Tea and a decor tidbit

Just a picture of tea had this past weekend.  The teacup is one of two I purchased back in 2005 and I get it out in February every year.   The only reason you don't see an Old Country Roses sugar bowl is that it's handle was being glued back on.  Bit of story with that.   In 1986 I bought a set of 4 dishes including rimmed soup bowls and I have kept them and used them and not broken a single one (or even chipped one) in the 26 years I have had them.
I also bought, back then, a teapot, creamer and sugar.  It took me some time to pay for it all too!   But the tea set was (while I was not home) bounced off of a bookshelf where it sat by the loud music of an ex-husband.   He was very contrite to be fair but it chipped the pot and broke the handle and lid of the sugar bowl which I have been regluing on ever since.   The creamer was undamaged.   The teapot lasted another 12 years but the crack from the chip slowly went down the side and finally it was done for.
One day while in Ayres buying a coffee carafe I saw this nice round version of an Old Country Roses teapot and that was it - I had to have it and so I bought it.   I am very, very happy with it and hope it will last the rest of my life. 

The decor tidbit is this.  I FINALLY got finials for the valance rod and tiebacks put up.   I mad the valance pole back in 1999 but I couldn't find just the right size, shape, color of finials until now.   It completes the look and also eliminates the danger of the pole sliding out when you move the ringed curtains back and forth as we do every day.
The tie back I have had but just hadn't gotten round to the bother of putting them up, measuring and all that.   But they too FINISH the look and make me very happy!