Happy Thanksgiving Day and a Chart For Viewing Comet Ison..UPDATE...Bye Bye Ison...

Graphic courtesy Shabby Lane Shops

Happy Thanksgiving Day! I hope you are in for a wonderful day of family, friends and food...and a Thanksgiving Day parade and probably a bit of football. 

But I found this animated graphic chart at the bottom of the post on the Huffington Post website that gives an overview of seeing the Ison comet, which is supposed to be the most spectacular sight of our lifetime, as it will never be back. It could be as bright as the moon, and is visible best about an hour before sunrise.

The comet began a huge ellipse far out in space and will pass behind the sun today and tomorrow then emerge and head back out into space for another million years before returning. I hope I can see it!

This last photo was taken to show where the comet can be seen in relationship to the constellations from the Hubble telescope wide angle lens.  And here is the animated chart of how high and what angle to see the comet. I sure hope I do!

Update:  As of 2pm Pacific time, the BBC reported that Ison had vaporized and is no more...so removed the viewing chart, 'cuz it won't do us any good. Sigh...Above is a coronal mass photography image of the comet vaporizing in it's too near pass to the sun's corona. It flew too close and...toast! or rather steam & meltdown. So...return to our regularly scheduled programming....

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Dear Friends!

I just wanted to wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving! May you take time to "focus on the positive" no matter what hurtful or difficult things you are going through.  Thankfulness shouldn't be just a day, but an attitude, a lifestyle of perspective....seeing the small blessings of everyday and the past that are often overshadowed by the troubles that yell when the blessings whisper.

I pray that the gifts of your heart and spirit overshadow the abundant gifts of delicacies on the table....Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self Control...from Galatians 5:22-23.

And this year even more than others, may your generosity this holiday season when so many are in need prompt you, as you are able, to support reputable local charities who can help those in need around you.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Tuesday Cuppa Tea, Happy Thanksgiving, Shelley China Cup Shapes Part 3, Tea Spiced Cranberry Sauce

Hello and welcome to Tuesday Cuppa Tea, my meme where we talk about all sorts of things related to tea, teawares and taking tea.
If you aren't getting my blog posts in your notices, it's because of the problems I had early this year with the evil blog scraper which necessitated changing my blog address. You will probably have to subscribe again with Google Friends Connect...which at the moment seems to be missing again....gggrrrrr...., Bloglovin' , Google + or Linky Friends....

This is really the beginning of the holiday season, as a rather late Thanksgiving is Thursday...as well as the coincidence of Hannukah with Thanksgiving...which hasn't happened in 114 years! So...from my home and heart to yours....

And .....

I have so very much to be thankful...this week and every week. We are so blessed! I don't need just a day to be thankful...it's an everyday acknowledgement of blessing received! I hope your week will be especially cognizant of this...no matter what trials you are going through right now that seem insurmountable. Look back and dwell on the goodness and blessings that surround us. I have to when I get down about circumstances, but they pass and the blessings remain!

And on to the Shelley China cup shapes part 3:

This Shelley China cup shape is called Old Cambridge...so named when in 1954 they "modernized" the shape. The Old Cambridge shape was made between 1937 until the 1950s as a major shape for Shelley, but after the issuing of the New Cambridge shape was used only sporadically as it overlapped the new shape and then was discontinued. It happened with patterns too. As a point of interest, the pattern on this Old Cambridge teacup trio is now called Old Wild Flowers from the 1930s that was reworked and "modernized" in the early 1950s as well...but that's another topic entirely...

This Shelley China, England cup and saucer is in the New Cambridge shape that replaced the earlier version. The cup has a slightly wider base and the handle is definitely different. Both designd were made in a myriad of patterns and trims...you never know what you'll see next, as it was one of Shelley's most popular shapes. The pattern here is Thistle.  The New Cambridge was made until the pottery closed in 1966.

This Shelley China cup shape is called Henley and it was made in 2 sizes...the regular size for tea and a smaller so called coffee size for after dinner coffee from 1938 when it was introduced until 1966. There were various kinds of patterns and trims...this is the burnished gold trim, which is actually hand burnished or polished 24kt gold leaf.  The pattern is interesting and a great example of Shelley's famous artistic license for it's artists. They were allowed, with permission, to mix pattern elements from time to time for production or for special commissions or orders from groups, individuals or stores. This is an example of a mixture of the Blossom pattern and a floral border from a different pattern that had no name.  I LOVE that! You are constantly finding something different!

Now these next 2 cup shapes will really stir up your detective and observing skills. Although these 2 teacups look like they are the same, they really aren't...same pattern on both called Fruit Center, same gold overlay cup trim. The outside colors are of course different, but...

The teacup at the top of the 2 is in the Boston shape, made between 1963-1966, and the bottom in Turquoise is in the Lincoln shape, that was made at the same time. Can you see the difference??? You have to look hard!

The difference is just the little "nips" on the cup foot that gave the shape it's totally different name, Boston. That's another Shelley "thing".  But that's what has made the study of Shelley so interesting!

The last shape this week is the Victoria shape, so named because it was named after being used for the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887 and then was used occasionally into the 1920s. This cup and saucer is from Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897.

If you are interested in the previous 2 parts of Shelley shapes, click on the links below.
Shelley Shapes Part 1
Shelley Shapes Part 2

All of the photos are mine...either available for sale at Antiques And Teacups or Time Was Antiques or from my personal collection or archives. 

I found a great tea related recipe on a Sunset magazine website I thought I'd share that uses Earl Grey tea:

Tea Spiced Cranberry Sauce

Earl Grey tea is the secret ingredient in this sweetly aromatic, lightly spiced sauce. Just pay close attention to the timing--too much steeping can turn the sauce bitter.

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups sugar 
• 4 whole cardamom pods
• 3 whole star anise
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 5 Earl Grey tea bags
• 8 cups whole cranberries (about 2 1/2 bags, fresh or frozen

Preparation

1. In a 4-quart pot over high heat, combine 1 3/4 cups water; 2 1/4 cups sugar; 4 whole cardamom pods; 3 whole star anise; and 3 cinnamon sticks. Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 10 minutes. Add 5 Earl Grey tea bags, and simmer exactly 2 minutes. Remove tea bags and spices with a slotted spoon and add 8 cups whole cranberries (about 2 1/2 bags, fresh or frozen). Increase heat to medium-high and simmer, stirring often, until cranberries soften and split their skins and sauce thickens, about 12 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature before serving (the sauce will thicken further as it cools). Or cover and refrigerate up to 4 days.

Sunset
NOVEMBER 2006

I'm going to try it!

I want to end with some photos from a walk to the Railroad Bridge Park and Dungeness Audubon Center we did yesterday while the weather was crisp and sunny.  For more photos of a visit there a few weeks ago...it's a favorite walk for us...click HERE.

Have a lovely week! Here are a few of the blogs I will be joining and the linky for you to link your tea related posts.  I just love to hear from you, my dear friends!

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

Celia ~ http://www.attitudeivlife.blogspot.com/

Tea With Celia

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

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

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

Tuesday Tea       

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

Tea On Tuesday

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

Tea Tuesday

Lady B & Dame Ruthie ~ http://ladybstimefortea.blogspot.com/

Time For Tea

Two Cottage And Tea ~ http://twocottagesandtea.blogspot.com/

Tuesday Tea Time

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

Tea On Tuesday

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

Tea In The Garden Tuesday

Judith ~ http://lavendercottagegardening.blogspot.ca/

Lavender Cottage  Tea Time

Our friend ~http://texas-tea-party.blogspot.com/

Tea In Texas

Pamela ~ http://playingwithmycamera.blogspot.ca/

Playing With My Camera Teatime           

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

Tuesday Blog Shop

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

An InLinkz Link-up

Poetry In A Pot Of Tea

Crock Pot Love Affair...Gingered Pork & Prune Dinner

I haven't changed the fall wreath on the door...yet....change coming soon! But it was a dark and windy fall day...and I indulged my passion for my favorite piece of kitchen equipment...the Crock pot.  I got one in 1974 as a wedding present, and have continued to use it regularly since. I have had a half a dozen crock pots since then, and have a dozen crock pot cookbooks...although many of the older ones have to have recipes adapted to lighter eating.

This is a 1994 Better Homes And Gardens Crockery Cookbook I received as a gift back then and has several favorites I come back to, including the one I made...Gingered Pork And Prune Dinner, which is a favorite.

1 2-pound boneless shoulder roast (I used a pork sirloin roast I got at Costco)
2 tbs oil
3 tbs quick cooking tapioca (I used organic from the bins at our local farmer's market)
2 med cooking apples, cored and cut in 1/2 inch slices
4 med carrots bias sliced in 1/2 inch pieces
1 med onion cut into 1 inch chunks
1 cup pitted prunes snipped into quarters
1 cup chicken broth (I use low sodium organic)
3/4 cup apple juice
1 tbs lemon juice
1 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp pepper
1/8 tsp ground cloves
minced garlic to taste (my addition)

1. Trim the fat from the meat; cut pork into 1 inch cubes. In a large skillet brown pork, half at a time in the oil. Drain fat. 

2. Transfer to 3 1/2 to 4 quart crock pot.

Sprinkle with tapioca. Assemble apples, carrots, onions and prunes.

Add to the crock pot covering the pork.

3.  In a small bowl, combine broth, juices, spices and minced garlic if used. Mix and pour over mixture in crockpot.

4. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours or on high setting for 4 to 5 hours. Serve over hot cooked couscous, noodles or rice (we always use brown rice).

An added bonus is the glorious, spicy smell pervading the house all day! Definitely autumn in a pot. See why I love my crock pot??!

This is where all our local organic vegetables come from...Nash's Organic Produce...a favorite place, as you can easily see why...

Now it's time for a refreshing cup of tea from a 1980s bone china mug I found at an estate sale...perfect for fall, don't you think???

Thanks for joining me! Have a lovely week and have a cup of tea with a friend!

You might be interested in the first 2 parts of a blog series I am doing for my Tuesday Cuppa Tea meme on the cup shapes made by Shelley China, England until they closed in 1966. Click on the following if you would like to read them...

Shelley Cup Shapes Part 1

Shelley Cup Shapes Part 2

I am joining the following blogs...you'll love visiting and joining the parties!

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

What’s It Wednesday                                           

Sandi  ~  http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com

Home On Wednesday

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

Vintage Thingie Thursday

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

Share Your Cup ThursdayBeverley ~ http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/

150th Anniversary Of Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

I couldn't let this anniversary pass, the 150th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln. Every 8th grader in the US of my generation, had to memorize and recite it to get into high school...

LINCOLN'S GETTYSBURG ADDRESS

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Abraham Lincoln

November 19, 1863

Tuesday Cuppa Tea...November Reigns...Shelley Teacups Shapes Part 2

Hello my dear friends and welcome to Tuesday Cuppa Tea for November 19th. 

Today was chilly when we walked this afternoon...there's quite a bit of fresh snow on the Olympic Mountains just above us, and that chills the air. Very fall, very November. Had our first round of Christmas bazaars this last weekend...and more to come next weekend as well. They certainly set the festive feel.

We are busy thinking about Thanksgiving with some new health information. Because of some blood level changes, I am adapting menus and cooking because a hereditary cholesterol problem I thought was under control is off again, and I do not want to take a medication, so am further adapting my diet. When I am already omitting all dairy...and have for years...it has just gotten a bit more complicated. But we have so much to be thankful for, it's a small thing. So, basically I am making EVERYTHING from scratch! My, I'm gonna be healthy!!!

But on to Tuesday Cuppa Tea, which this week is Part 2 of Shelley China, England shapes. Thanks to so many of you who left comments of emailed/messaged/posted to ask me to continue.

This is actually another form of the Dainty shape, called the Tall Dainty, which was made from the 1930s until the pottery closed in the 1966. The Tall Dainty was made in both a regular size, demitasse size...demitasse means small cup in French...or the miniature size...more about that in a bit. The pattern on this teacup is Blue Rock.

This is a shape called Carlisle that was made by Shelley China only between 1950 and 1966 when the pottery closed. The pattern name on this teacup trio is Blenheim which was made in blue and green, and with or without gold trim on the oval loop handle.

This is the pattern Heather in the Richmond shape. This shape was made between 1938-1966 and was made with or without gold trim on this particular pattern. Shelley made several different landscape patterns which I really enjoy.

This is another landscape pattern that I shared a few weeks ago in the Trees On The Hill pattern and the art deco shaped Regent shape. I just love the deco shape and handle and the bright colors. The Regent shape was made between 1932-1962.

This is a shape called Mocha which is usually referred to as a demitasse or coffee size, developed to hold after dinner strong coffee in the French manner to go along with liqueurs after a meal. You can see these in Downton Abbey scenes. The Mocha shape, with some slight variations, was in production from 1913 through 1966, although the shape was enlarged from 1962 into a larger size as after dinner coffee and liqueurs went out of fashion. The handle changed a bit over the years as well. The pattern here is generally referred to as Sgraffito...which is carving...or Stencil.

Last and not least for this edition of the Shelley cup shapes, is a shape that looks very much like the Mocha above, but is the Cantebury...notice the slightly tapered cup bottom, while the Mocha is straight down to the bottom? That's how small some of the Shelley shape differences are. And there is something else special about this cup and saucer...it's a miniature. Shelley made miniatures in about 5 different shapes, but not many of them, so they are in high demand and very collectible. This little cutie, in the Blue Charm pattern, is only 1.65 inches high, and the saucer is 3 inches in diameter. The usual Shelley cup is 2.5 to 3 inches high and the saucers are usually 5.5 to 6 inches in diameter.  The Cantebury miniatures were made from 1954 to 1966. Believe it or not, there was a smaller size made, called the Gem which was only 1.4 inches high between 1900 and the 1930s, but I have never had one...just the miniatures. So cute!  All of the above teacups are available at Antiques And Teacups, other than the miniature which is from Time Was Antiques where I have most my Shelley China. For more info click on the photos.

So there is Part 2 of the Shelley shape primer. If you missed Shelley shapes Part 1, click HERE.

Thanks for joining me, and take time to visit some of the other wonderful blogs I am joining. There's a linky at the bottom for you to link your tea related posts and I just love hearing from you! Have a wonderful day and have a cuppa with a friend!

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

Celia ~ http://www.attitudeivlife.blogspot.com/

Tea With Celia

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

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

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

Tuesday Tea       

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

Tea On Tuesday

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

Tea Tuesday

Lady B & Dame Ruthie ~ http://ladybstimefortea.blogspot.com/

Time For Tea

Two Cottage And Tea ~ http://twocottagesandtea.blogspot.com/

Tuesday Tea Time

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

Tea On Tuesday

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

Tea In The Garden Tuesday

Judith ~ http://lavendercottagegardening.blogspot.ca/

Lavender Cottage  Tea Time

Pamela ~ http://playingwithmycamera.blogspot.ca/

Playing With My Camera Teatime           

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

Tuesday Blog Shop

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

Poetry In A Pot Of Tea

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

What’s It Wednesday                                           

Sandi  ~  http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com

Home On Wednesday

An InLinkz Link-up