LOVELY LEMON BARS FOR TEA

I made some rather disappointing Lemon Bars last week and decided to give another recipe a whirl.  I had heard raving reviews on different blogs about Ina Garten's Lemon Bars and the reviews were certainly correct!  These are tangy lemon and please cut them small as they are "rich" with flavor.

This is where you will find this recipe: 

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/lemon-bars-recipe/index.html

Today I am linking to Rose Chintz Cottage and also A Delightsome Life

My oven has been on it's last leg for a long time so we will be shopping for a new oven for which I will be ever so happy.  Things wear out don't they?  We are in the process of repainting the inside of our house and restaining the woodwork - I should correct myself here!  My husband is in the process...this is a long project as there are also "so many other things" to do!

Sunday Celebration

Hymn:  At Calvary

by William R. Newell

Years I spent in vanity and pride,

Caring not my Lord was crucified

Knowing not it was for me He died On Calvary

Mercy there was great, and grace was free;

Pardon there was multiplied to me;

There my burdened soul found liberty,

At Calvary.

TEA IN THE GARDEN

Welcome to my first "Tea in the Garden" for the springtime.....

Colorado gardens run behind the rest of the country.....we still had snow a few weeks ago.  Just the same, I still couldn't resist going outdoors this morning and setting up a little "Tea and Toast" time in the garden.  It is a beautiful day in the neighborhood (as Mr. Rogers used to say).

We had such a mild winter we are hoping that we won't have watering restrictions like a few years ago.  You could only water your yard on certain assigned days of the week.  My lilacs aren't so great this year.  I see many yards where they are huge - but not mine. 

I have a fondness for old embroidered linens and this lilac topper is a favorite to me!

The little silver plate toast rack was found on an antiquing venture many years ago.

A recent find (below) is this hand painted Limoges plate with berries.

I love perusing the older copies of Victoria Magazine and these May issues are delightful.  You will find a lot of inspiration and ideas here!

I am also linking this post to Kathy's Home and Garden Thursday

Today is my first "Tea in the Garden" for the season and I hope you can join me each week and show us your garden.  Even if you just have a few plants or a patio or porch!  Please join in the fun by linking up below and PLEASE HAVE A LINK to this blog!  You may not be ready for "Tea in the Garden" today so please link anything about tea!

Sunday Celebration

(Colorado Springs - picture taken on my way to work)

Isaiah 44:3    For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground:  I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring....

ANNE OF GREEN GABLES FOR "FRIENDS SHARING TEA"

This morning I was in the garden and found some of my first spring flowers:  Tulips, Daffodils, Forget Me Nots and Lunaria blossoms.....  Before you get too excited - I pretty much got it all!
We still have along way to go in Colorado!

I had been looking at the Spring 1988 issue of Victoria which features Anne of Green Gables.  I love the story of Anne and I know many of you do as well!  

I have collected several related books over the years - some were past items in my store.

 The first flowers to appear in my garden were the Forget Me Nots and I so love their delicate little flowers.
I will be buying some more plants this year.  I did find that the more expensive plants seemed to have lasted and the cheaper one didn't.  I have watered my garden this winter faithfully.  That is a "must do" in Colorado and especially since we didn't get as much snow as needed.

I love the older issues of Victoria...

It has been sweet becoming acquainted with both Sandi and  Carolyn through blogging and knowing that both live on Prince Edward Island.

The Anne of Green Gables dolls are so endearing...

Every Wednesday I have "Friends Sharing Tea" and if you would like to join me by posting something special - please do so at the bottom with Mr. Linky.  I hope to be moving this to "Tea in the Garden" very soon! 

 I baked some lemon bars from a recipe in this issue...I am sorry to say I was disappointed in them so I am not going to type the recipe....back to Ina Garten's Recipe for sure!

THE VIOLETS ARE BLOOMING - EVEN ON TEA SETS!

One of the first signs of spring is violets.  Yesterday we woke up to 2 1/2" of snow and it snowed a little more during the day in the higher elevation parts of the city -  but the violets didn't seem to mind...

I also love violets on teapots and teacups.  While out antiquing, I recently found three delicate Bavarian hand painted cups and saucers with violets and lily of the valley. At $8.00 each I was ready to pay up.

I pull out different teasets in my house according to the present season.  Good thing I have a basement with lots of shelving!

They are very translucent and light to hold. I wonder who painted these and when?

I hope you are having a wonderful springtime!  Here in the Rockies we need moisture, even if it is in the form of snow.

I will be linking this post to two other fun blog parties:


Kathy at A Delightsome Life With a Return to Loveliness and also
Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage