Beatrix Potter figurines...and a family tradition

British author Beatrix Potter wrote and illustrated more than 20 children's books starring Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddle-Duck, and Benjamin Bunny.

Born July 28, 1866, Beatrix Potter spent a solitary childhood with long holidays in the country. She loved to sketch animals and later invented stories about them. In 1902, Potter published The Tale of Peter Rabbit, which launched her career as a children's author. More than 20 other books for young audiences soon followed. Potter's tales of Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddle-Duck, Benjamin Bunny and others have become children's classics. She died in 1943.

 I began a tradition to add a single figurine to my three daughter's Easter baskets.  My youngest daughter just married and since she and Mr.Casey are living in an apartment, I get to store and at Easter display MsLynley's figurines. 

Do you see the "very bad bunny" and Jemima Puddle-duck?

They blend in well with some of my tea cup collection. 

 One of my favorite's below.

 I kind of miss the excitement of filling their baskets after they had gone to bed.  Our family traditions was for the Easter Bunny to hide their filled basket and they had to search for them the next morning before Easter Sunday Mass. Do you have an Easter family tradition?

Figurines by Royal Albert, England

In this collection

And this Pig had none

Hunch Munca

Jemima Puddle-Duck

Flopsy Mopsy and Cottontail

Fierce Bad Rabbit

Little Pig Robinson

Miss Moppet

Tom Kitten

Tea Time!

My mother-in-law was here for her 92nd birthday.  How amazing to be 92 and still going strong.  I thought a high tea birthday celebration was the perfect way to enjoy her special day with family and girlfriends. 

 First up, the preparations.  The tea buffet service was great.  My sister immediately loved my electric tea pot.  She said it reminded her of every hotel in England that she had ever visited. She said every room had a miniature version of my electric tea pot.

Miniature roses were placed in my silver mint julep cups. 

 I finally found sugar cubes, thanks to my Tom Thumb grocery store.  So, we were able to say, one lump or two?

 My tea cup collection was center stage too!

 Note to self... to use my slotted powdered sugar spoon properly, the sugar needs to be sifted to a fine powder to flow properly when shaken over fruit or brownies.   Instead of pimento cheese stuffed celery, I used cream cheese, crumbled bacon and chopped cranberries to fill the celery slices. 

 My favorite munchie is below. Sliced apple topped with chicken salad.  I started by thinly slicing next to the side of the apple core, a full slice of apple. I could get about six slices per apple. I then swiped a lemon slice across both sides to keep the apple from turning brown.  I topped with my favorite chicken salad from Market Street.  

 The cucumber sandwiches were on sourdough bread slices from the deli (again Market Street).  We mixed cream cheese with a package of dry Italian salad dressing mix, smeared each slice with the cream cheese and added a sliced cucumbers. 

 Assorted desserts were pecan tassies, white chocolate coconut candy, brownies and layered pound cake with Nutella and raspberry cream cheese.

 I also had a tray of salami, olives and cheeses. 

 We had six littles attend the tea.  Ages 2-4.  I know, I was very brave to place their tea in glass creamers to pour themselves.  Also, the lower shelf of the tea trolly held glass cups.  All the children were wonderful.  Not one spill or break!  

 The Walker Scottie dog shortbread cookies were adorable and delicious.   But, I think the kid favorites were the fresh fruit and pretzel chip cups. 

I also had a fairy hunt for the littles too.  It was a smash hit with all of them. 

Party preparation tips

All the cream cheese mixtures were made the night before.  The cucumber sandwiches were made the morning of the party, covered and refrigerated till right before party time.  The celery sticks were made the night before and refrigerated.  All desserts were made days ahead of time, with the exception of the pound cake slices.  We did assemble the pound cake and put it back in the refrigerator overnight and did not slice until right before the party.  

Most of the recipes can be found on my Pinterest Board inspiration here:

Tea Please

It is Fall in Texas... but still 90 degrees outside

Around the living room in 10 seconds.  Just a few Fall touches, but makes me feel like Fall is almost here! A "what is it?" at the end of the post too.

 Love these scrumptious velvet pumpkins from Market Street.  A last year find they were.

This Pottery Barn basket is huge, but was fun to fill.

 This month I found this huge velvet pumpkin at Market Street.  10 bucks, less than what I paid for the velvet ones last year, but it does have a plastic stem.  

 My question... What was this little silver box/purse/clutch used for?  I found it at Round Top Flea market.  Your guess?  

Here is what I use it for!  

Mother's Day Tea with MissRaylyn

Look how precious and well behaved all these kids look.  Now you know when they are in their classrooms it might be a little different story.  Melissa asked Nickie and I to attend MissRaylyn's pre-school Mother's Tea.  How absolutely adorable is Raylyn with those pigtails and bows!

 The tea was fun and a wonderful presentation by the staff! 

At home I have begun to set the table for Sunday.  I am using Nickie's plates from her china pattern and the tea cups are all different and from my collection.  The green set below is my most recent purchase from Round Top. 

 My Round Top dough bowl is filled with creamers.

 This gold and green tea cup and saucer pictured below was the very first set that began my collection.

 Happy Mother's Day everyone!

Ants OK for my 4th of July table

When they are cute litte ants from Pottery Barn, I will let them climb on my table. #buythemdonotattemptDIY 

 Cute Pottery Barn fry baskets too, for the napkins I will be using.

Happy Fourth of July!  I wonder if there is a cherry pie under that cake dome?

Cherry Pie recipe here.

Sharing with:
The Country Cook (will add link as soon as blogger fixes updates function) Uugghh
Coastal Charm

Palm Sunday family get together

We gathered at our home for fun and family on Palm Sunday this year.

 One overflow table was set with my Lenox, Lacepoint china pattern, Nickie's Fostoria water goblets and my Waterford, Araglyn goblets.  

 The main table was set with Nickie's (my mother-in-laws) china, Royal Worchester, Dunrobin.  My silver plate is Christophle of France, Malmaison

 The yard was doing its best with help from Lynn to become a spring time flower fest. 

 Does anyone know what this fern below is called?  New growth is red and turns to green. 

 MissRaylyn is trying patiently to wait for her cousins and the goldfish release.

 MissLayton, Miss Hadley and MissAllyann are here Papa, let the fish go!

 Although pretending gravel is sand and you are back at the beach is fun too.

 My sad one little picture of our eggs.  Now that was a fun new experience for the grands.

Happy Holy Week everyone!