Tea and Chocolate on a Winter's Day

Sleet, high winds and — thunder. What a day! Glad there was nowhere I had to go!

I decided the thing to do was indulge in hot tea and chocolate on a winter's day.

So I set the table with dishes that bring the warm days of summer to mind, 

and silk flowers that echo those on the plates.

Although I certainly use mugs for tea, I think cups and saucers add that certain something to the experience. I find I savor the taste, aroma and warmth when I leisurely drink tea from a cup with its underlying saucer that is so useful for catching drips and sugar crystals. Drinking from a mug lends itself to being done without thought as I read or work.  

Vintage champagne glasses will serve water today. (Or maybe not...!) We inherited these from Greg's mother, who probably served sherbet in them.

I love how the pattern of the dishware flows across the entire surface of the plates and inside the cups. You can see other ways I've used this pattern in Charnwood Hearts and Hearts and Flowers.

Chocolate chip cookies and Godiva 'masterpieces' in the shape of hearts surely won't last long!

To add to the feeling of indulgence, I covered the table with an antique Irish linen cloth, embroidered and crocheted by hand in the early 1900's. You may remember seeing this cloth in Lunch with Violets and Irises.

Lavender napkins pick up the color of some of the blossoms on the plates. The modern linens have pretty crocheted edges, counterpoint to the tablecloth's frame.

I love the movement of the swirls on this French coffee/tea set. The elegant pieces are a very delicate fine china, perfect for a tea party. A silver-plated tray helps the set stand out from the tablecloth.

The tablecloth was made for a smaller table, but I don't mind having the deep wood tones showing.

Draped over the edge of the table, you can see the design of the crocheted edge and hemstitch.

I just heard news reports that the creek near our house has passed its flood stage and will soon be inundating all the paved paths used by pedestrians, dogs and cyclists in the park that meanders alongside it for eight miles or so.

Time for another cup of tea!


Table resources
Plates, cup, saucers | Wedgwood 'Charnwood'
Coffee/tea set | Haviland Limoges, possibly 'Torse White'
Serving plate | New Martinsville 'Prelude'
Stemware | Libbey 'Windswept'