WREATHMAKER

It has finally warmed up here in Manitoba, and my mind is filled with thoughts of gardening. I love to sit in this spot in our bedroom in the warm afternoon sunshine, leafing through a decorating or gardening magazine. I think I will do just that….with a cup of tea and some lemon tarts in cream cheese pastry. The cup and saucer are marked “EB” as are many of my pretty china cups. In fact our dinner china is decorated with the same flower bouquet.                                  The magazine, although Canadian, seems to deal more with warmer climate garden plants..oh, well, I can dream! I received this nice orchid as a gift, and the forsythia are some I forced, from a garden shrub.

We had two old upholstered cane chairs and decided it was time for some renewal. BEFORE They were painted BM Cloud White and we had them professionally recovered in buffalo-check fabric I purchased at Joanne Fabrics. The upholsterer was quite proud of how he matched the checks in his tufting. I do love buffalo checks and anything in BLUE! Right now we have them in our dining room for extra seating, but they also can be used in our family room downstairs.

I seem to be quite enamoured with silver these days. Last year we purchased a silver and mirrored cabinet. I accessorized it with a brushed silver framed mirror, mercury glass candlesticks and a pewter pheasant, resulting in a basically silver vignette. We already had the  butterfly art. In April, I saw these silver sconces at Z Gallerie, (one of my favourite stores!) and thought they might be a nice addition to the wall above the sofa. I also added a pillow from Dillards…more silver accents! What think ye?…too much silver?

It’s snowing today…it’s not Spring in this neck of the woods! This calls for some good ole’ comfort food. I made some old fashioned cornbread . We will have it with Canadian maple syrup. Yummm! Our Denby mugs will do nicely, filled with plain tea or strong coffee. My husband received several from his sister as gifts. SANDI hosts a lovely tea time each week. Be sure to visit today.

I am emerging from a blog absence. After recovering from the horrendous flu, we spent a week getting packed, and headed down to Arizona for a much-needed break from winter. There was limited access to the internet in the house we were at, so I wasn’t able to post on my blog…and I missed visiting my favourite sites each day! There are other kinds of “winter” besides the weather, too,…the kind that puts a cold chill around your heart. I have experienced some of that,  and hopefully, I am emerging from that also. Although the snow is still feet deep in our city, I believe that soon my spring bulbs will emerge , to bring a splash of colour to us. We are preparing for Easter, around the house, as well as in our hearts…and the thought of Jesus emerging from the tomb gives us hope for eternity. So there you have it, my word for the day, and my thoughts that go with it.

Just this week I found a blog I love! I am a huge fan of Downton Abbey , and was so pleased to see a blog which specializes in Downton Abbey cooking. I will certainly be trying some of those recipes. I happened to bake some eccles cakes, as I had currants, mixed peel, and a packet of puff pastry left over from Christmas baking. When I worked downtown many years ago, I would often buy Eccles cakes at Eatons department  store (I still miss Eatons!!) Here is a link to the blog’s recipe, which differs somewhat from the one I used. http://downtonabbeycooks.com/2012/05/08/tea-tuesday-mothers-day-tea-ideas-eccles-cakes/ I set out my Mom’s silver tea service and tray, and am using a cup and saucer she received from my Dad in the early 1950’s. If he went on a rare business trip he often brought back a cup and saucer for her. This particular cup was her favorite. The stamp is Paragon bone china, by appointment to Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary. Be sure to visit our deligh...

It has been too long since I have joined in with Sandi’s Tuesday Tea Time . I have missed it…we came down with the terrible virus which is making it’s rounds. Being very dehydrated, we did drink lots of tea, but certainly nothing picture-worthy! Anyway, today we’ll have  a big cup of tea and a few cookies, in a peacock theme. I set the tea things on the mirrored cupboard. I do love the teapot!