WREATHMAKER

To all my blog friends..have a wonderful Christmas. Let us  celebrate the birth of the Saviour!

Christmas is approaching far too quickly….still gifts to wrap, and even some last minute shopping! It is very pretty outside today. The large soft snowflakes are coating everything with a fresh white coat. Inside, the teapot is ready for some Earl Grey, and we have a few cookies to go with it. I am using a Lenox teapot, Lenox mugs, plate, and bowl. The foil wrapped balls in the bowl are chocolates from Costco. They add a splash of colour to a table and a nice sweet finale to a meal. I added some dried hydrangeas to the free IKEA tree in the dining room. (We paid $20 for the tree and received a $20 gift certificate ) I love real trees but we have had a faux tree in our living room for several years.  I brought out old ornaments which I’ve stored for years to decorate this Fraser Fir. It looks rather simple. I’m joining Sandi’s weekly tea party today. Thanks, Sandi!

I have seen some copycat postings around, and there is even a copycat party occasionally. I was given a copy of “Christmas Cottage” magazine and happened to notice this vignette. The silver birds and the white container reminded me that I had something similar, and at the same time I was trying to think of some simple decor for our very small foyer. So here is my version: It was fun putting it together! Joining SANDI’S HOME Day

Sandi is hosting a lovely Christmas tea today.That girl comes up with the greatest tea party themes! I’ve set the table with mercury glass plates (from Z Gallerie) and candleholders, and my Mom’s silver teapot. The glass mugs are from Mikasa…we love to use them every day. Placemats were made by my sister-in-law. I haven’t had time to bake in time for tea tonight, so I guess it’ll be fruitcake to accompany our snack. Oh, well!

Our 30 year old dining light fixture was showing it's age so this week, with a little lots of help, my husband installed a new chandelier. It only took 2 years for us to decide on one we liked! It came wth silver lined black shades as well as the white silk. Before: After: We hung the new one much lower, according to instructions on the internet. Now it just takes some getting used to!

I have always loved pine cones. When we park in a new campground, as we drive in, I am already glancing upward to see what type of pines there are…so over the years pine cones from Oregon, Georgia, Minnesota, Arizona, California, British Columbia, etc., have made their way home with me. When I participated in craft shows my wreaths almost always included cones in one form or another. The days of craft sales (for me) are gone, along with most of my stash of cones, but they still intrigue me. This last summer there was a bumper crop of cones on our Manitoba spruce trees, so on our fall campout at Hecla Island I filled a bag with the little lovelies to make a wreath just for us. Isn’t the colour beautiful? Along with the wreath, I have a vase, and a candle holder, both with a pine cone theme, as well as a sugar pine cone. Well, that’s it for my obsession today! I'll join in with others at Sandi's Home Day

At this busy time of year it is nice to sit down and relax with a refreshing cup of tea, ….in my case Earl Grey tea. I baked fruitcake last week, so we can sample a slice. I use Rose Murray’s recipe every year. It is loaded with pecans and almonds, and candied fruit. On this cool winter day, let's go on over and  enjoy other tea settings at Sandi’s weekly party. Thanks, Sandi, for being an excellent hostess!

My husband and grandson have been making nuts and bolts every December since our grandson was about 4 or 5. He is now 20. We are so happy that he still takes time to visit us for lunch almost every week. Today they continued the annual tradition (a few days early!)... It's the "little" things that bring lots of joy at this time of year....

Last Saturday we stopped by a favorite thrift store, which happened to have a sale on almost eveything. I had something in mind, but couldn't find it...however, I just had to browse through the crystal and came home with some lovely sherbert dishes and candleholders. What better way to break them in than a little tea time today!  We will have some apple pudding with our tea. Both the candleholders and the stemware are in the cornflower pattern. I am rather fond of that particular pattern, since I received several pieces as wedding gifts. The teacups are Royal Wochester "Gold Chantilly". Sandi is hosting her wonderful Tea Time Tuesday , so please visit her and leave a comment . Enjoy!

Last week while camping I put together a little  snack for an afternoon break. It was still warm out, so we had Trader Joe’s sparkling clementine juice instead of tea or coffee. We also had gorgonzola crackers, a roasted smoked salmon spread, Famous Dave’s pickles, pears, and a few candy corns for dessert. The trees were very pretty!…….. We even had some flowers on the picnic table , mums I bought at Trader Joe’s. Can you guess that I love Trader Joe’s? I am going over to Sandi’s to join her Tuesday tea time . Won’t you meet us there?

Just like our Canada Geese, my husband and I like to head South in the fall…., not too far away…just across the border to Minnesota. We stayed at Baker Lake reserve and Lake Itasca We visited Clemens Munsinger Gardens The day before we left for home, the temps were almost 80F., but next day, we ran into this: an early snowstorm! It was all good!

  For The Beauty Of The Earth For the beauty of the earth, For the beauty of the skies, For the love which from our birth Over and around us lies, Lord of all, to thee we raise This our grateful hymn of praise. For the beauty of each hour Of the day and of the night, Hill and vale, and tree and flower, Sun and moon and stars of light, Lord of all, to thee we raise This our grateful hymn of praise. For the joy of human love, Brother, sister, parent, child, Friends on earth, and friends above, Pleasures pure and undefiled, Lord of all, to thee we raise This our grateful hymn of praise. For each perfect gift of thine, To our race so freely given, Graces human and divine, Flowers of earth and buds of heaven, Lord of all, to thee we raise This our grateful hymn of praise. For thy Church which evermore Lifteth holy hands above, ...

Sandi is hosting an Autumn Tea this week, so I gathered together our last flowers of the season (we had frost last night) and set a table for one…why just one?…well, because I only had one pumpkin mug, and one Danish apple square. I had a committee meeting at our house, and that was all that was left. I love my pumpkin mug! I am going to miss my flower garden. The dahlias will now have to dug up and stored for the winter, and the zinnias must be pulled up and discarded. We will still have the dusty miller, mums, and ornamental cabbage a little while longer. In the meantime, let us all enjoy the vibrant colours of fall!

I really can’t say that this is a true Tea Time posting… I am cheating a bit! Yesterday we celebrated our daughter’s birthday with a family dinner…it was  lovely time! For our dessert, with our tea and coffee, we had this wonderful rose cake…luscious vanilla layers, with delightful Swiss buttercream icing. The cake was baked by our daughter’s friend who is making a name for herself with her baked creations. We also had a key lime pie, ….very  delicious. Joining Sandi for tea time Tuesday again.