
Tea on Tuesday and reflections from the weekend
We had some friends come for Sunday supper. It’s always so lovely, to catch up with friends.
These days I’m thinking that spring can’t come too soon.
Sunday morning, while I was shopping for groceries, I bought some tulips and daffodils to “spring the house up”. Later, I used my colourful and crazy Bopla plates on the table. Enough of the sombre winter hues.
In the garden, the only fresh green is the ivy and the rosemary. I keep looking into the shade garden for signs of snowdrops and crocuses. They’re coming. š
Today Chloe and her school mate Brianna had to work out a business proposal for a client and I offered to make us a big, sunny salad nicoise for lunch.
As I was boiling the beans grown in Mexico and tearing up the hot-house grown lettuce and spinach, I thought back to our Sunday supper and tomatoes imported from California. It’ll be good to have some fresh greens growing in the cold frame and in my garden.
To that end, I brought out some of my vintage gardening books while I had a cup of tea.
I chose this sweet, little Lady’s Slipper cup. Doesn’t it look so very sophisticated and exotic? It’s Merlin Ware by Royal Stafford china.
And opened some of my books to the coldframe pages. My ancient coldframe needs a bit of repair because the wooden sides are rotting and I’m going to have to do that rather soon because I couldn’t resist buying some seeds from one of my favourite seed supplier, the Hudson Valley Seed Library. I suspect that veg and flowers seeds are probably the same from one supplier to the next, but you’ve got to love a company who hires artists to design the seed packets, don’t you?
I was thinking that it would be lovely to grow a lady’s slipper orchid in the shade garden. There are seeds available on line actually. I wonder how hard that would be. I have seen some orchids in the forests around my cabin, but not this one.
So I’m sitting here sipping some Lady Gray tea, (because which other tea would one have in a Lady’s Slipper cup?) and listening to a finch singing outside in the dreary, foggy coolness that is our last few days of January, and willing spring on.
Oh, and I remembered that I promised a post of the new springed-up living room mantle. Post coming tomorrow then. š
Sara v
Lovely as always, Veronica. The shape of that teacup is absolutely perfect and orchids are in my top ten fav š
Veronica
Mine too Sara, although this year they aren’t doing as well as I would have liked. Mainly because I neglect them all year. My fault really. I’ll pay more attention this growing season. š
vastlycurious.com
A beautiful blog as ever! The tulips we all need about now. I bought Quince stems to force them to bloom and now instead of blossoms I have hundreds of tiny green leaves and I think I am growing a Quince tree???
I really like the pattern of your dishes Veronica! Hugs.
Veronica
Hey, that would be great! I don’t think a quince pear tree will root but the quince bush probably will. I used to have one, and a forsythia too. They are absolutely fabulous to force. I love those dishes too. I especially love the mechanical Steampunk animals and the elephant is always MINE! Actually, mine are all different but have blue as a unifying theme. I like the eclectics of it. š
vastlycurious.com
So you think I have a bush? I soaked a Twirly willow 5 years ago and now its 2 stories high over my garage. I never expected this ! I will send a pic when I upload to see what you think!
artful affirmations
Lady Grey in a lady slipper cup….how perfect! That is a really unique pattern. I love the coloring and the style as well. We are waiting for a big snow storm, I think I will get out some gardening books too and pour a cup of tea. Thanks for the inspiration.
Hugs,
Terri
Veronica
Hi Terri, I hope you stay safe and warm during the snow storm. Gardening books are the best way to will spring into existence. š Big hugs.
michellepond
Beautiful teacup. Lady Grey is one of my favorites! Keep willing spring to come.
Veronica
Hi Michelle, mine too! It’s somehow more fragrant and lighter, isn’t it? I’m so willing spring on; I’m not a good winter person. (Thank god for vitamin D!)
Martha's Favorites!
Hi Veronica: I so love that tea cup. I have never seen one like it. It is just stunning. Take care of yourself dear friend. Hugs, Martha
Sandi
I served Earl Grey today but it could have been Lady Grey just as well as I like them both. Your teacup is very pretty with the Lady’s Slipper on it. Our provincial flower is the Lady’s Slipper. I have seen the pink and the white but I don’t recall seeing yellow here. My son could tell me whether or not we have them as he studies plant life and conservation here on the Island. Thank you for coming to Tea Time and enjoy the rest of your week.
Blessings,
Sandi
KathyB.
I very much like your teacup, and find myself drawn to yellow teacups, but have so few.
Yes, with all the seed catalogs we have piled around the study we are dreaming of planting our gardens soon, and of course I have my poultry catalog out for ordering chicks. Spring is coming…..
Veronica
I like yellow teacups too Kathy. Do you have seed catalogues around? Me too. And poultry! How exciting. I wish I could have some chickens. We’re allowed up to ten urban chickens but no roosters. However, I’m gone for such long periods of time I can’t. Maybe I could share them with some neighbours. š
Irene
Such a lovely post, Veronica.
The Presents of Presence
How lovely ~ I felt like we were invited in for a virtual cuppa!
Veronica
I’m so glad! It’s always something I want to achieve, to include you in my life. š
Bernideen's Tea Time Blog
You are so right – winter can be long and difficult and you are making the best of it! I love your lady slipper cup and saucer. Reminds me of the l950’s. So glad you shared your thoughts at Friends Sharing Tea!
Veronica
Hi Bernideen. I never thought of it but it looks very 1950s actually. Thank you so much for hosting. š
cecilia
There, thoroughly enjoyed our cup of tea and what stunning seed packs, i am hoping someone will make me a second cold frame this year, mine is TOO SMALL! And like you I LONG for the greens to begin. I think everything is dead in my garden, i cannot imagine anything coming back after this.. ah well.. spring surely must come.. c
Veronica
It will C, and in the meantime we have our tea. I could use a second one too. Must look on Craigslist to see if anyone is giving away a nice window. I tried growing some radishes and beets over Dec-Jan and they didn’t work out at all! I’ll try to reseed soon; it’s about +5 here so should be ok in the cold frame. Spinach! I’m longing for some fresh spinach! š
lori
Lovely blog. I too am ready for spring and always look forward to getting my seed catalogs this time of year!