Annabel was the mother of that neighboring family; to us, she epitomized gracious English womanhood. She had a kind heart, gardened beautifully, and served her children tea when they came home hungry from school.
Sometimes, we happened to be there when Annabel served tea. Of course, she offered it to us. It was not a fancy, formal affair, as Americans tend to think of "tea," in quotation marks. Instead, it was a little snack, a comfort, a time of relaxation in mid-afternoon. I remember Annabel serving her daughter beans on toast, though tea could also include a pastry or a muffin.
My daughter and I have now decided to have tea every day at three o'clock.We will use the plates my parents bought in England. Our teacups are the Tiffany Holiday pattern that usually sits lovely and untouched in our china cabinet.
My husband accidentally bought a demitasse cup in the Tiffany pattern when he intended to buy a full-size teacup. That happy accident means that my daughter has a teacup that is just the right size for her little hands.
For our first tea, we had toast cut into little triangles and spread with jam.
I made green tea in a real teakettle that whistled and steamed when it was ready.
We stirred the sugar into our tea and savored our little meal. We talked, and we relaxed. enjoying the moment without hurry. Tea can do that.
It took only ten minutes, but I felt as if our tea created a space in our day that was free and gracious, like Annabel's teatime, like Annabel's garden of wildflowers.
I've found a new way to slow life down, and I'm going to hang on to this one.
6 comments:
Oh Rosslyn, how lucky you and your daughter are to have each other. :) And what a lovely ritual.
I was never a tea fan until I tasted English tea. I visited there just after high school with my aunt. One of her friends brewed a pot so fantastic I think I drank the entire thing! She kept graciously refilling my cup. :) I finally said, "Oh this is so good, the best tea I ever tasted! But I don't want to be greedy."
Well, that did it. That wonderfully hospitable English hostess was not going to be satisfied until I DID drink the whole pot. (I think she was flattered, too. At least I hope so!)
That was in Kent, by the way...beautiful countryside.
One of my favorite homeschooling authors advocates a teatime--and even her boys love it. As modern culture rips away many of our rituals, good for you two for finding one to restore! BTW, I have a teacup with the hunter pattern in your photo. Perhaps I'll take it out and celebrate solitary tea during the boys' afternoon nap~
Whoa! That china pattern is like something from a Sandro Del Prete piece.
That's so cool that you're able to carry on something special from your childhood into hers.
Tea happens to Canadians as well! We grew up having a mid afternoon snack and usually milky tea in tiny tea cups just about every day. I still crave a little comfort at about 3 or so every day....coffee, tea, and a snack....and a little time to stop my work for a few minutes and put up my feet. It's a good thing.
Maybe dad will drop in one afternoon! :)
Brandon
Love it!!
My daughter would be delighted to join your tea party, but she would insist on wearing her pink bedazzled tutu and all of her "jewels."
Perhaps I will have to introduce a tea time into our daily ritual, as well. :)
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