Cool Phone

Found this awesome telephone at a yard sale this past spring for $1.00!

I love it 

Pretty cool, huh?

Beautiful China Tea Cup ~ Tea Cup Tuesday

I found this pretty tea cup at the Flea Market.

I don't know what the Chinese writing is. Maybe the pattern?

Gold trim and a dainty floral pattern cascades around the rim with some pretty detail on the side. 

On Sunday, I met a very sweet lady at the visitor's center in Marion, NC named Diane. She is from New Hampshire and into all things tea. In the past, she has taught how to host a tea party and is an avid collector of teacups and teapots. Diane was wearing the most adorable teapot pendant on a chain. I asked her if I could take a photo so here is her beautiful teapot pendant!

My daughter told ma about a cool online photo editing program called PicMonkey, so I've been having fun playing around, as you can see...

That's it for this week. I'm hit & miss with my posting but I'm having fun learning about china from everyone else who posts on the Teacup Link-ups. If you have a love for all things tea & china, hop on over and see all the exquisite tables that the ladies set!

I'm linked with  

Tea Time Tuesday, 

Tea Cup Tuesday, 

&

Tuesday Cuppa Tea.

Images are mine. Please don't take them without asking. Not that anyone would want them. I'm just sayin'. 

No time for tea...

All I have to share today is this pretty little creamer.

She's in the Gloria pattern from Favolina. 

And numbered 49. I have no idea what that means, really. Only 49 were made? Number 49 of however many? Why would they just stamp 49? 

Also, I don't even remotely have anything it will match, but I thought it was too sweet to pass up. And who knows...I just might need a creamer one day! 

Oh, and that blurred sugar dish in the back? I found that too but it's totally unmarked. Loved it though, with its hexagonal shape and slightly off white color, so I added it to my nonsensical collection :)

Now for the exciting news...

I'm focusing my search efforts for the next couple of weeks on looking for preemie clothes because my daughter will most likely give birth to our first granddaughter within the next 2 -4 weeks, making our sweet baby anywhere from 4-6 weeks early. Join me in praying for a safe delivery, would you? I have the added blessing of being my daughter's doula, so I am stoked!

God is good in ALL things!!!

Can you tell I'm excited?! I might have used a few too many exclamation points today :)

Have a great day in the Lord!

I'm linked to:

Tea Cup Tuesday,

&

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

A glorious day in the mountains ~ Rural Thursday

This is kind of a long post so I apologize in advance! At least I didn't post all 106 pictures I took, though :)
(If you click on the pictures, they enlarge and look better)

On Saturday, it was a gorgeous day here in the Carolinas, not a cloud in the sky, and perfect for sight seeing. We set off to an Amish community about 1 1/2 hrs away. 

It's not everyday we see one of these signs. 

We ate lunch here. They have a deli and make the most delicious sandwiches on homemade breads. 

They're huge! I had turkey on wheat with tomatoes, lettuce & cheese.

 Their baked goods are almost to die for! We bought homemade donuts, a blackberry coffee cake, cinnamon bagel chips, and ginger snaps! Needless to say, none of it lasted long. Also brought home some rye flour that I am looking forward to making rye bread with :)

They're such nice people. I asked if I could photograph their buggy. I didn't want to intrude on their privacy. There were no horses hitched up here. Probably because it was Saturday and too many cars around! 

We also met the nicest man, Alvin Mast. He has the most beautiful yard with lots, and I mean LOTS, of birdhouses for the Martin's. Alvin is quite the Martin expert and was happy to share his vast knowledge with me. I didn't take photos as I felt kind of awkward asking. I'm now thoroughly set on getting some white gourds and putting them out in my garden! 

Then we set out for Mt Airy, aka Mayberry...

and onward and upward to Fancy Gap VA and The Blue Ridge Parkway...

Grandfather Mtn in the distance...

We had to take a short detour due to guardrails being installed on a section of the parkway. 

We saw these cool barns! They're part of the American Quilt Barn Trail.

And if you've hung in here this long, you're doing good! Almost done...

While on our detour, we stopped at a yard sale. I found some lovely pieces of china. 

Here's a teacup & saucer so you can see the pattern. 

I made a Trash to Treasure post here.

AND...

last but not least is Redrock...he lives down the road from me and is famous in these parts.  

I wish my camera was better. He is so majestic looking!  

Thanks for hangin' in there through all the photos. 

Images are mine. Please don't take them without asking. Not that anyone would want them. I'm just sayin'. 

I'm linked up on Rural Thursday.

Trash to Treasure...

While sight seeing up in the mountains of rural NC on Saturday, we ran across a trashy looking yard sale. What caught my eye was a vintage high chair but it turned out to be in such bad shape that my husband didn't want to buy it. No problem. I found something else...

This is vintage Edwin Knowles Sweetheart Rose China, rimmed in 22kt gold. From what I can find on the internet, it is from the 1940's. I bought all the pieces the lady had. They were obviously sitting in the weather for a long time, as they were filthy and the cups and bowls were holding dirty water.

I carefully wrapped the cups in my leather jacket to protect against breakage, and the lady gave me a nasty looking box to put the plates, saucers and platter in. Yep. It was gross and I did not take pictures. But my husband was such a sweetie. He just put that box right in the back of his baby :)

Once I got them home, I filled the sink with hot water, mild detergent and a little bleach (to satisfy my germaphobia). Let them soak for about 20 minutes, gently washed off the grime and lovingly dried them off to reveal these beautiful pieces of china!

There are 4 dinner plates, 4 teacups, 2 teacup saucers, 2 bread saucers, 2 cereal bowls and a small serving platter. You might be asking, does this match a set I already have? Nope. I just inherited my mother's love of delicate china. When I see a piece I can afford, I buy it. And I ♥ teacups!

This lovely sugar bowl made in Bavaria doesn't match the set but I couldn't resist! Isn't it gorgeous?!

Do you have a china fettish? A favorite pattern? Something special you collect? Do tell!

I linked up to Teacup Tuesday .