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

Teavivre

I was asked several weeks ago by Teavivre if I was interested in tasting some of their teas.

Since tea is one of my favorite things, I didn't hesitate and said "YES"!
My package arrived late last week.
I quickly opened the box, reached in, and picked the first tea to taste --
Organic Superfine Dragon Well Long Jing Green Tea.
(Clicking on the links will give you even more information about this tea.)

The tea leaves are a lovely jade green and sword shape -- all very much the same size.

When I opened the package there was a slight grassy smell and after steeping

I picked up a slight hint of spinach (that's great -- I love spinach).

I steeped and tasted at 1 minute, 3 minutes and 6 minutes. 

At one minute the taste was very light, mellow, almost sweet.

At three minutes, the taste was a bit stronger with some of the nutty flavor starting to appear.

At six minutes, there was no bitterness at all and the nutty flavor was strong. 

The color was still this lovely yellow-green.

Known in China for more than 1500 years, Dragonwell is still hand picked and processed according to the ancient methods of "Cha'Ching" or "the way of tea."

Dragonwell is famous for promoting mental alertness.

I can see why this was the favored tea of the Chinese emperors. 

Tea to the Chinese is like wine to Westerners,

With changing colors, aroma and taste.

There are many different kinds to suit individual and social tastes,

and able to refresh the palate, restore the spirit and can be medicinal.

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

A big thank you to our tea party hosts:

Tea Time Tuesday

Teacup Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Spring is here!

This is "The Hour of Tea" by American artist, Frederick Frieseke (1874-1939).

I've been sharing art work like this on my FaceBook page and thought I should be

sharing them here on tea day, too.

Frieseke was a prominent American Impressionist painter. 

Born in Owosso, Michigan, he later studied at the Art Institute of Chicago,

the Art Students League in New York City and later in Paris.

Frieseke's art has been described as "Decorative Impressionism".

He often painted women in lush, colorful surroundings like his garden which was tended by his wife.

Daffodils have arrived and for me that means Spring is really here.

I'm drinking Earl Grey in a Blue Willow cup and saucer by Churchill.

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

A big thank you to our tea party hosts:

Tea Time Tuesday

Teacup Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Party Time!

It's time for Vee's Note Card Party.

We pick four images that have been posted on our blogs

 that we think would make a good Note Card

and share them.

Some green to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

Tea is always a good subject for a Note Card.

"All you need are books and tea." 

~unknown

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

A big thank you to Vee for hosting 

one of my favorite Blogland parties: Note Card Party!

Jump Start

I'm getting a jump start on St. Patrick's Day with 

Irish Breakfast Tea in a rose decorated depression glass cup and saucer.

The card on the inside says "is Irish for I love you".

Too cute! 

The white hobnail vase is home to some mini-hydrangeas. 

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

Potpourri

St. Patrick's Day is coming, along with corned beef and cabbage.

This is a vintage reproduction postcard.

No artist or date was listed.

Thank you to Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday.

*

I am creating...
Granny Squares!
The month of March is National Crochet Month.
YeeHaw!
Pictures coming when I have all the squares made. 

I am excited about...
being asked to taste test some teas from Tea Vivre.
I love Chinese teas and tea ware.
It will be fun to research and taste!

YiXing Tea Pot

I am hoping...
to win some handmade soap!
Nancy at a Rural Journal is having a give-a-way.
Get over there and sign up!

A favorite quote for today...
It's from the Walt Whitman poem  O ME! O LIFE!
"...The question, O me! so sad, recurring - What good amid these, O me, O life?
Answer.
That you are here - that life exists and identity,
That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse."
It may sound familiar especially if you have seen the Apple commercials. 

One of my favorite things...

This is a Miltonia Orchid, sometimes called a pansy orchid.
When I brought her home from Trader Joe's she had one flower spike opened.
She now has two more spikes open and 2 more coming.
She is quite impressive and fragrant!

Wishing YOU well and much joy.

A big thank you to Nancy for hosting.

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

Pretty In Red!

For the last tea day in February,

I've pulled out an old favorite, some red transferware.

My Granny called these luncheon plates.

Victorian Trading Company calls them tea and scone sets.

Tea and toast sounds good to me!

Is Spring around the corner?

I hope so! 

The Huffington Post shared an article from the Elephant Journal on Tea and Ritual

that you might be interested in reading.

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!

Tulips and Tea

I went by Trader Joe's early Sunday morning.

I knew I could depend on Joe for fresh flowers -- especially tulips.

I am a happy camper!

This little teacup looks mighty fine (as my Granny would have said).

She's a sweet little gem for a Valentine Tea.

I found it at the thrift shop on my last visit -- many months ago.

It is the only hand-painted teacup that I have.

Lovely, isn't she?!

She has some wear, but that means she's been loved.

There is no artist signature.

In very small letters on the teacup it says:

April

Sweet Pea

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!

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!

Isn't She Lovely?

Isn't she lovely?

She was a gift from a dear friend.

I've mentioned Vivian before.

We worked together at the museum before Vivian went off to China --

this last time as a Fulbright Scholar.

I was fortunate to have lunch with Vivian and her husband during the holidays.

Vivian is off to D.C. for a few months -- all part of a fellowship. 

Smart gal. 

She is a YiXing teapot.

The YiXing teapot came into favor in China around 1500.

The small teapot, made of unglazed red or brown stoneware,

is well suited to bring out the flavor, color and aroma of the leaves

and it's size makes it easy to balance the ratio of water to tea.

It should be kept for one type of tea only.

Isn't she lovely?

Isn't she wonderful?

Isn't she precious?

Yes! 

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!

A Cup of Joy!

I'm a little late with a tea post.

Photo taking is a bit on the iffy side when it is so dark and dreary outside.

So, I decided to light up the Christmas tree and have tea under the tree.

This is Royal Albert's Christmas Tree cup and saucer.

The little red teapot is by Kensington.

The tea is a lovely tisane by Stash called Christmas Eve.

It is especially nice in the evening before bedtime.

I'm joining some tea parties today:

Tea Time Tuesday

Teacup Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

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

Merry Christmas!

Sweet Memories

When I was growing up

we always went to Granny's for Christmas.

She had a bright, shiny tree with bubble lights.

Around the base of the tree was a little village -- all plastic.

Bottle brush trees.

I thought it was a wonderland.

The candy canes.

Hot chocolate in a Santa mug.

I still love candy canes, hot chocolate and Santa mugs.

Every year I go looking for new mugs -- the cheaper the better to get the look!

The mugs can't be microwaved, but they can be filled with candy canes and placed around the house.
Hot chocolate tastes really good in a holiday mug, too.
I've already tried Stash's Christmas Eve herbal tea -- especially nice as a bedtime treat. 

The owl mug is new this year.

I'm thinking of making postcards.

You can help.

Which one do you like best?

I'm joining some lovely tea parties today:

Tea Time Tuesday

Teacup Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

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

Happy Owloween!

Halloween is just around the corner and
 I'm celebrating potion (tea) making Owl style!

I found the owl teapot and cups and saucers at Macy's -- on sale!

Yippee!

The pattern is Edle Rose by Rachel Bilson Dinnerware, Owl Teapot

I don't believe the butterflies on the saucers have a true function other than being cute!

I'm careful how I handle and store them. 

I'm joining:

Nancy for Tuesday Muse 

 and some lovely tea parties:

Tea Time Tuesday

Teacup Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

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

Happy Owloween!

Note Card Party!

I missed Vee's Note Card Party last month.
I had a cold and forgot all about the party.
But I was forgetting about almost everything.
I looked back at the month of September to see what I missed!

The end of summer.

Mina -- keeping Mummy's place on the sofa all safe and warm.

McHugh Tea -- the first day I could really enjoy tasting.

As long as I was curled up on the couch with kitties, I put the time to good use.
Crochet Christmas Wreath hot pads.

That's how I spent my time while I had a cold.

A big thank you to Vee for hosting the Note Card Party.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Musing With Tea

I enjoyed the final days of summer using my shell teapot 

and oversized teacup.

I do admit, it's hard to believe fall has arrived with temps in
the high 80s and let's not mention the humidity!

But, just in case Harvest time has arrived where you live,
here is a little weather lore from the Farmers Almanac.

- If Autumn leaves are slow to fall, a cold winter is in store.

- Onion and apple skins, corn husks, and nutshells are traditional indicators -

the thicker the exterior, the harsher the winter.

- An be sure to notice migrating hawks:

Hawks flying high mean a clear sky.

When they fly low, prepare for a blow.

I'm joining:

And some lovely tea parties:

Tea Time Tuesday

Teacup Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

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