Jill's and My Gift of Time Day...

Yesterday was the day my sister Jill and I had reservations at our favorite tearoom in Salt Lake City for afternoon tea, following a day of browsing through antiques shops... I took some time off of blogging, to give myself the gift of time as well... time to bake, make candy, wrap presents... all of the last minute things we all do just before Christmas... this has honestly been one of the nicest years I have ever spent on these precious days before the big day... I slowed down... which is hard for me... I am always going at warp speed, so many things I love to do, I don't want to waste a single moment in a day... but this week... my pace slowed down some... and it felt so good!... all of my cards were mailed in time... out of town packages mailed on time... little gifts to neighbors all delivered... everything ready to prepare for our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinners... so, I decided to do one more Christmasy post, as after Christmas my thoughts turn to Spring...(yes, I love Christmas, but I don't like winter or cold)... it was an absolutely perfect day yesterday, in all ways... here are Jill and I at my home getting ready to leave for our day together... we both wore the pretty watch pendants I made for us out of our mama's vintage watches... I know our mama is always close by, watching over us from above... I am certain she was there with us as well yesterday...

We had planned on browsing Antique Row in Salt Lake City... a couple of blocks in downtown Salt Lake that is all antiques shops... but the bitter temperatures made us change our mind, so we headed to our favorite inside antiques mall in Salt Lake City...

The crazy look in my eyes is probably me wondering what Jack would say if I brought this gorgeous candelabra style lamp home... I absolutely loved it, and the price was right... but I was not sure if I was ready for that "where is THAT going" look in Jack's eyes when I got home... perhaps I shall go back for it and sneak it in my crafts room... then one day, it will suddenly appear upstairs... tee hee hee...

You know moi and vintage Christmas!... I am literally a kid in a candy store about it!... and there was sooo much, I was in vintage Christmas heaven...

So many tresors brought back so many happy childhood memories for Jill and I... we each remembered so many of these items... many we still have, some we do not... I just wanted to tell the lady to bag it all up and charge it to me! (but I refrained)...




The angels all sang out to me... so lovely... so teeny and sweet, I wanted them all... Jill and I each picked out several small gifts for each other, as planned... and headed to our reservation at the tearoom at 2 o'clock... we could have spent hours... no, days, in the antiques mall... I am going back very soon!...

Tea could not have been more perfect in every way...

The gorgeous tearoom is in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City, and I found a parking spot right across the street... the entire tearoom is decorated in exquisite antiques and vintage style...

Tea was served in these stunning little teacups... I bought a little gift set of teacup and saucer for Jill and I...

I chose Earl Grey tea...

Jill chose white wine...

Isn't it beautiful!...

Tea sandwiches and scones... plenty of yummy jam for the warm scones...

A pretty centerpiece of a flowering tea... the little tea flower was placed in the glass, then hot water poured over it, and as we sipped tea and ate our sandwiches, the little flower slowly opened before our eyes... so pretty!...

Blackberries with whipped cream and chocolate petit fours for dessert... Yummers!...

We hated to leave, and promised each other we would come back soon... we had the cutest little waitress who made our time together so much fun!... we giggled and laughed and enjoyed being together so much... we have always been inseparable... we still are, and we felt like little girls again...

Jill bought me this adorable little vintage angel and these two precious vintage bottlebrush wreaths at the antiques mall... we each have a gift to wrap and give each other on Christmas Day...

Thank you Jill... I have not laughed so much in years and it really did seem like we were little girls once more... excited over everything... having fun just being together... there is no greater gift we could have given each other than the day spent together... I love you my little sister!...

As I was out with Tessy in the early morning hours today, I took this photo from our porch, looking in through the little panes in our window at our Nature tree in the living room... the little lights twinkled and sparkled so behind our sheer lace curtains.... I love how they they seem to say "come inside"... I love my home... it is warm and cosy... the smell of cinnamon bread and peppermint tea is in the air... this is where my memories come to life and my dreams begin... my safe haven... my darling Jack... our 34th Christmas together... our first Christmas with our precious Tessy... she is sooo excited!... she and I dressed up in our faux leopard jackets and took yummy treats to her doggie doctor and his technicians... a cash donation and lots of toys for kitties and doggies in his no~kill shelter... Tessy asked if we can put out a plate of ham and Cheez~its for Santa Dog on Christmas Eve... (Tessy's favorites!)... yes, Tessy and I talk all the time... All of God's precious little creatures need to know the joys of Christmas too... our birdfeeders are filled for our feathered friends, and apples and peanuts and cracked corn are put out for the deer and other critters who call our home theirs as well... time spent this week just exactly how I wanted to... with those I love... and now, our time will be spent reflecting on the reason for the season... the birth of our Saviour... thank you dear blogging friends for giving me the gift of your time as well each time you visit Idyllhours... I wish you all a most beautiful and blessed Christmas... xoxo...