In the past week I have found Autumn. Have you found it? I love searching for a new season and Autumn didn't disappoint.
The temperatures here in the Pacific Northwest have become cooler and rain has been in the air. I have shared my favorite apple orchard before. I go in the Spring for blossoms and Autumn for apples. I was a bit late and the apples were gone, but still I enjoy visiting my favorite orchard on Sauvie Island.
I had not noticed the sink sitting by the barn before, but just loved that it was there to wash our hands.
Autumn didn't disappoint with touches of color here and there.
The old oak tree was still standing in the field as I drove by.
And a field of yellow pumpkins. I am not sure I have seen a yellow pumpkins before. The orange ones were further back. Can you see them?
And there were flowers along the road in many places, but I always smile when I see them filling the back of this old truck.
Then before it is too cold my friend, Steph, came for tea in the garden house.
How lovely it was to sip tea, nibble some fruit, scone, cucumber sandwich, and a veggie sandwich that Steph added to the tea time.
The veggie sandwich came from Bruce Richardson's teatime recipe book called The Tea Table, page 45, Falling Leaves Tea Sandwich with beets and carrots. It was delicious.
We sipped two different teas:
Jin Jun Mei oolong from Wuyi Origins
Osmanthus oolong from GrassPeopleTree
Both of the teas were extra special and delicious.
I served Jin Jun Mei British style and then the Osmanthus Oolong was served from a gaiwan. Have you had tea served from a gaiwan or Asian small pot?
To decorate the table I picked Autumn colors from the garden.
Steph knows that I often wear pearls to honor my mother at tea; so she wore her pearls.
I didn't have my pearls on, but I had a vase my mother received many years ago as a wedding gift. The vase was my nod to my mother having tea with us.
Do you sometimes give a nod to someone special when you are doing something they would love. My mother would have loved sitting at this tea table.
Yes, I did find Autumn this week and am enjoying it immensely.
Happy Autumn weekend, dear friends!
