Polishing Silver and Missing My Mom

There was a showing on our house this afternoon so I decided to pick a bunch of nandina branches to put in the front hall and chose an old thrifted champagne bucket to put them in. It had been stored away in a cupboard for awhile, so it was tarnished and in need of polishing.  As I was polishing it, I thought about my mother who would often polish my brass and silver when she came for a visit.  All of a sudden I was missing my mother so badly! And then I realized that I was missing Rose Colored Glasses and you too.  I wanted to tell you what I was doing today, not because it was so important, but just because you are my friends and I like to share what I am doing with my friends.
So here I am back again.  Don't know how often I'll be able to post but I'll write when I can.

So, back to what I was doing today....The table needed something else shiny to balance it.  A tray maybe, so I dug out a tray which I hadn't used in a long time, and thought of mom as I polished it.
What else did I need there? I know..... the brass deer Mom and I bought when I lived in Pennsylvania.  I always wondered.....why are 2 deer still called deer instead of deers?  Anyway, Mom and I were in a thrift shop one day (they had THE BEST thrift shops there!) and we spotted these deer.  We had just been to Valley Forge Park where deer are everywhere and these were the perfect little gift to remember our day.  They needed polish too.
I think they look happy on the silver tray.

So now I have a  nice shiny welcome for anyone coming to our front door.

Once I started with the polishing I just kept going.  All my brass candlesticks got a polish and I moved them to the mantle in the living room.

 Then I switched the pictures above the mantle putting this one instead.  This painting belonged to my mom. 
She bought the two candlesticks on the right for me when I was just a teenager and was decorating my bedroom in a more grown up manner.  I think they are very old.

Now that I was on a polishing kick I noticed my silver tea service was very tarnished too, so it got some TLC also.  My mom always served tea in this, not just for special occasions but all the time.  She got it as a wedding present and I cherish it.

So now for a few hours my house sparkles and it is clean top to bottom.  I wonder if the people who viewed our house today noticed the sparkle?

  I'm going to make us a pot of tea in Mom's silver teapot, get out some pretty cups and serve you a cup of tea and some raspberry pie.  I made the pie today for my husband.  It's his favorite, but I'm sure he won't mind if we each have a small slice.

I am so happy that you stopped by.  I'll see you again soon!

Rhondi
xo

Teapots

Good Saturday morning to you!  What are your plans  for today?  Do you have typical Saturday errands  or do you have some wonderful project to work on? 

We are going to a "move that bus" type event like on the Home Makeover TV show.  Our church has been involved in fixing up some apartments for single moms and today they are being presented to the young women so 500 of us are going to be there just to create some excitement. 

You know I like teapots. I was visiting Attic 24 and saw this amazing teapot. Isn't it fabulous?? If you've never visited Lucy you really must.

She lives in England and her blog is filled with the most cheerful colors. The crocheting she does is beautiful and she takes you along on lots of outings to beautiful places nearby.

Then I found another teapot, just happens to also be in my favorite colors.  It's not a big one but it is so creative.  I wonder if I could make one just like it?

This one came from Art For Housewives.  I just discovered the blog this morning and it has all sorts of wonderfully creative ideas.

This last teapot comes from  Teapots, Teapots, Teapots.  Look at how big it is, as tall as the display shelf! That is the size of teapot I'd need if everyone who I visit in blogland came to tea at the same time.  Oh what a party that would be!!  To have all of you come to my house for tea would be a dream come true, to hear your voices, give you a big hug... oh how wonderful!!

So let's at least share a virtual cup of tea and I'll send you a virtual hug and wish you a Happy Saturday.

((hugs)) Rhondi

Tea Party Tuesday

Welcome to my second Tea Party Tuesday.  I am so happy that you could come!

I made some banana bread for you.

I polished my silver tea service.  This precious set was a wedding present that my mom was given when she got married.  My mother always used this teapot for tea and I have many happy memories of sitting and chatting with my mom and my sister as my mother poured tea from it.

I've chosen some very pretty Noritake teacups that I got at Goodwill for 50 cents each.

The table in my studio is set.

I've sliced the banana bread.

It is a beautiful day here in North Carolina so I have the patio door open. I thought that would be a nice treat for all of you who are still in the thick of winter, a reminder that spring is on its way.  It really is!

I've been doing a little bit of puttering, freshening up things around here,blowing out the winter cobwebs and welcoming spring.  After we've had our tea I'll show you what I've done.  I hope you've got lots of time to visit today.

Thanks for coming to my tea party.

Rhondi xo

I am excited to come and have tea at your house too, so if you are joining me and posting for Tea Party Tuesday here is what to do:

Write your post, making sure you  link to my blog and use my Tea PArty Tuesday button. 

Publish your post.

Copy the specific URL for that post .

Come to my blog and sign up using the URL you copied.

I'd appreciate it if you'd also leave a comment telling me you are participating. 

Can't wait to come and visit you!

  

Bonjour

Bonjour. I missed you! We were away this weekend. Do you know where this is?

We went on a Duck Tour

We walked around a college campus.

Did you guess Boston? The first photo is of the finish line for The Boston Marathon and the college is Harvard.

But we didn’t go to sightsee. We went to visit our son and his wife and to go to a baby shower for them. They are having a boy and they have chosen orange and blue for his room. They like very contemporary style, so this is the quilt I made for them. They loved it.

Their baby is due the end of November and we are so excited. It's their first baby and our 4th grandchild.

The “BONJOUR” teapot was something I purchased for only $3 when I went to some of the shops in Monroe which I posted about here.

Now I’m off to see what y’all have been up to while I’ve been gone.

Rhondi xo

Tea For Two

Good morning! I’ve just put the kettle on and hope you can stay and have a cup of tea with me.

I picked some fresh flowers. Well actually I bought them at Dollar Tree and they're fake. They have some great flowers there right now.

I’ve put the tea things on a tray.

Since it’s morning I think that we’ll use mugs, 25 cents each at the thrift shop. These ones have hearts and cherries. Gotta love cherries and hearts!

I love dots too!

The tea is ready. I’ve put it on my tea trolley and rolled it into the living room.

Come and sit down. I’ll pour the tea. I’d love to make you coffee, but since my husband says I make the worse coffee in the world I’d suggest you have tea!

Two friends are coming to quilt here today. Mary is a fabulous cook and she is bringing homemade soup.

Tonight our church group meets here. Every Tuesday we meet at our house and share a meal together and have a discussion . There are 7 couples and each week someone brings the main course, another brings salad and another brings dessert. So that means that we only have to cook a dinner every 7th Tuesday. We all love that! I am doing main course and am taking the easy way: store bought lasagna and garlic bread.

So tell me, what are you up to these days? How is your family? What is it that has you worried, excited, hopeful, encouraged today?

By the way. You all guessed right. The little chicken's tail was measuring spoons and they were a little chipped from use :)

Thanks for stopping by. I really enjoyed chatting with you!

Rhondi xo

Can You Guess?

Yesterday I found something at the Goodwill. It is really quite goofy. I'll bet you don't have one. Can you guess what it is? Here is another angle

Does this clue help?
Did you guess that it was a teapot? It is such a silly thing but it just caught my fancy. It would be great for a mad hatter's tea party. It holds about 4 cups of tea. As I was holding it a little girl, pointed to it and with a big smile said, "Look at the teapot Mommy!"

Now it just wouldn't be proper to pour tea from such a silly pot into a normal mug.

I just happened to have this one that I got last year. They make an odd couple!

On those days when I need to remind myself not to take life so seriously I will pour tea from my egg teapot into my little peasant girl mug. If you need an escape from the stress of life for a little while, just stop by and pour yourself a cup of tea. Maybe it will cheer you up too!

I just picked up a copy of this book so I'm going to sit down and enjoy it while I try out my new teapot..
What a lovely way to spend some time on a Saturday afternoon!

I hope you get time to relax and enjoy yourself this weekend.

Rhondi xo

Feeling Blue

I'm feeling blue...

We had a wonderful impromptu visit from our kids in Texas . They called us Saturday morning and said that they were in the car going to visit the other grandparents and were going to swing by and visit us on the way, but could only stay 2 days. That was the best news I could ever hear! We have been missing them so much! We packed as much fun as we could into the short time they were here. Our grandchildren are growing too fast and they are so cute.

So our house was filled with laughter and giggles and hugs, making tents, catching bugs, and spilled milk. There were toys strewn from one end of the house to the other, shoes by the front door, artwork taped to the walls, and sleeping bags all over the place.

Now they have gone. The house is clean. The laundry is done. It's so quiet.

I was wondering if you had time to stay for awhile and chat with me? I've made a pot of tea and I have some brownies and strawberries. A visit with you would sure help to chase away the blues.
Rhondi xo

Tea and Violets

Good morning my good friends.

I had a wonderful week away with my sister at Myrtle Beach. We talked, laughed, went for walks on the beach, and drank copious amounts of tea. It was great!

Now I am back home and wondering what to share with my blogging family today. Well as far as I am concerned it's always time for tea and I thought we could use one of the few treasures that I inherited from my family: this teapot and plate. They were painted by one of my cousins, back in the day when it was it was the fashion for gentile ladies to take china painting lessons. They usually painted on Limoges and always painted flowers.
The colors and shading on this plate and teapot are beautiful and isn't the shape of the teapot elegant?Since I am pouring tea from a teapot with violets, I got out 2 cups and saucers with violets on them. This one is pale blue, with white inside the cup.
This one is very elegant, with the gold around the edge. I like the way teacups often have a little design inside, and it can only be seen if you are holding the cup with your right hand.
Teacups usually have a smaller version of the design on the back so the best view of the cup faces the person who is using it (provided they pick up the cup in their right hand)
This particular saucer is covered with flowers. Isn't it beautiful?
Please stay for awhile and have some tea with me. I've missed you and want to catch up on all your news! Now which teacup would you like and I forget, do you take milk? sugar?

Rhondi xo

I'm a Little Teapot

Every time you come to visit I usually ask if you have time for a cup of tea. So today I thought I'd show you a few of the teapots I've collected. As I was taking the pictures I remembered the little song I sang as a child:

I'm a little teapot short and stout

Here is my handle

Here is my spout

When I get all steamed up

Then I shout

Just tip me over and pour me out.

t had actions to go with it. Do you remember that song too?

This first teapot is a fun design by Mary Engelbreit. I love black and white checks and black and white dots, which is what attracted me to this one. The little pink rosebud handle on the lid is cute too.This one is a teapot and teacup all in one unit. The little handle on the lid is a lemon. It's just big enough for one cup of tea. This is what it looks like when it's apart. I love the little a checked cloth design looking like it's draped on the top.
I would never use this pumpkin for tea. It just wouldn't make a good cup and would drip when I would try to pour. But it's cute and looks nice on a shelf.

This one of beets is fun too, also just for decoration.
I love the blue (of course) and I thought the black and white was a great contrast against the blue. This teapot goes with everything I have so I move it around a lot!
I saved the best for last. This old yellow teapot is much bigger than the others and holds about 8 cups . There are no markings on it. It's probably from the 30's or 40's, could be Hull. it is such a nice strudy heavy pot and I like to use it for a casual tea with muffins and mugs.So those are a few of my teapots. I'm sorry I can't ask you in today but my sister is coming for a visit and I've got to get dinner ready. They'll be very hungry after a full day's drive. I already know what I'll be thankful for tomorrow!

Thanks for stopping by. Next time we'll have more time to chat.


Rhondi xo