Tea On Tuesday

 

“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.”
– C.S. Lewis

“Sometimes all you need is a good cup of Tea”
– Unknown

“If you are cold, tea will warm you;
if you are too heated, it will cool you;
If you are depressed, it will cheer you;
If you are excited, it will calm you.”
– William Ewart Gladstone

“Rainy days should be spent at home with a cup of tea and a good book.”
– Bill Watterson

Here is my go to recipe for scones.

Sweet Scones

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 Tablespoon baking powder

8 Tablespoons (1 stick) cold butter, cut up

1/3 cup sugar

2/3 cup milk

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Mix flour and baking powder in a large bowl. Mix well. Add butter and cut in with a pastry blender or rub with fingers until looks like fine granules. Add sugar - toss to mix. Add milk and stir with a fork until soft dough forms. Turn out onto a lightly floured board - knead about 10-12 times. Roll out 1/2 inch thick; cut with a round cutter. (I use a small canning jar) Bake on ungreased cookie sheet 12 minutes until brown. Cool on a wire rack.

I hope you enjoyed these tea quotes and if you make the scones, let me know!

Tea On Tuesday

 I promised to show you the two new tea cups I got on at the antique mall I went to on Saturday, and that's just what I'm going to do.

The first is a gorgeous Royal Doulton cup. The marking doesn't have a pattern name though it has other markings. I've never seen this pattern before, have any of you?

The second tea cup is an elegant shape and is unique in that it has black in it's design.

The pattern on this Old Royal cup is clearly marked. I think it's interesting that the inside of the cup and the saucer design are exactly the same.

Remember that January is Hot Tea Month and I hope you enjoy a cuppa today!

Tea on Tuesday

 I hosted a tea yesterday afternoon, for my mom, my friend Jennifer, and her mil and my friend Ruth.

I didn't get a photo of the table before we started but I made mini quiche, and homemade scones. We had shortbread cookies, and I made cream for the scones, and I used the lemon curd I purchased at Trader Joe's.

It was lovely.

As you can see, Jennifer's son and Kyle were playing Mario Kart in the living room. They did well to not be loud! LOL!

I used four small tea pots so we each had our own, and I also used some Johnson Brothers Old English Castles dishes. 

I played instrumental Christmas music in the background. After tea we sat in the living room (the boys went outside), and we visited. Our friend Denny, who knows our friends as well, arrived and we all had a good visit.

I've been wanting to do a Christmas tea for a few years and yesterday I finally did it!

I'm grateful for Kyle's help with finishing the Christmas decor, and taking the leaves out of the table, etc. He's a great young man.

Today, I'm going to hang the stockings, do school with the kids, and work on dehydrating orange slices.

Tea On Tuesday

 When I hosted Cheryl, Bekah, and Maddie last week I mentioned that we went to tea. I thought I'd show you a few photos.

Cheryl and I have been friends for about 10 years. I found her blog on The Nester's 31 days of posting blog party and she was posting about hospitality, I think. What she wrote about was my heart too, so we became good friends.

As with all my friends, we are not clones in our thinking, but we are kindred spirits. She and her sweet family are dear to me.

The tea tray. 

The Tea Trolley have fantastic scones, and I often take desserts home to my guys, but I never pass up a hot scone. I did eat a lemon bar.

The sandwiches were cheddar and chutney, ham with a citrus spread and traditional cucumber. All were delicious.

Cheryl and the girls were headed home after tea, by way of petting some goats, so they let me take all the leftovers home! My guys were happy about that!

There is something special about gathering for tea. It makes for fun afternoon conversation, a nice way to have lunch, and is a bonding experience.

I'm thinking of having tea parties for small groups of women. I need the social interaction, and its a lovely way to spend an afternoon.

Tea On Tuesday

 I don't know if anyone out here in blogland still does Tea on Tuesday, I don't every week, but I sure do like it. Today I have five new to me tea cups to share, and a beautiful tea cozy!

These tea cups are all from my friend Jane. She's been downsizing her possessions, and since she doesn't use these and her kids have said "no" to these, I happily said "yes!" 

All made in England.

They are all charming in design and style. Thank you, Jane!

A few months back, someone, maybe Lorrie (?) or Brenda(?), shared that their cousin had moved from Canada to England and has a business called Bring Back Tea Time. I checked out her social media and she was having a give away for signing up for her newsletter. I signed up, because I always like to read about tea and tea related things, and I won a tea cozy!

It's a Spode Blue Italian pattern. It's beautifully made and just right for my blue and white tea things!

With spring here, I am feeling a tea gathering with friends coming on!

Here is the lovely note that accompanied my cozy.

You can find Teresa at her website {here}, and on FB {here}.

I hope you'll give her a visit and enjoy her lovely tea wares!

Tea On Tuesday

 A treasure (to me) from my mil's home, that I forgot to mention yesterday, is this darling tea pot.

For scale, here it is on my hand. I don't think I'll ever use it, but as tea lover and collector of tea cups and tea pots, it's a treasure to have. 

There are no markings on the pot to show who the manufacturer was. I like the detail of the fabric, the sewing shears and tape measure, and of course the threads!

I have to find a spot where I can showcase her. Maybe on my shelf over the staircase. Hmmm...

When I sorted out my tea hutch on Saturday, I made a box of goodies for a friend. I've been given many tea cups over the years, and I decided that some would find a new home. Her young daughter is going to be thrilled!

After working to empty my mil's home, I want to think smart about the 'stuff' I own. If I use it, then of course I'll keep it. And if it has sentimental value to me. But if it isn't being used, and not an heirloom, I want to be able to pass things along to others who can and will use them.

Right now is not the time to do this, while we are packed into smaller quarters, personal space wise. However, it may actually help me to let go of items I don't use. 

But back to Tea, let me show you my teach hutch before I rearranged it.

Yeah. Packed full, with the saucers stacked high in the corners. This is a photo from a few years ago, and I know that I have added tea things since this photo was taken.

Here it is now.

I removed many of the extra things I had in this china hutch, like my Waterford crystal bowl, and some plates. I took out Rachel's tea cups.

The top shelf has my extra large tea cups and some of my unique tea cups.

Like this one.

The middle shelf has all of my Royal Albert tea cups, and the bottom shelf has all of the other tea cups. So many lovely cups. Almost all bought at antique or thrift shops. Some gifted to me. I love to think of all the ladies who have sipped tea from these cups over the years.

I'm feeling the urge to host a tea party soon. I can feel it welling up inside of me. Maybe I'll throw a party in honor of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, or just a "come for tea and conversation" party. 

Canada is heavy on my heart this morning. I'm continuing to pray. God be with her people.

Tea On Tuesday

 I found some lovely tea things on Saturday. They are unique and have started me on a new collection.

I showed you this sneak peek yesterday. Here are more of the details. 

I found the one with the eagle first, and I put it in my cart right away. It's unique, and I loved the branches and stars, too.  At a different booth I found the one with the ship! Same manufacturer, of course, and same series "Heritage." 

I haven't had time to research them to see what this series or collection of tea cups had for designs. Also interesting is an American Heritage series made by an English china company!

What are some interesting tea cup patterns you've seen or own?

Tea On Tuesday (and some thoughts)

 

This is one of my favorite tea sets. A mini blue and white that I found in a gift shop in California about 4 years ago.  I keep it in my china cupboard with all my other tea things.

Tomorrow we may take Sarah's roommate to tea. My favorite tea room is only open Wednesdays through Saturdays.  We have plans for Thursday already, so it just might be tomorrow for tea.

If you are not interested in a bit of political news, you may move on, and thank you for reading about my tea set and plans for tea!

If you are interested, I'll share this tidbit.

Tim has read a book called The Deep Rig by Patrick M. Byrne, about the election and how it was stolen. More frustratingly, how so many 'establishment' Republicans were just following establishment ideas.

Patrick, General Mike Flynn, and Sidney Powell met with the President and showed how they could easily proof the fraud, etc, but those establishment guys fought against them. It's all frustrating.  

Anyway, I have a few ideas about this (I've always believed there was a bigger plan underway and I'd be happy to talk about some of that if you want to hear it), but for Tim, well he felt it was all over.

He follows Patrick M. Byrne on Telegram, and I now do, too. Last night I saw this post by him.

He and Sidney, and others have been working together, with others and Sidney has said that they would be able to share it all in about 2 weeks. That is why Patrick mentions 2 weeks here. 

This post, along with some other things I've been reading and observing from November 3rd on, make me very hopeful and I'm praying bolder prayers.

I also have been being reminded by the Lord, that my complete trust must be in him and not in men. However, as we see in the word, God works through mankind. Humans are imperfect, everyone of us.

This week of Easter reminds us of that fact. Because of our sin, God gave us the perfect sacrifice of His Son. But he didn't stay dead, he rose again to new life. So thankful!

I hope you feel encouraged, friends. Keep praying.

ps - if you are the UNKNOWN commenter that fills my inbox with garbage about Trump. Don't bother to comment. I won't post it. 

Tea On Tuesday

 

I have been wanting to host a tea for friends, and have been putting it off due to cov*d. With numbers miraculously dropping (due to a change in how the test is run), and some spring like temperatures,  I am thinking that I can plan a small tea to host at my home.

I think I've mentioned that the chickens are going to live at Lindsay's house now and they are moving Saturday morning. Tim says that he is going pressure wash the driveway, and the concrete pad of the dog/chicken run.  The fencing is down already, and at Lindsay's so it can be set up there when they move the chickens and the coop. 

I have plans to use the concrete pad for an outdoor sitting area. I'd love to have a she shed type space at one end (don't know if that will ever happen), and I am planning an outdoor fire ring and seating at the other end.  I'll do potted plants, and Tim has mentioned a pergola.  This is the ideal entertaining space.

So back to the tea, I'd love to have tea sandwiches, quiche, scones, and some desserts.  I'll have a variety of teas, and I have lots of teapots and tea cups. 

I miss gathering with friends and having conversation. 

"No matter what is happening in your life, you always offer tea."  Clementine Wamariya

I don't know all of the states or countries you live in. All have different rules, but our state does allow dine in seating for restaurants, and I have been to my favorite tea shop a time or two this last year, so I know that it would be fine to have friends gather at my home. I just wanted to put that out there to quell any concerns.

 

Tea on Tuesday

 

One of my girls gave me this beautiful china mug a few years ago. Usually if I drink hot tea in the morning, or hot chocolate at night, I use this mug.  I don't allow people to use it for coffee, because I don't want the mug to get a coffee taste to it.  I have plenty of other nice coffee mugs they can use!

Do you drink tea?

My favorites are Irish Breakfast, Yorkshire Gold, Lyon's, Barry's. I like chai, and really like a chai latte. I like Paris tea by Harney and Sons, I like a London Fog, which is made with Earl Grey. I love Chamomile. My tastes keep growing and I've even had a few green teas, that I enjoyed. 

I really like this quote by Chaim Potok - 

" Come, let us have some tea, and continue to talk of happy things."

Tea On Tuesday

 

I've been out of the habit of posting tea related posts on Tuesdays, but I hope to change that.  Some of the best times I've had have been over a cup of tea, whether at a tea shop, a tea party I've hosted, or just drinking a cuppa while my husband read in the evenings to our family. (We read through several good book series together which was fun!)

I've thought that I could do a tea related post and we could chat together in the comments. Wouldn't that be fun?