28 January 2013

A Fond Farewell!

Hello everyone!! I hope you are having a beautiful day!! This past weekend, one of our local favorites, and a five star, "not-to-be-missed!" spot in our quaint little town had to close their doors. It was a very sad loss for us.  It was a beautiful spot named Jacqueline's High Tea Room. 

(source)

There they had a fully decked out dining room,with private seetings, where one could grab a hat at the door and sit on upholstered chairs in front of tables covered in beautiful rich linens, with fine china and serving pieces in front of you and order a "traditional high tea" or a lovely lunch.


 It has been the pamper yourself, splurge for many of us for years. My Mother and other family members and friends would often give a trip to Jacqueline's as a Birthday, Christmas or Mother's Day gift, or just a good ole Ladies day out.  Well as stated, they have closed their doors and are moving on and I know all from my town and many others wish them many Blessings on their next journey in life.


So, why am I telling you about this? Two reasons really: to honor the memories made and shared there and to share some of the wonderful bargains I was able to get at their "Closing Sale".  I am super excited to tell you that I was able to find out about this in time to make their sale in their final two days!! Which, as you know me by now, was how I got a "steal" on some absolutely beautiful items!! Always good news to be shared!!! I have shared some of my "treasures" on Shoestring's facebook page and thought, to be fair, it deserved a post all of it's own.  So here are a few of incredible finds!!




 
Now, to be honest, I already had the two plates on the bottom of this 3-tiered stand.  But, I didn't have the stand!! Nor, did I know when I bought those two Beautiful Haviland tea cups that they would be an exact match to the plate that sits now in the middle of the rack. (One I picked up at Goodwill a couple of months ago) Serendipitous, I tell you!! Yay!! Great find number one!!


I just loved the look of all my "New" treasures laid out on the table as the sun went down.  Okay, if you are familiar with my Blog, I always tell you how good of a deal I got, so that you know, you, too, can get this kind of Elegance on a Shoestring budget.  Everything you see on the table I paid a grand total of $28.00 for!!  Somehow, that makes them even more special to me..



This wonderful Thomas Kinkade commemorative cup and plate "Moonlit Cottage" was a gift to me from a friend I gave a heads-up call to, regarding this particular sale. She did not get out of there for as little as I did, But then again, she has quite a bit more than I to show for it! Thanks L!!



As I stated earlier, I wish the very Best to Jacqueline and her staff, and a big "Thank you"   for the wonderful memories and yummy treats over the years!! May God Bless you and keep you.  To everyone else, go out and make it a fabulously elegant week in your home!! Hugs and Blessings! ~Theresa  


I'm sharing with these lovely Ladies:




Tea Time Tuesday
In The Old RoadThursday Favorite Things





19 January 2013

Beat The Winter Cold With My Roasted Butternut Squash Soup!

Welcome, all! It has been below freezing here in Northern California, which has me baking and cooking a lot.  If not for the food, for the warmth it provides in the home!  
This was actually a recipe I emailed to a dear friend, she loves it so much, as do I,  I wanted to share it with you!! 
If you are a regular to my Blog you already know I don't "do" recipes the way most people do, I explain them. Once again, I can't say this enough, the "way" you make something is as important as the ingredients you use! I hope you enjoy it!