Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Under certain circumstances there are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.

(Henry James, Portrait of a Lady)

Artsy-Mama has invited us all to a tea party. So...

My one tea cup and saucer--the rest of my tea drinking vessels are mugs. This was one of the items I inherited from my grandmother.

In this shot, you can see the detail inside the cup itself.

My meal and tea companion at the moment--yes, I am re-reading In Her Shoes for the third time. I would love to have tea with Jennifer Weiner someday. I'm not sure I'm ready for tea with Marilynne Robinson (the author of Gilead), but while we're wishing...someday.

I just finished The View From Saturday, where four friends name themselves "The Souls," have tea on Saturdays and eventually become the first sixth grade team to win the Academic Bowl for their state. Finished isn't accurate, actually, as VFS is a book I have been reading since 1996 when it came out, and will likely continue reading for a long time. I just recently re-read it, as it was the Mother-Daughter-Book-Club book for March. In one chapter, Ethan, who is usually quiet, but is able to come out of his shell with his three friends, asks each of the other three what day they would most like to re-live. When it comes around to Ethan, he says, "Last week, when we first had tea. And now I get to re-live it every week." (This is not an exact quote, but my copy of the book is in the car, three flights down, and baby, it may be Spring, but it's still cold outside.)

So, enjoy, happy Spring! I know the sun has started to melt the winter that has been frozen in my heart. I hope where you are the sun is shining or at least the rain is feeding the soil, ready to bring tulips, daffodills, and green green grass.

17 comments:

KitchenKiki said...

I enjoy a good cup of tea now and then. I don't use Granny's tea cups, as I have them all displayed in my bathroom.

My husband thought I was a little wacky for doing so (Are you going to have a tea party there? He asked) but this way, I see them every day. And tonight when I brush my teeth (any minute--I said I was going to bed didn't I??) I will look at them again. They have their own little shelf (some of them may have been displayed on the same shelf in my mother's living room, I know that the balloon lady was on it once upon a time.

I like to see them, I like others to see them. Maybe I'll take a picture so you can see them! :)

Amy A. said...

Tea tastes so much better in a pretty cup, doesn't it.

It's a beautiful keepsake, too.

nutmeg said...

Lovely cup and saucer and great Henry James quote.

Not being a re-reader (generally) I am intrigued at your re-reading In Her Shoes, 3 times, in quick succession.

And I am definitely going to check out this blogrolling thing. I love the little "updated" tag :-)

Amy said...

Happy Spring SL!!

Bonnie said...

Lovely tea cup and saucer!

Natasha Burns said...

Ditto tea really DOES taste better in real china. Lovely china by the way! Enjoy the tea party!!!

FrenchGardenHouse said...

I love your blog. I will be back to visit, I am always looking for a good "read" and it looks like you are an avid reader.:)

Thanks for sharing your tea cup, come on over and have tea with Claudette (and me!) at our gardenhouse today.

Lidy

Anonymous said...

I just finished "In Her Shoes" and liked it so much, I went out to buy "Good in Bed" and read a chapter this morning with my tea. I am always happy to find a new author I can't get enough of.

Enjoy your tea party, I am taking a peek at all the sites this morning. Actually, it might turn into afternoon by the time I get to them all......

Sarah Louise said...

K--my cup is from my grandma--I'd love to see Granny's cups!!

NM--I rarely read a book three times in a row, but it's sort of my "comfort read" at the moment. The update thing is fun, but not always accurate at first.

Amy A, Amy, B, NB, FGH: Thanks for stopping by!

KN: I've read almost everything by Jen Weiner. I'm working my way through "The Guy not taken" (stories) but it's not as good as her novels....

jessielavon@yahoo.com said...

just visting,come on over to my front porch and sat a spell.

Laume said...

Lovely tea cups. I wonder who I would have tea with if I could choose. I'd love to meet all my blogging friends in real life. Some I have. There are a number of authors I'd adore spending an afternoon with chatting and sipping our favorite brews.

Caro said...

What a pretty tea cup.

Spring is here for sure. My red nose says it's so.

nutmeg said...

Went to blogrolling.com and it is all greek to me! I will have to do a lot of reading of their site and I still don't know whether I'll "get it". You may not see this feature on my blog for some time (if ever!)

Paula said...

How lovely SL!

weirdbunny said...

I hate mugs, tea cups and saucers are the only way to go ..

Katrina said...

Reading the book recommendations of someone else who loves to read is akin to receiving an unexpected gift in the mail. I will definitely be checking these out! Thanks!

Newlywife said...

I love tea parties! Beautiful tea cup and saucer!