" A TEACUP READING "

I've been pondering Spring for months and now as the crocus' and tulips bloom I am reminded of the rejuvenating beauty of nature and life.

The past two weeks have been an intense time for thankfulness and prayers as my son struggles to recuperate from an unknown malady.  Internet time has been sparse. My teatime had fluttered into the hospital ambience of a paper cup filled with prayers.

In April, I chose this rippled teacup for my weekly blog, then abruptly left everything for a flight to Australia, to attend to my son. Sorry for the lack of communications ...                                                                 unfortunately ... 
                            time did not allow for teatime.

It seems that the ebbs and ever-changing ripples that surround this cup are relating a riveting story that has currently journeyed into a dignified place," Smack ' into the centre of the saucer like a " Family Gathering ".

I  am taking that as a symbol of " stability " for my son, Garrett, who is now home from the hospital.

I remember that this tea set was a query to me, as I vacillated back and forth while choosing it. At first, I thought that it was too white. Later, I concluded that it was too plain, even though it had all those plaited layers moving around the china.

Now I understand that these rippled layers might be quite significant in the way we move through life's unexpected corridors.

  There are lots of bumps along the way!!!

Artisan's put their heart and soul into their creative endeavours. Often while sipping our tea and admiring the porcelain, we forget that these lovely vessels have been created by a talented and sometimes, forgotten artisan. Is it possible that we are taking our tea sets for granted?

This particular design is smitten with what I think are lupines. It is very ethereal and pretty... Of course, my imagination reads six journeys according to the six corners and shape of the saucer. 

( Ha Ha) ... A creative mind is always searching out of the box into unknown realms, like an alchemist looking for gold.

My Irish Granny used to read tea leaves and sometimes my mind defaults to her folklore ways.

For instance, in the round saucer edges, I foresee, like a tea reader, that there is a connection and a resolution to each of these six journeys. The folklore of Japan says that the journeys would pertain to the owner of the china...That's me !!! and perhaps my family members.

So the next time you look at your cups and saucers, remember that there may be a 

"fortune telling"

in your tea set pattern. ( hee hee)

Have you looked into your tea cupboard lately? I bet you would find that you have a" Foley " tea set... Take a peek... Did you find one?  Foley is a well know English pottery that has been around for quite a while ... The pieces are often very unassuming bits of china that hide in corners awaiting a grand tea party.

I found mine at the Hospital Hospice shop for the most reasonable price of $10.00 each.

They were small, dainty little girls rattling on the shelves, like impish fairies saying "pick me, pick me and me". Infact, they did everything except stand on their heads, as I came back to them three times ... Meant to be !!!

As a result ladies, we can enjoy two or more cups of tea today. 

Sounds good !!!

         As we move into the peaceful rejuvenation of Springtime
                  I am reminded of this beautiful poem.

                            " A LIGHT EXISTS IN SPRING "
                                 Written By: Emily Dickinson

                               A Light exists in Spring
                               Not present on the Year
                                At any other period-
                           When March is scarcely here.

                                 A Color stands abroad
                                    On Solidary Fields
                            That Science cannot overtake
                               But Human Nature feels.

                                  It waits upon the Lawn
                                It shows the furthest Tree
                          Upon the furthest Slope you know
                                 It almost speaks to you.

                                 Then as Horizons step
                                 Or Noons report away
                          Without the Formula of Sound
                                  It passes and we stay-

                                      A Quality of loss
                                 Affecting our Content
                       As Trade had suddenly encroached
                                     Upon a Sacrament.

                                               LADIES  ..... 
                  I was so happy to chat with you all today. 
              My teatime chats may vary a little this month.

  I am hopeful that life will resume it's normal pattern soon.


                                    " HAPPY SPRINGTIME "

"FAIRY SONG TEA"

I  dream’t of Fairies last night 

PLEASE

Come in ... Sit down 

and

Let’s enjoy a Fairy Song Tea.

I  found the prettiest cup and saucer, delightfully decorated with the “ Pitcher Plant ".

           When sipping your tea, do take the time to look 
                and see the lovely  blossoms inside the cup.
                                       ( pretty, pretty )

      It is a Royal Albert tea set, painted in my favourite
                                   black and pink colours.

I’m dreaming about the crocus.

Tea and Springtime dreaming  is a  magical time !!

My daughter brought me this divine tea from Montreal , actually, I think she forgot it( ha ha) ... because it is minus a few teabags and OMG ... it is so-o-o-o  delicious.

LUCKY ME

You can find this tea on amazon.ca, Indigo Books& Music Inc. or Tea forte.com

        I love that it’s a caffeine -free tea and so available worldwide or online.The brand name,"Tea Forte", carries a  
               delightful variety of exotic teas, including: 
       Apricot Amaretto, Blueberry Merlot, Cherry Cosmo 
                                      and a  Kiwi Lime.

 Thinking about fairies fluttering around in the garden is an enjoyable past-time. Infact, on bleak, wintry days, I can often be found creating paper fairies and designing my new Spring Fairy garden. 

NEWS ALERT
Fairies  are "frozen stiff" about the  inclement weather and the sleepy flowers. 

(z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z) 

Do you have Fairies in your garden?

or 

are they all frozen in time !

NO PROBLEM

I have it on the best authority that,  today’s variety of "garden fairies" come complete with a no nonsense attitude, wing dryers and

a weather resistant personality. 

They can weather any storm

as long as

"YOU BELIEVE”

SO drink your tea LADIES and get ready to chant out loud, like the

 "Ya Ya Sisters”

I BELIEVE in FAIRIES.

Today, we are experiencing ice rain and snow ... so  I pulled out this charming book that Hubby gave me for Easter.

The “ Fairy House” by Mike and Debbie Schramer is simply the perfect companion to perk up waning spirits. 

It contains whimsical instructions for building Fairy houses and furniture.

(available on amazon.ca)

(Joyful Joyful)

I’m just not sure where to start... 

It’s far too cold to sail away in a boat ... Isn’t it !

 You and I could hum a little fairy tune in-between chats and teatime sipping ... If we wanted to !

                                                          TRA-LA-LA

Actually, I think that we could get quite comfy on this mossy little couch. Yes, I’ll snuggle here, with a cup of tea, your sweet company...

                                                                     and 
                                   a few   
                             Fairy Cakes.

                               THANKS 
                       for joining into my 
                           Fairy Song Tea.


                                    Sharing Teatime with:
                Bernideen's Teatime, Cottage & Garden

                                       Tuesday Cuppa Tea   

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“ BLOOMING TEA "

MAKE MY DAY

TWO years ago, I lost a most cherished, fifteen year old Cactus specimen, due to an episode with frozen pipes and heating malfunction in our heritage home. Needless to say, 

 I was heart broken.

As you can see it was a massive scarlet  flowering cacti.

 How do you replace such  a  precious friend?

Luckily, my girlfriend, Renate, gifted me a one year old cutting from her Christmas Cactus.  I located the quart sized container into the southern setting of my studio cottage, in the hope that it would find contentment in this sunny location. 

It has been growing for two years now, but as always ... I am sometimes, neglectful in the watering, which funnily enough, cacti love. ( ha ha) 

Did you know that ...

Cactus are a no fuss, no muss type of plant . 

It’s honestly true !!

So, yesterday, after three weeks of neglect, I journeyed into the dining room with a watering can.

Surprise, Surprise... 

IT'S BLOOMING !!!!

YAHOO... 
Ask me if I’m excited !!!!
Look at those gorgeous blossoms.

This just made my day !!!

PLEASE do join me for  this,
  “ Blooming" celebration teatime.

I found the prettiest tea set, at the Hospice shop. It just sort of popped up and said, pick me for teatime with the ladies... 
   So I did!!!
( Ha Ha)

A person can often  find beautiful cups and saucers at the Hospice Stores, at half the price of other antique shops. There is always a vast selection of tea sets that are  reasonably priced, between five and twenty -five dollars ... depending on the manufacturer. 

I paid ten dollars for this one.

 It was a very good deal, when you consider the amount of artistry and gold filigree that is decorating this( above)  

 Queen Anne tea set.

For our, “Blooming" Teatime, I thought that the, 

"Lady Patricia”, Hammersley tea pot would be perfect.

Hammersly, is a well established firm that has been around for over a century ... The company has always  specialized in the production of richly decorated bone china. 

Over the years, it has been associated with Royal Worcester Spode Ltd (1976) and more recently, it’s trade name has been bought by "Ansley" in 1988.

                                  I love all vintage china ... 
                                                  and 
                       am really quite enamoured with the 
                                   golden rose on the  lid.

I mean, who can resist all the  gold gilding !!!! 

Don’t you Love that handle?

This teaset seems to  make you feel like  a Cinderella ...

( ha ha)

It is definitely, china that is reminiscent of another era, when women wore gorgeous tea gowns,  

lacy gloves

 and took the time to sit in their tea parlours “ gossiping" about who’s who and the latest scandal. ( Tsk Tsk)

Shall we pour the tea?

Hopefully, you will enjoy this tasty tea selection that I purchased on Prince Edward Island.

                                     

I believe  that the  “ Apricot with Flowers” tea is going to be exceptionally appropriate for this afternoon’s  gossip session ...OOPS

I mean Teatime .

       There now... Let’s sit down and relax for a few minutes  
                  You can tell me how your day has been !!!!

My hubby has just returned from Asia, so of course, he wants to eat some real food instead of rice, rice and more rice.  His request includes, rack of lamb, lemon baked potatoes and mushroom and spinach sautéed. 

Here’s the quick and Easy Recipe:

(Lemon Baked Potatoes)

6-8 new medium sized Idaho Potatoes( thin skinned)

2-3 Tbsp Olive oil or butter

4-6 Tbsp  Squeezed Lemon Juice

( add more if you wish)

Salt and Pepper 

Directions:

Drizzle olive oil in the bottom of the pan

Do not peel the potatoes

Wash and cut the potatoes in half and place face down in a pan

Pour the lemon juice around the potatoes

Add salt and pepper

Bake  at 350  for 30 minutes

H-m-m-m

That means that this CINDERELLA has to loose the gown and the jewels and don a huge apron.

( BOO HOO )

 Yes ... the glass slippers have fallen off and magically become a pair of slip-ons ... WAIT ... there’s is hope for this daydream. You can still drink your last drop of tea before the dinner bell goes off.

AND 

I’ve decided

 that we’re going to keep 

the  dresses .

 LADIES ... Stay and  have another cup of tea, 

This is our " Blooming” Teatime  daydream 

so 

 I’ll take care of Prince Charming 

and 

BE RIGHT BACK

with 

the APPLE PIE.

                                           ENJOY Your Day !!!!

                                                             

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