Happy New Year! Shelley, Antique Postcards, New Year Treats

I hope you all are having wonderful times with family and friends for the holidays. This is our last Tuesday for Tuesday Cuppa Tea in 2014 which is amazing, and I wish you all the happiest, healthiest and most prosperous New Year in 2015!

The teacup I have for this week is a Shelley, England...couldn't end the year without a Shelley, now could I???!  

The pattern is Sheraton in the green colorway, a pretty design with floral bouquets and lattice work....

The shape of the teacup is Gainsborough, which is one of my favorites...and I love the gold trim.

As you can see, the pattern number is 13290, and it was made between 1940 and 1966 when the pottery closed. It was also made in blue and pink versions, each as pretty!

I am sharing antique Christmas postcards today for New Year greetings, that range from 1899 to 1925. I just love them!  This is an art nouveau design from 1910.

The poem is charming:

You see not a

step before you tread

on another year

But what looks dark

in the distance

Will brighten as

you draw near.

Definitely a heartening sentiment! The card was postmarked from Marion, Ohio to Prospect, Ohio on Dec. 31, 1910. I love the design!

Some other New Year postcards in my shop....I don't know about you, but postcards are such a window on the past...you can learn so much!

To see more about either the teacup or many of the postcards at Antiques And Teacups, click on the photos.

With the New Year approaching, I found these neat design ideas in the Cottage Journal from Hoffman Media and on Pinterest:

The cottage journal also had a great appetizer recipe for New Year's Eve which I think I'll be making:

           

ROAST BEEF AND POTATO BITES
Makes 2 dozen

24 thin slices Yukon Gold potatoes (about 3 potatoes)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper, divided
1/2 cup sour cream
1 (4-ounce) package blue cheese crumbles
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
1 tablespoon prepared horseradish
1/2 pound thinly sliced roast beef
Garnish: fresh chives, paprika

1. Preheat oven to 400°. Lightly grease a baking sheet.
2. In a medium bowl, combine potatoes and olive oil, tossing to coat. Place potato slices in a single layer on prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle evenly with salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, turn over, and bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes or until crisp.
3. In a small bowl, combine sour cream, blue cheese, chives, horseradish, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon black pepper.
4. To assemble, spoon about 1 teaspoon sour cream mixture on each potato slice. Top with roast beef and an additional 1/2 teaspoon sour cream mixture. Garnish with chives and paprika, if desired. 

I think that sounds delicious! So...what's on your menu????

And I'm all set for the year...with a Downton Abbey desk engagement calendar...with a photo opposite every week...this first week features Tom Branson with the movie quote :

"I don't believe in types, I believe in people."

Am looking forward to season 5 starting here in the US on Jan. 4th...uhoh...better have my post done.....

And on the wall, my annual Teapot calendar....Life is good! As usual, when we go to bed on New Year's Eve we always spend time in prayer for the coming year...because although we don't know what the future holds, we know Who does!

Have a great day visiting the other blog parties, some of which are listed below....and Happy New Year!  Please remember to be patient with Mister Linky when you post your tea related posts...he is SSLLOOOOOWWW but does show up!  :)

Mosaic Monday with Judith
 Tea Time Tuesday with Sandi 

A Return to Loveliness
 Tea Cup Tuesday
 Tea Cup Tuesday 
 Friends Sharing Tea
 Share Your Cup Thursday

An InLinkz Link-up

Christmas Fabric with Teacups! Tinker Toys and Good News!

Well, really cups and mugs...but just had to show you! Found this wonderful tablecloth on Etsy and it arrived yesterday so it's on the table for Christmas dinner today!  Whooppee...!!!  The Etsy store is really mostly antique and vintage linens, which I love, but I came across the retro teacup tablecloth while searching a comparable on some antique lace I am listing on my site. Love it! It's hard to find Christmas patterns with blue in them, but the dining room is mostly blue, so....

The Etsy shop is RenaissanceProfessor

Also got some catnip stuffed fabric mice for Tinker, my office assist...here he is after a wild play with it...using it as a pillow!

And a little while later...Tinker toy tuckered out napping in the sunroom....

Hope you are enjoying your Christmas Day. My best Christmas gift possible, was that my Honey had a good report at the cardiologist's yesterday...no surgeru necessary! The report from the 10days with the heart monitor were better than we'd hoped...and with some medication adjustments he is good to go! Just wanted to  let you know and thanks you, dear friends, for your comments and prayer. Prayer answered!

Tuesday Cuppa Tea, Merry Christmas!

Welcome to the Christmas edition of Tuesday Cuppa Tea! 

Amazing...but it's here! As the Christmas star shines on the church in the snow we gather to celebrate the birthday of Jesus!

I am slao joining Judith for Mosaic Monday...my first ever collage from the photos I am using in this post....

My teacup is a Spode Christmas Tree design...a gift last year from a friend...and ready for our Christmas tea party....to celebrate another successful season at my websites...and take a relaxing break as things have slowed down...and look forward to my Honey's appointment at the cardiologists on Christmas Eve...

The tea party is in the sunroom in a small glimmer of winter sunshine between the rain clouds....The snowflakes were crocheted by my sister many years ago.....

I am drinking...as I type...my very most favorite holiday tea...Candy Cane Lane green tea by Celestial Seasonings...thanks to several bloggers for recommending it when I was looking for a green tea...I LOVE this mix of peppermint and vanilla and have ordered a case because I know it will disappear soon....

The ribbon pinecone was an easy craft I taught our church ladies to make several years ago...just folded and pinned ribbon on an egg shaped styrofoam ball...but so pretty!

And I got a box of macarons from our local bakery for this Christmas tea...they were an assortment of raspberry, pistachio, caramel and chocolate. Delicious! A bit of a splurge, but it was a real treat!

Another of my Christmas cross stitches that dot the walls at Christmas...I've been doing them for 40 years...this dates to 2005...

The Christmas nativity ornament is on the bookshelf....

The holly topiaries and snowman weathervane is on the fireplace mantle...

And the folk art snowman a friend made for me in 2000 hangs by the china cabinet...do you have precious decorations that have to be there at Christmas??? I certainly do!

And on the dining room wall...my Christmas Cross cross-stitch...a large project I did in the 1990s...

It was a big project, but I loved it...and still do!

I wish you the most marvelous Christmas filled with love, laughter, food and friends...where the greatest gifts can't be bought in a store but in hearts full of love...for Jesus and each other!

Merry Christmas!

I am joining the following blog parties. Hope you can visit them...the ladies are so creative! And the linky is there for Tuesday Cuppa Tea...remember it is SSLLLOOOOOWWWW but does show up! I'd love to have you link your tea related posts!

Mosaic Monday with Judith
 Tea Time Tuesday with Sandi 

A Return to Loveliness

 Tea Cup Tuesday

 Tea Cup Tuesday 

 Friends Sharing Tea

 Share Your Cup Thursday

An InLinkz Link-up

Happy Hanukkah!

Happy Hanukkah to my Jewish friends!