Welcome to tea ... Today's tea is a little trip down this past week's memory lane.
As I prepare tea today I'm reflecting back over the week...
It has been one (if not the best) weeks ever. Sitting in the studio I'm steeping us some Pomegranate tea from Bentley's and serving a banana chocolate chip coffee cake from StarBuck's (which Mr. G. picked up for me on our drive home from a week-end with my family in Southwestern Ontario (Windsor).
I have chosen this beautiful teacup with a rose ... with it's elegant but sturdy and practical handle; well balance on a pedestal stem.
As the aroma of the blend of Chinese and Indian black tea with pomegranate embrace each sip ... I drift away in memory ...
This amazing past week started with celebrating Thanksgiving with my sister and her family; some close family friends and our mother at my home. But it was also my mother's 76th birthday ...
My Mother!!!! Happy Birthday ....
My brother and his family were unable to join us as the twins are still too young to travel the 4 hour drive. So, the fur-grand-babies ... Kobi, Dolce and Gabbana (and Stella too!) helped in the celebration.
My sister and I with our mother. Thank sis, for making it possible (my sister drove my mother up) for mom to spend the week with us. And we drove our mother back home this week-end. After visiting with my sister her family and a visit from my brother and his family. (family photos to come).
During our week together my mother and I had amazing conversations (the kind only mothers and daughters can have) over many cups of afternoon tea.
and of course there was lots of birthday cake left over .... here we enjoyed using the cherry blossom teacups my brother and his wife gifted me for Christmas. The teacup is from Teavana and is truly beautiful.
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| (Photo credit www.ilovetoronto.com) |
As regular readers of HHL know Windsor Arms in Toronto is my favourite place to enjoy afternoon tea. I was over the moon happy to be able to share this experience with my mother.
We were so caught up in all the goodies that I forgot to check the bottom of the teacup for its origin... But it was a stunning collage of roses.
We started with Greek yogurt & chives, goat cheese and caramelized shallot tart before indulging in a fabulous array of fresh sandwiches:
Smoked salmon and wasabi sour cream
with salmon caviar, cucumber with sundried tomato paste
and dill cream cheese, grilled chicken granny smith apples citrus mayonnaise, and fresh scones with preserves and Devon cream. Of course the scrumptious Petits
Fours were as amazing as always.
We completed our tea with aged and old cheddar with crackers,
grapes and chocolate dipped strawberry.
Thank you mom for the wonderful wisdom and beautiful trip down memory lane when I was just a little girl and for all that you shared of your life as young girl to marrying, to having children to seeing your grandchildren enter this world. I am proud to call you mother!
When was the last time you had a mother and daughter trip down memory lane?
Stay in Step with High Heeled Life ...
sharing this post with: Mosaic Monday ~Le chateau des fleurs Antiques and Teacups for Tuesday Cuppa Tea ~ Rose Chintz Cottage for Tea time Tuesday ~ Artful Affirmations and Martha's favorites for Teacup Tuesday ~ Inspire Me Tuesday ~ A Return to Loveliness Tuesday
Hello my dear!!!!
ReplyDeleteSuch a chic tea :) and Happy Birthday to your mother.
Enjoy your time together, it passes so quickly........
Thank you to stop by my blog, I'm trying to restart blogging again...... let's see.....
Love your way
xoxo
You spent some precious time with your mom and she is looking very happy and content in the last photo. Afternoon tea at home and at the Windsor Arms look like delightful times spent together.
ReplyDeleteJudith
I like the rose teacup you used for your tea time when you reflected on your week. Tea at the Windsor Arms was special, as was tea at home shared with your family. Glad you had such a good time. Looks like your mother and sister were enjoying themselves too!
ReplyDeleteHi Celia,
ReplyDeleteFirst time commenting although I have been enjoying reading your blog for some time now. Thank you for sharing your tea times with your Mom and sister and Happy Birthday to your Mom. It was all very beautiful.
~ Cassandra from Renaissance Women
God Bless
Happy Birthday to your beautiful mother! What a special celebration! Enjoy your week.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great time of being together and celebrating. The cake looks scrumptious.
ReplyDeleteDearest Celia,
ReplyDeleteWhat a LOVELY post full of GRATITUDE! Celebrating a meaningful Thanksgiving and also your dear Mom's Birthday together is such a blessing. That made for many wonderful memories, also together with your sweet sister that chauffeured your Mom! LOVE at work and this is how we create memories for banking on later in life...
It was so good to see your Bentley Pomegranate tea; the one I posted about on July 22: http://networkedblogs.com/Nm08S
That ROSE cake for your Mom is exceptional and your Toronto tea restaurant is like a DREAM! What a lovely presentation; all the way and for savoring yummy treats with your Mom must have been so special.
It was October 2005 that I had my Mom here for the last time... she can no longer travel due to her dialysis but I have the fond memories for the rest of my life as I did all I could for her while still being able to have her over for those final six weeks...
Hugs to you both,
Mariette
Hi Celia,
ReplyDeletewhat a wonderful birthday tea you had with your Mom. And the most precious was surely the talk between you and your Mom. I thing, she was delighted and will remember that often. Thank you for sharing this delightful time with us. It was a joy just to see all the pretty photos and to imagine the treats.
Best greetings, Johanna
Hello Celia
ReplyDeleteI'm reading your lovely post while having a cup of your Pomegranate tea - virtually that is!! LOL
Very precious times with your darling mum - make the most of them!
I'm a little younger than she is and I have to travel 12,000 miles to visit my daughter and three granddaughters - I do it every year and have the most wonderful time.
Lots of baking and tea parties!
Hugs
Shane
Lovely post Celia. So pleased you got to treat your Mummy for her birthday.
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely week Sweets x
Happy Birthday to your dear mother! By the looks of things, she spent some happy hours with you and her family. How lovely everything is. Love the toile tablecloth! I would love to spend some time at the Windsor Arms but that's not looking very likely now since my son moved to Illinois. It looks like a beautiful place with fabulous food. Love the rose teacup! Thank you so much for sharing your lovely post with us. Have a beautiful day, Celia.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Sandi
Happy Birthday to Mae! Wow, what beautiful women in your family and your mother's skin is like peaches and cream. What a wonderful week Celia. I'm happy that you got to enjoy each other. That is truly a gift. I'm quite lucky in that my parents live only 15 minutes from me. Spent time with them yesterday, taking Dad to doc appointment then chatting around the kitchen table when we got home.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to your dear Mother! What a sweet time your lovely family had together. It looks like you all had a fabulous time. The Windsor Arms looks like a fantastic place to have tea. Thanks so much for sharing your family time with us.
ReplyDeleteI hope you continue to have a wonderful week : )
Hugs,
Terri
Ahh, what a beautiful tea! Your Mom looks lovely.
ReplyDeleteSO fun! Your mom is lovely...and her cake? Stunning!! Happy Birthday mama High Heeled Life! xo
ReplyDeleteI am smiling! Your thoughts of tea at Windsor Arms brings back memories of my husband, son and i enjoying our tea there. We had shopped at Ashley's on Bloor and were waiting from the arrival of our china from the warehouse. They had our Minton pattern Aragon which we seeking special pieces and Spode pattern Bridal Rose cream soup and saucers.We love Toronto and our favorite place to stay is the York Hotel. Glad you could share all these wonderful times with your Mother!
ReplyDeletePam
What a lovely post. Thank you for sharing the beautiful sentiments as well as the lovely pictures.
ReplyDeleteCelia, you're a good daughter. Your mother must have had an amazing week with you and your sister. Loved seeing the old hotel. It's been years since I've visited there, mainly because I'm in Vancouver and, if not here, then in Europe. I must get out to TO soon. Hope your great week continues into this week. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your photos! Happy belated birthday to your beautiful mother!! I love the photo of you, your mom, and sister.. such wonderful memories were made and shared.
ReplyDeleteThe Windsor Arms looks amazing! I wish we had a place like that here and, as always, your tea cups are just beautiful.
Thank you for the sweet comments you left. Mac is just the sweetest little guy and we are so lucky to foster him. Yes, fur babies are our kids too =) I believe they think they are human!
Wishing you a most beautiful week, mon ami!! xoxo, B
OMG this post Is beyond AMAZING:) love your blog
ReplyDeleteCheck out my new blog post and....
have a lovely day dear
LOVE Maria at inredningsvis - inredning it's, Swedish for decor :)
OOOoooohhhhh what a wonderful post! First such a special birthday and then a fabulous tea! Love your photos! Beautiful! How special to have such wonderful family times...and around tea as well! Thanks so much for sharing your family with Tuesday Cuppa Tea!
ReplyDeleteRuth
Hi: Happy Birthday to your Mom. What a great day you shared with your sister. You have a lovely family. Blessings, Martha
ReplyDeleteYour Mother is beautiful, Celia - what a marvelous treat to spend the day with her sharing this beautiful tea. I hope you have very many more beautiful memories - I so miss my Mom this touched me greatly - I do appreciate you sharing with A Return to Loveliness,
ReplyDeleteKathy