Tales From Twisty Lane: Tea

Showing posts with label Tea. Show all posts

Sunday, November 2, 2014

My Friends in Canada

It was 42 degrees when I got up this morning.

Probably no big deal for some of you, but for us on the Gulf Coast it felt really good!

With temperatures like this I can:

-break out the crazy, fun slipper socks

- have oatmeal for breakfast

- hot chocolate in the evening

- wear a light sweater in the morning

I already start my day with a hot cup of tea.

This morning it was Harney and Sons, Cranberry Autumn,

a black tea with cranberry and orange.

I enjoyed a couple of cups of Cranberry Autumn in my new tea cup that I found at

British Isles.

It is a porcelain cup and saucer called Khaki Bird by PIP (Passionate Inspirational Products).

They make bowls and teapots in other colors.
Really cute!

I'm sticking with the teacup.

I'm joining some tea parties today:

Share Your Cup Thursday

and the lovely Judith for Mosaic Monday.

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

And, before I forget, I'd like to thank my friends in Canada for this nice cool weather.

Monday, October 13, 2014

It Must Be Autumn

There's a storm coming today.

Lots of wind and rain.

Tomorrow fall makes another appearance with

low temps in the high 50s and highs in the low 70s.

Yippee!

I just have to get through the storms today.

The light wasn't good for picture taking, but I did it anyway.

Most of my decorating for Halloween is done --
I picked up this little kitty and his mouse friend
at an after Halloween sale last year.
I giggle everytime I see him.

He likes to have tea!

Lenox has made a whole set of dishes called Butterfly Meadow.
This is the fritillary butterfly cup and saucer.
I love the little lady bug on the saucer.
Pretty wavy rims on the teacup and the saucer.

Lovely detail on the cup.

It must be Autumn if the Pumpkin Spice Bagels are on the grocery shelves!
I'm going to make a nice cup of green tea.
I don't want my tea to compete with the taste of the bagel.
And then I'm going to settle down to read Autumn by Susan Branch.

I'm joining some tea parties today:

Share Your Cup Thursday

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

Sunday, October 5, 2014

Tea and Wine

We are having our first real fall weekend.

It won't last long.

By Monday the heat and humidity will be back!

To celebrate the nice weather, I walked up to my village this morning to check out

Rosinka, a wine and tea shop.

It is a small spot, very cozy.

When you walk in you see this:

I told the young lady I wasn't much interested in the wine,
but wanted to check out her teas.

She had made Tai Ping Green for tea tasting and offered me a cup.
Cute little cups.

Tai Ping Green is a pressed green tea.
It was a tad on the bitter side and I wondered if perhaps she had steeped it too long.

She had some pretty tea tins.
They have a small menu that looked tasty.

What really caught my eye was this wonderful cozy... straight from Russia.

They have regularly scheduled wine tastings and some special wine events.
I read some of the reviews on Rosinka and we all seem to say the same things ...
small, cozy, looks like something you'd find in Europe.

I may go back one day and try something off the menu, take a book, settle in and people watch!

I'm joining the lovely Judith for Mosaic Monday
and some tea parties:

Share Your Cup Thursday

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

Monday, September 22, 2014

Tea at the Museum

The Museum of Fine Arts Houston held a Tea and Tour in conjunction with the

Houghton Hall exhibition.

Houghton Hall - Image from the MFAH website

It's always a delight to have tea served in one of the galleries of the museum

surrounded by beautiful art.

Christine Gervaise, the curator for the Houghton Hall exhibition was the speaker.
We ate and drank while she talked.

Petite Chicken Salad Sandwich

Light chicken salad served on whole wheat bread

Petite Cucumber Sandwich

Sliced seedless English cucumbers and herbed cream cheese served on white bread

Petite Apricot and White Chocolate Chip Scones

Chocolate Dipped Strawberry

Lola Catering gets five stars for the food and their wonderful staff.

Isn't the China pretty?
This year I remembered to look at the bottom to see the name.
Premier One - Made in China
It is very sturdy -- almost heavy, but lovely.
We felt very "adult"!

Three different teas were served and I made sure I tried them all.

I started with the Organic Lady Earl Grey,
the most famous of black teas infused with white Tibetan lavender.

Then the Organic Darjeeling,
the champagne of black teas from India.

Last was the Organic Rose Jubilee,
South African tea infused with rose and caffeine free.

My favorite was the Organic Lady Earl Grey.
It was light and lovely.
You could taste the lavender on the tip of your tongue at first sip.

All the teas were from the Path of Tea.

The afternoon was complete with a glass (or two) of champagne.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

I'm joining the following tea parties.

Thank you to the hosts of:

Share Your Cup Thursday

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Life By The Cup

Did you labor over the Labor Day weekend?
I did not.

The kitties and I had a quiet weekend doing quiet things.

I finished my first watercolor pear.
This was done on left over paper from another project.
There is a horse lightly sketched on the other side.
Probably a leftover from Chinese New Year.
Recycle!

Since I'm becoming quite proficient in drawing pears, there will be more in my future --
this time on "real" watercolor paper!

**

It is September ... the first of the "BER" months.
That means fall is just around the corner and temps below 95 for me!
This is one of my favorite teacups.
It is a Bentley teacup and came with a selection of Bentley teas.

***

Over the weekend I finished LIFE BY THE CUP.
I'll let you read my review.
After reading the book, I couldn't decide which tea I wanted to try
(other than Coconut Chai).
They all sounded so delicious so I bought two sampler packs.
(As if I needed more tea.)

Life by the Cup: Ingredients for a Purpose-filled Life of Bottomless Happiness and Limitless Success by Zhena Muzyka
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Put a book about tea in front of me and I have to read it! LIFE BY THE CUP is Zhena Muzyka's story about heartache, hard work, a vision, success and tea. It is also a "how to" book filled with suggestions on ways to find happiness and success. I was less interested in the how to sections of each short chapter and simply captivated by the stories Zhena told about her life and her marvelous teas. Her stories would make a lovely movie. Using fair trade organic teas and her own essential oils, aromatherapy and herbal teachings from her Gypsy grandmother, Zhena builds a successful business: Zhena's Gypsy Teas .. a thriving, purpose-driven, fair-trade, multimillion-dollar brand. I'm a big tea drinker and had never heard of Zhena's teas until I saw them at World Market. Now I'm a big fan and after reading the book have a whole list of teas I want to try with Coconut Chai on top!

View all my reviews

Afternoon Tea by Edward Cucuel (1875-1954)

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

I'm joining the following tea parties.

Thank you to the hosts of:

Share Your Cup Thursday

Monday, August 25, 2014

At The Tea Garden

I've been collecting Portmeirion for years.
I pick up a piece here and there -- always on sale.
I have bowls from the botanical and from the garden bird series.
I use them for everything: soup, cereal, fruit, yogurt, pasta.

On my last trip to Tuesday Morning,
I found these lovely mugs and two bread and butter plates.

I'm going to brew a large pot of Assam making it extra strong.
I'm going to ice it later.
Yes, you read that correctly.
Iced Assam.
It is summer after all!

Maybe I'll have a slice of blueberry bread, too.
*

Garrison Keillor shared poetry by Margaret Hasse in his Writer's Almanac.

I bought EARTH'S APPETITE, a small collection of her poems and they are wonderful.

Here's an example.

AT THE TEA GARDEN

by Margaret Hasse

My friend and I mull over the teas
displayed in square jars
with beveled glass labeled by type.
Each name seems part of a haiku:
"After the Snow Sprouting." "Moon Palace."
"Mist Over the Gorges."
I'm drawn to green teas
with unoxidized leaves that don't wither,
hold their grassy fragrance
like willow under snow in winter.

The proprietor offers real china for the Chinese tea.
Animal bones, fine ground, give whiteness,
translucency and strength
to the porcelain that appears delicate,
resists chipping.
The rim of the cup is warm and thin.

My friend's lips are plush: her lovely
mouth opens to give advice I ask for.
We talk about memory of threshold events,
like a first kiss or a poem published.
She can't remember...

I tell her about my brother-in-law's
chemotherapy—his third bout of cancer.
He wants his family to put a pinch
of his ashes in things he liked:
his banjo, the top drawer of his desk, the garden.

I wouldn't mind becoming part
of a set of bone china that serves tea
in a cozy teahouse smelling of incense,
cinnamon, musk, and carved teak.
I'd like to be brought to a small table,
sit between friends' quiet words,
held in hands so close that breath
on the surface of warm drink
makes mist rise over their faces.

"At the Tea Garden" by Margaret Hasse, from Earth's Appetite. © Nodin Press, 2013.

Tea Party with Lois by Wilson Henry Irvine, 1920

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

I'm joining the following tea parties.

Thank you to the hosts of:

Share Your Cup Thursday

Monday, August 11, 2014

Teatime Treat

Isn't it lovely?
The Aynsley teapot was a gift.
I found the sugar and creamer in a thrift shop.
They are marked Aynsley Pembroke reproduction of an 18th century design.

I paired the tea set with my favorite Aynsley teacup.
I love the aqua shade and the beautiful interior design.

Aynsley sure knows how to make teatime a treat!

Speaking of a teatime treat.
Here's an oil painting by John Charlton done around 1883.
It's title is Teatime Treat.
Looks like my house when three kitties realize there is food around!

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

I'm joining the following tea parties.

Thank you to the hosts of:

Share Your Cup Thursday

Monday, August 4, 2014

Cat and Mouse

The kitty and the mouse came out to play on my tea mug!

Isn't it cute?

I found it at the Victorian Trading Company.

Mug, saucer, lid and strainer.

It is stoneware and keeps tea nice and warm.

Fun to brew more than one cup, too.

Purrfect for lazy days in the heat and humidity and curling up with a book!

I've spent the last two months taking a blogging break -- sort of.

I made one post a week of the little pieces of art I was making on Index Cards.

That challenge is over and I'm going to slip slowly back into blogging.

It will be nice to catch up with everyone.

Here's a litte bit of tea art by Mary Cassatt.

It is called The Tea Cup and was painted around 1880.

I wonder who she is visiting.

That's way too many clothes for this heat and humidity!

A big thank you to our tea party hosts:

Share Your Cup Thursday

May you be filled with loving-kindness.

May you be well.

May you be peaceful and at ease.

May you be happy.

Saturday, July 19, 2014

Rounding The Bend!

The ICAD (Index Card A Day) challenge is rounding the bend!
Hard to believe the month of July is half over.
Here are the cards from the last week.

ICAD #43 for July 13, 2014: Melody.
In honor of the birth of Melody to Simi (one of the ICAD participants).

ICAD #44 for July 14, 2014: Kokeshi Doll from one of Tammy's prompts.
This was fun.
Another of the very thin cards so I built it up with lots of pieces of various papers.
Acrylic paint, stamping.
Her kimono is a scrap of napkin.
Prismacolor markers.

ICAD #45 for July 15, 2014: Bloom.
I was in the mood to "smush" paint around!
4x6 index card with lots of bits of torn paper.
Then acrylic paint.
The flowers were cut from several 3x5 index cards (very flimsy ones) that color had been applied to.
Added the stamped word.
Prismacolor markers.
I'm sure I forgot something!
Oh, and the kitchen sink!

ICAD #46 for July 16, 2014: Vase
Pencil
Watercolor pencils
The Vase is a piece of scrap tissue paper.

ICAD #47 for July 17, 2014: Dala
As I get close to the end of the ICAD challenge,
I find myself using Tammy's prompts more and more.
This was one of them.
A fun opportunity to not only draw a Dala horse,
but to learn more about them, too.
Mostly prismacolor markers.
Micron pen.

ICAD#48 for July 18, 2014: Tea for One.
This is one of my favorite tea for one sets.
It never fails to make me smile.
The little bird is a teapot and nests on the pink cup.
Watercolors (on one of the flimsy cards -- yuk.)
Micron pen. With a real tea tag (Stash white peach oolong).

ICAD #49 for July 19, 2014: Friends.
Early in the ICAD Challenge I smushed some paint between two cards.
On one card I sketched a chicken and the other I stamped a bird.
Quick and easy.
I thought I'd try it again.
Smushed acrylic paint, some rubber stamping, quick sketch of an elephant (probably an Asian elephant since he has small ears).
He has a very small feathered friend.

Wishing YOU well and much joy.

Be sure to check out the ICAD Challenge at Daisy Yellow.
You can join anytime!

Monday, June 16, 2014

Summertime Tea

It's Summertime around here.

Highs in the 90s and lets NOT talk about the humidity.
Anytime is a good time for tea, even the summer.
I start the day with a hot cup of tea and then lots of iced tea during the day.

This is called Chickadee Tea Service for one.

I found it at the Victorian Trading Company.

(Just in time for my birthday!)

The service includes the lidded mug, saucer, and tea strainer.

It's made by Grace.

I'm in love with the little Chickadee.

The little Chickadee looks good on my red, white and blue crochet placemat.

But it really looks nice with Star Spangled Girl!

All set for the 4th of July.

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

A big thank you to our tea party hosts:

Share Your Cup Thursday

Monday, June 9, 2014

I Love Polka Dots!

I love polka dots so you can imagine my reaction when I opened this birthday box!

Royal Albert's Polka Rose!

Some of my favorite things found in one teacup!

Polka dots, roses, the lovely aqua color, and a wonderful cup for tea.

Now add a sugar cookie in the shape of a cup.

Yum!

Wishing YOU well and much joy.

A big thank you to our tea party hosts:

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

You Can't Have Too Much Citron

It's been busy around here.

- I've had Terminix out terminating the carpenter bees eating the arbor.

- Had more insulation blown into the attic in preparation for summer heat.

Finished just in time as 95 is predicted by the end of the week.

-Baseball season ended for my Rice Owls.

- And I celebrated a birthday.

I always use my birthday as an excuse to visit my favorite thrift shop in search of another teacup. And I found one. In fact, there were two and I brought them both home. I didn't want to break them up. Seems like they've been together for a long time!

They are Limoges Elite teacups.

The decoration is very delicate, the gold almost worn off the handles.

The Bawo and Dotter company of New York established a manufacturing facility in Limoges, France, called Elite Works. That factory began producing porcelain in 1892 with the mark "Elite France" and later "Elite Works France." Some Elite Works collectibles can be dated by the color of the mark. Between 1900 and 1914 the company marked items in red and between 1920 and 1932 the company used green to mark the pieces it manufactured. The cups I found are marked in red.