February 4th

Happy Birthday wishes to my friend Suzanne! Wish we could be together for a cup of tea today. Enjoy
your special day with your family.
Jim and I got to spend most of yesterday with our daughter Gina. It was so good to just sit and chat and get caught up. Eric and her are still working on that wedding date. It's looking like September 8th will be the date. We'll get to see her for a bit this morning before she has to return to Seattle. 

February 3rd

February 2nd-Teacup Thursday #44

I chose this Valentine for my blog today because I've been on this Queen Victoria kick. If you read my blog a few days ago, I commented on the book I am reading about Queen Victoria and her daughters.
A few weeks ago at the antique show I bought a beautiful Queen Victoria cup and saucer with some of my Christmas money. I was soooo excited! I have lots of queen "stuff" but I didn't have a Queen Victoria teacup. So here it is. I was going to save it for May, but just couldn't wait. I love it.

The teacup commemorates the Queen's Diamond Jubilee of 1897 and was made by Longton Porcelain Company.
Thanks Miss Spenser for hosting our Teacup Thursday again this year.

I'm working on my Valentines for my Tasha Tudor exchange. I don't want to give anything away, so this is all you get to see of my project. Pretty papers and lots of ribbon. Are you making Valentine cards this year?

February 1st

Happy February! A new month and a fun one at that. I love Valentines Day and hearts and flowers.
I'm going to do a Valentine's advent type calendar on my blog. I need something to get me back into blogging and this will be a fun way to do it. After working on my Etsy the past few days, I am going to have a fun crafting day today. It's time to start working on my Tasah Tudor Valentine exchange. The cards have to go in the mail next Monday...yikes! This sweet February angel is on my Etsy. So cute.
Remember to keep your heart right and your attitude good. Enjoy the month.

Queen Victoria

I've been reading a wonderful book that my husband gave me at Christmas- Victoria's Daughters by Jerrold M. Packard. I love the Victorian times and enjoy learning everything I can about the queen. It's an easy read and a fun book to cuddle up with at the end of the day. I tend to read more in the summer, but I can hardly put this one down! The only thing about reading at night is I can't stay awake too long to enjoy the book...I get sleepy.

The book give a lot of history about Queen Victoria as you go along the birth of each of her children. It does focus on her daughters but you are given a great deal of information about all the children and life in Victorian times.

I've always wondered why tartan plaid was so popular during the Victorian era. I didn't realize that Queen Victoria was crazy about it when she bought and rebuilt the castle at Balmoral. She really gave the local cottage industry a short in the arm with her love of plaids. I read that some of her decorating was over the top with her use of tartan plaids. I'd really like to explore more about this! I often see sewing antiques in plaid boxes from that time period. I'm sure some of my tea friends have been to this region. It is a beautiful place. Maybe someday......

I did read that Albert designed a Balmoral tartan plaid.

The rains have stopped and while the sun isn't shining today, it is dry! I think I need a cup of tea now. My friend brought me some from Scotland last year and I think I have one left! The perfect day to enjoy.

I do hope you are having a nice day. Tomorrow is the first of February! I think I'm going to do picture a day before Valentine's Day like the advent pix I did before Christmas last Dec. Something fun to post each day.

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

Oh, what a wet, wet, wet day! So much rain once again. Yes, it is winter in Oregon yet it is hard to be in and out in this weather.
Jim and I went to a few sales today. He scored big at one with wonderful art and interesting pieces. He sold so much and needs to replace his inventory for the March 1,2 and 3rd antique show that  really is not too far away. We had to do quite a bit of driving and the rain was endless.
It was so good to come home, get the fire going, fix a little dinner and just get cozy.
Tomorrow begins a new week with much to do and a new month ahead....February. Oh, I love February and Valentines and red and pink hearts and yes, chocolates. I am reminded of my theme for the year...is your heart right? Time to reflect.

Teacup Thursday #43

I just have had so many things going, I can't seem to get to my blog except to post my Teacup Thursday posts! Another week has slipped by. I spent last weekend helping Jim set up his booth for his antique show  at the Clark Co Fairgrounds in Washington. I forgot to take my camera when we set up, so these pictures are from the last day. He had a very successful show! The next one will be in March at the Expo Center in Oregon.

I'm now the owner of this darling wooden cradle.

I think I need to make a quilt for this one. Next project???
Here's something that I got last summer in Port Townsend and I never got to share it. It's a glove press...pretty cool, huh?

Oh yes, it is Teacup Thursday! I was going to show another Christmas gift, but I packed it away until after Valentines. It will make a good spring feature. I do have one to share that was also a gift. My friend Lynda gave this to me as she thought it should live in my tea room. It's a bit different as it's a moustache
cup. It's really lovely and is marked but I just can't read it at all.

As most of you know, I'm a big Tasha Tudor fan. I received my first newsletter from the Tasha Tudor Museum. It is so exciting, wonderful reading with lots of pictures. I so hopeful that the family will be able to build a very special museum...maybe open her home someday as a museum!

Do have a great week ahead, just incase I don't post again until next Teacup Thrusday. Thank you Miss Spenser for hosting our special Thursdays.