Tea & Tragedy

 Tea and reading on a stormy day . A little contemplation too . The teacup is a gift from Linda Sue , one of my first blogging friends .Linda Sue lives in Texas. She and her husband Skip prayed for my family during some very difficult times and I believe we're friends though I've never met her or her husband in person. Linda Sue's beloved husband Skip is with the Lord now and she continues to be an encouragement to me . The book on top of my Bible is one Linda Sue is reading and I am thankful for her recommendation .This book references Job and his pain & suffering as written in the Bible. Ever read the book of Job in the Bible ? Until a few years ago I thought it a depressing book to read ( avoid ), but when crisis and tragedy struck our family and seemed to keep on coming with no happy ending in sight I found myself taking my cuppa and my Bible down to the table by our pond and reading...and reading. I discovered the book of Job in the Old Testament , a book of sadness and almost unbelievable tragedy, was also a book of encouragement in a dark time.

The teacup is Majestic by Royal Grafton . I think it is a classic beauty . Thank-you Linda Sue !

"Suffering leaves our idols in pieces on the ground. It puts us in a position to see that God sent His Son not only to suffer in our place but also to suffer with us. Our merciful friend has been through it all...And while He may not deliver us from pain and loss , He'll walk with us through it. " Hebrews 4:15-16 Tullian Tchividjian 'Glorious Ruin ' .

 

I am linking to these lovely ladies of the teacup for Tea-Time Tuesday :

 

Terri at Artful Affirmations *

Martha at Martha's favorites *

Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage *

Tea-Warp ?

My newly woven rug !

I was able to weave 3 rugs from the last warp I put onto my loom, and am now sipping tea as I wind another warp onto my warp board, to then thread onto my loom and make more rugs. More tea is needed, I am sipping as I wind a warp. ( Hang on Scotty, don't beam me up yet ! ) Above is one of the rugs I wove using the loom ends I bought at the Pendleton Mill.

I am sipping my herbal tea from this Royal Grafton teacup I have featured before. I love the minty green color with flowers inside the teacup and the gold leaves circling the flowers in the teacup and on the saucer.

Back to work, making or winding my warp, but unfortunately NOT at warp speed.

I find I am always a day behind all the ladies enjoying Tea-Time Tuesdays in other time zones of the United States . ( and Canada ) While most of you are snug in your beds dreaming of tea parties or counting your teacups I am busy posting my blog & catching up with you. Happy Tea-Time to you all ! To see the tea-times of so many other ladies across the world just click onto the links below.

• Terri *
• Martha *
• Sandi *
• Bernideen *

Thursday Ladies' Bible Study & Luncheon ~

 I know I've shown this Royal Grafton teacup before, but I love it and it is a perfect teacup for Autumn table-settings with its' cheerful yellow & white color and orange red dots.

 I set the table for the Thursday Ladies' Bible study with my Charleston by Noritake china. The quilt in the center of the table was made by one of the ladies from the Ohop Ladies sewing group , a local group of ladies who meet every week at the grange to sew.

 This old buffet once upon a time belonged to my husband's grandmother. It holds many precious memories along with our china and table linens. Sometimes it holds dessert too !

 Lunch was baked chicken breasts, home-made coleslaw , home canned applesauce, spinach salad ( thanks Marlene ) and chicken salad ( thanks Karen ). Dessert was a chocolate cake and a butter pecan cake...thanks to Duncan Hines ! We had cranberry juice , coffee, & tea to drink . After we ate we shared our thoughts on our study of I Samuel using After God's Heart by Myrna Alexander.

Later that day I sipped tea from my cheery teacup as I pondered the study and how I long to be a woman after God's own heart but so often my selfish desires prevent this. God is gracious and merciful though and He will forgive me and continue to teach me His ways if I seek Him.

I am glad I had time to clean up, and even more time to ponder than I had thought because my dishwasher is not working. I washed all the dishes, pots & pans the old fashioned way, by hand.

"A heart that does not try to compromise God's command is a heart that is His. A heart that desires to follow the Lord and obey His command is a heart after His heart."  I Samuel 15:20  Myrna Alexander

I am linking with the ladies listed below for all things Tea , for my Tea-Time Tuesday.

Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage *

Terri at Artful Affirmations *

Bernideen's Tea Time Blog *

Martha at Martha's Favorites *

• 

Tea Time Tuesday & Missing My Bee-Keeper

My husband had a milestone birthday this month. There is so much going on in our lives that has to be attended to right now we were unable to celebrate the way we had hoped. Plus, my husband, my bee-keeper, had to go out of town on business shortly thereafter.

The day my bee-keeper left for a few days I made a pot of tea in my bee-hive teapot and brought out this sunshine yellow teacup.

Doesn't this teacup cheer you up? Look at the happy yellow rings of color with little flowers and red / orange dots. Reminds me of my home raised chicken eggs after the chickens have eaten lots of greens fresh from the garden. The yolks will be a very deep red/orange this very color.

The yellow is so bright it seems to make the whole teacup glow.

I made peppermint tea,

and cut myself a piece of my husband's birthday cake. The cake doesn't look near as good as it tasted. It was a whip cream white cake. Happy birthday my Bee-Keeper and we'll have that birthday celebration soon !

I am joining these ladies for Tea-Time Tuesday :

• Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage *
• Terri at Artful Affirmations *
• Martha's Favorites *
• Kathy at A Delightsome Life *

Royal Grafton Tea Cups

Pink! I would never have thought in years past that the color pink would appeal to me.

Isn't pink a pretty color for tea cups? The mint green isn't too shabby either, and is my favorite of the two. These are the two Royal Grafton teacups I own. They are very similar , even with the color difference they look to be a matched set to me. I have seen others very similar to these two on Ebay in other colors.I saw a blue one I especially like.

"Grafton China became Royal Grafton after being given a royal warrant by Queen Mary. Royal Warrants are a mark of recognition to individuals or companies who have supplied goods or services for at least five years. Warrants have always been regarded as demonstrating excellence and quality, and are highly prized." Peter Holland

"Royal Grafton,Fine Bone China, England "

"Royal Grafton Fine Bone China ceased trading in 1972. The trade name went on to become part of the Tams China group ( est.1874) which also failed ...going up for sale in January 2007." Peter Holland* "I like just plain tea" says Little 'T'. "No sugar or mint." I agree with her. Sipping tea out of a beautiful china tea cup along side a beloved granddaughter is a pleasure and a blessing. "...the Lord is gracious and compassionate." Psalm 111:4b I have linked with the ladies below for Tea Time Tuesday, please take a look at the tea cups and tea parties they beautifully display.

• Pam*
• Wanda Lee*
• Lady Katherine*
• Martha*
• Terri*
• Sandi*