Sunday

Old Country Roses China

I love china, especially the vintage china pieces. Floral china is so lovely and excites my romantic heart. When I married years ago I chose plain china, it was eggshell with a narrow platinum border. My choice was based on being able to use it on different colored and patterned tablecloths. After many years passed I found myself falling in love with floral china. Old Country Roses china by Royal Albert (Royal Doulton) had become very popular. Several of my friends were purchasing OCR. I wanted it so badly, but couldn't justify buying a new set of china when I had a china cabinet full of a set of fine china.

I started buying a few pieces of OCR here and there, and my friends and children gave me pieces as gifts. When my husband heard how much I desired the OCR china he said if I wanted it that much I should get it! He's a keeper!!

My daughter loved my plain china and when she married I gave her the whole set, along with the crystal, and silver that went with it. She and her husband love minimalistic style so the china was perfect for them!

I'm very happy with my Old Country Roses china and never tire of it. It is displayed in my china cabinet which has beveled glass doors and a mirror back and shows off the china splendidly!

Old Country Roses also has coordinating OCR china in many other patterns, including chintz, yellow or green or lavender backgrounds, etc. OCR comes in a casual china for daily use, I don't have a whole set of the casual, but have a lot of it that I use daily. I keep some of the fine china cups and saucers and dessert plates in my kitchen cabinets so they may be used daily as well.

It seems that all people who enjoy tea parties also love the romantic OCR! It just seems to go together! I've had a lot of tea parties with different themes and used other styles of china, but Old Country Roses china is my favorite. At my recent tea party OCR was used and was an awesome picture of romance!

Centerpiece

A centerpiece on the dining room table is the main attraction at a tea party, a large dinner party, or even just tea for two.

I enjoy creating my centerpieces from things I have on hand. I seldom ever use just a vase of fresh flowers as a centerpiece. To me that is too easy! I enjoy the challenge of shopping around the house for just the right things to put together for a unique centerpiece. These centerpieces become a conversational piece as my guests always want to hear about how the idea for each centerpiece came about. I usually like to have a theme for my tea parties and whatever the theme is becomes the subject for a centerpiece to be the highlight of the theme.

This centerpiece evolved from using my Old Country Roses china at a recent tea party. I didn't have a theme for the party. It was a reunion party for some long-time friends I have known for 35 years. Since I couldn't come up with an appropriate theme, I started looking around for what to use. I had just purchased two OCR hatboxes at an outlet mall. These boxes are what the plates are shipped in, they sell them for $7 and $5 each! The rim on the lid has the words Old Country Roses around it, but I covered the rim with a ribbon. The ribbon was about 1/8 of an inch too short and I remedied that with using a clip-on vintage earring in that spot! Perfect!

A ribbon runner was used under the hatbox. Mostly vintage items were used in and around the hatbox: scarf, pearls, crocheted gloves, a small perfume bottle, small beaded purse, a figurine from my childhood, a yellow rose hankie, a pair of tiny crocheted baby shoes, a small oval frame with a photo of my grandmother when she was 16 years old. A small crystal dish held two pairs of 1928 vintage-look earrings that I used to tell an interesting story about. Two candles in the shape of vintage shoes filled with pink and yellow roses completed the vignette.
My friends loved the centerpiece, as well as everything else! I will use this centerpiece for a few more weeks. I always dislike removing a favorite centerpiece, but it's just another opportunity to create another one!

Special Friends Tea Party

My special friend, DeAnn, drove 75 miles north to help me host a tea party for a few other special friends. All of these ladies are the friends I have known for 30 or more years. I moved here five years ago, but we have remained friends even though we don't get to see each other often.

Some of the details of the tea party: A burgundy tablecloth was used to compliment my Old Country Roses china. The centerpiece was a chintz OCR hatbox vignette of vintage things in and around it. The hatbox was atop a ribbon table runner, vintage crocheted gloves, pearls, and a wine colored scarf overflowed out from under the lid of the hat box. A small oval picture frame holding a picture of my grandmother at age 16, a small beaded purse, a figurine, a perfume bottle, hankie, vintage earrings, and tiny crocheted baby shoes surrounded the hatbox. Two candles in the shape of vintage shoes filled with roses were on each side of the hatbox.

Gold leafed chargers, white paper doilies, were topped with Old Country Roses plates. Floral OCR napkins were tied with red velvet roses. Food on OCR three-tiered servers, yellow depression glass, and platters decorated with fabric ribbons intertwined.

Menu: Ruth Ann's chicken salad in phyllo cups; Cucumber sandwiches, egg salad sandwiches, and pimento cheese sandwiches. Lemon scones, lemon curd, strawberry bread with cream cheese mixed with strawberry preserves; lemon bread, cold veggie pizza; Sausage pinwheels; Russian tea cakes; and mini surprise filled pound cakes. I also made butter pats into shapes of roses.

We read "Of Teacups and Friends" by Linda gaither. I told about the Earring story. We looked at pictures of past parties in photo albums and some copied recipes. This was a first home tea party for three of my friends, they seemed pleasantly surprised and pleased! I enjoyed doing this for them, I only have tea parties for my very special friends!

Thursday

Our Dog Dody

Today I will introduce a special member of our family and tell you how he came to live with us.

The Story of Dody McDuff
Once upon a time there was a West Highland White Terrier (Westie) dog named Woody. His owner accused him of biting and turned him over to the Society, even requesting he be euthanized.
Joe and daughter, Barbara went to the Humane Society to make a donation. While there they saw the little white Westie dog and it was love at first sight. They had strict orders not to bring a dog home (by Joe’s wife!) They were determined to convince her to get the little Westie, but she didn’t want a male dog, or a white dog, or an adult dog. She preferred a puppy! She finally went to see him and began to soften. He was a cute little dog who appeared to be a gentle.
On February 22, 2005, we adopted Woody and decided to change his name. First we tried “Poogan” after the legendary Poogan dog at Poogan’s Porch restaurant in Charleston, SC. Joe wasn’t comfortable with that name, so we tried “Scruffy.” I wanted a Scottish name since the West Highland dogs originated in Scotland. Joe didn’t like McGregor or the other Scottish names.
While we had company visiting, they mentioned their friend or relative named Dody. Joe immediately said “that’s a cute name!” so we tried out Dody, thinking since it ended in a “y” like Woody it would be easier for him to change. Sometimes we would forget and revert back to Woody. I really preferred “Cody”, but Joe didn’t and you see who won out. Woody adapted to his new name “Dody” easily.
Our neighbors who have four children showed us some storybooks about a Westie dog named “McDuff” who looks exactly like Dody. So we named him “Dody McDuff!”
Dody was 7 years old when we rescued him in February 2005. We have found him to be a sweet, gentle, docile dog, great with people all ages. Only problem we have is his habit of sometimes biting other dogs! We wish we had named him “Tuffy!”
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The West Highland White Terrier (Westie) is a small well-balanced hardy looking terrier, exhibiting good showmanship. They are elegant looking with a beautiful, shiny white coat and bright, button eyes, shaggy eyebrows and a black nose. An intelligent dog who learns quickly West Highland White Terriers love human companionship and will play with their family indoors or out. Their size makes them great for an apartment but they are just as at home in the country. West Highland White Terriers make great companions for children of all ages. They are one of the most popular breed of dogs today.

Country of Origin: ScotlandHistory: They were developed in the high mountains of west Scotland and claims ancestry to the Scotch Terrier. West Highland White Terriers were originally bred to hunt vermin. Sir Edwin Landseer painting of 1831 "The Breakfast Party" features several Highland Terriers. In the later 1800s there was a strain of white Scottish Terriers who were owned by Colonel Malcolm of Poltalloch and were known as Poltralloch Terriers. They were very much like the West Highland White Terriers of today. They were at one time cross bred with Cairn, Scottish and Dandie Dinmont Terriers. In 1917 the AKC ruled that Cairn Terriers could be registered if they carried West Highland White Terrier blood.
Other Names: Poltalloch Terrier
Height: 10 - 11 inchesWeight: 15 - 22 lbs
Colors: All whiteCoat: Double coat, harsh straight, wiry outer coat and soft, close, furry undercoat.
Temperament: West Highland White Terriers are active, assertive, fun-loving, well-behaved, light-heartedWith Children: Yes, make excellent playmates for children because they can withstand rough play. With Pets: Yes, but teach them when they are young to tolerate cats.Special Skills: Family Pet
Watch-dog: High Guard-dog: Low

Care and Training: The West Highland White Terrier is easy to train and should have basic training. They needs regular brushing two to three times a week to help keep their white coat clean. Monthly bathing. Minimal trimming if they are just a pet. If you plan to show them, they will also need trimming, plucking and stripping of the coat. Learning Rate: High, Obedience - High, Problem Solving - Very High
Activity: Indoor & Outdoor - Very HighLiving Environment: At home in the country or the city the West Highland White Terrier will do well as an apartment dweller if they are walked several times a day though they will always enjoy having the freedom to play in a yard. West Highland White Terriers do best with human or canine companionship.
Health Issues: Healthy and robust. Some problems with skin allergies, patella luxation, hernias and cranio mandibular osteopathy (lion jaw), deafness and congenital heart disease.
Life Span: 15 + yearsLitter Size: 2 - 5
First Registered by the AKC: 1908AKC Group: Terrier Class: Terrier

Wednesday

Lemon Curd

  • Lemon Curd!
  • Today I'm preparing for the tea party Friday. I washed all my yellow depression glass collection. I display it on my tea cart which is also yellow with yellow roses painted on it. I use the tea cart to serve from at the teas, so today I found another place to display my yellow depression glass temporarily. I will also use some of the serving pieces at the tea.

    Another time I will share a photo of my yellow rose tea cart and my yellow depression glass.

    I made the lemon curd and have it in the refrigerator, we will have to restrain ourselves to keep from eating it before the tea party! I love anything lemon! Lemon flavor is my second favorite, chocolate being my very favorite!!

    This is the recipe I use, it is very easy, just takes six minutes in the microwave.

    Lemon Curd
    1 cup sugar
    1/2 cup fresh or frozen lemon juice
    3 eggs, beaten
    1 stick butter, melted

    Melt butter, let cool slightly. In a glass bowl, beat eggs until frothy. Add sugar and lemon juice to eggs, stir, then add the melted butter and mix well.

    Microwave 3 minutes, remove and stir with wisk. Microwave 3 more minutes, wisk. Repeat if necessary. Don't forget that mixture will thicken when it cools.
    Recipe from Magnolia & Ivy Tea Room cookbook

New Grandbaby!

Last night my daughter and her husband sent me a very special and unique e-mail - an unusually clear photo of the ultrasound of their first baby at just 10 weeks! I was so excited to see my grandbaby for the first time! It is so incredible that this is possible to see a baby at this stage before it is born!

This photo is an answer to prayer. I have been so worried about my daughter and the baby since she just had a miscarriage a few months ago. I feel this is God's way of showing me all is well, like He is saying, "See for yourself, all is well!"

" For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb" Psalm 139:13 (NIV)

Tuesday

Fruits of the Spirit

Fruits of the Spirit

The Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Galatians 5:22, 23.

How does your garden grow?

It is a matter of taking a long, hard look at the garden of my life. What is it producing? What kind of crops are coming from it? Is the Master satisfied? Is He getting what He hoped to produce? Have His efforts been in vain or is there a bountiful yield? The yield of eternal fruitage is directly proportional to the degree in which my life is yielded to Him. The more I am available and open, the more active He becomes in any given area of my life.
John the Baptist, speaking about his relationship to Christ, put it pungently when he declared boldly: “He (Christ) must increase, but I must decrease” John 3:30. If we wish to see an increase in the fruits of God’s own Spirit in our lives then it can come about only in this way. There is no other formula for fruitage. It is He and only He by His increasing presence within who can guarantee good production in generous proportion.

“On that day, the pleasant vineyard, sing about it I, the Lord, am its keeper, I water it every moment, lest anyone harm it, night and day I guard it.” --Isaiah 27:2, 3.

I have more on this study of the Fruits of the Spirit if you would like a copy I will send it to you.

Monday


Faith Sharing Group
I'm in a Faith Sharing Group with seven other women who meet weekly. We are studying a book written by W. Phillip Keller, "The Gardener Looks at the Fruits of the Spirit." This is a wonderful old book written in the 80s, but what wisdom he had. We are learning so much. Today we studied the second Fruit of the Spirit, Joy. A few of the highlights from the Joy chapter: Joy and happiness are not the same. Happiness comes from the world around us. Joy comes from the presence of God in our lives. God is joy, His life, vitality, enthusiasm and energy are transmitted directly to me by the Holy Spirit. Joy is part and parcel of harmony with Him.

Joy seems to me a step beyond happiness.
Happiness is a sort of atmosphere you can live
in sometimes when you’re lucky.
Joy is a light that fills you with hope and faith and love.
~Adele Rogers St. Johns

Sunday


Friday I'm having a tea party for some of my long-time friends (notice I didn't say "old" friends! They are coming from the town where I used to live, I lived there 35 years and knew these friends that long.

"It doesn't really matter how far apart we are;
what matters is how close we stay.
~ Peggy Wrightsman

I love tea parties! I love all things that have to do with tea! As well as the delicious taste of hot tea and the pleasant way it relaxes and refreshes you, I like the pretty presentation of teas and tea food; the beautiful floral china whether it matches or not; and the company of friends and their reaction and appreciation. Whether it is tea for two or a tea buffet for a larger group it can be some work for the hostess, which these days people are trying to avoid, but it is very rewarding and brings such a feeling of accomplishment afterwards. I hope more young people will fall in love with tea time and keep the tradition going.

"Tea naturally serves as a thread
that weaves memories together."
~ Nan Taylor
The Graceful Art of Tea

Saturday

Blog Time!



January 22, 2006. Today I begin my blog. Blog. This is a new term for me. I wish it had a prettier name! I will post often about things I enjoy in life. You can see by the name that yellow roses are one of my favorite things! I have always loved yellow roses. I wore yellow roses to my senior prom, carried them in my wedding, and I'm presented yellow roses often by my sweet husband!

I collect yellow rose items. I collect yellow rose tea cups and saucers and I have one tea pot with yellow roses on it. Friends have given me many items with yellow roses on them, a small ring box, address book, note pads, etc. Soon I will share my yellow rose collection.

Yellow is my favorite color and has been since childhood. For the first time I finally have a house that has a lot of yellow in it! I will share much of this in my Blog. I hope you will enjoy seeing my treasures and hearing about things I love in future posts.