Tea and Biscuits

I've had a Waterford "Biscuit" Barrel "forever"

I've also had a wooden one from the 20's

And when I first got the "Biscuit" Barrel, I couldn't understand

why anyone would put "biscuits" in a crystal jar.

They're not really good leftover

They're best hot and fresh from the oven.

And then I took my first trip to England

And learned that there, "biscuits" were cookies.

The light came on!

I could see "cookies" in the Waterford barrel

I could see "cookies" in the wooden one

And I see "cookies" in this enamel one definitely marked "biscuits"

It's not English

bought instead in the city at some store that ages ago sold enamel ware

marked with "sugar", "flour", "tea", "coffee" and this one -- "biscuits"

It's in the larder

and does, indeed hold biscuits

The weekly output is put in there

So that one or two (or even three or four)

can be taken out for afternoon tea.

It's just one piece of our enamel ware collection

I have the one marked "sugar" and it's in the larder holding the icing sugar

And I have old ones

A "bread" one which holds bread and crackers.

It's old and is from England

As is the "flour" one which is also in the larder

It holds flour -- but not the regular flour but instead the almond meal and cake flour

And the biscuit tin this week

holds

lemon raisin cookies

From Anna Pumps, Loaves and Fishes Party Cookbook

They're good keepers

And make for a good tea nosh

For one

Blue and white Johnson Brothers, Indies

The wee pot bought almost 20 years ago on a trip to England along with one cup

(I had the grand idea of keeping a "tea station" in the bedroom, like the bed/breakfasts we stayed at --

it wasn't practical and that idea was soon squashed -- but the teapot and tea cup remained.

And were soon joined by more Johnson Brothers Indies -- plates and salad/tea plates and more cups and saucers!)

The cookies full of lemon zest.   A gift from a friend (lemons not the zest) who received a box full of lemons from her brother in law in California -- she shares!

I love the late afternoon winter sun in the breakfast room as I pause

every afternoon at half past three

for a cup of tea and a nosh.