A Victorian Tea For Tea Time Tuesday

"That it will never come again is what makes life so sweet." ~ Emily Dickinson

Happy Victoria Day to all my Canadian friends and welcome for tea everyone! I hope you all enjoyed your weekend.

Did the title of my tea get your attention? I'm sure for many of you it did. We Canadians are enjoying our Victoria Day weekend; our first long weekend of the Summer. Yay!

Source

Queen Victoria's birthday is a statutory holiday observed here in Canada which celebrates the sovereign's actual birthday on May 24 as well as that of our reigning Queen Elizabeth whose birthday is really on April 21.  

Many of us celebrate the holiday by firing up the barbecues and visiting the garden centres. 
Hubby is cleaning out the beds today. Our tulips are out and the Weeping Caragana is in bud at our side door. I can't wait till it's spilling over with  bright green leaves!

So how am I sharing tea today? With a wee bit of  Victorian, of course!

I shopped my house and put this little tea together for us to enjoy. So please make yourselves at home and join me for a cuppa tea won't you?

The Victorians loved their flowers.  My mercury glass rose bowl holds an arrangement of dried roses.

I brought out my lace parasol; another fashionable accessory during Victorian times.

Did you know that the term tussie-mussie or nosegay comes from the reign of Queen Victoria (1837–1901)? These little bouquets were first introduced to mask the unpleasant odours of the day and quickly became a popular fashion accessory. The term "nosegay" refers to the bouquet's ability to keep the nose happy. 

The Victorian ladies loved their lavender so I've included my lavender sachet which Kathy made. I won it in one of her giveaways. Its scent is as lovely today as it was when I received it about a year ago.

The teapot stands on a mercury glass cake stand. 

"May your life always be like a teapot...overflowing to warm the soul." ~ Irish Blessing

All my china today was made in England except for the teapot. The teacups and silver c/s were thrift finds. 

A nameless Royal Albert teacup sprinkled with tiny rosebuds. 

My Windsor teacup, beautiful in pink and gold. Sorry some of the pictures are dark. It was very dreary and rainy out when I took them.

"Serenity is a solitary cup of tea; pleasure is sharing it with another." ~ Victoria magazine

I am using my silver cream and sugar. They have a little patina on them and I rather liked it with my other pieces today.

My dessert plate is called Rose of England and it holds my short version of Victoria's favourite tea treat, sponge cake.

I used pound cake and sandwiched it with real whipped cream and my own strawberry preserves. My hubby said it was delicious! I thought it made a pretty presentation with the strawberry preserves pooling around the bottom.

A nice orange pekoe tea, some cake, and your company, what could be better on a cool Spring day?

I am delighted you have come for tea! Your presence always makes my tea party that much more special. I wish you all a beautiful day, my dear friends.

"This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it." ~ Psalm 118:24

Thank you for including a link back to my party when you link up.

I am joining the following parties as well~

A Return to Loveliness ~ http://www.adelightsomelife.com/
Amaze Me Monday
Tea Cup Tuesday~ http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/
Tea Cup Tuesday ~ http://www.marthasfavorites.com/
Tuesday Cuppa Tea~ http://www.antiquesandteacups.info/
Tea In The Garden ~ http://blog.bernideens.com/
Homemaking Link Up ~ http://www.hopeineveryseason.com/
Pearls and Lace Thursday ~ http://faithgracecrafts.blogspot.com/
Share Your Cup Thursday~ http://jannolson.blogspot.com/
Home Sweet Home~ http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/


Sharing from my heart~ Sandi