A NEW YEAR'S BLESSING!

Hello Ladies:  Welcome to the Tea Cup Tuesday No. 198 and the last tea party for 2013!  We have gone through another year together, my friends.  I am so glad to say 2013 was a year of great joys and triumphs for me.  For that, I am eternally grateful to the Lord.  I know that many of you, have suffered unthinkable tragedy.  For some, personal health has been a great issue and others of you will be saying "good-bye" to your lovely homes. Having experienced great sorrow in years past, I know how hard that can be. I pray that as we enter 2014, our New Year will be filled with God's never ending blessings! Year end causes so many of us to reflect, perhaps  on changes we would like to make, people we would like to get to know better, or relationships that may need some repair.  I want to thank you for your kindness to me throughout the years.  We have gone through thick and thin together. I consider this blog a reflection of who I am and where I am at, during any given week throughout the year. I know you think of me as just another pretty tea cup.  I am grateful for each of you and if  I  could, would love to give each one of you a big "Happy New Year's" hug. Thank you for being such good friends, in spite of me.  

I have picked this one mustache tea cup from Germany today to share.  It reads: Think of Me!  Please know that I am also thinking and praying for each of you.  I pray that God grants you the desires of your heart as you seek Him with all your heart in 2014. 

As you can tell by my pictures, my Christmas is still up and I need to do something about that very soon, maybe today.  Sending love your way!  Martha

CHRISTMAS BLESSING THIS TEA CUP TUESDAY!

Hello Ladies! MERRY CHRISTMAS! Welcome to Tea Cup Tuesday No. 197! I know that we are all in the mist of preparing for the big event, so I am going to share only one tea cup with you today. More important than tea cups, (Did I just say that?) is my wish and prayer for you this holiday season.  My wish is, that you are able to celebrate with those you hold dear.  My prayer is that you are able to take time to remember the precious Child who was born, so long ago to take away ours sins. " For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6   He is available for all of us, regardless of who we are or what we have done.  

Merry Christmas my dear and precious friends.  My tea cup today is an old cup from Germany.  It reads, "Baby," perfect! 

Wise men still seek Him!

Blessings, Martha

CHRISTMAS TREE AND TEA CUPS!

Hello friends!  Welcome to Tea Cup Tuesday No. 196!  Well, Christmas is almost here and I think everyone is in high gear, in efforts to get everything done.  I have decorated my last home this weekend and attended two parties in 7 days.  Can you be a "party animal" at 62?  Last year at this time, my husband was very ill and I can tell what condition my mind was in because, I did not put Christmas items away were I usually do.  So, I have been missing a few important items. My children's Christmas stocking for example, have still not turned up.  I know I can replace them, but I made them for each child as our family grew, adding husbands and now grandchildren.  I need to find them. My children have had them since they were born.  I am feeling my age this week. Thank God for a tea break, now and then.

The first tea cup I am sharing this week is Depression Glass.  It is Cranberry glass and I have a service for 18 of this set.  I love it.  I own three set of dishes that I can use for Christmas, this one is my favorite.  We use it for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day breakfast every year.  I know it is not one of the most beautiful depression glass you can find, but for me it holds so many memories of special meals.   They are also perfect when you have a large group that is joining you for a meal.  

My next cup is also depression glass.  I love to mix green and red depression glass during Christmas.  They are a perfect match. 

My last cup this week is a Nikko, Made in Japan, pattern name "Happy Holidays".  It looks very much like the Copeland. Spode, Christmas Tea Cup. Love the handle on this one. 

Here are a few more home decor, pictures I want to share with you.  I love the way the Christmas tree turned out this year. 

My Noah and Sophia left with their parents for a few days to visit their Aunt and Uncle. Flying on an airplane has become old hat for them. Each have their own iPad, too funny. At their age,  flying on an airplane was never even in my thoughts, let a lone a reality that happens regularly. 

 Princess Maya was in her annual parade this weekend. They had their PJ's  on for the parade.  

Terri and I look forward each week to visiting your homes and seeing all those amazing tea cups.  Thank you so much for your faithfulness.  I appreciate each and every one of you.

Blessings, Martha

HAVING TROUBLE WITH LINKY.  PLEASE SIGN ON TERRI'S BLOG AND I WILL VISIT FROM THERE.  THANKS AND SORRY!  MARTHA

DECKING THE HALLS WITH TEA CUPS!

Hi Ladies:  Welcome to Tea Cup Tuesday No. 195!  The Christmas Spirit has hit my home. What a difference a week makes. My home is 95% done, only 2 gifts left to buy (YES!) and party season has begun. By now most of your homes have been decked out for Christmas.  Christmas bins have been emptied and the Halls have been Deck!  I am in a much better place this week. I feel like I have my life back under control.   Thank you so much for praying for me.  The party season has begin for me and it started with Sophia's first ballet recital.  Not much of a public dancer, but she makes up for it in cuteness! Went to an ornament exchange that night, which was a blast!  I will be hosting a Christmas Tea on Wednesday, here at my home. I always have a large group, it is a great way to just love on friends. 

Here is a little tour of what I have done so far.  If I would get my act together, I could post at least twice a week and show you more.  

I am sharing some fun Christmas cups this week. Starting with a Lefton's Americana Rose, tea cup.  I love this pattern.  It is pottery, not china, however, it can hold it's own against the finest tea cups.  I am lucky enough to own the a large set of this pattern. Don't you just love it?

The second cup is also pottery by Palissy Pottery, Staffordshire, England.  The pattern name is "View Near Hurley Berks," Thames River Scenes. I think this is an amazing piece of Red Transferware. This year I was lucky enough to find a service for 8 of vintage Staffordshire dinnerware,  It is all in a lace like, Red Transferware.  I  now have choices for Christmas dinner. 

The last cup I am sharing today is from Saxony, Germany. To me it looks like a divided cup, where one side of the cup has a space for the tea bag.  It says "Merry Christmas." It could be a shaving mug.  Maybe our friend Ruth can tell us? 

My Princess Maya was at the party with me this weekend.  You have to see her, she was wearing heels.  Where did the time go?  This beautiful young lady is my niece, Blair, can you just tell she was on the Rose Bowl Court?  One of the games we played at the party was to make a Christmas Tree from items provided.  She is the perfect present.  

Thank you so much for stopping by.  I know everyone is very busy. Both Terri and I appreciate each and everyone of you. Remember you can email me, if you are in need of prayer.  Sending hugs, Martha

FEELING A LITTLE OFF ON TEA CUP TUESDAY!

Hi Ladies:  Welcome again to Tea Cup Tuesday No. 194!  Hoping everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that Black Friday was good to you!  I think our family's Thanksgiving was one of the best I can remember in a long time. We gathered, we ate and we gathered again and we ate again!  The holiday was very sweet and uneventful, just like I hoped it would be.  I did get my email hacked this weekend, so if you got some weird email from me, sorry.  I think they fixed the problem, but it is never easy to come home to over 250 emails in one day. 

Like many of you, I have started my Christmas Decor.  I thought I was just about done,  when my sweet, beloved, son, who I dearly love, decided he wanted to buy a TV for the living room.  We have never had one in there and have been just fine for 23 years, however, it looks like we now have one.  It is nice, big and 3-D, because every house needs one, or so I have been told, by my son. Problem No. 1: Christmas tree, filled with antique ornaments, is in the spot where the TV is going.  Problem 2: Sound system need to go, Christmas tree now belongs there.  Problem 3:  Sofas need to move to make room for TV. So, here I am starting all over again, but I have a TV, because every house needs one. To be honest, nothing in my house feels the same.  Places that I have decorated for Christmas in the past, are no longer available to me.  My youngest daughter took some furniture for her home recently, so I have less table top space. You can't tell there is something gone because, I confess, I have collected a lot of antique furniture too. (Let's not talk about that.)   None of my furniture is in the same space.  Change is hard for me, I admit it. It does not help that everyone's blog looks so amazing!  You have some incredible Christmas vignettes posted.   Like I said, I am a little off.  I like to walk into my home at Christmas and just feel so inspired.  Right now, it just feels, well, off.  I need to pray for an attitude of gratitude for myself and more strength for the day. I am off, in more ways than one! If you remember me, please pray, I need to straighten out my act and fly right! 

Thank God we have Tea Cup Tuesday!  I love things that feel good and familiar.  My first cup today is a Duchess from England.  The pattern name is "Winter."  I love the holly on this design.

Cup No 2 is a Royal Patrician, also from England. No pattern name on this one, just lovely poinsettia's.

My last cup is Mikasa, pattern name "Holly Ribbon."  It is very elegant looking.  

I did finish a "Birthday Crown" I had been working on.  What do you think?  They are so easy.  I think I did a post on how to make them a few months back.  Have a wonderful week.  Terri and I always look forward to what you set on your table each week.  Here is this weeks link!  I think I can use one of  Noah's hugs!   

Blessings, Martha