Sunday, December 25, 2016

Merry Christmas!

DSC_4681framed

Wishing each of you a very Blessed Christmas!
I'm sharing some photos from around my house.
First a beautiful floral arrangement from a dear friend in Alabama.

DSC_4682framed

The central ornament has a family of Christmas carolers.
I'll be saving that treasure to reuse again & again.

DSC_3741

This little pink feather angel is almost 50 years old!!!
I bought it at a school bazaar for my Mother.  
She always had it on the top of her piano, flanking the nativity set.

DSC_4683framed

My daughter brought me this DARLING little tree for my kitchen this year!!

DSC_4684framed

It is filled with some of the cutest kitchen utensils I have ever seen!
A copper sauce pan...

DSC_4685framed

An ornament depicting a package of spaghetti...Ms. C's favorite!

DSC_4686framed

A red glitter handled whisk...

DSC_4687framed

A beautiful copper collander...

DSC_4688framed

There are several red glittered rolling pins throughout the tree.

DSC_4689framed
DSC_4690framed

A precious potato masher!!

DSC_4694framed

What a fun focal point it has added to my festive kitchen!

DSC_3678

The fireplace mantel is always done in gold, with angels...gifts from my sweet husband
when we lived in FL.  There was a local store that featured a different one each year.

DSC_3706framed

DSC_3784

I pray the Spirit of Christmas will light up your life & burn brightly for you all year long!

DSC_3765framed

Don't eat too many Christmas cookies!!!




ManyPathsChBlsngs-vi


Monday, December 05, 2016

Tea in the Library

313987_438810176141889_1162598759_n

The title of this post "Tea in the Library", sounds like a hint from the game of "Clue" doesn't it?

Last week, I went to my local libray... 

15192667_1254544607901771_241270642345995643_n

and I had the most delightful time,
learning about tea & taste testing several different types.

We were asked to bring our own special teacup from which to sip & sample the tea.

I brought my pretty teacup with matching infuser & lid from TEAVANA
It was one of my birthday gifts a few years ago.

teacup 008



I just LOVE how it makes having a single cup of tea such a special experience.

It says the Ume blossom on the cup is the beloved symbol of hope in Asian art.

14925393_1228731790483053_5963464650417569494_n

There was a beautiful array of GORGEOUS Hall teapots, (highly collectable)

each with its own special clear glass warmer stand with a little candle inside.




The individual teabags had been filled by hand with various flavors of widely different teas.

There were also bowls of spices, like star anise to examine, smell & savor.
We learned how Jasmine tea made by allowing the tea leaves to lay in racks with another rack of jasmine flowers in between each layer.  There is a fan moving the air about in the room until the tea master decides that the tea leaves have gotten enough aroma infused into them.  Amazing!

14980666_1231116606911238_8834183846414040918_n

This event was put on by Angela Strach-Gotthardt, creator & owner of *The Secret Tea Society*.

She is extremely knowledgable & was a delightful hostess, sharing tips on herbal & botantical teas as well as secrets to making a really good cup of tea.

She frequently holds a tea tasting "Salon" in her own lovely historic home in Hudson, OH, which once hid runaway slaves beneath its floor boards!





A description of a salon from her website:

"A Secret Tea Society salon is a special gathering for tea and conversation. We seek out and create sometimes minimal and sometimes highly embellished venues for the gathering of interesting and interested individuals to share tea and conversation about virtually any given topic. A historic home, a public venue, a private room, any beautiful space can serve as the backdrop for a morning, an afternoon or an evening of curated teas, delectable treats, and conversations that foster learning and understanding of the world and of each other. Those conversations may leave one with, perhaps, more questions than answers–and that is a wondrous thing."

556508_523890810967158_2060750148_n

I was totally in love with her wonderful collection of teapots!

I collected them myself for many years, until I ran out of room, but none of mine are as special as the ones she shared!

1294532_667239816632256_16847519_o

She & her assistants passed around little bowls, filled with loose tea, for us to smell & observe.


1403309_654411667915071_274284231_o

Some were delightful...others, not so much. ;-p  Many smelled like perfume!  Not what I thought I would care to drink.


 1425617_1033232083366359_5385485757652750385_n


There were glass pedistals filled with nuts & unusual teas...I wish I could remember the name of this one with the little white tips....perhaps it might have been "white tea"!
I wish I had thought to take notes.



1969111_724972657525638_612947142_n



10697340_813617298661173_6589577635707226290_o

These are just some of the DARLING teapots Angela brought to share.
I was PEA-GREEN with envy over her collection.


10849908_852619704760932_4422265413829657811_n

I was also tickled PINK to receive a little brown envelope, tied with a PINK ribbon, 
filled with one of her special blends...Citrus Almond Herbal...DELISH!

10985435_914606641895571_2395293479609012266_o

The library had put out a cart with a selection of books on the topic of tea.  

I wanted to check out each one!

12246646_1008628205826747_3821079013890134374_n

Angela also talked about chilled tea, often infused with fruits & how refreshing it could be during the warmer months. 

12316513_1019132301443004_2563525116003250423_n

13417426_1127278970628336_5520043718713275266_n

Angela is holding what she calls a "pop-up" store within the historic Brewster Mansion right on the square in Hudson, OH both this weekend & next.


Secret Tea Society Holiday Pop-Up

Friday, December 2nd - Thursday, December 22nd
10am-5pm Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays | 10am-8pm Thursdays
Brewster Mansion — 9 Aurora Street, Hudson, OH 44236
Our Secret Tea Society Holiday Pop-Up

 Shop is the place to shop your tea, tea

 equipage, candles and correspondence

 paper for holiday gift giving. 

Tea tastings are gratis all day, everyday.

 Enjoy relaxing on the leopard settee or on

 the porch overlooking Hudson's town

 green to sip, chat, taste, relax and shop.

14992070_1235458596477039_4800583945391384640_n


320765_418721821497620_944421905_n

Don't you just ADORE the little wooden teapots she uses to denote her location?  

All the more noticable with their trailing ribbons blowing in the wind.  So creative!

1487866_664794026876835_996414742_o

She suggested we put a slice of orange rind (without any of the white pith) into the cup, to make your tea even more special.

My sewing/smocking/quilting friend, Nicole visited shortly after the event & we tried it & it tastes divine!  I'm going to save the peel from all my oranges & freeze the bits of rind for future use.

I wish each of you could stop by to share a cup of tea during this holiday season!



I am joining Bernideen's Tea Time Link Party
"Friends Sharing Tea" for the first time!
She has such a delightful collection of tea items!
10842064_859233464099556_8774178056016969909_o