A Tribute to Beatrix Potter

This Sunday, July 28th, will be Beatrix Potter's 147th Birthday.  Happy Birthday, Beatrix! What could be more fitting than a Jemima Puddle-Duck Birthday Cake to honor the special occasion!

[Photo courtesy of Whipped Bakeshop]

I wonder how many baby nurseries have been decorated with Beatrix Potter's animal characters. Do you suppose Prince George has any in his nursery? 

Countless baby showers, children's birthday parties, and even tea parties have had themes centered around Beatrix Potter's work.  Invitations, party supplies, and favors are available for carrying out a detailed Beatrix Potter theme.

In 2010, a friend planned the fun Beatrix Potter themed tea party pictured below.
   

Beautiful tablescape.

Soup Course.  Wouldn't Peter Rabbit have enjoyed this?  Looking at this photo I hear my mother's voice from my childhood saying, "Eat your carrots!  You've never seen a rabbit wearing glasses, have you?"   How many of you have similar recollections?  ;-)

Scone Course



Main Entree - Salmon in Puff Pastry



Dessert Course - Pound Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream and Strawberry Sauce



Charming lady who portrayed Beatrix Potter, and shared highlights from her life.

I must confess I don't own a single piece of Wedgwood China depicting Beatrix Potter's animal characters, nor do I have any figurines.  I think I might have to remedy that!

But I do have some of her books...

And the Beatrix Potter Journal that was published in 2006.  

I also have the Miss Potter DVD.  I think I'll have to watch it again over the weekend in honor of Beatrix!

Great tea scene in the movie, with Renee Zellweger portraying Beatrix Potter.

On a 2001 Globus Tour of England, Scotland, and Wales, we stopped at the quaint District of Grasmere in the Lake District, in Cumbria, England.  The photo below is the Beatrix Potter gift shop where I bought items for my grandchildren. Unfortunately, her house wasn't part of the tour. I would love to return someday to see it.

Beatrix Potter's Hill Top Farmhouse.

[Photo Credit:  Itsepainen] 

I don't normally post on Saturdays, but tomorrow will be a continuing post on the life of Beatrix Potter, so please come back!

A Shelley 'Dainty Blue' Look-alike

Last week while browsing in an antique store, I noticed what I thought was a Shelley Dainty Blue tea and toast set in a china cabinet.  The price tag read $22.00.  I wondered why it was so reasonable.  

When I turned the plate over, the backstamp read, Royal Albert Dainty Blue.  Even though it wasn't Shelley, it came home with me anyway since blue and white porcelain is my favorite.

Below are the Shelley Dainty Blue pieces that I have.  Had it not been for the backstamp, I wouldn't have been able to tell the difference.  Even the shape of the Royal Albert teacup resembles a Shelley.   Did the potteries shared patterns?

I don't have a collection of tea and toast sets - just two.  The other set was a gift from my girlfriend when she visited Philadelphia, PA.   It's a Sadek set, and the porcelain is heavier than the Royal Albert, but it's lovely.

Do you collect tea and toast sets?

What Did 'Grandma Middleton' Wear?

Americans are as excited about the birth of the Royal Baby, as the British are! What fun seeing all the media photos.

[Photo Credit: John Stillwell/AP Photo]

Kate was photographed with her new baby wearing a Jenny Packham original maternity frock, in cornflower blue, polka-dotted, crepe de chine, with pintucks at the neckline, cap sleeves, a self-belt, and a slight Empire waist.   She looks radiant, and motherhood suits her to a tea  tee!

[Photo Credit: AFP Photo/Leon Nealleon Neal/Getty Images]

But I couldn't help noticing what 'Grandma Middleton' wore to see her first-born grandchild... a tea dress by Irish designer, Orla Kiely.  

[Photo Credit: Rex Features]

A Spring/Summer 2012 Silk Crepe, "Dancing Girls" tea dress in pebble, with a price tag of $516 U.S. currency.  Isn't it lovely?  A UK fashion site defined a tea dress as "A dress that goes on easily for tea or dinner."

Carole Middleton leaving St. Mary's Hospital 'dancing' with joy - at least inwardly!  I wonder if she went home to celebrate over a cup of tea, since the British are said to commemorate any and every occasion over tea!  Blessings to all on the birth of the new Prince of Cambridge.

[Photo Credit:  Getty Image]

What name are you rooting for?  I'm rooting for Francis, the male form of 'Grandma Diana's' middle name [as well as the middle name of the Prince's paternal grandfather]; Spenser; or William, after his daddy.  Time will tell!

Black and Gold

Quite some time ago I purchased the inexpensive black and gold teapot picture below because it reminded me of two porcelain trio sets that were my mother's.  

They are both JL Menau porcelain, made in Germany, and the combination of black and gold is strikingly beautiful.

The backstamp is the Henneberg Coat of Arms used between 1934 - 1949.

Which trio do you like the best?  It's difficult for me to pick a favorite because I think they're both beautiful.  My mother gave them to me when she gave up housekeeping, and moved into her assisted living apartment.

A New Terra Cotta Teapot Planter

Last Friday I went to the Benson Ford Research Center in Dearborn, MI, to do some research on my Hudson's book project. The Research Center is located near the entrance to Henry Ford's Greenfield Village.

When I finished, I couldn't resist going into the Greenfield Village gift shop.

One of the first things I spotted were terra cotta teapot and teacup planters, so naturally one had to come home with me!

It came in two sizes - a smaller pot for $14.99 and a larger one for $29.99.  I opted for the smaller pot.  I was surprised to see that it was backstamped, "Made in England."

They even sold small plants perfect for planting inside the teapot, so  I bought a fern.  I don't have a green thumb, so I'm hoping I can keep it alive.  Time will tell!

Sunday Reflection...

The story is told of a mother who wasn't feeling well, and decided to  lay down for awhile. Her young daughter desiring to be a good nurse, found her mother's favorite magazine, and decided to surprise her with a cup of tea.  

The mother praised her daughter's thoughtful actions, and said as she was drinking her tea, I didn't know you even knew how to make tea."  "Oh, yes," the little girl replied.  "I learned by watching you.  I boiled some water in a pan, put some tea leaves in the teapot, and poured the water over the leaves so they could steep.  Then I strained it into the cup.  But I couldn't find a strainer, so I used the flyswatter instead."

"You what?" the mother exclaimed!  To which the little girl reassuringly replied, "Oh, don't worry, Mommy, I didn't use the new flyswatter.  I used the old one!"

That's a humorous story, but seriously, have you ever had days with unexpected [and maybe unwanted] surprises that left you perplexed, and not knowing which way to turn? Philippians 4:6-7 offers the best solution: "Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything.  With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God.  Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand.  And this peace will control the way you think and feel." 
 ~ Contemporary English Translation

May God bless your week!

Tea Bag Caddies

I use loose tea a lot more than tea bags, so I don't have an 'official collection' [three or more] of tea bag caddies, but a friend recently gave me one which brought my count to two.

I purchased the tea bag caddy below quite awhile ago.  I noticed there are two on E-bay right now.

Do you collect tea bag caddies?