Faith Family Friends

Celebrating the Joy of Living & Home Making ~

Baking, Cooking, Decorating, Tea Time, and taking Inspiration from those I love and the world around me...

A sharing of my heart and my home from a Christian perspective

...with a wee bit of whimsy added.

Monday 24 October 2016

A Little Bit of Autumn on the Table

At the close of a long hot summer, the appearance of the pumpkin heralds the welcome arrival of autumn. ~ Kari Spencer 

Hello my lovely friends and welcome to my little blog! 

Today I'm sharing a little tablescape with you. It was raining hard so it was dark and dreary out when I took my pictures. You can see the tamaracs in our back yard are changing colour.




I had planned to gather some leaves from our yard but it was not a good day to be out so I settled for faux. I have the chandelier on because we need the lighting.

I started with these lovely hydrangeas and a few little pumpkins. 



Then I brought out some blue and white transferware. I think the blue looks wonderful with orange, don't you?



The teacup is Johnson Bros. Old Britain Castles.



The pumpkin soup tureens with their matching plates were a gift from my son last Christmas.






He found them at Sur La Table in Colorado where he is teaching and doing research at the university. I love the embossed pumpkins adorning the rim of the plate! He gave me a set of four plates and four soup tureens. A meal is always more enjoyable when you have fun dishes, don't you think?


The blue dinner plate is The Victorian English Pottery EST 1819 by Edward Challinor in England. The cream napkins have a leaf design and I'm using my mother's vintage wedding silver. Oops, I just realized I forgot the water goblets.



My son chose these soup tureens because he knows of my fondness for little white pumpkins. He is so thoughtful! We have enjoyed chili in them and today we're going to have a hearty home made creamy vegetable soup served from this soup tureen. 


Come, let us have some tea and continue to talk about happy things. ~ Chaim Potok

The teapot of course is Blue Willow and it's made by Churchill. 


Just a simple little tablescape for two, nothing fancy.

I found this on the internet and thought it perfect to end my post with.



Have a beautiful day everyone and thank you so much for your visit. 




I am sharing this with the following parties ~

Tuesday Cuppa Tea
Friends Sharing Tea
 Tea Cup Tuesday
 The Art of Home-Making Mondays
Share Your Cup Thursday
 Home Sweet Home


 Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi

Monday 17 October 2016

A Pink October

I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. ~ LM Montgomery

Hello dear friends ~ We Canadians celebrated Thanksgiving last Monday while the remnants of Hurricane Matthew lashed its way around us. Many lost their power but thankfully we didn't. I had my turkey in the oven and while the lights flickered a number of times, they stayed on. There was some very bad flooding in parts of the Maritimes.



We had a new roof put on our home the week before last. Talk about good timing! It was finished just before the storm hit and for that I'm very thankful!

The flip-flops and beach chairs have been put away for another year. Fat pumpkins are squatting on the steps as well as pots of mums and the Autumn wreath has replaced the summer one on the front door. 



I would rather sit on a pumpkin, and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion. ~ Henry David Thoreau

When I was hosting Tea Time Tuesday, I always shared a pink theme during the month of October to show my support of Breast Cancer Awareness





"The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen." ~ Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

I am taking a break from hosting parties right now, but I still want to show my support of this worthy cause. So, I am using my October Royal Albert teacup of the month, Cosmos.


I have paired it with some other pinks. The other teacup is an AynsleyPink isn't hard for me to come up with because it is a favourite colour. 



Pink is not only feminine, it is a feel good colour. It is known to soothe and bring a peaceful feeling into a room.



The perfect temperature for tea is two degrees hotter than just right. ~ Terri Guillemets

Nothing makes one's home smell any nicer this time of year than some baking. I baked another pumpkin pie and it will be my last until Christmas. I love the spicy scents wafting through my home!
Would you care to join me for a cup of tea and another piece of pie? I made crustless pumpkin pie this time. Fewer calories!




Autumn carries more gold in its pocket than all the other seasons. ~ Jim Bishop

The maple tree out front is really taking on its golden glow and everywhere the leaves are changing to red, orange, and yellow. 

Here on the Island we have the Confederation Trail which runs from one end of the Island to the other, 470 km or 282 miles long. These trails have replaced the old railway tracks and this time of year the trails are filled with dazzling colour and the sound of crunching leaves underfoot. This is one of the trails near our home. 



It's becoming a cobbler crust world with autumn in full swing.



I pray you are all doing well and looking forward to the Holidays. From now until Christmas it's going to get very busy. If you're anything like me, you look forward to the decorating, baking and surprises wrapped up in pretty packages for your loved ones. Wishing you all a lovely week and thank you for blessing me with your company. 



I am joining the following parties as well~


 Tuesday Cuppa Tea
Friends Sharing Tea
 Tea Cup Tuesday
 Share Your Cup Thursday~ http://jannolson.blogspot.com/
 Home Sweet Home~ http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/

 Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi

Sunday 9 October 2016

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian friends!



We all have something we can be thankful for; family, friends, good food, and a roof over our heads.

"I am grateful for what I am
and have. My thanksgiving
is perpetual." ~
Henry David Thoreau

Let's take a moment to drink in the beauty of this season.



From His abundance we have received one Blessing after another. - John 1:16

Whatever is Beautiful,
Whatever is Meaningful,
Whatever brings you Happiness,
May it be yours this
Holiday Season
and throughout the coming year!

Excerpt from our church bulletin


While we're being thankful, please pray for our neighbours in the USA and the Caribbean who have been affected by Hurricane Matthew. May God bless them all!

Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi

Saturday 1 October 2016

The Softer Side of Autumn

The brisk Autumn air often sparks the urge to come indoors and rekindle the spirit of hearth and home. ~ Victoria magazine

Hello and Happy Autumn my lovely friends! I am truly touched by the love that has been poured out on me since my last post. I had no idea so many of you were so fond of my little blog and of me. I feel quite humbled. Blogland really is a friendly and caring community of friends. Thank you so much for your love and support. You're the best!

With all my health challenges, I have been resting as much as possible and I am going to physiotherapy for a couple of injuries I sustained over the past year. I am also under a doctor's care for a new medical condition I have developed over the past several months. 

Meanwhile, Autumn has arrived! I know for many of you, it is your favourite season. Although it can be lovely, I miss the warm balmy days of the summertime. I miss the scent of summer in the air and the songbirds singing in the trees behind our home. 

Our Island is surrounded by water so we never get overly hot in the summer. Our Autumns seem to turn chilly very quickly and then we have such long cold winters so, needless to say, I do miss the warm weather. 

However, one can always find beauty in every situation and season. The bounty of fruits and vegetables is in abundance and on the 10th they will be enjoyed with thankful hearts on our Thanksgiving tables here in Canada. Who couldn't be thankful for a slice of home made pumpkin pie and whipped cream? 

The foliage of bushes and trees is beginning to wear their last colourful tresses before they go to sleep for the winter. Try walking through a path in the woods when the air is crisp and there is burnished gold lying at your feet in the leaves strewn about. 

Overhead, there is a glimpse of blue sky through the beautifully coloured branches.

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

I have a few pumpkins sitting out. 



I am more fond of white pumpkins than orange although a little punch of orange doesn't hurt here and there.



Teapot is on, the cups are waiting,
Favourite chairs anticipating,

No matter what I have to do, 
My friend, there's always time for you. ~ Author unknown


Aynsley

Today, I have decided to set out a tea time with a new little something I picked up at Home Sense one day. 



Do you like my little crystal parrot? 



He caught my eye right away because of the colour. There was only the one. Actually Hubby and I both noticed him at once when we walked into the store. He was just waiting on the shelf there all by himself waiting for me to bring him home. My aqua draperies have a floral and bird motif, including parrots, and I thought he couldn't be more perfect! 



Most of you know, I love the colour aqua and this particular teacup has sweet little violets inside. It doesn't appear to be so but the aqua cups are the exact same shade as the parrot. 


Aynsley

This time of year, the violets and purples can look awfully pretty with aqua. And so, for a different take on Autumn, my tea is set out in these colours. Underneath it all is a beautiful table topper I won from Bernideen several years ago. I bring it out every Autumn.



For our treat today I have made muffins. Autumn seems the perfect time to spice up your life and so I made ginger muffins. You can find the recipe here if you're interested.



I find one muffin quite filling and they are perfect for this time of year, don't you think? Slather on some whipped cream or butter and you have a lovely little treat to enjoy with your favourite cup of tea.


Would you like to join me?


Thank you so much for visiting today and I pray you will have a lovely weekend.


I will be sharing this with the following parties as well~

 Tuesday Cuppa Tea~ http://www.antiquesandteacups.info/
 Bernideen's Tea in the Garden ~ http://blog.bernideens.com/
 Tea Cup Tuesday ~ http://www.marthasfavorites.com/
 The Art of Home-Making Mondays ~ http://strangersandpilgrimsonearth.blogspot.ca/
 Share Your Cup Thursday~ http://jannolson.blogspot.com/
 Home Sweet Home~ http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/


 Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi