WILD VIOLETS FOR FEBRUARY

When I was a little girl growing up in Virginia, we always had some wild violets blooming in February.  I would go out to my little round flowerbed and lift the leaves up and there underneath I would see the first signs that spring was coming.......violets.  

Who doesn't love violets?  Of course, we don't have violets out there under that Colorado snow right now.  In fact, they bloom quite late here as we have the most snow in March and April and I have seen it in May and people have said over the years it has snowed in June.

 I have recently realized that I have

more violet items than violet but really

if you do decided to collect either or

both, there is an abundance out there in

both vintage and antique. 

I am not a purist as I mix things from

 Austria, Japan and England when

 the colors go together.  Usually if

I purchase something new it tends to

be English.

Perhaps it is their contrast against the snow that makes them so lovely:

I imagine you have some memories of violets to share! Please sit here by the window and reminiscence.

LEMON CREAM CHEESE SCONES

This morning as snow fell on Colorado, the smell of scones baking in the oven welcomed another day.

We have had some unseasonably warm weather causing bulbs to start popping out of the ground.  I am glad it is gone as it was 70 degrees here on a few days which seemed silly for February.  I am sharing a new but old teapot today that I recently found!

  I just love it.  It has a lot of crazing and has certainly been used.

The scone recipe I used today is one I have baked numerous times.  I used the smallest of three sizes of the scone cutters.

I thought I'd share a tip about these darling little spoons you might like to purchase for your clotted cream or lemon curd.  They are generally silver plate or gold plate and require specific care to last.  First of all - never leave them with food on them or in the sink.  As soon as your teatime is over - wash them by hand  with a soapy dishrag and dry them immediately.  Their life will be much longer if you follow this rule.  Absolutely NO dishwasher.

Do pour yourself a cup of tea and bake some scones for yourself if you would like too!

We have Mrs. Darlington's English lemon curd and English clotted cream:

Here is my recipe for 

Lemon Cream Cheese Scones

 I like to try different ways of using ingredients in scones, so this is what I did today.
  Another day I might try something else.

2 1/4 cups flour, 1/4 cup sugar (- 1 tsp high alt), zest of 1 large lemon, 2 tsp baking powder (less 1/2 tsp high alt), 1/3 cup firm butter, 4 oz cream cheese, 1 egg, 3/4 cup buttermilk today (sometimes I do heavy whipping cream), 1/4 cup lemon juice

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine flour, sugar, lemon zest, baking powder.  Using a kneader, cut in butter.  In a small bowl combine cream cheese, egg and buttermilk and lemon juice - combine into flour mixture and make dough ball.

I prefer to roll out my dough on a floured pastry cloth with a cloth covered rolling pin which has also been floured.  I cut these scones with the smallest of 3 sizes of scone cutters.  Bake on ungreased baking sheet about 13 minutes (because these were smaller) and remove from sheet.  Serve warm.  Made about 24 smaller scones.

THE WEEK OF VALENTINES DAY

While some of you have been getting slammed with winter snows, here in Colorado we have had unseasonably warm weather.  It seems quite unusual and of course causing bulbs to pop up in the garden.  Not good considering most of our snow arrives in March and April and do not like being out in the snow. 

 Inside we are all decorated

 for Valentines Day.

For me, Valentines Day is all about whimsy.

Yesterday afternoon, I went antiquing and found this darling old Valentine postcard.  There seem to be many out there and I couldn't resist this one.

I know that blogging this week will be filled with Valentines Day decorating, baking and Valentine passions. I am amazed how many bloggers have some portion of this Lucy's Love teaset and I imagine we will see a lot of this one this week.  

FEBRUARY MEANS VALENTINES DAY

February means it's time to turn our hearts towards the month that celebrates St. Valentine and for me I celebrate my Valentine tea time in the manor of whimsy!

I love the effect Valentine's Day has on what could be a rather boring time of year since we are indoors and most of us are experiencing the cold wintertime.  I know that here in Colorado we get the most snow in March and April so forgive me for that alluding to how many days there are till spring.

Please pour yourself cup of tea!

I have shared my "Lucy's Love" tea set over

 the years here on my blog so
 I'm sure some of you remember it:

I am really glad it has turned cold again as we had a couple really warm days in Colorado and I feared 

it would "activate" the bulbs in my garden.

"For God so loved the world that He gave

His only begotten Son

That whosoever believeth in Him

Should not perish, but have everlasting life!"

John 3:16