Just Around The Corner

Valentine's Day is just around the corner.

Mr. Dreamy

A gift from my knight in shining armor the month he passed to the stars.

Anyone want chocolate cake?
The teapot is Emma Bridgewater.









Big Love by Emma Bridgewater

Smooches an Original Sock Dog Pet by Stacey Hsu. 

This is the first of several mosaics I've made for Valentine's Day.
I'm thinking about making cards -- eventually! 

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Mosaic Monday

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There Is No Doubt That Summer Is Here

It is hot.

And it is humid.

Feels like temps (in the shade) well over 100.
There is no doubt that summer is here

and I'm already tired of it!

*

I'm still celebrating my May birthday.

This time with the Mother of my god-children 

and one of my sisters-by-choice.

We went to one of our favorite spots:

Morningside Thai.

I had garlic eggplant and she had basil-eggplant.
We were both smiling and "yumming".

*

Not only did we have a lovely lunch,
I received a lovely gift, too ...
tea pot and matching mug
by Emma Bridgewater.

I love Emma Bridgewater.
The pattern is called Wallflower and is described as a
Cheerful, purple and green floral pattern that was inspired by
Emma and Matthew's love of a flower bed that overflows with wallflowers every May 
... perfect for an "Emma lover" with a May birthday!

*

I also received a surprise in the post.
When the box arrived I wondered what I had ordered that I'd forgotten!?
No, it was a surprise from a dear friend who knows I have a thing for owls.

Aren't they great?!
I'm lucky -- good friends and more great mugs for tea drinking!

I made an early morning run to Trader Joe's
(before it got too hot for man or beast).

In addition to food, I came home with flowers ...
peonies and tulips.

So pretty!

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Willy Nilly Friday

Five on Friday

Mosaic Monday

Amaze Me Monday

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This and That

My Robin friends are back.

I took their portrait through the dirty glass door.
Wonder what they were saying to each other?


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Did you do anything special for Valentine's Day?
I had a lovely dinner and some Prosecco.

My knight-in-shining-armor and I would have been together 36 years this year.
I still feel like we are together.
Just living in different spots -- one on earth and one in the stars.

He liked Valentine's Day.
It's one reason why I have so many Teddy Bears! 
My favorite flowers -- iris and tulips.


*

I'm a big tea lover.
Nothing better than a cup of tea.
Taking the time to brew the tea.
Then taking the time to sit and enjoy the tea.
Sometimes I have tea in a fancy cup and saucer.
Other times I have tea in a mug.

The mug for February is BIG LOVE by Emma Bridgewater.
Tea and Chocolate!!!

*

College baseball is starting!
Rice Owls held their second annual Baseball Fest.
An opportunity for the fans to come out and meet the team.
Get autographs.
Take batting practice with Andy Pettitte or Jose Cruz, Jr. pitching. 

Phillip Humber was there.
He was on the Rice team that won the 2003 College World Series.
On April 21, 2012, Humber pitched the 21st perfect game in MLB history
for the Chicago White Sox, defeating the Seattle Mariners.

Things were just getting started when I was there.
I picked up my season tickets. 

*

I'm still crocheting.
I finished making all the patterns in the Mirror Image Scarf book.
Now, I'm putting the patterns together for different looks.
Have to use up the stash!

I did order the cottage charm baby afghan (pattern and yarn) from Mary Maxim.
I loved the pattern and thought it would make a pretty lapghan.
The pink flower is the beginning of the lapghan.

Now reading I Shot The Buddha by Colin Cotterill.
It is a Dr. Siri Paiboun mystery set in Laos.
I've been reading the series from the beginning and always look forward
to the next Dr. Siri and friends adventure. 
You get a feel for what Laos was like in the 70's.
Fear, angst, and amazingly, humor. 
In this one animism, Buddhism and communism are center stage.
If you think you might be interested in this series you must start with the first one --
otherwise you will get lost and only Dr. Siri will be able to find you......!

Oliver had to supervise while I was taking photos. 

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Five on Friday

Willy Nilly Friday

Mosaic Monday

Make It Pretty Monday

February Is Here

February has arrived.

Did you say Rabbit Rabbit on the first?

It is a common British superstition which states that a person should say or repeat the word "rabbit" or "rabbits", or "white rabbits", or some combination of these elements out loud upon waking on the first day of the month, because doing so will ensure good luck for the duration of that month (from Wikipedia).

Or, in Downton Abbey fashion, did you say Bad Harvest?!

*

The snowmen that I've been looking at every morning in January have been replaced.

I love Emma Bridgewater and it's so much fun to bring out my heart teapot and mugs made by Emma. Emma Bridgewater is a British ceramics manufacturer founded in 1985, owned and run by Emma Rice nee Bridgewater and Matthew Rice. Noted for their polka dot design among others, Emma Bridgewater specializes in pottery with motifs drawing on techniques stretching back over 200 years. The company is one of the largest pottery manufacturers based entirely in the UK, with all of its products made in its factory in the city of Stoke-on-Trent. Emma started the company when she went looking for a birthday present for her mother. She wanted to buy and cup and saucer but couldn't find anything she liked, so she created her own. And I'm sure glad she did! 

Every one should have a tea mug that says Peace and Love and Tea!

I have some Rose Petal Tea by the Republic of Tea that I think will be a very nice way to start the month of February. 
It says its a "Tea for The Queen of Hearts".
I don't know about being the Queen of Hearts,
but I am the Queen of this house!

"This royal tea blend has the light spice of delicate, young rose buds and petals atop the sweet fullness of China Black Tea. This Victorian tradition is perfect served in fine china cups for kings, queens, friends and loved ones."

I think it will taste very good served in my Emma mugs, too!

Wishing YOU well, much joy and a delightful cup of tea!

I'm joining:
Sandi at No Place Like Home
Tuesday Cup of Tea

Bernideen's Tea Time, Cottage and Garden Party

I Need It To Keep Me Warm

I realized that, as much as I like Emma Bridgewater,

I didn't have an Emma Christmas mug.

So, I got myself an early present and have been using

the mug and my Portmeirion Holly and Ivy teapot

all month, drinking Harney and Sons

White Christmas Tea

(a blend of white tea, almonds and vanilla).

When I'm finished drinking White Christmas,
I get to start on my new teas.

My BGD (beautiful god-daughter) and her handsome knight
sent me Fearrington House Afternoon Tea.
It smells so delicious: Black China Tea
 with carmel, grapefruit, and lemony bergamot.
Plus, Fearrington House Jam:Raspberry, Star Anise, Thyme.
The Fearrington House is one of their favorite places for a romantic get-a-way.
Looking at it in the magic of cyberspace --
it looks like a wonderful spot for tea and belted cattle gazing! 
You can check out the Fearrington Village and Inn here.




More tea!
Liliuokalani tea from Serendipi Tea:
Organic China Black Tea, Safflower Petals, Orange Blossoms, 
and Tropical Fruit Flavor.

Taylor Maid Farms: Pacific Coast Breakfast - Organic Yunnan Black Tea.

There is a cold front blowing through.
I'll need all of this tea to keep me warm!

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Thank you Martha for hosting
Tea Cup Tuesday.

Thank you - Tuesday Cuppa Tea.

Thank you Bernideen
for Bernideens Tea.

Thank you Sandi for hosting
No Place Like Home.


 

Cherries, Chocolate and Tea

Valentine's Day is just around the corner.
How do I love Valentine's Day?
Let me count the ways!!!!

It's time to pull out my Emma Bridgewater heart teapot

and heart shaped crochet hot-pads that I made last year.

The trio is from The English Table.

I love the flowers.

A bird on one side of the cup and

flowers on the other.

I'm going to fill my teacup with

Cherry Chocolate Tea

A Cuppa Romance Tea from The Republic of Tea.

Fine black tea blended with sweet blackberry leaves

natural cherry and chocolate flavoring.

Time for chocolate covered cherry fudge.

Delicious but oh, so rich. 

Heart shaped sugar cookies.

Don't like fudge?

How about chocolate cake?

Remember:

"Seven days without chocolate makes one weak."

~unknown

I'm joining several parties today:

Sandi is having her Valentine Party at

Tea Time Tuesday 

Teacup Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Share Your Cup Thursday

Wishing YOU well, much joy and a wonderful cup of tea!

Happiness

According to Emma Bridgewater

Happiness is a Bunny Rabbit

and I have to agree.

The Teddy Bear is all dressed up in his bunny costume ready for tea and scones.

The orange cranberry scone is from Trader Joe's.

TJs makes my favorite scone better than I do. 

The mug of the month for April is Emma Bridgewater's 

Happiness is a Bunny Rabbit.

This is a child size mug that I fell in love with.

The mug and scone are on a bunny plate I found at Pier One several years ago. 

The tea is TAZO Awake -- I'm running slowly today and needed an extra wake up call!

This is Tea Garden by Frederick Childe Hassam (October 17, 1859 - August 27, 1935.

He was a prolific American Impressionist painter, noted for his urban and coastal scenes.

He produced over 3,000 paintings, watercolors, etchings, and lithographs over the course of his career, and was in influential American artist of the early 20th century.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

A big thank you to our tea party hosts:

Tea Time Tuesday

Teacup Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Mug of The Month

A new month and a new Mug.
Spring is going to arrive on March 20 so I decided the tulip mug was in order.

I'm drinking an orange spice black tea from Stash with a teaspoon of honey.

Another Emma Bridgewater mug.

The bottom of the cup suggests you can never have too many tulips.

Plant hundreds! 

The rabbits are slowly making an appearance around the house.

Wishing YOU well, much joy and a wonderful cup of tea!

I'm joining a few tea parties and thank the hosts of:

Tea Time Tuesday

Teacup Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Mug of The Month

When I posted about my new Emma Bridgewater mug,

I realized that I use a different mug each month for tea.
Thus - Mug of The Month!

For February,

here is another Emma mug:

Big Love.

Perfect for Valentine's Day.

How about a little sugar cookie?

The tea is a simple black tea with honey.

Big Love is sitting on my newly crocheted heart hot pads.

I'm joining some tea parties today:

Tea Time Tuesday

Teacup Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Wishing you well, much joy and a lovely cup of tea!

Toast, Marmalade and Tea

If you've visited Twisty Lane for tea,

you know I have a thing for Emma Bridgewater.

There is a wonderful store in my village called British Isles.

I laughingly say I visit their store once a month whether I need to or not.

Not true -- I haven't been there in the last three months.

However, the last time I was there I added to my Emma collection.

I first saw the mug and decided I had to have it. 
Mug of Tea on the outside and English Breakfast on the inside.

Then I saw the Tea container.
Earl Grey and Pekoe on top. 
The bottom of the mug and container is marked 2012:
Toast and Marmalade Emma Bridgewater.

I'm off to have a cup of tea and a piece of toast with marmalade. 

I'm joining some tea parties today:

Tea Time Tuesday

Teacup Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Wishing you well much joy and a lovely cup of tea!