Sunday, January 18, 2015

Tea by the Fire


  
The first time I traveled to the southern USA, many years ago now, I ordered tea with my meal. I was utterly surprised (and not a little disappointed) when my glass of iced tea arrived. Ordering tea, to me, a Canadian, meant hot tea. During the year we lived in Texas, I soon learned to specify whether I wanted my tea hot or iced.
 

January has been deemed Hot Tea Month. Do you ever wonder who decides these things? I do.  January is a very good month for hot tea, although I drink it year round.

During the night the wind rose and howled around the house and lashed rain against the windows. This afternoon the howls and rain continue. A cup of tea by the fire is a very, very good thing. 
 

To make it a bit of an event, I used one of my Paragon tea cups (Romance is the pattern name) and I pulled a pink gerbera, from the bunch I bought two weeks ago, to add a little colour to the tray.

Linking with Mosaic Monday, hosted by Judith of Lavender Cottage. 

46 comments:

  1. What a pretty tea tray! I am actually enjoying hot water with lemon and honey lately...I am terrible at getting my water intake, but have actually been doing much better since trying this. It is a very windy day here,,,,Darrell and I are looking at putting together a pallet wall downstairs...so will work on that for the abit this afternoon. Enjoy your week ahead Lorrie.

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  2. Very nice. I think I will go and put the kettle on...

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  3. Ahhhhh...lovely! A beautiful way to spend time.

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  4. Well I am teying to bend my mind around your living in Texas. =D

    Stunning clarity on the pink Gerbera...scrumptious.

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    1. trying...this iPad is going to be the death of perfectionist me

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  5. Anonymous4:31 PM

    Hi Lorrie! A cup of tea (hot) by the fire is just the perfect ending to a winter Sunday afternoon.

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  6. What a pretty treat for yourself -- I'm such a tea grannie! Looks as if I'm in good company. ;-)

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  7. You sure do make tea time look lovely, Lorrie.
    When I first moved to the south I had to remember to say "unsweet". In Michigan it was just iced tea. Here it's "sweet" or "unsweet" with sweet being very, very SWEET. :)

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  8. Oh a very lovely tea indeed. The tea cup is delicate and beautiful, and the flower is perfect. When we lived in Texas and asked for hot tea,the response often was, "Really?".

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  9. Tea by the fire sounds lovely, Lorrie! We've had a spell of warmer weather, so it has been nice, but I'm sure colder winter weather will return soon and I'll be sipping hot tea more often.

    I am intrigued that you lived a year in Texas!

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  10. Iced tea isn't the norm here in England, always a good hot cuppa! But in France iced tea was very popular and we could buy bottles of different flavours. For me, tea has to be served in a bone china cup, the prettier the better. Your is a delight.

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  11. Sounds cozy, a cup of tea by the fire on a cold January evening..I like your pretty tea cup and the Gerbera is one of my favorite flowers.. Have a happy week!

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  12. What a gorgeous teacup!! That first photo of the flower is just stunning, Lorrie. I'd love to know more about the details of how you captured such detail & light. It is beautiful!!!

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  13. Those gerbers are hearty flowers, aren't they? And what a pretty teacup and mosaic. Another thing about "tea" down here is that it comes--that is the ice tea which they call "tea"--very sweet unless you specify unsweet tea. "Tea" for me, is hot but in a restaurant "hot" has to be the preface.

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  14. SOUNDS COLD! But LOOKS warm and inviting inside :)

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  15. Anonymous4:01 AM

    My hot beverage of choice is coffee, and I remember the first time I ordered 'regular' and that meant cream and sugar. It only takes once to learn the jargon when it comes to getting it right. Lovely teacup and beautiful pink daisy. We're both going to need warm beverages for a couple more months. :-)

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  17. Lorrie,

    I love hot tea and iced tea, year round. I remember growing up in California, that iced tea was always unsweetened, but not so in other places in the country. Sweet iced tea reigns! Also if you could find hot tea on the menu, you were brought a tea bag of Liptons. I am glad there are so many options these days.

    Beautiful tea cup!
    Deanna

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  18. When I clicked over to your blog that lovely daisy just welcomed me with such a pretty face! I'm amazed it's that fresh after two weeks. Your pictures are inviting!

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  19. I learned early on myself to say 'hot tea' when my favourite soothing beverage was ordered. Tea by the fire sounds delightful with how cold and windy it is today and the pretty Paragon teacup is one to make it special for us.
    Today is the official 'Blue Monday' so the pink gerbera is a cheerful addition to your tray.
    Thank you for linking to Mosaic Monday Lorrie.

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  20. Being from northeastern USA tea is hot tea and iced tea is cold tea. I never thought about the difference of locales on that one. I love a cup of Irish Breakfast.

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  21. For an English lass like me there is only one way to drink my tea whether I choose a porcelain cup and saucer, ( a la Downton Abbey) or in a pretty Cath Kidston ceramic mug - it has to be hot (brewed for 3 minutes only) with a touch of milk and preferably sipped whilst sitting by the fire.
    Your tea time mosaic is so pretty, and don't go thinking I didn't spot the shortbread on that pretty plate, delicious!

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  22. oops, think I lost my comment?
    The picture of the gerbera daisy is beautiful! And yes, hot tea, year 'round please!

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  23. That's a very pretty teacup and the pink gerbera adds a pop of colour. I am enjoying green tea at the moment. They say it helps with weight loss. Hm. I sure hope so!! :)

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  24. I smiled at your tea in the South story! Now they usually ask "Sweet or unsweet?" but they used to just assume that everyone wanted it sweet enough to make your teeth ache.

    Thank you for visiting me, fellow Gilmore Girls fan! I'm sorry you didn't spot Luke when you visited Stars Hollow's Washington State lookalike.

    How fortunate you are to live in Vancouver! Your pictures on the pages I've looked at back through Christmas are lovely. I've always been intrigued by Vancouver ever since I read a book years ago called Three Women at Water's Edge. I don't remember the author's name but one of the women, the mother, moved to Vancouver and it sounded like a beautiful place to live.

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  25. Tea in teacups with pink flowers are a perfect setting for January tea. I like mine hot when the days are cold and iced in the hot summer months. I can't believe how grown up your little Missy is the last photo. Our little girls sure have grown up and become little Ladies. Take care.

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  26. Your tea by the fire sounds and looks lovely!
    Beautiful tea cups and a lovely Gerbera!

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  27. C'est vraiment charmant, et très certainement le genre de chose qui remonte le moral pendant ces journées froides et venteuses. Bonne semaine !

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  28. I love tea year round too...and what a lovely tea cup and flower!

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  29. A beautiful tea time and cup. Love the addition of the pink gerbera daisy.
    I had to smile at ordering tea in the south and wondering it was sweet tea too.
    Now your post tells me it is time for a cup of hot tea.

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  30. I had the same thing happen to me when I was visiting my sister in Georgia when she lived there years ago. And, it was sweet tea! What a surprise! I found that I liked sweet tea...but I prefer hot myself.

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  31. I drink hot tea year round, too, Lorrie, but I do drink iced tea in afternoons in the summer. Your photography skills are amazing! That first picture is outstanding! I wish I could share a cup of tea with you and you could give me some tips.

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  32. Your pictures are so pretty with the pink daisy, one of my favorite. And now that you mention it, I think I will fix a cup of hot tea. I've been out this evening, so a cup sounds good right now.

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  33. So pretty, Lorrie.
    That storm was wild last night and I was afraid that it would take the house next door (which, in Vancouver Island tradition, is being raised) and deposit it on my roof!
    I remember our year in Oklahoma City and my shock, like yours, to be given iced tea at the end of a meal. Like you, I learned to specify 'hot tea'. I drink it during all four seasons - comfort in a cup.

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  34. A cup of hot tea is just what I need now, right now. This morning it's freezing 25 degrees Celsius. Too cold to go out. - Winter came shortly before Christmas and has been quite cold and lots of snow. The sun is not seen for several weeks. Fortunately, yesterday was a bright and sunny day, we move towards the spring.

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  35. Lorrie,
    Such exquisite tea cups and photos as well. I guess you would call me a Texan after all of these years,
    although I must say I have resisted the label as I grew up on a wonderful farm in Idaho. Time passes, children are born, then grand babies and the rest is history. So, back to the subject of Tea. My favorite way to drink tea is cold but half and half (sweet and regular) so interesting all of the charming differences of our World.
    Thank you for your visit too-
    Jemma

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  36. The pink gerbera is strikingly beautiful as is your tea cup. The mosaic is just as lovely with your "hot" tea :)

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  37. A blogging friend this week included in her list of things we should be doing is using our good china. I agree. Why keep elegance shut away in a cabinet. I don't drink tea, although I don't find fruit tea. Have a great week, and thank you for stopping by my blog this week.

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  38. What a beautiful tray and arrangement! And what beautiful photos/collage! The pink gerbera was the perfect artistic touch.

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  39. My niece, who is studying in England, gave me some Fortnum and Magnums loose tea for Christmas, think I am going to have to break out the bone china too before I brew a cup! Lovely photos, the gerbera was the perfect addition.

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  40. On a cold winter's day, sitting by the fire enjoying a piping hot cup of tea from an elegant fine china cup sounds delightful!
    The colour of that gerbera is exquisite Lorrie and do I spy a piece of rosemary too?
    We've had iced tea in France - peach flavour which was refreshing but could never replace a traditional cup of tea!

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  41. Hi Lorrie,

    Just catching up with some of your latest posts, as I've been extra busy and not spending as much time online. Due to the grey days of January, you may be rather uninspired to take photos, but the sunny eloquence of your writing always beams a little brilliance in my day!

    Your pink gerbera is a pretty complement to your teatime treat. And yes, hot tea, please for me!

    Wishing you a lovely Thursday!

    Poppy

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  42. That's funny! Yes........ but we do say "iced tea" usually when we order. What they usually want to know is "sweet" or "unsweetened"!!!

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  43. This post of yours so resonates with me. I use everything I have on a daily basis... that's elevating the ordinary, and it makes this life so special.
    Your spot by the fire looks inviting and cozy.
    xoxo

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  44. Yes, tea (and hot) all year round for me. They drink hot tea in hot countries for the cooling off effect when one sweats.

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  45. Being a Texan I had to smile at your 'tea' experience in Texas. I'm sure that must have been a culture shock. I remember many years ago we traveled to Canada and when I ordered a hamburger they served me a bun with a hamburger patty. No lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, onions, or mayo. I certainly remember my culture shock!! After getting past the 'iced tea' situation I hope you enjoyed your stay here.

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