Hello and welcome to Tuesday Cuppa Tea!
The sun is out and spring is indeed peeking out here...we have finally had our violets open below the pine tree in the front yard...a favorite sign of approaching spring...as the Daffodils and Tulips are just green leaves poking up so far...
Violets stand for faithfulness in the Victorian Language Of The Flowers...
And so my choice of teacups for Tuesday Cuppa Tea today...
I found this Hammersley, England bone china Victorian Violets teacup from the 1930s and was thrilled. I love the delicacy of the Hammersley china...
And I love the pretty shape and gold trim. I can almost smell the elusive scent...
Teacup available at Antiques And Teacups...just click on the photos...
William Wordsworth, famous English poet who lived from 1770 to 1850 and spent years around the Lakes District in Dove Cottage wrote this...
Changing directions, I posted last week an old photo I found of my aunt Ruth, whom I was named for on our 8 month trip to Europe when I was 20. I am beginning to sort through photos from boxes we moved here 7 years ago and haven't opened since. The 7th year is the Year Of Jubilee...so they are getting opened and set free! One of the fun things I found was photos of my husband's Coldstream Queen's Guards Regiment.
The Coldstream Guards, if you have followed my blog for long, are the guards in the bearskins that find the guard at Buckingham Palace and other Royal residences. We didn't think we had any photos, but this one turned up of his old regiment when it finished it's training....
That's my honey in the middle at 22. When he emigrated to Canada and subsequently to the US where I met him, the photos were left with his Mom, and when she passed away, to his older sister who brought this with her when she came on a visit years ago.
What we don't have, is a photo of him in his red dress tunic and bearskin shako...sigh...
The sun is out and spring is indeed peeking out here...we have finally had our violets open below the pine tree in the front yard...a favorite sign of approaching spring...as the Daffodils and Tulips are just green leaves poking up so far...
Violets stand for faithfulness in the Victorian Language Of The Flowers...
And so my choice of teacups for Tuesday Cuppa Tea today...
I found this Hammersley, England bone china Victorian Violets teacup from the 1930s and was thrilled. I love the delicacy of the Hammersley china...
And I love the pretty shape and gold trim. I can almost smell the elusive scent...
Teacup available at Antiques And Teacups...just click on the photos...
William Wordsworth, famous English poet who lived from 1770 to 1850 and spent years around the Lakes District in Dove Cottage wrote this...
The Lost Love
She dwelt among the untrodden ways
Beside the springs of Dove:
A maid whom there were none to praise
And very few to love.
A violet by a mossy stone
Half-hidden from the eye!
Fair as a star, when only one
Is shining in the sky.
She lived unknown, and few could know
When Lucy ceased to be;
But she is in her grave, and, oh,
The difference to me!
The Coldstream Guards, if you have followed my blog for long, are the guards in the bearskins that find the guard at Buckingham Palace and other Royal residences. We didn't think we had any photos, but this one turned up of his old regiment when it finished it's training....
That's my honey in the middle at 22. When he emigrated to Canada and subsequently to the US where I met him, the photos were left with his Mom, and when she passed away, to his older sister who brought this with her when she came on a visit years ago.
What we don't have, is a photo of him in his red dress tunic and bearskin shako...sigh...
I took this photo at the Guards Museum in Green Park, just a few blocks from Buckingham Palace...where a brother Coldstream Guard was on sentry duty. There are 5 Guard units in the Brigade Of Guards, among whom the Coldstream Guards is one unit.
The Guards do much more than ceremonial guard duty, and are actually a crack infantry regiment. My husband's unit spent 8 months in Duselldorff, Germany during the Suez Canal crisis in the 1950s, although it ended before he was deployed to the Gulf. Coldstreamers...or Chilly Rivers, as they are affectionately called...have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
This is a photo of Queen Elizabeth II reviewing the Coldstream Guards unit...
This is his cap badge and uniform patch. The gold and silver threads of the patch have tarnished, but the sunlight made them bright again! So we at least have some momentos!
So I hope you are enjoying spring, and the spring cleaning it fosters, as new life pushes forth and new growth follows. May you grow in Grace!
Below is the linky for your tea related posts. Also a list of some of the blogs I am joining. I love hearing from you and visiting your wonderful blogs!
Common Ground ~ http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com
Monday Marketplace
Terri~ http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/
Teacup Tuesday
Teacup Tuesday
Teatime Tuesday
Tea With Celia
Kathy~ http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/
Victoria - A Return to Loveliness
Victoria - A Return to Loveliness
Martha~ http://www.marthasfavorites.com/
Tea On Tuesday
Miss Kathy ~http://www.thewritersreverie.com/
Miss Kathy ~http://www.thewritersreverie.com/
Tuesday Tea
Tea Cup Tuesday
Tea On Tuesday
Michelle ~ http://www.finchrest.com/
Tea On Tuesday
Lady B & Dame Ruthie ~ http://ladybstimefortea.blogspot.com/
Time For Tea
Tuesday Tea Time
Phyllis ~ http://www.relevanttealeaf.blogspot.com/
Tea On Tuesday
Bernideen’s ~ http://blog.bernideens.com/
Tea In The Garden Tuesday
Lavender Cottage Tea Time
Tea In Texas
Playing With My Camera
Teatime
Beverley
~ http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/
Tuesday Blog Shop
Poetry In A Pot Of Tea
Ivy And Elephants ~http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/
What’s It
Wednesday
Home On Wednesday
Such an interesting post Ruth. I love the violets teacup and sweet cards. I also enjoyed reading of your husband's time in the Coldstream Guards. It's fun to look back on old photos. I have a lot of old black and white family photos that I wonder what will happen to them when I am gone. I'm sure they will be tossed. There are some people in them that even I don't know but I've kept them. I wish you a lovely week. Blessings. Pamela
ReplyDeleteHi Ruth,
ReplyDeleteI am having trouble linking up today for some reason. I've linked up twice and it's not showing up but it's telling me I have already linked up. Your Hammersley teacup is just gorgeous! I love the delicate violets and the shape. Glad Spring is making its appearance where you are. We're expecting perhaps the biggest snow storm of the winter on Wednesday. Oh, woe!!
Blessings,
Sandi
Beautiful teacup, and I love the poem, so poignant. I didn't know that about the guards, I assumed they were "just for show." So wonderful to have all those old pictures and mementos. Thanks for the party!
ReplyDeleteI'm swooning over your teacup decorated with violets!! Thank you for hosting and have a wonderful day.
ReplyDeleteI do love violets. I am looking forward to when they show up in my yard. I have several patches!
ReplyDeleteRuth, your Hammersley teacup is a wonderful find ... so pretty, delicate. Fun and interesting post with violets and the Guards. Aren't old photos fun?!! Happy Tea Day and thank you for hosting.
ReplyDeleteOh, there's so much to love here today ... the violet teacup and postcards, the info on the Coldstream Guards (!), and I am just now seeing your new header! Lovely!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful things in your post today! Love the new header, the pretty teacup and postcards, and the great info on the Coldstream Guards!
ReplyDeleteHello Ruth! Fascinating post, as usual. Love the charming violet teacup. Hurrah- you are seeing signs of Spring too! We just watched an amazing television show on PBS called the Secrets Of The Tower Of London and I thought of you! They went behind the scenes and gave the history of the White Tower, a tour of Tower Bridge and spoke with some of the Yeoman Warders. Thx for hosting each week :)
ReplyDeleteShawn
I don't think I've ever read a post of yours when I didn't learn something Ruth. Interesting about the Coldstream Guards, and it would have been nice to have a photo of hubby in his full dress uniform.
ReplyDeleteThe shape of the Hammersley teacup is quite lovely, one name that is not on any of my teacups so I'll have a look the next time i'm at the antique barn.
Loving your violet tea cup!! as always a most wonderful post. Thank you for hosting my friend. Blessings, C. (HHL)
ReplyDeleteRuth you always have the best historical posts. This was interesting to read about! Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteSherry
What a pretty tea cup and I love the gold trim on top...so dainty and delicate! Your husband looks so smart and handsome in uniform:) Loved reading about the Coldstream guards, thanks for sharing with us~hugs, Poppy
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing about the Coldstream guard, I really enjoy all the historical and just interesting tidbits you share with us. I like your Hammersley Victorian Violets cup and saucer! I had a set as well, but my cup is a more boring style than your pretty tall one here.
ReplyDeleteOnce again, I love your wonderful post! Don't you just love spring? Violets and violet tea cups....perfection!
ReplyDeleteI love your nostalgic posts, I always learn something and have my heart warmed.
Hugs,
Terri
Hi Ruth,
ReplyDeleteI love your Hammersley teacup today. I have one like it. For some reason I am unable to link up to tea today and was unable to on Sandi's too. Thank you for hosting Tuesday Cuppa Tea. Your teacups are always so gorgeous! Karen
So beautiful! This cup makes a beautiful spring tea party!
ReplyDeleteDonna
As usual I love your post. The violets, the Victoriana, the poetry. the interesting family history. Happy to be linking up this week. Have a blessed week.
ReplyDeleteHi Ruth: Your hubby is very handsome. Love the cup, violets are always so beautiful. Have a great week. Blessings, Martha
ReplyDeleteViolets are popular at teatime this week which is a comfort to this little girl in freezing temps watching little snow flurries trying to start the expected storm tonight here on the east coast. Bleh.
ReplyDeleteHowever - I am intrigued and awed at your husbands illustrious past with his regiment and those red coats and hats guarding the Queen! How grand! Confession: They fascinated me as a child and I used to put black olives on my fingers and march them around the table playing Queen's Guards when I was little. My mother gave me an early love for England. Ah . . . memories and happy that some things never change.
Joy!
Kathy
P.S. You do TOO have posts you can share at All Things Bright and Beautiful! Such a broad topic taking in the whole verse to the hymn - hope you'll link in sometime!
Wow, how beautiful, more lovely violet teacups! I just saw them at Martha's too! I'm also very impressed of your handsome dad's grand past as an honored guardian of the Queen...no less! Thank you so much for sharing...it's no wonder your love for tea time and gorgeous dishes to acompany it! Thank you for the lovely Tuesday Cuppa Tea.
ReplyDeleteFABBY
Beautiful violet tea cup and saucer..........and the actual flowers too. So pretty. :) Thank you for sharing this and for hosting the link up.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful teacup - lovely violets are sure a favorite of everyone! That's a great old photo you have and I am so glad you have it! Fun posting Ruth!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful and interesting post, Ruth! Oh my heavens, I'm loving your beautiful violet teacup, it's just exquisite!
ReplyDeleteRuth, I'm joining in on your tea party, I see there are a few days left! I'm so happy to have found your blog and your tea party! Thanks for hosting~
ReplyDeleteNancy
Beautiful teacup, poem and post Ruth! I am delighted that you shared with A Return to Loveliness,
ReplyDeleteKathy