Every afternoon that I'm home at half past three, I stop and put the kettle on and have a cup of tea! It's amazing at how tired you can be and how restorative that cup of tea is.
It is a dark and rainy day. It's rained -- not a downpour but a steady rain -- since this morning when I took Ollie for his walk. We need the moisture, so I can't complain. And it's not snow, so I can't complain!
A busy morning with a good clean of the breakfast room and then a noon luncheon meeting (which was close enough to walk to) and then errands.
A cup of tea was much needed for I was chilled to the bone (parking was a long way from the door!)
With carols on the stereo, my pot filled with Christmas tea, slices of Dundee cake and a cookbook to read, I
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| Afternoon tea most usually is taken in the breakfast room |
lit of candles of my German pyramid. It is Christmas after all!
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| Dundee cake-- one of the best things about the Christmas season |
Slices of Dundee cake (which I made in early November and stuck in the freezer) are afternoon tea fare from St. Nicholas Day through Christmas.
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| The German pyramid lit and spinning! |
The German pyramid (a real German one -- not an Asian knock off) which we decided to put up this year. With candles lit and the bottom and middle tiers spinning merrily around!
And my book . . .
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| I'm having company for lunch and am fine tuning my menu! |
Southern Living's Christmas Cookbook -- printed exclusively by Dillards -- a traditional gift from dear friend Maybelle.
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| Tea and Dundee cake on a dreary day! |
With candles lit and a dreary day outside, the warming cup of tea and the slices of Dundee were especially refreshing.
It made dealing with the wash a lot more bearable!
It is Tuesday and I'm joining the following 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
And I'm also joining Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday
23 comments:
What a cozy setting for a cozy cuppa! right now my house is quiet; the kids are at the shops, and I'm turning on the Christmas lights inside and out, so it's cozy here, too.
Dion says to tell Ollie that the eats on Saturday were particularly toothsome and plentiful! He is still napping off the calories.
Love, Cass
Very cozy--love it.
Lovely to think of you at tea!!! Raining here too, but I spent day in ER with hubby and his kidney stones! Tonight girl firends coming for soup supper...so glad it was easy meal and nearly ready! Tea sounds so good but the caffiene would kill me right now this late in day. Tea tomorrow in rain,maybe?
Do you do this when you are just by yourself?
raining here too, wish it was snow. But the dark outside makes the lights inside so pretty
What a cozy setting for tea! Your Dundee cake looks delicious! Merry Christmas and Happy Tea Day!
Hi Martha,
as always at Linderhof the table looks adorable. Love the German pyramid and your comment "not an Asian knock off" made me laughing. Despite the Asian produces a lot of beautiful things, their pyramids looks quite different than the originals. Your Dundee cake looks totally yummy.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you!
Best greetings, Johanna
Martha,
That cake looks wonderful! I love Southern Living's recipes. I'm sure this is a wonderful cookbook. Have a very Merry Christmas!
Sherry
A cozy tea on a rainy afternoon! I love your pyramid of light. The cookbook looks like a good one and your Dundee cake looks similar to my sultana cake. Looks yummy! Merry Christmas Martha! Thanks for helping to make my Tea Time special by your presence.
Blessings,
Sandi
Oh you have set the mood for a lovely tea! The German ornaments are beautiful.
Enjoy your tea time!
Hugs and Merry Christmas!
Terri
How wonderful Martha - it is snowing here now and I believe you may be getting some too but a rainy day - I love that sound as we seldom have it here in Colorado! I love your table setting!
Sounds just lovely!
That cup of tea sounds heavenly. I've never had Dundee cake and it looks delicious.
Do you have a favorite brand/flavour of tea? I just bought some Barry's Gold in the grocery store. I'd never tried that brand before and it's quite good. They were discontinuing it and it was only $.99. Wish I had bought more. :)
The candlelight is casting a warm glow on your tea table and the Dundee cake looks yummy.
Merry Christmas.
Judith
Martha,
Sometimes our kindred bond almost frightens me. Today with my tea...I, too...read a cookbook! "Mr. Ed" reaped the harvest of a new dish for his dinner tonight! I'll post the new recipe soon! Hopefully...by morning we'll have SNOW on our side of the Prairie!!
Fondly,
Pat
Pat -- no snow here but it has rained ALL day -- I think we're predicted to miss the snow!
Mary -- yes, I do that when it is just me. Husband Jim surprised me today by joining me and so I sacrificed ONE slice of cake! My mother taught me to do things nicely -- even if it is just for me!
Babs -- In the morning, I'm a tea purist -- PG Tipps -- makes the best morning "cuppa" -- but in the afternoon, I'll do Earl Grey, Harney's Hot Cinnamon (especially good on a cold day), and now I've got a French holiday tea as well as a Maine holiday tea. I have "stash" and I don't have a "go to" afternoon tea.
Oh, that looks so very cosy, Martha. A candle and cup of tea are my secret weapons against the cold and damp at this time of year too - and we do have cold and damp up here!
Dear Martha,
Oh how cozy!.., I love the very notion of your coming home to be refreshed with your delightful respite of afternoon tea. After arriving home weary, somewhat wet and cold and then being refreshed. Revived with your delightful authentic, German pyramid candles and whirling fun; so cozy and warmly festive along with your piping hot tea and yummy Dundee cake.
P.S. ~ I noticed happily that we are still on your list; ( despite Pam's elderly mom being unwell and needing her and my many computer woes that are now being thankfully fixed). I have linked you up only whereas I saw our links and I hope that is OK. I realize that it is so busy and no need to link up yourself.
We so love having you join us also. We most sincerely apologize when we have difficulty getting by for our regular visits at times dear lady.
Merry Christmas and may God bless you richly with an abundant, 2012 Martha!
Hugs from Wanda Lee,(and Pam).
A rainy day is so much better with a cup of tea and a delicious taste of a desert. I am excited to try your recipe especially if it weather the freezer well. Love to be prepared with something special when friends drop in.
I so enjoyed your presence at our tea, especially during this busy season.
Wishing you a blessed Christmas!
Blessings,
Pam
Rain, tea, candles and cookbook? Plus, yummy cake? Sounds fantastic! I love a slice of panettone and enjoy reading cookbooks too. Merry Christmas!
Martha, this is sooooo welcoming & cozy looking! "It's amazing at how tired you can be and how restorative that cup of tea is"...I couldn't agree more & now I'll be on the lookout for those teas you mentioned in the comments above.
I've never tasted Dundee cake but it sure looks delicious! You've reminded me that I need to bake up DH's favorite cherry loaf/cake...I almost forgot! Yikes!
Merry CHRISTmas, Honey!
Hugs,
Rett
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