Tuesday, November 24, 2009

What makes tea time special?

"It's not the tea itself that speaks to the soul with such a satisfying message. And it's not the teacups that bring such a message of beauty and serenity and friendship. It's not the tea, in other words, that makes teatime special, it's the spirit of the tea party." Emilie Barnes

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Pick your cup







My friends and sisters look at me with wide eyes when I tell them, "pick a cup" while I put the kettle on. They think all these beautiful cups are just for looking at. To me, if you can't use them, why have them? My daughters will go directly to their favorite and a few of my friends will too. Others, say, "you choose for me." I guess they are a little afraid, I don't know. It's a conversation starter, as if we needed one, for me to be able to tell them where the cup in their hand came from. While I might be saddened for a moment if one should break, I would quickly get over it. After all I can't take it with me when I go but I can receive the joy it was meant to bring while I am here. Oh I'm so corny.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

My first one


A long time ago my husband and I shared our first Christmas together in the upstairs apartment of an old house on Pikes Peak and 18th on the city's west side. I wanted a set of beautiful dishes for Christmas, but knew we could not afford it. My dear sweet husband thought we could and bought me a box of beautiful dishes. The box said "5 piece setting", he figured that was enough for the two of us plus company. To this day I smile when I think on it and he gets a little flush. I took the tea cup from that setting and used it for my tea. That tea cup was the beginning of a beautiful collection of mix and match cups and saucers, teapots, little spoons, tea bag holders, tea sets and other tea accessories that I've picked up here and there or received as gifts from loved ones, especially my dear.