Showing posts with label Chinese New Year. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chinese New Year. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Celebrating The Year of the Horse~ Tea On Tuesday

Welcome to Tea on Tuesdays!
Today is the start of Chinese New Year. 
~ Year of the Horse ~
I'm celebrating with friends at a local horse barn where 
we played Mah Jongg, enjoyed a cup of tea, 
and noshed on delicious Chinese bites. 

It's always a treat and an honor to 
join my talented and generous friends,
Pam and Mary, for their monthly Tea on Tuesdays.
Links to their beautiful teatimes are below my post.
Thank you, Pam and Mary!

Let me introduce you to Rhonda of Lookout Stables.
Rhonda graciously invited my dish sister friends to
set up a Chinese New Year table in her stables.

When I mentioned to my Dish Sisters, Ritz and Elizabeth, 
that I was posting for Tea on Tuesday today, they generously 
invited me to join them to horse around with dishes in a real stable.

I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth!
Meet Sir Redmac Splash, my handsome teatime partner for 
Tea on Tuesday.

So, I packed up my favorite Famille Rose 
tea service by Williams Sonoma, loaded my car, 
and off I went on country roads to join in the set up a
2026 Chinese New Year celebration.

The teapot is oh, so elegant in both form and design.

Williams Sonoma's Famille Rose collection 
celebrates centuries of Chinese porcelain tradition, 
reimagined with delicate florals and graceful motifs.

What's your pleasure?
~ Straight Tea ~ Orange Tea ~ Ginger Tea~

I also used the William Sonoma salad plates and dipping bowls 
in this year's Lunar New Year mix and match pieces for the table.
 The antique pieces of porcelain shown in the photo 
were wedding gifts when we married in 1975.

The horse is significant in Asian tradition 
as it represents hard work, bravery, and resilience.

Off to the side, we set up a game of Mah Jongg 
with Sir Splash wondering what we were doing.

Perhaps he was eyeing the fortune cookies in our bowls.


Though we play American Mah Jong, 
the game originated in China during the 1800s.
I've been playing Mah Jongg for a dozen years, 
but never have I played in a horse barn.  
What fun to play a game in this unique setting!
Tell me, do you play Mah Jong?

Mah Jongg!
It was my lucky day!

The afternoon also included a long serving table filled
with charming details and delicious treats.

Beautiful flowers highlighted with red lanterns on bamboo stalks, 
fans, oriental brushes, and a stately red horse served as the centerpiece. 

Let's zoom in on the delicate flowers.

The table featured an abundance 
of tasty Chinese food and interesting details.

A highlight was this antique Chinese Mah Jongg 
set in it's beautiful chest with drawers.  
My Dish Sister, Elizabeth, has a wonderful and varied 
collection of Mah Jong sets, both antique and new.

Table linens reflected an Asian theme.

Tasty Pot Stickers and Dumplings

Chicken Egg Rolls

Crunchy Sweet Sesame Asian Salad

Mandarin Oranges offer a sweet citrus treat!

Of course my buddy Sir Splash had 
to trot in for a closer look.

He invited his stable buddy, 
Sir Sterling to join in the celebration.

At the end of the afternoon, 
we all agreed a good time was had by all, 
Dish Sisters and the horses!

I want to thank Rhonda of Lookout Stables 
for graciously allowing us to play with 
our dishes in her horse barn.
What a generous, lovely lady!

Wishing you a prosperous year!

Remember to be kind.  
Give a hug to those that need it!

Enjoy Pam and Mary's Tea On Tuesday 

Pam @ Everyday Living


Mary @ Home Is Where the Boat Is

A look back at previous Chinese New Year Posts

Year of the Horse ~ 2014 ~ Here

Year of the Tiger 2010 
E is For Envelopes of Red and More ~ Here

The Year of the Rabbit 2011 ~ Here

Celebrating With the Dragons 
Year of the Dragons ~ 2012 ~ Here

Year of the Rooster 2013 ~ Here

Year of the Sheep, Goat, Ram ~ 2015 ~ Here

Year of the Monkey ~ 2016 ~ Here

Gung Hay Fat Choy
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Tuesday, February 2, 2016

February ~ 2016




Iconic Fork Sculpture at Local Austin Restaurant


F e b r u a r y

Original by Patience Brewster, Patience Brewster Inc.
Used With Permission

How can it be that we've 

 turned the calendar to a new month?

 February 2 ~ Groundhog Day

 Punxsutawney Phil and other famous groundhogs

 around did not see their shadows this morning.

 According to legend, 

 "There is no shadow to be cast; an early spring is forecast!"




Detail of Vintage Ball Gown of San Antonio, TX Fiesta Queen

February 8 ~ Chinese New Year 2016

 Chinese New Year or Spring Festival is one of the

 most important celebrations for the Chinese.

 2016 ~ Year of the Monkey


Contemporary Mask

February 9, 2016 ~ Mardi Gras

 Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday.

Wearing a mask and costume is common for celebrating

 Mardi Gras along with parades and lots of merry making!




Victorian Valentine ~ Private Collection

February 14, 2016 ~ Valentine's Day

 Saint Valentine's Day has evolved through the years

 to be associated with romantic love and gifts of

 valentine cards, chocolate, flowers, or some romantic item.




Alice's Key, 2011 by Beth Fisher, Gypsy Fish Studio


The "chef" holds the key to my heart

 and surprises me with gifts in his own time.

 He is a romantic who doesn't believe in contrived holidays.




Star Quilt, c1880 ~ Uncle Sam Doll by Saundra Slagle


February 15, 2016 ~ Presidents' Day

 Presidents' Day is a US federal holiday 

 held on the third Monday of February

 to honor the Presidents of the United States.



Porcelain Heart Boxes ~ Gifts From The Chef

That about sums it 

 up for the month ahead.




Red Geraniums ~  Nice, France

I'd like to give a shoutout to my blogging friend,

 Jenna @ The Painted Apron.
She commented on my January post that she had enjoyed 

my Alphabet Series and asked if I 

planned to do a monthly themed series.




Antique Cooper Pudding Moulds and Mary Engelbreit Tin, c1983

Great idea, Genna!

Look for future monthly posts dedicated to each specific month.

Also a special thank you to Patience Brewster for allowing 

 me to use the photo of her wonderful painting for Groundhog Day.

 Visit Patience Brewster, Inc HERE for gifts for your valentine.
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Monday, March 2, 2015

Sheep, Goat , Ram ~ Lion or Lamb






Country French Ceramic Sheep

 The  New Lunar Year  began

February 19, 2015 and goes through  February 7, 2016.





2015

 Is it the Year of 

 the Sheep or Goat or Ram?

Chalkware Sheep ~ Desvres Goat ~ Wisteria Vintage Urn


The Chinese character Yang can be translated

 to mean goat, sheep, or ram in English.




Antique Toy ~ Boerne Antique Show


Sheep are considered auspicious animals.

 Those born in the Year of the Sheep

 are kind, trusting, helpful, and peace loving.


Detail of Trenton Road Farmyard, Gail Packer

The Legend of the Chinese Horoscope
Reprinted from china-family-adventure.com with permission

"The origins of the Chinese Zodiac go back a few thousand years.  According to the myths, a long time ago, Buddha decided to call all the animals on earth.  Only twelve came: the Rat, the Ox, the Tiger, the Rabbit, the Dragon, the Snake, the Horse, the Goat or Sheep, the Monkey, the Rooster, the Dog, and the Pig.  


Quimper Spill Vase with Breton Crest

In recompense, Buddha assigned each of animals a year on the cycle affirming that children born in that year would acquire the personality traits of the animal assigned to that year.  



Antique Sheep ~ Boerne Antique Show

In order to decide their order in the Chinese Zodiac cycle, the animals held a very exciting race.  The first one to cross the river would be granted the first year, the second to come in would be the second animal in the cycle, and so on.



Detail of Transfer War ~ Nancy's Daily Dish

The strong, hardworking Ox was in the lead.  Suddenly, the clever Rat, jumped on the Ox's back, he did not even feel the little thing getting a free ride.  At the last second before reaching shore, the Rat jumped on land, winning the race!  The Ox came in second, the Tiger third, and so it went . . . the happy-go-lucky Pig took his time and came in last . . . and the Chinese Zodiac and its twelve signs were born.



Detail of Wood Wall Art Print,  JB Brunley

Born in the Year of the Sheep

Those born in the Year of the Sheep are kind, tender, and sympathetic.  Sheep are creative and elegant, and because of their softer side, they are symbolic of peace and harmony.  Empathy comes naturally to sheep; their happiness is derived from other people's happiness.  They avoid confrontation, are good-hearted, and will always look after everyone else first.  




Concrete Lamb in Burlap Wreath ~ Boerne Antique Show

A steady path, generosity, and keeping the peace are this year's mantra."



The primrose, one of the few things 

blooming in my winter garden

is a lucky flower for those born in the

Year of the Sheep or Goat.


Lucky numbers are 3, 4, 9.

 Lucky colors are green, red, and purple.




Glided Dapper Animal Plates, westelm.com

When I spotted these adorable plates on the

West Elm website, I dashed off to our local store.

 Based on paintings of real animals by artist Rachel Kozlowski, 

 then dressed to impress with gilded adornments, 

 these plates are the perfect touch

 of whimsy for a celebration.




Glided Dapper Animal Plates, westelm.com


As luck would have it, 

 I was too late for a complete set, 

but I did come home with the 

gentlemen owl and ram.





The dapper Ram was my inspiration to celebrate 

Chinese New Year or Spring Festival.





Just a simple tray waiting for

Chinese take-out for tonight's dinner.





Chopsticks at the ready.

I've ordered a very auspicious goat dish.

  San Yang Kai Tai  ~  Three Goats Bring Wealth





Everyone knows Chinese food

comes with a fortune cookie,

but I'll have a white chocolate lamb for dessert.





I'll leave the fortunes to these sticks ~

Chien Tung, Chinese Fortune Sticks.





It's still a damp, cold day here.

I thought this special winter candle 

would add warmth to our meal.





It's made to look as if it were

woven of fine wool.

Johanna @ Silber and Rosen 

 sent it to me as a gift.

Isn't it charming?





I placed a golden sheep on my desk.

I'm hopeful the peaceful critter will bring 

good luck to my Mah Jongg game.




Punkin's Patch, photos used with permission

"Sheep are wonderful reminders to us to slow down 
and enjoy the warm sun on our faces, 
meadow flowers in bloom, 
and soft cushions of green under our feet."

 If you want to visit a real sheep farm, stop by 

 Punkin's Patch where you'll find a variety of

 these darling creatures at Equinox Farm in Kentucky.


Punkin's Patch, photo used with permission

 Meet Mira. 

 You can read more about her here.
March comes in like a lion,

 and goes out as a lamb.

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