A Victorian Christmas in Dundurn Castle

Every year, Dundurn Castle--Hamilton's Downton Abbey--is decorated in Victorian style for Christmas. Built in the 1830s, the 40-room mansion is now a designated National Historic Site of Canada. 

Photo courtesy of the internet

In 2013, I enjoyed the Victorian Christmas display at the historic castle.

The display of transferwares in the kitchen.

I need one of these tray tables in my bedroom! 

I also coveted the secretary desk in the sitting room.

A sprig of mistletoe hanging by the front stairway.

The dining room was beautifully decorated in cedar boughs, ribbons and dried flowers.

The Drawing Room featured a Victorian table-top tree. 

The costumed interpreter explained that the ornaments on the table were part of the gift exchange on Christmas morning. Interestingly, the Christmas gifts were not wrapped...perhaps the parents waited until after the children went to bed to bring down the presents?

One of the children was the lucky recipient of this miniature tea set.

If you'd like to see Dundurn Castle when it's not decked out for the holidays, you can take a virtual tour here.

 

Another Christmas tradition on my bucket list is to attend Canada's oldest tree lighting ceremony in downtown Dundas. Unfortunately, I missed this year's ceremony again. D'oh!

November was a busy month at work, but we made time for a tea social where we enjoyed some sugar cookie sleigh ride herbal tea.

Since the popular tea Advent calendar by David's Tea is too pricey for this frugal gal, I decided to create my own! I'm not particularly crafty so I was thrilled when I found this HUGE stocking Advent calendar with generous pockets at HomeSense last year.

I will be enjoying 24 days of tea while I countdown the days to Christmas!

I'm joining the following parties this week:

  Bernideen's Tea Time, Collage, and Garden Blog Party

Mosaic Monday

  No Place Like Home

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

In early November, I went to the Hamilton Potters' Guild's Fall Pottery Sale. You can view the beautiful teawares from the spring sale here.

The fall sale was the perfect place to shop for Christmas decor and gifts for the pottery fan.

There were many cute (but pricey!) ornaments on sale.

Ornaments featuring classic Christmas carol. 

Alas, there were no tea-themed ornaments so I left empty-handed.

This adorable nutcracker was from HomeSense. 

Sadly, the $60 price tag prevented me from bringing the nutcracker home with me. 

After 3 months of pumpkin and other spiced teas, I'm ready for the Christmas teas! 

I've always wanted to try Celestial Seasonings' Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride herbal tea so I was excited when I finally found it at our local Bulk Barn. Love the teapot sleigh on the box cover!

I purchased this "Tea Time" mug by Greg Voisin at last year's fall pottery show.

The sugar cookie sleigh ride herbal tea was a light and sweet tea ...

...but Celestial Seasonings' Candy Cane Lane green tea is still my favourite Christmas tea!

I'm joining the following parties this week:

  Bernideen's Tea Time, Collage, and Garden Blog Party

Mosaic Monday

  No Place Like Home

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Mum's the Word!

I missed the annual Hamilton Fall Garden and Mum Show this year, but was able to catch some mums at the Royal Botanical Gardens when I was there for a conference last month.

 

The RBG's autumn display included pumpkins, chrysanthemums, and interesting purple flowers that resembled cabbage heads.

I always keep an eye out for black teacups during my treasure hunts and scooped up this pretty pair at the local antique store last year for only $5 each! 

 

The Paragon backstamp includes the name of the pattern: Mums.

Chrysanthemum is the birth flower of November.

Pink, yellow and purple pom pomp mums adorn the outside of the demi cup.

The wide-mouth teacup has the colourful mums inside the cup.

I'm joining the following parties this week:

  Bernideen's Tea Time, Collage, and Garden Blog Party

Mosaic Monday

  No Place Like Home

Tea Cup Tuesday
Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Abigail's Tea House

A couple of years ago, a new tea room called Abigail's Tea House opened up in the County of Brant.

Abigail's Tea House is located in the old bank building on the Main Street of St. George, Ontario.

The gorgeous decor made me swoon.

Birdcage chandeliers! Tin ceilings! Peacock wallpaper! 

I wanted to take them all home with me!

 Tea lovers will have difficulty selecting a tea from the menu of 40+ loose leaf teas.

Teapot pretties

At my first visit in 2013, my friend and I enjoyed this delicious Ploughman's Plate for two.

 It was so filling that I didn't have room left for scones!

When I returned in 2014, I tried the daily quiche--it was the best quiche I've ever had!

This time, I had room for the fluffy scones with preserves and Devonshire cream.

Abigail's Tea House gets top marks for ambiance, food, and service! 

"Abigail’s tea house is the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of everyday life." 

(From: Abigail's Tea House)

I'm also joining the following parties this week:

  Bernideen's Tea Time, Collage, and Garden Blog Party

Mosaic Monday

  No Place Like Home

Tea Cup Tuesday
Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Scarecrow Saturday 2015

Last week, my office had another tea social. The theme for October was a no-brainer: Halloween!

I brought in some black teas and my Fire King peach lustre teacups and saucers.

My co-workers brought orange and black-themed treats.

 Our mini jack-o-lanterns. 

Last weekend was "Scarecrow Saturday" in downtown Dundas. This is an annual competition where local merchants create scarecrow displays that reflect their store or Halloween themes.

Village Bakery

 This little piggy went to market...

Left: Picone Fine Foods; Right: The Keeping Room

Veggie tales

Left: Ellenoire; Right: Bling on King (top), Strawberry Fields (bottom)

 Spa Day

Cumbraes the Butcher Shop

Mooey Cyrus' street performance of "Wrecking Ball".

Taylor's Tea Room

 This was my favourite: "The guard of Buckingham Palace". 

Taylor's past scarecrows were also fun:  

The Beatles on Abbey Road (2013) & The Scream (2014)

The Kitchen Witch

Now let's click our heels three times and join Sandi's new party...

"There's no place like home. There's no place like home. There's no place like home"

I'm also joining the following parties this week:

  Bernideen's new party: Bernideen's Tea Time, Collage, and Garden Blog Party

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Tea Cup Tuesday
Mosaic Monday

Donn Zver Pottery

In 2012, I attended a special event which celebrated Donn Zver's 40th anniversary as a potter. To thank his customers for their patronage, Donn Zver hosted a complimentary "Royal Tea" at his Cafe Troy in Troy, Ontario.

Donn Zver (right) wearing the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal that was awarded to him on June 24, 2012 in recognition of his outstanding charitable work and contributions to the arts. You can learn more about Donn Zver's accomplishments here.
  

The buffet of sandwiches and sweets.

Cafe Troy serves locally-raised food and has been awarded a Certificate of Excellence by Trip Advisor.

 A "Royal Tea" wouldn't be complete without empire cookies!

Queen Elizabeth II would have approved of the guests' pretty tea hats!

The Cafe has gorgeous stained glass windows. You can view the stained glass design in more detail here.

Tea is served from Donn Zver's stoneware teapots.

I love Don Zver's beautiful pottery, but always thought that the pricey pieces were beyond my reach...until this past summer. 

I was driving home and passed a house which had several boxes sitting by the curb. My curiosity was piqued so I turned my car around and went back to check out the boxes. I recognized the Donn Zver pattern immediately and couldn't believe that the pieces--all in excellent condition--were being thrown away!

These Game of Thrones-style goblets came home with me...

...as well as these beautiful tankard mugs in my favourite colour: PURPLE!

The Donn Zver backstamp

The tankard mug is twice the size of a standard bone china teacup and perfect for drinking copious amounts of tea during the cold winter.

If you like pottery, come out for a daytrip to rural Southern Ontario and visit the Donn Zver Pottery Studio and Cafe Troy.

I'm joining the following parties this week:

Tea Time Tuesday

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

  Friends Sharing Tea
Mosaic Monday