(this says Jan. 31, because I uploaded the first photo yesterday!)

February arrives here in a gray day with a PINK lining....
Remember the giveaway at Rookery Ramblings back in December ?.....



Pink luster ware teacups were being given away by Tasha Tudor's family!
I was the winner of teacup "C". Wow!
While waiting for it to come, I read about pink luster ware and found these lovely plates coming up in an auction....in the UK. [perhaps I need to start a collection??? or just a collection of images????]
I am posting them here to show you more pink!!!


I love the color pink on gray days this time of year! Pink is my color for February! It gives me energy and hope that spring will come again!
The pinks here on these plates are made with hand-painted brush strokes which are wonderfully varied in color and intensity!

I have written before about my admiration for artist/illustrator and wise woman, Tasha Tudor......

so, yesterday when the postman brought a box to the door, I was delighted!


My teacup had arrived, along with a letter from Tasha Tudor and family!

The cup has no handle, I love that. It must be from the 1800's....made in England???
probably....here are some more views...

Truly a treasure! Highly prized! Lucky me!

What is your favorite color for this month? What do you highly prize??? ...being in the pink of health?? ;-)

Here is the February newsletter from Tasha Tudor's family!

This watercolor of a shelf of pink lusterware teacups comes from "The Tasha Tudor Cookbook", page 94....now I will definitely have to do a watercolor!

Today, on the church calendar, is the feast of Epiphany. Also called "little Christmas". It is the 12th day of Christmas! Tomorrow, I will pack away all the decorations. But today gives me one last chance to enjoy some favorites!

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This new year brings new journaling pages. I know of 2 free art journaling classes on line, both just starting!
Strathmore is offering a Visual Journaling workshop. Lesson one, we photocopy some of our own art work and use it for a journal page.....fun! Just getting warmed up here! [ I find I journal less now that I am blogging! LOL!]

The Sketchbook Challenge is sponsored by a number of mixed media artists. The first prompt for it is "Highly Prized". Here is my cut and paste page.....

Some of it is rather trite or tongue in cheek.....not necessarily the most prized things in one's life! However, the timing for this prompt was good! I have just learned that I AM A WINNER....I was chosen by the pink transfer ware giveaway (see a mid-December post with the link) to receive tea cup "C".
The teacups would have delighted Tasha Tudor, one of my all time favorite inspiring women!

I find that I love a cup of tea in the cold winter months.....here is Tasha having a tea party!

Here is the cup which will be arriving at my front door soon! I wish you could all come and have tea with me and Tasha!!!!

Glittery sparling fruit ornaments from ETSY, GypsyDreamz shop.......I just had to have the pear and the pomegranate!

KNITTING UPDATE:
I bought the pattern for this sweater last year. Yesterday I found some bulky cream colored yarn and have started knitting. It is worked from the top down on circular knitting needles.
I think it will work up quickly and be fun to wear!

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In my e-mail this morning was a notice of a giveaway at the Rookery Ramblings blog. Six lucky winners wll receive one of the antique pink lusterware tea cups in the photo. This is blog written by some of Tasha Tudor's family and is wonderful to visit, even without the giveaway!

I first posted this recipe in December 2006.

It is worth doing again, it is one of our family Christmas traditions.

Tasha Tudor Christmas Sugar Cookies
1 pound of (real) butter
2 eggs
5 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
a pinch of salt
1 T. vanilla
1 t. baking soda dissolved in 3 T. milk


Put all ingredients in a bowl and mix until a smooth dough is formed. Form into a ball, dust with flour and chill thoroughly before using.Then break into conveniently sized pieces, adding a bit more flour as needed. Roll out to a scant 1/4 " thickness...or as thin as possible. Dust with granulated sugar and nutmeg and cut into shapes. Bake until light brown in a 350 degree oven (about 12 minutes). This recipe makes 5 or 6 dozen cookies. Cookies may be made in advance and stored in an airtight container.

[The wonderful artist, Tasha Tudor, passed away on June 18th this year, but her life will not be quickly forgotten!]
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I am planning to make this dough tomorrow and have it ready to make the cookies.
Mr. Pear and son Andrew should arrive late tomorrow, followed by daughter-in-law Mary on Tuesday. As the house fills up, it will be fun to do some baking together!
I also plan to make some no-bake orange coconut balls.

ORANGE COCONUT BALLS

Ingredients:
12 ounces vanilla wafer cookies, crushed
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1/4 cup butter, room temperature
1/2 cup orange juice concentrate, thawed
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped pecans
sifted confectioners' sugar or coconut for coating
Preparation:Combine cookie crumbs and 1 cup confectioners' sugar; blend in butter. Stir in orange juice concentrate; add vanilla and nuts. Shape mixture into balls about the size of walnuts; shake in food storage bag with sifted confectioners' sugar or coconut. Arrange orange balls in single layer on waxed paper-lined cookie sheet; store uncovered overnight in refrigerator for best flavor. Makes about 3 dozen.

I hope you have a lovely Christmas week. I'll be stopping by your blogs as time permits. [tonight I am on-line late, I'm babysitting the grandchildren and thank goodness the baby has fallen asleep. The parents are out with a party of friends in a limosine for a night on the town!]

One dream I have is to get tickets for Mr. Pear and I to take granddaughter Lilia to see the Nutcracker ballet at the Fox theater downtown. That would be fabulous!

The passing of a peaceful spirit......



Visit the memorial site here.