Afternoon Tea in the Home

Good afternoon dear ladies,

If you are spending quite a bit of time alone at home, I would like to encourage you to do something special and elegant for yourself. Sometimes it is hard to do that if you are used to pulling out all the best things for others, but today I hope, especially if the day is overcast or you must be indoors due to very uncomfortable temperatures, to stop and enjoy a beverage from a nice cup and to read a little or catch up on your correspondence or journaling.

I have been using these led-lite emergency candles from Dollar Tree and I really like them. They are run by batteries so I use the kind that have the longest life for heaviest use.  I enjoy the white light. They come in packages of two for a dollar, with extra little cups to stand them in. They can also be used in taper candle holders.

The teacup I am using is from an old  Japanese company called Enesco, and it is a teacup of the month.  I find them at thrift stores and second-hand stores. This one is June.  I have found five of them of them over the last few years: March, April, May, June, and October.  I am on the lookout for January, February, July, August, September, November and December.   I use them when I extend hospitality, and have found that these are always chosen (I tell my guests to pick out their own cups, straight from the china cabinet) and are a favorite.

Surely most people have a few niceties from a former time, and maybe a fine teacup in their home. You do not have to drink tea to enjoy one of these cups. There is something quite elegant and rich about using them.

Regarding the luxury cupcake, there are recipes available on the web to make cupcakes using honey, with cream cheese frosting. These are bursting with flavor, and if you use tiny muffin tins, your bite-size treat will not bring on too many calories.  If you have a lot of family in your home, you are better off, because there will not be any left over to tempt you!

Above is another picture of my small tree adorned in clip-on whites magnolia blossoms. It is dark here today but we are coming up on longer and brighter days. I know there are some people who do not use Christmas trees, but I always liked them in he northern climes for the light they extend in the home. When  I lived in Alaska in the 1950's our christmas lights were turned on in November and used until February before the days were lighter.

I am spending the evenings sewing, and am working on a girl's Victorian-style dress. In these pictures it does not look too promising, but I guarantee it will look much better when it is finished. 

Thank you for your visit and for your inspiring comments.

Here is another small tree belonging to another family member, with pastel lights. 

And here is an old saying that helps correct any complaining that enters your home: It is better to light one candle, than to curse the darkness."  Think of the results of complaining compared to the results of praising and being kind, loving and forgiving.

Enesco lusterware teacups in March, April, May, June and October.