A Spot of Tea

It was just time to look at something pretty and springy and happy! I decided to have a little spot of tea but wanted to use some of my pretty tea things.

I love pink roses and this little bowl has been begging to be used.

Years ago, two of my sweet tea friends and I went to tea. When we were finished, we were browsing the gift shoppe. We all fell in love with the tea for one sets. Each of us bought one to remember our day together. I had to pick the pink rose one!

Here's my little tea, just for me today. How I miss sitting and chatting with my tea ladies! I had some fresh fruit and just a black tea with milk. Perfect. I love using my little strawberry forks for fruit. I bought back this one from MA years ago.

It was fun to reread this tea book and made me think of all my tea friends....oh, yes....Let's Have Tea Together. Maybe someday. 

Tea Time Tuesday # 168...Another Day With Ava

Ava was over today, so I didn't have time for tea. One of my Tasha Tudor friends was asking to see some of our tea cozies. I was working down in my sewing cottage with Ava, so I was looking at some of my ME tea things. I love this book. It's really just so charming. I never tire of it.

A great Jane Austen quote with a wonderful illustration by Mary Engelbriet.

Summer means more time babysitting for Grandma Linda. I had Ava today and Otto tomorrow. I love being a grandmother, but I sure get tired out.

This is my tea cozy that I made years ago. It's my favorite pattern for a homemade tea cozy.
I have made many of these but I have given most away as gifts.

This is my funny tea cozy. She is more like a doll. Her head is painted on a large wooden bead like object. She makes me smile.

 
When Ava arrived this morning, I decided to make stamp shortbread cookies with her. It fun to watch her in the kitchen. She enjoys it and even knows how to clean up.

Ready for the oven!

They turned out great and they are so good with tea. They are almond flavored.

I also wanted to start teaching Ava to sew on the machine. She has done a bit of handwork. Her other grandma sews, but Ava wasn't to interested to do it with her. I made a big deal about her doing so well and we made a simple pillowcase. It's a beginning. She was really proud of it.
Soo

Tea Time Thursday #164

I have been so very busy. We have been getting ready for the all city garage sale at Clark County Fairgrounds and we are pretty much out of another storage unit. We will only have one left and we still need that one. I took another trunkful of things to the donation center this morning after I had my blood test at the lab. I wasn't going to go into the Goodwill, however, there was a UHaul truck at the drop off and I couldn't get in. So I decided to go into the store for a few minutes. I found this beautiful Foley cup and saucer. I am trying not to buy things, but this cup was soooo pretty and it just looks like summer.

The design around the center of the saucer is just so different and the circle of flowers is just charming. Of course, it has the green handle and that always does it to me!

I took a quick look at this tea book from my collection. I love it because it's all about small bites.

My friend Angelia sent this tea to me a few weeks ago with a lovely box of treats. I just love Rooibos Red Tea. I don't know how she knew, but it's a favorite.

I so enjoyed a tiny break for a cup of tea. The weather has been so delightful...just in the 70's....cool enough to enjoy a hot cup of tea this afternoon. 

Tea Time Tuesday #156

Happy Tea Time Tuesday! It's been quite a week and I didn't get back to my blog after last week's tea post. Our daughter Gina needed some help up in Everett WA and we had to make a trip up north. It's been an emotional week but I am hoping that things will get better.

So, here we are back at Tea Time Tuesday. I took a little break and thought it would be fun to use a couple of my pretty pink older tea cups.

It's still wet and dull outside and pretty grey. I have to rely on silk flowers for now. I have been thinking about my flower beds and looking at garden plans lately. I have to hold off here until May to plant...especially this year. It's just wet the poor little plants will just rot. That's happened to me in the past when I get too over anxious about gardening!

I was really craving sweets today, but I have to be good...sigh. So I decided to have some strawberry chocolate tea. It is yummy and sweet. It's not a good tea if you are having dessert but nice if you just want to enjoy a cuppa.

The cups are old fashion...this one was made in Germany.

This one is marked Austrian.

I enjoyed reading through this tea booklet that I have had for several years....Tea with the Bennets. It is delightful. The author is British and adds so much charm to the recipes. Enjoy a few examples here.

I need to get to bed early tonight. It's spring vacation and I will have to watch Ava and Otto tomorrow. I have some crafts and a fun cupcake idea lined up. Both kids just pull on Grandma Linda and there's six years between them. I have to find things that both of them can do. 

Tea Time Tuesday #129

It's almost 9:30 PM and the snow is piling up tonight, even with the East wind blowing! The weather man didn't think we would get this much...surprise! This has really been a winter for us. I don't even know if we had a hard freeze last winter. My teacher sisters just got word that school is closed again tomorrow. This makes day 6 of their snow days used up, so they will have to make it up in June at the end of the school year. I don't think they really care. My daughter Angie works for one of the school districts and she will be home tomorrow too. No Grandma and Papa day with Otto tomorrow.

This photo is out my front door. The walk way is covered after the ice finally melted off today. There is still ice under the snow from our weekend storm. I live in East Multnomah county and we are always the last to thaw out! Jimmy had to drive me to my Dr appointment yesterday as there was so much ice. I don't like the ice!

I stopped to have a little cup of tea and a snack this afternoon after I got my Etsy orders packed up. I found this mug and little plate at a flea market last summer. It's made by Johnson Brothers. I love collecting Johnson Brothers dinnerware, but this is a pattern I have never seen.

 I love the colors and the scene is lovely. The blues are so pretty. I'm not sure where the town would be, but it does look like a European village to me.

I always love a little design inside the cup or mug.

The pattern is called Dream Town. Maybe it isn't really a town at all...just an imaginary one.

I had a great check up with my doctor and didn't gain any weight over the holiday. I did enjoy a few sweets but now it's time to get back to my healthy eating. I decided to have some yummy yogurt with my tea. I love yogurt so it's a treat for me.

I decided to enjoy one of my tea time books while I was taking my break. I have had this book for years and I really enjoy it. It is composed of 13 little visits and recipes from ladies in England. Each story is very different and it's fun to read about their lives.

On of the ladies in her home.

One of the recipes...yum yum yummy.

These next few photos are of our ice storm just last Saturday,Sunday and into Monday morning.

The street is a sheet of ice and ice was beginning to coat everything when I took this photo.

We also had very strong East winds before the ice storm. During the night, it blew our BBQ away from the house and over on it's side. Yes, it is ruined.

I have spent so many days at home this past December and so far in January. I am all decorated for Valentine's Day and have been using the time to read and rest. I hope to do a little hand work on a kit that a friend sent to me. I am longing to get back to my more creative projects...it's been a long 5 months of doctoring and labs and appointments. I have 4 more this month. I am thankful that I am doing well. My doctor said my coloring was great and I was looking so much better. That made me feel good to hear that from my doctor.

Well, I wonder how much more snow we will have in the morning? It's really pretty. 

Tea Time Thursday #75

Pansies! Can you ever get enough pansies? I have always loved them and I always seem to buy a few more every year. I love the color of this variety I got a few weeks ago.

Welcome to Tea Time Thursday. I do look forward to this post each week. I try to share something tea related every Thursday. As we get ready for Mother's Day this weekend, I thought it would be fun to do a pansy blog.

This is another recent find! The color of the cup is really a cobalt blue. It looks more black in the photo but it is quite a lovely deep blue. I love all the pansies surrounding the saucer and the little bouquet inside the cup.

The teacup is bone china, made in England~a Crown Staffordshire. English. You have to love the English teacups. I wonder how many different patterns there are? Amazing!

This tea book was given to me in 2005 for my birthday by my dear friend Ann. It's a sweet collection of delightful tea stories and recipes. I enjoyed reading through it again and of course, my mind drifted to all the teas I have had with my friend. Ann has finally retired so I am looking forward to more teas!

I love vintage postcards and I think this one is so pretty. It is post marked 1910 and has a penny stamp on the back side. Pansies for thoughts......

I also love to collect vintage calling cards. I just added a few lovely ones to my collection and this is one! Lots of pansies. I think I need to do a post on my calling cards soon.

Here's a little poem to enjoy from the tea book by John Milton....

On May Morning

Hail, Bounteous May! That does inspire
Mirth, and youth, and warm desire;
Woods and groves are of thy dressing;
Hill and dale doth boast they blessing.

Thus we salute thee with our early song,
And welcome thee, and wish thee long.