Challenging Spring Tea

Chances are if you are looking out your window and live in Canada right now you can see snow. This time last year I spent time walking early morning watching the daffodils, crocuses, and snow drops squeezing from the earth as the morning sun warmed their little buds. It's -7 as I type, and as you are reading, spring hasn't sprung and the grass hasn't rise. 

Well I've been thinking Spring, in fact I'm enjoying a spring tea at the moment, come, sit with me while I ooh and aah over afternoon tea,

I've set a place setting for you with the expectations you wouldn't turn me down when I asked your company today.

I imagined snipping these out of my garden as I took off my Winter boots so as not to get snow all over the floor while running to put them into water. They certainly remind me of spring and tea, you?

I'm at liberty of going ahead and making decisions, so I choose our tea to be Mocha Rocha - This is a herbal concoction of Rooibos blends - a smashing mocha flavour full bodied tea casting a sweet combination of caramel and hints of hazelnut and coffee, perfect.

The sun is starting to set, we will have our tea by candle light, like many others have this week due to power outages on the Island.

Here is the Spring issue of CountryWomen, have a read while I put the kettle on. Be sure to take a gander on page 17 where Susan Gibb's of Charlottesville, Virginia mentions sheep shearing and sending it to a farm on Prince Edward Island! I say do you think it is sent to Belfast Mini Mills? I do.

I saw you looking over the top of the magazine at the tag on the linen napkins! I couldn't help but leave the tag on, vintage do you say, frugal and useful. All the edges are scalloped and cut out between each flower.

The week the cold has kept me inside so I finished the earrings for this spring beaded flower necklace. My girls think it is too much, I rather like it and think it would go nice with what you are wearing. Perhaps once I tag it and put it onto the shelf in the Gift Shop you will claim it as yours. I've been puttering about the shop all week trying to get ready for open. One thing is for sure, I"m a lot like spring - yup can't make up my mind and I've been walking around lost and confused.

I've chosen this tea cup for you as it reminds me of spring with it's little bee buzzing about and flowers blossoming. 

Isn't this just a wonderful little milk jug? I know you don't take milk with your tea, I just couldn't help myself and thought you would want to know I found only three of them at an Antique Mall on the way home from North Carolina, somewhere I believe in the Boston area.

Shall I pour your first cup for you while it is still hot? I believe you may have noticed the handmade drip catchers on the teapots, yes, well I designed them - I did, however I can't take all the credit as my mom-in-law does all the work, she has the patience for it you know, besides she fancies doing all that little kind of needle work.

I almost forgot to share my spring cup with you, see the little bird?

The saucer is grand as well, it has a window box of flowers. This tea up and saucer are J & G Meakin and when I looked up the label it displayed a making from 1912 design, wow I should only hope to be in as good of use when I'm 1/2 it's age. 

Pretty little set

This truly has been a great afternoon, I almost forgot to offer you a piece of upside down cranberry and pecan cake I baked today.

Listen to me, I've been going on so much I haven't given you a chance to say a word....

I'll hush and let you take a turn. Yes that is how deep the snow is in the back field, but did you hear? Spring is on it's way!

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While I wait Spring I'm going to get myself a little hot in my cup and venture over to visit:

Sandi ~ Rose Chintz Cottage

Martha ~ Martha's Favourites

Bernideen's ~ Tea Time Blog

Ruth ~ Antique's And Tea Cups

~00~ Grandma (aka Cindy)

Dutch Licorice ~ Tea Time

Join me while I sit a spell, contemplate, and savor a good cup of tea

Choices

Ah, yes good choice

Dutch Licorice Tea 

Memories of Amsterdam as aniseed imparts a sweet candy-like pungency on tangy licorice. The mellow character of Rooibos also layers exceptionally well with the aniseed and natural flavorings that round out the blend. The resulting cup is fantastic - sweet, slightly bitter and hinting of spice. Prost!

The Cup

Opps! little shaky today,

I'm thinking a green tea pot for St. Patrick's Day and this lovely little favourite.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

A fine tea cup with a high handle and a gold trim base on which she sits. The spray of gold leaches down the sides of the cup giving you an impression of perhaps having tea out - late in the evening in a darken room while wearing a hat draped in front 

a black veil

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My tea and contemplation has come to an end, back to work.

This week we are still in renovations, I think I might have to make grandpa a cup of that tea to relax him a little while I make a few more changes.  What is it with women and changing their minds? I mean, I only think we do that because we are getting it better than the last time we decided. Nonetheless, it is my mission this week to change around the living space, renovate the bathroom, and make a new set of curtains.

Maybe I'll put on a hat with a veil as I go about the house. Scuttlebutt, that would just be silly.

Join me for tea this week while I visit

Sandi ~ Rose Chintz Cottage

Martha ~ Martha's Favourites

Bernideen's ~ Tea Time Blog

Ruth ~ Antique's And Tea Cups

I'll leave you with this Irish Proverb,
May you have the hindsight to know where you've been, 
the foresight to know where you are going, 
and the insight to know when you have gone too far.

Hugs,

Cindy

~00~ Grandma (aka Cindy)
Crafting - http://scrapandwrap.ca
Roasting - http://coffeeroasting.ca/