Celebrating the Pansy

I love Miltonia orchids.
For me, they are charming and irresistible.
They bloom profusely.
Miltonias are often called Pansy Orchids because of their flat-faced,
open flowers that resemble pansies in shape and markings.
Richly colored, fragrant flowers.
From the time that the flower bud on the stems open,
they remain in bloom for 4 to 6 weeks.

**

I thought sharing the Miltonia orchid was the perfect time to share

another new to me teacup.

It was sent to me for my birthday from another of my sisters-by-choice.

This sister is my Saurian sister -- we both love dragons!

And, we both love pansies. 

This is Spring Melody by Queen Anne.

Queen Anne is a fine quality china produced by Shore and Coggins,

Staffordshire potteries in England from 1911 to 1966.

This is beautiful fine bone china that is very translucent when held to the light.

The background is pure white, and the design is a bouquet of pansies

in colors of purple, pink, blue and yellow.

The teacups are footed and there is gold trim on all the edges and handle.

She also sent me Persian Nectar tea from Serendipi Tea.

Persian Nectar is organic Indian black tea with

organic peach flavoring.

YUM!

A little treat with my tea today.

Key Lime Pie cookies from Oreo.

Oh, my! 

***

Thank you to the hosts of:

Mosaic Monday

Teatime Tuesday
Teacup Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Share Your Cup Thursday

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

When the world is all at odds

And the mind is all at sea,

Then cease the useless tedium

And brew a cup of tea.

There is magic in its fragrance,

There is solace in its taste;

And the laden moments vanish

Somehow into space.

And the world becomes a lovely thing!

There's beauty as you'll see;

All because you briefly stopped

To brew a cup of tea.

~William Gladstone

(Thank you to Marilyn at Delights of the Heart for the poem.)

Tea With A Lady

Let me introduce you to Lady Carlyle by Royal Albert.
She was a gift from one of my sisters (by choice).

A classic example of the romantic, floral tradition of Royal Albert,

Lady Carlyle draws inspiration from the extravagant rococo styles of the 18th century.

The Lady is decorated with a highly stylized floral design,

a deep pink border and elaborate gold scrollwork

I've paired her with a teapot with roses by Grace.

I made a pot of Harney and Sons Chinese Flower tea.

Chinese Flower is a beautiful blend of hand plucked green tea with flowers and citrus.
There is a light aroma of orange and flowers.
One sachet makes two cups of tea.
A real delight with Lady Carlyle.

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

I'm joining some tea parties in the Land of Blog:
Teatime Tuesday
Teacup Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Share Your Cup Thursday

Hunting For Spring

Daylight savings time has arrived.
I admit, I don't like the dark mornings.
Why do "we" have to muck with time??!!

Daylight savings means spring is just around the corner
and I decided to go hunting for spring in my teacups.

That led me to one of my newest (new to me) teacups.

Isn't she pretty?

This is a Rosina teacup.

The iris is one of my favorite blooms.

I couldn't resist this teacup when I found it at The Guild Shop.

The gold edging is worn off in some areas,

but for me, that just means that it was well loved.

I found the adorable little bunnies at the same time.

I've had the teapot for years.

I love the shape and the decoration.

The only mark on the bottom of the pot are the words

Made in Japan.

You read that correctly -- not made in China!

When I make a pot of tea,

I normally use loose tea.

I have so much tea in tea bags

(mostly gifts and spur of the moment purchases)

that this time

I made a pot of tea with tea bags from the Republic of Tea.

Imperial White Tea with Persimmon.

100% white tea is also known as China White.

It has a low-caffeine delicacy and is the most minimally-processed of all tea varietals.

Once reserved for the cups of emperors and the nobility, 

this high mountain China White Tea (from China's Fujian Province)
 still remains one of the rarest of all teas.

The end white downy buds are painstakingly hand-plucked,
only two days of the year, right before the leaf opens.

Because it is so minimally processed,
White Tea retains the highest level of disease preventative antioxidants
known as polyphenals.

Be Funky Processing

The Republic of Tea has a few teas that are Organic and Non GMO.

Imperial White is one of those.

I'm not sure how long I've had Imperial White with Persimmon!
I note that it is no longer available at The Republic of Tea.

The container had not been opened
and I could smell the persimmon when it was opened.

I made a pot of tea that had a subtle, slightly sweet taste.
The taste was delicate with just a hint of the persimmon.

I'll enjoy several more pots full as I go hunting for spring!

Wishing YOU well and much joy.

I'm joining several tea parties:

Teatime Tuesday
Teacup Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Share Your Cup Thursday

* Information about Imperial White Tea from the The Republic of Tea.

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!

Well Rounded

All the Christmas decorations are down and packed away waiting for next year.
All except the Snowmen.
After all, it is still winter!

Snowmen are well-rounded

just like my favorite handmade, hand thrown teapot.

I know it looks funny, especially with its stubby spout,

but it pours beautifully and has a strainer that can be removed.

I can do multiple brewings just by lifting out the strainer.

The design on the exterior has an Asian feel.

The last of the yummy Snowmen sugar cookies.

I'll be sorry to see them go as I'm sure they've helped in keeping me

well-rounded!

The teacup is from Bentley.

Bentley put out a collection of teas several years ago and included the teacup.

It's become a favorite.

The little watercolor is one of mine 

and part of a series of snowmen I'm doing.

I seem to have to do a series ... one isn't enough!

My little snowman would like to remind you:

Be a jolly, happy soul.

Spend time outdoors.

Stay cool.

It’s okay to be a little bottom heavy.

Avoid meltdowns.

Be well-rounded.

Live well, life is short. 

Enjoy sugar cookies! 

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

I'm joining several parties today:

Tea Time Tuesday

where Sandi is having a party to celebrate Tea Time Tuesday's 5th Anniversary.

Teacup Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Share Your Cup Thursday