Sweet Niece in Smocked Pink Linen Dress

Sweet Niece in Smocked Pink Linen Dress, originally uploaded by stelladanza's confections.

This is a recent scan of a picture I took in August of 1990. My sisters and I and my 13-month-old niece went to afternoon tea at the Horton Grand Hotel in San Diego.

My sister made the hand-smocked pale pink linen dress that my niece is wearing. Her floral pilot cap is by Hanna Andersson. It's hard to believe that my niece just turned 21 in July....

Tea!

 

The pleasures of tea at Tea-upon-Chatsworth.... This photo was taken in January when my sister and I went to tea with our 20-year-old niece. I hope to go again soon with a friend.

Strange how a teapot can represent at the same time the comforts of solitude and the pleasures of company. ~Author Unknown

Local Morning News Coverage of My Favorite Tea Shop, Tea-upon-Chatsworth

 

The Dolls Have Tea

The Dolls Have Tea, originally uploaded by confections.

I've been backing up photos and looking at my archives and came upon this image of a sweet tea party I attended last fall. My friend's daughter carefully attended to her dolls at their very own tea table, complete with a handpainted tea set.

That same tea set has accompanied us to high tea at our favorite tea shop, Tea-upon-Chatsworth, too. I love the ritual of tea and all of its accoutrements, from the fine china to the vintage linens and fragrant tea leaves.

I've been researching the Japanese tea ceremony as well and am looking forward to getting some of the special tools required to do a mini casual version at home.

Johnny-Jump-Ups & Narcissus (three)

Johnny-Jump-Ups & Narcissus (three), originally uploaded by confections.

This lovely live arrangement of white johnny-jump-ups and not-yet-blooming narcissus (paperwhites) was a birthday gift from my sister last month.

We had tea at our favorite tea shop, Tea-upon-Chatsworth, on December 13th, Saint Lucia Day. In Scandinavia, Santa Lucia Day is celebrated with girls wearing Lucia crowns with candles.

In San Diego in Balboa Park on the first weekend in December, the House of Sweden has a Lucia procession as part of Christmas on the Prado (or December Nights, as it is now called).

The Lucia postcard is early 1980's vintage. She graced our table and reminded us of the many traditions that are re-enacted at this dark time of year.

A Short Video Tribute to the Joys of Tea

A little animoto.com video extolling the joys of tea is my entry today. I am off to the San Diego Quilt Show and I'm sure tea will be part of the celebration over the next few days....

Bird's Eye View of Tea Table

Bird's Eye View of Tea Table, originally uploaded by confections.

It's been a while since I took you all along on a tea date. And high time I scheduled another one! Here are some recent photos of a holiday high tea at my favorite tea shop (and San Diego's favorite one, too), Tea-upon-Chatsworth.

The three-level server that Joy or Carol brings to the table is a delight to the eye and the taste buds. The bottom tier typically contains warm savories and tea sandwiches of the most delectable sort; the middle tier has scones and fruit; the top tier has more sumptuous sweets.

The pots of tea just flow! My current favorite is Apricot, complete with pieces of fruit mixed in with the flavored black tea, and a close second is Paris, with a hint of vanilla.


"Each cup of tea represents an imaginary voyage."

♥ Catherine Douzel