Blue Willow Child's Tea Set

Welcome to Show & Tell Friday hosted by my sweet friend Cindy. I have been a bit of a slacker for the last few weeks through the holidays & I have not participated. But, today I want to share one of my Christmas presents from my dear friend Susan. There's a little history behind this whole story so bear with me.

MANY years ago as a child I wanted a Blue Willow Tea Set because my MUCH LOVED Grandmother had that pattern of dishes. One Christmas my dream came true & Santa brought me the doll sized tea set. I was 4 or 5 years old & had a cousin about 2 years younger than I. ALL day we played tea party & after supper we went into the kitchen to wash the dishes. Standing on chairs wearing Grandma's aprons we washed & played & were so happy UNTIL.......... Jane dropped the tea pot into the water & broke about half of my new tea set. MANY tears followed & I have thought of that set often. Once in Brimflield, MA at the big flea market there I found a boxed set just like mine but, the cost was prohibitive at the time.

And then back in November Susan & I were shopping in an Antique Mall in Dallas & I saw this Blue Willow child's tea set in a display case. I told her the story of heartbreak many Christmas's past. I thought of putting the set in lay away (it's Christmas & I wasn't supposed to buying for me I told myself) but, decided not to. Susan asked me if I wanted her to tell "Honey" about it for my gift & I said "NO! I wouldn't want him to know how expensive something like that is because he'd think I was crazy". Later "Honey" asked what do you want for Christmas? And all I could come up with was The Tea Set. I gave him the information & that was the last I thought of it because a few days later a SMALL jewelry shaped box appeared wrapped under the tree.

So, on the night before Christmas Eve, Susan came over for dinner & for our gift exchange (she was leaving to go visit family for Christmas). After a yummy dinner we sat down & as I opened my box I squealed with delight!!!!!!!!!! MY TEA SET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now this set is a little larger than the doll sized one I received as a child but, I'm just a bigger child now!!!! Isn't it simply DIVINE? THANK YOU SWEET FRIEND!!!!!!

I guess I truly am having a second childhood after all I have a new doll (Noel) & now a new child's tea set! Some day I''ll worry about what I want to be when I grow up but until then I want to thank you for allowing my wander down memory lane. Do you think Grandma smiled that evening as big as Susan & I did? Susan admitted that she had even been willing to ride over there with "Honey" to buy it & play DUMB to the whole "it wasn't there" game. Hee Hee she really got me this year! OK go see the other girls & see what they brought for Show & Tell! HUGS!

Resolutions of the Heart

For my New Years List (I don't want to say resolutions because sometimes I don't follow through on resolutions) one of the key things I listed as wanting was KNOWLEDGE. In just a very few weeks I will be going back to Round Top, Texas to the old Haw Creek Church to take a class from the talented jewelry designer Diane Cook. I have never met Diane but, feel like I know her because I have followed her blog & emailed back & forth for quiet sometime now. She is also friends with my friend/mentor Diana Frey. They have taken classes together & will both be teaching at ADORN ME in Houston, TX in March (which I am very excited about attending this also but, more on that at a later date). Anyway... I am so excited about this upcoming class with Diane.

Today I made my reservations for this beautiful B&B outside of Round Top . This is where I will be staying & I can't wait to see this place which is much acclaimed in many magazines. Check out the site & see how wonderful it looks. ALSO, I JUST ASKED "HONEY" ABOUT GOING TO AN EVENT IN APRIL & HE SAID YES!!!!! LIFE IS GOOD & I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT ALL I WILL LEARN! For all of you who sent puppy hugs for my sweet Reba she is improving every moment!!!! Hugs

REBA IS HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!

THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE PRAYERS, HUGS & PUPPY LOVE SENT OUT OUR WAY!!!!!  Ms Reba came home from the hospital today.  We are not totally out of the woods yet but, she is sooooooooooooo much better.  Her cPL number was 590 on New Years Eve & today it was 230(normal is under 200).  So, with a special diet & rest she should recover.   There is still a tiny possibility that there is an underlying cause such as an absess or tumor on the Pancrease beside just Pancreatitis but, all indications are that treatment has worked.  So, we are into this for over $1400. & she is worth every dime.  So, keep the prayers flowing & THANK YOU for all your love & support.  It is so wonderful to have your friends when your world feels DARK & SCARY!!!!!!  Friends do a heart good!   LOVE YOU GUYS YOU ARE THE BEST!!!!! 

Hugs!  Charlene & Reba

Silver Sunday Blog Event

Beth over at Gypsy Fish thought it would be fun to do a Show Off Your Silver Blog Party for the New Year. She planned it to be every Sunday from TODAY to February 7th. I decided this would be something fun & different so for a start to the party I thought I would share my vintage Tipping Tea Pot.

Here is where she lives. On our antique hutch. Up there with photos of my sweet Daddy & Grandmother. Up on the shelf the tea pot reigns over the photo of Daddy in his uniform (Korean War era) & the photo behind that is him when he was a little child. Next to that is a sweet pair of vintage child's shoes with Mother of Pearl buttons. I just love baby shoe & I will share some of the others I have in another post. The items to the left are a teaser for you to come back next Sunday...

Here is this beauty up close. I did polish her for my Christmas Tea (December 20) but, the tarnish is already sneaking in. DARN!

And here in the left side of the photo is the tipping tea pot all polished up & put to use on my tea cart in the dinning room for the Christmas Tea I told you about. For more photos of that event click HERE otherwise click on the button on the sidebar to go visit Beth & the other girls playing today. Have a blessed Sunday!

I Need Prayers for My Sweet Puppy Reba

I need the guardian angels (Dawn thank you for the above image) to look over her & all you prayer warriors to send your prayers for her recovery. On New Years Eve I had to put my sweet fur baby Reba back into the hospital. She has been fighting pancreatitis for over a week now. She had come home on Christmas Eve after being there for 24 hours. She was better but, took a turn for the worse on Tuesday. She will be turning 13 years old on January 29th & it is hard for an old girl to bounce back quickly.

Here she is a few weeks ago before this hit her. Laying on her favorite rug by the chaise lounge in our bedroom. Lisa from Puppy Love is a veterinary assistant & she says that if it is not too progressed she SHOULD make a full recovery. Yet Nan from Retired in Alaska lost her sweet baby to this. So, until Monday when we get new blood work she stays at the hospital on IV's & I walk around with a sick feeling in my stomach & missing my sweet puppy girl. Isn't it funny how these sweet fur babies are such blessings to us? How they can be like a part of own hearts. PLEASE SEND YOUR PRAYERS for Reba's recovery. This is not a happy way to start a New Year.