Tuesday, June 10, 2014

June Tea Time

Here is another one of my pretty Royal Albert Old Country Roses Tea Cups, Saucers and Dessert Plate Trios!  Tea Cups are just perfect for Hot Tea, but they're also perfect for Iced Tea, if that's what you prefer today.  There are many delicious sandwiches and desserts for you to eat, too.  I hope you like the little Tea Party I put together for you.  It's so much fun to sit around and sip
tea and eat and talk with friends!  Now, this first Tea Set is quite rare...and beautiful.  It was made in England and dated 1962.  The beautiful cascades of Roses, combine with the leafy field along the edges.

This Set was made in England and is 1962 Vintage.  I love the slightly ruffled edge of the plates and cup...and the gold...the shape and the Roses, of course.



This Cake is Perfect to serve along with Tea.

via

Strawberry Shortcut Layer Cake

·                     1 15.25 ounce (432 g) boxed Pillsbury Strawberry cake mix (with pudding in the mix)
·                     4 eggs
·                     1 cup sour cream (not fat reduced)
·                     1/2 cup melted butter
1.            Line two 9 inch pans with parchment paper on the bottom. Preheat oven to 350F.
2.            In a large mixing bowl, combine eggs, sour cream and then drizzle in melted butter and beat on medium speed 2 minutes.  Batter will be thick.  Spread evenly into the two pans and bake 25 minutes and then test by sticking a toothpick in the centre.  It should come out clean.
3.            Remove the pans to a wire rack.  Allow to sit a few minutes until cool enough to handle.  Carefully turn the cake out onto your hand and then put parchment paper side down on a wire rack to cool.

Creamy Pudding Strawberry Frosting
·                    
1 package instant vanilla pudding 
·                     1 1/2 cup cold milk
·                     2 cups whipping cream
·                     2 heaping tablespoons strawberry jam
1.            Beat together instant pudding and cold mix in a medium mixing bowl for two minutes.
2.            Add whipping cream and beat until fluffy.  Beat in the strawberry jam and then refrigerate until set.
3.            Cut each layer into two layers to make a 4 layer cake.  Spread a thin layer of frosting between each layer and then a thin layer on sides and the remaining on top.  Garnish with sliced strawberries. 


Another pretty Set - Peppermint Damask




Blue Damask...I love the scattered Roses all over!



Soft Pink Lace...perfect for all of us who LOVE Pink!!  If you look closely you can see the lacey effect.

{wink wink Debbie}




The next three Sets are in the Cameo Collection...Green, Violet and Pink.  Pretty!!










This is my Beautiful Old Country Roses Flatware...it's beautiful and goes with everything.  The knives have a serrated edge and the roses are all in gold and raised on the handles.  This is a hefty set...and doesn't require polishing, although I have a few sets of Silverplate Flatware I purchased several years ago at a garage sale.  What a deal they were!!


Ruby Lace

{the color is closer to the color of the next picture, not this one}




Golden Pearl

This set, each piece is a bit heavier and about 1/4" larger in all directions than every other Tea Cup, Saucer and Dessert Plate I have in the Old Country Roses line.  And it has the most beautiful Roses and Gold trim, complete with those Golden Pearl Dots.




Dusky Pink Lace




Cucumber and Lemony Dill Cream Cheese Sandwiches

Ingredients
4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
6 slices good-quality white bread*
1/3 large English seedless cucumber (about 4 inches), thinly sliced
*Cook's Note: Can cut off the bread crusts, if desired.
Directions
In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese, fresh dill, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Season the mixture with salt and pepper.

Lay the slices of bread on your work service and distribute the cream cheese evenly among each slice, spreading into a thin layer. Arrange the cucumber slices in rows over 3 slices of the bread. Top with the remaining bread, and cut into quarters so there are 4 pieces from each sandwich. Serve immediately.


And this pattern is "Holiday" - for your Christmas Tea



I used to have a monthly Tea here at home and then a Tea every other month at Church.  I also would Hostess Baby and Wedding Showers in my home from friends and family.  So, I needed alot of Trio Sets to serve everyone.  I haven't been doing that for a while now and decided it was time to photograph them and put them up for sale in my E-Bay Shop.  That's what I did earlier this week.  I still have a few days until the listings end...but have already sold 2 of them.  {I have multiples of several of the sets I have in this post.}

I hope you've enjoyed your Tea and Sandwiches and Dessert!  

Saturday, June 7, 2014

What a Joy!

BENNY... Five Years ago Yesterday (June 6th), Benny was the 2nd Pup to come to live with us...just 3 weeks after we got our 1st Pup. Jasper.  At 11 weeks of age, this Havanese showed a remarkable awareness of things and people around him and their needs.  He loves chicken treats and doing tricks.  He knows the whole routine of  "Sit, Lay Down, Roll-Over, High Five and Give a Kiss".  All I have to do was give him one sign...and he knows.  He is the best
at playing "Dead"...one BANG and over he goes and lights out.  Then I say Hey, and he's ready to play some more.  He loves posing for pictures...and I've got some of the best pictures...alot up close and personal.  And then...Six Months ago, Benny died...leaving a hole in our lives.  He is still very much missed...and loved.  Benny was only 4 years & 8 months old.  


Saturday, May 10, 2014

Furniture

Furniture arrived today.  Two Lovely Chairs and an Ottoman.  I ordered these for our Great Room and within 30 days they arrived, made in my choice of fabric.  Here is the pretty Fabric {straight from the computer on-line at England Furniture} on both Chairs and the Ottoman.  What doesn't show up well in these photos is all the detail...but you can see that in these white models from the website, which you can "dress" with your choice of fabrics.  The fabric I chose looks so nice on these pieces, too.  The chairs are very comfortable
and the ottoman is too and it can also hold a nice Tea Tray.




 

 See all the pretty tufting?  I love it...and the pretty feet!  

When I finish the Great Room, you will actually be able to see the chairs in the room...but for now this will have to do.  One of the reasons I ordered England Furniture is, through my years of Interior Designs and Furniture Sales, I came to trust England Furniture for a good selection of styles and fabrics and a quick turn-around of special order furniture...just 30 days, or less.

I've not received anything for mentioning England Furniture in my post...these are my thought, feelings and reactions to dealing with them.  And I wanted to share them with you.



made in Tazwell, Tennessee
a Subsidiary of LaZ Boy Furniture

Monday, May 5, 2014

Happy Dogs in Australia



This is a Terrific Way to Start Your Day, Your Week...Anytime!
Hope this Video puts a Smile on Your Face!!

At 1:57, watch for someone joining the Happy Dogs for a Swim!
Sing Along with the Lyrics...

"Happy"

[Verse 1:]
It might seem crazy what I’m about to say
Sunshine she’s here, you can take a break
I’m a hot air balloon that could go to space
With the air, like I don’t care baby by the way

[Chorus:]
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do


[Verse 2:]
Here come bad news talking this and that, yeah,
Well, give me all you got, and don’t hold it back, yeah,
Well, I should probably warn you I’ll be just fine, yeah,
No offense to you, don’t waste your time
Here’s why

[Chorus]

Hey, come on

[Bridge:]
(happy)
Bring me down
Can't nothing bring me down
My level's too high
Bring me down
Can't nothing bring me down
I said (let me tell you now)
Bring me down
Can't nothing bring me down
My level's too high
Bring me down
Can't nothing bring me down
I said

[Chorus 2x]

Hey, come on

(happy)
Bring me down… can’t nothing…
Bring me down… my level's too high…
Bring me down… can’t nothing…
Bring me down, I said (let me tell you now)

[Chorus 2x]

Come on

Friday, May 2, 2014

The PuppyKids Get Haircuts

Ordinarily, I do all of the Grooming of our Pups. I began with Jasper soon after he came to live with us.  That was after I'd taken him to a Groomer who scalped him.  I was livid and told them so and Jasper's groom was free.  Yeah, free!  Initially, they tried charging me $62.00 for his Maltese cut.   He was 9 months old and will be 6 years old in August.  Then we got Benny & Rosie and I did their grooming too.  Benny had the cutest Daisy Duke pants in the pattern of the hair
on his butt.  Everyone who saw him, commented on them.  Sometimes he was shaved, with longer hair on his  paws.  Cute.  Rosie was groomed as a Poodle.  Angel of course would also be groomed by me.  So, going to a Groomer, was a real change for them and for me...because they all went to a Groomer.  Somehow, I saw that there was a Groomer about 5 minutes away from me...and I called to find out some info on prices and what they provide for those charges.

Jasper, our almost 6 year old Maltese
{I had checked around before I called the new groomer...and found for a full groom...charges of anywhere from $47 - $62 for a Maltese, Poodle or Coton de Tulear.  I know I wouldn't have taken them to the $47 place - Petco - because that's who scalped Jasper...and $62 times 3 Pups gets expensive.}

But after calling Aunt Linda's Pet Grooming in Luna Pier, Michigan, I was feeling pretty good about the place and Aunt Linda.  I'd seen her and commented on her Facebook page and soon after, she commented right back.
Rosie our 4 year old Toy Poodle
Here are the pictures of the 3 Pups...Before they were Groomed and After Grooming, with their Harnesses on and ascot around Jasper's neck and bows in Angel and Rosie's hair.  They turned out beautifully and Linda was so accomodating...and helpful.  The pups loved her and the other staff.  When we (hubby and I) came to pick them up, they ran back to Linda to give kisses and she hadn't even given them any treats!!  She'd asked if they could have them, since they'd be there for several hours and I said I didn't want them to have any.  But, we did bring a few with us when we returned to get them! 
 Don't they look GREAT?  They had a beautiful Spa Day, with Aunt Linda and the Gang and we didn't break the bank.  $90 for all three Pups...for a full groom on each!  We'll be going back there with our PuppyKids.