Monday, June 27, 2016

The Carnegie Gallery's Secret Gardens 2016 Tour

Several weeks ago, I went on The Carnegie Gallery's Secret Gardens Tour--an annual fundraising event to support their ongoing activities--and visited 8 of the 10 gardens on the tour. My photos don't do the gorgeous gardens' justice but I thought I'd share the charming features that caught my eye.

The Gallery's Complimentary Tea Room offered visitors light refreshments.

Garden #1
This award-winning garden had a cute "cottage" (perfect for tea time!), a (decorative?) well, a small bridge over a stream, and bonsaied trees.

Garden #2
This garden had 2 ponds and a terraced landscape.

Garden #3
This was the most colourful garden of the tour.

Garden #4
The front garden features a Koi pond.

Garden #4
The back garden offered a fantastic view of the Valley!

Garden #5
My favourite feature of this cottage garden is the unique sculpture of the owners' grandson in his snowsuit.

As I walking to the next garden, I spotted this deer wandering around...hope the poor thing made its way home safely!

Garden #6
The Rock Garden at the Dundas Driving Park is maintained by volunteers.

Garden #7
This is the minimalist architectural garden's front (left) and back (right) yards.

Garden #7
This wooden structure was added to the original home.

Garden #8
Love the turquoise bicycle garden ornament in this garden!

I got to chat with the gracious hosts and learned that they've been working on their gardens for years (Rome wasn't built in a day!) and the majority did the gardening on their own. Seeing these beautiful gardens have inspired me to step up my gardening game!


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Monday, June 20, 2016

Blind Melon

Back in April, I visited The Dutch Shop in Grimsby which boasted an impressive selection of teas by Dutch companies.

I brought home this box of Fairtrade teas by Spar, a Dutch retail chain, which contained an assortment of Ceylon teas flavoured with 4 "orange fruits": mango, melon, orange, or tropical fruit. 

 I liked how the box had photos of the tea pickers in Sri Lanka!

By the time I got around to writing this post, the only flavour left for a photo op was the Melon tea.

The Melon tea was a refreshing, sweet tea and turned out to be my favourite of the bunch!

What's your favourite fruity tea this summer?



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Monday, June 13, 2016

Opera House Tea Room

I've always been partial to tea rooms located in Victorian houses and enjoyed a visit to the Opera House Tea Room in Lynden, Ontario in 2010.

Isn't the sweet gingerbread trim charming?

 
The tea room was located in the yellow extension.
I wished that I had photographed the musical themed menu and captured more images of the interior.

The afternoon tea was served on a tiered plate and a pretty bone china teacup.
The owner's daughter is a professional singer who performed special concerts on certain days. Unfortunately, I didn't catch one of her singing performances.

A few years after my visit, the owners retired and sold the Opera House. 
I was glad that I had the opportunity to visit this unique tea room before it closed down. 


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Monday, June 6, 2016

Lavender Rose & African Violets

Many of the teacups in my collection were gifted by generous acquaintances and friends. Last summer, I was thrilled to receive a teacup that had been on my wish list for years...

Lavender Rose by Royal Albert!
This beauty was gifted to me by a work acquaintance who was downsizing her china collection.

The Royal Albert backstamp circa 1960s (Made in England).

Last month, I purchased this super cute dress tea towel from a local seamstress who custom made them in purple and pink.

Both are being used as hand towels in the bathrooms!

I was also delighted that my African violets have rebloomed (despite my lackadaisical green thumb). YEAH!!!
 
Now if I can just get my orchid to flower again...


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Monday, May 30, 2016

Hats Off to Tea!

 This past weekend, I had some relatives over for a casual tea party.

The guests were encouraged to don their finest hats!

 My safari-style hat.

My mom's red hat which I fancied up with a purple flower pin.

We enjoyed two delicious tropical green teas served hot: Twinings' Mango & Lychee and The Naked Leaf's Coconut Blast.

I also cold-brewed overnight Davids Tea's Melon Drop Tea. This herbal infusion of apple, honeydew melon, papaya, watermelon, kiwi is one of my favourite summer teas and makes a refreshing light iced tea.

I forgot to photograph the sandwiches and desserts (blogging fail!).

My tea wagon was inspired by Alice Through the Looking Glass.

"This spring, it's time for a little madness."


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Monday, May 23, 2016

Victoria Day Long Weekend

Happy Victoria Day to my fellow Canucks!

Sandi from Rose Chintz Cottage provided a nice summary of why Canada celebrates Victoria Day here.

2010 Mother's Day Tea with Queen Victoria
Back in 2010, we attended a Mother's Day Tea at the Ireland House in Burlington, Ontario.
Queen Victoria (right) graced us with her presence.

 I took last Friday off from work so I enjoyed a super long weekend!
I treated myself to a delicious brunch of  Eggs Benedict and raspberry tea at Jax Sweet Shoppe.

In the afternoon, I dropped by the Hazel Tea & Dessert House, a newly opened internet cafe specializing in bubble tea.

I tried one of the signature milk teas (iced): Hazel's Brown Sugar Milk Green. 
The creamy green tea was sweetened with brown sugar, but I could still detect a slight bitterness from the green tea's tannins. I used to like tapioca beads when I was younger, but now I prefer my bubble tea minus the bubbles! 

 My sweet tooth very much enjoyed Hazel's signature milk waffle.
My yummy "Very Matcha" waffle was served with green matcha ice cream, red bean paste, and cheesecake bits (unlike the traditional cheesecake, the Japanese-style cheesecake is light and fluffy).

I'll definitely go back to Hazel Tea and Dessert House to try the other milk teas and enjoy the "Very Matcha" waffle again!


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Monday, May 16, 2016

Crowning Glory

Last week, I shared this unique item that I found at a church sale. 
Many of you guessed that it was a cover of some sort which was half correct...

Photo Source: Internet
The crown was part of Emma Bridgewater's 2012 limited edition decorative jar that celebrated Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee. The commemorative jar was sold for 100 GBP but I only paid 50 cents for my souvenir crown because it was missing the jar bottom!

At the same church sale, I also purchased this James Sadler (Made in England) teapot for $5. I thought that the teapot was lilac in colour, but when I brought it home, it looked more like periwinkle blue. Does it look purple or blue to you?

The last treasure that I scored was this gorgeous embroidery for only $2!

I'd love to have these teapots in my cupboard!


I'm joining the following parties this week:
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