Quotable Friday - Very Simple Really

"It doesn't take monumental feats to make the world a better place.  It can be as simple as letting someone 

go ahead of you in a grocery line." 

-- Barbara Johnson

 

Teacup Thursday in Pictures

As I thought about today's post and looked around at my teacups I couldn't help but notice that the majority of my decorating is based around teacups.  So today's post is in picture form because as they say a picture is worth a thousand words.  Come with me as I walk through our home.

Wordless Wednesday

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday - Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole

If you are looking for great recipes, run don't walk to check out Steph's blog http://www.plainchicken.com

If you remember Plain Chicken is where I found the rib recipe that is a family favorite now.

This weekend we had our neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. "Big H" over for brunch and I got brave and made a recipe I hadn't tried before.   It is definitely a "keeper"!  Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole

Quotable Friday - Prayer

"It is strange that while praying,

we seldom ask for a change of character,

but always a change of circumstances."

-- author unknown

Teacup Thursday - Found It!

 

Last week I shared about how my Shelley teacup collection began.  I told you about the misc. pieces I had found so low priced in Kentucky that I could not resist the purchase.  I already have a Shelley Blue Rock teacup and saucer but hey, you can't walk away from a great deal.

 

This is the lone saucer that needed a mate.

 

Well, yesterday I stopped at a favorite antique shop while I was enroute to my grandchildren's home.  There it sat on the shelf - a Shelley cup all by herself looking for love.

 

Now two singles have become one sweet pair.  

This little pretty is going into the hope chest 

of one of my precious grand-daughters.

P.S. Remember, the fun is in the hunt.

 

Quotable Friday

Teacup Thursday - A Birthday Mug

Today's mug story is all about Precious Husband and his love for me.  I am married to an amazing man and I hope and pray he sees that amazement in my eyes everyday.  


This mug, this very large mug was purchased at Duckie's last year on my birthday.  You see for the last 4 years we Precious Husband has made a special point to take me to Duckie's for clam chowder on my birthday.  He loves that it has become a tradition and he does all he can to make sure it happens each year now.  I love the coast and I really love clam chowder : ) and Precious Husband loves to make me happy.


So last year Precious Husband purchased this mug full of coffee of course so I would have a special souvenir.  This year he told the waitress they should put the year on the mugs then they would sell more : )


Yep, this mug is a good one and this Precious Husband of mine is a good one too.  

Quotable Friday - Perfection

Perfection

“The important thing to remember is that God doesn’t expect us to be perfect in performance but perfect in heart.  He expects us to love Him enough to be obedient and submitted to Him, and then He will do the work of perfecting us.  Our hearts can be perfect even if our actions are not.”
    ---Stormie Omartian Made Perfect in Love Virtue article, Jan.1989


Perfection consists simply in being just what God wants us to be.
     --- Therese of Lisieux

Teacup (and Mugs) Thursday

For the Love of Shelley

Shelley teacups and Emily Barnes that's where my teacup collection got its serious start.  Emily Barnes is a Christian writer who celebrates all things home, nesting and hospitality.  Her book, "If Teacups Could Talk" is one of my very favorite.  

(The Shelley Stamp)

As I fell in love with Emily Barnes I acquired a desire to collect teacups at the same time.  It wasn't long after that my best friend Dolores called and asked me if I would like some of her teacup collection as she was moving to Texas.  Would I ever?  Wow!  She told me some were Shelleys  but because I did not know one teacup from another I never thought anything about it.  Turns out Shelley teacups average about $85!  Needless to say my Shelley's hang on the wall safer there than in my sometimes clumsy hands.  One day I will tell you about finding a Shelley at a thrift store for just a few dollars only to drop it just as I stepped up to my car.  

 

Dolores is now drinking tea in Heaven and there is not a day goes by I don't think of her and miss her dearly because we had a friendship that was very special and I doubt will ever be duplicated in my lifetime.  Such a special gift she gave me in starting my teacup collection.  Teacups now are often gifted to friends in special ways and I know Dolores would be pleased.

Shelleys are easily recognized for their often fluted edges and it wasn't long after receiving my teacups that I could recognize a Shelley when out antiquing.  Now mind you I would NEVER spend $85 for a teacup not even anything close to that amount but there was a day I found a stray teacup without its saucer for $5.  I was antiquing with my daughter Michelle and she was quite impressed that I recognized the make without looking at the bottom of the cup : )  Well, I grabbed that cup up because I love having something to hunt for when antiquing or thrifting and sure enough for $6 I found the saucer on Ebay.  It was a Blue Rock pattern and I have since found a plate at Sunshine Acres Children's Home boutique and then in Kentucky last summer I found another saucer, a square serving piece and a little pitcher.  These items appeared just tossed as second thoughts on the bottom shelf of the antique dealer's booth and were priced very low.

(Blue Rock Shelley)

 

(Woodland Pattern)

 

(The Shelley dessert platter above belonged to Dolores' mother-in-law 

who served cookies on it to her guests.)

So this is the history behind my teacup collecting.  Actually I received my very first teacups from my Aunt Barbara who was married to my Dad's baby brother.  For Christmas when I was probably 6 maybe she gave me four tea and saucer sets with red roses on them.  Aunt Barbara was a very special part of my life and so these cups and saucers are very special to me also.

 (From special aunt when I was about 6)

Always fun to know the story behind something and the history and even more special to create special memories with these teacups with those I love.  Let's have a tea party soon!