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)

MENU TEMPLATES FOR AFTERNOON TEA

 Over the last year I have been trying to learn new things on the computer.  I have my "senior moments" for sure but I am still pushing my brain.  I have designed some tea menu templates that you can copy to your computer and use.    I did watermark them as I am the one who did the work.  These are NOT for sale purposes but rather for your personal use to encourage 

you in the art of Afternoon Tea. Tea Rooms are welcomed

to use these also.  The 2 menu's can be printed on an 8.5 x 11 standard sheet of paper.

British:

Queen Elizabeth:

Tea Time:

Queen Victoria:

And for

Lovely Ladies of Color:

I will share some more of these for

fall and Christmas.

We are presently going through a cycle

of 6 days of over 100 degree heat.

I hope soon to get out in the garden

for a photo shoot for "Tea In The

Garden".

ROCHEPORT, MISSOURI

 Yesterday we enjoyed driving over to

the tiny town of Rocheport, Missouri

 (less than 300 people) which

is  about

15 miles away:

This is along the Missouri River and 

was once a thriving port when the

Missouri River was the means of

transportation.  Now there are

several Bed and Breakfast there

and a few unique restaurants

and shops.

As one enters town from the south,

gardens burst with color.

Rocheport is known for a

prominent winery and restaurant.

The little main street finds some

very old brick buildings which now

are shops and restaurants.  We enjoyed

a lesson at the History center as well.

 

Our favorite stop was at a shop

bursting with art and beautiful

Victorian antiques.  The couple

are open 3 afternoons a week and he

also is a blacksmith who teaches

classes.

Art and Antiques

THE START OF JULY IN THE GARDEN

 Our July is "plenty hot" already and

perhaps yours is too.  We have plenty

of birds, bees, bugs and an 

invasion of moles!  Watch where

you step!  Enjoy the song of the

cicadas!

As usual, purple seems to be

the pronounced color in the

garden.

DOWNTON ABBEY PICNIC BASKET

 This picnic basket is available

(USA shipping only)

on my Etsy Page: 

It's a vintage picnic basket that has 

been restained and decoupaged.