I love to Dream, live to Create and hope to Inspire!

Welcome!
OKAY, second post of the day!
I'm back from my paint class and have just sat down to have a cup of tea. Make sure you make your way on over to Make Mine Pink for the tea party they are throwing today. They have listed the links of many many fabulous places that have joined in the FUN today ~ so make sure you click on the names in the list and check them all out.
I'm so glad you've come on over to join me in a cup of tea.
I hope you'll leave me a comment and let me know you stopped by and hope you'll visit again.



I've set my tea up on a tray I made out of an old cabinet door. I also painted the Tea Time tile in my two new favorite colors together - pink and brown. The tea cup and saucer is a Royal Albert (Old Country Roses pattern) that I purchased when I lived in England. The tea is some Earl Grey that my friend gave me before I left England The treats we are having today are Weight Watchers Carrot Cake - they remind me of zingers which I love and they are only 1 point each ~ so I could eat all three if I wanted to but I want to share ~ so you have one and I'll eat two! (I put the Tiara in just in case the Queen decided to stop by and join me ~ hehehe)

The small plate the cakes are on is from the Savoy in London. We went to an event at the Savoy with some friends and well let's just say they nicked a few items ~ I got a plate and spoon, the lovely lady that was a takin' got a silver platter, cup and knife. It was her birthday and we had a cake and well since there was some left she just took the platter and all. The sweet kerchief is one that I purchased at an estate sale.

I am also a collector of tea pots, cups and saucers. Here is one shelf in my bookcase that has my favorite teapots on it. These are all gifts from my darling husband on his temporary duties with the military ~ with the exception of the Wedgwood on in the middle.
The teapot on the left is Spode (Tapestry pattern),
the second is Faiences D'Art from Provence France,
the third is a jasperware Wedgwood tea pot that I purchased as a part of the Wedgwood Society ~ see the picture below ~ I was fortunate enough to have it signed by Lord Wedgwood in 1999. The next one is a teapot my husband brought back from Portugal. It is Linea Strauss and the pattern is Belver.
The last one on the far right is Villeroy & Boch brought back from Germany (pattern - Basket).

Here are some tips on Tea Etiquette I found to share with you ~

*In order for one not to spill the hot liquid onto oneself, the proper way to hold the vessel of a cup with no handle is to place one’s thumb at the six o'clock position and one’s index and middle fingers at the twelve o'clock position, while gently raising one’s pinkie up for balance.

*Tea cups with a handle are held by placing one’s fingers to the front and back of the handle with one’s pinkie up again allows balance. Pinkie up does mean straight up in the air, but slightly tilted. It is not an affectation, but a graceful way to avoid spills.

*Never loop your fingers through the handle, nor grasp the vessel bowl with the palm of your hand.

*Do not stir your tea, with your tea spoon, in sweeping circular motions. Place your tea spoon at the six o'clock position and softly fold the liquid towards the twelve o'clock position two or three times.

*Never leave your tea spoon in your tea cup. When not in use, place your tea spoon on the right side of the tea saucer.

*Never wave or hold your tea cup in the air. When not in use, place the tea cup back in the tea saucer.

*Milk is served with tea, not cream. Cream is too heavy and masks the taste of the tea. Although some pour their milk in the cup first, it is probably better to pour the milk in the tea after it is in the cup in order to get the correct amount.

*When serving lemon with tea, lemon slices are preferable, not wedges. Either provide a small fork or lemon fork for your guests, or have the tea server can neatly place a slice in the tea cup after the tea has been poured.

*Be sure never to add lemon with milk since the lemon's citric acid will cause the proteins in the milk to curdle.

Monday a.m. Paint class ~

We painted Black-eyed Susans and Coneflowers.

Mine

The project piece I painted in class with the ladies.

Alice ~

She won the drawing today and took the project piece I painted in class home.

Jane

Nicole

We're painting the same project this evening in paint class and I'll share those pictures with you tomorrow after bowling. Yes, I'm on a bowling league ~ last week was my first week back and I'll start posting my scores like I did last year.

Last week I bowled a 181, 157, and 145. All over the place just like last year ~ at least I'm consistent~hehehe.

Hope you enjoyed the TEA PARTY! Thanks for joining me and I hope you'll let me know you came by and hope you come back and visit again real soon!
Have a fabulous WEEK!

BLESSINGS!

Sandy