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Celebrating the Joy of Living & Home Making ~

Baking, Cooking, Decorating, Tea Time, and taking Inspiration from those I love and the world around me...

A sharing of my heart and my home from a Christian perspective

...with a wee bit of whimsy added.

Monday 22 January 2018

Down Memory Lane 2017

The birth of a New Year is a time of reflection, bringing with it an opportunity for change....for developing a greater appreciation of what is most important in life. ~ Victoria magazine

Hello dear friends! I hope you all had a nice weekend.

It's a bit late but I thought I would do a review of last year's posts. Better late than never as they say and the new year is just getting under way.

A new year is a new beginning and most of us have visions and dreams for the coming year. I had no idea what 2017 was to bring my way and sometimes it's better we don't know the future, isn't it? 

I am thankful for blogging and my many friends who stop by to read my blog and leave a comment. Without you this past year, I probably would have closed my blog down when I wasn't feeling up to keeping it going.

In January I shared my pretty Devon Cottage teapot with some cheery yellow tulips. You can just get a peek at my beautiful deep blue Royal Albert teacup my Auntie P sent to me from her collection. Tulips are a promise that Spring is on the way.


January opens the box of the year
And brings out days that are bright and clear.
And brings out days that are cold and gray;
And shouts, "Come see what I brought today!"
~ LB Jacobs


February is all about Valentines Day and amethysts. I set up a little tea using my purple tea things using my vintage Royal Albert Flower of the Month February teacup and saucer; a gift from Hubby's late aunt.

"If instead of a gem, or even a flower, we should cast the gift of a loving thought into the heart of a friend, that would be giving as the angels give." ~ George MacDonald


March was the beginning of my many trips to the hospital. The colours of my tea things are perky and helped to perk me up as well. Don't you just love daffodils? They look like frilly little cups that the fairies curl up in for a nap.

Springtime is like the land awakening. The March winds are the morning yawn. ~ Lewis Grizzard


April arrived bringing Easter with it and I decided to put together a wreath of teacups with one of my favourite teapots in the center.

I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life that are the real ones after all. ~ Laura Ingalls Wilder



May was a busy and difficult month. We lost two family members and I had the first of two surgeries. But I was thankful for springtime and the promise of warm weather on the way. 

This lovely teacup is one my dear Auntie P had sent me from her collection. It is a Paragon. Speaking of my Auntie, she was moved into a nursing home on Friday. I pray she will be happy there. I so miss her because we are no longer able to communicate. Any mail I send her now has to be read to her by someone else. Alas, no more intimate details and I miss that because she and I had shared everything over the years.

There is something in the nature of tea that leads us into a world of quiet contemplation of life~ Lin Yutang



June is always a favourite month and last year it was an exceptionally warm one for a change. I had my gallbladder out that month and was thankful to get that over with. I also learned there was no malignancy found in the tumours I had removed the previous month. The lilacs were in bloom and I love how they look with my Rose Chintz.

I wonder what it would be like to live in a world where it was always June. ~ LM Montgomery - Anne of the Island


July, I set up a little tea table out on the back deck using a favourite tablecloth; a gift from my dear blogger friend, Bernideen. She also made the collage for me that is my blog header. Thank you, Bernideen!

After all, the only real roses are pink ones. They are the flowers of love and faith." ~ Anne of Green Gables



In August my guys were all home. We spent time on the beach and enjoyed many meals dining out which was a nice change for me. I also did a tea in celebration of Tasha Tudor.

A cup of tea warms the heart like a good friend. ~ unknown


September was a lovely month and a friend had brought me flowers so I set a tea up and enjoyed all the posies.

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
Ralph Waldo Emerson


October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month so I shared my pinks most of that month.

Happiness cannot be travelled to, owned, earned, worn, or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude. ~ Denis Waitley



Ah, November! The beginning of the holiday season calls for a little touch of Christmas and I used my green transferware.

The most trying hours in life are between four o'clock and the evening meal. A cup of tea at this time adds a lot of comfort and happiness. ~ Royal S. Copeland



December is of course the month we celebrate Christmas; our Lord's birth. It's also the month when we bring out all the bling.  

You should always be the best decoration in your own house. ~ Phoebe Howard


Tea! Bless ordinary everyday afternoon tea! ~ Agatha Christie

2017 was quite eventful for me and my hubby. With so many health issues to deal with and Hubby's retirement at the end of December, it was quite the year for change. I am praying this new year is an easier one with many more happy moments. Thank you for joining me today and may your new year be your happiest yet. 

God bless and watch over you all!

People who live the most fulfilling lives are the ones who are always rejoicing at what they have. ~ Richard Carlson 

I am joining the following parties as well~

 Tuesday Cuppa Tea
 Friends Sharing Tea
Share Your Cup
 Home Sweet Home

 Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi

23 comments :

  1. Dear Sandi:
    You have quite a collection of lovely photos here - all magazine quality and full of beautiful tea wares. Loved your review. I see the new header too! While you are having milder than usual, Missouri has had a super cold winter....weeks of bitter cold. Finally, our little fish pond thawed yesterday and I am glad to see the fish still accounted for!

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  2. What a beautiful post! I love this review!

    I am sorry about your Auntie P!

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  3. I loved going down your 2017 "memory lane"! So many beautiful teacups, teapots, and flowers.

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  4. I so enjoyed this memory lane from last year. You could make a lovely calendar with your tea pots, etc., and publish it! So beautiful! Praying 2018 will be a year of good health and many happy days spent with your hubby since he is now retired! Enjoy your time together...it is a gift! I am also sorry about your Auntie P. Praying she is comfortable in the home, and that she has only pleasant memories. Is she close enough for you to visit occasionally? I do hope you can. It is difficult to see our loved ones go through this. My MIL is in a nursing home about 35 miles from us, so we go to visit weekly. She has adapted quite well and we are very thankful for that. But I do miss having her here, especially for the holidays, etc. But we have found it better to keep her in her new routine and she does much better. Praying for all of you in this new year and new season of life.

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  5. These photos are gorgeous.

    I LOVE the February print!

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  6. How beautiful!Your collection is fabulous and your blog is sweet and adorable!Hugs!

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  7. I enjoyed revisiting your lovely 2017 tea posts. I agree with Pamela that you can create your own tea time calendar using your beautiful photos. I would totally buy one! Here's to a happy and healthy 2018!

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  8. Cheers to a wonderful year ahead!
    I so enjoy your posts, especially the quotes. My daughter loves all things Anne, for years our only sights of PEI were Anne related :)
    Thank you for sharing!

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  9. Dear Sandi ..Thank You for sharing this lovely 2017 myriad...since I missed them last year your post burst open like a beautiful teatime time capsule . I am wishing you health and love in this New Year. xoxox

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  10. it was so nice to take a trip down memory lane with you through your pretty tea photos, Sandi. I do hope that this year is a much easier one for you. I pray daily for you, dear friend. Love and God bless you!

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  11. What a beautiful collection of China used over the year! Your post is a breath of spring air to me with all your pretty treasures! It will be a long time though before spring arrives here! We have about 10 inches of snow! Praying you are having a good winter!
    Hugs,
    Nancy

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  12. I really enjoyed your review of monthly teas during 2017! Where does time go? They are all lovely. I pray 2018 will be a wonderful year for you

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  13. Sandi, you have so many pretty tea sets and I adore seeing them! I remember your wreath, and still love it. The purple is so pretty. I don't have much of that color. I do think it's best we don't know what the year will bring. Even though 2017 was not the best for me and my family, I still see many blessings! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  14. Sandi, I enjoyed revisiting those 2017 posts again. And I love the way you described daffodils! Wishing you a much easier year this time around. Thank you for continuing your blog; it's like a mini vacation for your readers.

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  15. Sandi, I pray that 2018 brings joy, happiness and strength to face whatever comes. Sylvia D.

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  16. Lovely Sandi! I forgot to do that this year...a retrospect. Love the new header! It has been a year for you. We said on New Year’s Eve, when we pray together for the coming year, that we are glad we don’t know what’s ahead...but know who does! Lovely teatimes, lovely thoughts and china and friends! A good year! Thanks for linking to Tuesday Cuppa Tea
    Ruth

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  17. What beautiful dishes you have and how wonderfully you display/use them. I loved each and every poem and two were exactly what I needed to read and take in. I'm sorry this has been a difficult year for you...it has also for me. One of my most difficult. I'm wishing us both a good 2018 and it brings you joy, happiness and health!

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  18. How lovely your review is Sandi. THe post you did for Christmas with the RA Old Country Roses had a shot in it that looked to be out of a magazine. I posted it on Instagram to advertise the Home Sweet Home party and gave credit to you. It had the second highest likes and comments of any thing I have ever posted on Instagram. It was a really pretty shot. Thanks for always having tea with me and here is to a bright new year with better health! Hugs, Sherry

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  19. What a lovely review you have here SAndi! I don't get around to blogs as much as I use to but I still love it and all the beautiful friends here. Your beautiful tea photos and shares makes me smile, always have and always will. I appreciate knowing you. I hope your weekend is beautiful. HUGS HPS!

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  20. I enjoyed reliving your year since I wasn't able to come by your blog very much last year. But I am back and hope to stay that way. I have started my blog again too ... at http://agardenersart.blogpot.com

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I am delighted to have you visit me and I read every comment. Please forgive me for not being able to visit you all as there are so many of you lovely bloggy friends now. I will visit as much as possible. I wish you a day filled with JOY!

Also, due to the amount of spam I've been getting, I have had to set Comment Moderation. ~ Sandi

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