Monday, July 6, 2015

Breakfast Tea in the Garden Room


My sweet niece stayed with me last week
 and we had a pretty outdoor breakfast in my garden room.

We were nestled among the flowers and shrubs
and the birds, butterflies and bees.










I can think of nothing better than to wake up
and remember she is sleeping upstairs...
and to gleefully plan our little tea time together.














This time she did so much of the work because of my
 dumb-ole-foot-in-a-boot.

Just call me Hop-a-Long Cassidy!









Our menu was simple:

Eggs in a Cup - soft-boiled eggs w/ butter and freshly cracked pepper
Raspberry Scones with homemade "clotted" cream 
Fresh cut nectarines
Toast
Blueberry Tea

Our sweet and pretty breakfast made us very happy.

Just look at her precious smile of anticipation!










Aren't these the most beautiful paper napkins you've ever seen?
I've had them since Easter - I seldom use paper ones,
so I still had this pack - and they looked perfect with our pink/green/lilac color scheme, so we used them!

I wonder how well they'd decoupage?
They're so beautiful.
Have any of you ever decoupaged with paper napkins?













By the time we got everything all set up
 we'd worked up a big appetite
and ate every bit!

The night before the two of us had gone to see
the new Pixar movie "Inside Out."
I highly recommend it. 
It is very different than the other Pixar films

After the movie we went to a delish Chinese restaurant for dinner.
(Her favorite and I seldom go because hubs doesn't like it.)

I had to run to the pharmacy so I let her pick out
 a new nail polish there.

When we returned I gave her a fancy manicure.

(I also needed some sitting down quiet time after our running around!)

That pretty sky blue color on her nails in the pic below
is the polish she picked.

 : - )












After our breakfast I had her run up to my special girlie library
in our loft area and pick out any book for us to read out here.

I have a lifetime collection of special tea books and such.

She chose the one called "Thank You, Friend."

It was given to me a few years ago by a friend Sandra
when she visited from out of town for tea.

We took turns reading this sweet book
 full of Scripture, quotes, wisdom, poetry
 and basic feel-good thoughts. 










She was hesitant about reading the old fashioned script Cursive pages.

Do you all realize that hand writing & teaching Cursive is GONE?
The children don't learn how to write it or read it in schools anymore.

CAN YOU EVEN IMAGINE:

 THEY CAN NO LONG READ JANE AUSTEN MANUSCRIPTS
 OR EVEN THE CONSTITUTION OF THE US?????!!!???

I shudder at this. Just yikes. Ok, I'm done now. 


~~~~~*~~~~~


We discussed many of the pages -
I wanted to make sure she understood the selections
and had time to disgest her food and her thoughts.

I am trying to teach her in our world of "crazy rat-race fast"
that savoring things like meals and tea and good books
is worth the time and effort to do.

I think she got into it, as she got super comfortable.









Oh, I should also point out that it was super sunny when we began
and by the time we finished it had begun raining.

That's why the last pics are dark.

I sure love my little garden covered patio zen room.

The rain didn't even bother us!

Indeed, I do believe we savored our time together quite nicely!










As always, thank you for your visit!


~Michele

Linking:





59 comments:

  1. Pretty, pretty! Such a beautiful space you have dressed up here. Your niece is so lucky to have you! She is adorable. I just love a girly tea! I have been AWOL and don't know about your boot. I hope you're doing well. What a drag! You need more pretty teas!!! Get well!

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  2. Oh Michele, what a gorgeous tea time! Everything is so soft, romantic, and feminine. I can imagine your sweet niece had a lovely time with you :)

    Have a wonderful week, my friend! Hugs!

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  3. Absolutely gorgeous! I bet she loved it! I totally agree about the lost art of cursive! Love your limoges and what a lovely garden setting!
    Ruth

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  4. Idyllic. A beautiful setting with beautiful company, it doesn't get any better than that.

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  5. Sweet photos! That looks absolutely delightful! What a delicious breakfast. And I've thought about decoupaging napkins onto tiles. With the right technique, I think they would make great coasters. :-)

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  6. Oh my, Michele, this is just lovely! Your niece is good company, I can tell, and how wonderful that you two ladies could enjoy this tea time together. You and she are making wonderful memories that you will both always treasure. Love your china and your breakfast looks delightful. Yes, the napkins are beautiful and would decoupage quite nicely, I think. So glad you shared with us and could join me for Tea Time. Have a beautiful day, my friend.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  7. Oh Michele,
    This is absolutely gorgeous! Love the wicker bench and pink roses, teacups and background garden! What a wonderful auntie you are. She must love you and her visits with you. Thank you for sharing such beauty sweet friend! Happy Tea Day and have a perfect week! Karen

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  8. Oh, what a lovely time with your adorable niece you had, Michele! Your tea in the garden is just so dreamy and romantic. Yes, I used to decoupage with napkins years ago, and yours are so pretty. I never mind using pretty paper napkins. Thanks for sharing your delightful tea with your sweet niece.

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  9. What gorgeous pictures of your niece and the lovely setting for your time together.

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  10. Such a pretty setting!!! I love that tray. Make sure you tell her that others think she is utterly adorable, sweet and pretty with the most engaging smile. Beautiful hair too and is that a dimple? Great time you had together.

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  11. Michele, that sounds just heavenly! Your niece is a little beauty queen with that red hair!!
    Your tea party menu sounds yummy. I've never had eggs with butter but how can you go wrong? It sounds like you went to a lot of effort to make sure she had a great time. You made some good memories. :)

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  12. Oh Michele.... how lovely! It's so wonderful that you shared such a special time with your beautiful niece. The food and table looked so pretty...

    Don't get me started on what they don't teach in school these days. I'm glad my kids are done with it, but I feel bad for all the kids that are still going and missing out on so much of what we learned.

    I'm glad you had a nice quiet Fourth :)

    I hope your foot gets better soon!

    xo,
    rue

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  13. Hi MIchele! Oh, you are just the sweetest aunt to these lovely young ones. How much you are teaching them on etiquette and tea parties! Your food looks lovely as well as your table. Hope you're healing well.
    be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  14. That is a very pretty breakfast tea, Michele, and your niece looks so comfortable reading the book.
    Yes, I have to remember when I sign a card or write something to my grandchildren to only print,they can't read or write it either. So sad.

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  15. What a lovely tea party!

    I agree about cursive! Too many source documents that won't be able to be understood!

    Visiting from the Return to Loveliness link-up.

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  16. It all looks so lovely, what an enchanting idea. I can't believe children these days are unable to read cursive! That's mind-boggling.

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  17. I'll bet she loves visiting you! Everything is beautiful!

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  18. What a lucky girl! She got to spend time with you AND have such a lovely breakfast tea. Everything looked so pretty and your niece is a beautiful girl.

    And...don't get me on my soap box about cursive writing...or telling time...or counting change....basic life skills. It astounds me!

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  19. How special to have a beautiful niece to share wonderful times with or a beautiful aunt. Yes, I used to decoupage with beautiful napkins. I'm sure that yours would work perfectly. Yes, I do know that cursive is no longer taught. Don't get me started!

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  20. Oh.....so pretty! Your niece is beautiful and such pretty hair.
    Love how you and your niece enjoy spending time together and
    the breakfast tea looks lovely too.
    Carolyn

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  21. What a lovely breakfast to share with your niece.

    II consider myself fortunate that I was taught penmanship when I was in school.

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  22. Oh this is so sweet and beautiful Michele. Such a gorgeous setting to enjoy a dainty and feminine breakfast. And the food looks delicious. She is such a pretty young lady.

    The napkins would definitely be perfect for decoupage. Thank you for the tip on photography. I will certainly keep that in mind. I do appreciate your visit.

    Hugs,

    Janet

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  23. Hi Michele! It looks like you and your niece had a wonderful tea party--and a great outing the day before. Schools have been starting to not stress writing and cursive for awhile--my sister (10 years younger than me) never really learned it well--they were too busy with the standardized testing. Crazy!

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  24. What an absolutely beautiful setting--fine company, fine food, and fine reading material. Such a sweet memory you created for you and your lovely niece :)

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  25. I can't imagine a more fitting spot for a breakfast tea. Love your white wicker! I bet your niece will long remember this visit with her auntie!

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  26. Beautiful!! I have some paper napkins almost like those.

    It is a shame kids are not learning cursive now. I guess they came print their signature on a check. Crazy!!

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  27. Michele,

    Your post made my heart smile...from the perfect and yummy breakfast to all the time you spent with your niece. You certainly gave her memories to last forever. Keep spending time with her and she will grow up to be the lovely thoughtful lady you are!

    Jane x

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  28. What a wonderful time spent with your niece. She is so lovely.

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  29. This is all so so beautiful. I have a feeling your niece will want to come back very soon :-)
    Amalia
    xo

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  30. What a lovely way to begin a new day in such a wonderful and peaceful garden with a so graceful taste !
    Thank you for sharing !
    Hugs
    Daniela

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  31. Dear Michelle, what a lovely tea with your darling niece. She is such a pretty girl and I can see you two had a special time of fun. Love your tea setting in the garden. Your paper napkins are so pretty and yes, I have decoupaged paper napkins many years ago for a church craft project. I had the girls, use Christmas napkins decoupaged and crafted around a round Styrofoam ball then glued pretty embellishments around the top for hanging. It was fun.
    The book looks special too and an inspiring read. Thank you for sharing your peaceful tea. Hope your feeling better.
    Hugs and Blessings, cm

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  32. OMG Michele... What a special setting for a special quest... It's such a charming setting for teatime. I'm sure those paper napkins would work beautiful on a craft, they're so pretty...I'm so disappointed with the school systems..They don''t worry about spelling anymore either..YIKES...however, I can see that you are an encouraging auntie..She will cherish her teatime memories with you, sweet lady...ENJOY your day !!! Hugs

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  33. Sounds like a great day with your niece and what a nice brunch. I have decoupaged with napkins and love how it looks. I am about to teach a local shop owner how to do this week for a project for her store.

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  34. What a wonderful way to spend time with your niece, it's seems so English, I love it!, I really love the pretty chinaware! enjoy your weekxx

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  35. You two had such a special breakfast, the table is pretty with the paper napkins and the china perfect for eating in the garden. I'll bet your niece remembers her time with you fondly Michele.
    It is a shame that cursive writing is not taught any more, I sign my name to cards and the young ones can't read it so I end up printing.
    Thanks for linking to Mosaic Monday.

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  36. What a special day spent with your adorable niece Michele ! Your garden and everything for your tea looks so beautiful … Have a great week…
    XOXO Mary

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  37. That looked like a great day together! Your breakfast looked yummy. I don't see kids movies much anymore since my youngest is now a teenager and isn't interested in those kinds of movies, but I've always enjoyed them. I've heard that movie is really good too. I was shocked to learn that the schools weren't teaching cursive writing anymore too. Except they do learn to write their name in cursive. It's a shame. I love writing in cursive, but now I have to print for my kids so they can read it!

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  38. Lovely visit and tea with your niece...

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  39. what a lucky girl to have such a sweet and loving aunt to spend some time with.

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  40. Looks like you all had a wonderful time together, such a wonderful place setting you had too. Yes I have decoupaged with paper napkins. The girls in my cardmaking group also decoupage them onto cardstock for cards, I haven't tried it that way yet.

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  41. Sounds like a wonderful time with your niece . The table is beautiful and breakfast looks yummy. I also can't believe that they no longer teach cursive. My grandchildren (9 & 11 yrs old) do all their classes using a tablet...oh my.
    xx,
    Sherry

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  42. What a pretty blog you have and your tea with your niece is just lovely! Your niece is very sweet! x Karen

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  43. Michele, what a beautiful, special time the two of you had! I love this, it's something she will always remember. It is sad that they no longer teach cursive, yikes…there is such beauty in handwritten cursive letters, I cherish the ones I have from loved ones, especially if they are no longer with us. Soon I guess it will all be texting and emailing. sigh. Not a fan of that quick, but ungracious manner of communication!

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  44. Oh what a charming breakfast, Michele!! Such a lovely setting, yummy menu and sweet company. Love the idea of reading afterward- good for you exposing her to cursive writing! Hope you had a nice 4th of July holiday~

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  45. SERIOUSLY!

    I need those scones asap!

    Happy day friend!
    karianne

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  46. Michele, what a lovely time to share with your sweet niece. Everything looks so pretty.

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  47. What a beautiful young lady...she's so feminine and pretty. I know you enjoyed having her visit. What a special meal with everything so nice, even the lovely napkins! WOW! We all wish we could have joined you! Sweet hugs, Diane

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  48. There she is again. I remember her - that cute niece. What a darling posting and such a pretty table. So glad you (and she) shared!

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  49. What a wonderful time! Good for you investing time in your niece. She'll always remember your kindness! Hope you have a lovely weekend!

    Blessings,
    Sarah

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  50. Oh, I had to come back here, and see what I missed. What a lovely breakfast. and you with a cast on your leg! She is blessed to have you in her life, Michele.

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  51. Such fun and what memories she will have of this lovely day!
    Thanks so much for sharing at AMAZE ME MONDAY!
    Blessings,
    Cindy

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  52. Such fun and what memories she will have of this lovely day!
    Thanks so much for sharing at AMAZE ME MONDAY!
    Blessings,
    Cindy

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  53. Such a sweet post - lovely neice! So sad about cursive...so wrong! I will be featuring your post in this week's A Return to Loveliness,
    Kathy

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  54. What a wonderful gift you've given her. I'm sure she will treasure this memory, and hopefully learn by example to share it with another lucky woman or girl. You sure are a sweet aunt, and she is blessed to have you in her life. You've inspired me to have a tea at my home. Your dishes and patio are lovely. Thank you for sharing it with us.

    Blessings and shalom,
    GG

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  55. Good morning, Michele!
    What a lovely breakfast tea!
    Your setting and the food looks amazing!
    I think what I loved reading the most is that you're teaching your niece to savor things like meals and tea and good books.
    That's one of the things that I enjoy most about having Tea Time with my mom and friends . . . It's relaxing - and no one rushes. We enjoy the food and our time together. It's a wonderful break from the real world :0)
    It looks like you had a wonderful time with your niece!
    Thanks so much for sharing with us!
    Suzanne

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  56. Your pretty teapot is the same one I have. It belonged to my great-grandmother, who gave it to my mother when she was 12, in 1937. Does yours have any identifying markings? Mine doesn't. I only know that it was purchased in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I had never seen one like it until now on your blog. Thank you.

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  57. Such beautiful pictures! I love the teapot! Very cute!!

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  58. What a great example of aunt-dom! These photos are simply charming! Once again, I feel as if I've been transported within the pages of a lavish lifestyle magazine, only I have a bit of an "in" with the author so this feature is a bit more personal. I'll bet your niece will remember this always … and oh-so-fondly!

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