Tea Time.......

Tea Time....the ritual? or what is it? In England its a way of life. In America its romanticized and people seem to love the thought of the tradition. Really, its not anything like all the lovely pictures I will be showing, not in my circles. How can I explain........well, maybe back in the olden days, when the nobility was more noble.......when things were more formal in every day life. More in the fancy houses.......then maybe one would see some of the settings I am going to show you. Most regular people had a set of "good" china. Saved and dusted and brought out for company. Most people never used them and they were passed down intact to the next generation. Then in my day things changed. My mum did not want any of my grandmothers things. She wanted the "modern" stuff. Mugs replaced china. There was no good china to be handed down and what they got they either gave away or threw out. The war time changed things and it changed forever. I remember mum giving away my Nan's glass cabinet and a Victorian glass globe with a stuffed bird in it. I wanted that. They wanted a new age, not the stuffy Victorian or Edwardian days. Women worked now and there was no time for all the pretty things. They all needed work that the women no longer had time for. Silver if you had it had to be polished and so stainless steel took over. So every day life became different, and although the tradition of having a cuppa still remained it was very informal. No tea parties, or garden parties not in our lives. The upper classes probably still did all those things. It was expected I suppose. Maybe things will change back, but to be honest most working people are way too busy. Enjoy some pictures of times gone by (not my pictures but ones I have found on the web, no copyright infringement intended and if you own any of the pictures email me for credit or removal) Now I have collected quite a bit of China myself because like a lot of people now, I like to be reminded of the past. When one goes out to tea, ah, then the time goes backwards........then you get the fine china. Then you get the pretty sandwiches and the cakes. There are many pretty books on this subject and they make good coffee table books. There is a whole cult of interest on the subject. There are also small books that are very pretty and they too are very popular. The cake making has become a hobby too. I hope you enjoy these pictures...........and I hope you are one of the ladies who still enjoy this ritual, bring it back. If you ever get to England please do go for a wonderful Cream Tea

more pretties, cups and flowers

I have found these pictures on the web over time and saved them for a pretty post. Oh the flowers are in the China on this one This one looks like you would want to sip the tea and smell the rose at the same time. So many beautiful tea cups and flowers. This one is gorgeous and needs no other embelishment. The pink roses seem to go with any of them This next one makes me want a cup of tea There are so many pretty ones I just can't stop........but I must I think I will have some Chamomile tea now. I am linking up with......The Dedicated House do go visit us there. Make it Pretty Monday

Tea Time........

Many years ago now my aunt sent me a little book called "A Proper Tea". She sent it to me she said to remind me from whence I came. I enjoyed the book and since then I have collected a few books that have wonderful pictures and tea times vignettes.
Here are a few of the books that I have collected. I enjoy the whole idea of tea time. I started collecting the books that remind me of home. Of how things used to be for me long ago.




I love tea time in England the scones and clotted cream with lovely home made strawberry jam.








I love to collect pretty tea cups and tea pots but I have to photograph them yet. I collect them from various places like garage sales, antique shops, thrift shops. Anywhere that I can find them at a reasonable price.
When I have been home to England, and I have only been able to go back 3 times since I came to the States, I have looked forwards to those cream teas. There is nothing like the bread that one gets there, hot from the bakers oven. Fresh cream butter. The best of all is the cream teas. That means scones or fairy cakes with clotted cream, or Devon cream. My cousin did eclairs full of lovely cream or meringues. Always fresh cream.
I much prefer coffee to tea now but if I do drink it there I like it with just a tiny bit of milk if its a good tea. Here I prefer green tea or black tea with nothing in it. Herb tea with honey.



Don't you just want one? You know you do.



Victoria Sponge the ultimate afternoon tea time cake. Filled with fresh cream naturally.



This is another book worth adding to a collection if you enjoy looking at tea time vignettes and want to know where to have your tea.



This is my first tea time book, it was sent to me by my aunt who is still in England.



You can thank pretty ladies like this for that special cream that makes it all so beautiful.