Tuesday Cuppa Tea Break, Wishing You A Merry Christmas

With the heralding of cross stitch cat angels that I made a few years ago

I want to let you know that Tuesday Cuppa Tea is on break until Jan. 1st, 2013. With being ill, I am far behind on preparation for a Christmas trip. I was also awakened at 5am with a blizzard warning bulletin on my phone. What??? I didn't even know the phone did that! Amazing! But in the Seattle area??? Anyway, we are due to leave on Thursday and fly out on Friday, so I am praying that this doesn't complicate things...or even cancel the trip. Just trusting God that he will do whatever is best.

So I just want to take this opportunity to wish you all the most wonderful Christmas celebrating the Savior's birth. May your world be filled with peace and joy and hope and love. The best things I can wish for anyone.

We Have A Winner!!!! Harney and Sons Holiday Tea Duo

And the lucky winner of the Harney & Sons boxed Holiday Tea duo is....

Rosemary of Rosemary's Sampler!!! Congratulations! Please email me your address so I can get this shipped to you...hopefully tomorrow.

Thanks so much to everyone who entered.  Have a great day! I'm having a cup of the red tin (mine, not hers!!!) Holiday tea.

I Love English Robins! Dunoon Robin Mug

Hello! I am finally feeling a bit better. I want to thank so many kind blogging friends for their kind thought and prayer. I got within a hair's breadth of bronchitis, but it's backing off and I can breathe better!

I can see you are saying...I know what bird that is...a robin! Yes, but what country does he come from? This is an American robin, beloved visitor to our American gardens with his beady eyes, quick movements and commanding song. But his English cousin, is linked with Christmas to the British people.

 The English robin is much smaller and more delicately made and is a favorite for decorating themes and stories, beginning with the legend associated with the cute little bird, linking it to the birth of the Christ child in Bethlehem. The legend says that the robin, among the worshipping angels in the stable were so concerned that the baby would be cold that they used their wings to fan the embers of a fire into a warming blaze, but singed their chests in the process. The little birds were rewarded for their selfless love and care for Jesus by being given their red breasts as an eternal symbol of the warmth of the fire they provided that night.

My teacup for Teacup Thursday is a mug by Dunoon that lives in the back of my china closet until the first of November, then makes an appearance until January.

The design was from the Season's Greetings series of 3 mugs by Dunoon from 2008 by the artist Richard Partis, and I just love it! I think it is the cutest thing. I also found 2 English Robin designs at Etsy I'd like to share. Darling!!!

This is a cute card design by mulberrymuse on Etsy

This is an antique postcard from PressedPetalDesigns on Etsy

This is a design by artist Joyce Geleynse at JoyArt on Etsy

The next are just images I have collected over the years...

You can see why I love them so much! They are an endearing reminder of my childhood and Christmas memories!

Here are the blogs I am joining.  I will be announcing the winner of the Harney & Sons Holiday Tea boxed set tomorrow!  Have a wonderful day, and don't forget to have a cuppa tea with someone you love!

Miss Spenser ~ http://missspensersblog.blogspot.com/

Teacup Thursday

Coloradolady  ~ http://coloradolady.blogspot.com/

Vintage Thingie Thursday

 Mrs. Olson ~  http://jannolson.blogspot.com/

Share Your Cup Thursday

Leslie ~  http://heartforhome-making.blogspot.com/

Cup of English Tea

Last Day to Win Harney Holiday Tea Duo!

Just a reminder that my giveaway for the Harney & Sons Holiday Tea duo is ending! Please sign up by adding yourself to the linky here:

http://antiquesandteacups.blogspot.com/2012/12/giveaway-harney-holiday-teas-pack-of-2.html

Tuesday Cuppa Tea, Last Chance Harney Tea Giveaway, Goodies!!!

Welcome to Tuesday Cuppa Tea. Did you here if life gives you lemons make lemonade? That's what I have been doing, drinking lots of hot lemonade, for the last few days as the allergy attack is trying to be bronchitis. NO!!! Not before Christmas! So///if I misspell or something you'll know why!!!  

Please find the list of blogs I am joining below, including Sandi's Christmas Tea on Monday, Dec. 10th at Rose Chintz Cottage.

First of all, I want to remind you about my giveaway for a boxed set of Harney & Sons Holiday teas, seen below. 

We will draw the winner on Wed. Dec.12th. You can enter on this post HERE or click on the photo of the gift above.

My teacup for Tuesday Cuppa Tea is a Royal Grafton cup and saucer from the 1950s in the festive Noel pattern. Several other companies made the same pattern as well. Many of the pattern decals came from a design and artist shops, that sold to anyone interested. If the pottery didn't have an artist in residence, or needed a design quickly, they were bought in to use. Royal Albert and Queen Anne used this same pattern that I know of, and there may be others. Which is nice, because if you are looking for some, the more the merrier! Makes it easier to find. For more info on the Noel teacup at Antiques And Teacups, click on the photos.

I have another of a winner of a recipe to share for your Christmas teas. This is awesome! The recipe is a Maple Glazed Pumpkin Cranberry cake. What is more seasonal and holiday themed than that! I got it from the October  issue of Coastal Living magazine. Can you tell I love it? Here is the recipe:

Maple-Glazed Pumpkin-Cranberry Coffee Cake

Ingredients

• 1 cup walnut halves
• 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups packed light brown sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground allspice
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup maple syrup

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Place walnuts in a single layer on a baking sheet, and bake 6 to 8 minutes or until lightly toasted. Transfer to a plate to cool; chop.
2. Place cranberries in food processor and process until coarsely chopped. Set aside.
3. Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy; gradually add brown sugar, beating well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating until blended after each addition.
4. Combine flour and next 6 ingredients; add to butter mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture, beating at low speed until blended after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract, pumpkin and reserved walnuts and cranberries. Spoon batter into a greased 12-cup Bundt pan, smoothing top.
5. Bake 50 to 55 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cake in pan on a wire rack 10 minutes; remove from pan, and cool completely on rack.
6. Stir together powdered sugar and 1/4 cup maple syrup in a small bowl until smooth. Stir in remaining maple syrup, 1 teaspoon at a time, until glaze is pourable but not too thin. Drizzle glaze over cooled cake.

Absolutely wonderful!  I wanted to share a bit of my home decor as I haven't yet. Being ill, I haven't accomplished much. You already have seen my front door wreath at the top of the post, other than that, a decorated mantle and sideboard. We don't do a tree or our cat Tinker...now nicknamed The Terror...when there is no one but us around...climbs the tree.

I have done the cross stitches over the years so they always decorate the walls.  A wonderful reminder of some of the 38 years of our marriage.

So...Please enter the Harney & Sons Holiday tea giveaway at the top of the page and visit the wonderful blogs. It's so much fun during the Christmas and holiday season to see the marvelous decorating ideas. Thanks to you all for sharing!

Sandi's Christmas Tea Monday, Dec. 10th. Click on the photo.

Common Ground ~ http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com

Monday Marketplace

Terri~  http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/ 
Teacup Tuesday

Trisha~  http://sweetology101.blogspot.com/ 
Tea Party Tuesday

Sandi  ~  http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com

Teatime Tuesday

Kathy~  http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/
Victoria - A Return to Loveliness

Martha~  http://www.marthasfavorites.com/ 

Tea On Tuesday
Miss Kathy ~http://thewritersreverie.blogspot.com/

Tuesday Tea       

Michelle ~ http://www.finchrest.com/

Tea On Tuesday

Betty ~ http://teacoziecottage.blogspot.ca/

Tea Tuesday

Phyllis ~ http://www.relevanttealeaf.blogspot.com/

Tea On Tuesday

Shawn ~ http://poetryinapotoftea.blogspot.com/

Poetry In A Pot Of Tea

Bernideen’s ~ http://bernideensteatimeblog.blogspot.com/

Friends Sharing Tea Wednesday

 Ivy And Elephants ~http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/

What’s It Wednesday                                           

Sandi  ~  http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com

Home On Wednesday

 A Tea Lover     ~http://the-teaist.blogspot.com/

Tea Talk Wednesday

Giveaway - Harney Holiday Teas Pack Of 2 Merry Christmas!

Hello! I hoped to have this up for my last Tuesday Cuppa Tea post, but it didn't arrive in time! As a Merry Christmas gift from Antiques And Teacups, I am giving away a boxed set of 2 tins of Harney & Sons Teas Holiday teas.

The teas are Holiday...Black Tea with Holiday Spices
White Christmas Tea...A blend of White Tea, Almonds and Vanilla

in tea tins, each holding 20 silken sachets.

To Enter:
1. one entry only, please. Drawing closes Dec. 12th! I will draw the winner on Wed. Dec. 13th. If you are a google +, I may not be able to contact you, so please check back for the winner...I'm West Coast so it will be about mid day.

2. US addresses only, or you won't have it before Christmas...I am so sorry to my dear non US followers....

3. Make sure you are a follower of the blog

4. Like Antiques And Teacups Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/antiquesandteacups

Here is the linky. I bought a set for myself as well, and they are WONDERFUL teas! Good Luck, and Merry Christmas!

Tuesday Cuppa Tea, Holly Teacup, Chocolate Earl Grey Pound Cake, Museum And Arts Tea

Hello and welcome to Tuesday Cuppa Tea, the first in the month of December, with Advent, the first week in Advent.

I hope you have had a lovely weekend. We just got home from a local community theater production of Jean Shepherd's A Christmas Story, about a boy wanting a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas at the Port Angeles Community Players theater. Great fun!  Bazaars and a tea yesterday, but more about that later.

It's the holiday season, so here is a holly design cup and saucer I found at an estate sale a week ago. I am a sucker for Christmas china, I just love it! This is by Norcrest, Japan from the 1960s, and I actually found 3. Cool! I love the holly design. So the holly-day season has started here! For more info on the teacup(s) on Antiques And Teacups, click on the photos.

Yesterday I went to 2 Christmas bazaars and a fund raising tea with some girlfriends, which was fun.  The fund raising Christmas Tea was at the historic registered Dungeness Schoolhouse which dates to 1893, and recently has received an exterior restoration. The tea was a fund raiser for the Sequim Museum And Arts Center which also helps the Schoolhouse quite a bit, a reciprocal arrangement.

These are official photos from the restoration. It was pouring yesterday! I started taking photos, and my battery went dead, so I only have a few....rats!!!

The first are members of the Dungeness Schoolhouse board dressed in period costume pouring tea from lovely silver tea services and pouring into lovely teacups that have been gifted to the schoolhouse over the years. There were tables of goodies to help one's self, and tables of baked goods offered for sale as a fundraiser. The tea is donation only, and they raise several thousands for the schoolhouse and Museum and Art Center each year.

The last photo is myself, flanked by 2 of my friends, photographed by the fourth of our group.

While at the tea, we had a slice of a marvelous Chocolate Earl Grey pound cake:

The woman who made it was there, and told me where she found the recipe. It was outstanding! The recipe was from a Coastal Living magazine, which is a favorite of mine. So I found the recipe, and here it is:

Chocolate-Earl Grey Pound Cake

Ingredients

• 4 Earl Grey tea bags 
• 1/3 cup boiling water 
• 2 cups all-purpose flour 
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup cocoa
• 1 cup butter, softened 
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 large eggs 
• 1/3 cup milk 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Powdered sugar
• Earl Grey Dark Chocolate Sauce  (recipe follows cake)
• Garnish: Bing cherries

• Preparation

  1. Place tea bags in a glass measuring cup; pour boiling water over tea bags. Let steep 8 minutes. Remove and discard tea bags; cool tea completely.
  2. Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and cocoa, and set aside.
  3. Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer 2 minutes or until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating 5 to 7 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until yellow disappears. Set aside.
  4. Stir together milk and tea. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture alternately with the milk mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Mix at low speed after each addition, just until blended. Stir in vanilla.
  5. Pour batter into a greased and floured 10-cup Bundt pan. Bake at 300° for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cake in pan on a wire rack 10 to 15 minutes; remove from pan, and cool cake completely on a wire rack. Dust cake with powdered sugar, and serve with Earl Grey Dark Chocolate Sauce. Garnish, if desired.

  6. Earl Grey Dark Chocolate Sauce

     Ingredients

     • 3/4 cup whipping cream
     • 3 Earl Grey tea bags 
     • 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
     • 2 tablespoons light corn syrup

     • Preparation

       1. Cook whipping cream in a small heavy saucepan over medium-low heat just until hot (not boiling), stirring often. Remove from heat. Add tea bags, cover, and steep 5 minutes. Remove and discard tea bags. Add chocolate and corn syrup, stirring until chocolate melts.
       Coastal Living
       NOVEMBER 2004

       
       

       
       

       So there we are for today....here is the linky and the list of some of the other blogs I will be joining. Have a cup of tea and enjoy visiting with the wonderful ladies!

       
       

       Common Ground ~ http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com

       Monday Marketplace

       Terri~  http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/ 
       Teacup Tuesday

       Trisha~  http://sweetology101.blogspot.com/ 
       Tea Party Tuesday

       Sandi  ~  http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com

       Teatime Tuesday

       Kathy~  http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/
       Victoria - A Return to Loveliness

       Martha~  http://www.marthasfavorites.com/ 

       Tea On Tuesday
       Miss Kathy ~http://thewritersreverie.blogspot.com/

       Tuesday Tea       

       Michelle ~ http://www.finchrest.com/

       Tea On Tuesday

       Betty ~ http://teacoziecottage.blogspot.ca/

       Tea Tuesday

       Phyllis ~ http://www.relevanttealeaf.blogspot.com/

       Tea On Tuesday

       Shawn ~ http://poetryinapotoftea.blogspot.com/

       Poetry In A Pot Of Tea

       Bernideen’s ~ http://bernideensteatimeblog.blogspot.com/

       Friends Sharing Tea Wednesday

        Ivy And Elephants ~http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/

       What’s It Wednesday                                           

       Sandi  ~  http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com

       Home On Wednesday

        A Tea Lover     ~http://the-teaist.blogspot.com/

       Tea Talk Wednesday

       
       

       
       

       
       

Christmas Mall Flash Mob Real Meaning Of Christmas

I found this on Millie Fiori's blog and had to share....

Wreaths for the Porch, and vintage English Christmas Towel

Hello! And a rainy day it is on the Olympic peninsula, but that's normal! I am joining the wonderful blog party Pink Saturday with Beverley which I hope you will visit. Thanks for the kind words, prayer and suggestions as I was dealing with an allergic reaction to a piece of furniture...or at least the scents onit...which forced me to run for my inhalers & get it out in the garage fast where my dear sweetie is working it over with lemon juice, baking soda and scrubbing. He was even affected, and he doesn't really have allergies. Thanks you!

The theme for Pink Saturday was On The Porch...and here is my wreath. It has seen a number of Christmases, but I love it, and the color goes so well with my blue and white home. But we haven't gotten much else up, with the health issues, so here are some favorites from Coastal Living magazine, a favorite publication, as I live by the Pacific Ocean...and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

This is my favorite, a boxwood wreath on a dutch bead board door. Love it!

I liked the mixed greens and shell decoration with knotted rope bow...

And this magnolia leaf wreath reminds of the time we lived in an area with lots of magnolias...

I thought this was a neat porch design job, with the square door wreath...

And this was great with the luminarias flanking the welcoming stairs. I loved the seashell wreath on the door as well.

I wanted to also share this fun 1970s vintage English tea towel with the stylized angel. I picked it up on Christmas in England. So fun! Available at Antiques And Teacups, just click on the photo.

So have a wonderful time visiting the wonderful blog below. I am continually amazed at the creative ladies! They are awesome!!! If I can't do it myself because of limits...I can live vicariously with their wonderful posts! Awesome!

Beverley ~ http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/

Pink Saturday