A tea cup memory

As I sit ensconced in my comfy, "old lady" recliner on this slightly chilly day in mid October, I am sipping a delightful cup of warm "Constant Comment" tea. It brings to my mind childhood memories. It also brings memories of my young motherhood self. And it brings a couple of delightful and blessed memories of my dear mother.

My childhood home was about four blocks (city of Wilmington, NC) from a very old - yes, old even then - school, Tileston. This housed an elementary school and a Junior High. I attended there from first through ninth grades. In those days, the school cafeteria served hot and cold lunches. They weren't free. Parents had to pay for them. So I walked home every day for lunch.

My mother always had a bowl of soup, or a sandwich, ready when I walked in the door. Sometimes milk to drink or water. But on the colder days, there was a cup of hot tea. I remember mother setting the cup down on the table with the tea bag still in it and steam rising from the cup. She cast toward me one of her precious smiles and had a twinkle in her eye as she did so. She loved me. She found joy in providing for me.

Fast forward to my young adult life when I, as a young mother I found joy in providing for my children just as my mother had found joy in providing for me.

Knowing my limited "means" during these days of my being a young mother, she would sometimes surprise me at Christmas with a tin that held a few bags of "Constant Comment" tea. A treat I didn't allow myself as a young mother. Again, that sweet smile and that precious glint in her eye.

Yes, my dear mother continued to provide that joy even then.

And today, as I sip my tea, my hands are holding the last remaining cup 'n saucer from mother's breakfast set. The cup's smooth surface along with the warm smoothness of this sip of tea awakens the remembered joy as the tea glides into my mouth and trickles down my throat.

A tea cup memory of a beautiful love.

Note: Mother would be 109 now. Also, dishes "VersaTone by Noritake."

The Kingfisher Rooibos Tea Giveaway! 5 Winners!

Welcome To The Kingfisher Rooibos Tea Giveaway!

5 Winners!

This giveaway is part of our SMGN 2024 Fall Gift Guide – Stop by to see all the giveaways and great products!

HOST IS: DELICIOUSLY SAVVY

Co-hosts for this giveaway are: Pink Ninja Blog, Beautiful Touches, Golden Goose Giveaways, Gifts for all seasons, Home Jobs by Mom, Marksvilleandme, My Silly Little Gang, The Stuff of Success, & Versatileer

Below is a list of all the bloggers involved in the gift guide.

A Rain of Thought, Beautiful Touches, Contest Corner, Deliciously Savvy, Freebies Deals & Steals, Giveaway Gator, Golden Goose Giveaways, Home Jobs by Mom, Honey Can Do It, MarksvilleandMe, My Silly Little Gang, Pink Ninja Blog, Sweeps Madness, The Stuff of Success, This Frugal Grandmom, This Frugal Family, Versatileer

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This Giveaway's Sponsors Are:

WEBSITE ~ INSTAGRAM ~ AMAZON

Giveaway details:

5 Lucky Winners Will Win a box of Kingfisher Rooibos Tea ~ $80 TRV!

Read My Review!

~~~~~~~~~~

Click Below To Enter & Good Luck!

Entry-Form

This giveaway/sweepstakes is in no way endorsed, affiliated, or associated with Facebook, Twitter or any other Social Media Networking Site. This Giveaway is valid to continental United States residents only, Entrants must be 18+ years of age to enter. This giveaway event will end at 11:59 PM (EST) 11/23/2024. The winner will have 48 hours to email their information back to mcushing7 at hotmail dot com and pinkninjablog at hotmail dot com or a new winner will be drawn, you may want to put these email addresses as safe as it could go to spam. The giveaway is not valid where prohibited! By entering you are authorizing us to collect the information on the form below, this information is used only to contact the winner! No purchase necessary, Void were prohibited by law, and the number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Winners are chosen randomly by the Giveaway Tools program. The sponsors are each responsible for shipping of the above prizes. No blog associated with this contest are responsible for prize fulfillment. If you would like to be a sponsor in a giveaway like this please email Melissa Cushing at mcushing7 (at)hotmail (dot) com. If you take an entry you must stay following for the entire contest or you will be disqualified.

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Daddy's Girl by Helen Foster James & illustrated by Estelle Corke [Review & Giveaway]

ISBN-13: 978-0824956813
Hardcover - Ages 3 - 7

My thoughts: Sheer delight! This lovely picture book captures the essence of a charming little girl who dearly loves her Daddy. She is all girly with frilly clothes, beads, hats and behavior. She excitedly goes about preparing for a tea party with her Daddy so it will be ready when he arrives home.

Having raised three girls, I know their charm and their ability to throw themselves into the business of being a little girl and lovingly looking forward to their Daddy's arrival at the end of the day.

Illustrated in soft, yet distinct pastels the cuteness and charm of this little girl is captured. The sweet love between daughter and father is evident. She is not just going to have a tea party, she is going to party with her Daddy (and Teddy Bear).

Not included in the story, but quite evident from the little girl having all the tools to be so girly (beads, dress, tea set, bling, boa, etc.) that she has a mother that has shown by example the joy of being a girl.

The rhyming story simply leaps from the page with joy and the last line resonates...... 'Daddy, tea is best with you."

About the book: What’s more fabulous than a tea party? Tea with Daddy, of course! This exuberant story begins before the honored guest arrives, with much ado—preparing, decorating, and accessorizing. And when Daddy makes his entrance, it’s clear that the little hostess couldn’t be more thrilled. Perfect for daddy-daughter reading time, this new picture book and its warm conclusion are sure to serve up smiles and tug at heartstrings.

GIVEAWAY

Begins April 12

Ends April 30 @ 12:01 a.m EDT

Open to Continental USA addresses only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from Worthy Kids Publishing to facilitate a review. Opinions are my own and freely given. Prize copy is provided directly to the winner by publisher.

Warm up with a beautifully brewed and presented cup of tea in the Eternal Sunrise Glass Tea Set [Review & Giveaway]

After brewing the lovely English Breakfast tea, I served it for just myself with a bit of natural sugar.
Lovely! Tasteful! Relaxing! Warming!

The cold, stay indoors days and evenings of Winter call for warmth. We generate warmpth with fireplaces, furnaces, candles (warm lights), and delicious hot beverages. Brewing our favorite tea provides a time of relaxation, peace, and gracefulness admist the bone-chilling cold.

Preparation and serving your tea whether just for yourself, you and a family member, or you and a guest provides you with an opportunity to enjoy the beauty and taste of a lovely cup of tea that is well brewed and beautifully served. The EnjoyingTea company has everything you need for that special cup of tea you love. Beautiful tea cups and tea sets and absolutely wonderful teas to choose from.

English Breakfast Tea from EnjoyingTea.com is brewed to a lovely color and brisk flavor in the
Eternal Sunrise Glass Teapot.

I brewed a lovely English Breakfast Tea today from Enjoying Tea. As you can see, the tea's lovely color is visible through this beautiful glass Eternal Sunrise Glass Teapot and cup. The infuser is clearly visible in this picture, but can be removed prior to serving if desired. I like that the infuser is metal has tiny holes that will trap tiny tea particles but allow the flavor to seep through. The interior is smooth making cleaning and removal of tea leaves so easy. The lid is also metal which is a plus factor.

I just love the graceful lines of this dainty teapot. The capacity is 34 oz. but you can easily brew just a couple of cups. The fact that you can see through it is really nice because tea is such a lovely beverage. In fact, I often serve it in clear glass cups so I can see its lovely color.

I also love the beautiful spout. No drip. Lovely, graceful pour. So elegant!

Lovely, delicate Glass Tea Set
compliments of EnjoyingTea.com
for one Chat With Vera Reader

Product information from EnjoyingTea website:

This beautiful tea set made from heat resistant borosilicate glass is the perfect tool for enjoying loose tea. The roomy removable filter allows tea leaves to expand and provide full infusion of the leaves. This is a good glass tea set to show off the beautiful color of your tea.

• 1 teapot (1000 ml, 34 fl oz) (8" L x 5" W x 5" H)
• 2 set of cup and saucer
• 1 removable stainless steel infuser
• Dishwasher Safe
• Additional matching glass teacups & a glass teapot warmer also available.

GIVEAWAY

Begins January 14

ENDS February 7 @ 12:01 a.m. EST

Open to USA addresses only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE: I received the tea set at no cost to me in order to facilitate this review of my honest opinions based on actual use by myself. I was not compensated for this review. Winner's set will be sent directly to them by EnjoyingTea.com.

Prolific Glass Tea Kettle, Stovetop 28 Ounce Teapot with Removable Stainless-steel Infuser

Tea time is a time of relaxation, peace, and gracefulness. Preparation and serving your tea whether just for yourself, you and a family member, or you and a guest is a time when you enjoy the beauty and taste of a lovely cup of tea that is well brewed and beautifully served. That is possible with the Prolific GlassTea Kettle.

Lots of folks think tea is a "lady" drink. But did you know that Prolific Teacup company is just three guys that take tea time seriously. When my grandchildren were small and would visit with Grandma GG (that's me, of course), I would sometimes fix a bit of tea an we'd share it. Of course, I'd weaken their cup a bit. Now that they have grown up, they remember tea with Grandma and enjoy a good cup of tea themselves. I'm sure they don't weaken it now, though. I think they would love to brew their tea in this lovely Prolific Glass Tea Kettle.

I brewed a lovely Oolong Tea today. As you can see, the tea's lovely color is visible through this beautiful glass Prolific Tea Kettle. The infuser is clearly visible in this picture, but can easily be removed prior to serving if desired. I like that the infuser has tiny holes and is smooth making cleaning and removal of tea leaves so easy. 

I just love the graceful lines of this dainty teapot. The fact that you can see through it is really nice because tea is such a lovely beverage. In fact, I often serve it in clear glass cups so I can see its lovely color.

I love that this glass teapot can be used atop the stove to actually heat the water. Of course, you have to be sure you use low heat, but that works fine, a bit slower, but conserves energy. Love to conserve energy and also to save on the energy bill.

I also love the beautiful spout. No drip. Lovely, graceful pour. So elegant!

Visit them on Facebook - CLICK HERE.  Or see them on their own website - CLICK HERE 

Product description (from Amazon) 

• ECO-FRIENDLY & DURABLE: This Rust Free Easy To Clean Teapot Is Build To Last, Made From Boroglass; Anti-Thermal Shock Glass And The Highest Quality Stainless-Steel, BPA & Chemical Free. A Great Zen Gift For Your Kitchen.
• NONE-DRIP SPOUT DESIGN & REMOVABLE INFUSER: This Hand Made, Japanese Inspired Design Keeps Your Counter Dry While Brewing Your Favorite Tea More Decadent Than Before. The Removable Stainless-Steel Infuser Works With Both Loose Tea And Bagged Tea.
• HEAT RESISTANT: Anti-Thermal Shock Glass Can Take Up To 300F And Works Best On Low Heat. The Handle Is Thick And Extended Out To Protect Your Hand. Needless To Say It's Dishwasher & Microwave Safe.
• SAVE WATER & ENERGY: The Kettle's 3 Cup Portion Is Ideal For Singles & Couples So No Stale Tea Water Goes To Waste. The Lower Body Is Designed To Heat Fast Even On Low Temperatures To Save Energy Usage.
• 30-DAY 100% MONEY BACK GUARANTEE - Return Even If Already Used! We're So Confident That You'll Love Your Tea Kettle That We'll Refund Every Penny If You Are Not Completely Satisfied. Purchase it here

DISCLOSURE:I received this product from Prolific to facilitate this review. This is a sponsored post for which I was compensated. However, I only recommend products that I can fully endorse.

Tea With Vera

Won't you pause in your busy day and enjoy a cup of tea with Vera? To learn about the tea brewed in each of these lovely tea cups in my collection, please see my review of Enjoying Tea's products. CLICK HERE 

Lovely tea cup is served in a family heirloom

Filtering Tea Mug compliments
of EnjoyingTea.com

T

A favorite tea cup - lovingly gifted
to me by my grandaughter

Lovely amber tea brewed in beautiful clear glass
collectible mug 

Fragile tea cup lovingly brought to me from
Vienna by my daughter

A son-in-law thoughtfully brought this tea cup
back to me from a trip he made to London!

Enjoying Tea is a Company for Affordable Luxurious Teas, Tea Sets, and Tea Cups [Review & Giveaway]

I have long enjoyed a nice cup of tea to relax with or to simply warm myself. Tea has been a staple in homes for centuries. There are many types of teas and from many countries.

My personal preferences are varied. I enjoy green tea and spicy Chai. Oolong and black teas are also wonderful. I enjoy my tea hot and I enjoy my tea ice cold. I'm a southerner and for my ice tea I prefer it strong, dark, and very sweet. While I can drink unsweetened tea - hot or cold, I do prefer to add some sugar.

After opening the shipping container, these were the lovely
boxes. Can't wait to open! More on tea!

Since I enjoy tea, the Enjoying Tea company is right on target as a good choice. Their selection is varied and suited for most any taste preference. They also carry a beautiful line of tea accessories - tea pots, tea sets, cups and mugs - there is a plethora of wonderful items.

Just look at all these wonderful choices of
tea I will get to enjoy & tell you about .....

I have the opportunity to review some of their teas and a beautifully crafted ceramic filtering tea mug. This is such a pleasurable opportunity. See this beautiful Ceramic Bird Filtering Tea Mug here.  "It comes with its own lid and a removable infuser that allows ample room for tea leaves to expand and provide full infusion of the leaves. There is a picture of cherry blossom flowers and birds on the body of the mug. Cherry blossom and bird symbolize beauty and peace."

This beautifully crafted and artistic filtering mug is just wonderful! Cherry blossom and bird symbolize beauty and peace.

Jasmine Dragon Pearl steeping
in filtering mug. More on their
lovely tea cup collections!

I began with the Jasmine Dragon Pearl (Imperial Long Chu) tea. "This green tea has a unique shape of a pearl and comes from the Chinese of Fujian. These hand rolled pearls consist of both leaves and bud. This tea has a sweet flavor with a flowery jasmine aroma." This is a very enjoyable green tea!

Jasmine Dragon Pearl brewed

Next, I brewed Vanilla Chai. Oh! This is an absolutely wonderful Chai. The spices are perfectly suited for my taste and the touch of vanilla is superb. "The Vanilla Chai is a top grade Indian tea. This delicious tea includes black tea, ginger, cardamom, coriander, cinnamon, black pepper, calendula, and daisy. When brewed this full body tea produces a spicy and creamy vanilla flavor. Superb with milk and sugar.

Chai is so prevalent in India and Sri Lanka that it could be called the National drink. Chai is brewed with milk and a mixture of spices. Each recipe can be different depending upon the spices used. Indian spiced chai is often referred to as Masala Chai. The word chai literally means tea in Hindi. Our chai is mixed from real Indian spices and top grade Ceylon black tea. The quality of the tea elevates this chai to a new level."

Lovely Vanilla Chai. Just right! Most folks drink their Chai with
milk, but I enjoy it either way. Here it is shown sans-milk. 
(Note: teacup was gifted me and is from Vienna.)

Oolong tea is always a treat. This Organic Slimming Oolong is light and refreshing. "The slimming organic oolong tea comes from China. When brewed, this tea offers a smooth taste, nutty flavor, and a sweet lingering aftertaste. This tea is also great served chilled. Studies have shown that this tea has weight loss benefits."

Organic Slimming Oolong

Can you tell I'm enjoying tea time in my house? Next was the interesting Zhejiang Silver Needle. I'd never seen tea in this form before. Interesting! "This white tea with a white downy appearance comes from the province of Zhejiang. The Silver Needle, highest quality white tea, is picked during the spring before the buds open to preserve its tenderness. Exquisite and delicate, Silver Needle has a fresh, sweet fragrance and produces a pale yellow brew."

Zhejiang Silver Needle - Lovely white tea and absolutely delectable. 
(Note: teacup was gifted me by a granddaughter 
and is shaped to see a loving heart.)

As you might have guessed, I'm taking several days to sample these teas and brew them in some of my favorite tea cups. Today's tea is English Breakfast Black Tea. This is tea in a traditional, tried and true form. "This is a classic blend of Sri Lanka Ceylon flowery pekoe (FP) black tea. Although usually served in the morning, it is the perfect refreshing and invigorating tea for any time of the day. When brewed the English Breakfast produces a bright, full bodied, and amber tea." I'm sitting here after dinner, and after cleaning the kitchen, and enjoying a lovely cup of this English Breakfast Black Tea.

This lovely amber tea is English Breakfast Black Tea &
is served in a delicate tea cup brought from England as a
gift to me by my son-in-law.

Ceramic Bird Filtering Tea Mug

I have been enjoying my tea in lovely tea cups of my own, but there are so many lovely tea cups on EnjoyingTea.com. If you love tea and if you love serving it in lovely tea cups (or with a full tea set with pot and cups), be sure you check them out!  NOTE: Ceramic Bird Filtering Tea Mug comes with its own lid and a removable infuser that allows ample room for tea leaves to expand and provide full infusion of the leaves. There is a picture of cherry blossom flowers and birds on the body of the mug. Cherry blossom and bird symbolize beauty and peace.

Delicate in taste and color, the
Dragon Well GreenTea (Lung Ching)
is served in a family heirloom.

Often I find green tea bitter and sometimes "fishy" tasting. I was pleasantly surprised by the  Dragon Well Green Tea, (Lung Ching). I enjoyed this green tea and found it light and aromatic. "This extraordinary green tea comes from the city of Hangzhou in Zhejiang province. The flat leaves are harvested in early spring when the leaves are full of aroma."

Served in a lovely glass mug that showcases
the beauty of this Earl Grey Black Tea.

Today I have enjoyed the Earl Grey Black Tea. "This tea is made from top grade orange pekoe Ceylon black tea scented with the elegant fragrance of bergamot. The Ceylon tea is grown at the altitude of 7000 feet above sea level from the Sri Lanka region. When brewed this tea produces a bright coppery color liquid with a piquant and refreshing taste." Earl Grey Black Tea is always in good taste to serve (pun definitely intended). Often, though, I find that the bergamot overshadows the tea which is a mistake. Tea should taste like the tea it is. Flavors and enhancements should take a quite backseat. The Enjoying Tea Earl Gray Black Tea is absolutely perfect. The color is beautiful. The taste of top quality black tea and not bitter. The flavor and fragrance of bergamot subtle and perfect.

Sencha, (Japanese Green Tea)

The last tea in the sampler is the Sencha, (Japanese Green Tea). "Sencha is a traditional Japanese steamed green tea with a soothing taste and fresh green scent that makes it a perfect everyday treat." I was careful to steep this green tea just three minutes and remove the leaves immediately. For this tea I felt it wise to use a tea infuser that I could easily lift out. I enjoy the health benefits of green tea and this Japanese Green Tea is lovely.

GIVEAWAY 

Ceramic Bird Filtering Tea Mug here &
Top Seller Tea Sampler
Begins July 28 & ENDS August 19 @ 12:01 a.m. EDT. 
Open to USA addresses only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
DISCLOSURE: I was provided a complimentary tea sampler and filtering tea mug to facilitate this review by Enjoying Tea Inc.. Opinions are mine alone. I have not been compensated for this review. The giveaway prize will be provided and shipped to the winner by Enjoying Tea Inc.