Monday, March 28, 2016

Time for Tea


Hello, Dear Friends, I hope that you had 
a lovely and blessed Easter Holiday.

Thank you for all your Easter wishes
and lovely thoughts.

It means so much to me. 

I have had a quiet start to the week, 
and wanted to share a cup of tea with you, 
while making some garden plans. 


These lovely roses and lilies are 
from my sweet daughter, Jennie. 

I've put away the Easter decorations, 
tidied up the house, and now it's time for tea. 


Come join me - I have 
a little surprise to show you! 


A lovely tea set. 


I joined Stephanie's tea-cup exchange 
through her blog, The Enchanting Rose
and this sweet tea-set was sent to me from 
Marilyn who blogs at Delights of the Heart



A charming tea towel and herbal teas 
were also part of this generous gift. 

This is my first tea-cup exchange
and I'm so glad I joined. 

Thank you so much, Marilyn! 




When washing the tea-set, in preparation for tea, 
I happened to notice that each piece 
had a beautiful quote on 'Love' underneath!


 I baked some simple 'Cream Scones' 
to enjoy with my tea.

Here is the recipe: 

'Cream Scones' 

2 cups flour
2 tbsp sugar
2 + 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
4 tbsp cold butter, cut in pieces
3/4 cup plus 2 tbsp heavy whipping cream 
reserving more if dough is dry
and for top. 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper

In lg bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt,
whisking well. 
Using a pastry blender, cut butter into flour mixture
until mixture resembles course crumbs. 
Add the cream, stirring and patting together with hands. 
If mixture seems dry, add more cream, one tbsp at a time. 

Turn dough onto lightly floured board and knead 3-4 times. 
Roll dough to 1/2 inch thickness. 

Cut with a round biscuit cutter 
and place on baking sheet 2" apart. 
Brush tops with a little cream. 
Sprinkle with sugar, if desired. 

Bake approximately 10 minutes or until edges 
are light golden brown and toothpick 
inserted in center comes out clean. 


I like mine with a little butter
 and blackberry jam :) 


So does Kai, apparently! 



I chose the Peppermint tea today. 
This tea is from the Pacific Northwest
(where I live), although I have never seen it before. 

It was so wonderfully rich and delicious. 
The packet describes it as 'A great after dinner treat, 
midday breath freshener or car rear-view mirror dangler'! 

I will be sending for more at smithtea.com 



While sipping and nibbling, I enjoyed 
garden planning with some lovely books.


These were written in the 1980's with wonderful illustrations. 



A joy to read. 


I've kept garden journals for many years. 




My latest entry - flower arrangements 
by Lady Butchart, in Victoria B.C. 
copied from Lorrie's lovely blog, Fabric Paper Thread
where she has done a post about The Butchart Gardens.

My sweet sis-in-law, Teresa,
gifted me with the pretty paper weight
made with real flowers.





Another sweet SIL, Donna gifted me with this
precious volume, dated 1912.

I grew up and met Ramblin' Man
in New England where his
sisters still live.



It's been very cool today,
with brief moments of sunshine,
as I gaze out the glass doors.

The forecast is for sunshine and warmth
the rest of the week, so I am preparing
to spend my time in the gardens.



My tea and scone was delicious,
and I enjoyed my little break
with you, my friends,
(and Whitey Bear and Kai :)





There are few hours in life more
agreeable than the hour dedicated to the
ceremony known as afternoon tea.

- Henry James, The Portrait of a Lady -

xoxo

Today I am linking with:

Cooking and Crafting with J & J

The Art of Homemaking Mondays

Join Our Monday Link Up Party at Julie's Lifestyle!Join Our Weekly Link Up on Mondays!

39 comments:

  1. Hi Karen,my desr friend,
    what a lovely Tea Time post!
    I love this set and I love your porcellain! Wonderful!
    Yes, a good cup of tea always is nice! To enjoy it in your wonderful and warm house must be great :O)
    Thank you for al those lovely pictures!
    Happy new week to you,
    Love and hugs and blessings, Claudia xo

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  2. Hello dear friend! Your tea set is absolutely beautiful. What a lovely gift from a new friend. I too received my teacup exchange box today and will be sharing it in a blog post later. Wasn't it a fun exchange? Your garden books are so lovely. What a wonderful way to spend an afternoon; reading books and sipping tea. Wishing you much happiness this week. Hugs, Pat

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  3. What a pretty tea set! I also joined the exchange and look forward to posting when I receive my package. I think a scone is a good idea with a cup of tea anytime!

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  4. Karen, we had a great Easter, hope you too!
    I love afternoon tea and yours looks wonderful!
    Have a nice week

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  5. Your tea exchange gifts are exquisite, Karen. My you have been spoiled and deservedly so. =) It is always lovely to sit and enjoy a cuppa and even better if it is enjoyed with some fresh, home baked scones. Those gardening books look wonderful. I love old gardening books. What a source of wonderful information you must have in those gardening journals. Your deck is looking pretty with those Spring flowers. How lovely it must be to sit there and enjoy a cup of tea whilst looking at that majestic mountain of yours.

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  6. The tea set is gorgeous, Karen. The colours :)) Little Kai's face is so sweet and hard to resist. You certainly are ahead of us with fine weather. We are just seeing our grass now. Enjoy your tea in your pretty home. Deb

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  7. What a beautiful tea set! It looks like Kai was just hoping you'd leave the room for a bit. Does he like scones? :-). Isn't it fun to look through gardening books. I was away from home at the time my tomatoes should have been started. I always enjoy seeing your beautiful view.

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  8. What a beautiful tea set! It looks like Kai was just hoping you'd leave the room for a bit. Does he like scones? :-). Isn't it fun to look through gardening books. I was away from home at the time my tomatoes should have been started. I always enjoy seeing your beautiful view.

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  9. Now that was an amazing exchange, such a beautiful tea set with wonderful quotes, a real delight. I fell in love immediately with the stunning tea towel, beautiful!

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  10. Hello, your tea set is beautiful and I love your sweet furbabies. The scones sounds delicious, thanks for sharing the recipe. Happy Tuesday, enjoy your day!

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  11. Hi dear Karen !! Que bonito post del tiempo para un te .. Su casa siempre llena de encantó

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  12. You have such beautiful style and spend time making your home special. I love the books too and that recipe for scones! Enjoy your week sweet lady! Hugs, Diane

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  13. What a beautiful tea set, Karen! And a pretty tea towel. I love vintage embroidered linen. And those old gardening books! Oh, my! Have a great week working (playing) in your gardens!

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  14. Hi Karen. The tea set is so pretty and I love the scripture verses on the bottom. The gardening books are sweet and I'm sure the scones were yummy. I'm trying to think of gardening here but we still have snow and cold. It's difficult to get enthusiastic for spring with this weather. I hope you have a beautiful week.
    Hugs, Pam

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  15. I do so love it when you write posts like this, welcoming everyone into your cozy kitchen nook ;) Your new tea set is just beautiful! What a special gift to receive in your first exchange. I've never seen a verse on the bottom of the cups, but I think it's so nice. A little gift saved for the washing-up person. You have some beautiful gardening books. Sometimes it's not about choosing plants, but just getting inspired to be out in the garden again. I'm going to save your scone recipe for another day ... they look delicious. And I'll take the dogs' cue that they're tempted enough to steal off your plate. Such cute pups. Enjoy your week Karen.

    Wendy
    PS Thank you so much for your comment on mine. It brought the tears to my eyes to read about your dear father. Hugs to you xox

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  16. This yellow tea set is so cute, Karen. I'm glad you're friends with Stephanie. She is one of the most genuine and sweetest ladies in blog land, a true gem. It looks like you got a lot of goodies in the tea cup exchange. I love the words on the bottom, "love never fails." Your cat journal is pretty. I've kept journals for years too, Karen, and this reminds me to write a little something in one of them. :) The tea quote is delightful. You know, I'm sipping on my coffee right now, and I often wonder if I like tea or coffee more......I think both hehehehe.

    Have a beautiful week.

    ~Sheri

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  17. What lovely gifts you received from Marilyn, through Stephanie's teacup exchange! The tea set is so pretty, and the quotes underneath each piece are a beautiful surprise. The tea towel is gorgeous and the teas sound heavenly. I received my gifts, and I will be excited to show them soon.
    Have a great week, Karen. xo

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  18. I enjoyed this lovely tea time with you as well dear Karen. ;)

    That tea set is so charming - and that tea sounds divine!! But that scone looks SO good...I would gobble that up very easily. Lol

    I love those beautiful gardening books. Such gorgeous photos!! What a great idea to keep a journal about what is blooming when etc. It could be such a helpful tool for future plantings.

    Love your cozy kitchen and enjoyed our tea time immensely. xoxo

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  19. What a sweet, sweet post! Your tea set and gifts are so pretty and so special! The illustrations in your garden books are so vintage and lovely too. I love the idea of a garden journal. Sometimes from year to year I forget what I planted. I may start one this Spring.

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  20. Alway time for tea.
    You have a lovely home. I like your garden books.
    Merle............

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  21. Dear Karen,
    all your Easter decorations are gone. My are still there for a little while.
    I´ve joined in Stephanies Tea Cup & Mug Exchange for the first time too. Surprise, surprise!
    Your tea set looks lovely, very romantic and you are right when you use it. It always reminds you of a special person. Great idea this exchange.
    I have to notice your scone recipe, looks very, as we say in Germany, lecker.
    Have a nice week, dear Karen with hopefully more sunshine even in your heart. Lot´s of luv, Barbara

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  22. Hello Karen,
    Oh I loved this tea time post. What a lovely tea set and the scones look amazing.
    Thanks for sharing this at our Cooking and Crafting with J & J.
    Enjoy the week.
    Julie

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  23. Lovely post, my friend! You always inspire me with the beauty you share.

    I am in awe of the beautiful tea set you received from Marilyn and I know you will put it to good use. I am ever so glad you joined the exchange {{smiles}}

    Have a wonderful week, dear friend. Love and hugs!

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  24. Wow!! Lucky, lucky you what a lovely exchange and I know dear Karen your exchange would have been equally as gorgeous... you did remember to send the kettle as well, didn't you?! I am hoping you and Marilyn are smiling and thinking that's funny otherwise I'm in such BIG trouble... :)
    In fact you're right it's time for a cuppa so toodle-loo for now.
    Wren x

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  25. Garden planning while sipping tea is just perfect. The scones just top the picture. They look delicious! So happy you will love this tea set, tea towel, and S.Smith tea. If you are ever in Portland stop by his tasting room. There are two tasting rooms in town.

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  26. Your scone recipe sounds scrummy! I love the garden planning stages and getting out the seeds for the new year. Your garden books look lovely. Hopefully the sun will shine for you this week . B xx

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  27. What a wonderful post, Karen! The tea set is so very beautiful. Stephanie's tea-cup exchange sounds lovely, but before joining I should know where to find such precious items the participants send...
    The garden books look very interesting. Enjoy your afternoon tea! I think you most certainly will. :)

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  28. WoW!!! the tea set is really quaint and lovely, how kind and thoughtful!!!

    i have never written out/planned in writing my garden plans...maybe i should! then perhaps my garden would look as lovely as yours!!!

    and your all cleaned up from easter....like i dream of jeanne, pow and it's all done, wow!!!!

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  29. Oh Karen, that tea set is lovely and all of your photo's too.
    What a delight to read and look at, thank you.

    All the best Jan

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  30. Dearest Karen,
    What a lovely post you put together again.
    Such lovely ritual indeed for having afternoon tea. We always enjoy that time of the day.
    Kai looks so lovingly and so happy!
    Still busy with scanning old photo albums, I'm really getting at it as I want to get it over with.
    Tax papers are done, we met with the CPA yesterday so a lot of the work has been done.
    Pieter's paper was very well received on Monday evening after dinner with his club so I'm glad I typed that out for him in larger print for easy reading.
    The garden is taking a lot of Pieter's time already but it is pretty, after a very wet Easter...
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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  31. What a BEAUTIFUL tea cup exchange package - that set is stunning. I love the soft yellow, and you have shared it with us so perfectly.

    Your scone looks just too yummy, and your furry friend is adorable!

    Enjoy your mint tea sipping and springtime! : - )

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  32. What a lovely post. That tea towel is so sweet and reminds me of the ones I used to make when I was a girl. Thanks for sharing.

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  33. That is a Beautiful tea set, love the colors!! So neat you have found a new tea that is made so close to you. We are planning on doing a wild flower garden this year, we have the seeds bought and I guess my hubby is just going to plant them as soon as we can and will be interesting to see what comes up :) Your flowers on the tables just brighten everything up so nicely!!

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  34. Karen, your tea set is quite lovely and your display in all its beauty brings with it tranquility. I must give your simple scones a try with all the wonderful tea I have received through this lovely exchange.
    I love your idea of having a garden journal, and you certainly have some beautiful books to glean from.
    As always, your flowers on the deck look absolutely gorgeous. We have a long way to go before any flowers will be showing their beauty here. :-)

    Enjoy your weekend~~

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  35. I enjoyed that little tea in so pretty cups a lot!

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  36. I enjoyed reading this. Your gifted tea set is beautiful and I love the verses on the bottom! I also am drooling over your garden books, they are just my style! :) Have a lovely weekend!

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  37. Wow. Everything is so pretty!

    Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!

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Thank you for stopping by! Your comments are important to me and are very much appreciated. xx Karen

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