I love having friends for tea. It's fun to share newsy gossip and laughs over a cup of tea. And although there really wasn't any tea involved, I did have tea with a friend the other day . . . for a package arrived on my doorstep.
And inside . . .
Was a wonderful tea cookbook, a dear note, a tin of tea, some napkins and a candle . . . .
I love Victoria (I have all of the old issues as well as all of the new issues -- the original Victoria coming out shortly after we moved to Linderhof) With the wonderful recipes inside their pages, I embraced all of their cookbooks -- and I especially loved their Christmas books and their tea books. But alas, I somehow missed one!
And dear friend Carolyn from A Southerner's Notebook remedied that . . .
And I can't wait to make these wonderful lemon cupcakes!
But I didn't wait to try the Earl Grey that was included in the package. I love Marriage Freres teas and I love Earl Grey tea. This tin of loose tea (which I do prefer for afternoon tea) is Earl Grey Imperial and is a grand Chinese black tea. It's Darjeeling exquisitely flavored with bergamot which is a small citrus fruit similar to an orange. Which is why it is not an ordinary Earl Grey but is an Imperial Earl Grey.
Of course, as soon as I could I made myself a pot and sipped cup after cup as I perused the book. Alas, there wasn't any lemon cupcakes to go along with tea. And their lemony flavor would have been perfect with the Earl Grey!
And friend Carolyn wasn't there in person to share tea with me either but she was there in spirit.
It's Tuesday and I'm joining the tea parties this week:
Tea Time Tuesday with Terri at Artful Affirmations
Tea Cup Tuesday with Martha at Martha's Favorites
Tea Pot and Tea Things Tuesday with Pam at Breath of Fresh Air
Tea Time Tuesday with Katherine at Lady Katherine's Tea Parlor
Tuesday Tea for Two with Wanda Lee at The Plumed Pen
Tea Time Tuesday with Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage
16 comments:
A beautiful book and wonderful gift, Martha!
I was there "in spirit", too (thanks to this post). The gift keeps on giving!
Your post just perked me up this morning. Like Rebecca, I felt like I was there because I know and could feel the thrill of any package, but esp. a tea package!!!!
What a gorgeous gift Martha, and what pleasure it will bring to both you and your guests :o)
What a fab gift! I, too, have all the Victoria's but am missing a Christmas hardback or 2. Will have to see what's missing. A wonderful gift!
Ruth
What a lovely gift, you will no doubt enjoy again and again.
Isn't mail call wonderful?! What treasures from your friend and ones you'll use time and time again. Happy Tea Day!
Oh Martha, what a sweet post. {{{HUGS}}} to you and I do hope you enjoy your little surprise package. I surely was there with you in spirit. I had some of the same Earl Grey today and thought of you as I was sipping on my tea.
Carolyn
Hello Martha,
What a fabulous package to receive. The book is wonderful and sure to bring you years of reading and tea pleasures. Lovely post, thank you.
Blessings,
Sandi
Hello Martha,
the book and tea are a fabulous gift. So you can enjoy a delicious tea and browse in that pretty book. Enjoy!
Best greetings, Johanna
Yay for you Martha! What a dear friend to send you such a gift. The book looks really good and those gorgeous tea cups on the cover are eye candy for us all!
Thank you so much for sharing with us.
hugs,
Terri
What a lovely gift from your friend! Is Imperial Earl Gray similar to Orange Pekoe? It has the bergamot too.
It's one of my Mom's favorites.
Dearest Martha,
What a simply marvelous and thoughtful gift!.., Your sure to enjoy both the tea and a leisurely peruse with your teatime respite!
Thanks for joining us for tea this week,I always enjoy having you partake!
Hugs, Wanda Lee
I have that book on my coffee table right now - love it! These books can be set aside for a few months and then seem brand new again!
What a nice surprise! I also have several years worth of issues of the Victoria magazine! We're making the rounds this weekend and traveling to Bates County for a Civil War speaker at the Bates County Historical Museum, then down to the Bushwhacker museum, around to Fort Scott and up to Osawatomie. Know of any tea rooms in Ft. Scott?
Martha,
Don't you just adore "snail mail". . . the sensory touch of paper that only comes with a "real" book. . .and the delicious taste of Earl grey tea. ??? Sounds divine!
Enjoy!
Fondly,
Pat
Post a Comment