Oh, A Thrifting We Will Go ~

Oh, A thrifting we will go
a thrifting we will go
Hi ho the derio
a thrifting we will go..

So my sister Lana, our niece Michelle, my daughter-in-law Laura, and I met at Goodwill on Saturday morning to have a shopping party together. Michelle has been in Washington since Tuesday for a wedding and a visit. She is donning an apron that she was considering. This is our sorting out stage of shopping. We first load the carts with everything we think we might want, then when we’ve had enough shopping we sort through everything and decide what we really don’t want.

Some of the goodies I’ve acquired this week. I love the little saying on the blue plate from England. “When two fond hearts as one unite the yoke is easy and the burden light”

I love to mix lace and another color tablecloth for tea tables or just for some old fashioned fun. I’m a sucker for tablecloths and the two I bought today were unique and in very good shape. I’m looking forward to making some sweet treats in these Petite heart pans. Think of the possibilities.

This hand made tablecloth is a very interesting color and the work is so detailed on it. I just couldn’t walk away from it. Well, I could have walked away but I didn’t want to.

While we were shopping my two sons were home preparing a great barbecue for us hard working shoppers. It was so good. They decided on hamburgers and to go with the hamburgers they made carmelized onions, guacamole, bacon, a fruit salad and baked beans. We had my Rice Krispy Bars for dessert. What a feast it was. We felt blessed.

Ok my sister Lana G! really has a talent at presenting her treasures in a beautiful way. She spent the most of all of us. Check out her treasures here.

Pink Saturday ~ 2

Welcome to my 2nd Pink Saturday!

I’ve posted this before on my blog but not for Pink Saturday. These are some of my Royal Albert China pieces in the Moss Rose Pattern. Over the years I’ve gathered pink accessories to go with these dishes. I really do like the pink and green combination.

I began my set of Moss Rose by buying a Tea Service while touring England in the summer of 1973 with a Christian Rock Band. After I was married in 1974 my husband and I were on a cross country road trip and we made a special trip into Canada from Detroit to buy dinner service for 12 in this same pattern. The pattern was not available in the U.S.A. I love this set but prefer to use plain white china for most gatherings these days except for when I get inspired to set a pretty tea table.

I’m including this collage of a bush in my yard that a hummingbird was enjoying that happens to have PINK blossoms on it…

Have a wonderful Pink Saturday everyone and thank you to our kind hostess Beverly at How Sweet the Sound. To see more Pink today just click on the link.

Project Blue ~ Take Seven

My friend Willow from Willow’s Cottage has a friend with a Blueberry Farm and when she gets to pick blueberries on the farm she’s sweet enough to share some with me. So I found my blue rimmed platter to put my blueberries in and then I enjoyed my high fiber cereal with my daily banana and the lovely blueberry treat. Then it dawned on me that we are in the midst of project blue so I put this collage together filled with my yummy blue…

For more Project Blue click over to Anna Carson Photography.

More Thrift Store Goodies…

This is a busy weekend for my extended family. Graduations, birthdays, baby shower, and wedding shower, all packed into two days. The women on my side of the family are hosting a shower on Sunday for our future niece/cousin/granddaughter. Lot’s of organizing, cooking, and putting together. Hopefully I’ll have photos to share. I’ll be on the road through L.A. and on to Orange County for the festivities. So before I head into craziville I took a moment at the local thrift store and look what I found.

Three pieces of Pink Depression glass for $6.50.

This Old Foley, James Kent LTD, Made in England, “Harmony Rose” bowl for $1.25.

This Wedgewood cup and saucer for $.75.

Have a wonderful weekend. Think of me while I try to create my very first cake with fondant icing. If it works I’ll be sure to post a photo.

Santa Barbara

So on Saturday I decided to head North 40 miles to Santa Barbara to take care of some business at Nordstrom and then have a leisurely walk around town.

I headed up State Street to find the Nordstrom. Santa Barbara has some great Mission Architecture.

Even the Nordstrom here is designed to fit into the neighborhood. I love the architecture and feel of the downtown Santa Barbara area. Once I purchased what I needed at Nordstrom I wandered the downtown main drag popping into stores that looked interesting.

This Lewis & Clark store was one of my favorites with a great variety of stuff shown in the next collage.

Lots of china, silver, vintage aprons, vintage ware, and whimsy. Time to find some lunch…

I chose Barcliff & Bair. It was a nice spot right on State Street with outdoor tables. I chose the inside because it was overcast and sprinkly at this point in the day. I had Harney and Sons Earl Grey Supreme, a grilled chicken and brie sandwich with peppers and onions, and a cup of 3 bean soup. Very nice. I then went to do a little more shopping.

I found a consignment shop on State that I’d come back to in the future. I thought this china cup and saucer would be a good mate to my Royal Albert one I found at the Rose Bowl Flea Market. This one is Cambridge, Pink Mist, made in England. I think those are Dogwood blooms which I love. This beauty was $10.00. That is not my usual thrift store bargain price but I was happy to spend it anyway for this sweet cup and saucer.

I also made a side trip to the Santa Barbara Art Museum and the Santa Barbara Mission but I’ll leave that for another post…

I got home and found out that Dear had made it to our home in the Seattle area safe and sound. He flies home tomorrow morning and I’ll pick him up at the airport. He and our daughter were on their way to our favorite Mexican restaurant in Kirkland because there was no food in the house :0)

Thrift Store Treasures

So my walking numbers are way down this week after my high stepping totals last week. I’ve been sidetracked this week. I decided to clean out my kitchen cupboards and reorganize them so it’s easier to work. I had 3 bags of stuff to donate to the local thrift store. Things that just aren’t working in the condo. I have another box full of stuff to take back to the Mother ship in Seattle. Just when I was ahead I had a great shopping day at none other than Goodwill.

6 Water Goblets with roses etched on them (all 6 for 2.99), Tea Pot and two tea cups $2.99, A three piece cream and gold tea place setting for $1.99 (Kahla, East Germany), A Tiffany and Co. Ice bucket for 1.99.

A Limoges little basket dish for $1.99

There were 11 of these little vases that are designed to be place card holders. I got the set of 11 for $4.99.

Now the big decision on what to leave here and what to send to the Mother Ship…

I’m headed to Orange County today to meet some of my family at a Persian Restaurant to celebrate my father’s 85th birthday. I’ll try to catch up with y’all tomorrow. Have a wonderful day.

Set The Tea Table ~ Bavarian Dishes

Some of you know already that I’m living in a small condo in Southern California right now and my regular home with my kids and my stuff is in the Seattle Area of Washington. Most of my tea goodies and entertaining goodies are in Washington. I didn’t have any tea-cups and saucers in California until today! Look at the bargain I found at a thrift store in our little downtown today.

6 cups and saucers, 6 dessert plates, 5 salad plates, and a creamer. It’s Bavarian H & Co. china. Now here’s the real exciting thing, I got all of this for $15.00!! Now I’m going to be able to have a fun tea here in California with the goodies I found today and with what I can add from the condo stash. Here’s my mock tea table without food.

The inside of the tea-cups are iridescent.

“Take some more tea,” the March Hare said to Alice, very earnestly. “I’ve had nothing yet,” Alice replied in an offended tone: “so I can’t take more.” “You mean you can’t take less,” said the Hatter: “it’s very easy to take more than nothing.” ~ Lewis Carroll ~ Alice In Wonderland

You can click over to LaTeaDah’s to see more Tables Set for Tea.

Tea Blogathon ~ Set the Table Pink & Green

This is my third tea table. I’m using some of my archive photos since I’m not at my home in Seattle where all my goodies are to set a new table.

I have a lot of pink and green accessories and enjoy setting a table in these colors.

My China is Royal Albert Moss Rose.

For more Tables set for tea visit Gracious Hospitality.

I made a wonderful find today at a local thrift store so I have one more Set the Table post for tomorrow!

Set the Tea Table ~ Vintage Blue

“American-style iced tea is the perfect drink for a hot, sunny day. It’s never really caught on in the UK, probably because the last time we had a hot, sunny day was back in 1957.”
Tom Holt

The dishes are Johnson Brothers/English Chippendale/design pattern 103232.

For more Set the Tea Table click over to Gracious Hospitality.

Set the Table, Tea is On!

This weeks tea challenge for the Gracious Hospital-I-Tea Blog-a-thon is to share a creative afternoon tea table, linens, serving pieces, teapots and teacup, etc. This is your opportunity to show the world the fun you have when you create your own special tea experience.

I have 3 tea settings to share from previous posts. My first one I’m sharing is my Tea for One.

In the past I’ve collected napkin rings. This silver ring with the E on it is my personal napkin ring. The little tea pot is from Russia and has a huge matching pot that I’ll show during “The Pouring Teapot”. I have a couple little tea mugs instead of tea cups with saucers. The white/clear depression glass plates and creamer and sugar are from our handed down stash from Dear’s side of the family. The silverplate candy dish was a wedding gift.

The Tablecloth is one of several vintage ones I have from my MIL’s collection.

“Tea to the English is really a picnic indoors.”
Alice Walker

A beautiful afternoon for tea…

For more “Set the Table” posts visit Gracious Hospitality.