Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Last Autumn Teatime & Movie Recommendation!



The house is empty. I am taking tea earlier than usual today.

The kettle has been heated.

This is the last quiet moment before the crazy Big Holiday Season hits!

Thanksgiving dinner is here tomorrow, the day after that begins
All Things Christmas. And we all know how insane these next few weeks are going to be!

Please allow me to wish you all a very blesssed Thanksgiving Day!

There probably won't be much blog reading for most of us in the next
busy few days. so even if my wish is belated I did want to let each of you know how wonderful you all are, and how I count you each as a blessing.

Thank you so much for reading my humble little blog so faithfully. Never in a million years did I expect to find the joy & friendships I have found through blogging. It is the best of the best, and I appreciate you so much.









So I grabbed some of my very favorite fall magazines - today being
Tea Time and Victoria......and actually read them cover to cover while I
leisurely sipped my tea in my pretty autumn themed china before putting
it all away for yet another year.








I have somehow managed to save some peanut butter milk chocolate pumpkins my dear MIL Ginny gave me for my birthday and pumpkin flavored white chocolate covered pretzels my friend Marina gave me when I stayed at her house recently .....how I didn't manage to eat them all is amazing, thanks, gals for the yummy sweet treats!


Here is a lovely bouquet my wonderful hubs gave me. ♥


Fresh flowers always make a more pleasant tea time, don't you agree?











Where does the time go? This year has flown by so quickly! A big part of me wants to stop the clock and savor this teatime and just SLOW DOWN.
But we all know that can't happen. The Season is upon us in full swing
and stays busy till way after New Year's Eve. *Sigh*









In a few  minutes it's time to bake pies and start the "early" things for
dinner tomorrow. I always make my gravy and stuffing and cranberry salad the day ahead - makes for a quicker day tomorrow. Plus we're absolutely convinced that it tastes better after ingredients





(A sweet Thanksgiving card from my sister MB.)



I use linen napkins for dinner but paper napkins for dessert - and
these are perfect for it.

I hope you all have a chance to take a healthy spiritual breather today
and just  try and slow it down and savor it just a tiny bit for your teatime or coffee time or Diet Coke time, or whatever and just breathe.

Remember that it is truly only the PEOPLE who count, not the stuff, not the food, not the decor - the loved ones are most important (and God, of course.) 

Keep your mind on the importance of Thanksgiving and Christmas and Hanukkah and Winter Solstice or whatever your choice of 
spirituality. 

May you be richly blessed and truly focused on what's truly important in the coming weeks ahead.








   If you want to see the perfect china set for Thanksgiving hope on over to Miss Spenser's and check it out!



BTW:

If you haven't seen the movie "About Time" with Rachel McAdams -
do so soon. It is one of the best movies I have seen in a very very long time and I *highly* recommend it.

 Your fellas will like it too - it is done romantically but through the eyes of really good men. They will identify! Perfect date movie! TRUST ME ON THIS ONE! don't even watch the trailer, go without knowing much about it. Grab your Mom, sister, bff, hubs, significant other, or go alone - but definitely see this movie soon.



AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO VISIT!


~Michele


Linking:

Tea Time    *    Tea Time with Friends     * Be Inspired 


Simple and Sweet   *  Home and Garden  *  Feathered Nest


Share Your Cup






Sunday, November 24, 2013

Autumn Touches


I have a few last minute autumn touches around here
 to share with you while it is still November and still Thanksgiving.

It is still very much the fall season for us and is also my very favorite -
so I am hanging on to it as long as I am able....

~~~~~~~~


....like this sweet "Angel of the Harvest" corn husk doll.









Here is a pic of the above votive holder with a candle lit inside
and the lights very dim - will try to re-do a better pic as soon 
as I have a little extra time- but I wanted to at least share.....
found this sweet thing for only $0.99 at the GW recently! 


I think it looks gorgeous in day or evening with a candle glowing!












The dining room is more traditionally dressed
for fall - the walls are the perfect backdrop for these colours.

           Cream, rust, brown, green, black, orange, scarlet
 and rust are the call for the season in here.

These colours are so soothing and will always remind me of Autumn,
even though the rest of our home is decorated in whites for fall.










This decorative pumpkin plate was a gift
 from my good neighbor friend Dee this year for my birthday.


Here is that large paper machet pumpkin that my
 youngest daughter made me last year for my birthday. 
I shared about it here

(You can see it more clearly there.)









Our front door wreath bidding you welcome.....
the attached rusty wrought iron pumpkin on my wreath
was a gift from my MIL several years ago.

I know I have shared it, but that was a whole year ago, right?


(:- D








At the front door in the corner a huge Italian pottery vase
holds curly branches wrapped in warm silk leaves
for another spot of fall colour.









A few small touches in the guest half bath downstairs-
plus then again I get to show off the amazing mosaic tile
work my youngest daughter did on an existing table
I have in there - isn't it gorgeous?


The sachet envelope was a recent gift from my tea sister Marina -
 makes the whole bathroom smell delish!













Thank you for visiting and allowing me to share a few more of my







Hugs, blessings and friendship to you!

~Michele
                                                                              




Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Card Party - November




It's time again for Vee's CARD LINKY PARTY!

Just take 4 of your "card worthy" favvie photos
 from any of your blog posts
and link up to the fun! Easy Peasy!

Here are my choices:



























And of course being so close to Thanksgiving
 I just had to add a card for that wonderful family holiday!









Be sure to stop by here to see all the cute "cards!"



A Haven for Vee


Monday, November 18, 2013

Lovely Autumn Tea Time



Oh, yes, it is blustery and getting cooler every day!

The days are getting shorter and the shadows are getting longer.


~~~~~*~~~~~



This is perfect tea sipping weather-
and the perfect time to bring out my very favorite
Autumn china.








Won't you take a moment to sit a spell with me
 and enjoy our tea time together?










I stuck a little autumn candle favor in the tea cup just for you!











Can you smell the aroma
 of cinnamon and orange infused tea
in our china tea pot?










And you know  how much I love my themed sugar cubes-
you have seen them before, I buy them when I am able!

They make a simple little tea more special!

And who doesn't love to use special embroidered napkins?









"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower."
~Albert Camus




"Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree."
~Emily Bronte




“Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile.”
~William Cullen Bryant







        Thank you for joining me for tea today!




~Michele


Linking:

Tea Time Tuesday   *   Tuesday Cuppa Tea  *  Inspire Me Tuesday

Teacup Tuesday  *  Open House

Friday, November 15, 2013

Double Layer Pumpkin Parfait Cups Recipe


Double Layer Pumpkin Parfait Cups Recipe

~~~for Thanksgiving~~~~



I don't know about many of you but I always host 
Thanksgiving dinner, and by the time it comes to
serving dessert I am about wiped out exhausted.

Well, look what my youngest daughter came up with
as an easy grab-it-and-serve-yourself dessert!


Cindy asked in comments, so I should add this:
Daughter made them for that awesome
Halloween party she hosted and I just saved
mentioning it till now to be a seperate post.

If you missed the post about her awesome party you can find
the post here.







There was a fall coloured MnM on top I accidentally
pushed down that you can't see, didn't notice till it was
too late consumed. Oops.


But don't they look fun all lined up together?








First make a cookie or graham crackers crust following a generic online or on box recipe for it and place in bottom of little plastic shot glass cups. The vessel may be motified to use anything see-through that you may already have, too such as wine glasses, ect. She wanted little bit size ones because more often than not one just needs a little taste of sweet and not an entirely huge dessert.

Filling ingredients you will need:

1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
1 cup plus 1 Tbsp. milk, divided
1 Tbsp. sugar
1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed, divided
1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin
2 pkg. (3.4 oz. each) vanilla Instant pudding
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. ground cloves


Directions: 

Beat cream cheese, 1 Tbsp. milk and sugar in large bowl with whisk until blended. Stir in half the COOL WHIP. Pipe spread onto bottom of crust.

Whisk remaining milk, pumpkin, dry pudding mixes and spices 2 min. (Mixture will be thick.) Pipe spread over cream cheese layer. Refrigerate 4 hours or until firm. Serve topped with remaining whipped topping.....and/or other options: fall coloured sprinkles, coloured sugar sprinkles, shaved chocolate. 









There you have it - a fun, cute and simple dessert
for your guests - and easy to transportor send home
if that is what you do, too!


As always, thank you for your visit!


~Michele

Linking:


Thursday, November 14, 2013

THANKSGIVING NEUTRAL TABLESCAPE




I have had this neutral tableware a while now,
 but have never used it for Thanksgiving.










It's earthy and warmly neutral....
allowing the FOOD to be the real highlight of the meal.....










I have two areas set up for Thanksgiving
 as I usually have between 10-14 guests.

(Sometimes more but seldom less.)

This year I have 10 planned for dinner, 
so will  need to sit 4 people in the kitchen dining area.











I am having some trouble deciding on which centerpiece to use!


1.)  Do I use this dried and silk floral hydrangea arrangement.....










~or~

2.)  The low small acorn candle one that doesn't get in the
way of seeing one anothe?

(If I put a runner down the table it may look better.)









~or~


3.)  Do you like the tall black metal lantern best?








Decisions, decisions!

BTW: the food is provided buffet-style
 so I won't need to have much room on this table other than this.


















Or if you have any other ideas....
such as fresh flowers or a large white ceramic pumpkin - ??

I have a cream coloured pitcher
 that works perfectly with these dishes.











Please let me know what your thoughts are on this!
Your comments are valued and treasured!









As always, thanks for visiting!!




~Michele




Linking:

Tablescape Thursday  *  Feathered Nest  *  Be Inspired 

Show and Tell   *  Blissful Whites  *  Show Off

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Thanksgiving Decor


Hi everyone!


Just wanted to say hello &  share a few of my fav
THANKSGIVING DECOR ITEMS






A metal cornucopia:






My Mom gave my two sisters and me one of these
natural coconut grass turkeys over 20 years ago! 


He makes his holiday appearance here 
right after Halloween each year!











A vintage pheasant planter:











A turkey-themed gravy tureen:











I think he is really pretty cute, don't you?

That's it for me today - my sister is visiting
and we're getting ready to go thrifting!









As always, thank you for your visit!




~Michele


Sunday, November 10, 2013

Beyond Tragic



We are living today and many have just lost their lives in the Phillipines.

The experts are calling this the largest
 natural disaster death toll  in history.

Today I send up all my prayers for the lost souls -
 and for the living souls
in the beautiful Phillipines.

 May merciful God reach down His Mighty Hand and 
hold them, bringing peace and comfort.

I wish I could do more - but sharing it today helps this hurt inside.





Many don't realize how many beautiful
 poster-perfect palm tree beach
images we see come from the Phillipines.

Or how many times these lovely places
are used in film making.

May we each send up prayer for them
at this horrific loss of life from the storm.


~~~~~*~~~~~



Blessed are those who mourn,

 for they shall be comforted.
    
                                                                               Matthew 5:4



No comments - please take this moment for prayer.