Victorian Christmas

Last year on Friday I shared Snowmen postcards.

This year I thought I'd share some Christmas postcards with Victorian designs.

These are from the Darling and Company, Seattle Postcard Book.

"A variety of British postal changes in the 1890s changed the demand for picture postcards from a trickle to a deluge. In the next 30 years countless images were printed on billions of postcards. Photography and art were both utilized and every occasion, historical incident, fad, eccentricity, aspect of knowledge, or enthusiasm was pictured on a postcard. Millions of people collected postcards, which led to an even greater demand. Holidays were also popular subjects for postcards, Christmas chief among them.

Because of the enormous demand for art, and the low cost of printing a postcard, publishers were not very discriminating. They frequently allowed poor work to be printed, and seemingly were indifferent to the relevance of the illustrations to the theme at hand. Inapropos subjects for Christmas such as horses, sailboats, or farm animals were common. Fortunately, excellence was also common, and artist's flights of fancy were given free rein."

Thank you to the lovely Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday.

Wishing YOU well, much joy and a fun filled weekend.

Good Morning!

 

On The Menu: 'Tis The Season!

I found this seasonal cookbook at Half-Price books.

It was on the Clearance shelf for $2.00. 

What a deal!

I love Mary Engelbreit's illustrations.

The photographs in this cookbook were taken by Alison Miksch.

 

I love soups, butternut squash and butternut squash soup.

I'm always on the lookout for a new recipe and

this one was delicious.

That's what's On The Menu this Monday!

Wishing YOU well and much joy.

I hope your week is off to a great start.

Comfy Cozy

I guess beautiful cool weather brings out the comfy cozy in me.

I've been happily crocheting between cups of tea and reading. 

I think these Santa mug rugs are too cute.

Instead of putting a pom-pom on top of Santa's hat,

I'm going to put a jingle bell. 

When I've done all the crocheting (I figure everyone needs a set of four)

I'll go back and embroider the face.

You can find the pattern at Moms Love of Crochet.

You may remember that I made 4 of these last year.

I had yarn left and decided to make a couple of lapghans using the moss stitch.

I first saw this stitch on Lemonde De Sucrette.

You can Google moss stitch crochet and you'll find several You Tube videos featuring this stitch. 

If you can chain and make a single crochet you can do this stitch.

Easy!

Speaking of yarn and textiles,

I had the pleasure of meeting a fellow blogger last week.

Linda Lewis is a wife, mother, grandmother, weaver, textile artist and all around talented lady.

She loves Maine, tablescapes and roses, too.

We had a lovely breakfast.

Please go by and visit her at Lulu's Musings.

Say "Hi" from me!

Today I'm joining Sandi at HOME.

Wishing YOU well, much joy, and a beautiful Thanksgiving.

Wait! Save Some Fitz and Floyd For Me!

One of the local television consumer affairs reporters 

had a story on local thrift stores and shopping

for holiday decorations.

She visited my favorite thrift store where she found several Fitz and Floyd

holiday decorations. She talked about buying them at the thrift store and then selling them on Ebay.

If you've spent anytime around the neighborhood here at Twisty Lane

you know I LOVE Fitz and Floyd.

To buy F&N and sell it on Ebay -- a thousand times NO!

So, a friend and I went over to The Guild to see if there was any F&F left.
I had to save it from the dreaded consumer reporter.

The holiday decorations had been picked over, but there -- under a layer of stuff 

was this Santa and I grabbed him --
clutching him to my chest as I made a dash through the china!

He is from the Winter Holiday series by F&F 

and he'll be on the center of my dining room table after Thanksgiving.

As I was dashing through the china,
the store closing in 15 minutes announcement was made.
This lovely Royal Stafford Fuschia teacup caught my attention
and I grabbed it.
When I got home, I found out why the price was so good --
the saucer had been broken and repaired.

That's okay.

It's a lovely cup.

Fine bone china that is very thin.

It feels wonderful in the hand.

Isn't it pretty with Stash Pomegranate Raspberry Tea?!

Look at the bubbles.

A very dear friend told me years and years ago,

that when you pour bubbles with your tea,

drinking them quickly will bring good fortune!

YeeHaw!

With cooler weather and low humidity,

I've been walking into the Village and having breakfast.

I've been doing some unofficial tea tasting having

The Republic of Tea Pomegranate Green Tea with my meal.

I carry an extra tea bag from home -- the Stash Pomegranate Raspberry Green Tea.

They are both good.

The Stash Tea seems naturally more sweet than the Republic of Tea.

Wishing you well, much joy and a wonderful cup of tea!

A big thank you to these tea party hosts:

Tea Time Tuesday
Friends Sharing Tea
Teacup Tuesday

Tuesday Cup'a Tea

Tea Talk

A Tale of Two Bears

Today I'm going to tell you a tale of two bears.

When Mr. Dragon and I first moved to Galveston Island,

we discovered their holiday festival called

Dickens On The Strand.

For 38 years, Dickens has been centered on

The Strand National Historic District.

Parades, strolling carolers, roving street entertainment --

all dressed in Victorian garb.

 

That first year, we made a trip to San Diego

for a professional meeting for Mr. Dragon.

On the waterfront, we found Mr. Dickens Bear.

He was perfect!

His top hat, velvet vest ... with his heart for all to see.

I sighed over him and we made the trip home without him.

Or so I thought.

But on Christmas Day, Mr. Dragon surprised me with 

Mr. Dickens Bear.

This year, Mr. Dragon is no longer with me.

My first Christmas without the love of my life.

I decorated the house, inside and out.

I put up two trees and today,

two days after Christmas,

I came home with the Court Jester Bear. 

I love his old loved look.

It just seemed right.

Two friends who can tell each other stories

and can bring a smile to my face. 

***

There are other Christmas bears who have their own stories.

Several more bears who dress in Victorian garb,

but their stories are for another time.

I have done well this Christmas.

I miss Mr. Dragon, but I know he would want me to

*suck it up and get on with it*.

No tears were shed ... until THE grandson ... on 

the other side of the country said:

"Merry Christmas Nana Snap.

Santa came to visit and this time he got it right!"

Wishing YOU well and JOY filled holidays!

Merry Christmas

May traditions

that you treasure most

and all the festive plans

you've made

Bring sentimental Christmas joys

and memories that never fade.

Good Morning!

Wordless Wednesday: Santa

A Christmas Tea This and That

Every morning this month I've been getting up and making 

tea in my Christmas Cardinal/Poinsettia Mug.

I found the mug and teapot at Homegoods last year.

It's a BIG mug (Gibson Elite China) and filled with

Twinings Christmas Tea, gets the day off to a wonderful, warm start.

Twinings Christmas Tea is a black tea with a little cinnamon and cloves.

In the evening I have Twinings Winter Spice.

It is camomile tea spiced with cinnamon, cardamon and cloves.

Just in case you haven't noticed,

I love cardinals!

***

I missed getting to the gym this morning.

On days when I miss walking on the treadmill,

I try to walk into my village (weather permitting). 

Off I went with a list of books to look for at Half-Price books.

This book wasn't on my list!

 

But Mary at Home Is Where The Boat Is was very impressed

with Nigella Christmas. In fact, she even gave a copy away!

I didn't win (!!) and when I saw this at the book store I just had to give it a good look and I ended up bringing it home.

I'm glad I did. 

My mouth has been watering and tummy growling all afternoon!

It's worth the price for the recipe for the poinsettia cocktail!

I love butternut squash and look forward to trying butternut orzotto.

It's a beautiful book and I probably should have picked up a few extras for gifts -- great price at Half-Price Books!

Thanks to our tea party hostesses.

These are just a few of the tea parties in the Land of Blog.

Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday

Tea Time Tuesday

Teacup Tuesday

Tea Party Tuesday

Tuesday Tea For Two

Friends Sharing Tea

Wishing YOU well and a wonderful cup of tea!

Santa Has Been Seen in Town!

Santa and his elves have been seen all over town.

In the forests, in the candy shops, in front of homes.

He's checking his list ... checking it twice.

Getting ready for the big night!

A big thank you to our hostesses:

Mary for Mosaic Monday

and 

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday.

Wishing YOU well and a JOY filled week!

It's Almost That Time!

It's almost that time!

Santa is getting ready to load his sleigh with all the toys

his friendly elves have made. 

Both of these postcards are reproductions.

There is no artist, publisher or date listed for either one.

Santa is also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle and just plain Santa. Many cultures believe Santa brings gifts to the home of good children during late evening and overnight hours of Christmas Eve. The modern figure is a plump, jolly, white-bearded man wearing a red coat with white collar and cuffs, white-cuffed red trousers, and black leather belt and boots. This image became popular in the United States and Canada in the 19th century due to the significant influence of Clement Moore's 1823 poem "A Visit From St. Nicholas" and of caricaturist and political cartoonist Thomas Nast. 

Wishing YOU well and a JOY filled weekend.

Thanks to Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday.

Good Morning!

Wordless Wednesday

Christmas Tea For One

Christmas Tea For One and a Snowman!

This is another Bella Lux teacup.

This cup has more berries. 
I think the white berries represent mistletoe.

Another wonderful handle.

Thanks to our tea party hostesses.

These are just a few of the tea parties in the Land of Blog.

Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday

Tea Time Tuesday

Teacup Tuesday

Tea Party Tuesday

Tuesday Tea For Two

Friends Sharing Tea

Wishing YOU well and a wonderful cup of tea! 

Day 3 of Snow People!

I'm sharing more Snow People that I found around town.

A big thank you to our hostesses:

Mary for Mosaic Monday

and 

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday.

Wishing you WELL and a JOY filled week!

More Snow People

I LOVE Snow People.

So, I decided to continue the post from Friday

with some Snow People from Pinterest.

A Cheese Ball Snowman

Source: lessthanperfectlifeofbliss.blogspot.com via Snap on Pinterest

Snowmen from a Handprint

Source: littlebitfunky.com via Snap on Pinterest

A little burlap and some felt and a happy snowman is made!

Source: giftideapros.com via Snap on Pinterest

That's quite a nose my friend and who's that in your hat?

Source: flickr.com via Snap on Pinterest

Clay!

/9*

Source: flickr.com via Snap on Pinterest

How about a Snowman Christmas Tree?!!!

 

Source: bhg.com via

A big thank you to Natasha for hosting:

Wishing YOU well and a JOY filled weekend!

Snow People

More postcards published by Darling and Company, Seattle.

"It is hard to imagine a winter without snow creatures, but Bob Eckstein, in his History of the Snowman, can find no proof of their existence before the Middle Ages. They make their first appearance in the 16th-century, travel to Colonial America with its abundance of snow, flourish in 18th-century Northern Europe and Russia, and, like so many other whimsical and ephemeral creative pursuits, bloom in the Victorian era. Sadly, the middle and late 20th-century see the advent of artificial snowmen,but technology gives, even as it takes away, and snow people are now being celebrated via the internet -- perhaps the perfect medium for these transients. The picturing of snow people flourished in the penny postcard era (1890 - 1920) when many thousands of Christmas postcards featured these merry creatures. The illustrators, not content with everyday static snowmen, showed them in a variety of activities - walking, playing, courting, spying, cooking, and even melting. Families of snow people were pictured as well as their snow companion animals. There are 30 postcards in this collection."

Gertrude Caspari was the artist for this snowman carrying his hat.

Caspari was a very important childrens' book illustrator in Germany.

She was known for her bright colors.

The original was published around 1911.

No artist, publisher or date are given for this charming postcard.

Even the tree is smiling and waving!

My thanks to Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday.

Wishing YOU well and fun filled weekend!

Good Morning!

Christmas This and That

I have really enjoyed visiting all my blogging friends

and seeing all the wonderful holiday posts.

I thought I'd share a few with you.

The first is from Susan Branch's wonderful blog.

This is her magical Christmas list.

Do you have a list?

***

The next stop is Stamping Mathilda.

She's making tea lights.

Each day she features a new one.

So pretty!

***

Last (for today), is Lisa at Moore Minutes

with her handmade knit stocking advent calendar.

Wishing YOU well and a JOY filled day!