Another Year Older...

Today's the day my 'odometer' officially turned over another year!  We had an ice storm during the night and a look out the bedroom window this morning revealed ice everywhere. I 'zoomed' a picture of the street later in the day when the temperature climbed to 34 degrees melting the ice a little bit.  

I was curious what the weather was like the day I was born.  Turns out it was a high of 16 degrees and a low of 9 with no snow or ice.

Jerry and I stayed in all day and didn't venture out once.  The broken water main is still being repaired at The Whitney, so the restaurant will be closed the rest of the week.  I was glad I didn't have to drive into Detroit in the icy weather.

I've been feeling the love from family and friends today with phone calls, cards, e-mails and text messages.  Thank you everyone!

~ A surprise floral delivery ~

Neither one of my sons are home today - Steve's in Florida and Jeremy left for Ohio, but I was in touch with both of them, and Lori [my daughter] came by after work with a yummy carrot birthday cake.

Now to tell you about a birthday present I bought myself!  In September 2017 when a group of tea-lovin' friends gathered at Royal Park Hotel for Afternoon Tea, Teresa came from Ohio with a Mary Frances beaded teapot purse that was absolutely beautiful, but it was retired and no longer available.  I remember searching the Internet to no avail, and eventually I forgot about it. Apparently I asked eBay to contact me if one came up for bidding, because Monday they notified me that one was listed.  I immediately placed a bid and someone else counterbid. Fortunately there was a "Buy it Now" option, so I went that route to avoid a bidding war and the possibility of losing it.  My Mary Frances teapot purse is scheduled to arrive February 12th.  Happy Birthday to me, and it's all your fault, Teresa!  ;-)  

First Monday of February

What a difference a few days make!  Last week we were in the 'deep freeze' [temperatures below zero, with chill factors even lower] and snow covered the ground.  Today it's 50 degrees and raining.  All the snow has either melted or been washed away.   By the way, where did January go???

I didn't work today because The Whitney is closed due to a broken water main in the basement.  So my hubby and I went to lunch at the Royal Treat Tearoom.  The last time I was there was August 2017 when I took my granddaughter, Ellie.

Usually they're packed to capacity, but today my hubby and I were the only two guests.  Two ladies left as we arrived.  It was the perfect opportunity for a photo op.

Jennifer, the owner, has boo-coo teacups.  Many are on the tables, and the rest are displayed on shelves over the windows, or in china cabinets.

We got to pick the table we wanted, and below is the one we chose.  We were dressed very casual, but Jennifer's mom said I had to have my picture taken wearing a hat from their selection, so I shed my red-checkered vest and obliged.  All the tables had fresh flowers on them that Jennifer arranges every morning.

I chose Lady Grey, served in a Paragon teacup.  Jerry was offered a cup of c****e and gladly accepted.  [I couldn't bring myself to type the beverage on my tea blog!  ;-)]

The scones were yummy.  

I had the raspberry thumbprint scone.

Cute idea for a sugar container.

Jerry and I both got Broccoli/Cheddar Quiche with a Garden Salad.

Baked goods for sale in a retail area on the other side of the tearoom.  I asked Jennifer's mom how many scones they bake in a day [because Jennifer supplies many local businesses in addition to her tearoom], and she said they set a record last December with 4,700 scones in one day.  That's A LOT of scones!

~ Jennifer's Mom ~

After lunch we braved the rain and went shopping for new luggage - my birthday present from Jerry this year.  We're planning a trip to California this spring, and I'm long overdue in replacing my old luggage.  

He ended up getting me two pieces of Samsonite luggage in a pinkish/maroon color.  Here's a bit of trivia I didn't know until my son shared it in one of his sermons awhile back. Samsonite luggage company was founded in 1910 by Jesse Shwayder.  Jesse was a religious man who named one of his initial suitcases after Samson in the Bible [Book of Judges].  He was a man of incredible strength until Delilah brought him down.  Shwayder began using Samsonite as his trademark [indicating its strength] in 1941 and the name continues to this day.

Over the weekend we visited Jeremy and Samantha and saw the photos of their recent trip to Hawaii.  They brought back some Mānoa Chocolate tea for me.  The back of the package reads: 'With earth flavors and the aroma of hot chocolate, this tea is rich, stimulating and mood-enhancing.'  I'm anxious to try it, and will report back on it.

Weekend Happenings

Saturday, before I left for Chelsea where my youngest son lives, the postman delivered a couple more packages.  Back in July I ordered a Kate Spade tea themed necklace, and this is its sequel. Isn't it cute?  The top four teacups are moveable.  It's a brand new item from eBay and was only $32.99 with free shipping.

The earrings are a combination of the two necklaces and I ordered them today - $20.89 and free shipping [same e-Bay vendor].

Below is the tea themed necklace I ordered last July.  Its chain is a little different from the teacup necklace.  I like to wear tea themed jewelry when I go to work.

I also received a book I ordered about the Whitney family and their home, now made into a restaurant.  It has a long-standing reputation of being haunted.  The mansion is featured on the cover of the book.  I ordered it in hopes of learning more about the family's history, not  haunted stories and paranormal activities [of which I've experienced none while working there].  

Last but not least, the March/April issue of Tea Time magazine arrived in the mail too.  February isn't here yet and we're looking ahead to March/April already.  But I love that spring-like cover.  It's a reminder that our cold winter months won't last forever.

It was a clear day for my drive to Chelsea last Saturday.  I was eager to join Jerry and see the grandkids.  My hubby went Thursday afternoon to relieve the kid's maternal grandparents from their babysitting shift.  While there he's been diligently working on a new glass backsplash as a surprise for Samantha.  Below is the craftsman in action.

Sunday morning I was back on the road again.  I had to return home to give my presentation at the monthly tea at the assisted living facility.  It had snowed during the night [a storm to precede the big one we got today], so I had to allow plenty of time to get home.

Jeremy and Sam live in a rural part of Chelsea.  There was no traffic on their road when I left, so I stopped to take a picture of the wintry scene from my car windshield/window.

Below is a photo taken in front of the assisted living facility later in the afternoon.  We didn't get as much snow as they got in Chelsea.

11 ladies and 1 gentleman attended the tea along with the staff.  The program was about Edsel and Eleanor Ford - Auto pioneer Henry Ford's son and J.L. Hudson's, [the founder of Detroit's iconic department store] niece.  The residents were so responsive because Edsel and Eleanor lived locally [though deceased for many years].  They had toured their mansion, and read about them many times in the Detroit-area newspapers.

Photo of the residents sipping their tea and chatting while waiting to be served their pastries before the program began.

There were no tea reservations today so I had the day off.  Everyone wanted to stay close to home where it was safe and warm.  Jeremy and Samantha returned from their trip to Hawaii and California, so Jerry's back home tonight.

He finished the backsplash and took some photos of the finished project to show me.  Now I'm ready for him to install one in our kitchen!  ;-)

That's Ellie's artwork adorning the cupboards in the above pictures. ;-)  Izzy took a video of her mom when she saw the backsplash for the first time and sent it to Jerry.  She was thrilled with her surprise.  The grandkids are happy to have their mom and dad back home again, and I'm glad Jerry's back home too!  

Postal Deliveries

Don't you love it when a package arrives in the mail?  It brings out the child silently lurking inside me!  For two days in a row the postman has delivered packages.  So fun!

My birthday is approaching, and yesterday a gift came from my girlfriend. She'll be on a cruise when my birthday arrives, so she wanted me to receive the gift before she left. London blue topaz heart-shaped earrings.  They're beautiful!  Thanks, Sandy!

On a recent eBay search I came across 12 new [still in the package] cardinal napkins to go with my newly acquired Lefton cardinal china.  They're by St. Nicholas Square [Kohl's] and were reasonably priced, so I bought them.  Now I don't have to wait until next Christmas to shop for some.  All I need now are the napkin rings.

I recently bought the Lefton cardinal cream and sugar bowl on eBay too.  The salt and pepper shakers were a bonus, and they arrived a few days ago.  I have almost everything I need now - teapot, cream and sugar, teacups, luncheon plates, napkins, and placemats. [You can see the other china here.]  I can hardly wait to use them, and an opportunity is right around the corner.

Last but certainly not least, when I was aspiring to open a tearoom, I attended Magnolia and Ivy [Columbus, Georgia] in March 2002.  I met some amazing women at that training conference and have stayed in touch with some.  Three ladies from Ohio attended the conference and realized their dream of opening Lady Charlton's Tea Parlour [now closed after several years of business].  I connected with one of them on Facebook.  Janet recently began a new chapter in her life by opening a booth at an antique mall.  When she posted photos of her booth, my eyes immediately spotted a birthday teapot.

When I wrote a comment to congratulate her on the new venture, I said I was disappointed that I didn't live closer because I liked the teapot.  She responded that she would ship it to me.  It arrived in today's mail along with some Walker's shortbread cookies and tea.  Isn't it cute?  It's by Department 56.  I'm so glad nobody else purchased it and gave me the opportunity.

Have you made any new tea purchases lately?

Meeting Mariana...

Twenty-two guests braved Michigan's frigid winter temperatures to come to tea at The Whitney this afternoon. I especially looked forward to seeing Joan again and meeting her great-granddaughter, Mariana.

We started out with a teapot of black tea on the table [I used the last of the Mistletoe Kiss holiday tea today], and then switched over to the Garden Blend [our signature tisane] so Mariana could taste both.

Mariana was delightful and enjoyed both the tea and the time spent with her great-grandmother.

When I started to glue the cover of her etiquette booklet together last Saturday I decided it looked too plain, so I did a little bit more embellishing.  I hope it will be a fun keepsake of the Afternoon Tea she enjoyed at The Whitney thanks to her loving great-grandmother.  

While we were trying to stay warm in Michigan, Jeremy sent the photo below to Izzy from Hawaii where he and Samantha are enjoying an anniversary getaway.  It must be awful living in Hawaii, don't ya think?  ;-)

Snow Day!

Today is definitely an appropriate day to sip my favorite Green Pomegranate Tea from my porcelain snowman teacup while typing this blog post.

Today is the first major snow storm we've had this winter.   It's 20 degrees, and the snow has been falling steadily since I lifted the bedroom window shade shortly after 8:00 o'clock this morning.

~  Street view from my front porch.  ~  

Below is my HHR [better known as 'Betsy'].  I'm sure glad I don't have to drive her into Detroit for work today.

Last night I subscribed for a one month subscription to the Detroit Free Press archives.  Viewing old articles is a perfect project for a snowy day.  It's the best $7.95 I ever spent. I was up late last night reading articles about the Whitney family.  I discovered that not only did David Whitney, Jr.'s daughter, Grace, get married in the mansion, but his daughter, Flora Ann, did too!

But before I delve into more old Free Press articles, I've got to finish putting together a booklet for a 9-year-old little girl who is coming for tea on Monday with her great-grandmother.  Her great-grandmother is a repeat Whitney guest who discovered over the Christmas holidays that her great-granddaughter likes tea, so she's bringing her to The Whitney on Monday for Afternoon Tea.  [She has the day off from school for Martin Luther King Day.]  Her great-grandmother asked if I'd share some tea etiquette with her when they come, so I decided to put it in booklet form for her to take home.

I love what Bruce Richardson said in the Jan/Feb 2019 issue of Tea Time magazine: [paraphrasing] etiquette shouldn't be viewed from the perspective of a list of 'rules', but rather 'skills.'

I haven't glued the cover pieces on yet - they're just laying on top for this picture.  What fun helping a little girl experience the pleasures of tea with proper social graces!

Look Who Came to Dinner!

Late Sunday afternoon my youngest son, Jeremy, called and wanted to know if I'd be working yesterday, because he had a meeting at the Westin Book Cadillac Hotel [in downtown Detroit] and could come by The Whitney when his meeting was finished.

Yes, I was working yesterday and I'd be delighted to have him visit.  When Afternoon Tea was finished I clocked out and waited for his arrival.  It was his first time to visit The Whitney and see the mansion.  I waited for him on the front porch of my home away from home!

After the three-story tour of the mansion, I treated him to dinner.  Appetizer was Calamari, then Crab Bisque, and Jeremy's entree was Beef Wellington.  Mine was Seafood Sauté: Shrimp, Diver Scallops, and Maine Lobster on toasted Orzo.

It was so nice having one-on-one time with Jeremy.  Now I need to get my daughter, Lori, to The Whitney, then all three children will have seen where their mama works. 

I like the night view of Woodward Avenue as seen through the Drawing Room window in the picture below.