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Downton Abbey ..Ladies who came to Tea !!

Downton Abbey High Tea Party was an enormous success ...everyone seemed to enjoy themselves very much.
Here they are arriving in all of their glory.
So much effort just to come to my humble home for afternoon tea.
I am so honored that they would all take so much trouble.

I had such fun greeting them ...some so elegant in their lovely vintage gloves.
Some of the gloves which their own Grandmother's used to own and wear.
How perfect.

The tables are all ready set and filled with mouthwatering teatime treats.
I was expecting two other guests but unfortunately one got the date wrong and thought it was the next day ..she didn't feel like getting all ready to come over for tea once she found out ..she was missed.
And one of my dear friends had a last minute family thing going on and was deeply sorry to not be able to attend ...she had a beautiful dress that she had bought as well and was deeply disappointed.
So were we ....she is the loveliest of friends and was sorely missed by us all XX
I have saved some treats for her.

Here is an example of the place settings.
I gifted each of my guests with a sachet of Jasmine Blossom to place in a drawer,suitcase,wardrobe etc.
And my dear Friend in Guernsey on hearing that I was having a Downton Abbey tea party started to make, unbeknown to myself, the most precious Downton Abbey themed gift tags ...for me to use as decoration on the table place settings and also for a keepsake for my Friends to take home with them.
Each one was beautifully crafted with such care and love.
With handmade flowers, butterflies and well known sayings from Downton Abbey.
They must have taken hours and hours of work ..and delighted everyone of us that attended the party.

EVERYONE OF US WANT TO SAY A BIG 'THANK YOU' TO MARY in Guernsey ....WE ARE OVERWHELMED BY YOUR KINDNESS XX

Lots of home made goodies could be found.

I hardly had room to fit them all on each table.
Another dear Friend who attended the afternoon tea made the delicious strawberry jam to go with the Devon Clotted Cream and Scones for the typical English Cream tea.
Thanks Cindy ...she also gifted each guest including myself a jar of the Strawberry jam to take home ..Along with an inspirational book.
I have the best friends...so lucky.

I found these perfect roses for the tea and slipped a few in to my lovely white teapot .

The most glorious roses I have ever seen ...I just love the color ...and they have a beautiful scent too.

Margie, Mary & Debbie ....all three look simply stunning ...

One of my guests has to have gluten free food ...I had a blast trying out recipe's with the very strange flour you have to use for Gluten free ...these chocolate cakes I made from a recipe in one of my cook books from the 70's ....it was lovely to make and the finished cake was quite yummy ....Danny and I tried them and loved them and I am so glad that my friend loved them too.
She even took some home with her.
I loved them so much I will share the recipe with you on my blog in the next few days for those who are to eat gluten free or those who aren't ...I gave them a lovely chocolate and butter icing...Yum !!
I also made scones for her and she loved them too.

Busted !! Texting at the table would never meet with the approval of the Dowager Countess ...ha! ha!

Ladies dressed impeccably for afternoon tea ...gloves included ...beautiful.

My Cabbage Rose Blue chair was always made for elegance ...love this photo ..love this Friend.

I made a little game from the English Party Game of 'Pass the Parcel' and had as the prize one of my handmade pillows ...My Printer has broken and I could not make one of Downton Abbey but this one had fashion from the Jane Austen era.
I wrapped it in about 10 pieces of decorative tissue paper and on each sheet was a piece of card with a famous saying from 'Downton Abbey' with music playing the parcel is passed around in a circle and when the music stops the person unwraps one piece of paper and then has to say out aloud the 'saying' in their best English voice ..then continues to pass it around the room till the music stops again ..the last one for it to be passed to, that has just a final wrapping wins the prize
It was lots of fun with lots of budding actors amongst my guests.

This lovely Lady was voted by her fellow guests ...Best Dressed
And won a little gift from myself of a modern day Teacup and Saucer.
I didn't give a vintage teacup as I thought the recipient would more likely use it if it was a modern day teacup.
Therefor think of the happy memories she has of the day every time she drinks from it.
I am sure she won't mind me saying but all of her outfit was made from her very clever Thrift Store findings ..perfect.

Yours truly with some of my dear friends.

I had fun laying the tables.

Hello over there !!

Another of the roses I bought for the party ..these were cream with a tinge of green on the edges of the petals...they are still looking good.

Thanks for popping by.
And letting me share my Downton Abbey Party with you all.
I hope that if you have one of your own that it will be full of happiness
and laughter like ours was
Happy memories made by all

Happy days

Janet

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July 26th, 2017

7/26/2017

I am getting ready for my Downton Abbey High Tea Party ..just over a week to go!!

Looking so forward to my little tea party ...with some of the best friends a woman could have.
I have been busy baking now for two weekends ...and have them all in the freezer waiting for the big day.

I can't reveal everything I have made but some of the baking includes English Sultana (Golden Raisin) Scones that will be served with real Devon Clotted Cream and Homemade Strawberry Jam,Tea Fruit Breads, Iced Cupcakes in various flavors, cookies, truffles and a real British dessert, most of them made with just English ingredients when I could find them cooking and presenting them in a truly British way.

The ladies are doing the occasion proud as they have decided to dress as close as they can to the fashions in the early 1900's such as the real cast of Downton Abbey are wearing above.
I am so proud of them ..so much thought and work being put in to them ...I will of course share lots of photo's of their creations after the party.

One of the teacups and teapots I will be using for the occasion as well as some of them in the basket below.

I am making Devon Scones but the recipe is the same as these Yorkshire scones but mine have a tablespoon of sugar in them.

Here is a typical British High Tea that they serve in English homes and some hotels.

I am so in love with the fashions and the romance of Downton Abbey.

One of my sweet teacup collection.

So now it is time to select the linens, the teacups and plates, serving dishes etc.
I love to do all of these entertaining moments ..from the planning to the clearing up.
I hope that I am able to give my lovely Lady Friends a wonderfully pleasant afternoon of fun.

Do you enjoy entertaining too ??

Happy Days

Janet

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July 22nd, 2017

7/22/2017

1950's Betty Crocker Cookbook & Daisy the Raccoon introduced me to her three new babies

Yesterday morning at 8am I was walking around the garden and all of a sudden Daisy the Raccoon came across the road from an empty lot and behind her three adorable little baby Raccoon's came along too.

Daisy wanted some food so I gave her some and saw that my flowers in my Wild Flower garden were moving around a lot so I looked over the side of the front porch and this is what I saw ...three naughty rascals ...one of them is almost hidden by the flowers.
They were a little weary of me (that will quickly change) and ran off to hide in the drain pipe at the end of the garden.
I saw the babies a few days ago ...up the Carolina Spruce tree whilst Mum Daisy ate sunflower seeds from the bird feeder.

Whilst we were at the Vacation cabin they had a Betty Crocker's cook book...it's a first edition printed in 1950 sitting on a shelf in the kitchen.

One of my wildflowers can you spy the little Cricket??

A lovely choice of frostings ...I will have to try some of these.

I just loved the illustration's.

Thanks for popping by.

Hope that your weekend is going to kind to you.

This is a photo of Daisy last year with her babies.

Happy Days to you all.

Kindest Regards

Janet

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March 17th, 2017

3/17/2017

An Invitation to Tea at Maisonvogue

If Teacups Could Talk
“The very act of preparing and serving tea encourages conversation. The little spaces in time created by teatime rituals call out to be filled with conversation. Even the tea itself–warm and comforting-inspires a feeling of relaxation and trust that fosters shared confidences.”

My very favorite rose plates ...I just love them

Dark Chocolate Chunk Coconut Key Lime Pound Cake

Makes 1 loaf

Ingredients:

1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour + 2 tablespoons; divided

1/2 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup plain whole-milk Greek yogurt, I use

1 cup sugar

4 large eggs + 1 egg yolk

2 teaspoons grated lime or key lime zest (about 3 large lime or 4 small ones)

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup coconut oil, at room temperature (it should be liquified)

1 cup dark chocolate chunks

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F).180 degrees (c). Gas mark 4 Grease a large loaf pan, and line with parchment paper.

Stir together the 1 2/3 cups plain (all purpose ) flour, baking powder, and salt into a medium-sized mixing bowl.

In a small bowl toss together chocolate chunks and remaining flour; set aside.

In another bowl, whisk together the yogurt, 1 cup sugar, eggs, egg yolk, lime zest, and vanilla.

Slowly whisk the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. With a rubber spatula, fold the coconut oil into the batter, folding from the bottom and up, making sure it’s all incorporated. Fold in the flour coated chocolate chunks.

Pour the batter into prepared pan and bake for 50-55 minutes, or until a cake tester or bamboo cocktail stick or knife placed in the center of the loaf comes out clean.

Cool cake in pan for 10 minutes, then carefully transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.

The Tea Party

I had a little tea party

This afternoon at three.

'Twas very small-

Three guest in all-

Just I, myself and me.

Myself ate all the sandwiches,

While I drank up the tea;

'Twas also I who ate the pie

And passed the cake to me.

When the world is all at odds
And the mind is all at sea
Then cease the useless tedium
And brew a cup of tea.
There is magic in its fragrance,
There is solace in its taste;
And the laden moments vanish
Somehow into space.
The world becomes a lovely thing!
There’s beauty as you’ll see;
All because you briefly stopped
To brew a cup of tea

I'm sending you love and tea,

To warm your cool Spring day.

Think of me as you pour your cup

And all the good things we would say.

If we could be together now

Instead of miles apart,

We'd sip our teas and memories,

The sweet warmth fills the heart.

I Love my Colclough Fine China Tea set (below) ..my Grandmother gave me for my engagement in 1973

I wish we could sit down together,

And have a cup of tea,

But since we can't

When you have this one,

I hope you'll think of me.

If you are cold, tea will warm you;

if you are too heated, it will cool you;

if you are depressed, it will cheer you;

if you are exhausted, it will calm you.

Wishing you a happy day
One that brings you many smiles
All along the way

Your dropping by
And joining Maisonvogue for tea
Has meant so much to me

So don't forget to stop just for a while
Brew a cup of tea and eat a treat
It is sure to make you smile

See you later

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Valentine's Day is on our doorstep ...ideas & downloads for your Romantic Day from Maisonvogue

1/29/2017

Valentine's Day is on our doorstep ...ideas & downloads for your Romantic Day from Maisonvogue

Valentine's Day is on our door step ...already February, 2017 ...goodness how time flies ...
If you are starting to prepare for your celebrations perhaps this blog may help you a little.
I have included 'downloads' of vintage cards for you to print and use as you wish.
Last year I used mine as part of my table settings....
Simply printing them out at the size I required and placing each one on the plate with a lovely stone heart that each person could take home with them .
It was a big hit.

A very cute angel that I found at the thrift store ...some dried roses, that I dried from ones that were given to me by my Husband Danny .... a lantern with a candle glowing
And a cup of tea in one of my favourite 'Shelley' cups

I LOVE to dry roses and flowers that Danny has given me ...I either dry the whole flower or I just dry the petals
I have a huge bowl of rose petals.

Valentine is a great excuse to indulge,
In pretty desserts.
That make you swoon when you eat them.
This one is simple ...
Make a round cake of your choice ..or you could make a square one ..that might be neat.
Slice up either a homemade Swiss (Jelly) Roll or a shop bought one is just as good and saves a lot of work.
Cover the cake in Vanilla Butter Cream or Freshly whipped Cream ..and using it like glue attach the Swiss Roll Pieces.....As in photo.
Pipe large swirls of the cream and add fresh strawberries that have been halved but still have the green stems attached ...
Can be made the day before.

This was the romantic table I laid last year on our back deck ...out in the glorious sun ....this year my Hyacinth flowers have nearly finished blooming ...all the flowers seem to be blooming early this year.

This was the same hyacinths that bloomed early this year.
This photo was taken two weeks ago !!

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Please feel free to use any of these vintage cards ..for your Valentine Projects ...Please let us know how you used them ....We would love to know ...

Creating this gorgeous trifle would be such fun ...don't forget to slice your strawberries to create the heart shapes ...and to make sure they are up against the glass of your trifle bowl.
This one had brownie cakes in the layers ..you can make them from a Brownie Fudge Cake Mix ..that would be quick, easy and delicious. Break up the brownies in to nice sized chunks so that the cream drips through and it will be easier to eat.
You can soak the bottom first layer of brownies in a lovely sweet sherry ...that is how I like to make it ..
I also love to chocolate dip the strawberries in an expensive Swiss or German chocolate such as Lindt, Suchard or my real favorite Ritter Sport milk or dark chocolate .
It would be great to dip half of them in milk chocolate and the other in half in dark chocolate.
What a treat ...Yum !!!

I hope that you are all having a wonderful day.
Enjoy your Valentine preparations.
It will soon be over.
And Easter will be on it's way !!

Happy Days to you all

Kindest Regards

Janet

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Royal Albert ' NEW COUNTRY ROSES' Teacup 'n' Saucer a Birthday Gift

7/13/2016

Royal Albert ' NEW COUNTRY ROSES' Teacup 'n' Saucer a Birthday Gift

I recently celebrated my Birthday and was totally spoilt by my Husband Danny and my Boys ...making my Birthday a very happy day
I was lucky enough to receive another addition to my teacup 'n' saucer collection ...isn't it pretty ? ...
The rose came from a lovely bouquet of flowers I received from my Son's

An abundance of roses painted on the teacup 'n' saucer ....I love how the saucer is so deep

It goes gorgeous with my thrift store find rosebud dinner plates and my Guy Degrenne white teapot ..I just love Royal Albert teacups

Danny also gave the 'Tea Celebrations' book ...it has amazing recipes inside of it and glorious photos

You may have noticed that my favorite teacups have pink or red roses on them ...I have stacked my new teacup 'n' saucer proudly on top of two of my 'Shelley' Teacups

See how cute my new 'Tea Celebrations' book is ..it's hardcover and that is important to me ...I don't like Paper Backs very much

Thanks so much for popping by and allowing me to share my love of "Tea Time' and Tea Cups 'n' Saucers

Happy Days to you

Sit down for a few moments and drink a cup of tea from a beautiful cup it will make you smile

Janet

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4th July ..Independence Day .. Great Patriotic Dessert for your Celebrations ..Easy to make

6/30/2016

4th July ..Independence Day .. Great Patriotic Dessert for your Celebrations ..Easy to make

Here is a wonderful easy dessert to make for the 4th July , Independence Day Celebrations ...it will WOW !! your guests

Ingredients

Cake
1 box angel food cake mix
1 1/4   cups water
1/4 cup red, white and blue sprinkles

Filling
4   containers (6 oz each) Yoplait Original strawberry yogurt
1   container (12 oz) Cool Whip frozen whipped topping, thawed
1   box (4-serving size) vanilla instant pudding and pie filling mix
2   cups chopped fresh strawberries

Topping
1 cup fresh blueberries
1 1/2   cups sliced fresh strawberries

Directions

1 Move oven rack to middle position. Heat oven to 350°F/180ºc/gas mark 4
2 In large bowl, beat cake mix and water with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, then on medium speed 1 minute. Stir in sprinkles. Pour batter into ungreased 10-inch tube pan.
3 Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until deep golden brown. Cool completely upside down as directed on cake mix box, at least 1 hour. Run knife around edges; turn cooled cake out onto cooling rack.
4 In large bowl, beat yogurt, 1 1/2 cups of the whipped topping, and the pudding with whisk until well blended. Cut cake in half. Tear one of the halves into bite-size pieces. Place pieces in bottom of 13 x 9-inch pan. Sprinkle 1 cup of the chopped strawberries evenly over cake. Pour and spread half the yogurt filling on top. Tear other cake half into bite-size pieces. Repeat layers with remaining cake pieces, chopped strawberries and yogurt filling. Refrigerate 2 hours.
5 When ready to serve, spread remaining 3 cups whipped topping on top of cake. Decorate top of cake using blueberries to form a large star in center and sliced strawberries around edges.

Enjoy

Happy Days and Happy Cooking

Janet

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A Shady Place on a Hot Summer's Day

6/22/2016

A Shady Place on a Hot Summer's Day

After a very , very busy Spring of maintenance to the outside of the house and the garden I am finally winding down and able today to find a shady place on the front porch to stop for a while and enjoy the fruits of my labour

I still have a few things to do but have to wait for my Husband Danny on the up coming weekends to help me with some heavy carrying

So lovely to be able to blog and connect with you all again ...I just sat for a while with my several cups of tea out of my lovely Lenox Blue Meadow teapot and cup 'n' saucer and thought of what the Summer may bring ...the garden is just a wash with gorgeous flowers and drenched with fresh green foliage ...but the days are getting really hot ...it's 99ºf / 38ºc at the moment and it's hard to stay out in the garden for too long ....it's one of my favorite things to do ...to look at nature around me in the very quiet peaceful neighborhood we are lucky enough to live in, very rarely seeing a car go by

Last week I made some sugar free treats for myself , being a type 2 diabetic I rarely have any treats ...this recipe turned out just great ...
I have posted it below ..the regular recipe and my sugar free converted one ...very easy and simple to make ..very little washing up to do and they turn out really great
A crunchy outside with a super dense inside holding the blueberries and chocolate chips perfectly
I packed them with chocolate chips or blueberries ...they are a delight to eat
They are great for freezing too

Chocolate Chip or Blueberry Muffins for regular or diabetic diets

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup (8 tablespoons) butter
1 cup granulated sugar ( Powdered Sweetener such as Splenda or Equal)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (Optional)
2 eggs
1/2 cup (4 ounces) milk
2 cups (8 1/2 ounces) white whole wheat flour or all-purpose (plain) flour
2 cups (12 ounces) semi-sweet chocolate chips (Sugar Free Chocolate Chips for Sugar free cakes) or Fresh or Frozen Blueberries ...I did both

INSTRUCTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350°F/180ºc/ Gas Mark 4
Lightly grease a 12 cup muffin pan or line with paper liners. (I like to spray non-stick spray on either pan or paper liners)
In a large mixing bowl beat the butter, sugar, baking powder, salt, vanilla until fluffy.
Beat in eggs, then stir in the milk. Mix in the flour just until combined, then the chocolate chips or blueberries (fresh or frozen)
Divide the batter evenly among the muffin cups. I like to use an ice-cream scoop for even sized cakes
Bake the muffins for 30 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into the center of one comes out without crumbs clinging to it
You can wait for them to cool then I open froze them and then packed them in to freezer zip lock bags
To defrost I just pop in the microwave for 15 seconds at high for a delicious treat

Best go inside now as the cats have already gone in to get out of the heat of the day only to ask to be let out as soon as the evening comes and the temperatures start to drop a little

I hope your Summer is going to be great to you

Have Fun

Happy Days

Janet

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March 28th, 2016

3/28/2016

Tea Kiosks and Cream Teas

One of my dreams in life is to own a cute beach kiosk ..where I could sell teas, coffees, homemade sandwiches, my homemade cakes and of course glorious British Cream Teas ...made from Homemade scones with or without sultana's or raisins, homemade strawberry jam and oodles of clotted Devon or Cornish cream

But I guess that dream is far away and not likely to happen as I now live 4 hours away from the Sea in Alabama ...on my island home of Guernsey there are such kiosks on quite a few on the headlands of the lovely beaches

This glorious if not cold looking coffee and tea shop is in Scotland and is a converted Edinburgh Police box ..what a great street cafe it makes

Great way to advertise your cute 'Afternoon Tea' Cafe

Very cute enamel coffee pot ....the hand painting is just gorgeous

Great 'Duck & Pheasant' Bar ...available for Weddings etc ...it seems

Any one for tea Darling's ??

I love this collection ..what a great arrangement to group together on your counter/work tops could put anything in them

Love this cute handmade heart

I always think out of the box when I am putting flowers in water ...I very rarely use vases

Love It

The daintiest of sandwiches ...I use a Mandolin to slice my radish and cucumber so thin...

Very cute street truck ...with a selection of teas in a box to choose from on the left ..very civil ...my Son's gave me a similar box for the British Mother's Day this year to go with my Lenox teapot

Just some weeds in an old enamel teapot ....simply charming and shabby chic

Perfect bow window for a Perfect Tearoom ...I would love a 'spot of tea' in there

Danny and I are planning to go up to the Blue Ridge Mountains in West Virginia and then down along the Ridge in to the Blue Mountains in North Carolina, USA this year and in Asheville , NC they have converted this lovely London Double Decker Bus in to a cafe ..we will be sure to visit

A wonderful name for a cafe ....lots of 'small talk' happens in here ..don't you think ??

Precious

Another Horse box ....this one is just gorgeous .....I would have it as a Cream Tea cafe

I included this one as it's just so cute ...what a great idea ....

No matter what flowers/weeds I picked for her, she always put them on the table.

Hope this hasn't made you too hungry

Do you have a unique cafe , coffee shop in your area

If so please let us know

We would love to read your comment

Thanks for popping by

Enjoy your day

Janet

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Happy Good Friday .....Hot Cross Buns for Breakfast

3/25/2016

A hot cross bun is spiced sweet bun made with currants or raisins, marked with a cross on the top, and traditionally eaten on Good Friday in the British Isles, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, and India. The buns mark the end of Lent and different parts of the hot cross bun have a certain meaning, including the cross representing theCrucifixion of Jesus , and the spices inside signifying the spices used to embalm him at his burial

In the United Kingdom, the major supermarkets produce variations on the traditional recipe such as toffee, orange-cranberry, and apple-cinnamon
In Australia and New Zealand, a chocolate version of the bun has become popular; coffee-flavoured buns are also sold in some Australian bakeries. They generally contain the same mixture of spices, but chocolate chips are used instead of currants. There are also fruit-less, sticky date and caramel versions, as well as mini versions of the chocolate and traditional bun.
The not cross bun is a variation on the hot cross bun. It uses the same ingredients but instead of having a "cross" on top, it is has a smiley face in reference to it being "not cross" or "angry". The not cross bun was first sold commercially in 2014 by an Australian bakery, Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses, in response to supermarkets selling hot cross buns as early as Boxing Day (26 December).
In the Czech Republic, mazanec is a similar cake or sweet bread eaten at Easter. It often has a cross marked on top.
In the Bremen area in northern Germany a "Hedwig" (lower Saxon: heet week) was an ancient Shrove Tuesday meal. On Shrove Tuesday the top of a Hedwig was cut off and the Hedwig was filled with a tablespoon of hot butter and cinnamon-powder. The top was put back again and the Hedwig was served in a soup plate filled with hot milk or cream. At last a tablespoon of cinnamon-sugar mulled over the Hedwig, then eaten with a tablespoon. Today a Hedwig is the sweet part of a Sunday breakfast in northern Germany.
In Frisia, the northern part of the Netherlands, there are "Hite wigge". The are very close to the original hot cross bun and Bremen's Hedwig.

This is how my Hot Cross buns turned out this year ...they are very yummy

If you would like to make some they are very easy

You can find the recipe in my blog here www.maisonvogue.net/home/english-hot-cross-buns

I hope you have a go

Happy Good Friday to you

Janet

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George Clooney, Hello Magazine, a Cup of Tea, Homemade Cake ...Taking a Break at Maisonvogue!!

2/23/2016

What have you been doing with your day today ?? ..I have had a busy day and decided it was time to take a nice long break with a cup of tea, homemade cake , my 'Hello' magazine and George Clooney ..Perfect !!

I was lucky enough to have gifted a subscription to the UK's 'Hello' Magazine for the rest of my life and I enjoy it so much ..
It keeps me in touch with the comings and goings of The Royal Family and what is going on back home ..What a great photo was inside of it's February 15th edition of George and his glamorous Wife Amal ..
Don't you just LOVE her dress??

I read the article, which included his lovely smiling face, whilst eating some homemade cake I made yesterday ...that has cinnamon, walnuts, banana's and apricots in it ..just delicious

I washed it down with a cup of tea that always tastes better out of a beautiful cup ..this one is made by 'Lenox' and is called Blue Butterfly

"Give yourself permission to be happy. It doesn't matter what's going on around you, what matters is what's going on inside you."

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Valentine's Breakfast out on the back deck in the Morning Sun

2/13/2016

Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered,
It keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.

Today I set out a romantic Valentine's breakfast for Danny and I ....in the lovely fresh morning sun

I printed out some of the Vintage Postcards that I featured in yesterday's blog and used them as a decoration for our informal place setting

Danny and I have an amazing love story that I will tell you more about sometime ...we met nearly 18 years ago ...he in Alabama, USA and I on the British island of Guernsey just off of the north west coast of France ...via a chat line ...we only ever went on the chat line for 20 minutes and that was it ...as Danny says ' Love at first chat' ...we have been married 17 years this April ....17 glorious years of nothing but endless love ...never a voice raised or a negative word spoken ....he is my best friend, lover, protector,provider and rock to lean on ....my very true Valentine ...I am a very lucky woman

My cute little cherub I picked up at the thrift store a few years ago ..I love the little pink rose in it's hands

Cupid's been out shooting,
And his bag is very fine;
So should he call and offer you ,
That little heart of mine,
I hope that you will keep it ;
For my sake Sweet VALENTINE

This is my new 'Shelley' teacup and saucer ..just in time for Valentine's ...the pattern is called ' Bridal Rose'
so pretty and dainty

My tablecloth came from a street market in Bayeux, France ....it has French script on it as well as the word 'Love' and is very shabby chic ...I love it

My little 'cherub' pillow almost matches my little 'cherub' ornament ...this pillow can be made for you but I don't have it in my Etsy store yet ...www.etsy.com/shop/Maisonvogue ..to go to my store you can just 'click' on the 'ETSY' button at the top right hand corner of my page

You could make this cake as your dessert for Valentine's
Just make a round cake ...red velvet would be great for Valentine
Then spread cream all over it and slice a bought jam Swiss Roll in to thin pieces and 'glue' them on to the cake with the cream or some more strawberry jam would be good, then top with more cream and pipe some swirls ..place some halved strawberries and voilé the perfect easy Valentine's Dessert

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Roses speak LOVE,
The whole world through;
That is why I send,
Roses red to you.

Happy Valentine Weekend to you all

Best Wishes

Janet

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January is Hot Tea Month ....let's Celebrate it together

1/16/2016

January is Hot Tea Month ....so I thought I would show you some pretty teacups to celebrate it

I Love this Shelley Honeysuckle teacup so feminine and sweet

I love transfer ware it tells such a story ...I had a blue one with different English country villages on it when I lived in Guernsey , UK but didn't want to chance bringing it incase it got broken ..now I wish I had

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This super cute drawing with the two mice in teacups would make the sweetest gift tag ....I have no idea who created it and have tried to find out ....so whomever they are I give all the credit to them ...beautiful ...since I don't have permission for you to make them to sell please only print out for your own personal use not in quantities to sell

A typical English Tea Shoppe .....yummy Devonshire Cream Teas await you inside

Stacking beautiful teacups is just so satisfying

Thank you for checking in with me

I hope you are enjoying ' Hot Tea Month'

And keeping warm

Wherever you are

Have a fun weekend

Happy Days

Janet

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