A New Treasure for Tea Time Tuesday

"Tea is quiet and our thirst for tea is never far from our craving for beauty." ~ James Norwood Pratt

Welcome dear friends to another Tea Time! 

When I was visiting my relatives in New Brunswick a couple of months ago, I took some pictures of my Aunt Judy's china. 

If you have been joining me for tea on a regular basis then you know I have a list of favourite teacup patterns I hope to acquire. Royal Albert Blossom Time is one of them.  

My aunt has a whole set of this beautiful vintage pattern which she inherited from her mother. I hope you enjoy having a peek at it!

Her beautiful china cabinet is filled with it. We set a few pieces out on her lovely dining room table so I could get some shots. The pictures were taken at night so the colour is a bit off.

The teapot has such graceful lines and has its own trivet....Swoon!

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." ~ Maya Angelou


How gorgeous!

Some interesting history about this pattern which I gleaned from the Internet:

"On a spring morning in 1933, G. R. Palmeter left a meeting of the Apple Blossom Committee at the Cornwallis Inn to purchase china from a representative of the Royal Albert China of England. While there, he asked the salesman about creating a pattern called "Blossom Time," to tie in with the Apple Blossom Festival. A design was submitted and the factory got to work on it.

The design is an actual picture of the Ralph Eaton farm, in the Annapolis Valley - the apple trees were at the height of bloom, and this worked out ideally, from the factory standpoint.

The result was "BLOSSOM TIME CHINA," which is still in great demand all over the world, even as far as Japan – this over a period of sixty years.

The original shape of the plate was square and the factory later tried a round one but it was not well received. The mugs have changed shape and the bowl and milk pitcher have been discontinued. Other pieces i.e. a trivet have recently been added."

I was rather pleasantly surprised to discover that this pattern was actually created from pictures of apple blossoms in our own Annapolis Valley here in the Maritimes where I live!

My aunt has these pretty pink place mats which enhance the china. I love the square plates!

I was fortunate to find a square plate this past Summer for $6.99. My heart sang when I found it! Now I just have to find the matching teacup.

The back stamp.

Today I am using my Royal Albert Serena teacup. I love the graceful lines of this teacup and I thought the colours went well with my 'new-to-me' plate.

Of course, I had to include some wee pumpkins too.

I am having Apple Cinnamon Chai tea today as well as shortbread cookies.

Happiness is sharing tea with a friend.

My aunt will be passing her lovely dishes on to her daughter who also loves china.

While visiting my aunt and uncle, my aunt brought out an exquisite bedspread which my grandmother had crocheted. It is probably over sixty years old and very intricate. My uncle will pass this on to his daughter some day.

My grandmother was a very gifted lady; a beautiful seamstress and quilter among other things. This is just one of the fabulous treasures she had made by hand.

Can you imagine the hours she spent working on this? My Auntie P remembers when Granny made it and she says it took her about a year to crochet. It would make a pretty tablecloth too.

"Pleasure is the flower that passes; remembrance, the lasting perfume." ~ Jean De Boufflers

A priceless heirloom; both this and the china took my breath away! I felt like I was being treated to a wonderful glimpse from the past. Beautiful china and heirloom quality lace, what could be better? 

Maybe a lovely cup of tea!

Tea Time Tidbit~ Did you know that King George IV was one of the first English collectors of teapots? {The Twelve Teas of Friendship by Emilie Barnes}

I thought that was interesting! I have been enamoured by teapots for years and I have quite a few as well as a nice collection of lovely teacups. One of these days I am going to count my teacups.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing my aunt's beautiful china and my Granny's crocheted treasure as well as my new plate I found thrifting.

"A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones." ~ Proverbs 15:30


NOTE~ This has mainly been a re-post from last year because I had an incredibly busy weekend and didn't have much time to prepare a tea post.
Thank you for visiting and have a lovely day everyone.


Do you have a favourite teacup/teapot or mug that you would like to share with us today? I would love to see it and I'm sure others would too!

If you wish, you may do coffee instead of tea or the following is acceptable too:
Hot apple cider
Hot chocolate
Lemonade
Iced tea or coffee
Egg nog
Punch in a pretty bowl

As a courtesy, please link back to me so that your visitors may find their way here to visit with all my lovely participants.


I am joining the following parties as well~


A Return to Loveliness ~ http://www.adelightsomelife.com/
Tea Cup Tuesday ~ http://www.marthasfavorites.com/
Tea Cup Tuesday~ http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/
Tuesday Cuppa Tea~ http://www.antiquesandteacups.info/
Tea with Friends ~ http://blog.bernideens.com/
We Call It Olde~ http://www.wecallitjunkin.com/
What's It Wednesday~ http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/
Share Your Cup Thursday~ http://jannolson.blogspot.com/
Home Sweet Home~ http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/
Thrifty Things Friday~ http://thethriftygroove.blogspot.com/



Sharing from my heart~ Sandi