranch dip, don't you think?

Many dainty desserts to choose from.
Strawberry tarts ~ mincemeat tarts ~ maid of honor tarts ~
strawberry french cream pastry puffs ~
chocolate covered strawberries ~ 
and of course, cherry scones served with clotted cream and lemon curd.
What would a tea party be without a scone?
A dear friend gifted me with some dried cherries from Michigan 
and oh are they ever delicious!

Gifts were shared around the table.
Stephenie gifted me with a beautiful lavender sachet that she made.
It found a special place rather quickly
and looks gorgeous hanging with many of my lace scarves.

This was the first use of Stephanie's tea cozy that I purchased
from her lovely etsy shop Rose Petal Blessings.
I LOVE the embellishments!
I was amazed at how warm my tea pot stayed
keeping the tea quite hot for a long time.

♡♡♡

It was a lovely Valentine's tea party!
What were some of your memory making moments
this Valentine's Day?
Thank you for stopping by, I always enjoy your visits.

♡♡♡

" Praise ye the Lord: for it is good to sing praises unto our God;
for it is pleasant; and praise is beautiful."
*Psalm 147:1*

Joy!
~ Debbie ~

Tea with Love

Hello treasured friends!

~

If you are cold, tea will warm you;

if you are too heated, it will cool you;

if you are depressed, it will cheer you;

if you are exhausted, it will calm you.

~  William Gladstone ~

~

 Let us love one another in ways

 that would bring comfort to the heart and soul.

This past weekend I was blessed

to share a cup of tea and fellowship

with my Dear mother.

Since the day dad went home to be with the Lord,

I have wanted to graciously and tenderly

look after the needs of my mother more than ever.

It has to be quite difficult

continuing on with out your soul-mate of 58 years.

 It wasn't really in the cup of tea,

but in the spirit of the sweet little tea party

that I wanted to grace my dear mother with

that brought such joy to the both of our hearts.

It was a beautiful, actually perfect day for our tea party,

as the sun was shining brightly causing the dainty little pansies

in the flower boxes surrounding us

to smile upon our time together.

It was lovely!

The daintiness and yet elegance of a china teacup

focuses one to be gentle,

to think warmly

and to feel close.

 ~ Carol & Malcolm Cohen ~

~

This is what I had hoped for my mother,

as we sat around the table in sweet love and conversation

 knowing her heart must be sad...

and her life lonesome... 

 ** ~ ~ ~ **

"Whatsoever things are true,

whatsoever things are honest,

whatsoever things are just,

whatsoever things are pure,

whatsoever things are lovely,

whatsoever things are of good report;

if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise,

think on these things."

( Philippians 4:8 )

These things made up our beautiful conversation

as mom and I shared around a cup of tea.

It was sweet memories of  good, pure and lovely

days gone by,

 yet looking ahead to what new roads the Lord had for us

as a wife who lost her husband,

and a daughter who lost her dad. 

 

One of mom's favorite desserts is bread pudding,

and so along with a delicious quiche

I baked Robyn's Blueberry Maple Bread Pudding
Robyn is a dear sweet lady, whom shares the most
wonderful and good for you recipes over at
Simply Fresh Dinners.
You will definitely want to go over and meet her.
I followed Robyn's recipe exactly as she made it,
except I added a 1/2 cup of fresh chopped peaches. 
Cream was enjoyed by one of us :)
and I'm not telling who.

** ~ ~ ~ **

Here is the quiche recipe should you want to give it a try.
~
~ Best Quiche ~
Lightly butter quiche pan then grate a sweet potato (2 if small) 
and press potato into quiche pan to make a crust on bottom & sides.
~ You may use white potatoes or pastry as well ~
Melt 2 tablespoons butter, a dash of salt, chives and place in butter.
Use a pastry brush and brush butter over the potatoes.
Bake at 400 deg. for 15-20 min. or until crispy.
Use vegetables of your choice 
I like to saute' my vegetables first as it adds more flavor.
~ You can use any meat of your choice as well ~
Lay the vegetables on top of the crispy potatoes until they are covered.
Sprinkle grated cheese (your choice) over the vegetables.
~ Goat cheese does well in this recipe ~
Beat 6 eggs 1/4 cup milk, 1teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper
1teaspoon powdered garlic, 1teaspoon snipped chives
and pour this over the cheese.
Bake at 375deg. for 35 to 45 min. or until light brown on top
and firm when the pan is moved.
Enjoy!

~


Our Gracious Heavenly Father. 
We know that You will grant us peace
and serenity as we look to You
during those times in our lives
when it seems hard to endure.
You are the One and Only who can carry
us through every moment
of every day.
Thank you for surrounding us
with the warm fragrance of Your unfailing love.
Amen. 

Be Gracious
~ Debbie ~