Saturday, March 31, 2012

Tuesday Cuppa Tea, Shelley Pink Stocks Teacup, Easter Tea, Staffordshire Posy Candle Holders, Peanut Butter Easter Eggs

Hello.! I am joining Beverley for Pink Saturday at How Sweet The Sound and Sandi for her April 2nd Easter Tea at Rose Chintz Cottage, and then my regular meme Tuesday Cuppa Tea!

For my pink...I am sharing these vintage English, hand made bone china flower candleholders in a style called Sraffordshire Posies. They are called that because Staffordshire is home to a district called The Potteries where all the major makers had their potteries until recently. One of the joys of visiting the potteries in and around Stoke-on-Trent and it's surrounding distrists which make up The Potteries area in Staffordshire was to visit the manufacturies who did this kind of work and watch them at work. Alas...they have all closed, although they may still be doing it at the Wedgwood Museum in Barlastan, I'm not sure.
Eah and every petal of these flowers is painstakingly made by hand from a lump of white bone china clay, fired and then hand painted. I did a post about them a while ago, which is located HERE with photos. The candleholders above, which I used for years on my spring table, especially at Easter were found in the Potteries years ago. They were made by Radnor, a mark of the Hall Bros., England in the 1940s who lasted until the 1960s.

I have a Shelley, England low Oleander cup and saucer in the Stocks pattern with pink trim to bring for Sandi's Easter Tea. I plan on bringing Darjeeling tea and Easter cookies...without milk, of course!

The cup and saucer was made between 1940 and 1966 when the pottery closed, which is such a shame!

The candleholders and the Shelley Teacup are available at Antiques And Teacups. For more info, just click on the photos.

And here are my cookies, actually courtesy of allrecipes.com:

Peanut Butter Easter Eggs

Servings

USMetricCalculate

Original Recipe Yield 2 large eggs

Ingredients

1 (16 ounce) package confectioners' sugar
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup butter
1 tablespoon milk
8 (1 ounce) squares semi-sweet chocolate
1 tablespoon shortening

Directions

In a mixing bowl, combine confectioners' sugar, peanut butter, butter and milk (if needed for moisture) until blended. Shape mixture into two 1/2 pound eggs or make a bunch of smaller eggs. Freeze eggs for 1 hour.
While the eggs are freezing, cut semi-sweet chocolate into small pieces and place in top of double boiler with shortening. Melt over medium heat, stirring frequently until smooth. Stick a long-tined fork in top of each peanut butter egg, dip it in melted chocolate to cover then drain on waxed paper. When the eggs are cooled and set, decorate the eggs to suit your fancy.

Have a wonderful day and enjoy the most important part of the year for Christians, the Holy Week before Easter Sunday. I am joining the following blogs for Tuesday tea related posts:

Common Ground ~ http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com

Monday Marketplace

Terri~ http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/
Teacup Tuesday

Trisha~ http://sweetology101.blogspot.com/
Tea Party Tuesday

Sandi ~ http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com

Teatime Tuesday

Kathy~ http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com
Victoria - A Return to Loveliness

Martha~ http://www.marthasfavorites.com/
Teacup Tuesday

Ruth ~ http://timewasantiquesfamily.blogspot.com

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Bernideen’s ~ http://bernideensteatimeblog.blogspot.com/

Friends Sharing Tea Wednesday

Angela http://teawithfriends.blogspot.com/

Tea With Friends

Miss Kathy ~ http://thewritersreverie.blogspot.com/

Celia ~ http://attitudeivlife.blogspot.com/ Afternoon Tea

Ivy And Elephants ~http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/

What’s It Wednesday

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Apple Blossom Teacup, Ham And Pecan Tea Sandwiches

Hi there. Still dealing with allergies, so this is a short post. I am joining Teacup Thursday with Miss Spenser today.

This is a Sltmann, Bavaria W. Germany porcelain teacup and sauce with a pretty apple blossom pattern. Some of the early apple blossoms are popping out here, and I'm sure we are way behind other areas of the country. I love the pretty shape of the cup and saucer and fresh blossoms. The handle is a pretty shape too. The Bavarian potters have a long and distinguished history of making wonderful items. The teacup and saucer was made between 1946-1975 according to the mark and is available at my Antiques And Teacups. Click on the photos for more info.

I wanted to share this wonderful tea sandwich recipe I found at epicurious.com

Deviled Ham and Pecan Tea Sandwiches

1/2 pound cooked ham, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 medium onion, quartered
3 large sweet gherkins
1/2 cup pecans,toasted and cooled
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
1/4 cup mayonnaise
16 slices firm white sandwich bread

Garnish: chopped parsley and pecans

I tried them and they were great. Forgot to make a photo...remembered when we had an empty plate!!!! NEXT time I'll get it together! Have a great day.

Don't forget to stop and smell the flowers, but if you're like me...don't do it unless you've used your Flonase!!!

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Tuesday Cuppa Tea, Royal Vale Teacup, 15 Uses For Tea

Hello and welcome to Tuesday Cuppa Tea!

I am enjoying the sun and warmth we have had for the last several days. In the 50s is warn for us! Lovely! However, my allergies are not good so I seem to be "bubble girl" at the moment and have to stay in which is very hard!Plus with 3 meds going for them at the moment I hope I'm coherent!

This is a pretty spring floral chintz bone china teacup from Royal Vale, England that was made in the 1960s. I love the fresh and bright but dainty pattern. So pretty! I love the delicacy! Click on the photos for more info at Antiques And Teacups.

I came across this fabulous idea for using teacups as cupcake holders. What a great idea for a tea party dessert! The idea was spotted on a website called Perfect Outdoor Weddings. Isn't that a great idea?

I also found a great list of things you can do with tea by By Steve Graham, Hometalk:

1. Clean carpets: Clean up musty, dirty carpets by sprinkling dry, used green tea leaves on the carpet. Let them work their magic for about 10 minutes, then vacuum them up. Delicate Persian and Oriental rugs can also benefit from a sprinkling of tea leaves. In this case, sprinkle nearly dry, used whole tea leaves on the rugs, and gently sweep them away.

2. Shine wood floors: The tannins in black tea can help shine and color hardwood flooring. Follow your regular floor cleaning routine by carefully rubbing some brewed tea into the floor (don't use too much water on hardwood flooring) and letting it air dry.

3. Polish furniture: Brewed tea also can help clean and shine wood furniture. The tannins in tea will re-color light spots and scratches in wood surfaces. Dip a soft cloth in a small amount of strongly-brewed tea, and use it to wipe down scratched tables, chairs, and more. Woodworker Jim McNamara suggested using "regular orange pekoe (Lipton's) or other dark tea" in Woodworker's Gazette.

4. Clean mirrors and windows: Tea can remove stubborn, greasy fingerprints from glass, and make it sparkle. Simply rub a damp teabag on the glass or fill a spray bottle with brewed tea.

5. Clean toilet stains: Rumor has it that used tea leaves can magically remove stubborn stains in the bottom of the toilet bowl. Just leave them in the toilet for several hours, then flush the toilet and brush the bowl.

6. Soothe a sunburn: Tea can soothe sunburns and other minor burns. Dr. Oz suggests sponging sunburned skin with "cooled chamomile tea" for it's anti-inflammatory effect. Don't try this if skin is broken.

7. Soothe tired eyes: Warm, wet tea bags can reduce puffiness and soothe pain around tired eyes - and tea bags on your eyes look a little less ridiculous than cucumber slices.

8. Soothe bleeding gums: After a tooth extraction or when an older child loses a tooth, try putting a cold, wet tea bag in the mouth where the tooth was lost and bite down on it. According to theCleveland Clinic, "The tannic acid in tea helps healing blood clots to form (blood clots function similarly to a scab on an open wound). It can reduce bleeding and soothe pain."

9. Shine dry hair: Brewed tea makes a good conditioner for dry hair. Rinse with (unsweetened) tea and leave to dry for a while, then rinse again with water.

10. Improve skin: The Mayo Clinic suggests that herbal tea ingredients chamomile and calendula can help soothe dermatitis when prepared as a topical cream. Consult with a qualified health practitioner before using these remedies.

11. Soothe acne: Some acne sufferers swear by washing their faces with green tea because of its mildly antiseptic properties. Dr. Andrew Weil suggests washing with calendula flower tea as a natural alternative to benzoyl peroxide.

12. Tenderize meat: Marinate tough meat in black tea to make it more tender.

13. Add to compost: Pouring strong tea into a compost bin will help speed up the process and encourage more friendly bacteria to grow, improving the compost.

14. Help houseplants: Occasionally use brewed tea instead of water to feed ferns and other houseplants that like rich, acidic soil. Spread used tea leaves around rosebushes, then add mulch and water. The tannic acid and other nutrients will benefit the plants. A few used teabags in the bottom of a planter can help the soil retain water, and adds valuable nutrients.

15. Dye fabrics: Green and black teas have long been used in dyes for fabric and paper, particularly for generating a beige, faux-antique look.

Have a great day visiting all the wonderful tea related blogs and link up to the linky at the bottom. Hope your cuppa is a great one!

Common Ground ~ http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com

Monday Marketplace

Terri~ http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/
Teacup Tuesday

Trisha~ http://sweetology101.blogspot.com/
Tea Party Tuesday

Sandi ~ http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com

Teatime Tuesday

Kathy~ http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/
Victoria - A Return to Loveliness

Martha~ http://www.marthasfavorites.com/
Teacup Tuesday

Ruth ~ http://timewasantiquesfamily.blogspot.com

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Bernideen’s ~ http://bernideensteatimeblog.blogspot.com/

Friends Sharing Tea Wednesday

Angela http://teawithfriends.blogspot.com/

Tea With Friends

Miss Kathy ~ http://thewritersreverie.blogspot.com/

Celia ~ http://attitudeivlife.blogspot.com/ Afternoon Tea

Ivy And Elephants ~http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/

What’s It Wednesday

Friday, March 23, 2012

Harney Launches RMS Titanic Tea Blend

I just want you tea lovers out there to know that Harney &Sons Tea has just launched (yep...their pun) a RMS Titanic Blend Tea for the centennial of the of it's sinking. Here is what is on their website:

Titanic Tea is our latest endeavor, created as a tribute to the tragedy and heroism of “A Night to Remember”. PH Nargeolet, one of the divers with the French exploratory group at Woods Hole in Massachusetts when the Titanic was found, encouraged John Harney to create a commemorative tea to honor the 100th Anniversary of those who perished when the Titanic sank. John has created a tea blend which reflects the quality of tea that was served on the Titanic.

There is Chinese Keemun, one of the last teas British still consumed in 1912. The British had mostly switched to black teas from Assam, India and Ceylon. Also there is Formosa Oolong, which was popularized in both the UK and the US by an enterprising Brit. So this blend would have been recognizable to tea lovers a hundred years ago.

A portion of the sales of our RMS Titanic Tea will go to The Ocean Conservancy, the dedicated organization committed to preserving one of the Earth's most valuable resources, our Oceans. We hope you will enjoy this tea, and “Remember".

Here is the link to the tea on the Harney &Sons Website:

RMS Titanic Tea Blend

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Teacup Thursday Rosina Crocus Cup And Saucer, Port Townsend Victorian Heritage Days

Hello and welcome to my post for Thursday. I am joining Teacup Thursday with Miss Spenser and Vintage Thingie Thursday with Coloradolady.

This is a crocus design cup and saucer made by Rosina, England in the 1960s. I love their china! Our crocuses are just about to bud, and are the only thing really our so far. We are a bit slow to embrace spring here because we are so far north. We still have patches of snow on the mountains around us!

For more info on the teacup at Antiques And Teacups click on the photos.

This week is the annual Port Townsend, WA Victorian Heritage Festival. Port Townsend is about 30 miles from us and a favorite day out destination for us. We went today and had lunch at a seaside restaurant, walked around and generally just enjoyed the ambiance of this Victorian Heritage city with roots in the Gold Rush and lumber industry.

This weekend, the festival will feature all sorts of lectures, a Steampunk Ball, Victorian teas at the B&Bs around town, crafts, historical walking tours and all manner of things that celebrate the town's Victorian heritage.

This is from a newspaper article that was featured in last year's Peninsula Daily News about a couple who did and will this year, lecture on Victorian clothing...but they wear them all the time! Here is the link to the article:

A perfect fit for Victorian lovers

This is a photo of 2 ladies who were at the tea we attended last year. You can read my blog and see more photos of last year's event at this link:

PORT TOWNSEND VICTORIAN HERITAGE TEA

The paper today featured a different slant on the upcoming Victorian Heritage Festival weekend:

Bustles, brawn at Victorian Heritage Festival

Here is the main Port Townsend Festival Weekend website...tickets are still available for some of the events:

PORT TOWNSEND VICTORIAN HERITAGE FESTIVAL

Here are some more photos of Port Townsend either from today or past visits.

Have a wonderful day visiting the other blogs, and who knows, I may see you at the festival!

Monday, March 19, 2012

Tuesday Cuppa Tea, Shelley Harebell Teacup, English Bluebell Wood

Hello and welcome to Tuesday Cuppa Tea.

Today (which is Monday)I am also joining Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage for her Celebrate the Splendor Of The Season Spring Tea. Also, the other tea related blog parties at the bottom.

I have chosen a Shelley China, England spring patterned cup and saucer in the Harebell pattern. The pattern just makes me think of spring and bluebell woods. Harebells are related to the bluebells famous for carpeting woodlands in the spring in England.

I love the delicate pattern. Harebells are a kind of wildflower found in the spring. The shape is the Chester shape which isn't seen very often. The cup and saucer was made between 1940-1966 when the pottery closed, although intermittantly, and not often after 1957.

I found this video on YouTube of an Englsih bluebell wood...my photos are not as good as this:

For more information on the teacup at Antiques And Teacups, click on the photos.

Here are the other wonderful blog parties I am joining:

Common Ground ~ http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com

Monday Marketplace