Preparing is so Much Fun!!!

So this is a very busy week.. working on the house and  getting things  done in preparation for my lovely tea party..
I have my menu planned...
Assorted teas
Cranberry  Orange Scones
Assorted tea Sandwiches
Cranberry orange compote
Triple  Chocolate  Cake Squares
These are my tried and true and everyone's favorite  Christmas scones!!  My best friend  put in an order  for them at the tea!
Most of the dishes  have been  brought out of storage, washed and    ready to set..  now stored under cover on the table.

Most of my cups are  from my Royal Albert collection  ... I  would buy one every year on vacation.

I brought out my mother's Fostoria set of  party  ware.. 

The party favors, Dove Candies are  wrapped in tulle and  ready to be presented.

Menu cards for  each place setting are  ready,

My  fairy collection is  offered as a type of theme... remmembering and sharing    our best memories of long ago!  We'll see if we can remember!.! 

The serviettes are ironed and   ready...

and now I'm off to polish silver...  on my,  where is a stool?!?!

PS: Today I sat the table..tomorrow I will   arrange the flowers..

Each place setting has a  tea  time quote  and a menu card 

 I love this tea  sign!

 The food will be served from the parlor!

Everything is now under wraps  waiting for the big day!!!

Friends Sharing Tea 
Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Share Your Cup 
Thursday Favorite Things
Home Sweet Home
Grace at Home

Joyful. Joyful

Finally, the  Christmas   box is out of the living and   things are  shaping... perhaps not   completely  but  well  enough to make me  happy  with my  quiet time in there! Because of a   decorative light problem I  did  some  changing about to make it all work....  the mantel  and  the  tree in the corner  are   finally    complete!

Here is one of the  several changes that have  happened  that I  wrote of in my previous post....

We have arrived at  a juncture in life when  neither of us  was willing to put the big tree up....  so  We are enjoying  our year round trees  in new   venues and new purposes....  it surely is much easier!

I had   a  lovely  wrought iron planter  as the centerpiece for the mantel,   but  it was  a  royal pain  plugging the lights in  so  I switched it for this   sweet  medieval lantern

So now the living room is aglow with  lights.....  I do enjoy them so!

The  creche   in candlelight...  

The  sweet  vintage  ceramic  tree  hubby's mother made  over 50 years ago....  hard to believe   we lost her over 45 years ago.

So there by the door is   my   favored  arched planter.... I like it there because  that   outlet is connected to the   switch by the stairs and serves as our night light in the evenings!
But because of the  rough iron I  must use   cloths  on the  surfaces..... 

  A bit of a wider view on into the  dining room... 

I must say the lights of  Christmas  certainly  dissipate the  drear of  rainy days

I am still loving   the    Christmas tray  that I mother painted and sold in a Guild  craft show  at least  25 years ago   that I found  in a  local consignment shop...  I  posted about it last week.... It really  boosted its  persona  when I simply  removed the sad ribbon and   sanitized it nicely....  I can feel mama smiling down on me as I am typing this post!

I know, previously, I  had  Mr. and Mrs. Fox  visiting  on the   hutch....  I think I am liking the  look  just fine this year....   everything in its season of life!

This year I am loving the  red and white gingham ribbon  with the red and white  dishes....  I really must  find another roll of that ribbon...  maybe a trip to Michael's is in my future! 

Make It Pretty

Return to Loveliness

Martha’s Favorites 

 Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Friends Sharing Tea 
I was delighted to be featured on Bernideen's  beautiful blog last week!!!

 Share Your Cup Thurs

  Grace at Home

 Thursday Favorite Things
No Place Like Home
I   was  also   over the moon  to   find that I was  featured on   Sandi's  fabulous  blog....

 Home and Garden Thursday