Tea with a Twist

Tea with a Twist was introduced at the World Tea Expo this year.

I have many tea books and this one in comparison is one of the more beautiful, well thought out tea books I have seen. The photography composition and clarity is so well thought out and beautiful. Viewing the pages you can feel yourself stepping inside for a breathe of fresh air.

Bubble Tea is just one of the fun tea party ideas. There are also ideas for flower, tropical, tailgate, children's, Indian Chai tea parties. The recipes look delicious and at the end of the book there is a nice list of website sources.

The author, Lisa Boalt Richardson, is a Certified Tea Specialist and one very nice lady. She was involved in starting the Southern Association of Tea Businesses several years ago.

The photographer, Lauren Rubinstein, has been published in Good Housekeeping, Coastal Living, and Southern Accents. I have not met her, but her work is lovely.

This would be a perfect gift book for any tea lover.

I just received a few books for Marmalady's. They are not on the website yet, but if you are interested, let me know. It is a book you would thoroughly enjoy.

How to be Happy

A tulip from my yard this spring. This tulip was suppose to be blue. Does it look blue to you? We brought home tulip bulbs from Amsterdam last fall. All winter I was so excited to see a blue tulip. I am not sure what happened, but I learned to love the tulips anyway.

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Quote from Rumer Godden

How to be happy when you are miserable.

Plant Japanese poppies with cornflowers and mignonette,

and bed out the petunias among the sweet-peas

so that they shall scent each other.

See the sweet-peas coming up.

Drink very good tea out of a thin Worcester cup

of a colour between apricot and pink.......

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Have a delightful weekend.

Enjoy the sunshine.

Plant flowers and drink tea out of a special cup.

Grandpa's Orchard Slideshow

Click on microphone under slideshow for music and enjoy! I had so much fun taking these pictures.

Tea at Crown & Crumpet

The final afternoon tea on our tea road trip was enjoyed on Mother's Day. What a perfect finale to a perfect trip to have tea at Crown and Crumpet in San Francisco's Ghirardelli Square. On this special occasion they served champagne or the best sparkling tea with the afternoon delicacies.

The "English Tea Salon" was a happy place with lots of color and light.
It was full of moms and daughters, husbands and wives. There were the cutest little girls with their grandmothers. It was a place of joy on Mother's Day.

The sandwiches were Asparagus with Feta, Egg Salad, Salmon, and Cucumber.

The scones were served with clotted cream and jam.

The sweets were Chocolate dipped Strawberries, Vanilla Cupcakes, Cream Tarts with Berries, and the Yellow Hats, which were a cookie with cake on top.

Each of the mothers was given a gift and there was a thank you envelope with a teabag enclosed.

As we lifted our cup to sip tea there was a quote underneath on the saucer - "Remember the tea kettle-it is always up to it's neck in hot water, yet it still sings!" It was truly a Celebration of a trip well enjoyed.

Getty Villa

The Getty Villa sits on the bluff looking out over the Pacific Ocean. The picture was taken from a friend's deck in Malibu, California. We were on our way up the California coast, had breakfast with my friend, then off to the Getty Villa. The Getty Villa is a beautiful museum which holds part of the Getty art collection.

The grounds of the Getty Villa, looking back on the main building that houses the art collection.

Arriving early it was so peaceful walking around the grounds and down this corridor.

Inside were many Greek gods and goddesses just waiting to say hello.

It was fun being a tourist for the day and I would highly recommend visiting the Getty Villa when you visit Southern California.

Tea for Remembrance

Let's get right to the business of announcing the winner of the tea charm.

The winner is LaTeaDah of Gracious Hospitality.

Congratulations to you and thanks for all those that entered.

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The picture was taken in my sister's apple orchard, which originally belonged to our grandfather. My grandfather always had beehives in the orchard; so the beehives reminded me of my grandfather too. The thermos was grandpa's and he carried a lunch pail much like the one you see.

There always were Franciscan apple plates in the family. The cookies are Oatmeal Apple, a recipe developed by my aunt. This tea table was set in rememberance.

Happy Memorial Day! Remember those that have gone before us and remember those that have fought for the country that you live in.

Flowers for Remembrance

Lupins always remind me of fields of lupins I once walked through on Mt.Cook in New Zealand. We saw the typical blue ones along the road, but also came across yellow ones too.

The old graveyard had California poppies.

Apple blossoms in Sebastopol. I took many pictures of the blossoms on the ranch that use to belong to my grandfather, then aunt and uncle. I will share more blossoms another day.

Beautiful roses at a winery we stopped at in Sonoma, California.

Enjoy the flowers today and this weekend. Celebrate Memorial weekend by remembering those that have gone before us. The grave yard is where my mother is buried. It brought me joy to leave a rose on her grave in remembrance. The apple blossoms are for remembrance of my special grandfather. Celebrate your remembrances with flowers. Pick a pretty bouquet and remember.

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Don't forget to leave comments if you want to be entered in the drawing I mentioned on Tuesday.