First the Kitchen table .... Merry Christmas

To my Tea-lovers....  

and to my   Ivy and Elegance   Friends  !!   

a great group!!

Even before my Tree goes up..... I've set the table...........

Luv It!

The table cloth..... The real poinsetta....   

Gold trimmed, long stem glasses!

Remembering December . . . .

Last year....

On the job ..... treats !

A Simmering recipe

Showcased at my mother's home /  St. Anns Nursing Center

Great-grandma Pearl Kirk's ceramic tree / with my granddaughter!

Annie Lee and Me!

A rather muggy feeling Monday.....   but I've gathered a few treasured "saved" pics...

On this Monday afternoon, I'm having tea in remembrance of Annie Lee!

Here's my collage, and I've been pleasantly motivated by 

Judith @ Lavendar Cottage

Visit her soon! 

Annie Lee - Artist, Humorist, Humanitarian

Annie Francis Lee was born in Gadsden, Alabama in 1935 and raised in Chicago, Annie grew up learning how to cook, wash, clean and sew. These survival skills, which she learned along with her brother, instilled in her a work ethic that has served her well. In addition to sewing, Annie learned to knit, crochet and draw. She began to paint when she was ten years old  ....  Lee did not resume painting until she was 40 years old.

Annie worked during the day and painted at night. Painting became her refuge from the work that inspired one of her most famous paintings – “Blue Monday.” The painting depicts a woman struggling to pull herself out of bed on a Monday morning – a feeling Annie could relate to. 

"Blue Monday" 

By Annie Lee . . . . . .

                                            Bev's  Wishing Well

Have a Great Day!

Weekly Cup of Tea ~ Petite & Dainty

DECEMBER 2014

Hello.... to my corner of the world!  

I invite you to visit often...!

I'm linking with 

Tea inthe Garden,

   

TuesdayCuppa Tea   and 

 TeacupTuesday.

On today, I'm sharing a couple of petite, daintly cups.  Since I'm still an 8-5'er in the workplace. . .

I treasure my space, my bookshelf with a gentle lamp and adorned with plants and tea settings! 

In the US newsroom across our land.... I've cringed and been bombed-out with sadness, injustice, Janae Rice, Michael Brown etc.....  Only God can change a man's heart!   

Thus I pray! (Matt 6:6)

Hereby... I chose to.... I am 

Celebrating what is right in the world.....  

 journeying towards a slower, gentler lifestyle.... with my handiwork crafts . . . via sewing, knitting, crocheting, quilting and home cooking.... and my own seasonal bit of garage sale collectibles!

I was browsing and found the link to a fellow friend highlighted above --- for whom I feel identical!   So, I'm sharing her full quote from her site! (CLICK LINK)

I'm planning on taking my 6 yr old granddaughter to a Williams Sonoma Jr Chef class....

Oh what fun it is!

I invite you to visit often...!

Tea inthe Garden,

   

TuesdayCuppa Tea   and 

 TeacupTuesday.

Sandi @ Tea Time Tuesday said: 

(Rose Chintz Cottage)  visit her too! 

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.

It turns what we have into enough, and more.

It can turn a meal into a feast, 

a house into a home, 

a stranger into a friend. ~ Melody Beattie

I love the year ending.... and the new year that begins!

Quote of the Day

Have a great Friday  

Eleven - 7 - 14!

Bev Kirk

I FEEL PRETTY... oh so Pretty!

Hello to blog-land-friends (BLF)

I yearn to slow down enough to post with     most elegant friends

every other Mid-week Tuesday to Thursday!

I've already peeked in a bit.... won't you do the same...???  !!!!

Tea inthe Garden,

   

TuesdayCuppa Tea   and 

 TeacupTuesday.

Last week was a delightful time of travel with my hubby to the Austin, Dallas and San Marcos TX area by automobile!

I took a "NICE" tea cup and sauce with me to enjoy tea in the Embassy Hotel!  I didn't want to pack and/or risk a chip to my quote "FINE CHINA".   

 Last week, on 39th & Rockwell antique shopping abit, I found this lovely, glowing Castleton China cup and saucer.   A mini-version that I was surprised to find it really fits well in my hand.... as I sit at my desk and work a bit.   I can refill it often.... and I love it!

The back notes the Castleton USA ~ Ascona pattern (abt 1950); it has a scalloped edge with gold trim..creamy and shiny and a pretty floral decoration. Did I say for a mere $5.00? !!

I pulled the REPLACEMENTS.com and a five piece setting typically costs est. $89.95!  So I'm sippin and singing.... I FEEL PRETTY... oh so Pretty!

I feel pretty, 

Oh, so pretty, 

I feel pretty and witty and bright! 

And I pity 

Any girl who .....doesn't have a tea cup tonight. 

I feel charming, 

Oh, so charming 

It's alarming how charming  my teacup can make me feel! 

And so pretty 

That I hardly can believe I'm real. 

See the pretty girl in that mirror there: 

Who can that attractive girl be? 

Such a pretty face, 

Such a pretty dress, 

Such a pretty tea cup in her hand as she smiles, 

Such a pretty me! 

I feel stunning 

And entrancing, 

Feel like running and dancing for joy, 

For I own beautiful china tea cups, and I'm loved 

By a pretty wonderful boy! 

Have a Great Day!  I wish u well!

Bev's  Wishing Well.... enjoying a bit of Tea

Keep on Steppin'

Have a great day!

My NoName - NoShame In the Teacup Saucer set

I have a dear cousin in Chicago Il..... that FB posts the prettiest thought each day.....

I'm calling a few of my darling collectibles..... 

a  NoName - NoShame Teacup and saucer set!

About my new cup......

I begin to notice the weight and sturdiness of the cup in my hand.... it is not the feel of fine bone china.   Today's antique shop discovery was not chipped, not worn.....   and the purple and gold trim was so lovable and too lovely to by-pass!

I yielded to a fair price..... simple because my garage-junk-hunting days are coming to an end via October 2014!   So... I need a fix.... I need to own another thing of beauty and joy and peace and tranquility.  Notice how I justify my actions  (smile)  !!

I also have a co-worker who signs out by email every day .... also with a kind thought for the day...

“It is by acts and not by ideas that people live.” 
~Anatole France

Thanks for visiting my blog..... Neighbor... join me @

  . . . as my mom used to say..... BELIEVE YOU ~ me....

These three to twenty ladies that I visit weekly.... are superb...classy and I invite you to visit often...!

Tea inthe Garden,

   

TuesdayCuppa Tea   and 

 TeacupTuesday.

Have a Great Day!

Bev's  Wishing Well.... with a spot of Tea

Another Good BookRead!!!

The Winter Rose by Jennifer Donnelly

oh BTW...... I'm yearning for a bit of time to learn to do embroidery...really well!!

...and yes, I like for people to tell me what happens in a movie b4 it happens.... sooooo

HERE"S THE STORY LINE...........It has been twelve years since a dark, murderous figure stalked the alleys and courts of Whitechapel. And yet, in the summer of 1900, East London is still poor, still brutal, still a shadow city to its western twin. Among the reformers is an idealistic young woman named India Selwyn-Jones, recently graduated from medical school. With the help of her influential fiancé--Freddie Lytton, an up-and-coming Liberal MP--she works to shut down the area's opium dens that destroy both body and soul. Her selfless activities better her patients' lives and bring her immense gratification, but unfortunately, they also bring her into direct conflict with East London's ruling crime lord--Sid Malone.

India is not good for business and at first, Malone wants her out. But against all odds, India and Sid fall in love. Different in nearly every way, they share one thing in common--they're both wounded souls. Their love is impossible and they know it, yet they cling to it desperately. Lytton, India's fiancé, will stop at nothing to marry India and gain her family's fortune.

Fractious criminal underlings and rivals conspire against Sid. When Sid is finally betrayed by one of his own, he must flee London to save his life. Mistakenly thinking him dead, India, pregnant and desperate, marries Freddie to provide a father for hers and Sid's child. India and Sid must each make a terrible sacrifice--a sacrifice that will change them both forever. One that will lead them to other lives, and other places . . . and perhaps--one distant, bittersweet day--back to each other.

Bev’s Cuppa Tea!

..."Tea is quiet... and our thirst for tea is never far from our craving for beauty."    ~James Norwood Pratt  (visit the link !!)

M+Z Austria and GDA FRANCE - My newest Treasures!

I'm anxious to post and share here in Blogland!

A song.... speaks of Jesus as my reason for living..... life is worth the livin!.....

I'm feeling good about the treasures God has allowed me to obtain....  a few earthly treasures....

Join me as I celebrate with pictures of my newest Gold and White China....

M+Z Austria/Royal Vienna

 and 

GDA FRANCE`~ CH Field Haviland

But first... God has also given me a New, New, New Treasure in the Kirk Klan.... ...  a brand spanking-new grandson entered my world on 8-31-2014 via 1:13pm @ 7 lb 11 oz and 20 inches long!

Now,,, back to my New, New, New...... well I believe the datings of my china are OLD, OLD, OLD!

At a  yard-sale purchased for abt $6.00 these two sets of   White ~ trimmed in gold China settings !!  

 This is . . . M+Z Austria trademark (Moritz Zdekauer porcelain - 1884-1919-1917).  I'm a tad bit excited......several cups had chips.  

Do my blog-land friends just throw away a chipped cup....???

On the back:  inscription is Royal JNNSBRUCK Vienna - 18 carat gold trimmed plate, saucer
and cup.

     
 ......with some certainty one says INNSBRUCK... and the other JNNSBRUCK and the JHR CS differs on this....   googled around for answers....

These two BEAUTIES.... (below) are riding in the back seat of my car.... carefully covered I'll add....

and here's an online picture (similar)

Here a delicate, dainty, almost see thru- pretty gold cup and saucer is GDA FRANCE C H FIELD Haviland Limoge large-band of gold and white set,

I think I missed last week in joining my ladyfriends for tea.   Ruth was a sweetheart to text me that my blogsite was throwing up popup --- to monetize or advertise.   So i've tried to undo--- the monetize buttons on my blog.

Please let me know if something is still wonky on my blog.   

Otherwise....

I'm gonna run over ...... can I go play with....

Tea in the Garden,

  

Tuesday Cuppa Tea, and 

Teacup Tuesday.

Quote of the day:

“The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.” ~Pablo Picasso 

Have a Great Day!

Bev's  Cup of Tea

Pluvial and Sublime..... The ordinary and beyond....

Hello Monday - the First Monday in September 2014!!   This is my view of 6:56am in OKC !!!

"pluvial"   \ˈplü-vē-əl\   

a :  of or relating to rain

b :  characterized by abundant rain

Pluvi-o-phile . . . I am enjoying the quiet, comforting, cleansing sound, smell and feel of the rain!!!

 I changed my facebook photo..... I bought one lovely -- comfy -- loud yellow shirt and earrings @ JCP lat month....    So Just before sommer is over......

 I ran across this wonderful poem....

Missing Identity via Haviland & Co Limoges ~ delightful roses !

Hello friends....

I'm having one ... 1 HECK OF A TIME FINDING MY PATTERN... Who can help me successfully identify this weekend Yard Sale beauty????  This Haviland has the lightest of pink roses.... the feel of the plate is a bit heavier than fine bone china/delicates...   It is rounded with grooves.... the littliest of A SINGLE ROSE perfectly centered in the 9" inch plate....

The roses decorate the bottom of the cup... the cup handle is trimmed in gold.    I've googles 20++ 50+++pages and sites and can't get close to identifying the three-piece set!!  I'm too tired to look any further.... SO.. I'll just enjoy ....

I've not yet learned the description... the cup sits low and wide....   the rose with very little greenery lines the inner edges of the tea cup.

 Ahhh-hah.... here is the scalloped edge with raised border...

Here's where my google learning curve has taken me......

What is a Schleiger Number?

Long time collectors of Haviland dinnerware glibly toss about terms such as Schleiger #19 or Schleiger #266G as though they are the names of long time family members. And they are--or at least the china they represent, are!! Here is a "thumbnail sketch" of how the names Schleiger and Haviland china have become so intertwined in the Haviland collector's vocabulary.

In the late 1930's and early 1940's, Arlene Schleiger of Omaha, Nebraska was trying to find pieces to fill in her mother's set of china. Her quest took her to antique shops and used furniture stores. She found that many other people were on the same mission--and Haviland was the china most of them were searching for.

She began to purchase pieces of different Haviland patterns and quickly found that there was a need to have a common means or method to identify these different patterns since most Haviland pieces do not have a pattern name on them. Her good friends, Jack and Louis Drew, encouraged her to create a book or catalogue for identifying Haviland china.

From her searches and experiences in trying to identify the pieces she had collected, Mrs. Schleiger recognized and listed several problems confronting her:

• The same patterns appear on different blanks
• The blanks may or may not have a gold edge.
• The same patterns appear but in different colors.
• Floral arrangements vary--seldom will two plates be exactly alike.
• In many patterns the flowers are difficult to identify. Are they roses? Wild roses? Apple blossoms?

She decided that a book with pen and ink drawings of the most distinguishing feature of the pattern would be the most satisfactory way of depicting the various patterns. Her son, Dick, was a student in the College of Architecture at the University of Nebraska. He drew the sketches of the patterns for Mrs. Schleiger's first book during his last two years in college.

Mrs. Schleiger's first book, Two Hundred Patterns of Haviland China--Book I was published in 1950. She assigned a number to the patterns as she entered them in her book. Thereby, the term Schleiger Number was born. (Each of her books really describe many more than 200 patterns since most of the patterns shown in the books have several variations listed.