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April 2008

April 23, 2008

Who is Attending?!

The May / June issue of Tea Time Magazine arrived a couple of weeks ago.  When I spend Sunday afternoons at home, reading this and other favorite magazines is a favorite pastime.  This issue of Tea Time includes lots of yummy recipes for summer and one called "Royal Coconut Cake."  Even if you don't like coconut, this cake is a vision of white to behold!   

On page 7, there is a full page ad for a special occasion.  Perhaps some of you have already heard about it.  I'm curious to know if anyone is planning to attend "An Occasion for Tea" at the Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria, British Columbia on August 8 - 10, 2008!

Occasion_for_tea_header_4      

April 21, 2008

What Kind of Cake Are You?

Here is a fun quiz from Blogthings

My family and friends would be a bit surprised by my quiz results because I really prefer white cake with white frosting.  But I think the description fits and far be it from me to pass up a slice of this multi-layered number in chocolate! 

It sure looks yummy.  What kind of cake are you?! 

    

You Are a Chocolate Cake
Fun, comforting, and friendly.
You are a true classic, and while you're not super cutting edge, you're high quality.
People love your company - and have even been known to get addicted to you.

April 20, 2008

The-Sweet-and-Savory-of-Yummy

Week #6 of LaTeaDah's Gracious Hospital-i-Tea Blog-a-thon is entitled The-Sweet-and-Savory-of-Yummy.  We are asked to "share favorite tea time recipes for sweets or savories."  Here are two of my favorites!

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Scones from The English Rose ~ 66 Laurel Street ~ San Carlos, CA

Raisin_scones_8

  • 3 cups flour
  • 1/2 cup raisins
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 3 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 3/4 stick of butter
  • 1 cup milk

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Mix all ingredients together with hands, except the milk.  Add milk all at once.  Mix well.  Knead mixture 8 to 10 times.  Roll out on floured board to 1 1/2 inches thickness.

Cut with a biscuit cutter.  (Note: For best height, use an up and down movement, do not twist the cutter.)  Place on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake about 25 minutes or until scones are lightly browned.  Serve warm with butter or clotted cream and jam.  (Note: At the restaurant, they also have lemon curd on the table which is also delicious with these scones.)

Recipe yields about 2 dozen scones.  They freeze well for future use.

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Red Pepper Jelly from my grandmother (1904 ~ 1999)

  • Jellies00141_56 2-lb red peppers
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup white vinegar
  • 1 1/2 cup granulated sugar

Remove seeds and membranes from peppers; cut into strips and put through course grinder.  Place ground peppers into bowl and sprinkle with salt to draw juice.  Let stand for 60 minutes.  Drain well and discard juice.

Place peppers into saucepan.  Add vinegar and sugar.  Stir and simmer over medium heat for 55 minutes or until a little thick (like jam) when tested on plate.  Let cool on a dish.  If not "runny," then it's done. 

Serve with cream cheese on toasted rounds or any cracker.  May be frozen in small portions.

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Credits: Photograph of scones from epicurious.com.  Photograph of red pepper jelly from The Candied Quince.

April 16, 2008

Birds & Bonnets Vintage Workshop Swap

Karla over at Karla's Cottage and Beth from Gathering Dust are hosting a "Birds & Bonnets Vintage Workshop Swap" which promises to be tremendously fun!  The deadline for sign-ups is this Friday, April 18. 

If you're interested, click here and follow the directions to sign up!

    

Weekend Wishlist: April 19 ~ April 20

  • 996433310_2girlsbook Celebrate with my family my son's 26th birthday
  • Plan panels for the Birds & Bonnets Swap
  • Select recipes for the Tea Blog-a-thon
  • Re-organize one of my hall closets
  • Read magazines that arrived this week
  • Toss old magazines into the recycling bin
  • Choose a tea room in San Francisco to visit with my sister

     

April 14, 2008

What Flower Are You?

I'm a snapdragon, and now there is an image of a snapdragon on the side column of my blog.  To take the quiz, just click here.  Then you can post the image of your flower on your blog, too. 

I'm so glad the colors in my flower match those in my blog design.  ;-D

April 13, 2008

Dressed-to-a-Tea

For Week #5 of the LaTeaDah's Gracious Hospital-i-tea Blog-a-thon, the theme is fashion.  Specifically, "ideas for dressing up for afternoon tea." 

I can't wait to see from others beautiful attire that is vintage and/or romantic!  Floral prints, hats and gloves, and cameo jewelry are perfect for an afternoon tea.  My approach is a bit different. 

While the color of my spirit vacillates between pink and yellow, I wear a lot of black because it's a timeless classics.  Although unconventional for tea parties, a crisp combination of black and white is my choice.  I love to accessorize with my gold watch, a pair of tailored earrings, and my cherished strand of Mikimoto pearls. 

Below are photographs of current St. John Knits designs that are similar to pieces hanging in my closet and are representative of my fashion choices.  The women in the photographs are models who are certainly leaner than I am, and I would not choose to wear sandals with slacks.  But overall, I love this look! 

Wearing one of these outfits, I'm ready to step into any palette Mother Nature or a tea party hostess has created.  For me, it's simple: dress in black and white, then add flora, fauna, and lots of chintz china!

Sj1cjb_mn_b_w_design Sj1gb7_mn_white_suit Sj1q4x_mn_b_w Sj1cja_mn_b_w_geo

April 08, 2008

More Stitches-for-Tea

Thank you so much for all your nice comments about my new tea towels! I feel so lucky to have found them.  For those who may be looking for similar treasures and/or unable to find them locally, check out Etsy, "an online marketplace for buying & selling all things handmade."

In preparing for my sister's tea party, I just ordered some party favors on Etsy: vintage cotton, hand-stitched tea bags filled with lavender.  They're made by a 20-year-old student named Niandra who lives in Naples, Italy.  She grows the lavender in her backyard and then creates these handcrafted little treasures.  Her communication is super fast and she whipped up a special order of 12 teabags for me in less than 24 hours.  Below is a photograph (from Etsy) of her work. 

My sister's decorating style leans toward primitive country, so these will be perfect for her tea.  Aren't they charming?!  See more of them here: Lavender Tea Bags by Niandra.

Lavender_tea_bags_7   

April 06, 2008

Stitches-for-Tea

Here we are in Week #4 of LaTeaDah's Gracious Hospital-i-Tea Blog-a-thon.  The theme this time is "Stitches-for-Tea" and participants are asked to "share ideas and pictures involving stitching for the tea table.  Any kind of stitches count . . ."      

I was inspired to search for vintage embroidered tea towels and just today purchased these lovely, hand-stitched beauties.  I am crazy about them!  I especially like the idea of a garland strung through the handle of a tea cup.  Imagine the possibilities!

Embroidered_garland_and_cup_7

Embroidered_china_cup_towel_6

April 02, 2008

Decor-a-Tea: In the Garden

Below are six paintings of tea-themed outdoor scenes.  In these early days of spring, just imagine sipping tea in any one of these lovely garden settings.

Teapartyprinti10356528 Afternoonteaiiprinti10320665_2  

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Highteaprinti10082048_5  Teagardenprinti10294770_4

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Lilacteapartyprinti10114018_8 Patioiiprinti10262756_4

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Credits:  First row: "Tea Party" (artist unnamed).  "Afternoon Tea II" by Consuelo Gamboa.  Second row: "High Tea" by Abbott Graves.  "Tea Garden" (artist unnamed).  Third row: "Lilac Tea Party" by Benjamin.  "Patio II" by Avril Morris.  All images are from art.com.      

April 01, 2008

Decor-a-Tea: Triptychs

Sometimes triptychs, or panels of three, are an effective way to dress a wall.  Below are two tea-themed sets.  Images are once again from art.com.

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"Tea Time" by T. Chiu depicts four ladies in three panels making for a dramatic, jewel-toned triptych.

Teatimeleftpanelprinti12180908_2 Teatimecenterpanelprinti12180870_2 Teatimerightpanelprinti12180792

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I've always loved the idea of re-purposing special treasures.  In this case, paintings of tea cups converted to planters are each called "Tea Topiary" (from left to right numbered I, II, and III) by Consuelo Gamboa

Teatopiary1printi10337134_2 Teatopiary2printi10349095 Teatopiary3printi10291889

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Tomorrow's Decor-a-Tea is called "In the Garden."