Friday, October 23, 2009

Tea Time in New England

We so enjoyed going to a tea room with my son-in-law's lovely mom (aka: Gramma to my four grandchildren). I keep telling Stephanie she is so fortunate to have such a mother-in-law.

This was a vacation day from her job as a preschool teacher and she used it to cook a huge (and may I add... delicious) meal for all of us later in the day.

Since we were the only people being served at the time, the owner allowed me to go around the tables and take pictures.






As you can see, the tables were absolutely gorgeous. I loved trying different Harney and Sons teas that I had seen in their catalog. I especially liked their chocolate mint tea, which has just the hint of flavor. I've taken note that Harney and Sons tea was used in other tea rooms I have visited. :)

The food was just okay... not terrible but nothing special at all. The scones and muffins were rather dry, and the tea sandwiches were bland. Although one sandwich filling was interesting, she blended together cream cheese with roasted red peppers and a little lemon juice.

Having said that, we all overlooked the so-so food while enjoying the visual feast around us. I'm not sure the girls could possibly understand how rare that day would be in their young lives... all three generations of ladies having tea together. :)

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful tea room.

I have added your blog to my sidebar as I find your blog such an inspiration I hope you don't mind.

Heather L. said...

How fun!!! What a beautiful place! i'm so glad you all had the chance to do that.

Anita said...

My kind of day!

Irina said...

Brenda,

Those are SUCH lovely settings! I love it! And what a bummer that the food wasn't better, but what a rare and special moment to have all of you there at the same time, enjoying girlie time!

Irina

Deanna Rabe - Creekside Cottage Blog said...

You are right that it was special to be together, three generations of women! It looks like a beautiful place, what lovely dishes and glassware.

I have never tried Harney and Sons tea, I will have to look for it!

Thanks for sharing all your fun with us!

matty said...

This is lovely! It reminds me of the teas I have seen at Concord's Colonial Inn! So elegant and perfect for a "ladies day out!" Your daughter looks just radiant!

The Frugal Fraulein said...

I also went to New England last week and visited Massachusetts and New Hampshire. I admit to not going for tea but went to Duncan Donuts for coffee and a plain donut. It was a huge treat since there aren't any DD out in WA where I live. I posted some foliage pictures on my site at http://frugalcanning.blogspot.com and am writing about some regional dishes I had the good fortune to taste again. What a great time of year to go to New England!

Anonymous said...

SO nice you made a visual record of that tea date. It is a special thing for 3 generations to experience such together!! So happy for you in being able to go and be with your family for those special days!!
Elizabeth

Scrappy quilter said...

What a beautiful tearoom. Love the settings.

Anonymous said...

Sigh...wouldn't it be wonderful if you could host a tea for all of your blog friends in that pretty place? So glad you are back!

Friend Debra

Susan B said...

What a lovely outing for you all. It looks like it was so much fun! I've never been to a tea room, it's beautiful. (Too bad the food wasn't so good.) It's wonderful you had such a special time together. Thank you for sharing the pictures.

Rachel said...

Tea Rooms are so wonderful but getting few and far between here in the South. We did find a beautiful one in Hendersonville, NC and I took my almost-4 year old. The food was very good and the tea selections were limitless! Glad you got to have this experience with your family.

Carol (MD) said...

Thank you for taking the pictures of the lovely place settings!

Bernideen said...

Thank you for sharing these beautiful photos and table settings!

Debbie in CA : ) said...

Hello Brenda,

I have just wandered through your lovely posts of late (catching up is such fun when there is this much joy to be shared). I am a bit under the (monthly) weather myself today, and I found such delight coming to visit you. Thank you for always leaving the welcome mat out.

Your trip sounds like a dream-come-true with all the fun and "family" (God extends our borders to include many beyond the bloodline -- He's so GOOD!) and delicious sites/food. I have enjoyed myself so much.

What a thoughtful daughter you have and such a generous hostess (I know where she gets it from). How fabulous to meet up with the Clarksons. I grin broadly just picturing all of you together with a tea kettle singing in the background. Pure bliss! God is good.

So glad you are home and cozy with such fabulous memories to savor . . . and share. Thank you, sweet, sweet friend.

XO ~~ Debbie

Thickethouse.wordpress said...

So nice that you are back Brenda! I missed reading your blog....I wanted to add Rumer Goden as an author for your warm and cozy book lists. I just reread The Kitchen Madonna this morning, a novella that touches my heart with its simple goodness. Also An Episode of Sparrows and China Court are lovely books.

I especially like the goblets in the place setting phots. Unusual color, so distinctive.