WELCOME SPRING!

Monday, July 27, 2009

~The Teacup~

 Good morning, everyone!  For today’s Teacup Tuesday, brought to you by our lovely hostess, Kim, I would like to introduce you to my yellow teacups.  I only have one of each of them, along with their matching salad plate, which is the perfect serving size for a tea.    After you’ve visited with my sweet yellow teacups for a while, be sure to click on the teacup to your right to visit Kim at www.shabbypinkandpretty.blogspot.com to see more pretty teacups!

But first, I would love to share this darling story that has been around for many years.  I would tell you who wrote it, but it slips my mind…I do think I knew once upon a time!  It has a powerful message for you and for me. 

 THE TEACUP

There was a couple who used to go to England to shop in the beautiful stores. They both liked antiques and pottery and especially teacups. This was their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.

One day in this beautiful shop they saw a beautiful teacup. They said, "May we see that? We've never seen one quite so beautiful." As the lady handed it to them, suddenly the teacup spoke.

"You don't understand," it said. "I haven't always been a teacup. There was a time when I was red and I was clay." My master took me and rolled me and patted me over and over and I yelled out, "let me alone", but he only smiled, "Not yet."

"Then I was placed on a spinning wheel," the teacup said, "and suddenly I was spun around and around and around. Stop it! I'm getting dizzy!" I screamed. But the master only nodded and said, 'Not yet."

Then he put me in the oven. I never felt such heat. I wondered why he wanted to burn me, and I yelled and knocked at the door. I could see him through the opening and I could read his lips as He shook his head, "Not yet."

Finally the door opened, he put me on the shelf, and I began to cool. "There, that's better," I said. And he brushed and painted me all over. The fumes were horrible. I thought I would gag. "Stop it, stop it!" I cried. He only nodded, "Not yet."

Then suddenly he put me back into the oven, not like the first one. This was twice as hot and I knew I would suffocate. I begged. I pleaded. I screamed. I cried. All the time I could see him through the opening nodding his head saying, "Not yet."

Then I knew there wasn't any hope. I would never make it. I was ready to give up. But the door opened and he took me out and placed me on the shelf. One hour later he handed me a mirror and said, "Look at yourself." And I did. I said, "That's not me; that couldn't be me. It's beautiful. I'm beautiful."

"I want you to remember, then," he said, "I know it hurts to be rolled and patted, but if I had left you alone, you'd have dried up. I know it made you dizzy to spin around on the wheel, but if I had stopped, you would have crumbled. I knew it hurt and was hot and disagreeable in the oven, but if I hadn't put you there, you would have cracked. I know the fumes were bad when I brushed and painted you all over, but if I hadn't done that, you never would have hardened; you would not have had any color in your life. And if I hadn't put you back in that second oven, you wouldn't survive for very long because the hardness would not have held. Now you are a finished product. You are what I had in mind when I first began with you."

MORAL:

God knows what He's doing (for all of us).
He is the Potter, and we are His clay.
He will mold us and make us,
So that we may be made into a flawless piece of work
To fulfill His good, pleasing, and perfect will.
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.
And God is faithful; he will not tempt you beyond what you can bear.
(1 Corinthians 10:13)

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This morning, after I set the table for pictures, and made a pot of tea, I invited two of my neighbors over for tea and scones.  Why let a pretty table setting go to waste? 

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All of these teacups were made by Royal Albert, and you may notice that  all have the same floral pattern  as  the ageless Old Country Roses pattern, but are  variation in design.  They each have their own matching salad plate, but go beautifully with the original Old Country Roses plates, as well.

  This one is Ruby Celebration Gold Damask,  from the Ruby Celebration series

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This one is Cameo Peach,  from the Cameo series -one of my favorites.

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 This one is Ruby Celebration Yellow Rosebud, also from the Ruby Celebration series.  I use these teacups, along with the others from this series, at Christmas, because of the pretty ribbon running through the flowers.

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 By the way, I have a secret to a quick and easy scone recipe that can be made in a jiffy.  It’s Krustez Scone Mix.  I have used several scone recipes over the years, all of them very good, but this mix can’t be beat for FAST, FAST, FAST, and it can stand up against any homemade scone recipe I’ve tried.  All you add is MILK!  No cutting in the butter, etc., just add your milk – I use whipping cream – and knead only 2 times, not 3 or 4.  The less you handle the dough, the flakier your scones will be.   I know it’s tempting to knead them more, but don’t!  They’ll be tough.     I added dried cranberries to the scones pictured here today, but you can add any dried fruit, chocolate chips, or nothing at all. Either way, you’ll be proud to serve these to your guests or family.

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Morning, noon, or night, tea is a delight!  I hope you’ve enjoyed “tea” today with my teacups and me, as much as we’ve enjoyed having tea with you!   Don’t forget to visit Kim for Teacup Tuesday.  Just click the teacup to the right!

Have a wonderful Tuesday, everyone. God bless you all, and don’t forget to keep “living in the pink!”

15 comments:

  1. Dear Mary,
    What a beautiful blog♥
    How blessed your neighbors were to be invited into your lovely home for tea and scones...cranberry scones at that
    Thank you for the scone recipe♥
    First I wanted to introduce myself...I am Debbie...Amy's mother and Sherry's sister but also on the journey Jesus has set before me.
    I wanted to take this time and eventually to all 85 people who responded to my sisters post, "A call to Angels to pray."
    THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY ♥. Amy needed and felt every prayer and will need them again when they schedule her for surgery....within 2 weeks.
    I l♥ved reading the story of the teapot.....I never tire of reading that precious story.
    My favorite teacup of the beautiful ones you showed was the Ruby Celebration Yellow Rosebud....I l♥ved...l♥ved...l♥ved that one...the minute I saw it I knew that was the one. I am not familiar with the series and would love to know all about it.
    I joined your blog and will also be praying for you and your precious daughter...every mother needs prayer for all the things that come up during the day.
    I would l♥ve (if you choose) to invite you to join my blog.
    It has been a pleasure to meet you.
    Angel Hugs
    debbie

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  2. Darling I am coming to tea to your cottage, everything looks yummy. I liked the story, so sweet and so true. Mary, I have a post for Tea & Friendship Tuesday, if you have a moment come over my blog and click on the purple sign on my post, this would take you to Charli and Me site who is the mastermind behind T & F T . May be this will help.

    Duchess xx

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  3. I really enjoyed this post!

    Thank you,

    Carolyn

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  4. Thank you for visiting my blog. I just adore yours. I love tea and collect teapots. I just have a few, but now need somewhere to put them, so looking for corner china cabinets. I also collect tea mugs. So many pack up. Everyday I make a point to sit on my porch and sip some tea and just relax.

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  5. Beautiful teacups, Mary! I love the Ruby Celebration teacup but all of them so pretty! Thanks for the headsup on the the scones. I have never seen Krusteez Scone mix but I have seen Krusteez pancake mix. I will have to do more searching for it. It sounds like it would be delicious and easy! Have a wonderful day!
    ~Hugs, Patti

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  6. Oh Mary! I love the teacups. Everything looks so beautiful and the table so elegant. The scones look delish. What time is tea served today? Thanks for sharing your beautiful teacup collection. What jewels they are. Country Hugs, Sherry

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  7. The scones look delish. I am going to look for the Krusteaz scone mix. I have used the muffin mix, but I have not noticed the scone mix.
    Blessings,
    Lorilee

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  8. Mary..what a lovely tea table you have set. Those cups are so pretty!
    Scones sound yummy too!!!
    Hugs,
    Lola

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  9. Mary, your tea cups and service are beautiful. How lovely that you invited your neighbors over to share your tea. It all looks so inviting. I'd love to share tea with you:-)

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  10. Beautiful post! Heartwarming and touching little story, and a nice reminder to trust our lives to One Who Knows Best!

    Beautiful tablescape, I love all the teacups and wish I could join you and your lucky neighbors!
    All the best,
    Eileen

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  11. Happy Teacup Tuesday!
    What a beautiful post! I have heard Joyce Meyer tell a similar story as the one you have shared....I love the message behind it.
    Your teacups and table setting is lovely...the scones look delish too...I think I'll just try one while I'm here! LOL! I hope you Have a great day!
    Big Hugs,
    Queenie

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  12. What a beautiful post! Love all your yellow dishes! I have a plate to match the rosebud one.

    I hope you enjoy your strawberry coconut cake as much as I have, it will be a wonderful birthday cake! Happy Birthday!

    Katherine

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  13. Oh Mary, I'm so glad you've joined us here in blogland for Teacup Tuesday. Your collection of beautiful tea things is amazing. These yellow teacups are GORGEOUS and your table setting is just as pretty.

    I love the Krustez Scone mix. I use that quite frequently myself. I also have another easy scone receipe that I use alot as well. I'll have to Email you the receipe so you can try them sometime.

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  14. Your teacups and dishes are beautiful and so was that story. Thanks for sharing.

    Willow

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  15. Your Royal Albert cups are beautiful. I will have to try the Krustez Scone mix, it sounds easy and I like easy! Your table is just lovely. Have a wonderful week!
    Valerie

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