Meeting a Blogging Friend and Her Hubby

 Oh my goodness, I must tell you about the wonderful meeting that Celeste from Southern Daydreams and I had at a tea room!  Here I am after opening the lovely Fitz and Floyd platter that Celeste gifted to me.  

 I made Celeste some Christmas Jam, a loaf of bread, from my Civil War starter, and a teacup coaster, fashioned after the ones that Stephanie, from The Enchanting Rose makes.  Stephanie is the reason that Celeste and I became friends, as she placed me as the recipient of Celeste's teacup exchange.  Celeste lives not that far away from me, as we found out, and we wanted to meet each other.

 

 Here we are posing in the shabby chic tearoom! Celeste is as beautiful on the inside as on the out. 

 Guess who joined us??  Celeste's dear hubby fit right into our tearoom lunch.  Her hubby and I had a lot in common as we had,  at one time, worked with some of the same people, we discovered.   Do you notice Larry's clothing colors?  Yes, he loves Ohio State, also!  The dear, sweet man even said a blessing before we had our lunch.  We all chatted away for over two hours, just like we were old friends that have just picked up where we left off!  Larry even treated me so generously to my lunch, and besides all that, he bought each of us the most delectable macaroon at the tearoom's bakery to take home!! It was such an honor and privilege  getting to meet them.  You can just tell that they both love and adore each other.   As we were leaving the tearoom, Larry and Celeste so thoughtfully walked me to my car.   I watched them as they walked to their car, grabbing each others hand, just as my late beloved and I always did wherever we were.  It brought back loving memories for me. 

 Just look at the generosity of Celeste!  Isn't the platter so nostalgic and with such a sweet saying?  Inside the bag are candies that Celeste made for me to put on the platter.  If that was not enough, she made me an ornament, that is embellished in Celeste's own style!

 Here's my yummy macaroon (it was enormous and yes, I ate the entire thing!), and a few of the candies (oh,  are they ever good!).  I'm having a cup of Holiday Tea, from Harney and Sons to keep me in the Christmas spirit.

 Here's the front of the gorgeous ornament.

Here's the back of the ornament, which is just as pretty as the front.  

Thank you to Celeste and Larry for a wonderful afternoon of friendship, and for driving over near to me.  We were so sorry that our friend, Pat, from Gypsy Heart and Soul, who we were hoping to meet, could not join us, as she was not feeling well.  We will definitely plan another time to meet.  Hopefully, Larry will join us again!  Thank you to our dear, sweet friend Stephanie for making all this possible to begin with...all through a cup of tea!

 

I am sharing this with these lovely parties: 

No Place Like Home

Tuesday Cuppa Tea 

Bernideen's Tea Time, Collage and Garden Blog Party

Tea Cup Tuesday 
Roses of Inspiration 
Cooking and Crafting with J & J 

Share Your Cup

Foodie Friday

Thank you for your kind visit!  xo

A Valentine Tea

 Even though my sweetheart is no longer with me, I do remember how much we loved each other.  I read something recently which said that love is both and honor and a privilege and if we love deeply, then we are vulnerable to deep pain.  Thankfully, my memories are a treasure. I can still have a tea party by myself and I've set my coffee table with a mismatch of dishes and some pretty doilies. 

 Isn't this teacup, by J & G Meakin, so pretty?  It's an everyday teacup that I just love! 

 This darling teddy bear with a teacup was made years ago by a dear friend that passed away a year ago.  I just love it and think of her.

 Let's have some sugar cookies from a favorite recipe of mine, which you can find here.

Which tea would you like to try today?  I love trying new teas, and both of these sound perfect for Valentine's Day, don't they?

 

I am sharing this with:

Make It Pretty Monday

Tea Time Tuesday

Tuesday Cuppa Tea 

Friends Sharing Tea

Tea Cup Tuesday 
Roses of Inspiration 

Share Your Cup

Full Plate

Foodie Friday

Weekend Potluck

 

Thank you for your visit!  xo

Overnight Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast

Yes, it's still quite warm here in Texas and tea is outside.  How about joining me for some stuffed french toast?  I love sandwiching a pretty doily in between two clear glass plates for a pretty effect.

I'm using my Royal Vale cottage teacup.  I'm not ready to head into Fall quite yet.  It's hard with the temperatures still so hot here in Texas.

 

 This recipe was recently in The Dallas Morning News.  One of my grandsons, who loves to cook, helped me make this.  We put it together the night before and enjoyed it the next morning.  

1 8-ounce pkg. reduced- fat cream cheese

3 T. sugar

1 t. vanilla (my addition)

8 slices cinnamon-swirl bread (I used Pepperidge Farm)

1/2 cup chopped pecans

4 eggs

1/2 cup milk

Assorted fresh berries ( The Dallas Morning News suggested sauteed apples slices or fresh peaches)

Syrup

MIX reduced-fat cream cheese, vanilla and sugar until blended; spread onto bread. Place 4 bread slices, cream cheese-sides up, in 8-inch square baking dish sprayed with cooking spray. Sprinkle with chopped pecans. Cover with remaining bread slices, cream cheese-sides down.
 
WHISK eggs and milk until blended; pour over bread. Cover; refrigerate overnight.
 
HEAT oven to 350 degrees.   Bake, uncovered, 30 to 35 min. or until center is set and top is lightly browned. Serve topped with berries and syrup, if desired.

Serves 4-8, depending on portion size.  

I am sharing this with:
 

Make It Pretty Monday
Tea Time Tuesday
Tuesday Cuppa Tea 
Friends Sharing Tea
Tea Cup Tuesday 

Share Your Cup
Full Plate
Foodie Friday
Weekend Potluck

Thank you for your visit!  xo