Frosty Morning Tea

With a  huge dip in the   temperature and snow on the way,   this morning was  crying out  for a  Frosty Morning  Tea  Breakfast for two.

 Even though  the  setting   reflected an icy morn,   with   frosty  hoary,   crystals  and   snowy fluffs   sprinkled  all about,   the  ancient  radiator  in the dining room   proved  

trustworthy!

 Lady Earl Grey in her   lovely   blue wrapping   and her  highly  delicate   flavor  suited the occasion to a "TEA"! 

source

 Served in my  latest addition,   my   Wedgewood, Countryside   china cups,,   it  was  absolutely brill!

 Delicious   homemade  cranberry   oatmeal topped with  whipped cream  is now   going to become a staple in our home....

 I   was inspired  to  create this  dainty  tasties   from my latest   Tea Time magazine...

The ones in the magazine  were  not  toasted, 

 however,  for  our   warm-us-up   breakfast,   toasting   was  essential!

 These   were served up  with  alternating   egg salad  and   hot buttered strawberry jam.

Fueled for the day, now   no telling  what  mischief we may achieve!!!

"Talk and tea is his specialty," said Giles. "He has Come along inside... We'll see if tea and buns   (toast) can make the world a better place."

-The Wind in the Willows

Friends Sharing Tea

Thursday  Tea Things and  Talk

Home and Garden Thursday

A Bit of Soul Time for Me

Sometimes it is just great  to set apart a special time  for oneself...  a quiet time  on a   cloudy, cool  May day   to enjoy  life's  sweet pleasures and reflect...  SO     I shared  a time with myself  devoted to beauty and   solitude...
Part of the fun of  celebrating life  with oneself is in the  planning , yet the effortless  way  such a time can  unfold...a  garden party for one  was    imagined  yesterday  as I  was enjoying the" blues" of the season.

 the majesty of the     blossoms  unfurled..

a simple  luncheon of    cucumber  sandwiches and fruit,  actually the   tangible food    was  really an after thought, for the real food  was the  spirit lifting  loveliness of the  occasion!

The tea    was my newest  infusion of    green and white tea   which I am using  for  its health benefits for  energy  and  slacking the appetite.  I found it at Fresh Market  and it  really is quite  tasty..
and the more delicious  enjoyed  from  my  beautiful  Royal Albert  Flower of the Month Series  cup  depicting beautiful For-get-me nots!

a very contemplative  teatime

to    be thankful for   wonderful family and friends and all the blessings of life!
And  to  enjoy the loveliness of simplicity and    good cheer!

even on a    "blue" and    threatening day!   
I  was so  fortunate to  find this    beautiful.  remnant of fabric at Joanne's  yesterday morning  for quite a song!!!

Bernideen's Tea Time 

 Ruth's Thursday Tea talk



1. I'm having...Infusion of green and white tea

2. I'm feeling....blessed and loved


3. On my mind....wishing everyday could unfold as wonderfully sweet as this day

4. “I am sure it is a great mistake always to know enough to go in when it rains. One may keep snug and dry by such knowledge, but one misses a world of loveliness.”  

Adeline Knapp


Katherine's Favorite Things Thursday

  Tablescape Thursday



Kathy's  Home and Garden Thursday

 Friday's Charm of the Home

 and Show and Tell Friday

at the Romantic Home

Tea Talk

1. My tea cup is filled with the most delightful Earl Grey... I think this is my absolute favorite choice of tea!



2. I'm feeling.... like I need to just take this tea break and allow the wonders of tea chase away all the myriad thoughts and concerns of the week!

3. On my mind.... perusing the beautiful pages of magazines like Tea Time sets a mood for beauty and expectation of wonderful things in one's day....

4.Cultivate inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind that God delights in. The holy women of old were beautiful before God that way, and were good, loyal wives to their husbands. 1Peter 3:4-6Now you will wish to join Ruth for more  Tea Talk  !

Tea Talk

1.  My tea cup is filled with the most delightful Earl Grey... so satisfying on this brisk February day


2. I'm  feeling....very happy with the circumstances of my life... my family... my church ... my friends... my prospects....  contentment is a wonderful virtue!
3. On my  mind....  As I enjoy this warming brew, I am contemplating the book,  A Praying Life, by Paul Miller.   One of my all time favorite Bible Scholars writes of this book." Honest, realistic, mature, wise, deep,  Warmly recommended"  Well, that is good enough for me.  I'm just starting into chapter 9  Learning to Trust Again..Understanding Cynicism...  Can't wait to dive in!
4.
Paul Miller writes, in chapter 9...

"When I say that cynicism is the spirit of the age, I mean it is an influence, a tone that permeates our culture, one of the master temptations of our age.. By reflecting on cynicism and defeated weariness, we are meditating on the last petition of the Lord's Prayer: "lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from  the evil one, Matthew 6:13"  

Now you will wish to join Ruth for more  Tea Talk  !

Tea Talk

Ok, I am found out.... I am perpetually thinking about and planning to host a tea party in my near future... as the magazines pile up around me my mind is full of ideas,, twirling around in my head like so many falling leaves... aha! That's it ...an autumn harvest tea.... hmmm.... as I peruse this topic mulling it around as I sip my English breakfast tea... it brings to mind other thoughts.... alas.. it is 4:19pm a nice teatime for me at home,,, but now my thoughts drift to other teatimes across the great sea to England.. a teatime I missed for today but in my next post I shall share about my teatime thoughts ... too deep for this light topic..
for now I will share this lovely thought with our tea!

Luke 10:38-42

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

"I would like to believe that I have a heart like Mary's, one that stops to listen to God whenever the opportunity arises. I am afraid though that I probably come much closer to being like Martha... Hurrying about planning, preparing, fixing, organizing, making lists, and worrying. Will it all get done?

...but after all I am trying to be faithful to do, well, the tasks He has set before me. I need to remember though, that by far the most important thing I can do us take the time to sit at Jesus' feet and really listen.".. then I may be assured I am doing His will.
Mary Hampton, Tea and Inspiration

Now you will wish to join Ruth for more TeaTalk !

Tea Talk

1. I am enjoying roobios this morning as I am finishing Rebecca Shaw's wonderful book, Country Wives! What a delightful series... I can hardly wait to start the last in the series... Country Lovers. This series is set in modern day Yorkshire, yet in such a quaint locale it could be anytime during the past several years... life there is slow paced and genteel.. The action revolves around a country veterinarian practice.... the lives of the staffers and the locals who are indebted to their services. If you loved James Herriot's books you'd love these as well.


2. I'm feeling....true contentment this morning... life is good!
3. On my mind....this is a grand day for working out of doors... the flower beds are calling out to me this morning! Perhaps I'll even purchase some pansies to set out.... Now that would be lovely!
4.

Friends, books, a garden, and perhaps his pen,
Delightful industry enjoy'd at home,
An Nature, in her cultivated trim
Dress'ed to his taste, inviting him abroad -
Can he want occupation who has these?
- William Cowper, The Task, 1780

Now you will wish to join Ruth for more Tea Talk !

Tea Talk

1. I'm having...Twinings Blackberry Black Tea in my red transferware, Spode,The Blue Room Floral pattern as I enjoy this march issue of Tea Time magazine!


2. I'm feeling....happy in my spirit and looking forward to our senior luncheon today at church
3. On my mind....only one more week until our dearest daughter flies home to see us! Actually, we'll have next Friday! Can't wait to see her!!
4. "Keep your faith in beautiful things;
in the sun when it is hidden,
in the Spring when it is gone."
- Roy R. Gibson
Now you will wish to join Ruth for more Tea Time Chat !

:

1. I'm having...Twinings Winter Spice in a glass mug embellished with blue snowflakes for this bitter, blustery morning!
2. I'm feeling....expectant and full of good cheer
3. On my mind....oh, how I wish I had a cosy fire going in the fireplace... alas, the radiator will have to do!
4. "Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home."
- Edith Sitwell
Now you will wish to join Ruth for more Tea Time Chat !

The Merits of Afternoon Tea

What a lovely book... and just in time for Valentine's Day! As I peruse such delectable publications I am ever reminded of just how wonderful tea is for us...

• Fight Cancer & Heart Disease

Tea contains antioxidant compounds of polyphenols that help the body fight harmful free radicals

• Protects Teeth & Strengthens Bones

Polyphenols found in tea may reduce plaque, which lowers your chance of cavity and gum disease

• Prevent Food Poisoning

The catechins in tea are a powerful sterilizing agent, which kills germs and bacteria

• Look and Feel Younger

Studies suggested that the high concentration of antioxidants in tea have an anti-aging effects

• Strengthen the Immune System

Vitamin C in green tea helps to treat the flu and the common cold.

• Prevent Dehydration

Tea is a good source of fluid intake that replenishes lost body liquid

So what ever am I waiting for.... its time for me to start planning my annual spring tea... or perhaps, why wait until spring?


Or how about a cup of rooibos right this minute!!!

Tea Talk

New Meme For Thursdays
Tea Talk is a brand new meme that Ruth of Celebrate Friendship will be hosting starting on Thursday. She states that "This is purely for heart's sake; a light talk to make hearts light.
This is an invitation for everyone to have a tea break for few minutes in front the computer and enjoy a light talk with blogging friends."


1. I'm having...(Share what kind of tea/coffee/drinks you're having.)
Then share a bit about your teacup/mug.
I am having a delicious cup of Earl Grey which is probably my favorite morning tea... its wake me up flavor richly satisfies my tastes. This morning I am enjoying drinking it from my Royal Doulton Special Edition Country Rose tea cup. For me, tea must be taken in a delicate china teacup.. a mug just will not do!!

2. I'm feeling....(no need to explain why)
I am feeling perky and ready to take on the day!YAYA!!

3. On my mind....(random thoughts)
Today I begin book one of the Herriot sagas... the life and tales of the Yorkshire veterinarian who wrote such comforting reflections of a much gentler time.
4. Leave a line, a verse, or a quotation to encourage the readers (and yourself)
"Come and sit by my side and over a cup of tea speak to me of the goodness of life."
~Lady Evelyn Fitzgerald Dodson