Happy Easter

Happy Easter

from our family to yours!

Thank you dear friends for taking the time to visit my blog,
and for making comments. 
The best part of blogging is the friendships!
~~
"The only way to have a friend is to be one."~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

Yesterday's Cafe and Tea Room

 

I visited daughter Melissa and her family again in N. KY this week.

We returned to Yesterday's Cafe and Tea Room

for another delicious Gluten Free Lunch.
We met a couple of friends there before lunch time.
Melissa had a cup of matcha, being made above.

Lunch began with the Potato Leek Soup.

 

 

Melissa's lunch tea below on gluten free bread.

 

My green salad and a scoop of chicken salad with gluten free crackers below. 

We all had the gluten free brownies.

The tea of the day was Earl Grey Green, "a pleasant

green tea with bergamot and Cornish cream."

 

Susan at Yesterday's is educated in tea

and has a fun cafe and tea room.

I look forward to lunch there every time I visit Melissa.

 

 

 

They have a well-stocked gift shop and a fun children's tea party room.

 

 





Camellia sinensis Plant

 I recently ordered four Camellia sinensis plants

from www.GreenTeaPlants.com

They were wrapped securely and delivered safely. 

 For those who may not be familiar with this plant,

Camellia sinensis is the species of plant whose leaves

and leaf buds are used to produce the beverage tea.

White, green, oolong, pu-erh, and black tea are all harvested

from this species, but are processed differently to attain different

levels of oxidation.

 

 

I ordered these from www.GreenTeaPlants.com

 

Unlike several of my good Tea Friends, I am not a gardener.

My mother was the "queen" of gardening and houseplants.
I, unfortunately, did not inherit or learn, or even enjoy that skill.
But, my friend, Patty, is a Master Gardener, so I
sent 2 of the plants home with her, hoping she will
love and pamper them, at least until September
when I am scheduled to make a tea presentation
to her ladies church goup. 
I'll keep y'all updated!



Springtime Table

 

The table is set with my collection of Royal Staffordshire

Springtime English Bone China teacup trios.

I have posted about these pretty dishes several times.

My mother had this prettyvintage trio on display on her china hutch

as long as I can remember.I don't recall her using it.

 It was a "treasure" for her to enjoy because it was so pretty. 

When I inherited her trio, I began collecting one piece at a time

until I know have nine teacup trios.

 

They set a pretty table and serve as a reminder of my mother. 

 

For this table setting, I am using the four vintage teapot napkin rings

I purchased for $3 at a thrift shop in Florida,

and vintage pink damask napkins from a shop in Cookeville, TN.

The teapot is vintage Sadler.  

I invite you to join me for a nice cup of tea this week. 

Green Smoothie Recipe

We have been drinking healthy Green Smoothies.

This is a recipe AJ learned recently from a speaker at

his middle school career day event.

 

Coconut Water

Spinach

Banana

Frozen Mango

Frozen Pineapple. 

 

Now, remember this recipe came from a 13 year old boy

who took notes on his iPhone.

1. Blend a cup of coconut water with a handful of fresh spinach

2.  Add a banana and blend

3. Add a handful of frozen mango and pineapple chunks, and blend again.

 

Note from Linda:  

I use more coconut water to make it a less frozen consistency.

We also like to add different frozen fruit.

Watch for more of AJ's recipes to be posted here in the future!

FYI:  These are not exotic ingredients, because I was able to

purchase all of them in our small town Walmart.



Tea Forte Single Steeps

 I recently found Tea Forte Single Steeps™

I was looking for a tea which is easy to carry while traveling.

The package says,

 "Pre-portioned loose leaf teas. The perfect

measure for the perfect 12 oz. cup."   

The variety pack in the middle contains 15 individual packets,

Forte' Breakfast, Earl Grey, Ginger Lemongrass, Chamomile Citron,

and Green Mango Peach.

 

The Forte' Breakfast package contains 12 packets.



 Both packages have detailed illustrated directions.

 

I also ordered these for ease to send to friends in the mail.

 

"Tea" Towels

Birthday Gift "Tea" Towels

Thanks Mary!

 

I am so fortunate to have good friends who

think of me when they see tea things

while out and about!



Pansies in the March Snow

 

My birthday gift from my gardening friend Patty

was a pretty flat of pansies. 

My mother told me it snowed in Kentucky on

the day I was born. 

Sixty-two years later it snowed in Kentucky on my birthday.

Thank you, Patty, for the thoughtful gift,

and thanks to GJ for planting them.
We are ready for spring in Kentucky!
But, more cold and snow are in the forecast.  

Shelley Violets Trio

 The most recent addition to my collection of teacup trios

is this pretty Shelley "Violets" Trio. 

 

There are 400 - 500 species of violets found around the world.

Some are annuals and some are perennials. 

My mother raised African Violets in flowerpots

in the window sills of the living room in our home.

This"Violets" trio brings back many memories of

my mother and "home."

Linking with:
Rose Chintz Cottage ~Tea Time Tuesday
Artful Affirmations ~ Tea Cup Tuesday
Antiques and Teacups ~ Tuesday Cuppa Tea
Bernideen's Tea Time Blog ~ Friends Sharing Tea
 



Birthday Family Fun

AJ and KJ love to go to Pigeon Forge, TN,

and the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

So, for my 62nd birthday celebration, they planned a two-night trip.

Yes, I drove go carts at The Track,went to MagiQuest,

Wonder Works, Applewood Farm House, the Old Mill,

and to the fun Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Show.

 

These two really know how to plan a birthday celebration!

 

I drew the line on the bungee jumping, and

stayed behind the camera!



Happy St. Patrick's Day

 Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Gluten Free at Yesterday's Cafe and Tea Room

My Birthday Celebration continued with a very quick visit and

 lunch tea with my gluten-free daughter, Melissa, at our

favorite N. Kentucky tea room Yesterday's Cafe and Tea Room

I had a cup of black bean soup, a salad and a scoop of chicken salad

served with gluten-free crackers.



Melissa had Lentil Soup, Chicken Salad sandwiches on gluten free bread,

a green salad and the featured sideserved in a small cup.



 

I forgot to take a photo of the Matcha Muffin we shared.

Below 1/2 of the gluten free brownie we also shared. 

 

Everything was gluten free and delicious!!!

 

Thanks, Susan at Yesterday's! 

Birthday Celebration

I celebrated on Monday with lunch at Boone Tavern Hotel with

good friends Mary, Patty, and Lynn.

 A beautiful bouquet of flowers arrived from GJ and AJ

with a lovely dinner out.

And, many pretty and fun cards from friends.

 Thank you everyone!

The Birthday Celebration has begun.

I am celebrating thoughout the month of March! 

More fun posts to come.

 



St.Patrick's Day Tea Table

 The tea table is set for St.Patrucks' Day with my collection of
Royal Tara Teacup Trios.
I'm also using the matching teapot, creamer (milk jug),
open sugar and matching cake plate.

 

Y'all know I got hooked on collecting English Teacup Trios

during travels in England. 

I don't often find a matching cake plate, but when I do,

I've been known to snatch them. 

Shall I serve sandwiches or sweets on the serving plate,

 or use it under my teapot as in the top photo?

I've been known to use them both ways.



 

 

I couldn't resist re-posting the bottom photo.

 

This is my

"Cup of Christmas Tea" table,from a fun raiser tea a few years ago.

The square green base plates were Aunt Ida's.  She told me about

a trip she and her son took with her husband to Chicago in the 1940's.

She purchased these plates in Chicago and brought them back home

to Kentucky in a box on her lap. 

I enjoy setting a pretty table with loving thoughts of Aunt Ida.

 

 

Linking with:

 

Antiques and Teacups

Bernideen's Tea Time Blog

Artful Affirmations

Rose Chintz Cottage

A Delightsome Life