The Village Teahouse, West Point, PA

Hi Dear Folk,

I just ran across this tea house a few Saturdays ago and since Joni and I had a girlfriend date I said how about we try this tea house out.  We actually went for breakfast which seems almost sacrilegious in a setting that so suits afternoon tea so perfectly.  That gives us a good excuse to go again.  We had crepes for breakfast and a never ending pot of tea.

So if you want to check it out here it is The Village Teahouse

The photo above the mantel is how the house looked in the early 1900s.  With a typical American wrap around porch which I am a total fan of.

This is a themed room which I think gets changed out about four times per year.  It had been Jane Austin theme and I'm sorry that I missed that, as you can see it is Princess theme now and will be Steam Punk.

With Victorian houses I love the old fitted cupboards and woodwork.  We were made most welcome by the proprietress.

So after our lovely late breakfast we wondered over to Lansdale for an Art and Craft show, Festival of The Arts, where I bought a photo/glass barrette with an owl on, just very different, and a silver knife flower holder.  Where you cut the end off a knife, where all the filigree work is and stick a pin onto the back and make it into a broach flower holder, such a neat idea.  You could put fresh flowers in it, or I thought a lovely posy of felt flowers would look nice, you know I like felt posies.

And to the end of our day we went back to our single days to an ice cream shop we used to frequent, at a farm, Merrymead.  I had sea-salt caramel and coffee mocha in a sugar cone, the perfect ending.   Here it is Merrymead Farm.

Christy

Tea for Two

Hi Dear Folk,

Isn't this a cool in the idea of temperature, painting? And appeals to me when we are continually topping out at 95 F and the AC has packed up in my car yet again.

Tea for Two

by Anna Todd (b1964)

Simple, some apples in a basket along with chocolate digestive biscuits and iced bakewell tarts. A silver-tone teapot with black Bakelite top nob and handle I'm sure, but you cannot see it in this painting.  The tea-cloth and china is set on the grass in the background, waiting for the couple to come back.

Christy

Frock, Family, Food and Friends

Hi Dear Folk,

Summer is winding down, and autumn is in the garden, plants have spent their life for the summer and are beginning to curl up for the winter season, this is especially noticeable in my hosta and all that is falling out of my oak tree, including acorns which are impaling themselves everywhere.

I planted portulaca in my back pots and I think I have hit on a good flower to plant in them, being under the eaves of our house even when it rains, those pots are very dry and portulaca do not mind that and are so prolific and colorful.

My frock of this summer, I loved the print of hydrangeas and have enjoyed wearing it.  An end of summer sale from Talbot's and it was from the Oprah Winfrey collection, but I just like it. Worn with an Austrian black faceted bead necklace I picked up at a thrift in Ithaca.

It was lovely to get together on Monday evening for a dinner with friends visiting from Minneapolis, Danny and Linda used to live in this area but moved back to where Linda was originally from MN.  The only evening they could make it was Monday so got together other friends, Nancy and Joni and it all came together. We've all know each other from our single days.

Mr. B. made lasagna and swept up the patio, as I worked all day, but was able to get off an hour earlier to set things up, even The Boy was able to join us.  The evening was cool with a breeze.  At one point the cicadas became so noisy we could hardly hear ourselves talk, yes they are back this year.

I've made a decision that the patio needs extending, it's just a matter of getting Mr. B. on board with that thought.

As Joni said "Christy does not believe in paper plates."

We had good food, friends and family all together, what could be better.

Christy

Micmac Tribe

Roasting Ears of Corn Festival

Roasting Ears of Corn Festival - American Indian Festival

Hi Dear Folk,

This is the Roasting Ears of Corn Festival, a Native American celebration of art and culture.

Turtle Clan.

These two ladies above were from Canada, the lady in the center is from the Micmac tribe and their clothing was embellished with shells, instead of beads and paint.  The other lady whose tribe I cannot remember is also named Turtle Clan and this can be seen on her attire.

What else would you have for lunch but buffalo burgers, buffalo stew and roasted corn, followed by cherry pie.

This lady and her daughter were from the Micmac tribe who are across Maine, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and PEI.  I love the Indian name for PEI and think it should be changed back to Epekwika, which means "Cradle on the Waves."  Such an apt description of the island because it looks just like a cradle in the waves, and obviously the Micmac's had figured out the shape long before aerial photogragphy.

South American Indian Equador.

Fabian Fontanelle, Zuni and Omaha, New Mexico.

Shelly Morningstar, Cheyenne, North Dakota.

I will just say this we ditched the cowboy hats, before entering the festival, we thought it might not be respectful, but decided to take a few shots with us wearing them before we left.  But actually we could have worn them.  I did wear my Indian Turquoise jewelry.

Christy

Tea at the Tea Shop

Hi Dear Folk,

I like these two painting of two friends sharing tea at a tea shop.  I like the thought that they could have aged and mellowed.  In the top painting they look a little prim, but in the bottom painting, just friends nattering about life.

With the younger ladies you definitely know they are sitting in a tea shop, right by the front street display window.  It's a busy street people are passing by and some are looking in at all the good cakes.  They seem a little lost in their own thoughts, but still sharing a quiet space over tea together.

My immediate thought with the older ladies is that they too were sitting in a tea shop, but you cannot so easily tell this, it's just an impression with the clothes they are wearing, their hats are on and the way they are turned in confiding with each other.  The plain white china with white bread sandwiches, almost makes it institutional like the Women's Institute, or maybe they are just sitting in their living room on the sofa.  What do you think?

The Tea Table

Mable Francis Layng (1881 - 1937)

West Park Museum

The Merry Wifes

Paul Montem Clarke (1915 - 1999)

The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery

Salwar Kameez

Hi Dear Folk,

The heat wave is over but still hot over 90 f, this Saturday should be sunny and in the 80s f so that will be nice.  I always seem to hear of events after the fact and say if I'd of known I would have gone.  So this year I am on an email list of Fairs throughout Pennsylvania, and this Saturday there are at least three which I would like to go to, but have chosen one "Roasting Ears of Corn Festival"  I will tell you all about it after I've been.

Eleven years ago I had a tree fall on my car while I was driving, it was very frightening and I was fortunate, as the police officer said, that I was not killed.  In fact it was a neighbour's tree.  Three different entities and insurances were involved.  The tree people who had been contracted to cut down the tree but said it was safe enough until they got to it, the homeowners insurance and my car insurance.  The long and the short of it was we were the ones out of pocket by $500.00 for our car insurance deductible.  Fast forward to now, we have just found all the paperwork on the car accident.  About five or more years ago the paint started to peel off where it had been resprayed and it looks pretty bad.  It was a life time guaranteed job, so now we are in the process of seeing if anyone will cover me for a new paint job on my car.  Yes it is a fourteen year old car, but it's good, so would be great to get it done.  We will see if anyone covers this.

At the thrift sometimes they have racks of new clothes that have been donated from stores and I ran across a rack of Indian Salwar Kameez.  I have always wanted one ever since my friend Jean, who I went to Amsterdam with, had a couple made while out in India, and says they are so easy to wear and comfortable, colourful and fun.

A Salwar Kameez is really made up of three items, the tunic, the pants and a matching scarf.  Some of the sets only had two pieces.  I looked through and saw that none of those tunics were going to fit me, but then I had the idea of adding in a gusset which I have done before on different pieces.  I looked for the prettiest scarf and fabric and found one that had only two pieces a lovely wide scarf in deep turquoise and maroon with gold paisley on it and a matching tunic, no pants.  But that is great, because I will insert a gusset in the tunic and make matching pants. I found a pattern in Burda for an Indian Salwar Kameez, but then I found a pattern in Vogue, which was on sale for $5.00, it's a long coat and tapered pants.  Almost a Western take off on the Salwar Kameez idea, in fact in the "Second Best Marigold Hotel" movie, Judy Dench wears a linen one with a scarf which I thought she looked very nice in and would suit many women.  So I've started by unpicking the sides, now I have to look for fabric.  So the whole outfit was $9.00 after my 25% discount that Saturday and it was worth that for the shawl alone, because the Paisley pattern is one of my very favourite designs.  I do love Indian fabrics so bright and cheerful.

The Boy is shooting his third Indian Wedding this weekend and he so enjoys all that colour and food.

What do you think of this Zika virus, I'm just hoping these Olympics don't turn it into a pandemic, that's what happened after the WWI with the Spanish Influenza and they are finding more and more ways that it is transmitted.  It's already in Puerto Rico and Florida.  But now it might start to travel more places than in the Americas and Islands.

Well on that happy note I'll close out.  Don' know why my mind wanders to such things.

Christy

Tea on the Lawn

Hi Dear Folk,

Lots of lightening, thunder and rain last night so it may have broken the heat wave, but it still feels pretty humid.  Everything dries up quite quickly in this heat so tea on the lawn would be possible today.

On that thought of summer days and tea outside, here we see a simple tea.  She's wearing her hat but I see an umbrella there, or is it a parasol?  Silver kettle and teapot with bone china cups.  Apples and a cottage loaf, it looks like she's waiting for others to join her and the rest of the edibles are still in her basket.

Tea on the Lawn

Marjorie Brooks (1904 - 1980)

Brighton and Hove Museums and Art Galleries

Harvest Tea

Hi Dear Folk,

Even though we've been in a heat wave of over 100 f with high humidity, I'm still aware that summer is drawing to an end, twigs of leaves are already falling off my oak tree.  Summer's end entails the summer harvest.  So this painting of a harvest tea seems most appropriate.

Tea is the elixir of life I think, besides a glass of Drambuie, but wouldn't a harvest tea in such a setting be so special.  I like the stone flagons of which my mum and grandma had a few and I'm sure there's a meat pie in there as well as a blackberry pie, loaves of fresh bread, cheese and butter I would think and apples.  Maybe some elderberry wine or rhubarb which my great grandma used to make and my dad said it was the best, or some elder-flower fizzy pop, although I'm thinking in those flagons it could be apple cider.

In summer my dad would head out to work with a bottle of cold tea, and I do not mean American iced tea.  Just tea with milk and sugar cold, in a bottle.  It never really is too hot in the UK to go bad.  Of course hot tea in a flask in winter.

So I'm starting a little series of "Art of Tea"  posting paintings with a tea theme that I especially like.

Harvest Tea

Mary Martin (b) 1951

National Trust, Cotehele

I was out with an older friend the other day, Rose, and we ran across The Village Teahouse which we are definitely going to try out.  We took a peek in the door and were drawn inside by the lovely atmosphere so will be paying a visit here.

Christy

Cigar Store Indians, Pharmacy and Clock Makers, Circa 1800's

Hi Dear Folk,

At the Mercer Museum, Cigar Store Indians, placed outside a store to entice people in.

Pharmacy.

Clock makers tools.

Chrisy

Celebration of Hats

Hi Dear Folk,

I just had to share this unique painted image of a woman shoveling circa 1840.  See here A Celebration of Hats over the last 350 years through portraits and paintings

In 1840 laws were established which banned women from underground work in the coal mines and to make a living they would do heavy shoveling work above ground.  The picture shows a pit brow girl wearing a hat, probably home-made of pink cloth tied securely under her chin with a black bow.  This would help keep the dust out of her hair.  She is also wearing trousers to work in and notice the leather clogs for footwear.

These are such precious images of working folk and what they wore in times past.

Christy

Work and Travel Circa 1800's

Hi Dear Folk,

More from the Mercer Museum.  Work and Travel early 1800s.

Saw mill.

Conestoga wagon.

Stage coach.

Christy

Aprium or Pluot?

Hi Dear Folk,

OK the powers that be need to get this together, are these hybrid fruits going to be called an Aprium or a Pluot?  They are a cross between an apricot and a plum.  I lean towards Aprium because A comes before P, but on the other hand I think they taste and have the consistency more of a plum, so maybe they should be called Pluot.  Quite tart, would be good for cooking.

In fact I did try recipe number 4 as I love cardamon and served with some creme fraiche was very good.

Christy