A Dutch Treat for Tea Time

"I question not if thrushes sing,
If roses load the air;
Beyond my heart I need not reach
When all is summer there." ~ John Vance Cheney- Victoria magazine 

Hello dear tea friends and welcome to another Tea Time Tuesday! 

Ah, Summer! These days you will find Hubby and me relaxing at the beach as it is definitely our favourite part of summertime. 
We love filling our carafe with hot coffee and taking it with us early in the morning. Kicking back in a pair of capris and listening to the waves and the gulls flying overhead is bliss. Nothing is more relaxing to me than sinking my toes into sand warmed by the sun and drinking in the beauty around me.

My son and DIL {a little Dutch girl} enjoying the beach at sunset 

Our beaches are not crowded and one can walk for miles out there. It is our place for getting away from it all and allowing the peace and quiet to seep into our bones, surrounded by the sand, the sea, and the sky. 

What do you love most about the summertime?

My tea for this week is all about blue and white....


When my youngest son was home three weeks ago, he surprised me with a beautiful china mug. 

He had been to Germany in February for a Math conference and one of his stop-overs was in Holland. 

While there, he found this beautiful mug for me. Isn't he a darling boy!

This porcelain mug is handpainted according to centuries of old Dutch craftmenship and I knew right away it was Delftware as soon as I opened his package. Loving the windmills and the reticulated base. It's perfect for sipping tea or coffee.

I also have a windmill which was made in Holland.

It is actually a bank but I never use it for that. See the crazing on the bottom? I found it at a Dutch inn many years ago.

I have paired the mug and the windmill together for my tea today along with the new teacup I found at the PEI Preserve Company. 

I didn't have a plain white teacup, although I do have several cream teacups, so I brought it home with me. It too has a Holland mark; Old Amsterdam. The cup has a tulip design on both the cup and the saucer. 

Although it bears an Old Amsterdam mark, the teacup was made in England and it is called Diana. 

The teacup and the mug both have a tulip design.

Blue and white china graced by daisies and my Churchill Blue Willow teapot along with a Spode teacup made in England. 

My little china birds are joining us today and underneath it all is my cream damask spring tulip tablecloth.

Spode Blue Room

They're so friendly. Don't you think daisies are the friendliest flowers? ~ Meg Ryan in You've Got Mail

Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful: they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul. ~ Luther Burbank


This is not a Dutch treat; just a simple pound cake served with fresh berries and whipped cream.  But it's a nice treat with tea. The small white plate is made by Ciroa and the blue one is of course, Blue Willow made by Churchill.

Today I'd like to sit and sip,
Forget about the world a bit,
Ignore the things I have to do,
And just enjoy a cup or two. - Unknown

Happiness is sharing tea with a friend. 

Won't you join me?

I am delighted you have stopped by for tea today! Do you have a favourite teacup/teapot, coffee cup/coffee pot, that you would like to share with us today? I would love to see it and I'm sure others would too! A trip to a Tea Shop is always fun and if you have a tea time recipe to share, we would love to see that 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 iced coffee, or Punch in a lovely bowl.

Dear God,
Protect our going out and coming in; 
let us share the hospitality of this home 
with all who visit us, 
that those who enter here 
may know Your love and peace. ~ Author unknown


Have a beautiful day everyone and God bless you!


I am joining the following parties as well~

A Return to Loveliness
Tuesday Cuppa Tea
Tea in the Garden
Tea Cup Tuesday
Share Your Cup Thursday
Home Sweet Home

An InLinkz Link-up

Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi