What is in the Box?

Well, here I go with another Cracker Barrel story. I have heard from some of you that you don't have one nearby, and truly, I am sorry. They do have the neatest things. My girlfriend in SC actually got her pretty box from Bed, Bath, and Beyond, but I couldn't find one there by me. One day, innocently looking at CB, there it was. I was thrilled!
It is a tea box or chest. So elegant, like the expensive inns, for you to choose your tea. It is very nice when you set up a "tea station" for overnight guests.
I have had to replace one of the teas....not from guests though! Yep, that would be me. I LOVE Earl Grey. Capt. Picard has nothing on me. But I bought the wrong brand to replace in the box. I will have to improve on that. Would you like to join me? You can pick your cup too!
Speaking of cups. I have always had this idea, but never have done anything about it. Remember my favorite cup, the February cup? Well, I thought it would be so cute to have each of the 12 months. Then when someone came over for tea, they could drink out of their month's cup. I have always liked that idea. Has anyone already done that? Please let me know.

A Bath Time Story

This saying is so true for me. I have had this little picture for years. Now is a good time to get a cup of tea so the story can begin.

I am a bath person. I know all the quips about taking a bath compared to a shower, but I want my hot bath to start the day. Sometimes to end it!

Lately I just am not getting a hot bath. So about a 2 weeks ago I asked hubby to turn up the water heater. Now, he doesn't like that. My husband, when it comes to utilities, is...let's say frugal! But, to make me happy he went out and turned it up. It is a little difficult to get to, and you have to unscrew a plate, or I would do it myself. Well, I don't know, it just wasn't hot enough. So a few days later, grumpingly, he went out and turned it up again. Hmmm, there must be something wrong with this brand new water heater.

So today, I run just hot water. No cold. And I say to hubby, now you come in here and you tell me that this water is hot. After he mumbles all the way that I don't have to look like a lobster to come out of the tub, he feels the water. He doesn't say anything. "OK, I'll will turn it up again." Translation: that water isn't hot. So grumble, grumble out to the garage. But I take my tepid bath anyways.

Hon, are you back in the house...No answer. Man, I bet that water heater is shot.

Laughter. Well, that doesn't sound like a broken water heater.

Hubby comes in to bathroom and is holding on to wall, laughing hysterically.

Let me guess. You haven't really been turning it up have you? He tries to answer. Yes, I was turning it up. But today, I got the flashlight to help me see the knob. And.....

I have been turning it the wrong way!

Ladies, I will keep you posted about his injuries!!!

An Evening in My Backyard

The weather was perfect to see outside and enjoy the quietness. We started a fire and ran the fountain. Stars filled the sky. My hubby made the candle holder in the first picture. And the last picture is my new solar lights I found. You can't see it, but the flower is underneath the cube...so the lighted flower pattern goes on the sidewalk. It is soooo pretty. We try to enjoy our yard as much as possible before it hits over 100. Then, we won't be back out much until October.

Who Knew??

Ok, so in telling this story, I let out a little secret. CeeKay is my Blog name.
Why am I telling you this, cuz....
I was surfing on Ebay last night. Don't really NEED anything. So I like to put in names. So I typed in my real first name for cups. I never knew, but Noritake makes a china with my name. So of course, I had to buy the cup and saucer. I know you all understand. I will show the picture when it comes in.
Then I remembered with the tea blog-a-thon, that I have some tea items in my china cabinet.
This figurine I bought several years ago from a mail order catalog. I am sorry, I don't remember which one. It is from the Yesterdays Child collection. I just love the two girls having tea, because I love to do that with my girlfriends!
This little tea pot and 2 cups are Savorski crystal. They are mini, mini.
The picture frame I got years ago as a gift from A Hint of Home. It is pewter and one of my favorites.
And....the little teapot...well, a little story here. My husband took me to Roy's restaurant several years ago. It is now closed. However, they served me tea in a teapot like this. I wanted to buy one, and they said the store down the street had them. So we go to buy one. $60.00. Now I am not kidding and this teapot maybe holds a cup of water. Needless to say, I didn't get it. But I remember it!

Last October, my husband and I went to see our friends Tom and Rose (A Hint of Home) and we went shopping. Wow! there is a shock. We went to this place called Pottery something....not the famous Pottery Barn. It was 2 stories of glorious dishes, cups, etc. etc. And there almost at the end of the store was...my little tea pot. For like 12.00! Oh, my goodness, I could not put it in my basket fast enough. So....here comes the deep thought of all that story.


Sometimes, I just believe the Lord puts things in my path that He KNOWS I will love. Ask my girlfriends, they will tell you. I find the best bargains of things that I think, that would be nice, and then....There they are. What a blessing!

Ok, I am done.

Tea Blog-a-thon #3

I must admit that I was a little frustrated on what to post for this week's blog-a-thon at http://gracioushospitality.blogspot.com/. Not that I don't decorate with tea items, which is the theme, but that I have posted my tea items in previous posts. So, this is what I came up with, however, if you are new to my blog and would like to see more of my tea items, just visit previous posts.
My coffee table in the living room almost always has something tea related displayed on it. I usually change this with the seasons and holidays. On the table right now is my new set from Cracker Barrell with the flowers showing. I put the tray on a dish stand for that "different heights look!"
I tried so hard to get this picture of my Sandy Lynam Clough print. But it is on a wall by a door and no matter how I tried, you can sorta see the door in the reflection. I used to do counted cross stitch so this was so wonderful with the combo of tea and stitching. The saying is We Are His Workmanship. This is hanging in what I call MY ROOM.
Above the previous picture is this smaller one. I found this years ago at some little country store. It is one of my favorites. It says Just Because You East Off Paper Plates, Doesn't Mean You Have to Give Up Your Grandmother's China. I do not know who made it. Behind the piece of china is a piece of lace...I think if you click on the picture, you can see the details better.
This is one of the pictures I previously posted. This is also in MY ROOM.

I was so excited this morning. My husband called me in from outside. He was watching our area news and he said you will want to see this. I, being the Positive person I am, said "what's wrong?" Well, the tea room that my friend and I love to go to was on the news. It was so fun to see it on TV and finally show my husband where his money has been going!

A Special Award!

I was so honored to receive this award from Charlotte @ At Home in Scottsdale. Blogging has been so much fun for me, and I have met such talented and fun people. I will be passing this award on soon.
I did finish the closet adventure! Glad that is over with. Now I can do more fun things...I don't know....like hmmmm....Blogging! Yep, that's what I'll do!

If you are looking for me.....

I am in my closet. Today I couldn't stand it anymore and decided I had to get some organization back in there....Sorry, I won't embarrass myself with before and after pictures. Let's just say....it isn't pretty!
Everyone - have a great weekend. And hopefully, closet and Lord willing, I will talk to you all on Monday.

The Hats!

To start, I recieved an award from Rachel at A Romantic Porch. Thank you so much! I would like to pass this award to 2 very dear friends of mine through blogging and through many years of friendship. They have been near and dear to me in good times and bad and they really do Make My Day! So to A Hint of Home and Mimi's Garden....this award is for you!

On to my Show and Tell, the Hats! So many of you wanted to see the hats from the hatboxes...so here they are, in ALL their splendor! And to A Hint of Home, who I KNOW is thinking this....I had the head from some dear lady at church that thought I may want to display my chemo wigs when I wasn't wearing it. Came in handy though!!! Added note: These are ALL the hats I have...they stay in the hatboxes. I am not a HAT girl and if I was...those would NOT be my choices.....and yes, I think the head is creepy too!

Bunnies are packed and ? hibernating?

I spent last evening wrapping up the bunnies, well most of them. I had to get a bigger container to put everything in. I must admit, it was a little sad. Now, everything is back to "normal".
I was quite happy with myself yesterday too because I went for walk. I haven't been able to do that in over a year. It was so exciting for me to go walking...I used to walk 2 miles a day....today was 3 blocks, but hey, it is a start!
In trying to think of something to post today after all the Easter items, I was a bit at a loss. But when I took down the tree, I realized that I could post my old hat boxes. I received these from an elderly lady at church many years ago. And yep, there are hats inside of them. That will be another time....but the boxes are original.

These are stacked in a corner in our guest room. That room is Victorian style. I previously posted pictures of that room.Each box has its own label or name.....

This one is especially interesting, because it is a man's hat form.... I really do not collect hat boxes...(I say chuckling to myself, as I really don't collect "anything", maybe "they" collect me!)...so I don't know anything about them, except they are old and I like em!

Easter is Leaving....but

Yesterday while putting away Easter decorations, my hubby wanted to go for lunch at Cracker Barrel. They had all their Easter "stuff" 50% off. Well, as my husband says; we did our part to stimulate the economy! I could not resist getting the tea set that matches my Easter dessert dishes.
But here is the neatest part. When I unpacked it at home, the teapot and creamer and sugar are reversable. There is a floral pattern on the other side. This makes it much more usable and wow, I think a bargain at $10.00 for the tray, pot, and sugar and creamer!
I am sure you all would have bought it too!