The Tea Room

The Simple Woman's Daybook ~ May 19

I just discovered a charming weekly activity hosted by Peggy over at The Simple Woman.  It's called The Simple Woman's Day Book and it reminds me somewhat of Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach.  I used to love to read that book every day; it truly does celebrate the simple joys of this world and our lives in it.

FOR TODAY

Outside my Window... the sun sets over Spring's newly green trees and rolling hills. 

I am thinking... what a lovely weekend I had, spending time with my family and watching Miss Potter yet again. 

I am thankful for... good news that my sister's health is stable for now, and cooler weather than the 100 degrees days of late last week!

From the kitchen... ice cold soda and, later, a bowl of refreshing sherbet sparkled my taste buds.

I am creating... a job opportunity for someone who is interested in working part time.

I am going...to have a routine week working full time during the day and enjoying beautiful evenings at home.

I am wearing... black jeans, black ballet flats, a black tank top, and a crisp black and white tailored blouse, plus gold watch, necklace, bracelet, and earrings.

I am reading... all my favorite monthly home decorating magazines, and want to soon dive into the pages of a good summer read!

I am hoping... the decisions made in the impending political elections lead this country and the world to a peaceful state of being, and I am hoping my sister's energy remains good.

I am hearing... birds chirping and my favorite music playing from my iPod.

Around the house... a huge new white hydrangea plant located at my front door is beginning to bloom, birds sing all the live-long day, a heritage oak right outside my living room and dining room windows make me think sometimes that I live in a charming tree house, the swimming pool is lit by sunshine by day and by underwater lighting by night.

One of my favorite things... the sight and smell of fresh cut flowers on surfaces in my home: dining room table, coffee table, bedside table, and kitchen table. 

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... think ahead to the 3-day weekend and take full advantage of that extra day to optimize how I spend time with family and friends, and fine tune my home to make it feel even more welcoming. 

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you... I love the sturdy hydrangea blossom comprised of delicate petals in blues, pinks, and whites; the more flowers per plant the better!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

Happy Mother's Day

Set the Tea Table, Tea is On!

This week's Tea Blog-a-thon focus, hosted by Gracious Hospital-i-tea, is called "Set the Table, Tea is On."  I was blog-hopping recently and found the first of these vintage videos embedded into Angela McRae's entry in Tea with Friends.  I followed the related links and found the second video. 

On special occasions, my mother's and grandmother's dining room tables looked very similar to those shown in these videos -- elegant linens, sterling silver coffee and tea sets, and beautiful floral centerpieces.  I have the same traditional dining room set, but occasions I host in my home are more casual than those my mother and grandmother hosted. 

While I truly value courtesy and use it fully in all venues, as I listened to the narrator of these videos describe good manners and articulate instructions for properly hosting a tea party, I must admit that I'm glad the rules etiquette have relaxed over time. 

Just click each video to watch.  Enjoy!

Source:  http://www.archive.org/index.php