Tea Time Thursday #46~Books, Bees and Mint

Jim and I sit outside most mornings when we have out coffee and lately I have been watching the bees go crazy in my mint. I let most of my herbs flower, just for the bees. I have let the mint take over one area too where nothing else really likes to grow. I love to brush by the bushes and smell the mint.

This is an illustration by Wayne Anderson of the mint fairy in a book called THE MAGIC CIRCUS.
He is a British illustrator who does a lot of children's books. I love his work and need to explore his art.

I love that she has one foot on a lovely bee.

Look closely and you will see a bee on the mint flower. I tried to get a bee or two in each photo. My daisies are done in the front yard, but a few are still flowering in the back with the mint.

I have a pumpkin plant that has gone crazy and is growing up into the mint. It would be fun to get a couple pumpkins.

I spy a pumpkin under the rose bush! I will have to watch it. Maybe the fairies will protect it!

I picked ups some fun books a few weeks ago at an Estate sale. I was excited as I found some that I didn't own. The lady was a tea person as you can tell.

Years ago I read all of Jan Karon's Mitford books and just loved them all. I was sad when I had read all the books in the series. I not a strong reader but I so enjoyed them. If you have read her books, you know they are always talking about food, so she put out this cookbook. I have checked it out from the library but at $2 I decided to take it home. It's a lovely book and filled with great recipes...very enjoyable.

I decided to share her recipe from the book for CYNTHIA'S HEAVENLY TEA.....

3 Lipton family-size teabags, tags removed
2 sprigs fresh mint leaves, plus mint sprigs for garnish
1 cup granulated sugar
1 (6 oz can) frozen lemonade, thawed
2 (11 1/2 oz) cans apricot nectar
6 tsp almond extract

Place the teabags and the mint in a pottery or glass pitcher and pour in 2 cups of cold water. Bring a kettle with 3 cups water to a rolling boil. Pour the boiling water over the teabags and cover the pitcher with a small plate. Steep for 10 to 15 minutes, then remove the teabags and the mint leaves. Add the sugar and stir until dissolved. Stir in the lemonade, apricot nector, almond extract, and 3 more cups of cold water. Serve over ice and garnish with a fresh mint sprig.

Makes about 10 cups

There's still a bit of summer left to enjoy some ice tea and use your fresh mint leaves from your herb garden. I don't have Lipton tea in my house, so would probably just use a nice black tea.

Happy Tea Time Thursday!

August! Teacup Thursday #67

August has arrived....the last month of summer. Summer has been very slow in coming here in Oregon this year, but the weatherman is predicting near 100 degree temps this weekend. The garden and the flowers are loving the sunshine.  I'm featuring a lovely rose teacup for Teacup Thursday this week. I got this one at a garage sale, yes, a bargain. It's so pretty and I think it's very summery.

I love the shape of the cup and of course, I always favor the cups that have something added inside.

The design goes from bud to bigger bud to buds with a rose in full bloom on the saucer.

The teacup is made by Dover China made in England. This is the only one I own by this company.

I have been having a hard time with my roses this summer, but as you can see, this bush has taken off again and it looks pretty healthy.

Have you been enjoying the summer Olympics in London? I was invited to my sister's house to watch the opening ceremonies on their big screen TV . It was wonderful and of course my favorite part was the Queen and 007's entrance!

WIth the interest in England, London and the Olympics, I was enjoying a sweet little book that I pulled out to enjoy.

An English Cottage Year. I love the graphics and little projects and recipes that guide you through the year.

Of course I love the pages on lavender.

I took some photos of my lavender in my garden to go along with the book pictures.

Love the bee boxes and bee skeeps....

I had to sneak up on the bee but I finally got a picture!

Happy Teacup Thursday! Thanks Miss Spenser for hosting the party. I'm going to enjoy the treat my husband brought home this afternoon. This is one of the things I love about summer-berries!

Honey Bees and Herbs

I was able to work most of the day yesterday in my garden. Oh my, the weeds, the weeds. This cool summer and lack of sunshine has grown a carpet of weeds. I like to plant herbs in my flower beds and let them flower to attract the bees. I love to hear the hum while I'm working right along with the bees. Anyway, I was thinking of the bees and looked up some information about the dying of our little friends. One thing I can do is limit the pesticides and plant things, like herbs, that attract the bees. I can do this!

I found a great company Country Cottage Primitives online with tempting products and a wonderful offering of of bee skeps. This picture is from their garden! Lovely.

Oh course the book THE SECRET LIVES OF BEES popped into my head. I loved the book and enjoyed the movie.

So, happy humming bees~keep visiting my garden please!