" TEATIME"

"HOME SWEET HOME" 

Stormy weather kept me away longer than planned. It is so nice to be home enjoying alittle teatime blogging and reading.  Ladies, please do plan to stay for a chat.

As you can see ....Winter is still knocking itself out here.

It gives me a good reason to breathe in some midday meandering through cupboards looking  for the perfect tea cup.

 YES... this  Royal Albert  " tea set fits into my wishful Spring daydreams.

You know... some china is just plain old pretty... The vibrant 

colors and design on this sweet girl  makes me feel like dancing.

  This hand-painted beauty is appropriately entitled 

" Water Lily" .

                            It reminds me of the famous 
                         Impressionist paintings of Monet.

I have always loved his  ' Waterlilies" paintings. 

(via pinterest)

Although forbidden by local authorities, the artist ordered colored waterlily plants from Egypt and South America... As an avid gardener and landscape designer,  Monet individually planted all the waterlilies in his Giverny gardens in France.

 Had he obeyed the French council, there would have been NO celebrated Waterlily paintings . 

What a sad thought  !!!

(via Pinterest)

A short journey from our home there are three waterlily ponds. The yearly appearance of these gorgeous  flowers  has become one of my most anticipated summer events. 

The name waterlily or 'Nymphaea" is from the Greek word nymph, which means femine spirit that inhabits waterbodies like wells, ponds and springs.

 The nymph like blossoms conjure up all kinds of magical stories for me.

Each summer, my grand-daughter, Auriane and I sojourn to what we call the " fairy ponds"endeavoring to catch a glimpse of the fairies that dress themselves in the flower folds.

IT'S TRUE ... 

The little people hide and camophlage themselves

within the dainty blossoms, 

so we have to look very carefully....

OH... I think I see one !!! 

The local lilies are blessed with the softest hint of pink which represents a true picture of  beauty and purity.

This hand painted teaset (below) overflows with the ' love and passion' that a red lily represents ... Obviously the artist enjoyed creating this set.

My daughter Manda( below) says that waterlily bulbs and roots are  often used to make healing teas and various medicines ... that is of course another subject for some other day. 

Let's leave it to our Chinese Medicine Doctor. 

                                          

Come Ladies ... Let's get on with teatime . 

I'm excited to show you my latest whimsy.

Well,  it's  shaped like a teapot but, really, it is either a flower arranging pot, a floral potpouri or scented candle holder ... 

What do you think? 

Do you have any ideas?

I had arranged some of  the tuberous roses from my mothers, December bouquet in the little pot before I embarked on my journey three weeks ago. 

You can imagine my surprise, to see them still alive when I returned. 

What a delightful sight !!!

The blooms are just starting to languish and discolor .

 Since I haven't had time to buy fresh flowers ... I am going to enjoy their lingering beauty as long as I can.

                            I don't know much about Tuberous roses, 
     but they seem to be very hardy in the sense of  longevity.  
 I do believe it's time for alittle research on this gorgeous flower.

                                                                     Ladies,  
I promise that we are going to have a cup of tea today. 
                        My mind  is still in vacation mode. 
                                            COME ....
                   Let's choose something mild and exotic.
                             DO you have a favorite tea?
                                         As you know... 
                                       Mine is Jasmine.
       

        It typically has green tea as it's base, however white 
          and black tea are also used,which results in a 
                      sweet and highly fragrant  bouquet. 

                 Check out (www.davidstea.com)for a delicious
                                     Jasmine Oolong Tea 
                                                    or an
                           Organic Silk Dragon Jasmine Tea.

                                                                     M-m-m-m ... 
             It looks euphorically mellow and rich doesn't it ? 
                                       Time to pour a cup.

WOW ... It tastes even better than it smells.

How lovely to  be sharing teatime with you Ladies ... 

Alas, there is still  alot of unpacking to do ....

 so

 I will leave you to savour your tea moments while dreaming along with this heart-felt poem.

"The Lily of the Lake"

Written By:

 Juliana Horatia Ewing

(1841-1885)

Over wastes of blasted heather,

Where the pine trees stand together,

Evermore my footsteps wander,

Evermore the shadows yonder

Deepen into gloom.

Where there lies a silent lake,

No song-bird there its thirst may slake,

No sunshine now to whiteness wake

The water-lily's bloom.

Some sweet Spring-time long departed,

I and she, the simple hearted,

Bride and groom, maid and lover,

Did the gloomy lake discover,

Did those lilies see. 

                                            There we wandered side by side,
                             There it was they said she dies,
                             But ah!  in this I know they lied!
                             She will return to me!
                             Never, never since that hour
                             Has the lake brought forth a flower.
                             Ever harshly do the sedges
                             Some sad secret from it's edges
                             Whisper to the shore.
                             Some sad secret I forget.
                             The lily though will blossom yet:
                             And when it blooms I shall have met
                             My love forever more.

ENJOY YOUR WEEK !!!