Gobsmacked!

That was me -- last Thursday.     When I answered the door, there was the friendly Fed Ex man (he is a familiar face at Linderhof -- we even give him cookies)  with a smile on his face and a big box in his hand!

Not one of our regular boxes -- husband Jim's cigar boxes or my book boxes from Amazon.com but a big skinny box.

It's always fun to find a Fed Ex box on your doorstep!

Much bigger than most of our usual boxes and with an up arrow -- so the box is not to be "tossed" around!

Inside of which . . .

It's a good thing it had instructions -- I would have "bulled" my way to get to the thing inside and no telling what damage I would have done!

Was another box -- with instructions on how to get the "goodie" inside -- out!

And inside was this!

I love orchids and this will be my most special one!

A beautiful white orchid -- a double!    I learned at Bird's Botanicals that doubles are very precious!    From friend Cass of That Old House.     What a treasure!

What is one to do when a dear friend gives you such a wonderful gift?

Invite her to tea, of course!

I issued the invitation and Cass "flew" through Cyberspace to Linderhof.

Since it was a rainy day at Linderhof, we set the tea table in the living room . . .

Only special guests have tea in the parlor.

Perfect for tea for two.

And the centerpiece?

The orchid makes a perfect centerpiece for the tea table.

The orchid, of course!     So that we both can sit and admire the beauty of this tropical treasure!   A gift from one friend to another.

We sipped tea out of . . .

I love the birds on Indies and the shape of the cups.

The Indies cup and saucer.     We're both in love with Johnson Brothers Indies pattern and we both have dishes in this pattern.    Mine (at least two cups, saucers, creamer and a wee teapot) came originally from England on a long ago trip.     Cass acquired hers here.     When I went to England this spring my goal was to find Cass that wee teapot.    But, alas, there was almost no Indies to be seen.   And definitely no teapots -- of any size!  

Since we were having tea in the living room (or parlor if you will), we had the hot water in the spirit kettle

Not for tea but for hot water.   In Victorian times, one was always on the tea table.

which is actually part of my tea set.    But the little flame keeps the water hot so that you can brew and pour tea . . .

I knew this was an older piece when I bought it but didn't realize how old until I got it home and searched the internet!
It shall always remind me of the Royal Wedding!

in the pot.     This is an Estate Sale find from just before our English trip.    It's English and far older than I had thought and it's price was the same as the dinner that I didn't go to that night.    In my feminine way of figuring things out, it cost me nothing!

The tea, a good Earl Grey, kept in the

My true treasure from our trip.

1850's tea caddy which was brought home from England this spring.    An always wanted and now have.   It has a key, because in Victorian times, it was kept locked and only the mistress of the house had the key -- tea was precious then.

The tea treat?

It's just a pound cake but it was an impromptu tea!

A pound cake, served on a Spode Blue Italian sandwich plate with a cake knife I brought home from England

I'm using a "new" linen tea cloth and the wee napkins are on the cake plates under the tea cups.

It's a cozy tea table.   All blue and white and silver with the golden glow of polish mahogany of the tea caddy.    The gift orchid presides over all.

The tea table -- a Craig's List find -- it's a Williamsburg reproduction and it is a beautiful table.

I love the legs on this piece.

Such nice carvings on it's legs with it's talon and ball foot (not claw and ball but talon).  

And it's not an ordinary tea table, but one with the birdcage mechanism which allows it to . . .

And the fact that it turns.

Turn to the left so that Cass can slice a slab of cake and then . . .

It turns to the right so that I can slice my slab of cake.

Cass sent a note with the orchid which read:

And so, for Cass -- the orchid in it's "home" -- when it isn't the star of a tea table!

On a table in the living room -- in the corner where there are two windows to give light to the orchid.
Cass was right -- it is in a smaller blue and white bowl -- a perfect place for such a splendid orchid!

It's Tuesday, so . . .

I'm joining the Tuesday Tea Parties --

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