Kaffe Tea Pots, Crochet, Red in Birds and Stitching, Cornwall Cottage

Tea cups and time pieces, once so important, are now to be found in the thrift shops.
 I have a few tea cups here inherited from first wife. I remember the only English lady in a tiny village I was teaching in showing me how to pour tea properly so everyone got the same strength in their cup. I took that knowledge to heart.  I remember Dad telling us that in the Korean war, any time they camped with English troops, tea would be offered and to his surprise, even to those injured.

Hubby would definitely second this!

 And growing up in Newfoundland, there was always a pot of tea sitting on the stove.  I drank my first cup of coffee at age 26 when I got to teach with mainlanders in the Arctic. Today, we have a cup of coffee in the morning, but switch to tea for the rest of the day.

During my watercolours research, I came across this- the famous Wedgewood Cuckoo Peach tea cup. At $60 C is a steal compared to                                                  
This one...the Ming Dynasty tea cup featuring a common rooster that is worth amazingly $36 million US!
                          

I always look through the tea cup shelf in thrift stores. Some are so pretty but I don't buy them.  Never one for flavoured teas, I have recently embraced several kinds including peppermint tea because it does help settle the stomach and aid with sleeping.

Pinterest site with loads of patterns of cups and pots to quilt and some time I intend to make something with one of those patterns.  I did make a tea cloth with cups once...must try to find it.
It will pale in comparison to this gorgeous piece by talented Maureen at the Mystic Quilter. A sight for my eyes in this white world of mine right now. Visit her blog to see other amazing quilts!

                                       
I got my wooly package of Stylecraft DK from across the pond. I ordered it through Lucy's blog Attic 24 as I like to support those of you using your blog for income. It came in Wool Warehouse packaging, a pretty gossamer bag. The biggest challenge I will face with beginning the Sweet Pea Blanket will be casting on the correct number of stitches.  I think I figured out a way to mark every 50 stitches last time.

Almost all my bird photos taken in winter are through a window shots. Given the usual temperatures, can you blame me! This one of a cardinal would have had more value if not for that maybe. A lone male has been visiting the feeder area for a couple of weeks. Why just the one? Is this my messager from heaven?

I've made it down to the corner and ever so slightly turning round the bend on my Cornwall Cottage sampler. I love when progress is visible. A little stitching every day adds up, it really does.

I've also started joining some of my scrappy red squares for the border of Lilies. I just can't throw out pretty tins like this Russell Stover one.  It came in handy to hold my little red and pink squares.

This is more hand stitching but enjoyable without the counting.  However, I'm trying my darndest to keep the stitches tiny and even. Great practice!

A sunny Sunday but cold. Nevertheless, the sun streaming in the windows is so welcome.
So happy to link this post with Viewing Nature With Eileen, So Scrappy, Sew Can She, Love Laugh Quilt, Pretty Piney, Wild Bird Wednesday and Quilting is More Fun Than Housework. Thank you all for hosting!