Ladies' Historical Tea Society

2011-11-09T20:25:00.008-05:00

A NEW HOME IN THE BLOGOSPHERE

Hello dear friends of the Tea Society Blog. First off, I want to thank those who have been so kind as to leave their comments and farewells here. I also want to thank you for the infinite pots of "virtual tea" that we've shared over the years. You have been such wonderful kindred spirits and I have treasured getting to know so many of you more than you will ever know.

With all that said, this is certainly not the end! I have finally returned to introduce my new home in the Blogosphere. I have published a new art blog called Flora Symbolica. That's just a much more romantic title for The Language of Flowers. The title was inspired by a wonderful book that I recently purchased by the same name. It was written by Debra N. Mancoff and is all about the use of Flowers in Pre-Raphaelite art.

If you have an interest in Botanical art, gardening and beautiful gardens, you will no doubt find something of interest for you here. And of course, there will always be a fresh kettle on while you look over the contents. Truly, My hope is that the new blog will be a much more personal, as well as professional, journey for me. I would be delighted if my bloggy friends would join me in this adventure as I embark on life as a Botanical Illustrator.

Most Teafully,
Rebecca

2011-05-28T14:02:00.004-04:00

CLOSING CHAPTERS AND MOVING ON

I hope each of you have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend. It's been beautiful here in Central Kentucky and promises to be hot and sunny. I must confess, though I am a child of autumn, I am thrilled to have some sunshine and warmth after such a cold and rainy spring and later winter..We're actually expecting a high of 90 on Monday. As usual, we skip spring and go straight into summer.

Life continues to evolve and offers many changes. Some are very good, I might add, and others, only time will tell. With that said, I have decided that this will be the last post for the Ladies Historical Tea Society Blog. I will leave the blog up for the duration of the summer, if nothing else, for the music that so many of you have told me that you love. For myself, I intend to spend some much needed time with my family as well as in the art studio and in my beloved garden. The latter two mentioned have been sorely neglected and I must redirect my attention, specifically, to my art and keep it focused there. I want to take this time to extend many blessings to the wonderful followers and friends that I've made through the blogosphere. I hope you have a wonderful summer and I sincerely want to thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for your support and kindness throughout the last several years. I have made some very dear friends, and I cherish each of you more than most of you will ever know.

Most Teafully,
Rebecca

2011-03-27T19:17:00.017-04:00

TEA IN ENGLAND (SPRING IN HISTORIC BATH PART 1)

A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to visit England for 8 days. This was my first trip to the 'Sceptered Isle" and to say it was perhaps the most spectacular destination I’ve ever visited would be a vast understatement. For, as an unapologetic Anglophile, being there at least once in your lifetime is as necessary to existence as the water you drink or the air that you breathe. To take advantage of any trip there is a must, no matter how long or short the duration.

After spending a few exciting days in London, it was destination, Bath, where I was able to visit a wonderful tea room which is what this post will concentrate on. Of course, Bath is known for its Roman influence and exquisite Georgian architecture but it should also be noted that this city has many wonderful tearooms and specialty shops. It seems that I stumbled upon one at every turn. I only wish I had several more days to explore this breathtaking city and partake of each and every one. Hum…I’m thinking a tea room tour of Great Britain must be in the future works. Anyone care to join me?

The three most significant activities that were enjoyed by the privileged in Bath during the Regency era, in which it’s so well known, were dancing, gambling and tea. It is also said that if one spent any less than 6 weeks there, you would have certainly held no social significance whatsoever. To do so would have been considered bad form, indeed. After all, Bath, during Jane’s time was second only to London in prestige and fashion- ability, though that would change some years later when it would become much less chic.

Upon first arriving and embarking on the adventure of navigating the maze of one way streets in the city, our first destination was the Jane Austen Centre. The centre offers a museum of period clothing and displays which have been designed to give a glimpse into what life would have been like during the Regency era. It also houses a nice gift shop with everything Jane-related.

The tour at the centre was very informative. It was filled with information about the Austen family especially in reference to the time they spent there. It is often said that Jane grew weary of Bath, but the guide at the centre seemed to feel that she did in fact have a fondness for the city, at least at certain times in her life. Of course, Jane devotees will be quick to point out that Bath was the setting of two of Austen’s beloved novels, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, the former being my favorite of the two.

Now, for the tea experience: I had researched the Tea Room at the centre a bit before my trip so had great expectations. For instance, it is housed in a Georgian townhouse on historic Gay Street and adorned with décor faithful to the era. This certainly makes for perfect ambiance. But of more importance, this particular tea room, known as The Regency Tea Room, has been granted the Tea Guild’s esteemed “Award of excellence” and “Tea rooms with distinction” award. One sip of the perfectly brewed selections offered here and it’s easy to see why. I opted to sample two blends from their offering of 15. My first was the Jane Austen Blend; a mixture of delectable China black teas, in keeping with what was more easily available during the Regency period. The second was Russian Caravan. The latter is a blend of China blacks with a smokier flavor- Very satisfying. Of course, I came away with loose leaf bags of both, along with a charming silver tea strainer. As for tea fare, I chose “Tea with Mr. Darcy.” I ask you, how could one resist ordering that when there is a charming portrait of Colin Firth, in the role that made him famous, holding a position of honor just above the mantle? And what exactly was included with this “Tea”? It consisted of a two tiered offering of cream cheese and cucumber sandwiches, fresh baked scones (one plain, one with currants) with Dorset clotted cream, strawberry jam, lemon curd, apple tartlets, delectable meringue shells with fruity filling, and cream stuffed buttery cookies-topped with a drizzle of chocolate.

And what did all this result in? Well, an afternoon of absolute bliss, of course!

Now, make sure to check back soon for “Part 2” of Bath to see the rest of what this exquisite English city is known for.

2011-02-28T09:20:00.008-05:00

AND THE OSCAR GOES TO...

Congratulations to a Tea Society favorite, Colin Firth, on his Oscar win for best actor in The King's Speech. This wonderful film also captured the grand prize for best film, best director, and best original screenplay. Well deserved, indeed.

2011-01-25T08:05:00.009-05:00

THE KING'S SPEECH

This Sunday I finally had the opportunity to see The King’s Speech. First of all I absolutely adore Colin Firth in nearly every film he graces but this particular movie left me speechless, pardon the pun. Firth’s amazing portrayal of King George VI, father of Queen Elizabeth and husband of the Queen Mother, is simply mesmerizing. His Golden Globe win is certainly well deserved. I truly hope that Firth takes home the Oscar for Best Actor this year. To say he is well deserving of such accolades would be a vast understatement.

From the opening scene where the terrified Prince Albert, Duke of York, is standing before a crowd at the closing of the Empire Exhibition in 1925, Colin Firth casts his spell and the movie audience instantly feels sympathy for this courageous stammering man who would soon be King. From that moment on, you know that you are about to form an intimate relationship with this character.

Geoffrey Rush portrays Lionel Logue, “Bertie’s” (the family nickname for Albert) Australian speech coach. He delivers an amazing performance and never disappoints with his ability to make you truly believe that he is in fact the person he portrays. Interestingly, I read that some of the most memorable lines in the movie were actually taken from Lionel Logue’s personal notes on the methods he used in his therapy sessions. These notes were discovered 9 weeks before filming began. Therefore, to maintain accuracy, the script was reworked to reflect what was in the notes.

Oh, and I mustn’t fail to mention the spectacular hats in this film. Helena Bonham Carter certainly wears them well. And yes, there are a few Tea scenes to enjoy, along with some featuring those adorable Corgi’s.

I must say that this film is about much more than a “Royal” over-coming a speech disability, it is about believing in yourself and the ability to rise above pre-conceived low expectations to achieve greatness. It is about trusting and discovering the importance of having at least one person in your life that helps you discover the true power of greatness within you. I think the King was indeed fortunate that he had two such people in his life, his devoted wife, Elizabeth, and his unconventional friend and therapist, Lionel.

2010-12-07T21:57:00.015-05:00

TEA SOCIETY CHRISTMAS TEA

( Darleen opened her lovely home to the Tea Society for our Tea Cup exchange)

Sunday was certainly the day for special tea events. Not only did I attend Mr. Toast’s wonderful Christmas Tea in Scotland but I also found myself at our Tea Society Christmas Tea in Lexington, Kentucky. Wow…Two teas within a 24 hour period on two different continents..Hum…isn’t that some sort of record? ;)

Of course everyone in the blogosphere is still abuzz over our tea adventure at Torosay castle on the Isle of Mull but we also had a delightful late afternoon tea a bit closer to home and on a much smaller scale. Every year we have an annual member’s only tea cup exchange for Christmas. It was truly a wonderful relaxing afternoon spent in laughter and wonderful conversation among cherished friends and over the greatest drink on the planet, tea of course. And best of all, you always end up bringing home a special tea cup! I will post a glimpse at the Spode tea cups that I received in a future post. Thank you, Natalie!

(A glimpse at some of the delicious tea fare we enjoyed)

(The ladies deep in conversation)

(Darleen's amazing glass ornament filled tree)

(One of members, Carolyn F., had to leave early to attend an advent service but those of use remaining were: Seated( Darleen, our hostess, Natalie- wearing her Edwardian inspired creation- standing, Polly, Rebecca( me)in the center and Caroline B.>)

Our menu this year was: Fresh baked cranberry scones with lemon curd( Yes they were warm and delicious!), artichoke and roasted red pepper savories, Sally Lunn tea sandwiches with a spinach /cheese filling, sun dried tomato sandwiches, cranberry nut sandwiches, mini raspberry cheesecakes, fresh baked cookies, peanut butter roll, pineapple and banana nut breads. The teas served were: Czar’s Samovar (a robust aromatic blend of Ceylon with dried currants), Elmwood Inn Rose, and Kentucky Blend (A perfect black tea best enjoyed with milk and sugar).

What a wonderful way to spend a cold, blustery December afternoon...and such a lovely way to kick off the holiday season.

2010-12-03T10:10:00.029-05:00

CASTLE-WEAR AND MR. TOAST'S CHRISTMAS TEA

My dashing date is wearing Armani

My Evening Tea Gown is from Terani Couture( Recommended by Anne Hathaway)

Read below to catch up on the weekend adventure in Scotland

Scroll down below photos for a Saturday Update

Well, the grand weekend is upon us and I arrived at Glenbogle yesterday by rail.

After a rather bumpy ride in a rather beat up land rover through some snow-covered roads, Duncan McKay, the reliable yet rather clueless ranger and all around errand boy, managed to deliver me in one piece to the "stately" Glenbogle house.

I received a warm welcome from my charming host and date for the big Tea Event on Sunday, Archie MacDonald.

Here's a glimpse at some of my wardrobe on this adventure.

Happily, it seems the plumbing issues have been sorted since my last visit. There is in fact hot water in my private bath this time around and it actually runs clear! Yippee!!!..

There's not much time for leisure today. An art conservationist from Glasgow should be arriving any moment to help with the "authentication" of some of the paintings in question. That is, if we can manage to get Hector, Archie's father, to give us the key to the vault where they're being stored. He's up to something and doesn't want anyone to take a look at what he's got stashed away down there...hum...

Alas, I am looking forward to cocktails and dinner this evening. I think I'll need a couple! I chose this little number with a black wrap. Archie said that Hector will certainly approve...:)

Now...I just hope Lexie, the cook, will stop glaring at me. It seems she has a bit of a crush on the Laird and is not pleased at all with my arrival. Oh dear...yes, cocktails will be most welcome!

Stay tuned this weekend for our arrival at Torosay Castle on the Isle of Mull and for Sunday's big event. I'll reveal the final tea attire then.

What was in the Vault?

Well, we finally got the keys from Hector after Molly, Archie’s mother, knew where he was hiding them. She’s a gem! It seems Hector and his friend, Lord Kilwillie, had been hiding a 200 year old barrel of Malt Whiskey down there. Turns out, it may be worth quite a lot of money but Hector was afraid that Archie would want to sale it to help pay for some much needed repairs. Oh well…I think Archie may have won the first round, as he has seized the barrel and locked it away…However, I suspect this latest MacDonald debate is far from over.

Unfortunately, the paintings I was hired to authenticate were indeed forgeries…Quite good forgeries none the less but utter fakes. After all of the events today, Archie is not exactly in the best of moods so let’s hope the journey to Torosay castle and the grand Christmas Tea will get the woes of Glenbogle off his mind.

And, thank goodness Mr. Toast will have proper scones…Lexie’s were ice cold and as hard as bricks. I nearly broke a tooth on one this afternoon!

Until Sunday night my friends…

Most Teafully,
R

2010-11-24T10:57:00.012-05:00

A CHRISTMAS TEA IN SCOTLAND

The blogosphere is of course buzzing with anticipation over Mr. Toast’s 2nd annual Christmas Tea…My, if you missed last year’s event, you certainly should revisit this spectacular gala. Mr. Toast is highlighting many special moments on his sidebar and throughout some of his posts. Please stroll over there to get a recap of the glorious event and to sign up to attend this year.

I have the perfect date for this Highland fling. I will be escorted by none other than the Laird of Glenbogle, Archibald MacDonald. Archie invited me to spend a few days before the event at his ancestral home of Glenbogle House. I just hope this time; the plumbing issues have been resolved. Keeping a castle in tip top shape can prove rather taxing, or so I’m told ;)... That ever so eccentric family and staff of his should make the stay very entertaining to say the least. It seems I will also be conducting a bit of business while visiting with the MacDonald’s. Apparently, the family are in an uproar over some ancestral portraits. The request was vague but has something to do with questioning their authenticity. Hum… Archie has asked for an Art Historian’s advice so, of course, I am more than happy to look into this for him.

(Here's a photo of my date, Archie, the Laird of Glenbogle. He's the handsome one, first step, in the middle of a cast of, err, characters. Trust me when I say that's the understatement of a lifetime.)

Ah, now that my date for this event has been secured, I must finalize my wardrobe. Check back after this Holiday weekend for a sneak peak. Hum...can't wait to see what Archie wears. He has been known to sport a variety of kilts so this should prove interesting.

And last but not least, Happy Thanksgiving to each and every one of you!

2010-09-24T10:42:00.005-04:00

WORLD CUP OF TEA CHARITY EVENT

(from Google Images)

For any of you who might be in the Franklin/Nashville area. You may find this event interesting. I've blogged about World Cup of Tea before and loved the experience at this tea room. And, what a worthy cause!

On Sunday, September 26th World Cup of Tea will join the fight to raise money and awareness for childhood cancer by teaming up with Songs For The Cure / 30 Days of Hope. We will have three seating times for lunch, 11:00, 1:00, and 3:00. Reservations are required. 100% of the proceeds go to Songs For The Cure / 30 Days of Hope. Music will be provided by Tonja Rose. Call and make your reservation today! 615-224-9778.

Menu for the event:
Southern Harvest Salad
Aunt Cecils Chicken Salad
Open Faced Cucumber
Hot Roast Beef
Apricot or Chocolate scone
$15.00 per person (Remember 100% goes to the charity.)

For more information you can check out the website for Songs for the Cure www.songsforthecurenashville.com or the website for 30 Days of Hope www.thirtydaysofhope.org

2010-08-09T09:06:00.005-04:00

A NEW WEEK AND A NEW BLOG

I have a new blog published today and will be redirecting my attention over there. For those of you who have been faithful followers here at LHTS, please come over to The Muse Within. I hope you enjoy this new direction and stop by often!

2010-08-06T11:04:00.016-04:00

REFLECTIONS

( A Friday evening stroll at Battery Park, Charleston, SC )

( Rosebud, adorned with lilac hat- Cherry Grove Beach, SC )

It's hard to believe that August is here again. I must admit, it has to be one of my least favorite months. The debilitating and repressive heat and humidity that we experience here in my neck of the woods is frankly, well, depressing. This week has been so deadly hot that merely walking from your front door to your car truly is a Herculean feat.

I prefer to take this time indoors to reflect on the coming fall, my favorite season. With reflections comes challenges and changes for me on a number of levels. First of all, after teaching private art classes on and off for the last 14 years, I have decided to return to school in order to complete a Masters Degree in Art Education. That will mean major changes in regards to juggling so many interests. It also means a new direction in blogging. Though I will maintain the LHTS blog, it will be scaled down to really only post pictures of, and scheduling for, tea events. Instead, I am focusing exclusively on creating a viable online presence as an artist. My website is nearly finished and with that there will be a new blog which will be published on August 9 called The Muse Within. This will be where I showcase my artwork,writing about the creative process, and all that inspires.

For those of you who have been so faithful and supportive at the Tea Society Blog, thank you. I do hope you will also join me at The Muse Within.

2010-07-20T23:10:00.009-04:00

BLOGGING BREAK

(View of the East Battery)

(Spire top of St. Michael's Church..The Holy City)

(Cherry Grove Beach, South Carolina )

Hello Friends...Well, it's time for a bit of a blogging break...I will be away this weekend through next week but hope to resume regular blogging when I return. It's time to spend a couple of days in my favorite Southern City, Charleston, South Carolina, and then a week up the coast at Cherry Grove Beach. Farewell, for now...and enjoy lots of iced tea while you eagerly wait for the temperatures to cool.

2010-07-05T12:57:00.010-04:00

CREATIVE TUESDAYS: SNACK

It's a new week and another CT offering for this summer. The theme for this one was snack. I snack on chex mix but didn't feel inspired to draw that. However, I also love to snack on fruit and figured a couple of Bing cherries might work well for this. I used pen and ink again, my current favorite medium, and drew and shaded with stippling. There's some line drawing found around the stems and the form of the cherries. It's fun to alternate from line to stippling to give it a bit more depth and to play with the values in an unusual way.

Make sure to check out all the CT entries and look for the montage this week to see what the new theme will be.

Happy snacking!

2010-06-14T13:58:00.012-04:00

CREATIVE TUESDAYS

( Nevermore: The Raven's Nook- Pen and Ink illustration on Arches cold-pressed watercolor paper)

Here is my Creative Tuesday offering for "Nook"...Granted, it isn't a conventional nook or cranny. However, it is to this 'Raven' who is perched in its own nouveau tree nook. The Raven, by Edgar Allen Poe was of course the inspiration behind the drawing.

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
`'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door -
Only this, and nothing more.'

2010-06-02T09:16:00.010-04:00

NATIONAL ICED TEA MONTH

( Google Images)

June has arrived again and it's time for all the iced tea drinkers in the Blogosphere to celebrate this National Iced Tea month. I can't think of a better way to pay homage than to delve into the history of the beverage. Just how, when, and why did someone come up with this idea?

19th Century

1800's - English and American cookbooks state that tea has been served cold at least since the early nineteenth century, when cold green tea punches, that were heavily spiked with liquor, were popularized. The oldest recipes in print are made with green tea and not black tea and were called punches. The tea punches went by names such as Regent's Punch, named after George IV, the English prince regent between 1811 until 1820, and king from 1820 to 1830.

By the middle of the nineteenth century, American versions of this punch began to acquire regional and even patriotic names, such as Charleston's St. Cecilia Punch (named for the musical society whose annual ball it graced), and Savannah's potent version, Chatham Artillery Punch.

Iced tea's popularity parallels the development of refrigeration: the ice house, the icebox (refrigerator), and the commercial manufacture of pure ice, which were in place by the middle of the nineteenth century. The term "refrigerator" was used for the first patented ice box in 1803 and was common in the mid 19th century in the United States.

( Above information is taken from an article by Linda Stradley at What's Cooking America. )

The general consensus seems to be that Iced Tea was popularized(not invented as has been mistakenly attributed) at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis. According to "legend", the heat was so sweltering at the event that visitors passed on the offer of free hot tea. It was then that a tea vendor ran tea through iced pipes to cool and chill the beverage. When people heard that there was free "cold" tea offered they eagerly tried this new way of serving their favorite beverage. The rest, as they say, is history.

I must admit, I prefer hot tea over iced. I know to some that is a bit of a sacrilege for anyone born south of the Mason Dixon Line. However, in spite of my affinity for the hot brew, during the summer months there's always fresh iced sweet tea available around here and I certainly enjoy more than my fair share. Cheers everyone!

2010-05-31T14:31:00.007-04:00

CREATIVE TUESDAY: DOTTY

Here's my offering for this week's Creative Tuesday, "Dotty Lady Bug". I was stumped with this one for some reason. The other day I wondered out loud, "What can I draw that has dots?" My three year old then turned to me and said, "Mommy, a lady bug has dots!" So, here you have it. A very quick non realistic 10 minute pen and ink lady bug drawn with dots:) Happy CT, everyone...( dot dot dot) :D

2010-05-25T11:24:00.021-04:00

TEA IN NASHVILLE

(Nashville skyline on a Sunday afternoon)

After several weeks of blogging about everything under the sun but tea, I felt it was high time I devoted an entry to something Tea-related since this is really supposed to be a tea blog. I had originally intended on writing a review about an incredible book that I got for Christmas but with a weekend getaway to Nashville ahead of me last week, I decided to wait until I returned to write about a place I’ve wanted to visit for the last couple of years.

This past Saturday afternoon, accompanied by my good friend, Kimberly, I ventured to a delightful Tea Shop called World Cup of Tea. The shop is, oddly enough, in a newer shopping center but it’s apparent from the charming flagstone path which leads to the front door that one should not be put off by the modern exterior. We were greeted with flags hanging in the window; the center one being a Union Jack, the others represented China, India, and other significant tea-drinking/supplying nations. As we approached the front doors, I knew instantly that I had to learn more about the owner of this charming Tea Shop.

Twenty-five years ago Rosemary Staggs, owner of World Cup of Tea, experienced her first afternoon tea in England. As a result, she fell in love with everything tea-related. Since returning from that magical trip she embarked on her very own tea education and devoted countless hours to the study of tea. “Her accomplishments include the completion of Pearl Dexter’s Tea School and the Elmwood Inn’s How to Open A Tea Room Seminar, a level one and two certification from the Tea Association of the United States and countless other tea seminars. She has traveled to both India and China to learn firsthand about the cultivation and culture of tea. Rosemary has been published several times in Tea: A Magazine and hopes to continue her study for many more years to come. Though many may consider her knowledge of tea complete, Rosemary will always consider herself a student of tea.”(From WCT website)

The uniqueness of World Cup of Tea is that Staggs has created a global tea experience just south of Nashville, Tennessee. You begin your tea encounter at the wall of samples where each container holds a different blend. There is a lovely selection of white, black, and green teas as well as herbal infusions. The attention to detail at this shop is certainly to be commended as well. Staggs provides lovely personal touches which make this tea house warm and extremely inviting. During the week you may reserve your very own tea tasting with Rosemary but since we were there on a Saturday, we were unable to take part in that. Full afternoon teas are also available upon reservations or a box lunch tea which is what we elected to have.

(World Cup of Tea)

(The dark woods and warm golden walls of this place added a soothing serenity.)

(Kimberly, in all her maternal glow, savoring the various tea aromas at the wall of tea. )

(Tea table)

( We elected to sit at a low Asian influenced table. The entire tea shop is designed for a relaxed intimate tea experience)

Oh, and which blends made it home with us? Kimberly chose a heavenly aromatic jasmine blend while I selected Czar’s Samovar. The Samovar is a fragrant fruity blend of rich China, Ceylon, and Nepal Black teas with sweet currants. This tea brews a deep, coppery color with a long, lingering aftertaste.

So, if you find yourself in the Nashville area, make the journey to Franklin/Cool Springs and spend an hour or two at the World Cup of Tea. It’s a must for any tea lover and a place I am certain to return to again and again.

2010-05-03T14:38:00.009-04:00

CREATIVE TUESDAY: PURE IMAGINATION

(Past Dreams - paper cutting-pen and ink)

For this Creative Tuesday theme, Pure Imagination, I decided to try another paper cutting. First, I sketched the figure and then cut the paper from the drawing( using it as a template)..I discovered mid-way through that I really needed sharper scissors ...You live and you learn, though, right? I added an Art Nouveau-inspired design and then some outling(dots) around the figure and the decorative design with my trusty Faber Castell pen.

Dreaming or a euphoric dream-state was sort of the motivator for this one. Well, that and studying Pre-Raphaelite art for the last several months for a writing project.

2010-04-30T13:21:00.010-04:00

DERBY WEEKEND IN KENTUCKY

It’s that time of year again in the Bluegrass State. Today is the Kentucky Oaks but tomorrow, May 1st, is the world famous Kentucky Derby. For most of us in Kentucky that means a weekend of Derby themed parties, dinners, and more parties! The Tea Society has had Derby Teas in the past where we’ve highlighted all things Kentucky, especially in reference to teas and food products. We've even designed our own Derby hats in the past years. But this year, with incredibly busy schedules from all, it seemed impossible to find a weekend where most of us could join together.

Some of our members are wearing their finest millinery and attending all the racing events. While our Polly, a well-respected and talented milliner, has been covered up in hat orders from around the globe. She will no doubt welcome a bit of breathing time after the race on Saturday. That is, until wedding season sweeps her up with more orders! For me, I think I will spend the weekend watching all the celebrations from a cozy seat in my parlor while sipping a hot mint infusion or a cuppa Elmwood Inn’s Kentucky Blend. On Sunday, however, I will take advantage of a tradition among many of the women in our region in wearing a fine Oaks or Derby hat to church on Sunday.

If by chance you would like a taste of the Derby, try the famous Kentucky Mint Julep(seen in the image below). Southern Living offers a recipe here.

2010-04-14T22:47:00.007-04:00

THEME THURSDAY: LUNCH

Some of my most memorable lunches came after church at my Grandmother Coleman’s house. She referred to them as Sunday ‘dinners’ and they were always around 12:30 PM, just enough time for everyone to get to her house after their various services. Lunch for her was hardly what one might have every day. We had Sweet tea, lemonade and coffee to drink (no soda pop at her house). The meal consisted of at least two different entrees. That was usually fried (always prepared in a deep black cast iron pot) or baked chicken with dressing (sometimes turkey), a roast of some sort and even meatloaf as well. She had two huge vegetable gardens so in the summer we always had fresh vegetable dishes, at least six-eight to accompany the main courses, and then of course two or three desserts to choose from. Of the latter, cakes, pies and cobblers were always on the sideboards to tease us throughout the meal. I will say that in spite of the massive “lunch” on the table, we always had room for my Grandmother’s famous apple pie. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water. It amazed us all that she managed to have feasts like this every week and refused to have anyone bring a dish. It would have been an insult to her to do so and she truly lived to prepare those meals. For her, it was a way to insure that the entire family would always at least be together once a week to fellowship. Needless to say, after these huge lunches/dinners, no one seemed to have much of an appetite for supper and if we did eat later, we usually took leftovers home from Grandma’s.

These days Sunday lunch usually consists of a salad and soup or a sandwich and some fruit with a cup of tea. That’s quite a far cry from those wonderful Sunday afternoon feasts, but much kinder to my waistline.

2010-04-01T11:20:00.021-04:00

CREATIVE TUESDAY: EASTER

( Pieta` )

I was so thrilled with this Creative Tuesday Theme, Easter. This is such a beautiful celebration of Resurrection, redemption, rebirth, and renewal. It was fantastic timing because I had another project underway that fit perfectly with this theme. Our church issued a call to parish artists to create art for the stations of the cross, to use at our Good Friday service. I chose the 13TH station( 9th in some other observations), Jesus taken down from the cross. It didn't take long for me to know where to find artistic inspiration for this piece. I turned to two Pieta's, one of course by Michelangelo and the other by Carracci. The latter of which I drew the most inspiration from, with the poses of Christ and Mary. I used Michelangelo's work to inspire Mary's garment and head covering. I rendered the drawing with Derwent Graphic pencils on acid-free Strathmore smooth drawing paper.

The artwork will be on display at our church through Easter Sunday when after the service, there will be a silent auction for all the works. The proceeds will be donated to our mission team's Haiti relief trip.

Have a wonderful Good Friday and a very blessed Easter!

2010-03-24T19:15:00.014-04:00

THEME THURSDAY: SIGN

I’ve never been much on reading or believing daily horoscopes but I must admit to recognizing more than a few similarities between myself and my astrological sun sign, Sagittarius. In the past, I’ve even had friends musingly christen me the poster child for the 'Archer’s' characteristic traits. With that in mind, how about the rest of you bloggers? To borrow from that ever ‘dated’ line from the 1970’s , “What’s your sign?”…and do you think you fit the characteristic traits?

Traits:
Sagittarians are eternal optimists. They have very positive outlooks on life, are full of enterprise, energy, versatility, creativity, adventurousness and an eagerness to extend most experiences for as long as possible( If they are pleasant, of course). They are dreamers and idealistic, drawn to travel and exploration. Because of this, they often select careers which will afford them that possibility. They are honorable, honest, trustworthy, truthful, generous and sincere with a passion for justice. Sagittarius is not a diplomatic sign like Libra and Scorpio. They are very straightforward, at times telling people more than they may wish to hear. They can be restless and dislike monotony. They are typically very extroverted and this lends well to situations where they will be in the spotlight. Like the other fire signs, they enjoy the outdoors. They are usually modest and are often religious. They are also strong-willed and good at organizing, a combination that gives them the ability to bring most projects to a successful conclusion( most but not all).

Mythology:
The sign in Greek Mythology is associated with the Centaur: half human, half horse. The Babylonians, however, identified Sagittarius as the god Pabilsag, a diety with wings and a lion's head.

2010-03-17T08:58:00.006-04:00

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY

(For a wonderful dramatic reading of St. Patrick's Breastplate click here )

( In honor of my Irish O' Colmain (Coleman) maternal side)

( Drink lots of real green tea- Barry's Irish Breakfast of course! )

Wishing all of the friends and followers of the Ladies' Historical Tea Society a very Happy and Blessed St. Patrick's Day.

2010-03-06T09:46:00.004-05:00

TO SPRING

The Enchanted Garden of Messer Ansaldo by Marie Spartali Stillman (1889)

To Spring

William Blake (1783)

O thou with dewy locks, who lookest down
Through the clear windows of the morning, turn
Thine angel eyes upon our western isle,
Which in full choir hails thy approach, O Spring!

The hills tell one another, and the listening
Valleys hear; all our longing eyes are turn’d
Up to thy bright pavilions: issue forth
And let thy holy feet visit our clime!

Come o’er the eastern hills, and let our winds
Kiss thy perfumèd garments; let us taste
Thy morn and evening breath; scatter thy pearls
Upon our lovesick land that mourns for thee.

O deck her forth with thy fair fingers; pour
Thy soft kisses on her bosom; and put
Thy golden crown upon her languish’d head,
Whose modest tresses are bound up for thee.

2010-02-17T22:20:00.009-05:00

THEME THURSDAY: BELL

(5 of my favorite cloche/bell and near cloche styled hats. The black lace trimmed one in the middle was a gift from Paula.)

In case you haven’t noticed from my profile picture or other random photos on this blog, my favorite hats just so happen to be cloches. The name of course is French for Bell. I’ve acquired many of them over the years and must say that one of my favorite cloches was given to me by a dear friend and Tea Society member, Paula Porter. In memory of Paula’s long battle with cancer, for others battling this disease, and for Barry’s triumphant completion of chemotherapy, I shall toss my bell shaped hat in the air and clap and rejoice in honor of all of you. Congratulations Barry!

This is for you!

Chemo at
Long last is
Over now
Caring
Hearts
Embrace and rejoice

...

2010-02-15T18:42:00.008-05:00

TEA IN THE GARDEN

Ah, February, the month were if you’re an avid gardener, like me, the indoor seed sewing and garden planning begins this month. I gather my garden design magazines and books, mosey to the tall window in the stairwell where I can peer down into the garden, and begin to dream. This is always followed by an annual vow to keep on top of weeding this year, in spite of the heavy humid days of July and August. That shall not deter me! For I will have my trusty wide brimmed straw garden hat, to shelter my skin, and endeavor to pluck and pull away with St. Francis and the birds to keep me company.

This year, however, I am finally planning to do something that I have always wanted to do, grow my own tea garden. No, not an herbal tea( infusion) garden; I already have a corner herb garden, but a real container tea garden where I will grow the Camellia Sinensis to have my own organically home grown tea. Granted, in a contained state it would yield very small quantities, but just enough for an occasional treat. Can it be done in a town garden, outside the ideal conditions found in a lush tea plantation? Of course it can! Though, I must consider that my single plant Tea Garden will not winter over here in Zone 6. Therefore, it must be kept in a container which will have to be brought indoors to be nurtured through the cold winter months. Much to my delight, I have been reassured by some tea purveyors and nurseries that it can indeed be done with fairly good results.

In researching what will be required to grow this wonderful plant, I have discovered that this will be not only a challenging experiment, but also an act of exercising great patience on my part. It will require patience because it takes 3 years before the plant will be ready for the tea leaves to be harvested. That will make it challenging because, sadly, patience is not a virtue that I am known to possess. However, this information is not a deterrent, but rather a motivator telling me that I need to try my hand at this. I will also keep a Tea gardening Journal here on this blog to make me accountable to the entire blogosphere for my Tea cultivating adventures.

Facts about growing Camellia Sinensis:

Camellia Sinensis plants are actually trees, which in cultivation are pruned to 2-5 feet. They are evergreen plants with fragrant white flowers appearing in fall making them attractive for ornamental use. The plant likes well-drained and sandy acidic soil. If growing ‘tea’ in a container, add sphagnum moss to the potting mix.

Cheers!

2010-02-08T11:28:00.017-05:00

CREATIVE TUESDAY: Muse Within

( Muse Within )

For this week’s Creative Tuesday theme, Muse , I did a simple pen and ink line drawing.

My ‘muses’ are always artists from the past. Of course the Pre-Raphaelite painters hold the greatest inspiration for me, along with 19th century Paris Academe masters. The latter required their students/apprentices to use sculpture from antiquity as models to perfect the human form and I do this with my students as well. I actually still use a lot of statuary for models in my own drawings/illustrations, altering them in subtle ways, even idealizing them to reflect a certain mood or to give a particular appearance. This drawing was a combination of those influences and resources. My ancient muse here is gazing into a mirror, searching for her own inner muse.

2010-02-03T21:54:00.029-05:00

THEME THURSDAY: RED

( A view from my red-walled parlor with a print of Rossetti's A Sea Spell above the fireplace mantel. This is my favorite spot to cuddle up with a hot cuppa Earl Grey and a good book. )

Hold then thy heart against her shining hair,
If, by thy fate, she spread it once for thee,
For when she nets a young man in that snare
So twine she him he never may be free.

(Lilith, translated from Goethe by Dante Gabriel Rossetti)

They peer out from beyond their idealized existence, skin luminescent glowing and flawless, faces belonging to goddesses, saints, and sirens. Their heavy lidded eyes stare dreamily off into a distant alter- reality. Their feminine mystique exudes through their full ruby red lips. They manifest into our world by way of rich vibrant paint on canvas, straight out of ancient mythology and medieval legend.

Commanding, powerful bodies, languid swanlike necks, and striking features almost always served as a prerequisite in order for these women to be christened a “stunner”, an affectionate term given to their specially selected models by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, William Morris, and A. Charles Swinburne. Rossetti and company elevated common, mortal, milliner’s assistants, shop girls, daughters, and mothers to tragic heroines and romanticized deities.

Perhaps the most peculiar feature that these seductive creatures often had in common was their flowing red hair. This was an attribute greatly desired by the above mentioned artists, among others, of the period.

Below is an offering of some of my favorite Rossetti's, all featuring one of his beloved "stunners", Alexa Wilding. She is seen in all her glory with alluring fiery serpentine red hair so often associated with that of a Pre-Raphaelite muse.

(A Sea Spell, Rossetti)

(Veronica Veronese, Rossetti)

(Lady Lilith, Rossetti)

( Roman Window, Rossetti)

2010-02-01T09:18:00.006-05:00

CONTEMPLATION

(Image from Kerala Tea Garden)

Tea Garden

In this world
it is easy to travel
to new places and fascinating landscapes.
What matters is
that we lift the veil from our eyes,
open ourselves to a new voyage of perception,
and arrive in paradise.

From Looking Deeply into Tea
By Shelley Richardson

2010-01-27T12:19:00.019-05:00

A WINTER BRUNCH

This past Sunday, the ladies of the Tea Society joined me on a very rainy January morning to venture to the historic town of Midway, Kentucky to celebrate our first Tea Society event of 2010. We did so with a wonderful Sunday brunch. Our destination was my favorite restaurant in Central Kentucky, The Holly Hill Inn. I have blogged about HH Inn in the past but it is such a magical place that I had to post a short one about it again. I highly recommend dining here to anyone who may find themselves in Central Kentucky, especially with the World Equestrian Games coming to our neck of the woods this year. Most Kentuckians are filled with excitement that our state will be hosting this amazing event. My mind is a flutter, formulating ideas for a unique Tea Theme to commemorate this occasion as well.

As for the restaurant, there are so many reasons to adore this place and the most obvious is of course the delectable cuisine, described as “Southern with a Twist”, and prepared by New York Culinary Institute graduate- Chef and owner, Ouita Michel. Southern Living had a lovely write up about her, and the Inn, in an issue last year. What I love so much about the picture below is the table she is seated at is perhaps my favorite spot in the entire restaurant. I have sat opposite that table many times and always get lost gazing at the artwork on the wall and through the window behind her there. It's magical in that corner when the room is dim and the light invades through the panes, dancing and glimmering on the white walls. It is truly a very romantic setting.

We spent at least an hour and a half, laughing, talking, and enjoying being in the company of friends- reveling in the sometimes lost art of conversation. I must say that the Inn is not a Tea room and there are actually places much better suited for a hot cuppa, but the ambiance and cuisine of this place makes it more than worth your while to have a quiet serene Sunday Brunch among friends.

(Image of Chef Ouita Michel from Southern Living Magazine online)

(Image of my favorite table from Holly Hill Inn Website)

( Tea Society Members at brunch:(on the left) Polly, Darleen, and Natalie. Caroline is seated beside me. Hum..I still haven't named this latest brown cloche with feathers...I must think on this some more:)

2010-01-20T22:02:00.005-05:00

THEME THURSDAY: BREAD

Homage to the Scone

We eat more than our fair share of bread at our Tea Society events, and being a “southern girl” I’ve certainly grown up eating lots of my Grandmother’s mouthwatering buttermilk biscuits and my Mother’s delectable cornbread. Yet, when I think of bread, my first thought is of the Scone...

Ah, that trademark sidekick to the ultimate cuppa. I’ve made them so often for tea events that I think I could make them in my sleep and I can’t really imagine a tea event without them. Being the history buff that I am, of course I had to delve into the origin of this wonderful tea accompaniment.

When I think of scones, I tend to associate their appearance at the "Tea Table" with refinement and a traditional English Afternoon Tea. However, the origin of this bread is believed to have been in Scotland. In its earliest form, it was a simple quick bread made with oats and barley flour. It was often shaped into a round mound and scored or cut into wedges. The dough was then baked on a Scottish griddle or “girdle” over an open fire.

Where did the name come from? It is believed that this popular Tea bread took its name from the Pictish Kingdom of Scone (Scotland). The exact origin of the name is possibly Dutch, German, or Gaelic. The pronunciation is also intriguing and debatable. Throughout Great Britain one may hear “skaun” or “skoane”. Either is considered acceptable. I have to admit, being born and raised south of the Mason Dixon line, I tend to favor the latter, “skoane”, drawing out the “oa”, of course…

Ah...care to join me for some cream cheese and pecan scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream- all with bottomless pots of Barry’s Irish Breakfast?

2010-01-14T08:46:00.005-05:00

THEME THURSDAY: SURFACE

I’ve always had this very strange fascination with old gnarled tree roots, the kind of roots that have burst forth to the surface of the soil like Merlin’s languid fingers. They tickle the earth and in time become covered with a coat of deep green lichen. They embark outward on a journey of discovery, for something more- something once feared to be buried and lost. They seem forgotten in years of dormancy but waiting for the opportunity to spring forth once more to reveal that life is still contained there.

When I was a very young art student, I had this enigmatic professor who took my studio class out on drawing days to forgotten cemeteries in search of the most interesting trees with these wayward surface roots, so large that one could carve a bench from them and certainly called to mind roots from Tolkien’s Fangorn forest. I sat, mesmerized, before stately oaks and maples, ancient, weathered, hypnotic and seductive. I longed to know their history, to be close to them, and to glimpse into a mirror of the past to see all that transpired before them. I still do.

Why do roots that normally stay underground, cloaked in darkness, emerge from the soil? Science explains that roots often grow more shallowly beneath the soil than many of us ever imagined; it depends largely on the type of tree. The surface soil might erode and make way for the roots to expand and erupt, in very much the same way that a tree trunk expands with age. The older more mature roots of trees will increase and grow larger, waiting until the time is right to rise to the surface, spread, and extend outward. To me this is a strange sort of freedom from the depths of the earth. Is this a final chance for these great wonders to reveal that there is more there than meets the eye? I believe that they could be making a plea to the natural world and to all that stumble upon them, that they might truly be seen.

2010-01-11T11:44:00.007-05:00

CREATIVE TUESDAY: CHEERIO-EARRING

“Cheerio-earring”

Ah…here’s my Creative Tuesday offering this week. My gold hoop earrings served as the source of inspiration. I drew a line drawing of an ear and then used a stippling effect/technique ( simply to draw by means of dots or small touches)to add values and shading. My weapon of choice was a trusty Faber-Castell PITT artist's pen…My son got quite a chuckle out of this, but I think it made my daughter hungry as she’s been asking for cheerios all morning…

2010-01-05T09:13:00.010-05:00

HAPPY HOT TEA MONTH

As I’ve noted on my sidebar, January is in fact National Hot Tea Month, so sayeth The Tea Association of the USA, Inc., The Tea Council of the USA, and the Specialty Tea Institute (STI). Personally speaking, I need absolutely no excuse whatsoever to partake in anything Tea related. The intimacy, ritual, and of course the pleasing taste alone is all the enticement needed for me, as well as many other loyal Tea Society bloggers. However, the below information might be of particular interest for anyone looking for health benefits as an excuse to enjoy a hot cuppa (or two or three or four or five).

Drinking hot tea has the great potential to help you stay a bit healthier during the cold and flu season of which we are in the midst of. According to Harvard University, theanine, a natural ingredient found in tea, supports the immune system. One cup of tea contains approximately 25 mg of theanine. Therefore, drinking multiple cups of hot tea, daily, is recommended to boost your immunity.

Better yet, according to clinical research, drinking up to five cups of Black Tea for 2-4 weeks will boost ones immunity four times over. The results also show that Black Tea increases the body’s natural resistance to infection.

In addition, tea also contains flavonoids, which have antioxidant properties. These properties aid in battling free radicals which are believed to damage elements in the body, such as "genetic material and lipids", resulting in many chronic diseases.

With all the wonderful health benefits of tea, what are you waiting for? Put the kettle on and enjoy!

2009-12-31T08:15:00.006-05:00

WELCOME 2010

( Twilight Fantasies by Edward Robert Hughes- 1911 )

Ah, another year is on the verge of being born, and so much promise and possibilities lay before each of us to begin again, renew, recreate, or perhaps rediscover our true selves. Though, as many other bloggers have noted, I, too, typically steer clear of your typical resolutions ( dieting, exercising more, etc.) I will, however, challenge myself to welcome this year with nothing but optimism and positive energy, with the knowledge and belief that anything truly is possible.

With all that said, may your New Year be filled with love, laughter, joy, passion, excitement, blessings, courage, tranquility, harmony, bliss, encouragement,wisdom, discernment, forgiveness, positive affirmations, prosperity, and success. May your lives also be filled with beauty, the kind that gives you such pause as to take your breath away and restore your souls.

Wishing each and everyone of you, dear bloggy Tea Society friends, a very Happy New Year!

2009-12-29T00:11:00.010-05:00

MR. TOAST'S CREATIVE TUESDAYS: MUSIC AND MERRIMENT

This is my offering, Music and Merriment, for Mr. Toast’s Creative Tuesdays:

For the last couple of weeks I’ve been listening to a Celtic Christmas CD with predominately Irish fiddle music (blame it on my ancestors) :), and I must say that the ultimate festive Christmas song for me is I Saw Three Ships. That song was really a catalyst for me to start thinking of Christmases of the past way before Internet, i-PODS, CD’S or even radio was around to entertain. So, my concept is a festive 19th century evening( could be in Ireland, England, or even in Appalachia) with a father playing fiddle for his two young children as they sit opposite one another on stools, clapping along to the lively accompaniment.

The illustration technique is called Scherenschnitte ( German for paper-cuts). It's often referred to as "drawing with scissors". I also added some pen and ink accents. This takes silhouette cutting a bit further by incorporating scenery and also line drawing(outline) into the image. I first drew a line drawing of my subjects, then used the drawn figures as templates to make paper-cuts ( with surgical scissors and a sharp scalpel to cut out/in really small details). I then added the musical notes and scrolling design with a pen…

What a fun theme…I hope you enjoy!

2009-12-28T08:52:00.010-05:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROSEBUD!

(beginning the processional)

It's been a very busy past couple of weeks for one special little girl( and her mommy, too!). First, she had preparations for her featured role as "the donkey" in the St. Andrew's Christmas Pageant. Wayward, wandering, and ever so adorable in her floppy-eared attire; she sashayed down the center aisle, twirling, smiling, waving, and I dare say flirting with anyone holding a camera. It was such fun watching our priest laugh so much, as he often reminds us how similar she is to his own daughter when at the same age...

As she finally reached the manger, she was not content to rest near the hay( as directed by the children's ministry leader), but insisted on fussing with the baby Jesus' swaddling cloths, desperately wanting to pick up the doll( hum..I mean baby:)..and rock it to sleep. Mary,in her wisdom, saw where that was going and wisely whisked up the doll( hum..baby). It is safe to say ,as just yesterday four people commented, that it was the best Christmas pageant ever thanks to the entertaining antics of the blue-eyed donkey we so affectionately call Rosebud.

Yesterday, said little girl woke for church and by mid morning had sniffles and sneezing. Yet, her spirits remained high throughout the afternoon with anticipation, knowing that both sets of Grandparents were well on their way for an early family celebration just for her.

This year, Rosebud requested pizza for her birthday dinner, and cupcakes, not an official birthday cake. We of course obliged and in spite of her cold, she had a wonderful time. As did we all...

Today is Katherine Elizabeth's actual birthday and she will no doubt be delighted to see her beautiful face gracing the pages of her Mommy's blog. Happy 3rd Birthday my beautiful sweet little Rosebud!

(waving and mouthing "Hi! Mommy"..:))

(waiting as she's being serenaded with "Happy Birthday"..note the already partially eaten ice cream and cupcake..I never said patience was her strong point..Doesn't fall far from the tree)

2009-12-26T10:07:00.004-05:00

ST. STEPHEN'S / BOXING DAY)

( St. Stephen (detail) by Giacomo Cavedone 1601)

THE WREN SONG

The wren, the wren, the king of all birds,

On St. Stephen's Day was caught in the furze,

Although he is little, his family is great,

I pray you, good landlady, give us a treat.

My box would speak, if it had but a tongue,

And two or three shillings, would do it not wrong,

Sing holly, sing ivy--sing ivy, sing holly,

A drop just to drink, it would drown melancholy.

And if you draw it of the best,

I hope in heaven your soul will rest;

But if you draw it of the small,

It won't agree with these wren boys at all.

The Celebration of St. Stephen's Day( from Irish Festivals.net)

St. Steven's Day( The Feast Day of St. Stephen the Martyr), as mentioned in the carol Good King Winceslas( see sidebar link), is an official holiday in Italy, Finland, Ireland and various other countries. It is also celebrated as an official or unofficial holiday. In England and the English speaking Commonwealth countries it is known as Boxing Day and celebrated as an official holiday under that name.

"In Ireland, December 26Th is celebrated under the name of St. Stephen's Day or sometimes referred to as Wren Day. Today the holiday is celebrated in Ireland very much like Boxing Day is celebrated in nearby England. But much of the lore of the day centers around a little bird known as the wren. In rural Ireland in times past, groups of young men and boys would dress in old clothes and blacken their faces. They would then capture and kill a wren, and march from house to house, carrying the dead wren on the top of a pole, and asking for a treat or money to bury the wren. In some places the custom was to give a feather from the wren in exchange for the money or treat. Today the practice of killing a wren has ceased but the marching and singing of the Wren song continues."

2009-12-23T13:02:00.003-05:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS

To all the blogosphere followers and random visitors to the Tea Society, may you have a very Merry Christmas and a blessed Holiday Season...

2009-12-16T22:18:00.017-05:00

THEME THURSDAY: HISTORY

THE HISTORY OF MISTLETOE

Given that the celebratory Christmas season is upon us, it seemed fitting to explore the history of a time honored tradition, as well as an interesting decoration, to mark Theme Thursday this week. So, I chose to delve into the peculiar history of mistletoe.

Mistletoe’s historical origins in America can be traced back to the 17Th century, but its genesis and tales of discovery and mystical stories of tragedy and redemption have much more ancient beginnings.

One of the earliest associations with mistletoe can be found in Norse history through mythology. The lore begins with Frigga, Goddess of beauty and love. When her son, Baldur was born, she sought out all the species in the plant kingdom, save one, mistletoe, to insure that her son would never be harmed. Due to her neglect, the god of evil, Loki, found Baldur and killed him with a mistletoe-laced spear. In Fridda’s despair, she wept tears of tiny white berries comparable to the ones found on mistletoe. When Baldur was eventually brought back to life, Fridda made a vow that she would kiss anyone who walked under the mistletoe.

( Druids Cutting Mistletoe)

The second association is found in the history of the ancient Druids. When the warring clans would come in contact with mistletoe, they would cease to do battle and call a truce, if only momentarily. Some historians suggest that this act of peace, instead of the Norse account, may have actually been the precursor to traditional associations with kissing when standing underneath the balls of berry -laden greenery.

Though some cultures have made the association of mistletoe with marriage, when a man kisses a woman while standing underneath, most merely see a person there as stumbling upon the chance encounter for a kiss and an embrace.

On a much less romantic note, mistletoe’s botanical history reveals that not only is the plant poisoness, but it is in fact viewed as a “partial parasitic plant”. It can actually survive on its own, through photosynthesis, and will attach its roots into trees, robbing them of nutrients.

I don’t know about you, but I certainly prefer the romantic Norse or Druid ‘Histories’ to the Botanical one…

2009-12-15T10:47:00.009-05:00

CHRISTMAS CARDS

Erato, Muse of Poetry, 1870 Sir Edward John Poynter

As I have written in past posts, every December I go through the very time consuming ritual of selecting the perfect Christmas Card. I am never content to merely browse the sale items, and I never go for glittery offerings. No, I gravitate towards rich, emotive art which speaks to me with its beauty, in hopes that it will do the same to the recipient. After searching for weeks, I finally met the one.

I was out in the city for an afternoon of shopping yesterday and saw the image, securely isolated away from the plethora of other paper spectacles, shining brightly as if to say, “Rebecca, choose me! I am the one for you!”…
When I moved closer to the display table and reached to make the treasured selection, I heard the voices of two women. Their conversation fascinated me in the irony of that moment because, just as I was marveling in my festive celebratory quest and discovery, I heard one voice ponder to her friend, “Does anyone really send those anymore? It’s just such a waste of time and they just add to the clutter. Why bother?”

Taking a deep breath, I turned and smiled at her, clutching the box as I walked away. Mentally, I answered her question with,

“Yes, Ma’am, of course they do. Because there are still a few of us out there in this oh so ‘modern world’ who deeply cherish sending and receiving cards, taking the time to write letters (email or handwritten), and hold dear the sentiments of fondness, gratitude, and affection, no matter how small. “

Though you may not receive something directly in the post from me this year, due to existence in the blogosphere being what it is, I offer my carefully selected Christmas card to you. As the card reads inside, I am sincerely wishing each of you, “Blessings at Christmas.”

Rebecca

2009-12-09T23:58:00.007-05:00

THEME THURSDAY: SNOW

One of the most vivid memories of snow for me comes from the first moment I read of Lucy Pevensey, stepping further up and further in, into the wardrobe and through the snow laden mystical world of Narnia. As a young girl first becoming introduced to the brilliant C.S. Lewis’ mystical imaginative story, The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, I felt Lucy’s wonder, her fascination, and marvel as she looked beyond the fur coats, to the hemlocks adorned with weighty white heavenly powder. Through Lewis’ words, I could feel the cold wind on her face as she moved through the woods to reveal the world that would be forever winter.

Lewis’ inspiration is said to have been a desire to see his beloved County Down covered in snow, therefore, he imagined it was so through the pages of his Chronicles. Though the world of Narnia was under a curse to be forever winter, I see this present season of snow as a blessing- a time to question and explore one’s thoughts fantasies and imagination. Whilst often bound indoors, my mind is pressed to explore hidden ideas, welcoming fantastic realms that are often hidden from plain view in the midst of the warmth of summertime and its outdoor reverie. Snow –filled evenings woo me to settle indoors in front of the fire, with little more than my soul for companionship, to explore places in my mind which have been untapped, to create, to love, and to dream…..

Snow
Lyrics by Archibald Lampman (1861-1899)
Music by Loreena McKennitt

White are the far-off plains, and white
The fading forests grow;
The wind dies out along the height,
And denser still the snow,
A gathering weight on roof and tree,
Falls down scarce audibly.

The road before me smoothes and fills
Apace, and all ahout
The fences dwindle, and the hills
Are blotted slowly out;
The naked trees loom spectrally
Into the dim white sky.

The meadows and far-sheeted streams
Lie still without a sound;
Like some soft minister of dreams
The snow-fall hoods me round;
In wood and water, earth and air,
A silence everywhere.

Save when at lonely intervals
Some farmer's sleigh, urged on,
With rustling runners and sharp bells
Swings by me and is gone;
Or from the empty waste I hear
A sound remote and clear.

The barking of a dog, or call
To cattle, sharply pealed,
Borne echoing from some wayside stall
Or barnyard far afield;

Then all is silent and the snow falls
Settling soft and slow.
The evening deepens and the grey
Folds closer earth and sky
The world seems shrouded, far away.

Its noises sleep, and I as secret as
Yon buried stream plod dumbly on and dream.

2009-12-07T19:22:00.000-05:00

CHRISTMAS TEA AND TEACUP EXCHANGE

(Natalie, Denise, and Mary)

Sunday afternoon we held our annual Christmas Tea and teacup exchange. This year, Darleen opened her home to hostess the event and we were all so grateful for her hospitality and the warmth of her festive decor. I must say that her Christmas tree was spectacular with hundreds upon hundreds of ornaments, extending all the way through the tree's branches, filling it out to become a show place of sparkling jewel tones, making for one spectacular blown glass ornament extravaganza. Tea was served at 3PM, or perhaps more like 3:30 since we were all rather caught up admiring one another's hats and attire. After all, it was Afternoon Tea and why rush something so beautiful and lovely? Our Tea menu was as follows: artichoke and roasted red pepper tarts, cranberry scones served with lemon curd and Fayette Cream( our mock Devonshire Cream), chicken olive tea sandwiches, olive-nut tea sandwiches, pimento cheese tea sandwiches, chess bars, chocolate chip banana nut bread, chocolate chip cookies, pineapple cake, and Victoria Sponge Cake. Our teas were: Ceylon, Elmwood Inn Black Rose, and Earl Grey.

(In deep conversation...actually, I think this was about Master and Commander and the Aubrey-Maturin series by Patrick O'Brian..LOL!!)

(Polly and Caroline)

(I did manage to stop making pots of tea long enough to at least get a shot of Natalie's wonderful Victoria Sponge Cake, as shown here in the photo with Polly in front of the beautiful tree. As you can see, we had already begun to devour this treat:)

(Darleen, our lovely hostess for the afternoon)

(Denise and her large tea cup which we all agreed would be perfect for a huge cuppa English Breakfast)

(LHTS: Bottom row-Mary, Polly, Darleen~ Back row- Denise,Rebecca,Natalie and Caroline so graciously took the photo.)

After we spent two hours chatting,laughing,eating,laughing some more, and relishing just being in the company of friends, we retired to the living room with a pot of Earl Grey and had our teacup exchange for the final hour. It is quite a treat to anticipate that each year you will be getting a special teacup from a friend. We do so look forward to this particular event.

Now, on to planning the Tea Blending for January, and St. Valentine's Tea...

2009-12-07T17:12:00.014-05:00

2009-12-04T23:49:00.004-05:00

AND THE WINNER IS……

Congratulations to FireLight for winning the tea drawing! A special “tea package” will go out to her next week. I want to extend a very special thank you to all who posted. Thank you for your continued support in your most kind and thoughtful comments. Please raise your teacups with me in a Tea toast to another 200 posts at the LHTS!

2009-12-03T00:51:00.005-05:00

THEME THURSDAY: FRIEND

"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born."- Anais Nin

“There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship.”
Saint Thomas Aquinas

When thinking of friends, I think of tea. A leap? Absolutely not. When you think of the care and special attention that goes into making a cup or pot of tea, it is quite easy to compare that with the care and nurturing that goes into a friendship. Friends, like tea should always be treated with the greatest degree of tenderness. They must be savored, appreciated, and nurtured. It matters not if they are near or far, just that you share an undeniable bond.

For my dearest friends

Let’s be friends forever,
Let’s not care that there is space between us.
Let’s make a special kind of friendship
That’s better than the past.
Let’s use creativity and invent ways to make our friendship grow.
Let’s love for love’s sake
And continue to overlook mistakes.
Let’s dream and reach higher and be
Stubborn in our determination to see
The other one succeed.
Let’s be friends forever.
( from A Cup of Friendship)

2009-12-01T17:45:00.005-05:00

CHRISTMAS TEA WITH MR. TOAST

I am about to leave my new accomodations, one of the spectacular cabins reserved by MMM. After a quick power nap,I am refreshed and ready to drink tea until my heart is content. For this special event, I chose a black Edwardian Tea Gown, with a long black velvet Opera Coat to keep me warm, and of course I had to wear a hat to complete the ensemble!...Now,..off to visit with the charming guest of honor, hobnob and mingle...

2009-12-01T10:17:00.009-05:00

MY 200th POST

To help commemorate today's 200th post here at the Tea Society, I will have a special drawing to announce a winner of some wonderful Tea-related items. Just post a response to this entry, over the next few days, and I will announce the name of the winner on Friday! You have until midnight EST on Thursday to enter your name. This is just a very small token of gratitude to followers of the Tea Society, for allowing me to share my love of historic tea culture with the entire world. Thank you for the indulgence.

Below is just a glimpse of one of the teas included in the package...There will be a special Ladies' Historical Tea Society Blend also included. Be sure to specify loose leaf or teabags with your post...Good Luck!

I'll see most of you later at Christmas Tea with Mr. Toast, and will be posting my attire for this splendid event, later today.

The Kentucky Blend from Perryville's very own Elmwood Inn is a blend of black Chinese teas from Yunnan. "This full-bodied tea is a wonderful cup for breakfast or afternoon tea." It calls to mind a morning walk in the misty Kentucky countryside, among the stone walls and Thoroughbred farms.

2009-11-29T11:05:00.013-05:00

DINNER IN ASPEN

Well, after a very long and successful day hitting the antique shops in the downtown area, I will be ready to unwind at 7:30PM(CO time of course) with some wonderfully charming guests, a delicious dinner, glass of Cabernet Sauvignon, and perhaps a brief appearance from our charming host if we are very lucky. He is indeed a busy man, though.

We will be dining at the elegant Century Dining Room at Hotel Jerome and we can meet here in the lobby. I'll be standing next to the fireplace dressed in this:

DINNER IN ASPEN

See you there:-)...

PART 2 ASPEN ARRIVAL

(Here I am( in red of course) waiting at the station with a lovely lady who shared a lunch car with me on the train.)

For today, I wore the red and black dress with red cloche on the train ride.. Amazingly, the dress didn’t wrinkle at all;)….It was quite comfortable, actually…The green number on the left is what I’m about to slip into for an elegant formal dinner and cocktails later this evening. My ,it is much colder here than in KY, but I trust our host to make sure there is a fire blazing to keep those of us used to a bit warmer climates, nice and toasty.

This is what I’ll be wearing as I venture to some antique shops tomorrow, and the formal gown is what I'll wear for dinner…Oh, perhaps our host, Betsy, Willow, and the charming Bach and his lovely Lady Cat might accompany me to dinner on Monday? Anyone else care to join? It would be splendid, don’t you think?

Stay tuned on Tuesday for a surprise for the Tea Society followers, to commemorate my 200th post, and the unveiling of my special attire for the actual day of Mr. Toast's Christmas Tea...:)

R

(Part 1)
DEPARTING ON A SPECTACULAR JOURNEY

As the sun is shining brightly on this final chilly Sunday in November, I find myself eagerly waiting at the train station for my long journey westward to Aspen. I have packed my last hat box and finalized my wardrobe selections for the tea event of the season, Christmas Tea with Mr. Toast. As many followers of the Tea Society will no doubt make an appearance on Tuesday, I am so looking forward to chatting and hobnobbing with each of you. Can you think of anything more lovely? If by chance there are some of you who have not yet registered, you still have time to do so.

As for tomorrow, well, it would be a perfect time to explore the city and perhaps take in a few antique shops? I just might find a lovely vintage tea cup and saucer to bring home with me.

Until we meet in Aspen,

R

2009-11-25T09:15:00.003-05:00

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Happy Thanksgiving to all the wonderful followers of the Tea Society. I hope you have a lovely holiday celebration...

I shall leave you with this suggestion: Instead of having coffee with your pumpkin pie, try a nice Assam or Ceylon( Kenilworth OP No 317). They pair splendidly with most foods and will truly warm your soul.

2009-11-23T08:57:00.003-05:00

A PERFECT WINTER READ FOR TEA LOVERS

C.S. Lewis said, " You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me". That quote has always spoken to me, resonating on a near spiritual level, as I suspect it has with more than a few tea and classic literature lovers. Sadly, I seem to have a difficult time finding a modern work of fiction that will hold my attention span long enough to bewitch and captivate me or worthy to apply such a brilliant quote to. That is, until I stumbled across a gem of a book called The Thirteenth Tale. This Gothic suspense novel cast its spell and entranced me from the first page until the very last one. The book is set in atmospheric Yorkshire, against a mesmerizing backdrop of Heathcliff-esque moors and the grey skies of a wintry Northern England. With this particular setting, the Bronte associations manifest from the beginning and strengthen with repeated references to Jane Eyre. This book is actually the first novel by English writer Diane Setterfield and the eloquence of her writing transported me into a time where words truly had the power to weave a tapestry in the imagination of the reader. I dare say I had to remind myself, repeatedly, that I was indeed reading a modern work by an unknown author and not one of my much cherished classics from Dickens, Bronte, or Du Maurier. Ironically, one of the very few critical comments I have read about this book is a rather shallow complaint that it was not 'modern' enough: that the eccentric characters and lyrical language hearkened one back to classic English literature. Said critic was then quick to note that she in fact loathed the classics. I found it quite amusing how in direct contrast to the critic's analogies, Setterfield's nostalgic, intellectually stimulating writing style and vividly intoxicating descriptions courted and romanced me, securing that a hard bound copy will be purchased for years of repeated readings. I shall slip a copy into my book shelf, perhaps between Wuthering Heights and of course Jane Eyre. It is also worthy to note that there are plenty of wonderful tea references in this book. Given that added treat, what tea might I recommend to drink whilst cuddled in your favorite chair by the fire with this book? Yorkshire Gold, of course!

Below is a brief synopsis of the story from Wikipedia:

Vida Winter, the most famous novelist in England and quite possibly the world, has never been forthcoming when it comes to her past. Her entire life is a secret, and for fifty years reporters and biographers have attempted to discover the truth. With her health quickly fading, Ms. Winter enlists a bookish amateur biographer named Margaret Lea to bear witness to the tragic story of the Angelfield family, their eccentric beginnings as well as their demise. Margaret, who has family secrets of her own, must unravel the mysteries of the past in order to reconcile not only Miss Winter with her ghosts, but also Margaret with her own.

2009-11-19T06:20:00.007-05:00

THEME THURSDAY: LATE

Late Warnings:

I was thinking of the phrase "better late than never" and how in most cases it seems innocent enough. However, my mind took a turn to when being late actually results or has resulted in devastation, especially when being precisely on time or even early could have prevented a catastrophe. A great example of this is in the case of the Titanic tragedy of 1912.

On Titanic's maiden voyage from Southampton, England, she cast off and departed precisely on time. That was on Wednesday, April 10, 1912 at noon. On Titanic's second day at sea, the wireless operators began receiving the first of many iceberg warnings from a number of ships in the North Atlantic,some of which reported that they had been forced to cease their voyages due to encountering dense icebergs and ice fields. However,Titanic's Captain Smith ignored the warnings and continued on, powering the vessel at full strength with the ferocity of its 30,000 horsepower engines blazing.

As history has revealed, not all the ice warnings reached the bridge. Tragically, the wireless had broken down on Friday night, and a number of unsent messages multiplied, destined to remain in a sort of limbo until the radio was fixed. As the operators worked to clear the backlog, most of the messages were of little importance- a large number of them from elite passengers sharing the wonders of their trip to friends and family. Consequently, because the operators focused on these mundane messages, late ice warnings were never delivered to Captain Smith or his officers. In fact, the California, a near-by ship, endeavored to contact Titanic as late as 10 minutes prior to impact with the ill-fated iceberg. The response from Titanic? The wireless operators told them to "Shut-up!". At 11:40PM Titanic hit the iceberg. The lookout on duty, Frederick Fleet, was the first to spot the iceberg. Mistakenly,he believed it to be a small mass a mile or so away from the ship. He rang the "three-bell alarm" and then telephoned the bridge. It was then that first officer Murdoch shouted, " Hard a starboard and full speed astern!"...It was too late.

Sadly, we all know how this story ended....

2009-11-17T08:33:00.007-05:00

ELIZABETH AND IRISH ACRES

(Wearing "Elizabeth" with my friend Kimberly seated next to me-click on photo for a better view of the hat)

(The Nonesuch Kiss)

A while back, I posted about “The One that Got Away", the hat that I christened, “Elizabeth”. Well, I did track down the antique dealer and she was more than happy to send “Elizabeth” to me, packaged beautifully with a wonderful clear plastic form so the hat would keep it’s shape during shipping. After the arrival, I waited until the perfect time to wear ‘her’ and that time at long last arrived this weekend. The Tea Society made our annual lunch to Irish Acres and The Glitz located in a very small, quaint little hamlet called Nonesuch, Kentucky. This wonderful place is owned by sisters Jane DeLauter and Emilie McCauley, daughters of Arch and Bonnie Hannigan who opened Irish Acres 22 years ago. Jane, accompanied by her two-year-old border collie/shepherd mix Rudy, oversees the antiques portion of the facility - while Emilie is Grand Dame over the The Glitz.

The virtual wonderland is located in a classically styled two-story structure, built in 1936 and used until 1981 as an elementary school. After an extensive remodel, the building now contains 32,000 square feet of display space, showcasing “American and European furniture, glassware, china, crystal, silver, linens, dolls, jewelry, rugs, and decorative accessories." The cellar restaurant, the Glitz, offers some of the most delectable cuisine in the area. The meal begins with a chilled spiced apple cranberry refresher followed by an appetizer, entrée, and dessert. You can often find such wonderful dishes as Hungarian Mushroom soup( the best I’ve ever had), Seafood bisque, a chicken puff pie, brie en croute with sugar-coated grapes, beef tenderloin with a remoulade sauce, and for dessert, their signature dish, the Nonesuch Kiss. The latter being a concoction dreamt up in the kitchen of Emilie McCauley. She said that she longed for the taste of malted milk balls from her youth so began measuring, blending, and tasting until she created a meringue shell layered with jamocha ice cream, chocolate sauce, whipped cream, almonds and a cherry on top. And did we devour that delectable dessert? You bet we did! Along with some hot Earl Grey to nourish the soul.

2009-11-11T20:00:00.012-05:00

THEME THURSDAY: TELEPHONE

(Faber's Euphonia)

(Faber's Euphonia 2)

(Alexander Graham Bell)

Telephone and Euphonia

We're all very familiar with Alexander Graham Bell and his contribution to developing a workable telephone, but how many of us have ever heard of Joseph Faber?
Faber, a German astronomer living in America, traveled across the Atlantic with P.T. Barnum to unveil his cutting-edge “Euphonia” at London’s Egyptian Hall in 1846. The astronomer had spent the previous 17 years perfecting this bizarre offering, and had even smashed and destroyed an earlier version of the machine after American audiences ignored his invention. The complex device was controlled by 17 levers, a bellows, and a telegraphic line. It was fashioned with the movable replica of a human face, which was able to faithfully replicate human speech. At the exhibition, Faber made his peculiar invention sing a haunting rendition of “God Save the Queen”.

In spite of the support and promotion by Barnum, Faber and his Euphonia became the subjects of ridicule. One of the Euphonia’s few devotees was a Scottish speech professor named Melville Bell. His son was none other than Alexander Graham Bell. The younger Bell made various attempts to reproduce speech, the most successful of which finally resulted in the workable telephone. Consequently, it was Faber's device that modern inventors credit with being a catalyst to Bell's prototypes. Unfortunately, Faber never realized how he was indirectly responsible for Bell's working device. Sadly, he destroyed his Euphonia and took his own life in the 1860s .

This is a description of the machine:

About this device:

" It is a speech synthesizer variously known as the Euphonia and the Amazing Talking Machine. By pumping air with the bellows ... and manipulating a series of plates, chambers, and other apparatus (including an artificial tongue ... ), the operator could make it speak any European language. A German immigrant named Joseph Faber spent seventeen years perfecting the Euphonia, only to find when he was finished that few people cared."

2009-11-08T23:21:00.006-05:00

QUESTIONS

I stumbled upon a fun questionnaire at ChaChaneen’s blog and she gave me permission to post it over here. I thought the questions were interesting and gave a nice glimpse into the real people behind the blogs. I’d love to learn more about my fellow bloggers if they feel so inclined to answer some of these questions.

1. What is your favorite thing to snack on while you're blogging?
~I’m usually drinking tea and perhaps nibbling on a cracker. ~
2. What is one thing you wouldn't want to live without?
~Love~

3. Beach, Mountains, or Farm? Where would you live if you had a choice?
~Of the three, I would say the beach but not your typical touristy place, rather an ancient coastal village with lots of colorful legends and history…
4. What's your least favorite chore/household duty?
~ I love to cook but hate doing dishes ~

5. Who do people say you remind them of?
~This is funny. I’ve been told that I could have been one of The Corrs - It must be the coloring.

6. Prefer parties and socializing or staying home with the family?
~I really am a home- body. I‘d rather curl up by the fire, with my children safe asleep in their own beds, and dogs lying at my feet, than be out on the town..
7. What's your all time favorite movie?
~It’s a tie between…Pride and Prejudice(w/ Colin Firth) and Immortal Beloved~
8. Do you sleep in your make-up or remove it like a good little girl every night?
~I definitely remove it.

9. Do you have a hidden talent or a deep desire to learn something that you've never had a chance to learn? What is it?
~I’d love to learn to sew properly. I‘m so mediocre at it. I’d also love to learn to knit and ball room dance-the foxtrot is where it‘s at for me.. A hidden talent? I am actually a decent singer, but I only sing occasionally in choir. I sang a solo once when I was 14. I was so terrified that I think it traumatized me forever. Oddly, I’m not shy, though and have little difficulty speaking in front of crowds, but singing in public is a different story.

10. What's one strange thing you're really good at?
~Blending Tea…

11. What first attracted you to your spouse?
~His long dark hair~

12. What is something you love to smell?
~Lavender, rain, and a perfume called Misha by Mikhail Baryshnikov. It’s still the most heavenly perfume fragrance I‘ve ever smelt.

13. Tell something about you that you know irritates people.

I get quiet when I should talk. I often am very passionate about something, but clam up when I really should stand my ground. I’m a bit too reserved at times.

14. When you have extra money, what's the first thing you think to do with it?
~I am quite conservative, but I’ll spend it on something that I‘ve had my eye on for some time, like a perfect hat!

15. Are you a silent laugher or a loud laugher? What makes you laugh the hardest?
~It really depends on the situation, but I’m usually a silent laugher. My children are always making me laugh and Keeping Up Appearances is a great show to watch when you’re blue.

16. Where is your favorite place to shop?
~The antique shops in Franklin, TN.

17. What's one thing you'd do more often if you had more time?
~Draw~

18. Are you a big spender or frugal?
~Frugal

19. Who is your favorite character of all time?
~Elizabeth Bennett~

20. Would you want to be famous?
~No. I love my privacy and solitude far too much to ever want to be a celebrity.

WHAT ARE SOME OR ALL OF YOUR ANSWERS?

2009-11-06T15:17:00.014-05:00

CHERI`

This week I had the pleasure of watching Cheri`, starring the beautiful Michelle Pfeiffer and the handsome and talented Rupert Friend. Here is the synopsis from the novel by Colette:

Cheri, first published in 1920, is considered Colette's finest novel. Exquisitely handsome, spoilt and sardonic, Cheri is the only son of a wealthy courtesan, a contemporary of Lea, the magnificent and talented woman who for six years has devoted herself to his amorous education. When a rich marriage is arranged for Cheri, Lea reluctantly decides their relationship must end. Cheri, despite his apparent detachment, is haunted by memories of Lea; alienated from his wife, his family and his surroundings, he retreats into a fantasy world made up of dreams and the past, a world from which there is only one route of escape. In her portrait of the fated love affair between a very young man and a middle-aged woman, Colette achieved a peak in her earthy, sensuous and utterly individual art. Cheri caused considerable controversy both in its choice of setting - the fabulous demi-monde of the Parisian courtesans - and in its portrayal of Cheri. ( From The Nile)

I had been longing to see the recent movie adaptation of this romantic drama, and was so pleased with this Art Nouveau visual feast and wonderful costume extravaganza. Being that my favorite period in fashion is the Edwardian period, I was in seventh heaven with the lovely ensembles and millinery. Below are some wonderful images from a film that I highly recommend.

2009-11-03T11:55:00.001-05:00

A POEM FOR TODAY

Tea

"The first cup moistens
my lips and throat.
The second shatters
my loneliness.
The third causes the wrongs
of life to fade gently
from my recollection.
The fourth purifies my soul.
The fifth lifts me
to the realms
of the unwinking gods."

Chinese Mystic Tang Dynasty

2009-11-01T19:36:00.010-05:00

HALLOWEEN AT OUR HOUSE

The rains left and a wonderful cold front moved in, making for a perfect Halloween Night. The kids reported it was the best one yet. I never tire of watching them get so excited and getting so much joy out of trick or treat night... David only has another year left of getting to enjoy this, so he wanted to make the most of the evening and he certainly did. He got more compliments from the adults 35 and over than the kids. I suspect they took a trip down memory lane with his ensemble.

Oh, and the stairwell in the photos? Yes, it is the very one where some rather strange things have occured. Well, we have had a few strange things happen this week and something very strange happened last night at the top of the stairs, but I will save that tale for another time........

( Me with the kids just as the early round of trick or treaters were arriving)

(Katie as a bee)

(My son was really getting into the whole 80's rock star thing)

(David channeling his best Joe Elliott(Def Lep)...and yes, that was MY Union Jack shirt once upon a time:-D )

(We saw a beautiful double rainbow just before sundown)

( Me and Katie :)...

2009-10-30T18:11:00.000-04:00

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

From ghoulies and ghosties
And long-leggedy beasties
And things that go bump in the night,
Good Lord, deliver us!

~Traditional Scottish prayer

2009-10-28T18:29:00.004-04:00

Tea, Ch’a, te, thee, or Chai? Oh..My!

Have you even wondered where tea got its name or why it wasn’t named something else like Camellia? After all, it is made from the dried leaves of Camellia Sinensis plant. Tea is the English name that we are all familiar with, but at one time it was called tee or tay. In India, it is actually called cha or chai. The name varied depending on which trade route was taken when the product was brought into a particular country. For instance, when it arrived in Russia and Arabia, from China, it was given the Mandarin word, cha. The word cha was used in India, Persia, and Japan with the Arab nations deciding upon, shai. Tibet used, ja, and chay was the Turkish word applied. Furthermore, when the Portuguese purchased tea from China, the trade came through the port of Maoco where the Mandarin word cha had developed into a Cantonese version of Ch’a. Dutch tea ships frequented the port of Amoy in China’s Fujian Province and therefore adopted the local word, te, which is pronounced tay. It was then changed to thee. Since the Dutch were the chief traders of tea to Europe, among other countries, the peculiar drink became known as tea or tee in England. In France it was called the`; thee in Germany; and te in Italy, Spain, Denmark, Norway, and Hungary. The word continued to vary and alter from country to country.

Just a bit of tea-trivia for you.....

2009-10-26T10:06:00.008-04:00

AN EVENING OF GHOSTS AND TEA

(Jennifer Miller and Laura Edwards)

Early Saturday evening, 7 members and guests of the Ladies Historical Tea Society gathered at the home of Natalie Ferguson for high tea and tales of the bizarre and unexplained. We served a meal of Creamy tomato basil soup, herb and cheese pie, ham and Swiss cheese sandwiches, and English custard-filled tea cake. Our teas were the tea society’s Lavender and Black Ceylon. All ladies in attendance dressed in reproduction or period- inspired clothing, some resurrecting Edwardian attire, while others revisited the 1860’s. This event is truly one of the few where all attendees are urged to dress in period clothing. Though period dress is always encouraged, it is by no means a prerequisite for events. I have found, however, that doing so creates a nostalgic atmosphere, and serves to fashion the perfect ambiance for a Halloween event.

The theme of the evening, being of course ghost stories, stems not from a particular fascination with Halloween per se, but out of a fascination with how the Victorians were very much intrigued with Spiritualism and the paranormal. It is interesting to note that this fascination was indeed widespread and not at all confined to the lower classes or poorly educated. A great number of periodicals of the day centered on spiritualism, reaching a vast learned audience. The interest was not isolated to modest country dwellings; it extended into grand parlors of the most highly respected families, challenging the “intellectuals”, who prided themselves on their superior sophistication as advocates of industry and modernism. Ironically, it was within the homes of the elite, where most of the dabbling transpired. For they had the wealth and social standing to attract the most prestigious Victorian citizens into their grand homes where they would solicit the services of spiritual mediums to conduct experiments in contacting the dearly departed.

(Polly Singer and Natalie Ferguson)

(The Fox Sisters of New York- From left to right: Margaret, Kate, and Leah-Image from Wikipedia)

The new ‘conjurers of the dead’ came to England in the 1850’s by way of America. Three sisters in particular, the Fox sisters, were perhaps the most well known mediums of the era, having given birth to the movement at their New York home in 1848. They became known for their great abilities to communicate with the deceased through spiritual messages and summoning spirits through table turning and spiritual rapping. This practice became a huge phenomenon in England, inspiring social events around practices in spiritualism. Even grand tea parties, where a séance was the theme of the afternoon, would not have been all together unheard of.

(Jenni,Polly, Rebecca, and Laura)

Happily, there were no séances at the Tea Society’s event but we did share many tales of the paranormal including some eye-witness accounts of the unexplained. Member, Polly Singer shared a wonderful historical overview of Loudon House in Lexington, Kentucky, whose sister house in New York, served as the backdrop for the Dark Shadows series. She shared a detailed map of hauntings from the house, along with personal experiences when she worked there: Radios turning on by themselves, the sounds of a party when no one was in the house, the sensation of being watched, and images of spectral ‘statues’ appearing in windows for select passersby to see. Others read tales from Dickens and some more obscure authors, while I shared the tale of Lord Rossmore’s Banshee, from a collection of stories compiled by Reverend John Seymour, found in a compilation of Irish Ghost Stories. Two members shared of their own personal accounts with levitation. I also shared of the sometimes peculiar things that have happened here at our house. I, and others, have smelled roses and lilac water in the dead of February. My husband smells cigarette and cigar smoke. We had a visitor see an apparition of a woman in white in our stairwell, and I once heard running upstairs when my son was fast asleep in his bed, and I was the only one in the house. All made for a splendid evening to leave each guest pondering the unexplained things that go bump in the night.

I wish to thank Natalie Ferguson for hosting the event and making the delicious custard-filled tea cake. I also want to thank all in attendance for making the evening so much fun. Without each of you, I would be left to dream away and merely fantasize about sharing my rather peculiar interest in tea culture. Thank you for the gracious indulgence!

Rebecca

2009-10-21T12:53:00.003-04:00

A VICTORIAN GHOST STORY TEA EVENT

This is shaping up to be a busy week for me with preparations for our Victorian Ghost Story Tea event. I have nearly completed the menu and have finalized my Edwardian-inspired touring ensemble. I am now putting the finishing touches on my hat. For this event, members have been asked to not only dress in Victorian or Edwardian-inspired attire, but to also share a ghost story with the group as we share ‘high tea’ on Saturday, October 24th. Natalie, from ZipZip’s Vintage sewing blog, will be allowing use of her beautiful home in Lexington for our evening of tea and reverie, as my house is under renovation and restoration, which will be continuing all through the winter months as well.

I have read a number of interesting ghostly accounts on many blogs which I frequent. Willow certainly has oodles to share at the manor. If any fellow bloggers and frequenters to the Tea Society would like to share some of their stories in the comments to this post, please feel free to do so. I am always eager to hear of a good ghostly story. I am not much on gore, but I delight in a good re-telling of a spectral encounter.
Ta, ta!
R

2009-10-19T23:07:00.005-04:00

THE BOND OF FRIENDSHIP

Have you ever had one of those rare friends with whom just being in their presence made you a better person? Someone who listens to you so intently, truly valuing your opinion and interested in what you have to say about a myriad of topics? Well, I have such a friend, and I count myself among the very fortunate to know this wonderful woman. We first met nearly 17 years ago as undergraduate students at the University of Kentucky. We connected almost immediately and would become very close over the next couple of years. She was also a bridesmaid in our wedding, and a cherished friend through a devastating loss that I experienced. After losing touch for almost 10 years, we at long last reconnected last year and reveled in our mutual love of, you guessed it, tea. Though we drank it in college we never seemed to understand its powers to heal, unite, and comfort. It was truly as if no time had passed at all between us. Our conversations seemed to pick up where we last left them, as if no life experiences had happened to either of us.

We now endeavor to get together once a month so we seized the moment on Saturday and took advantage of the sunshine and drying weather. We bundled up in our coats and scarves, as the projected high for the day was a chilly 40 degrees. We met that morning (she coming from the west and I from the east) and ventured North, just beyond Louisville, into Indiana where we spent half the day at Huber’s Orchard and Winery. As we drove along the winding passes we first came upon a beautiful old Catholic Church, St. Josephs Hill. The church stood in all her glory, steeple-adorned cross extending high into the heavens, with a church cemetery resting in front of the structure.. As we rounded the corner, I caught a glimpse of a marker with a Celtic cross and felt a tingling inside of me. I so firmly believe in ancestral ties and perhaps mine were nudging me at the moment. Then I glanced up on the hill as a priest was leading a procession from the entrance. What the event was, a funeral mass perhaps, I can’t be sure, but it took my breath away. We continued over hills, down into valleys, surrounded by an autumnal palette of crimson, rust, and golden yellow. I felt jovial that October was shining in all her glory, and that we were a part of that. As we arrived, we decided to make our way to the winery first. It was much larger than most of the wineries I’ve been to, save the Biltmore Estate, and was getting quite crowded. After we took the tasting we explored the grounds and the many farmers’ market type facilities with a plethora of pumpkins and apples to choose from. We sampled delicious apple cider and some of the bakery’s jalapeno cheddar bread, and perused the seemingly endless shelves of relishes, herbs, spices, curds, preserves, marmalades, and jams. I also discovered a lovely little cookbook on cooking with herbs which I decided to add to my cookbook collection. Much of our afternoon was just spent strolling over the vast farm, having a late lunch, talking, and laughing, lots of laughing! I highly recommend a day like this with a close friend. It’s wonderful for the soul to laugh until you nearly cry, to feel so excited to be in the company of someone with whom you share so much in common, but above all, someone with whom you respect beyond words...

With all the waxing poetic, dear Kimberly, if you are reading this entry, thank you for being a wonderful friend. I am so grateful that it was you sitting in front of me in our writing class so many years ago. Thank you for being who you are- a lovely wonderful person with whom I am so very honored to know.
R

(Winery)

(Kimberly and me- 1994 at my Bridal Shower)

2009-10-16T13:48:00.003-04:00

SOUP FOR THE SOUL

Today is the perfect day here in Central Kentucky for a hot cuppa tea and a bowl of hot soup. The rain has passed but the cold chill of autumn remains.

I thought the Churchill Blue Willow cups would make this delicious soup, look even more appetizing. It's fun to serve soup in teacups, especially when children are at the lunch table. My two young ones lit up with excitement when they saw me bring this to the table.

Creamy Tomato Basil Soup
(4 servings)

4 tomatoes - seeded and diced
4 cups tomato juice
14 leaves fresh sweet basil
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup butter (unsalted)
pepper to taste
teaspoon of sugar if using Roma Tomatoes

DIRECTIONS
1.Heat tomatoes and juice in a pot. Simmer for 30 minutes. Puree the tomato mixture along with the basil leaves, and return the puree to the pot.
2.Place the pot over medium heat, and stir in the heavy cream and butter. Season with pepper and add sugar for a sweeter soup. Heat, stirring until the butter is melted. Do not boil. Serve with crisp crackers.

*Salt may also be added, but the tomato juice that I use is salty enough*

2009-10-15T10:23:00.003-04:00

TEA BLENDING TALK WITH THE BLUEGRASS HERB GUILD

Last evening I had the pleasure of speaking on the art of tea blending to the Bluegrass Herb Guild in Lexington, KY. Their graciousness and hospitality so delighted me, as at times I am pressed to find those with true interest in the wonderful benefits both mentally and physically of tea. The evening began with a splendid sampling of delectable herb and spice filled- dishes and the most wonderful conversations. Polly Singer then introduced me to the group, and I began the program where I shared information on the most common types of tea, the differences between true herbal tea blends (They must have a black or green tea base.) and Herbal tisanes and infusions (There is no true tea base, but merely a liquid rendered through steeping the herb...), and the joy of concocting your own brews in the comfort of your own kitchen. I shared some blend and infusion recipes with all in attendance, then selected four attendees to receive samples of my own blend of lavender tea. My eleven year old son referred to the blend as a “drink from heaven”. With a grand endorsement like that, I felt confident in sharing the blend! I want to thank Polly for inviting me to present the program to this wonderful group of gardeners, herbalists, and hopefully, soon to be tea enthusiasts. I am excited to be a new member of this guild and look forward to getting to know this wonderful group. What a perfect way to spend a cold rainy night in October!

2009-10-13T17:31:00.002-04:00

AND HIS ATTIRE....

Oh, My!....Am I ever glad that I agreed to attend the ball with him!!!

2009-10-13T17:01:00.004-04:00

THE BALL AT WILLOW MANOR

At long last, the social event of the season has arrived! The Ball at Willow Manor is here and I finally narrowed down my dress selection....This is the lovely ensemble I selected..Someone told me that actress Jennifer Garner had her eye on it, but I managed to get first choice...

I am delighted that the stunningly handsome and roguish Gerard Butler kept calling me until I finally agreed to attend with him...

2009-10-08T08:38:00.002-04:00

IN HONOR OF PAULA

February 6, 1947-October 3,2009

In memory of Mrs.Paula Burris Porter,dearest friend and cherished Tea sister. Tea Society members have been invited to honor Paula on this blog during the coming days. To begin our tribute, I wanted to share the following poem which was read yesterday at her funeral.

The Dash
by Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth
And spoke of the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own,
The cars, the house, the cash,
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard;
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what’s true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect
And more often wear a smile,
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.

So when your eulogy is being read
With your life’s actions to rehash
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?

© 1996 Linda Ellis

2009-10-01T11:05:00.005-04:00

THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY

Many of the readers of this blog have followed past entries about my trips to Franklin, TN. I try to make it to this charming little town at least twice a year. As I am a staunch traditionalist, I have a great fondness for ritual, and I certainly have some personal rituals that I practice in regards to my excursions. This could include which shops to frequent first or which day to plan tours and sightseeing excursions. However, Mother Nature had better plans for my Mother and me on our last visit this past weekend. We encountered substantial amounts of rain which indeed resulted in our canceling a cemetery walking tour as well as a tour of the Historic Lotz House and Franklin battlefield. Nevertheless, we were determined to spend our weekend scouring the many antiques and specialty shops that draw us to this charming little Southern town. I did manage to find a lovely Tea Cup and saucer that I have tucked away for the Tea Society’s Christmas exchange. Therefore, I must refrain from posting details or a photograph as to not spoil the surprise, should any of the members read this entry. We can use some pleasant surprises in this troubled world and well, as mundane as this may sound, seeing happiness over a small surprise like a tea cup brings great joy to me.

In addition to blogging about some terrific finds over the last two years, I have also written a cautious warning to never let a treasure pass you by, for if you have the finances with you and walk away you will certainly regret not grabbing hold of the golden pot when you had the chance. Unfortunately, I did not heed my own advice last weekend and passed up the most smashing piece of millinery that I have seen in some time, a lovely wide brimmed Edwardian-inspired hat covered in sheer gray/blue and black fabric with feathers and a fabric bow embellishment. Not a day has passed, since our return, when I have not reflected on that lovely headpiece and how it framed my face perfectly. In fact, I have taken to naming the missed purchase. I have begun to think of it as “Elizabeth”, as calling it “the hat” seems so inappropriate for such a lovely creation. That’s also my daughter’s middle name so it seems beyond debate. I have looked at the clothing in my closets and found at least three outfits that would have paired perfectly with “Elizabeth”. I began to visualize wearing “her” to tea events as well as to church and many other outings. The torture is consuming me. My dear husband has repeatedly asked why I did not purchase the piece when I had the opportunity. The only response I could muster was that pure guilt prevented me from doing so; guilt of the expense to some degree, but also guilt that I would be spending the money on something that only I could utilize. I also began to rationalize all the repairs before us at this old house, holiday shopping, and anything else one can think of. Then, I began mourning the piece. Trivial? Perhaps, but I have fallen in love and there is no logic where love is concerned. So, I have decided to contact the antique shop and inquire if I might be able to purchase this wonderful gem, and have it shipped to me as a 40th birthday present to myself. Perhaps the one that got away might yet be within my grasp ....

To be continued......

2009-09-22T07:45:00.003-04:00

ODE TO AUTUMN
( Autumn by Arthur Hacker c. 1905 )

As I sip some delectable Black Chai Tea this week, I wish each of you a very Happy Autumn from the Tea Society......

Ode to Autumn
John Keats

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eaves run;
To bend with apples the mossed cottage-trees,
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;
To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells
With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,
And still more, later flowers for the bees,
Until they think warm days will never cease,
For Summer has o'er-brimmed their clammy cell.

Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store?
Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may find
Thee sitting careless on a granary floor,
Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind;
Or on a half-reaped furrow sound asleep,
Drowsed with the fume of poppies, while thy hook
Spares the next swath and all its twined flowers;
And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep
Steady thy laden head across a brook;
Or by a cider-press, with patient look,
Thou watchest the last oozings, hours by hours.

Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they?
Think not of them, thou hast thy music too,--
While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day,
And touch the stubble-plains with rosy hue;
Then in a wailful choir, the small gnats mourn
Among the river sallows, borne aloft
Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies;
And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn;
Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble soft
The redbreast whistles from a garden-croft,
And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.

2009-09-09T10:54:00.001-04:00

TARA'S WALK

Just the other day as Tara (our Greyhound) and I were taking our evening walk, I stopped for a moment to note that the air was very different. Gone was the heavy laborious humidity of late summer; in its place, crisp cool air to fill ones lungs with ease. Tara was actually the first to notice this peculiar alteration as she lifted her long regal head, tilted it ever so slightly and breathed slowly. This brought a smile to my face and immediately slowed our normally fast-paced fifteen minute constitutional down the sidewalk on College Street to a casual stroll back to the front porch. Autumn has this magical transformational effect on me where I become blissful, confident, and comfortable again. Its arrival makes me want to savor time with family and friends, preferably over a hot pot of black tea and plate of scones with plenty of milk and sugar on hand.

2009-09-08T15:20:00.004-04:00

BAILEYS IRISH CREAM

As most of you know, we recently lost our 14 year old Sheltie, Lizzie. We mourned her loss so deeply and still feel such a void that nothing can fill that. Not long after we lost her, I received an email from the lady who runs the Shetland Sheepdog rescue where we adopted Lizzie. She knew how special Lizzie was and how much we loved her. I had sent her a note about Lizzie and thanked her for bringing her into our lives. She then sent a kind reply and within it she told me about a very special bi/black Sheltie puppy that she had on her farm. She wanted to know if we would like to meet him. Being a two dog family, we knew that we certainly wanted to bring another dog into the family, we just weren't sure that we wanted to so soon after losing Lizzie. She told me that she would be in town on a Thursday and asked if we would like to keep him for the weekend. I guess since she knew us and that we had been "vetted" long ago with Lizzie that we were trustworthy. So, I agreed and we prepared for our house guest. It is important to note that I have had puppies in the past but my husband only briefly had one as a child and was not used to them. He was a little reluctant because of this but wanted very much to meet him. We then bought the appropriate puppy food and some chew toys. Our little guest arrived on a Thursday evening and needless to say, he didn't leave. I signed the adoption papers the proceeding Monday, last Monday in fact. I think she knew how much we would love this little boy and we certainly do. He won our hearts from the moment she carried him out of her truck and brought him into our parlor. Tara still lets us all know that she is Queen Bee but she loves having a companion that can keep up with her. Shadow, the cat, has learned to live with another "intruder". We decided to name our sweet little boy, Bailey- short for Baileys Irish Cream. We've been truly amazed by the bond we've developed so quickly with him. It feels just as it did with Lizzie and with Tara- That he has always been here and that he has never known any other home but this one. I somehow think that since Lizzie had had at least one litter of puppies before we adopted her, that she would very much approve of us welcoming Bailey into her family.

2009-09-01T14:19:00.002-04:00

WELCOME SEPTEMBER!

To Autumn
by William Blake

O Autumn, laden with fruit, and stain'd
With the blood of the grape, pass not, but sit
Beneath my shady roof; there thou may'st rest,
And tune thy jolly voice to my fresh pipe,
And all the daughters of the year shall dance!
Sing now the lusty song of fruits and flowers.

'The narrow bud opens her beauties to
The sun, and love runs in her thrilling veins;
Blossoms hang round the brows of Morning, and
Flourish down the bright cheek of modest Eve,
Till clust'ring Summer breaks forth into singing,
And feather'd clouds strew flowers round her head.

'The spirits of the air live in the smells
Of fruit; and Joy, with pinions light, roves round
The gardens, or sits singing in the trees.'
Thus sang the jolly Autumn as he sat,
Then rose, girded himself, and o'er the bleak
Hills fled from our sight; but left his golden load.

Join me with a hot cuppa, in jubilant celebration as autumn draws ever so near.

:-) R

2009-08-24T13:18:00.001-04:00

TRYING SOME NEW TEA

When I last placed an order from Special Teas for some Ceylon, my package included a ½ ounce sample of a delicious black tea called East Frisian Broken Blend. This is a wonderful strong robust black tea and one that would be delicious with savories served at afternoon tea. It is a mixture of Assam, Sumatra, and Java teas. This blend was also a winner in the 2008 World Tea Championship...One sip of this concoction, with milk and sugar, and you’ll instantly know why.

East Frisia, a part of the German Federal State of Lower Saxony on the North Sea, is second only to Ireland when it comes to tea consumption. According to Wikipedia, “East Frisian Tea is sweetened with kluntjes, a rock candy sugar that melts slowly, allowing multiple cups to be sweetened. Heavy cream is also used to flavor the tea. The tea is generally served in traditional small cups, with little cookies during the week and cake during special occasions or on weekends as a special treat. Brown rum, mixed with kluntjes and left for several months, is also added to black tea in the winter. The tea is alleged to cure headaches, stomach problems, and stress, among many other ailments”.

For a sample of this wonderful aromatic blend, visit Special Teas, and while you’re at it, you might want to try the Single Estate Ceylon. I’m partial to the Kenilworth Orange Pekoe (No317) which has a lovely hypnotic rose aroma.

2009-08-18T10:33:00.000-04:00

FAREWELL OLD FRIEND

It’s with a heavy heart that I post this morning for we have had a devastating loss here in our family. Yesterday afternoon we said farewell to our Lizzie. Lizzie’s health had progressively gotten worse this year. She was on a daily medication for hypothyroidism, had arthritis, was deaf, and had very recently lost her eye sight. She was disoriented and didn't even know you were in the room with her unless you touched her. She began walking into walls, doors, tables, etc.She couldn't make it down the three steps to our back yard without falling and then she couldn't see to get up them. Over the last week, my husband and I had to carry her in and out. Her kidneys were also beginning to fail. Her appetite was sporadic and she was coughing a great deal. The Vet reassured that we had made the right decision but that certainly doesn’t make it any easier.

Lizzie was 14 years old and we had 8 wonderful years with her. We adopted her from a local Shetland Sheep Dog Rescue group and that was the best decision we ever made. She had been in a previous home and surrendered, we were told, because the family preferred to have a Dalmatian over Lizzie. Though I’ll never understand that reasoning, it was truly their loss and our blessing. One thing that we can proudly boast about our old girl is that she was a true heroine. Lizzie actually saved a man’s life about six years ago. It was the coldest night of the year, a bitter icy February Saturday night. Our pipes in the house had frozen in the kitchen, like they have been prone to do, and John was thawing them out around 11:00PM at night. Both our girls, Anastasia and Lizzie, were out for their nightly constitutional when we heard Lizzie frantically growling and barking. This got our attention as well as our immediate neighbor’s. We knew Lizzie didn’t normally behave like that and that something was terribly wrong. As we opened the door, our neighbor was standing on her deck looking down over our fence. She told us that there was someone lying face down in our yard at the garden gate. Lizzie was over top of this person nearly on point, franticly barking and showing her teeth through her growls. The person, we later discovered from the police, was a local man, known around town bars, with a serious substance abuse problem. We figured out that he had evidently fumbled through the back yards and decks in our neighborhood, fell over our fence, and passed out in the snow. What the EMT and Police officers stressed to us, as they carried him out on a stretcher, was that because of Lizzie alerting us his life was saved and had he been outside for another hour he would have certainly frozen to death. I hope when he regained conscientiousness in his hospital room that someone told him that he owed his life to a Shetland Sheepdog.

Although we’ve been down this road before with Anastasia, Sasha, and Magic (the cat we lost last year), it was particularly agonizing to lose Lizzie. We’ll never forget her gentle spirit and loyal dedication. Our comfort is that she’s gone to the Rainbow Bridge to meet our other cherished family members (they’re so much more than pets) ,and that St. Francis has them all gathered around him, keeping a watchful eye over all the creatures he loves so much. Rest in Peace, sweet Lizzie; our lives are so much richer because of you...

2009-08-10T10:05:00.004-04:00

THE TEA SOCIETY IS BACK!

As summer winds down and autumn grows near the tea society will be back in full swing. I have missed this blog and am delighted to be back. This summer was a wonderful time for me and my family and we had a great holiday in South Carolina and just spending time with one another before the hectic day to day routine of school and work begins in September. I wanted to return to the blog refreshed and ready to begin another year of blogging. With that said, I want to share a photo of my latest purchase along with mention of a delightful tea cookie company.

I found this charming little vintage tea pot at a shop called B and B antiques in the North Myrtle Beach area. There is no marking on the tea pot to reveal the manufacturer but it was so pretty and elegant that I decided to add it to my collection. Positioned in front of the tea pot is an offering of wonderful pecan tea cookies displayed on a tiny little white English Meakin dish. The tea cookies are from a wonderful Summerville, South Carolina based company called Southern Sisters. I look so forward to purchasing the dainty thin and delicious cookies on our annual jaunt to the Historic Market on Church Street in Charleston. The cookies are made from a handmade mix and they use all natural ingredients. This year I got an assortment of old fashioned ginger snaps, pecan, chocolate chip, and my favorite, lemon coolers dusted with a delicious powdery sugar coating. The benne wafers are also delicious and worth a sampling as well.

To learn more about the history of, and purchasing information for, Southern Sisters, please visit their website at http://www.southernsistersbakers.com/index.html . With no further ado, put the kettle one, pour a cuppa your favorite tea and enjoy these delicious treats, and welcome back to all the lovely followers of the Tea Society Blog.

2009-06-07T16:36:00.012-04:00

EDWARDIAN PICNIC WITH THE TEA SOCIETY
(Natalie Ferguson standing-Polly Singer seated in middle-Paula Porter with parasol)

(Natalie in a nostaligic shot dressed for a formal afternoon outing....)

(Darleen Chamberlain, drawing influence from the Titanic era- standing underneath the rose arbors.)

(Paula, also tipping her hat to the Titanic era of fashion and keeping cool in the sun...)

(Natalie strolling in the garden...)

( Here I am paying homage to Beatrix Potter with my trailing walking skirt, made by the very talented Natalie Ferguson.)

( With Natalie on the grounds- English country cottage meets the elegance of the "Gilded age"..)
(...with Polly in her lovely blue and white striped walking skirt... She defined seaside Edwardian with her soft breezy look and wonderful veiled hat...)

EDWARDIAN PICNIC WITH THE TEA SOCIETY

On Saturday, June 6, 5 members of the LHTS ventured to Richmond, KY and the historic home of famous Kentuckian and Abolitionist, Cassius Clay. Some ladies arrived in Edwardian inspired dress and others in reproduction clothing to spend an afternoon sipping iced pomegranite tea and nibbling on tea sandwiches, honey bbq chicken nibblets, tea cookies, scones with lemon curd, fruit salad, and a delectable tart with fruit and mint. After eating, we strolled through the outdoor antique faire which was set up on the grounds of the manor, and spent a few quiet moments in the rose garden before touring the wonderful home known as White Hall.

The weather could not have been more perfect and the company was especially lovely. We certainly missed the members who were unable to attend, but you were with us in spirit. We must do this again. Perhaps we shall make an annual event of our Edwardian Picnic!

For more information on one of the most eccentric and colorful Kentuckians, please read the following biography on Cassius Marcellus Clay.

2009-04-28T06:12:00.004-04:00

TAKING A BREAK

Hello all! Is it just me or is life incredibly hectic for everyone at the moment? It seems that each week holds something even more demanding than the last, dictating where time and energy must be spent. With that said, I will be taking a bit of a hiatus from this blog throughout the summer and posting primarily only tea-related events and occasional recipes. The summer months look to be quite challenging for me with my artwork and a huge writing project that will require little time for the tea blog. However, I will still be visiting my favorite blogs and posting whenever I can. I look forward to returning to more regular blogging at the end of the summer.

Most Teafully,
Rebecca

2009-04-17T08:36:00.003-04:00

FRANKLIN, TN ONCE MORE

It's that time of year again.....I'm leaving for an annual Franklin, TN antique hunting excursion. I hope to have some new tea recommendations once I return.

Have a lovely weekend!

2009-04-10T13:19:00.002-04:00

HAPPY EASTER

Wishing everyone a blessed Good Friday and Easter Sunday...

2009-04-03T10:52:00.003-04:00

TIME TO STOP AND SIP SOME TEA

Busy..Busy...Busy....These past few weeks have been quite hectic around here. Posts have been far and few between and look to be sporadic until April has passed. I've had no time to visit my favorite blogs and miss doing so, terribly. With family, school assignments, gardening, writing, tea business, AnTEAquity, and life in general, it's all a bit of a blur these days. I don't even have time to finish a drawing!

Alas, tomorrow brings lunch with the society members and an antiquing excursion. It's so nice to be with friends, doing what you love. I think this will be a perfect remedy for all of us.

Have a Happy weekend my cyber friends!

2009-03-26T10:07:00.003-04:00

THANK YOU FOR THE RAIN THAT MAKES THE GARDEN GROW

We've been seeing two days of this...... I wont complain because it leads to.......

donning these......

..in order to lend a helping hand to Mother Nature, to be blessed with results like this.

The Glory of the Garden

Our England is a garden that is full of stately views,
Of borders, beds and shrubberies and lawns and avenues,
With statues on the terraces and peacocks strutting by;
But the Glory of the Garden lies in more than meets the eye.

For where the old thick laurels grow, along the thin red wall,
You will find the tool- and potting-sheds which are the heart of all ;
The cold-frames and the hot-houses, the dungpits and the tanks:
The rollers, carts and drain-pipes, with the barrows and the planks.

And there you'll see the gardeners, the men and 'prentice boys
Told off to do as they are bid and do it without noise;
For, except when seeds are planted and we shout to scare the birds,
The Glory of the Garden it abideth not in words.

And some can pot begonias and some can bud a rose,
And some are hardly fit to trust with anything that grows;
But they can roll and trim the lawns and sift the sand and loam,
For the Glory of the Garden occupieth all who come.

Our England is a garden, and such gardens are not made
By singing:--"Oh, how beautiful!" and sitting in the shade,
While better men than we go out and start their working lives
At grubbing weeds from gravel-paths with broken dinner-knives

There's not a pair of legs so thin, there's not a head so thick,
There's not a hand so weak and white, nor yet a heart so sick.
But it can find some needful job that's crying to be done,
For the Glory of the Garden glorifieth every one.

Then seek your job with thankfulness and work till further orders,
If it's only netting strawberries or killing slugs on borders;
And when your back stops aching and your hands begin to harden,
You will find yourself a partner in the Glory of the Garden.

Oh, Adam was a gardener, and God who made him sees
That half a proper gardener's work is done upon his knees,
So when your work is finished, you can wash your hand and pray
For the Glory of the Garden, that it may not pass away!
And the Glory of the Garden it shall never pass away!

Rudyard Kipling.....

I raise a cuppa Earl Grey to all the fellow gardeners who frequent the tea society!

2009-03-19T15:27:00.002-04:00

REST IN PEACE NATASHA RICHARDSON 11 May 1963 – 18 March 2009

God bless the family and and friends of such a talented lady. The world is mourning with you.

Remember
Remember me when I am gone away,
Gone far away into the silent land:
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more day by day
You tell me of our future that you planned:
Only remember me; you understand
It will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
Better by far you should forget and smile
Than that you should remember and be sad.

Christina Rossetti
1830-1894

2009-03-19T11:42:00.003-04:00

BACK TO THE SECRET GARDEN

Lately, so many posts throughout the blogosphere have dealt with spring and gardening. Since my mind has been dwelling on the same topics, I thought it fitting yesterday to watch a charming little film called "Back to the Secret Garden." My son just read Frances Hodgson Burnett's original novel, which has inspired me to do the same. However, I discovered that Netflix offered this sequel to "The Secret Garden", and upon further discovery that the lovely Joan Plowright had a starring role in the film, I knew it would be worth a watch.

The film was certainly enchanting, though it could never compare with the original story of Mary, Colin, and Dickon. My 11 year old son really enjoyed this movie sequel, and I must say that there were some lovely moments in the film. It is a great film for the entire family, especially if you love gardening:-)...Oh, to be at Misselthwaite!

Below is a review of the film:

Although Frances Hodgson Burnett did not feel the need to write a sequel to her classic fantasy novel The Secret Garden, this did not prevent producer Norman Rosemont from commissioning just such a sequel. Set in 1946, Back to the Secret Garden finds Mary Lennox, the youthful heroine of the original novel, all grown up and far removed from her beloved enchanted garden in Yorkshire's Missletwaite Manor. Now living in New York, Mary comes in contact with Lizzie (Camilla Belle), a feisty Brooklyn-born orphan. It is Lizzie who tries to save the day by heading off to England and endeavoring to save Mary's secret garden, which has been literally dying in its caregiver's absence. Joan Plowright, George Baker, Cherie Lunghi, and Leigh Lawson co-star in this German-British co-production, which was originally intended for theatrical release. The American premiere of Back to the Secret Garden appeared on the Showtime Cable Network on September 2, 2001 -- nearly two years after the film's completion. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

2009-03-09T11:05:00.003-04:00

NEARING LILAC TIME

( my old fashioned lilac from last year)

Yesterday morning, as we returned home from church, we walked up the steps to our porch where we have a view of our side cottage garden. My sweet, soon to be 11 year old son, happily proclaimed, "Mom, look! The robins are in the garden and everything is bursting out of the ground!" I floated on that comment all day as it filled me with such anticipation for the new growing season.

This year, my lilacs are later than usual. I attribute that to the last ice storm that stunted the spring garden. I am thankful, though, that the garden blooming time seems to have returned to the norm this year, as recently, the garden has awakened entirely too early only to be halted by late freezing weather. I pray that this prolonged dormancy will contribute to longer enjoyment of the jonquils, tulips, lilac and wisteria...Welcome spring!

Warble for Lilac-Time

WARBLE me now, for joy of Lilac-time,
Sort me, O tongue and lips, for Nature’s sake, and sweet life’s sake—and death’s the same as life’s,
Souvenirs of earliest summer—birds’ eggs, and the first berries;
Gather the welcome signs, (as children, with pebbles, or stringing shells;)
Put in April and May—the hylas croaking in the ponds—the elastic air,
Bees, butterflies, the sparrow with its simple notes,
Blue-bird, and darting swallow—nor forget the high-hole flashing his golden wings,
The tranquil sunny haze, the clinging smoke, the vapor,
Spiritual, airy insects, humming on gossamer wings,
Shimmer of waters, with fish in them—the cerulean above;
All that is jocund and sparkling—the brooks running,
The maple woods, the crisp February days, and the sugar-making;
The robin, where he hops, bright-eyed, brown-breasted,
With musical clear call at sunrise, and again at sunset,
Or flitting among the trees of the apple-orchard, building the nest of his mate;

The melted snow of March—the willow sending forth its yellow-green sprouts;
—For spring-time is here! the summer is here! and what is this in it and from it?
Thou, Soul, unloosen’d—the restlessness after I know not what;
Come! let us lag here no longer—let us be up and away!
O for another world! O if one could but fly like a bird! 20
O to escape—to sail forth, as in a ship!
To glide with thee, O Soul, o’er all, in all, as a ship o’er the waters!
—Gathering these hints, these preludes—the blue sky, the grass, the morning drops of dew;
(With additional songs—every spring will I now strike up additional songs,
Nor ever again forget, these tender days, the chants of Death as well as Life;)
The lilac-scent, the bushes, and the dark green, heart-shaped leaves,
Wood violets, the little delicate pale blossoms called innocence,
Samples and sorts not for themselves alone, but for their atmosphere,
To tally, drench’d with them, tested by them,
Cities and artificial life, and all their sights and scenes,
My mind henceforth, and all its meditations—my recitatives,
My land, my age, my race, for once to serve in songs,
(Sprouts, tokens ever of death indeed the same as life,)
To grace the bush I love—to sing with the birds,
A warble for joy of Lilac-time.

Walt Whitman (1819-1892)

2009-02-28T13:55:00.002-05:00

DAVID COPPERFIELD

(Dickens's Dream Watercolour by Robert William Buss, 1870)

This Sunday, the 1ST of March, Masterpiece Classics on PBS will air the 2000 BBC version of Dickens' David Copperfield...This adaptation stars a young Daniel Radcliffe( of Harry Potter Fame), Dame Maggie Smith, Sir Ian McKellan ( Lord of the Rings), and Bob Hoskins. I will be tuning in with a nice cuppa Earl Grey to enjoy another great Dickens feature.

2009-02-22T16:34:00.003-05:00

A FAVOURITE ILLUSTRATOR

The Tea Party
by Kate Greenaway (1846-1901)

IN the pleasant green Garden
We sat down to tea;
"Do you take sugar?" and
"Do you take milk?"
She'd got a new gown on–
A smart one of silk.
We all were so happy
As happy could be,
On that bright Summer's day
When she asked us to tea.

Kate Greenaway was one of few prolific, gifted and recognized women children's book authors/illustrators in the latter half of the 19th Century. The essence of Victorian childhood is exhibited in the idealized children of Greenaway’s work. Her dreamy almost melancholy characters prance through the English countryside frilly smocks, mob caps and sunbonnets unaware of time or place.( from Old Poetry)

Click here for a complete biography of Kate Greenaway

2009-02-18T17:55:00.003-05:00

JANE AUSTEN WEEK IN THE BLOGOSPHERE!

While perusing one of my favorite sites, Jane Austen Today, I was thrilled to learn that The Barefoot Mama Blog will be hostessing Jane Austen week next week, February 23-28Th. I have been in need of a good dose of Austen lately, and just last night started re-reading Emma; the timing of this couldn't be better for me.

With that said, I plan on settling in for a weekend of BBC/A & E Austen movies, embroidery, and lots of hot tea to help shoo away the winter dull-drums which I have been suffering from. Wont you join me?

If you are also a Jane devotee, and would like to participate, please right click and save the image above. You may proudly display this on your blog.

Finally, please stop in daily at The Barefoot Mama Blog for your dose of Jane, including challenges and other fun stuff. There will be a special culmination celebration on Saturday, February 28, so stay tuned!

2009-02-17T15:48:00.002-05:00

A TEA POEM FOR TODAY

A Loving Recipe for a Perfect Cup of Tea
Anonymous

1 Willing friend who loves to sit and share
1 Grateful heart to have a friend that cares
1 Beautiful garden to show us God is near
Many wonderful memories of times shared throughout the years
Lots of smiles and laughter to brighten up our days
Many prayers that we prayed for each other along the way
I'm so blessed to have a friend like you to share in everything I do. For one special friend sharing a special cup of tea truly makes this a perfect recipe.

2009-02-15T11:37:00.003-05:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUSAN BROWNELL ANTHONY!

Susan Brownell Anthony (February 15, 1820 – March 13, 1906) was a prominent American civil rights leader who played a pivotal role in the 19th century women's rights movement to introduce women's suffrage into the United States. She traveled the United States and Europe, and gave 75 to 100 speeches per year on women's rights for 45 years. ( from Wiki)

If you happen to be in the area of Adams, Massachusetts, there will be a splendid celebration of her birthday held at The Susan B. Anthony House Museum:

OPEN HOUSE AT SUSAN. B. ANTHONY BIRTHPLACE MUSEUM
The historic birthplace of Susan B. Anthony will be the site for an Open House to celebrate the suffragist's birthday on Sunday, February 15, from 11:30 am to 2:30 PM. Located at 67 East Road, the Federal style home was built by Anthony's father, Daniel, in 1818 and his famous daughter was born there two years later. The house has been on the National Register of Historic Places for 24 years; the dream of making the house into a museum has persisted since 1910.

The plans for the museum will highlight the familial and regional influences which shaped Miss Anthony's early life. In addition to professional building assessments and environmental impact studies, the development of the museum includes cooperation with the Adams Historical Association and has employed textile and women's studies historians. The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. ( from the Museum's website)

2009-02-13T12:16:00.003-05:00

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY FROM THE TEA SOCIETY

The Victorian's were great believers in symbolism and few jestures proved this more than when receiving flowers. Given that Valentine's Day is tomorrow, I thought it appropriate to include a sampling from The Language of Flowers. Whenever a Victorian lady received a lovely bouquet or even a single flower, she could decode the hidden meanings of the flowers sent to her by her suitors.

The Language of Flowers

Carnation- Fascination

Chrysanthemum- Friendship

Daisy- Loyal love

Orchid- Love and beauty

Lily- Purity and sweetness

Red rose- Romantic love

Pink rose- Secret love

Yellow rose- Friendship

White rose- Innocent love

Rose, Yellow & Orange: Passionate thoughts

Forget-me-not- True love

Baby’s Breath: Happiness

Lilac, Mauve: “Do You Still Love Me”

Honeysuckle - The Bond of Love

Ambrosia: Your Love is reciprocated

Camellia, red: You’re a flame in my heart

Camellia, white: You’re adorable

Forget-me-not: Faithful Love, Memories

Hibiscus: Delicate Beauty

Hyacinth, purple: I am sorry, Please forgive me, Sorrow

Oleander: Beauty and Grace

Periwinkle, White: Pleasures of Memory

partial list and vintage photo found at Art of Manliness

2009-02-12T19:57:00.002-05:00

HAPPY 200TH BIRTHDAY, MR. LINCOLN

When I think of a list of great historical figures whom I would love to have had tea with, Abraham Lincoln would have to be at the top of the list along with Theodore Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and C.S. Lewis.

And what tea would I serve Mr. Linclon? Well, Elmwood Inn's Kentucky Blend of course...Nothing less for a Kentucky-born President.

Happy 200th Birthday, Mr. President.

2009-02-11T12:28:00.003-05:00

HERBAL INFUSIONS FOR COLD AND FLU SEASON

Tis the season for colds and flu and I am still recuperating, as are many of you in the blogosphere, from what has been one of the worst colds I’ve ever had. The doctor reported that it was indeed viral so basically, I had to suffer through and cope..

Of course, it is crucial to drinks lots of fluids when dealing with a cold or flu and I can’t recommend any better natural remedy than hot herbal tea. Many of the herbs used in infusions like, sage, thyme, oregano, and rosemary, are strong antioxidants and contain essential oils that can aid in alleviating cold and flu symptoms.

Perhaps instead of reaching for the Theraflu, you might try one of the recipes below...

Sage

Sage, whose Latin name salvia means to heal, was considered to be one of four sacred plants by Native Americans. For irritations or inflammation of the throat try gargling with a mixture of sage and apple cider vinegar sweetened, if you must, with a little good quality honey or sip a soothing hot infusion.

Recipe for an herbal tea infusion:

Pour a pint of boiling water onto 1oz of dried sage leaves or 1 tbsp of fresh and leave for 5 - 10 minutes. Drink a small glassful of the strained tea throughout the day. Sage can help to restore appetite as well.

Thyme

There are many varieties of thyme but common garden thyme will be effective for helping you fight off sore throats and colds. Try it when you have a cough or to clear mucus from your chest. It was once used on bandages to prevent infection and is even reputed to be a hangover cure and can lift your spirits.

Thymol the active ingredient in thyme is one of the strongest antiseptics known. It has also been used to treat fungal problems such as athletes' foot and is reputed to be a hangover cure.

Thyme herbal infusion recipe:

Use 1 tsp of dried leaves or a couple of sprigs of fresh leaves for each cup of boiling water. The time you leave it to infuse is a matter of personal taste and can be from 5 - 15 minutes. Strain and slowly sip 3 cups a day inhaling the vapors until your symptoms improve. You can also crush some fresh leaves gently in your hands and inhale the vapors.

Oregano

Oregano also known as pot marjoram has a high thymol content too. It is one of Nature's most powerful natural health remedies against bacteria, viruses, yeast and fungi and has been used as a natural herbal remedy since ancient times. It can be used to treat sore throat, coughs and colds as well as loosening phlegm in the bronchial tubes.

Oregano is used extensively in cooking throughout the Mediterranean especially as an ingredient of pizza and combines well with thyme and rosemary.

Oregano herbal infusion recipe:

Infuse 1 tsp dried oregano or 3 tbsp fresh leaves in 8 oz boiling water for 10 minutes, strain and sweeten with a little good quality honey if wanted.

Rosemary

Rosemary or Rosmarinus officinalis is related to the mint family of plants and is one of the oldest Mediterranean aromatic shrubs in cultivation. With its attractive leaves and pretty blue flowers it is a favorite for kitchen gardens.

Rosemary tea can help bring relief for colds, catarrh, wheezing and bronchitis clearing phlegm from the chest. It’s also good as a gargle for a sore throat. Infuse sage with rosemary and use as a gargle for a sore throat.

Rosemary herbal infusion recipe:

Use 2 tsp of dried rosemary to a cup of boiling water. The addition of fresh ginger root and lemon peel makes this a delicious healthy herbal drink.

Here is the recipe:

1 small bunch of rosemary, leaves gently bruised with a spoon.
1 inch thumb of ginger, sliced into rounds
The peel of two unwaxed or organic lemons
6-8 cups of boiling water

Place the rosemary, ginger and lemon peel in a large teapot. Add the boiling water and leave to infuse for approximately five minutes. Strain and sip slowly. You can add a little good quality honey or sugar if you wish to sweeten.

While modern medicine is still searching for a cure for a cold the history of healing herbs goes back thousands of years. Give these herbal tea recipes a try next time you are trying to shake off the winter bugs.

Recipes from the Complimentary & Alternative Medicine Community

2009-02-01T20:15:00.006-05:00

WELCOME TO AnTEAquity

At long last, the AnTEAquity blog is up and running. The first post is about Josiah Wedgwood and the famous pottery company bearing his name.

This has been such an exciting adventure for me to break into the world of antique dealing, if only on a small scale to begin with. I have spent several years of my life studying art history and antiquities so to apply that love with years of collecting tea-related items is simply a dream come true. I hope those of you who enjoy the postings here at the Tea Society will find AnTEAquity of some interest, and you just might find an item or two that you can't live without. Please stop by the blog and read the mini bio on Josiah Wedgwood.

The antiques and vintage tea ware featured at AnTEAquity will be available for purchase on March 1st through eBay so please check back, email me, or post a note if something strikes your fancy. I plan to feature different items weekly, with a bit of history thrown in for good measure, until the shop officially opens in March.

2009-01-29T14:56:00.006-05:00

WINTER GARDEN

When it looks like this in the garden outside....

(The old iron rose arbor)

( St. Francis is hidden among the arching ice laden branches of the tall asters-cocooning him in a natural protection from the elements)

( All the while, Gabriel stands guard over the courtyard as the cardinals flutter about looking for seed...)

.....It is of the greatest comfort to know that inside, along with a blazing fire, and pots of hot black tea, I will spend the evening in front of the television watching this man, Mark Walberg, host of one of my favorite PBS shows, Antiques Road Show...

2009-01-27T20:44:00.002-05:00

SNAP...CRACKLE...POP...

That's what I'm hearing outside my window... We are being hit yet again in Central Kentucky by another treacherous Ice Storm...We're praying that our old trees don't all come down in mass and that we don't lose power...Tonight will be the perfect night to gather in the parlor beside the fireplace with husband, children, dogs, cat, and a nice cuppa tea....Stay safe and warm dear friends...

2009-01-21T12:38:00.002-05:00

MRS. PALFREY AT THE CLAREMONT

( The charming Rupert Friend as Ludovic Meyer)

One of my favorite pastimes during these cold winter months is exploring great movies. Just this past Sunday I decided that I wanted to revisit a charming film that I first watched last summer. This delightful film, starring the wonderfully elegant and talented Joan Plowright and the incredibly handsome and magnetic Rupert Friend( He portrayed the mysterious Mr. Wickham in the more recent version of Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightley), is called Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont. This movie, directed by Dan Ireland, did not receive massive attention or fanfare from Hollywood and that is no wonder because it has no trace of vulgarity, gratuitous violence, controversy or sensationalism.

The Synopsis:

The recently widowed Mrs. Palfrey moves to London with the intent to live in luxury at The Claremont Hotel. The Claremont’s brochure promises elegance and fine cuisine but when Mrs. Palfrey arrives she finds a very different place, one that is more of a retirement home than a luxury boutique hotel. The hotel is filled with a cast of lovable and eccentric aging citizens who are all too eager to pry and inquire as to why Mrs. Palfrey never seems to receive visits or calls from her "mythical" grandson, who happens to work in the archives at the British Museum. However, a twist of fate when she takes a fall on the sidewalk outside the flat inhabited by a charming writer named Ludovic, changes her rather uneventful and lonely life at The Claremont into one filled with joy and true friendship. We should all be so fortunate to have a Ludo ( as he’s called) in our lives! What follows is a charming tale of a wonderful bond that develops between an aging widow and a warm caring young man.

Make a nice pot of Earl Grey, grab a box of Kleenex and enjoy this wonderful little film. It is highly recommended by the Tea Society!

You can preview the trailer from youtube here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwihHW2ZQLg

2009-01-14T10:32:00.006-05:00

"A UNIQUE TEA EXPERIENCE OFF THE BEATEN TRACK"

( Lady Donna and Miss Spenser Hardin enjoying a hot cuppa)

Dear Tea Society Readers,

It is with great pleasure that I have had the opportunity to meet some wonderful people whilst becoming a tea director. When I first began this adventure some years ago, I did so with a national group called The Ladies’ Tea Guild. After that group dissolved and many directors started tea-related business, I continued with a guild/society and that is in essence what the Ladies Historical Tea Society has become.

One delightful director, whom I have had the wonderful good fortune of getting to know, is Mrs. Donna Hardin. Donna has continued her tea business by opening a special occasion Tea Room out of her home in Iowa called Miss Spenser’s Special- Teas. Donna has graciously agreed to answer some questions about her tea business and her fascination with all things tea related.

Rebecca: Hello Donna. Thank you for sharing your time with me for a little conversation at the Tea Society.

You and I have discussed, on a number of occasions, what a unique passion tea is for us. Would you share a little about when you first became passionate about tea?

Donna: Well, I have always admired the "pretty" things associated with tea time...however; I would have to say that my real passion for the “art” of taking tea began in 2000 when my husband moved this "cityslicker" to the country!! After being married 20 years, he came home from work one day and informed me that he wanted to move our family to a farm where we could raise a few chickens, horse and cattle! You can only imagine my surprise with those words, but...being the dutiful wife, I soon found myself living on a 140 acre farm about 30 minutes South of Des Moines, Iowa. Now...some people might be thrilled with this type of adventure, but for me, it was very isolating and lonely. However, life does have a way of surprising us, for it was during the first long winter in the country that my daughter, Spenser, then 13, and I began the art of taking afternoon tea together. I have to admit, in the beginning, we were extremely uncultured, using soggy tea bags you find from the local grocer, not to mention consuming large amounts of Little Debby Fancy Cakes. However, over time, we began to refine our tea taking skills by reading and learning all kinds of information on the subject of how to prepare a “proper” English tea; sampling and tasting the many different varieties of loose leaf teas; and collecting various tea accoutrements which added much enjoyment to our tea time gatherings. Over time our little flame became a roaring fire, one of which we have not been able to quench!

Rebecca: What inspired you to delve deeper with tea and to actually become a Tea Guild director? What did you enjoy most about that time?

Donna: Well during our tea experiences and studies concerning tea, we discovered that we both had a desire to travel to England. Now hubby thought that was a great idea, but he wondered how we would get there…and he wasn’t talking about whether or not we would take a boat or fly…he wondered how we would get there financially. So, that’s when we decided to use our passion for tea to help pave the way to England. The Tea Guild provided us an opportunity to host teas and share our passions, as well as the ability to make a little bit of income. We enjoyed hosting our guild events every month and sharing our passions for tea and history while making new tea friends along the way. I also enjoyed chatting with other tea directors via e-mail.

Rebecca: When did you first entertain the idea of opening a special occasion tea room? How has your lovely daughter Spenser, the tea room's namesake, enhanced the tea experience for your guests?

Donna: After the Ladies Tea Guild dissolved, we went on to continue hosting our tea society every month. “Miss Spenser,” which she is fondly known by in our area, would always perform a little bit of drama for the events in historical costumes which she had created. From there, libraries, churches, Old Settler Events, retirement centers, tea rooms, etc. began contacting us and hiring us to perform our historical programs. Word got around, and people began calling and asking if they could come to tea at our home so that is what prompted us to create our special event tea room.

Rebecca: Which tea rooms do you find most inspiring?

Donna: I enjoy tea rooms that offer a traditional four-course tea served on beautiful china in relaxing and pretty environments, and of course, ones that serve “real” tea made from loose leaf tea, not tea bags. I prefer this over to a restaurant-style tea room which just serves lunch foods.

Rebecca: I couldn't agree more! It's horrible to venture into a "tea room" and find that they only serve 1 blend of loose leaf tea or worse yet, all tea bags!

You also offer special tea blends for sale. Which is your most popular tea?

Donna: Our most popular tea is our “Miss Spenser’s Special-Tea.” This is a wonderful Ceylon tea. We have found this tea is perfect for those who have never tried a cup of “properly” brewed loose leaf tea before. It has a full-body smoothness with an equally pleasing taste without any astringency; it’s really delicious and can be enjoyed any time of the day.

Rebecca: Do you also have a cook book available and what types of recipes do you provide?

Donna: Our cookbook contains everything you need to prepare a simple tea, cream tea, afternoon tea, all the way to a delicious high tea, which consists of a meal. It has over 90 tried and true recipes and sells for $16. It has been extremely popular; we are on our second printing and are almost sold out again!

Rebecca: There has certainly been resurgence in the interest in afternoon tea over the past few years. There are many groups, like the ones we both directed and ones attending your Special-Teas, which congregate specifically to enjoy afternoon tea. With the Tea Society it has become a time of bonding with other women who share similar interests. I try to always keep the conversation positive and not too controversial or political as to make all feel welcome. What do you attribute to the desire for groups like ours? Do you believe there is a void of a more ʽgenteelʼ way of life in our society which the art of tea fulfills?

Donna: People today are just so busy that they don’t take time to rejuvenate their spirits…one way to do that is by creating a relaxing and soothing environment, with pretty table settings, delicious foods, fine quality tea, good music, and great fellowship. This is what we try to provide here at Miss Spenser’s; we love to pamper our guests. Interestingly enough, although most people think of tea time for women only, we have found that the men-folk enjoy it as well!!

Rebecca: Miss Spenserʼs Special Teas has been in operation now for nearly a year, correct? What has your first year been like as a tea room operator and how does your tea room differ from others in your region?

Donna: I would have to say that this first year of business has been one of the best years of my life…to be able to share my passion for tea, history, literature, foods, and to work alongside my daughter, in our home, is truly a dream come true! It’s been a very exciting year…we have the best customers, a/k/a tea friends!!

Our tea room is very unique…actually, our motto is: “A unique tea experience off the beaten path.” You have to remember…we are 30 minutes from civilization, with 2 miles of it on gravel!! At first, I didn’t think any one would come…but they do. We have had people all the way from Oregon, Colorado, Illinois, Missouri, and Nebraska…as well as all over the State of Iowa…it continues to amaze me. I guess we are like the movie Field of Dreams, “If you build it, they will come.” Ha… What makes our tea room unique is that it is just that, “a tea room” which offers the traditional four-course tea, with ‘real’ tea served, not hot water and a soggy tea bag. On top of that, our programs are very unique, they’re one-of-a-kind as they are written and researched by us and performed by the amazing Miss Spenser! People always leave here with full tummies and a little more information/education.

Rebecca: I read your reviews at Teamap and they are extraordinary. To say they are overwhelmingly positive would be an understatement. Did you imagine that you would receive reviews like this after such a short time in operation?

Donna: Thank you Rebecca for your kind words…we have been amazed at the reviews, and we give God the glory for them all…we feel so blessed to be able to share our passions with others…it has been beyond our scope of imagination for sure!

Rebecca: Donna, thank you so much for taking this time with me. I have no doubt that your guests have been spoilt beyond their wildest dreams with the availability of such a wonderfully creative destination to take tea. I wish you the best of luck with your tea room and I can't wait for the chance to get to attend one in the future.

Donna: Rebecca, It was my privilege to talk with you today…I always enjoy our chats. Thank you again for all your kind words…I do hope that we can take tea together sometime in the very near future!! And, congratulations to you on your beautiful blog site and your future AnTEAquity endeavors! I am looking forward to seeing your “wares” for sale!

I hope you enjoyed this interview with Donna and please do visit Miss Spenser's Special-Teas if you're interested in the cookbook, tea, or an incredible Tea experience if you happen to find yourself in her neighborhood.

Most Teafully,
Rebecca

2009-01-12T09:30:00.005-05:00

A GREAT WAY TO SPEND A RAINY SATURDAY

(Holly Hill Inn- Midway, Kentucky)
(Interior of the Inn- photo from Holly Hill Inn Website)

On Saturday I had the most wonderful visit from a dear old friend whom I have known for 17 years. We met in a college writing class and she was a bridesmaid in my wedding. We had lost touch for a while but reconnected last year and it has been the most wonderful joy having Kimberly back in my life again. She is a treasure and we will never lose touch again. Friendship like ours should never be allowed to fade.

We had a day filled with three of my favorite pleasures in life; antiques, food, and wine. We began the very rainy morning with destination, An Antique Affair, a wonderful warehouse filled with over 100 booths of antiques and collectibles. We found everything from Majolica and Royal Doulton to vintage fashions and Wurlitzer Victrolas.. We spent a couple of hours there and though came away with no purchases this time, the browsing was sublime and did I mention that dogs were allowed? We will be back for sure!

Next, we continued on to Midway, Kentucky and brunch at my favorite restaurant, The Holly Hill Inn. This place is absolute bliss to me. No matter what mood I am in, the minute I see that great Greek Revival Manor amid the Holly trees, my spirits are elevated to a sublime plane. My husband can attest to this. The ambiance here is unequaled and the food is absolutely amazing. For brunch we started with a cup of potato leak soup, then an entree of shrimp and grits served with perfectly prepared asparagus, a side dish of potato cheese casserole, and delectable airy biscuits and corn muffins with fresh butter and honey. We ended with Jamieson's chocolate bread pudding in a whiskey sauce for me and Kimberly had the Cranberry Bavarian cream. Both were heavenly. With satisfied taste buds, we journeyed on to Equus Run Vineyards. Here we had the wine tasting and parted with a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon for me and Chardonnay for Kimberly.

Our outing ended shortly afterwards and my friend made her way home but oh, the great memories we made and the wonderful conversation was exactly what I needed on such a gloomy day. We are already planning our next adventure!

If you are ever in Central Kentucky, I would highly recommend checking out the above destinations mentioned. They are all delightful.

2009-01-08T11:45:00.002-05:00

SOME LOVELY AWARDS
(Best Blog Award)

( Award By Proxi)

Janeen at chachaneen has been so kind as to give me a couple of awards. Thank you so much for thinking of the Tea Society...These awards are so charming and how fitting is it that this Best Blog Award has a dog featured...Love that...The other award is so thoughtful and is called a By Proxi Award. This is how it is described:

This is the special "Proximidade" award. This award is a fine one because it focuses not on the glory and fanfare of blogging, but in the PROXIMITY to one another through this on-line world (kind of a Six Degrees of Separation sort of thing).

"Blogs who receive this award are 'exceedingly charming' say its authors. This blog invests and believes in the PROXIMITY-nearness in space, time and relationships. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. T hey are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers!

Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."

So, over this weekend I'll pass this one along to eight more wonderful bloggers.....

Thank you Janeen....