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Growing up in Texas, my memories of tea don't involve delicate cups and saucers, but instead revolve around Mama's fresh brewed sweet tea, served ice cold in tall jelly glasses.

The only thing I drank hot from a cup was coffee or hot chocolate, and any knowledge of "tea time" came from one of my favorite scenes in "Mary Poppins", when Julie Andrews pours while teetering around Uncle Albert's floating table (If you don't know what the heck I'm talking about, do yourself a favor and watch the clip at the bottom of this post.) 

Anyway, despite my inexperience, I've always had a weakness for vintage china and teapots: the delicate artwork, the originality, the shapes. And thanks to friends and relatives, I've accumulated a wonderful collection. I have music box teapots, silver teapots, and novelty teapots, china sets handed down from grandmothers, and (bless her!) Tom's mom's collection of teacups. Or, at least I think they're tea cups. How can you tell the difference between tea cups and coffee cups? Oh, well, they're pretty and unusual and that's all that matters to me.

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Here are a few others, treasured heirlooms, not because they're worth anything monetarily (they probably aren't!) but because of their connections to people I love…

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my wedding china, and yes, I've used it…

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But as much as I admire them, this is what I prefer for my coffee… it's pretty, but the important thing is, it's BIG!

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Here are few other things on my Cup of Tea list besides tea cups, teapots and coffee:

  • time with friends and family (especially Tom and the kids!)
  • dancing
  • the beach (all seasons, all weather, all times of the day or night)
  • reading and writing
  • rocking on my porch, watching the birds
  • walking the dogs
  • watching movies
  • scratching things off of my to-do list…

…and that's what I'm planning to do today. In fact, I'll probably fit all of the above in today, except for the beach. But maybe I can slip down to the lake for a bit – that should be on my list, too, anyway.

So, tell me … what's on your Cup of Tea list?

Oh, I almost forgot this one … as promised, here's the laughing/tea scene from "Mary Poppins" – it's definitely on my Cup of Tea list! If you can watch this without at least one chuckle … well, I'd be very disappointed in you, and we might not even be friends anymore! So just don't tell me – I'd hate to lose you.

 

This is my contribution to Jillsy Girl's Prompt Me! (Did you guess the prompt is "My Cup of Tea"?) Jump on the Blog Hop Below, or just click on the images to see the other contributions.

 

http://www.linkytools.com/thumbnail_linky_include.aspx?id=77644

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18 responses to “My Cup of Tea”

  1. Marilynne Avatar

    I love all the tea cups. When I was a teen it was popular to gift someone with a pretty cup and saucer. I’ve seen hutches full of them on display. It’s much more fun to drink from them.
    I love the blue luster ware cup with the golden middle. You are lucky to own it.

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  2. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    I love that set, too. They belonged to my husband's grandmother. Such a glorious blue and the gold just sets it off.

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  3. Jillsy Girl Avatar

    Your collection is delightful especially that one with the musical notes! How different! And, thanks for adding the video – I haven’t seen that since I was a kid! And, yes, I did chuckle quite a bit! 🙂

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  4. Fran Mingo Avatar
    Fran Mingo

    That’s crazy, Barb…I have had an antique tea cup/saucer collection for several years too! I just started my teapot collection last year. For the past 5 years, I’ve had several of the little girls from church over for a Christmas Tea. We all dress up and act like ladies, and then I wrap up their individual tea cups and send them home with them for a gift. Funny thing is, most of them don’t like tea! They prefer hot chocolate!
    I remember Mom’s sweet tea as well. Guess that was her “southern” thing that she never lost, cause we always seemed to have a jug of sweet tea in the fridge in the summer.

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  5. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    What a fun tradition with the teacups! And I bet your house was the only one in Chicago with a pitcher of sweet tea in the fridge! lol
    When you get a chance, post some photos of your collection on FB – I'd love to see them!

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  6. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    I knew you wouldn't disappoint me!!

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  7. Lady Fi Avatar

    Fabulous tea sets! I hope you use them… My dad claims that tea tastes so much better out of thin china cups. If I understand it correctly, then tea cups are much thinner and more delicate than coffee cups.

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  8. Agnes Avatar

    I think tea cups/coffee cups are important… presentation is important.

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  9. linlah Avatar

    I love the blue cup, seems to invite you to tea. Also, I had forgotten that scene from Mary Poppins, I love that laughter is contagious.

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  10. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Thank you so much for telling me the difference – that makes sense! I'm determined to use them now – just too pretty not to!

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  11. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    I do, too!! And I'm going to use that cup this week, by golly!

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  12. Sally Avatar

    That is a mighty fine tea cup collection ~ ESPECIALLY for a non-hot-tea-drinker!
    I like my tea piping hot – as in, mouth blistering. For this reason, I use the thinner, smaller, china tea cups ~ they hold the heat well AND I feel special holding them.
    When I do drink tea out of a mug (sometimes you just want to hold something big and comfortable) ~ I tend to drink half of it before it gets too warm/tepid to continue. Or – I don’t fill it all the way.
    I’m a strange duck ~ and would fit in really well at the Mary Poppins laugh table!

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  13. Kelly Avatar

    Wow, what a beautiful collection! I love the lustre ware (I think that’s what it is called??) I have two Russell Wright teacups that are my eternal favorites, they are small but not delicate, just the right shape and size. Isn’t if funny how we grow so attached to something like a cup?

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  14. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    The blue is one of my favorites, too. It's from my husband's grandmother. I love the shape of the plates that go with the set – like flower petals. I think that's why we love them – small pieces of (functional) art!

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  15. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Sally, thanks for the tip! I actually do drink a cup of hot tea (usually green) at work, but it doesn't stay hot and doesn't taste very good. I'll try a thinner cup and see how that works for me!

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  16. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Oh, and I've often fantasized about sitting at that laugh table. Guess I'm a strange duck, too!! lol

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  17. tea cups Avatar

    I love the musical notes tea cup, too. Very different and a nice shape. You have a lovely collection!

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  18. Staceybeck01 Avatar

    These are so cute! I wonder if I could buy a tea set online for cheap but will still look nice. I want one so bad! http://www.infiniteimpressions.net/default.asp?dept_id=25030

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