A CUP OF TEA AND PRAYERS for "Friends Sharing Tea"

My prayers are with those who have experienced this devastating hurricane Sandy on the east coast.  Today for "Friends Sharing Tea" I offer my prayers and am reminded of a scripture:

Psalm 46:1  God is our refuge and strength,

 a very present help in trouble.

Today I am sharing my pair of antique English Staffordshire dogs I purchased 20 years ago in Houston, Texas. (an antique mall in The Heights)  I think I enjoy them the most in the fall.

This is an old coffee pot - well worn and used:

I am linking this post to: Rose Chintz Cottage  and also A Delightsome Life 

If you have something to share about tea, please link at the bottom.  
Especially pray for "Rizzi" at  the blog Gifts From The Sea who lives in New Jersey.

"OLD NORTH END DOWNTOWN" #2

I wanted to share a few more photos of some of the old homes of the North End of Colorado Springs....I love this peach colored one below owned by a retired decorator:

I always loved this pink one below:

I took these photos in a moving car so some did not turn out but I just wanted to share a few! 

 I will be linking this post to Mosiac Monday

SUNDAY CELEBRATION

SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE

I have always loved cooking and this week I share a recent "early turkey" dinner we had and my recipe for Sweet Potato Casserole (Yams) that you can make for your family:

Sweet Potato Casserole:

Here is what you will need to make two casserole dishes.  You could freeze one before you do the final baking or do what I did - give it away!

You will need: 6 large yams or sweet potatoes - in a large pot boil these on medium high until you can pierce through them with a large fork.  Pour off the liquid and add cold water to cool them - then remove the skins and place potatoes in a large bowl.

Mash them with a mixer and add: 4 eggs, 2 Tsp vanilla, 1 cup of milk, 1 cup of melted butter - mix really well and pour all into 2 separate buttered casserole dishes.

Now the topping: 2 cups of shredded coconut, 2 cups chopped pecans, 1 1/2 cups of brown sugar, 2/3 cup of melted butter, 2/3 cup of flour.  Mix all this together and sprinkle over the yams. (freeze one of these if desired)  Each casserole will serve 6

Bake 350 degrees for 30 minutes until brown but not burnt.

As you can see we had turkey and dressing as well.

I love collecting vintage linens and seasonal teasets  so this will give me my reason to link this post to Home and Garden Thursday With Kathy as well as Sandi's new "Home" Blog Party 

Also linking: Feathered Nest Friday and The Charm of Home and My Romantic Home

One photo added late.....can you believe......last night it snowed up in the mountains which means....a little at my house!

BEAUTIFUL AUTUMN DAYS FOR "FRIENDS SHARING TEA"

The rustic colors of autumn are a joy to behold - I tried to remember that this week as I had to re-rake the yellow cottonwood leaves in my backyard several days in a row.  I raked them off the lawn but the flower beds are full of them and they form a natural mulch around perennials ready for winter.

This is definitely "spicy tea"  weather and Hot Cinnamon Spice is a  favorite.  I also love Seattle's Market Spice Cinnamon Orange Tea.  This is a must have for anyone with a cold as the vapors from the hot cup of tea are so soothing.  As you lift your cup alone, you begin to feel better.

One of the joys of this season is scouring cookbooks researching ideas for special recipes and creative dishes.  This week we made our first turkey - a small one we had in the freezer and this Friday I will be sharing that meal for my "Open House" Blog Party.  I will share my recipe for Yam Casserole that you can make too! 

 In fact, you can join in to either "Friends Sharing Tea" by linking one of your posts about tea here below or linking Friday for "Open House" something about your HOME, cooking, baking, etc.  Perhaps you have a DIY project to share, ideas for hospitality, a craft or anything that brings joy to your HOME.

This little picture below is a card in a frame of Doris Lee's painting of the kitchen with all the Thanksgiving preparations . 

I have had this antique oval wicker tray for probably 50 years and it was old when I got it!

I will be linking this post to 2 other blog parties: A Delightsome Life and also Rose Chintz Cottage and Tea Cuppa Tuesday

PLEASE LINK BELOW IF YOU ARE JOINING IN AND PLEASE BE COURTEOUS AND INCLUDE A LINK ON YOUR BLOG TO THIS POST.

THE FALLING LEAVES IN THE "OLD NORTH END" DOWNTOWN COLORADO SPRINGS

It's a beautiful fall day perfect for a drive and a few photos of some of the older homes located near downtown Colorado Springs - known as the Old North End.

THIS HOUSE BELOW is actually in Old Colorado City and was used for the filming of "The Incident" with Harry Morgan and Walter Mathau......as was my store building which was then Rogers Bar and Grill back in 1989.

I am always drawn to the little English Tudor Style houses: 

COLLECTING CUPS AND SAUCERS for "Open House"

What's not to love about collecting cups and saucers?  That's what I want to share today.  I have been collecting cups and saucers since I was a child....just a few years....ha.  Most all of my childhood pieces were from Japan and mostly demitasse sized. 

 Today is "Open House" where BLOGGERS are invited to come and link one your posts about HOME, DECOR, DIY, GARDEN, COOKING, BAKING, TEA, COLLECTING, CRAFTING, ANTIQUING, ETC.....

I have been playing with my new camera and have so much to learn.  People come in my store every day with cameras so I have been asking them lots of questions and I find that people are very helpful.  

When collecting cups and saucers I have a few suggestions.  You might like to think about the colors of your home and where you are headed.  I basically look for pinks, purples, wines, etc but I also love seasonal tea sets for fun - you know Valentines, Easter, Fall and Christmas.  I don't do contemporary or bright red or Asian - but you might love that.  I don't do Walt Disney - do you get the idea?  Another words, focus on your interests and have a plan.  Pay attention to the markings on the bottom.  English and Russian pieces are more valuable.

I have another tip - stay away from ceramic dishes as they chip very easily. Porcelain and bone china are so much stronger.  Lastly, always run your finger around the rim of the cup and the saucer.  Last year I bought some German pieces  for resale at my store from an  antique dealer in Kansas. He had stuck a price sticker over a chip on the saucer.  That wasn't so nice!  Be careful!

I hope you have a great weekend.  

If you are a blogger, please link at the bottom:

Other blog parties I am linking to: Saturday Show Off, Feathered Nest Friday, Show and Tell Friday, Simple and Sweet Fridays and Rustic Restorations Weekend and Mosaic Monday