LASTING FLOWERS for "Tea In The Garden"

 This summer I didn't do many of my

"Tea In The Garden" blog posts because

it was so hot.  This morning it was

only 39 degrees and just expected 

to go up into the high 60's so this

was my green light.

The Zinnias usually really get going

late in the summer and right now

they are lovely.  

I need to say the roses in this bouquet

were from the market.  I did

pick some lovely blue hydrangeas

that come on once it gets cooler

like it has been.  I decided to go

out to the front sidewalk today.

There was an abundance of bees and

moths and butterflies today.

Many years ago Royal Patrician,

a US importer of English bone china,

came out with this pattern called

"English Garden".  I kept 2 cups and

saucers and dessert plates.  They

feature bugs and flowers from an

English garden.

Please pour yourself a cup

of tea.

I have been reading about all the

different types of laces lately and

following the Lace Museum site

on Facebook where there is so

much information.  I am fascinated.

 

Our leaves are just starting to turn

here.  We had such a drought in

July through September, I imagine

things will be more brown than

orange/yellow/red.

Also, lastly, I made myself a new "old"

tea cozy from a piece of a Tuscan lace 

tablecloth and a crochet doily. (this is

not for sale)

FALL IS A TIME FOR "Tea In The Garden"

How thrilling it has been to have some

cooler weather come our way in the

month of October and we sure 

are loving this.  It seems like it was 

such a hot summer and not much rain.

I didn't get my blogging done.

I decided to get out and do a "Tea In

The Garden" since I haven't done

one for quite a while.  I saw a recipe

for a cake online and decided to try it.

The recipe was for a "White Chocolate

Almond Raspberry Cake".  Without

going to the market, I had to switch

to canned blackberry pie filling which

worked just fine.  Here was my cake

earlier today before it was cut:

Please help yourself to a

slice of cake and a cup of tea.

You can sit on the bench and

we will have a cup of tea and

a nice chat.

The filling between my layers of

cake is blackberry pie filling and

the icing is also between the layers

of course.

Zinnias and marigolds do well in

our hot Missouri weather.

About the smartest thing I did in

the garden this summer, was to plant

some tomatoes in my south facing front

yard- yes, tucked in with the flowers.

I even used the branches of the pussy

willow to hold up the tomatoes stems.

The cherry tomatoes grew so 

tall they are coming up through the lilac

bush.  I also grew a few pepper plants

and should have planted more. 

The Quaker tablecloth was one of the

many linens I was gifted from the

late Marie Smith who was a precious

woman of God.

There is too much shade in our backyard

for a vegetable garden.  With the price

of food soaring, I think a garden is

really a good idea.

I love to continue to learn about dishes and antiques and old linens.  I have

been trying to learn about antique

laces and it is very extensive.  Also,

I never knew there were so many

glass patterns.  A lady who is an

expert (Gloria Dobbs in the Kansas

city area) told me there

are over 2000 glass patterns.

WHEN FALL APPROACHES INSIDE AND OUT

The garden has been thirsty for

 rain far too

often this summer.

I noticed a sweet bird nest tucked up in

the bittersweet:

 

I decided to welcome fall's soon

arrival by getting out my fall looking

transferware and setting the table.

 

I love the look of mix and

match transferware.

And a quilt to welcome

the season:

This year I decided to tuck a few

tomato plants and peppers

in with the flowers. 

I think I will do more next year.

DIGGORY DIGGORY DELVET Has Come for "Tea In The Garden"

July 28th was a celebration day

for Beatrix Potter's 157th birthday.

We have had a visitor here who  

went all out  to make her birthday

extra special and really, quite in

excess!   I haven't seen him today as he

is camera shy and hiding down under.

 Diggory Diggory Delvet

wanted to make a grand statement

all over our flower garden in celebration

of his artist friend.

Well, actually, I have stomped a lot

of his hand carved tunnels down around my flowers for fear my plants roots will

not get water and die.....especially

since it is so hot now.

Just in case you might not know, Diggory

was the mole featured in the poem 

written by Beatrix for "Appley Dapply

Nursery Rhymes" back in 1917.

"Diggory Diggory Delvet

A little old man in black velvet

He digs and he delves

You can see for yourselves

The mounds dug by Diggory Delvet."

Everyone on our street seems to

be having an invasion of moles.

This is not a pretty picture so let's

do get back to our tea in the garden.

We are excited that we might

get some rain tonight!

 I am sharing with you my new and gorgeous teapot I recently got on ebay for a fraction of  what it used  to sell for.  I love Crown Dorset teapots from the 1990's.  They are so sturdy and unique in shape.  I know this because I used to sell them in my shop in Old Colorado City (Colorado Springs, Colorado)and this one was at that time, the most expensive one I carried which I could not afford

myself.

We had temps lingering

around 100 degrees last week.

Today it is only in the 80's which

was my sign to get out and set

up my little tea vignette.  Please

help yourself to my Pecan & Peach

Tea Loaf which I made using 3 medium

sized fresh ripe peaches. (recipe)