Faith Family Friends

Celebrating the Joy of Living & Home Making ~

Baking, Cooking, Decorating, Tea Time, and taking Inspiration from those I love and the world around me...

A sharing of my heart and my home from a Christian perspective

...with a wee bit of whimsy added.

Monday 19 February 2018

All Things British for Tea Time

Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference. ~ Winston Churchill

Hello dear friends! Won't you join me for a little conversation and a cup of tea? I love that quote by Churchill! It can make all the difference in how your day goes. Or your life for that matter.



My ancestors originated in England, Germany, and Ireland but I want to focus on England today because that is where Royal Albert china was first  produced.

Oh to live in an English cottage with a gaggle of geese outside your door and a flock of yearlings in your meadow. ~ unknown

My late Uncle Doug who passed last May was my beloved Auntie P's hubby. I was very fond of him and he used to regale me with stories of his homeland, England, including The Potteries. He loved the Lord, my auntie, his tea, gardens, and the old country. He and Auntie took a number of trips back to England and returned with all kinds of tales. He made England seem more real to me and I hung on every word. I adored his accent, his charm, and his wit. Like many Brits, he liked milk in his tea and those little tea sandwiches with the crusts cut off. I always tried to indulge him when they visited. I miss him and will always cherish the times we spent together.

What is it about the English countryside - why is the beauty so much more than visual? Why does it touch one so? ~ Dodie Smith



One of England's greatest monarchs was Queen Victoria and we Canadians celebrate her birthday every May because we belong to the British Commonwealth. Although this is February, it is widely rumoured that one of Victoria's favourite colours was purple. Since February's flower of the month is the violet, I am sharing my two February Violet teacups by Royal Albert


Life is like a cup of tea...it's all in how you make it... unknown

Both of these sets were gifted to me. One was a house warming gift from my hubby's late aunt and the other was my late MIL's birthday cup. Hubby's sister had her mother's cup and saucer and when she found out I had one, she gave the other to me. I have been waiting till now to share them. 

Isn't it so pretty with its violets and that little hint of teal in the background? A very attractive combo!



As a nation, the British drink 165 million cups of tea daily. That's enough to fill six Olympic sized swimming pools. - Internet

I am having Earl Grey tea today. According to statistics gathered from the Internet, the Brits drink more tea than anyone else. One of their favourites is of course, Earl Grey. 

According to historians, the Earl Grey blend could be named after  Charles Grey, the British Prime Minister in the 1830s. Rumour has it that he received the first tea as a gift from a Chinese woman. But according to Twining’s, the tea was a unique infusion which was presented by a Chinese envoy to Lord Grey. - Internet

In any case, it is a favourite with many of us.



I am also using my Sadler teapot called Spring Crocus which had been a Giveaway win a few years ago. Sadler is also an English maker. Aren't the hues lovely! Among the posies are daffodils, irises, tulips, violets, crocuses, forget-me-nots, etc.




The weather is so mild right now that it feels like spring is in the air so beneath it all I have used my damask tablecloth called Spring Blossoms. 



I had a friend over for coffee the other day and we enjoyed some butterscotch pie. I still have a few pieces left so let's have some with our tea, shall we?






Getting back to Victoria... She was empress of the world's largest ever empire, and her name denotes an entire era of British history. She had such a marvellous influence on that period that she will be long remembered and revered.

Internet
She adored fashion and apparently she kept absolutely every piece of clothing, from her mother's clothes to her own baby clothes. A staff member once said that going into her wardrobe was like a history of 100 years of fashion. Victoria is responsible for making the white wedding dress popular. {info I gathered from the Internet}


Victoria adored her husband, Prince Albert, whom we all know the famous Royal Albert china was named for. Most of us know, she mourned for her Prince the rest of her life when he passed and she wore black until the day that she too passed in 1901.

Victoria loved dogs, as most of the royals do, and her favourite was a little King Charles Cavalier spaniel named Dash. This Victoria, played by Jenna Coleman, is petting her Dash. He was a little tri-coloured dog that accompanied her everywhere. 
courtesy of the Internet

I find it interesting how the Brits love their dogs as well as their tea. We all know that Queen Elizabeth loves her corgis. This little guy obviously adores her from the way he is looking at her. 

Internet

My mother, when she was younger, bore a striking resemblance to the Queen in this picture.

Other famous people such as Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees has always loved his dogs. He also has to have a cup of tea before he goes on stage. 

courtesy of the Internet

When Barry's brother, Robin Gibb passed in 2012, his beloved Irish wolfhounds were part of the funeral procession.

Paul McCartney loved his dog, Martha, an old English sheepdog. Both Barry and Paul wrote songs about their dogs.

courtesy of the Internet


I'm sure you are all familiar with Robert Crawley's fondness for his yellow lab in Downton Abbey. How I miss that show!


courtesy of the Internet

I don't have a fur baby myself but would love to have one. Fortunately, my children have pets so I get to enjoy them when they visit. We have two cats and two dogs in the family. 

The kitties...
Merlin

Minnie

The pups...
Boomer


Spike

The weeks of February are slipping by and it has been somewhat of a trial for me. So this post is meant to be a bit on the whimsical side today and I had fun gathering info about my subjects. I hope you enjoyed it. May this beautiful day bring you joy and please do enjoy your cup of tea and your fur baby should you have one. Thank you for visiting and God bless you all!

Humour is the spiciest condiment in the feast of existence. Laugh at your mistakes but learn from them, joke over your troubles but gather strength from them, make a jest of your difficulties but overcome them. ~ LM Montgomery



I am joining the following parties as well~

Tuesday Cuppa Tea
Friends Sharing Tea
Share Your Cup
Home Sweet Home

Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi

18 comments :

  1. Good morning Sandi...what a charming post!Beautifully written and researched, and your photos are always so lovely! I love England, Royal Albert, violets, tea, pets and the royals, so what’s not to love! We still haven’t gotten over the loss of our cat about a year ago. I hope this post prep has been a spirit lifter for you, and pray the week is a lighter, brighter one for you. Always love visiting you. Wishing you joy my dear friend! And thanks so much for linking to Tuesday Cuppa Tea.
    Ruth

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  2. I love everything about this post: pretty teawares, cheery flowers, British monarchy and cute pets!

    I don't have the RA February teacup, but I do have a RA violets teacup that I received from a teacup swap years ago.

    I've been learning more about the British monarchs thanks to Masterpiece's Victoria and Netflix's The Crown.

    I saw something online about a Downton Abbey movie being in the works, but I'm not sure if it's true...

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  3. Good Morning Sandy,
    Thank you for your informative and beautiful post. Every time I read your Blog, I learn more about the Blogger Community and become encouraged to continue to build my first creation: Tea@3LadiesSociety my blog is still under construction and not open to the public. I'm still trying to organize my Knitting Guild Members and introduce them to the world of Tea Blogs. I'm also following Bernideen's Tea Time Cottage and Garden. Please, keep your wonderful blog flowing with Creativity and Blessings. It is an inspiration.

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  4. Hi Sandy!I have never seen a teapot like that,and I love it so much!The teacups are adorable too!Thanks for sharing this beautiful post.Hugs!

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  5. What a delightful post, Sandy! I loved the last picture of your grandpets! lol I so miss Downton Abbey, too. That was such a great show.

    I love those cups with the violets and how sweet to get them gifted -how special. Sweet violets are really my favorite small spring flower. I just love them. xo Diana

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  6. This was a delightful post! Thank you for the history of the Royal Albert February Tea Cups. I actually have that same cup and saucer...believe it or not I just purchased it a couple of weeks ago at our local "flea market". I love it...and now that you've reminded me of it, I need to use it before February is over. Actually I was thinking of making it a gift to a good friend of mine whose birthday is February 28th. She also collects tea cups, so I know she will love it. Love the pictures of famous ones with their beloved pets. So interesting! I also miss Downton Abbey. There is a movie coming out in April with a few of the Downton Abbey actors, but it doesn't have anything to do with D.A. It is based on the book "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society" by Mary Ann Shaffer. The heroine of the movie is Lily James, who played Lady Rose in D.A. Also Penelope Wilton (Isobel Crawley) is in the movie. I just read the book and highly recommend it. The movie looks very good. Takes place just after the German Occupation of Guernsey Island in WWII. Okay, I hope you are feeling better these days. Spring is coming soon!! God bless you dear friend.

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  7. What a wonderful post, all the history and sharing of the stories. I never had a family growing up( no pity please) so I kind of live in the stories when you tell them. The tea cups are beautiful, everything was so nice.

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  8. Hola mi querida Sandi,una entradita de lo más encantadora . Una vajilla y tetera preciosa ,me encanta. El pastel se ve delicioso ummm 😛😛. Muy interesante lo de la reina Victoria, ¿sabes que rindió su vida a Dios? Leí ,que en cierta ocasión dijo "cuando Jesús regrese a la tierra,si sigo viva,pondría mi corona a los pies de Jesús ". Muy entrañable lo de los personajes y sus mascotas. Yo tengo tres pequeñajos,dos hembras y un macho , y son la alegría del hogar 😍😍🐶👑🐶👑🐶👑. Muchos besitos mi querida hermanita , Dios te bendiga a ti y tu linda family 😘😘🙏🙏

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  9. Love your February Tea cups. Beautiful. I enjoyed the history of your ancestors as well. Everything looks so delightful and pretty dear Sandi. I hope that you are doing well. Hugs and blessings, Cindy

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  10. Such a lovely post Sandi... Hopefully you are feeling better.... I loved all the British history..How could one resist sweet violets ..I always have some blooming in the house and admired your lavender/purple theme for February ... M-m-m-m..Earl Grey is such a favourite , so I really enjoyed the focus about where her got his god his first Early grey tea ... It made me laugh( Thanks) Oh Sandy ..You always set such a inviting table... I’d love to sit down,share a cup and eat a pie of that delicious pie( Yummy)..Thank You for a most enjoyable post....HUGS

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  11. Dear Sandi: Oh my, you gathered so much information here and it is all very interesting indeed. I think you and I both were thinking violets this February. I love them too. Thank you for a wonderful posting. I also enjoyed seeing all your "family pets"!

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  12. I loved seeing your RA February teacups, Sandi. One of these days, I hope I find one! Your Uncle Doug sounded like a delightful man, and like him, I love milk in my tea. I have so enjoyed watching Victoria, and next week is the season finale, which will make me sad. As for your pie...yes please, I'd love a slice! I hope you have a wonderful rest of the week, my friend.

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  13. What a beautiful and uplifting post. It was a pleasure to read.

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  14. I love Violets and Forget me nots! So fun to have two of these gorgeous teacups. What a wonderful way to honor Queen Victoria! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  15. Sandi, I so enjoyed my tea with you this morning! Your lovely china and photos. AND the information about everything, also hearing a bit about your uncle. Wishing you a merry month of March!

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  16. Your blog is just beautiful. I love the china and dog photos. Your writing is very inspirational. You love so many of the same things that I do. Thanks for sharing.

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  17. Dear Sandi,
    that was a very special tea post. I love to have fur babies (cats), they are nice buddies in my life. Always full of fun and tenderness. Your tea table with violets is wonderful. Thank you for sharing and have a good time.
    Best greetings, Johanna

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  18. Beautiful post! I enjoyed looking at your photos especially the china.

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I am delighted to have you visit me and I read every comment. Please forgive me for not being able to visit you all as there are so many of you lovely bloggy friends now. I will visit as much as possible. I wish you a day filled with JOY!

Also, due to the amount of spam I've been getting, I have had to set Comment Moderation. ~ Sandi

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