Christmas Tea

I've been out shopping again!

My latest adventure took me to Cornelius Nursery.

I wanted a poinsettia and a Christmas cactus

and while I was there I enjoyed all the decorations ...

especially this table filled with sugarplums of all kinds and a tea canister!

I love the handle on this tea cup
and the wonderful red and green of the holly and the ivy pattern.

 There is no decoration on the interior of the cup.

The bottom of the cup and saucer read:

Bella Lux

Gracie Bone China

by Coastline Imports.

This tea cup reminded me of the book:

A Cup of Christmas Tea by Tom Hegg and illustrated by Warren Hanson.

It is the story of a young man's reluctant visit to an elderly aunt at Christmastime 

and the unexpected joy it brings.

One year the book came as a set with a teacup.

I remember gifting the set to a friend who often talked about her Aunt

and the joy they shared over a cup of tea. 

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

Wishing YOU well and a wonderful cup of tea! 

Christmas Memories

Welcome to Winter Wonderland!

I just had to share this shot.

It is the first thing you see when you enter Blue Leaf in my village.

Oh, my!

Christmas Overload!!!

On to the memories with some help from Blue Leaf.

A smile came to my face when I saw the Christmas Village.

I remembered being a little girl and visiting my grandmother for Christmas.

She had the most wonderful Christmas Village around the bottom of her Christmas tree.

All the different buildings were made from cardboard.

The roofs had batting on the top with glitter (of course) to look like snow.

There were churches and shops and lots of bottle trees all decorated.

She even had some small houses in her Christmas tree.

Sweet memories!

I'm joining The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday.

Wishing YOU well and JOY filled week.

Pygmy Falcon

The elephants weren't the only critters I visited with during

Pancakes with the Pachyderms at the Houston Zoo.

 

This is the African Pygmy Falcon ... the smallest raptor in Africa.

What a cutie!

Very photogenic and patient with everyone who came up to see her.

But, she did get fluffed up when the sparrows started to

bug her. Sort of: "Ha, Ha ... you can't get me!" 

Many thanks to Misty for being our hostess for Camera Critters. 

Wishing YOU well and a JOY filled weekend.

Children At Christmas

"There flourished, in the early 20th century, a culture of postcards. Hundreds of publishers poured out, each year, thousands of new designs. Artists were kept busy thinking of new subjects, and new ways to illustrate old subjects. Printing presses were run night and day churning out the many new designs -- thousands of each. While no one knows exactly how many different postcard designs were created in this period, it would not be an exaggeration to say that hundreds of millions of cards were printed during this fertile period.

Christmas was, in the avalanche, the most popular subject. Every nuance, every tradition, every character was explored from every conceivable angle, and since Christmas is a holiday closely associate with children, they were frequently featured."

~ From Children at Christmas Postcard Book, Darling and Company Seattle

A Merry Christmas

"Here's a fine fellow, as gay as can be,

For all of his presents just fit to a -T-."

There is no date or artist listed on the back of this postcard,

but it was published by the International Art Publishing Company.

 

The artist of this little girl postcard was Margaret Evans Price.

Price was a Western New York artist, painter and toy designer.

She is primarily known for the many children's books that she wrote and

illustrated or collaborated on. She and her husband co-founded the

Fisher-Price toy company.

No date or publisher is listed.

My thanks the Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday.

Wishing YOU well and fun filled weekend!

Good Morning!