T is for Tea

T is for tea,  I love the richness of coffee, but tea also has a fond place in my heart.   My grandmother, use to invite me to tea.  I think I was 9 maybe 10, when she would set her table, with sugar cubes, a tiny pitcher of whole milk and a plate of homemade cookies. Her name was Winona, but I called her Nannie Nonnie.   She loved to bake, her fav was lemon sugar cookies.  She would bring out  fancy china, tea ball, and her tea pot. She showed me how real tea was served. Pinky up!    I was fascinated with how much she loved tea.  The ceremony of it, taking time out of the day to pause and reflect.  We would sit, drink our tea and watch the birds. She had the feeder near the window, the view was perfect from the table.  Each bird that would visit, she would tell me what their name and characteristics.

No, she wasn't British, but I think she would of loved to travel with me to England.   I was 17 when there was an opportunity through the school, to go.  Our group was out sight seeing, when  it happened to be tea time.  We were invited to partake in afternoon tea.   It was 4pm, when we were served; high tea is a very formal n' elegant service. One thinks of royals and special occasions for high tea.   A silver tea service was used...they heat the milk, steam it a bit, so it doesn't cool the tea.  Lemons, sugar and milk is served, with various sandwiches, biscuits=cookies and lots of butter n' jam, and scones.  It was nice to have a spot of tea midday for a pick me up.   It was fun to bring back my grandmother tea. I went to a market and found a tin with Jacksons of Picadilly on it; I knew she would be pleased.  I also bought one for me, Mom.

Top pic is from a set of tea cups, my Mother-in-law gave me. She didn't care for the set; not her style.  She knew I would love them and I did.   She said, she thought there was an image in the bottom.
I was delighted when I drank tea out of them...you have to tip the cup just so, but you can see the Geisha.
They are very delicate and I don't use them often, but so much fun, to have someone drink out of a cup and
see the look on their face.   A face looks back at you, kind of spooky, but fun.   I have read they were
from the WW11 period; mailed home from men in the Navy.  I will have to research it further.  

A woman is like a tea bag - you can't tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.
Eleanor Roosevelt

I love how there are so many kinds and you can actually travel everyday with  tea to England, Ireland, India,
China, Japan, Africa, etc. There are health benefits and it calms and refreshes, lifts your spirits, some like it hot, some like it cold ; I'm not going to rework the nursery rhyme.  

I had to make a message board at work, it was my turn.  I was a fitness rep...I used Tea bags in the shiny papers Stash  , I made a Christmas tree,   "Teas the Season" with quotes and then added words Serenitea, Ingenuitea, Serendipitea, and Creativitea.  Christmas Eve, I passed out tea to all the members of the club. 

 Here is a better look at the tea pot, Cari sent me in my May basket.  It is tea for one   You steep the tea in the top, it comes off and you pour into the bottom cup, very cute~

Remember the tea kettle - it is always up to its neck in hot water, yet it still sings!  ~Author Unknown

 Tidbit:   I grew up in Maine, my junior high Math teacher was Percy King.  He was a bit on the strange side.  Last summer, at my class reunion, a convo came up about teachers.   "Oh, remember how odd
Mr. King was" one guy said.   " He was living up to the hype" , I said.   "What hype?"  a few asked.   "You know, he is Stephen King's cousin", I replied.   Some classmates, did not know this.  My class asked, he said, they were first  cousins, but didn't see each other much.   He was a gifted Math teacher, but he did and does act a bit odd.  I have seen him outside of school and he seems more lighthearted and friendly.     My Mom shares the same birthday as Stephen King, every year she announces, she is going to email him and tell him, so far hasn't happened.  This would be interesting since her name is Shirley Jackson.   I told her I think Stephen would get a kick out of it!  Time will tell....

Here is a photo of my Math teacher; my son had him years later so this is a photo, from his 8th grade year book.    See the resemblance...