Welcome sweet friends. How can it be possible that Thanksgiving is one week from this Thursday? It seems like we just celebrated July 4th!
“I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High.”
Psalm 7:17 (ESV)
Sunshine Cottage is my perfect place to take a break during the busy holiday season and enjoy a cup of tea! I have an extra place just for you.
Every year has its challenges and life changes, and 2024 has been no exception. My Daddy is now homebound which makes daily activities, special occasions, and holiday gatherings different for him and all of our family. But, this has also served as a wonderful reminder of the countless blessings of the past as well as the present. I will share more within the post, but without a doubt, God has been gracious and blessed us with all we need, and more than we deserve in 2024!
As we prepare for Thanksgiving, I would like to ask a question I have asked before…let’s imagine we are sharing tea and I asked, “what are you thankful for”? I would love for you to share in the comments. I would answer my question that I am most thankful for God’s Grace in my life. Of course, I am grateful for all of God’s good blessings of family, friends, and health.
I look forward to the third Tuesday of each month as Mary and I celebrate teatime. Our special guest for this edition of Tea on Tuesdays is Lidy from French Garden House. We are always happy when our Monday Morning Blooms friend and fellow tea enthusiast can join us for tea! You will find Mary’s and Lidy’s teatime links at the bottom of this post.
November just seems to require a pumpkin spice tea! It is a specially blended black tea with bits of pumpkin, ginger, and cinnamon. For a natural sweetener, honey spoons are ideal!
‘Homeland’ Turkey salad plate by Victorian English Pottery-Royal Stafford with an acorn border is perfect for Thanksgiving!
A trio of handmade Hot Skwash silk velvet pumpkins with all natural stems were ordered several years ago. I had intended on adding to the collection each year, but then thought, do I really need any more collections?
No flower arranging was necessary for a pot of mini mums from the grocery store…quick and easy!
As an April Cornell Brand Ambassador, I chose for this autumn season a returning Heritage print from the archives called ‘Antique’. The tablecloth and coordinating napkins were first used here.
“I think that it is a better thing than Thanksgiving: thanks-living. How is this to be done? By a general cheerfulness of manner, by an obedience to the command of Him by whose mercy we live, by a perpetual, constant delighting of ourselves in the Lord, and by a submission of our desires to His will.”
~Charles Spurgeon
A Vietri leaf serving dish, purchased many years ago, is holding sweet treats for teatime. I completely ran out of time for baking but the grocery store bakery is a go-to in a pinch! Brownie bites, cranberry-pecan loaf, and powdered sugar donuts were perfect with pumpkin spice tea.
The grands came over for our last tea/picnic in the garden this past Saturday. I iced the brownies and added sprinkles. Ella Mae and Emma are all about sprinkles! The powdered donuts were a big hit with Wyatt and my Daddy loved the cranberry-pecan loaf. Nothing went to waste!
The hand-made Italian leather box was found on a trip to Florence in 2004. Wow, that was twenty years ago this month. We were in a leather shop and I was smitten by the small leather box. When I picked it up to look closer, the gentleman said I can engrave it for you. That sealed the purchase! It sits on the coffee table in our family room and Ella Mae has been known to store little trinkets inside! The trip also included time spent in Venice and Rome. Venice remains a favorite of mine and we traveled back for our fortieth anniversary!
Thanksgiving will be very different for us this year. Since my sweet Daddy is completely home-bound with 24/7 caregivers, Butch and I will spend Thanksgiving with him. I will prepare some of our traditional dishes…my Mother’s cornbread dressing, ham rather than turkey, sweet potato casserole, 4-cheese macaroni and cheese, broccoli salad, and blueberry-peach cobbler as requested by Daddy. On Friday we will have Thanksgiving dinner for our son, daughter-in-love and grandchildren. This is the first time since my Mother passed away in 2007, that Butch and I have not hosted our family for Thanksgiving. My brother and sister-in-love will celebrate with their son and daughter, their spouses, and grandchildren in Birmingham. It makes me a little sad, but I am blessed and thankful that I still have my 94 year old Daddy. His mind is sharp, he just says his body is worn out.
A close-up of the trio of pumpkins in their autumnal colors!
Stay tuned…there might be a change coming to the cottage!! I am excited!
Spode ‘Woodland’ dinner plates frame the turkey plates. Faux leather chargers add more warmth to the setting.
I have always loved Fitz and Floyd figural pieces. The pheasant teapot is marked Omnibus by Fitz and Floyd and dated 1997. It was a sweet surprise from my Renaissance Man the year it was introduced. I am excited to see F&F has made a great comeback and their older pieces are in high demand by many of the table stylists on Instagram.
The granddaughters love having an autumn tree in the cottage. The tree topper is turkey tail feathers gathered from our pasture and woods. It will soon change to Christmas.
You will not want to miss teatime with Mary and Lidy! Click on their links for wonderful inspiration.
Mary ~ Home Is Where the Boat Is
Lidy ~ French Garden House
Thank you for your visit and gracious comments. Wishing you a blessed Thanksgiving!
Linking with: Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Life and Linda
Good Morning Pam, Your Sunshine Cottage makes for such a cozy spot for a cup of tea, especially with the ambiance from the twinkling lights of your autumn tree! I adore the border on your April Cornell tablecloth…such a pretty foundation for your table with your pheasant teapot, pumpkin trio and turkey plates. Your Italian leather box is such a wonderful memento from your trip, I thought it was polished wood when I first saw it. I know you’re thankful to have Thanksgiving with your sweet dad, the menu of family favorites sounds delicious! Personally, I’ll pass on pumpkin pie too in favor of blueberry-peach cobbler. 😊 As always, it’s a treat to share tea with you. Wishing your family a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration on Thursday and Friday. 🦃🧡
I hear you on the weirdness of changing holiday traditions due to circumstances at the time, but as you know, you will never regret that change for a minute, and indeed, would do it over and over again, if need be. But it is hard, I’m sure a bit emotional too, but live in the moment, as I suspect you do.
Your autumn tree is especially beautiful and of course the tea table (as always) is lovely and elegant, yet warm and “friendly.” Your turkey pot is darling!
What am I thankful for? Ironically, thankful that I made it through England all in one piece and not sick or injured (that’s what happened in 2018!); certainly grateful for Rick and all the extended family, including sweet Lizzie despite her faults; and the fact that I’m still here and OK, safe and secure with a home and enough resources to be comfortable — enough to spare, enough to share.
Good morning, Pam! Sunshine Cottage is the perfect spot to enjoy a Thanksgiving tea. The glow of the lights from the Autumn tree creates such a warm and inviting glow. Your tea table is set so beautifully with the April Cornell tablecloth and elegant turkey plates. I have a fondness for Fitz and Floyd pieces too. I have a few pieces that are dear to me. The treats look yummy, and the tea sounds delicious. I know it is difficult to break with tradition, but I also know that your dear daddy will enjoy all the scrumptious dishes you are making and spending the day with you. You are a devoted, thoughtful, and loving daughter. My dear friend, I wish you and your sweet family a blessed and happy Thanksgiving!
The cottage is so warm and cozy…the perfect place to share a cup of tea. I love the autumn tree, such a cute idea. I am thankful for all the friends that my husband and I have here in Florida. We can always count on each other when needed.
Although this Thanksgiving will be different for you, I’m sure you’ll look back on it as a blessing to have spent it with your father.
Dearest Pam, what a beautiful setting for tea in the Sunshine Cottage. Your table and the tree look so cozy and inviting. It is okay for Thanksgiving to be different this year because you are still surrounded by all the people who love you. I am so thankful for the love and protection God has shown my family this year…my sister’s terrible car accident, my surgery, John’s A1C now below 6, our protection during the hurricane. We are so blessed with dozens and dozens who have prayed for us. The friendship you and I have is so special to me. On a lighter note, I just read about a cupcake at Sam’s that EM and EK would go crazy over! It weighs 5 pounds and when it is cut open, a literal avalanche of sprinkles and M&Ms pour out! And reviewers say it is quite tasty too.
Sunshine cottage looks magical all decked out neither your pretty autumn tree. Your Fitz and Floyd teapot is lovely with your pretty plates. I know your grands love spending time with you in Sunshine Cottage. How special to spend Thanksgiving with your dad. Precious time and memories. I am very thankful to still be here after surviving three plus cancers. Enjoy Thanksgiving with your family.
Your Sunshine Cottage is beautifully adorned for fall. Your tree is outstanding! The tea table is gorgeous. I love the pheasant teapot. Fitz and Floyd has always been a favorite of mine. I am thankful for God’s forgiveness and for providing a way to everlasting life in heaven for all of us even though we’re not worthy. I am thankful for all our blessings which are too many to list. I am thankful for my husband and lifelong friends. I am thankful for relatively good health that we have at the moment. We know it will be different for you this year at Thanksgiving. Traditions change when parents have challenges with health or pass away, even when we try to keep them relatively the same. It’s just different; their presence is missed. Thankfully, your sweet daddy is still with you and still has a good mind. A tired body is frustrating for him and it’s wonderful you are so understanding. Looking forward to seeing what you will be doing with the Sunshine Cottage. Have a wonderful week. Clara❤️
Good Morning Pam. Your table is gorgeous as always. I am so grateful of course for family and friends and everyone being healthy and happy. I am most grateful and blessed that God puts people in our paths when we need them most. That has always been a sign to me that God is walking through our life journey and is right beside us. Happy New Week. Enjoy every minute as we quickly move up to Thanksgiving. Big Hugs Kris
Dear friend, you’ve stirred my heart and appetite and longing for all things Thanksgiving. So much to be grateful for, so much to look forward to, so much to sit quietly with and reflect on. Thanks for taking me there this morning. I’m always blessed by a little visit with you …
Good morning Pam! What a delight to join you in your darling Sunshine Cottage for tea today. Your table is just lovely, the colors are so warm and inviting! Your tea pot is such a beautiful and fun piece, just right for this time of year. I bet your girls love having tea parties with you there.
Like you, I am so grateful for many things, but mostly God’s blessings and my family. Wishing you and your family a blessed Thanksgiving friend. Thank you for inviting me to your tea time with Mary this month. Xo Lidy 🧡
The Sunshine Cottage is such a special place to relax and sip a cuppa, and it looks beautiful decorated for Fall. The tea table is lovely with the AC cloth and the wonderful F&F teapot! Pumpkin Spice tea is the perfect choice and all the treats sound yummy. I know it is difficult these days with your Dad housebound, but it’s so great that he has 24/7 care in his home. I know you will miss your normal Thanksgiving, but at least your son’s family can celebrate with you on Friday. I am so grateful for my family, especially my son, who takes such good care of me, I thank God every day. I love your velvet pumpkins. I have sworn off buying anything new, I have 2 houses full of “stuff!” Enjoy these last few days of November, time is flying!