Tea Time Tuesday

It's 4:00 and that means it's time for tea! ~

Hello and Welcome to Tea Time Tuesday, my dear friends!

Wow! What a celebration we had last week! We had lots of friends join the tea party and we all had a splendid time; so many pretty tea things out there in Blogland. I am pleased to discover that graciousness is still a way of life for many of us and it's wonderful to know that there are many of you who enjoy the pleasures of tea time as much as I do.

I don't know about you, but this time of year I need books and magazines to get me inspired. I take many of my inspirations from tea books and magazines; one magazine being Victoria. My beloved Rose Chintz china also gets me inspired so I am using this pattern today.

Please come in and make yourself at home. Today I have placed a lace tablecloth over an accent table in the living room and set out my tea there. In some photos, I have also used a cranberry-red silk scarf. I like how the china pattern pops sitting on the red scarf! In the above photo, I have layered the scarf beneath the tablecloth. One doesn't always have to use the usual tablecloth to dress a table with.

There are any number of ways to dress a table for tea; a lovely scarf, as I've already mentioned, a beautiful tablecloth,  a wonderful quilt, a lace curtain, a piece of pretty fabric, etc. Use your imagination!

Are you comfortable? Then let's enjoy some tea while we have a little chat.

I have made some scones that I've just taken out of the oven.

Why not use a cinnamon stick placed on the saucer to stir your tea with, instead of a spoon?

Mmmm, scones fresh from the oven!

The scones are still warm and ready to enjoy with some Ginger Peach tea. These scones are filled with a mixture of dried fruit; raisins, cranberries, cherries, and pineapple, which is why I'm calling my tea, a Fruit Tea today!

Tea is served in my Johnson Bros. Rose Chintz teapot which once belonged to my Auntie P.

When Auntie down-sized, she passed the teapot on to me. I was happy to relieve her of it. My red silk scarf really makes the Rose Chintz pattern pop, doesn't it?

Love my Rose Chintz!



A bowl of strawberries is ready to enjoy with our tea.

The berries are served in the little Rose Chintz fruit nappie which was a gift from Patti @ Fill My Cup With - Beauty~ http://pattiannsblog.blogspot.com/ She had been out treasure hunting a few months ago and she found this little bowl and thought of me. Wasn't that sweet of her! She sent it to me with a delightful home made card and I have been blessed by her friendship. When you get a chance, do stop by and visit Patti. I know she would love to hear from you.

I also have some fresh Banana Oatmeal muffins on the cake stand. Perhaps you feel like a muffin with your tea. The beautiful clock you see in the background was an Anniversary gift from my hubby once upon a time. It is adorned with cranberry glass around the bottom.

I am going to enjoy a scone myself with some strawberry preserves and whipped cream. Mmm!

I think it looks so delightful on my Rose Chintz plate.

I have always cut my scone in half before applyng the jam and cream, but did you know that there is a proper way to eat a scone? One tea expert says when one is eating a scone, to break off a bite-sized piece and then apply your jam and cream. I have always eaten my dinner roll this way.

Please find the recipe for scones here below:
Scones

Blend or sift:

1-3/4 cups flour
2 TBSP. sugar
4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp allspice {optional}

Cut in:

1/3 cup shortening

Add:

1/2 cup raisins or mixed fruit
Combine:
1 beaten egg
1/2 cup milk

Add to dry ingredients and stir lightly with fork to make a soft dough. Knead 8-10 times.
Divide dough in two and roll out each to a 6 inch circle. Place on a greased baking sheet and brush tops with milk and sprinkle with sugar. Score each circle into fours and bake.
Bake at 450 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Serve warm with cream and jam. Enjoy. Yield: 8

A Challenge ~ For the next few weeks, in celebration of Valentines Day, I thought it would be fun to share some of our favourites with a LOVE THEME. For instance, how about next week as we share a piece of china, we all share our favourite love story. It can be a movie or a favourite novel. Please share, I would love to know!

If you are one of my blog Followers, I hope you have entered my Giveaway. I am offering a sweet little birdie creamer, a package of assorted tea, a package of pretty floral cards with matching envelopes, and a pink heart-shaped tea bag holder. I also have something else which I will share with you next week.
As I mentioned last week, this Giveaway is open only to my Followers and due to shipping costs, open to Canadian and US bloggers only. If you are a Follower and you participate in any of my tea parties between last week and the week of February 7th, you will be entered again for each tea party you participate in. I will announce the winner on my Valentines Day tea on February 14th.

Happiness is having tea with a friend.

Thank you for joining me for tea today; I love it when you stop by! I hope you were inspired in some way by your visit. To participate in Tea Time Tuesday please share a teacup, china mug, teapot, or any china used in a tea. If you wish, you may instead do coffee, iced tea, hot chocolate, or hot apple cider. A poem, scripture verse, or tea quote would be most welcome. You may use the TTT button on my sidebar in your post or on your sidebar if you wish. Please link back to me so your visitors may find their way here and visit with all my lovely participants.

I am joining the following hostesses for their parties as well:

Kathy~ http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/ - Victoria- A Return to Loveliness

Marty~ http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/ - Table Top Tuesday

Martha~ http://www.marthasfavorites.com/ - Teacup Tuesday

Terri~ http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/ - Teacup Tuesday

Wanda Lee~ http://silkenpurse.blogspot.com/ - Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday & Tea for Two

Pam~ http://breathoffreshair-paperbutterfly.blogspot.com/ - Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday

Wanda Lee~ http://theplumedpen.blogspot.com/ - Wednesday Tea For Me and Thee

Miss Spenser~ http://missspensersblog.blogspot.com/ - Teacup Thursday

Happy Tea Tuesday everyone!

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

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi