Remembering Spring!

Spring oh Spring!

How long have I missed you!

Please come again, soon!

Have a Blessed Day!

Sylvia

 Linking to :  Mosaic Monday

Make a Cake Mix Taste Homemade

After watching cooking shows on how to make cake mixes

taste like homemade, I thought I would try it. So I Googled
"how to make a cake mix taste homemade", and found a couple
of good ideas. They actually gave about 20 different things to do.

My family was coming for Sunday Dinner and I wanted a

desert but only had a cake mix and a can of icing in my pantry.

 It turned out so good that I just had to have a piece!

too make sure it was fit to serve  ! ha ha,sure !

Ok, this is what I did:

I followed the recipe on the box but instead of the water it called for I used Milk,

One of the things it listed to add was Meringue Powder, so I added the one Tablespoon it said to add. I had made cakes before by adding the icing to the box of cake mix so I decided to add a

 large amount of the Coconut pecan icing to the mixture.  I didn't measure it just scooped it up!

That dough was so good !

I put it in a 9x13 pan and baked it about 20 -30 minutes at 350 degrees.

Just stick toothpicks in it until it comes out clean.

Wa La !

I used the rest of the icing to spread over the top when it was cool.

I made myself a cup of Green Tea and.....

{see the bubble in the cup..oops}

My teacup today is stamped on the back:
Theodore Haviland
New York
Made in America
Gloria

It makes me think of spring!

I bought it at a thrift store a couple years ago.

.....I helped myself to a piece!

Grab a chair and I'll make you a cup of Tea.

HAVE A TEA-LIGHTFUL DAY!

Sylvia

Linking to :

Sandi @  Rose Chintz Cottage tea tim

Ruth @ Antiques and Teacups  Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Stephanie @ Roses of Inspirations 
 Martha's Teacup Tuesday 

Roses and Teacups

Good morning, Ladies, I hope your weekend was filled with "Lots of Love" from your special one!

"This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it" Psalm 118: 24

It is 32 degrees and not getting out of the 40's today.

So I am trying to make the best of it and be happy

it isn't freezing and snowing like it is in other parts

of the country. The north Georgia mountain counties

are having rain and it's freezing and the ice on the

trees are causing lots of them to fall onto the roads.

Thankfull for all my blessings and maybe, just maybe

I can get out some today!

I started the day off with a cup of Earl Gray Tea.

I just love my Red Transfer cup and plate. 

Many years ago a friend gave me the plate and saucer 

and I always wanted to find the cup to match. Christmas

of 2013 my daughter gave me the cup and another saucer.

My,, did she make me happy, I love it! I think I may have 

shown it before, but I never tire of using and seeing it, maybe

you won't either.

It's "Bristol" Crown Ducal

England

Just want to let you know that if you don't hear from me by email personally it's the way I normally reply to your comments, but somehow I am not able to send or receive emails due to "domains and DMARC policy" whatever that is. I've tried to find out how to fix it to no avail !  I haven't changed any of my settings , so maybe it will fix itself ! sigh---sigh !!

Have a Blessed Day!

Sylvia

I'll be linking to:

Stephanie..Roses of Inspiration 
Sandi..Rose Chintz Cottage 

Happy Valentine

Happy Valentine Weekend!

Sylvia

Trees Planted by the River

The Flint river runs by our town and flows on and on.
The trees along side it grows and spreads,one by one,
 tall and strong. 
Jeremiah 17:8, tells us that those that put their trust in the Lord 
are "like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out it's roots by the river".

Those that put their trust in God will be fruitful and grow like
these trees, putting down roots in His goodness and steadfast love.
I started my Bible reading this morning in Ephesians 1. My prayer
is always to hear from God's word and learn from Him how to live
my days here on earth for Him. 

 I read Roxy's blog post  at   http://livingfromglorytoglory.blogspot.com/2015/02/daily-is-very-good-thing.html  the other day on the word "Daily". If you've never been to her blog then I recommend it, just click on the link.
 It got me thinking about this word and what it meant. Daily, every day, each day, one day at a time!  We stay so busy that sometimes we miss out on things that God could be saying to us or showing us. Sit, wait, be still,trust. These are words I say to myself all the time. But do I?  Maybe for a minute then I'm right back doing ,doing and doing.

What is God's purpose for us? 
In Ephesians 1:11 it tells me that by trusting and receiving Him I have received an inheritance, that I have been predestined according to His purpose.  My heavenly Father knows all things so His purpose is for All to become His and fruitful, according to His will, bringing others to Him. So then our purpose should be to obey Him, show His love to a dying uncaring world. Daily, there's that word again, walking close to Him.  Choosing to trust Him, depending on His love and goodness.

When we do these things, we'll be like "a tree planted by the waters, which spreads it's roots out by the river". We'll become fruitful and accomplish God's purpose for our life. We'll find strength in His unfailing Love. 

Thank you Lord Jesus, for never leaving me
even when I don't feel you presence.  
I put my trust in your promises
and unfailing love. Amen

Sylvia

Comments are turned off, these are my thoughts on God's purpose for me. 

A Valentine Tea

"Teatime is, by its very nature,a

combination of small luxuries
arranged in social symmetry.
And although tea for one 
is certainly a fine thing,
the addition of a circle of'dear
friends to share it with 
ensures the whole is larger
than its parts. 

Author unknown

 

Each year around Valentine Day, I have a Tea for my girls, granddaughters and myself. This past Saturday I put together a simple causal tea for us. Unlike the author above, it wasn't luxury at all but kind of a country theme.  I decided to use red and pink colors.

 "Everyone needs beauty 

as well as bread,

places to play in and pray in,

where nature may heal and cheer

and give strength to body 

and soul."

 John Muir

 I can't think of a time or place than with my family 
to strengthen me, body or soul! In Philippians 4:11-12 we are encouraged to be content with what we have. I believe where there is Love there is Contentment.

 Since it was a family Tea, I didn't think it would hurt to use paper plates and napkins, along with plastic spoons and forks. The napkins reminded me, in a way, of a bandanna.

I found these heart shaped spiral toys at the dollar tree and thought "wow they'd make a good napkin ring" but when I put the napkins in them it didn't look like a heart so I cut off some burlap and tied them onto it. 

There were pink ones and red ones.

I went outside and cut a couple small branches, placed them in a vase and hung Valentine hearts on it. I placed several pine cones and other hearts in it for a decoration.

 

On the left of the food you can see where I bought a small burlap lampshade, I turned it upside down and placed a candle where the light bulb would be and added some basket filler, then placed it on a clear glass saucer. We didn't light the candle since that would not have been safe.

  

We had Bacon and cheese Quiche,
 Spinach and cheese Quiche 

Sweet Scones with Lemon Curd

Honey Ham and Provolone Cheese Croissant Roll ups

 Strawberries

Peppermint Bark, Oreo Truffles and Cream Puffs.

And a Collection of Teas!

I found these pretty cups at Marshall's a few weeks ago. 

They only had these two and that was prefect since my

two granddaughters names are Anna and Morgan.

Then a week later I was in the Dollar Tree and found these cups for my 3 daughters. How perfect, I just filled all the cups with candy hearts and they loved them. I loved the writing on them! Oh, I bought myself one too!

I was blessed with this Blue Willow cup, made in England, a pretty heart shaped plate and a basket of goodies from my daughters. I didn't get a photo of the goodies. (They were eaten right away!)

"Memories of our lives,

 of our works,

 and our deeds 

will continue on in others"

Rosa Parks

My soon to be 13 year old granddaughter wants to have a Tea Room when she graduates. I have enough collectibles to get her started.

My daughter, Debbie, had to take a selfie!

"At times our own light goes out and is rekindled

by a spark from another person.

Each of us has cause to think with deep

gratitude of those who have lighted the

flame within us."

Albert Schweitzer

My girls are a blessing and encourager for me.

I am so blessed to have been given them.

God is so Good!

"We Thank you,Lord, for blessings
You give us on our way.
May we for these be grateful,
And praise You every day."
Roworth

Have a Blessed week!

Sylvia

Linking to 

Roses of Inspiration

Rose Chintz Cottage

Sunday Inspirations

Have a Blessed Sunday!

Sylvia

A Country Valentine Burlap Wreath

Stephanie over at The Enchanting Rose 

and 

Mary over at Visits with Mary,

made a Valentine Wreath, theirs were so pretty that

 it got me to wanting to make one also.  I had bought this roll

of burlap back before Christmas. Didn't know what I was 

going to do with it, I just loved and wanted it.

 

I wasn't sure what I was going to do with

it but I love rustic, as well as frilly things. What other

than use it for a Valentine Wreath!

I took a clothes hanger and my sweet hubby cut the 

top off it and I bent it into what looked somewhat

like a heart to start off with. I did have to tweak it a bit more.

 I then took a needle and some craft thread folded the burlap and gathered it around the edges.

I ran the hanger through the gathered burlap and did use a little hot glue in places to keep it where I wanted it. I bent the wire together at the top. I then found some red ribbon in my sewing box, and glued it around the edges of the burlap. I put the key that I received

from my friend at Christmas at the top and tied a ribbon above it.

My daughter stopped in for a visit and she made a couple of suggestions. Between the both of us this is how it came out.

Now it's been a few years since I have done this type of thing. 

Years ago I did do craft shows and sold my items, 

but since I have arthritis, my fingers don't like me doing this

anymore. 

These are the items I used.

Coat hanger

burlap roll

red ribbon

hot glue gun and glue sticks

Metal Key

Needle and Craft Thread

After ALL that hard work it's time for tea!

 Have you tried the Little Debbie, Red Velvet Valentine Cake?
They're good!

Have a Blessed Day!

Sylvia

Linking to

Rose of Inspiration  

Sunday's Inspiration

 In my quiet time reading my Bible and devotional,
 I was touched by the author asking how do we pray. 
Is it a short fast spur of the moment prayer or a 

slow thoughtful intense prayer!   Both are important in our lives.

When something comes to our minds and we are troubled by it,

then maybe a quick prayer sent up is needed but when there's 

something in our lives that we can't manage or work out ourselves,

as sometimes we do this instead of praying for God's guidance. 

Then maybe more concentration and passion is needed. 

 

 Our Lord prayed! 

Mark 14:32

Jesus told his disciples to "sit here, while I shall pray"

"It came to pass in those days that (Jesus) went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God"

Luke 6:12

Jesus was both human and God,so He understands our pain and sufferings.  In verse 34-38 of  Mark 14, I was touched by these verses of how He felt human emotions. I was reminded of how we are to take everything concerning us to God in prayer.

In everything in our lives we are to glorify God in what we do, so how can we know how to do this without praying and seeking His will and His ways.

As we go through the Valley's and over the Mountains of our lives, let us lift our hearts and minds up in prayer constantly communicating with our Heavenly Father.

"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without without wavering, for He is faithful that promised". Hebrews 10:23

The heart of prayer is prayer from the heart!

Have a Blessed Sunday!

Sylvia