Antiques And Teacups: LATE...didn't work..., Christmas Mug, Covent Garden Snow Globe, Merry Christmas!

I had this post scheduled to post on 12/22, but it never posted! RATS!!! So I am posting it anyway...late...but the link up will probably not work...not to worry...posting my regular Tuesday Cuppa Tea New Year's post tomorrow...have been out of town for Christmas, and hope yours were wonderful!

Welcome to the last post before Christmas! Isn't that amazing? I hope you have enjoyed the run up to this very special day as much as we have...this is really my favorite time of year!

The biggest problem is there is never time enough to do everything, and be everywhere we want to to celebrate...but we try!!!

I felt like sharing mugs today...as I have been handing out a lot of them filled with hot chocolate over the last few days! The Jesus mug and the English Robin mug are from my collection, and the Santa mug is from Antiques And Teacups. Click on the photos of that for more info...

This is my favorite Christmas mug. The mug dates to 1975 when we gave our lives to Christ and became Christians, and suddenly the holiday took on so much more meaning for us. I treasure this ceramic mug, and a large round cookie tray I have from then as well as a reminder of our first Christmas as Christians.

This mug with it's cheeky little bone china English robin mug came to live at our home about 5 years ago. The mug is by Dunoon, England and is such a favorite. It came from a set of 3 holiday mugs called Seasons Greetings. I LOVE English robins, who are very different than American robins...but that's for another post, maybe in January.

The next mug is also by Dunoon, England and from the same series, Seasons Greetings, but features Santa Claus, or Father Christmas as he is called in the UK...

What a cheerful guy! So cute! That'll keep your tea and hot chocolate warm with the sentiments of the season!

And on that note, I want to share photos from one of my favorite places in London, both to just wander around and enjoy as well as attending the weekly antique markets on Monday and Friday, if I remember correctly...Covent Garden .

Once a rural center for fruit, flowers and vegetable trading...as well as more human wares, Covent Garden is now a more sophisticated and genteel home by theaters of famous restaurants, shops , cafes and a outdoor as well as indoor entertainment. The first photos are from me...taken on a visit in May...

with a unicycling juggler and the little boy he plucked from the audience to help him... and here are the same sights decorated for Christmas...

They are also famous for decorating for Christmas. the Lego corporation chose Covent Garden to build their wonderful Christmas snow globe of London this year....

You can see the London Eye and Parliament with Big Ben in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Tower. How fun! These photos of the snow globe are by Lego for the top one, and by a friend in the UK who sent the others to me. They are so fun!

And where you can still get roasted chestnuts from the street vendors....

And with the warmth and welcome of this fresh fruit wreath from Sunset magazine I just want to again wish the the merriest and happiest of Christmases and holidays, and for a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year...as prosperous in your heart and soul as we are blessed in our pockets and freedoms!

Please join the following wonderful blogs. I so appreciate your comments, but again, because of the season I will be SLOW responding...The linky is also there for your tea related posts.
Cheers!

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

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