Welcome sweet friends. We are in the deep freeze in Northeast Alabama! It is hard to believe that our Gulf Coast beaches and South Alabama are forecast to have snow and/or sleet today!
“I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands.”
Psalm 143:5 (ESV)
January is National Hot Tea Month and I have set a table for two in the cottage to celebrate.
I look forward to the third Tuesday of each month when Mary and I share tea with our readers. We are always delighted to have Shannon from Belle Bleu Interiors as our special guest. She is a fellow tea enthusiast and a sweetheart. The links for lovely teatimes with Mary and Shannon are at the bottom of this post!
Sunshine Cottage provides coziness and warmth during the gray and cold days of winter. It is a perfect spot for reading and reflection while enjoying a cup of tea. The dappled sunlight casts a magical display on the table!
In celebration of National Hot Tea Month, I am serving up my favorite, Earl Grey! A special blend, Earl Grey Crème, from the Spice & Tea Exchange combines the comforting flavors of vanilla and cream to lighten the citrus notes of a traditional Earl Grey!
If you are a tea enthusiast, you will love “The Art of Tea” from the editors of Victoria Magazine. The book is filled with stunning photos, delicious recipes, and beautiful presentations of taking tea! I often refer to this treasured book for inspiration!
Being an avid outdoorsman, my Renaissance Man’s love for nature has sparked my interest in bird watching. January is the perfect month to watch birds from my kitchen and dining room windows! With that in mind, I pulled out a set of Pottery Barn ‘Winter Fauna’ bird salad plates that were discontinued long ago. I can’t even remember the last time I used them. With my new hobby, the bird plates are perfect for a winter tea!
All through the day, I catch myself peering through the kitchen window watching the cardinals and mourning doves as they flock to the bird seed on the ground next to the back walkway. They share with a variety of smaller birds that gather in numbers at the spot, although occasionally there is a bully among the bigger birds that attempts to discourage the others. I guess birds act like humans at times! Bluebirds and bluejays on the other hand are all around the yard and garden but never join the group buffet. Both will venture very close, but tend to be loners that hang out with their own family group.
Spode ‘Blue Room’ dinner plates compliment the tea set adding more blue and white to the table. I repurposed a tartan throw as a tablecloth which provides a feeling of warmth on this very cold day!
An appointment in Birmingham last week gave me an opportunity to visit Trader Joe’s…
…and a display caught my eye. Large packages of Danish Kringle had captured the attention of several shoppers. I noticed two ladies had placed a couple in their shopping carts. A very inquiring mind had to know if they had tried them before. Their answer was yes and they loved them. At the check-out, the cashier told us they receive shipments about every other month and they are always a different flavor. The pecan Danish Kringle was delicious and Butch, Daddy, and EM gave it a thumbs up. Are you familiar with the award winning Danish Kringle from the O&H Danish Bakery in Racine, Wisconsin? Strawberry, pistachio, and amaretti macarons along with chocolate hazelnut Piroulines, and Danish Kringle served on a stack of Bordallo Pinheiro dessert plates provided sweet bites for afternoon tea.
Last year I discovered that tea lattes were delicious. I love a coffee latte or cappuccino, but for some reason, a tea latte had never appealed to me. In celebration of National Hot Tea Month, I made myself a London Fog Latte to serve in my pretty cardinal cup that Mary sent me for Christmas, 2023. A London Fog is warm, sweet, and frothy with a hint of citrus from the bergamot-flavored tea. It is quite simple to make. Brew a cup of Earl Grey tea and leave room at the top. Add your choice of sweetener, I used honey. Heat about a 1/4 cup of milk and froth in a milk frother. I like to spoon the froth on top with a sprinkle of cinnamon for the perfect finish!
“Winter is the season that is full of excuses; excuses to sit by a warm fire, excuses to drink hot chocolate, excuses to snuggle up closer to the one you love.”
~ Butch Richardson
Long-time readers know that I am a collector to a fault. Butch and I had been married a couple of years when a friend of mine gave me a porcelain Hummel figurine. From that ‘Little Hiker’ the collection grew for many years. I haven’t added to the collection in more than twenty five years, but I still love the sweet rosy cheeked children and can’t part with them. I have an antique French glass-front cabinet in our primary bedroom that is filled with Hummel figurines. They were once highly sought after collectibles, but not so much now. I never collected to resale, but just because I think they are charming.
Many years ago, a very dear friend gave me ‘Icy Adventure’, a scene of an outdoor frozen pond with a pair of darling ice skaters, a rosy cheeked boy and girl who had fallen down on the ice!
There are no flowers on my table, just a pitcher of blush nandina and rosemary. The scent of rosemary fills the cottage!
Nothing gets past the eyes of EM. She examined the ice skating scene and noticed two cups of hot chocolate with marshmallows, a pair of rabbits, and a blue bird!
You have a special invitation to join Mary and Shannon for tea!
Mary ~ Home Is Where the Boat Is
Shannon ~ Belle Bleu Interiors
Thank you for your visit and gracious comments. Stay warm and safe, my friends!
Linking with: Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Life and Linda
Good Morning Pam! Your Sunshine Cottage is living up to its name with the sunlight dancing across your table and making for a cozy setting to enjoy your tea latte! I’m a fellow bird enthusiast and enjoy keeping them feed and watching from the window in winter too. I have the same set of Winter Fauna plates, they look so pretty with the accent of blue from your Spode and tartan plaid throw as a tablecloth and I’m so glad you’re enjoying your Cardinal teacup! 🐦I so wish we had a Trader Joe’s closer to us…your Danish Kringle looks like the perfect treat to enjoy with your latte. I love your sweet Hummel figure scene too…the icy adventure so fitting with the Arctic blast we’re experiencing this week. As always, it’s a treat to join you for teatime. Hope you stay warm and cozy this week! ❄️❤️
Thanks so much, Mary! Our low tonight is supposed to be 8 degrees. Mobile and our Gulf Coast could receive 2-3 inches 🤍❄️
Good Morning. I love those bird plates on your tea table. I have been giving the little birds lots of seed in the feeders with it being so cold. We are -7 today. The wind chill is so cold. I am praying for an early Spring. I know you guys are not use to these temps and SNOW!!!!! Stay warm and cozy. Hugs. Kris
Oh my, Kris -7 sounds just horrible. Stay safe and warm, my friend. Thank you for your faithful visits!
Beautiful table, and would be lovely to share a cuppa in your cottage. I adore Victoria books, every one is full of the grace I wish still existed in the world.
Thank you, Carole! It would be fun to share a cuppa with you!
Minus 9 currently at my house but weather forecast is for the weather gage go up to 40! When I turned the tv on this morning the reporter was having a hissy fit over snow in Texas. The children will be so excited to have snow in those places that snow is a dream. I would gladly send some to you if I could. Tea sounds wonderful . Just put sweet potatoes in the oven to warm the kitchen and to make sweet sweet potato pancakes later.
Alice, sweet potato pancakes sound delicious. I have never made them but I think I should. Stay safe in that cold. It is supposed to be 8 degrees here tonight, that is cold for Alabama!
The Sunshine Cottage is indeed such a wonderful spot to get cozy in with a cup of tea Pam! I love the warmth that you feel immediately when looking at the tartan throw on your table. I adore cardinals and always feel lucky when I spy one out the window, and your bird captures are so pretty. I love the Kringle’s at Trader Joe’s, the pecan one you got sounds really good. Your bird plates are wonderful and I love the cardinal tea cup Mary sent you! The Hummel figurines are adorable! Stay warm this week, and I can’t wait to see if they get snow on the coast!!
Thank you, Jenna! Butch just read that James Spann said Mobile would get the largest snowfall since February 1973!
Stay warm during our freeze. Tonight is supposed to be 8 degrees. That is cold!
Good morning, Pam! Sunshine Cottage is the perfect spot to enjoy tea on this cold winter’s day. The dappled sunlight streaming in is so pretty. As a fellow bird watcher, those bird plates made my heart swoon. They pair so beautifully with the blue and white china. I adore plaid, and the plaid throw adds a perfect layer of warmth to your setting. Earl Grey tea is my favorite, and I love a delicious London Fog too. Around the corner from Caroline’s apartment is the cutest coffee shop, and they make the best London Fog. That is where I first tried one, and I was hooked. Your sweet treats look delicious. It was such a joy to join Mary and you for tea today. I wish you a most wonderful day, my dear friend! Stay safe and warm!
Shannon, you are so sweet. It is our pleasure to have you join us for tea or blooms!
I so love your winter table and I’d love to have a seat there, sip one of my favorites (also Earl Grey) from a charming blue and white teapot and talk Hummels with another fan. Yes, I have a few, too. I am a MASSIVE Kringle fan.They freeze beautifully and whenever I see them, I get an extra for the freezer. Raspberry is wonderful, too (and I love the pecan; almond isn’t bad but I like the others better.) That company — I wonder if they are the only ones who make Kringle — I never see one by anyone else!
Yay, another fan of Earl Grey and Hummels! The Kringle was new to me, but I am a fan. I know I would love the raspberry! It would be fun to share tea, we could talk endlessly!
oh on this cold, frigid day, what a pleasure to stop in here for a warm and cozy visit. i’d love to share a hot cup of tea with you and friends. and bonus points for those beautiful plaid woolen blankets. thanks for a wonderful visit, friend! be well.
I loved your visit, thanks Linda!
The Sunshine Cottage is the perfect place to get cozy with a cup of tea. I would give anything to sit with you at your lovely table, sipping Earl Grey tea from a beautiful blue and white teapot! We, too, are bird watchers. The goldfinches love our feeder and also enjoy water from our fountain. I love your bird dishes. How wonderful to have those. As for the Kringle, I have never had it, but I am sure I would love it!
Happy Tuesday! Stay warm and cozy, my friend!
Nancy, I would love sharing tea on these cold days. We could enjoy much conversation and bird watch! You would love the Kringle!
It’s a great day for hot tea here in Wisconsin! Earl Grey sounds mighty fine with our weather at -5 degrees with a feels like windchill of -14 degrees! Your table scape is so charming, warm and inviting–absolutely love that little ice-skating scene.
Wonderful Tea time!!! Balm to the soul… Hugs and blessings.
Thank you, my friend!
Your Hummel caught my eye and it is adorable. I have an extensive collection of Hummels and sadly most of the collection is boxed. I moved and only took out 3 large ones. It is sad that the Hummels are no longer collected. If you are lucky to find out on the secondary market they are inexpensive. Most dealers in my area have no interest. Continue to enjoy yours!
Maureen, it is sad that Hummels are no longer popular. I still enjoy all of mine. I know the large ones bring more money! I bet your collection is amazing!
Oh, Pam, your teatime in the sunshine cottage is perfect for this cold day here in Austin. I will happily join you! I’ve never tried a tea latte, but you are tempting me to give it a try. I need to find my frother!
Love the sunkissed shots and Butch’s quote. I’ve saved it off and may use it soon, with his permission, of course.
Trader Joe’s Kringles are always in my freezer ready when company shows up. I favor the almond, but need to try the pecan. I will pick one up next time I’m there. The ART OF TEA is one of my go to books, and bird watching is also a favorite activity. I recently added a bird feeder outside my kitchen sitting room. I noticed this morning that it is more than half empty, so I best fill it up. A friend recently received a birdfeeder with a built in camera. Have you seen those? It even records their sound and identifies the birds.
Thanks for the cozy tea and chat.
Thank you, my friend. I think you would love a tea latte. I have frozen half of the pecan to enjoy later. Yes, I have heard about the built in camera. That sounds like fun. I always enjoy a chat with you, Sarah! Stay warm!!
Good morning Pam, it looks so lovely and cozy in Sunshine Cottage! The plates are spectacular. After you recommended the Earl Grey Creme, I went back to Highlands and purchased some. Making a London Fog will be on my list! Our low is “only” 17 with a chance of snow showers, but Charleston is looking at 4-6”. Isn’t bird watching fun? I filled big saucers again this morning with black oil sunflower seeds and have had at least 10 cardinals all day (plus one fat squirrel and kitty noses pressed against the window!)
Thank you, Roxanne. No snow here, but as much as 10 inches at our Gulf beaches. that is crazy! Our low tonight is between 8 and 9! That is cold for me. Stay warm and keep feeding our feathered friends!
What a delightful Tea time Pam! I didn’t realise you all had a National Tea Month, just my cup of tea, lol!
You had all my favourites too even the blue & white china, & I could partake in a Macaroon r two as they’re gluten free! A perfect cuppa together sweet friend.
I often enjoy a Chai Tea Latté when I’m out & about as a treat.
Blessings, Jennifer
Thank you, Jennifer. I am so happy you could join me. A Chai Tea Latte is delicious! Enjoyed our teatime, sweet friend!
Oh Pam, being a bird watcher, I just love your birdie plates! Your teacup from Mary is such a pretty one and perfect for a London Fog. Your little Hummel figurine is darling and it reminds me of my Goebel sledders that my dad gave to me. I’d love to join you for some Kringle and a cup of tea latte and see the pretty birds in your yard. ♥️
Kitty, it would be so lovely if you could join me for tea and Kringle. We could enjoy our feathered friends as they fly around the garden and stop by for food ❤️
Oh what a lovely tea time Pam. I love everything about your table especially the birds. I have so many bird plates because I do not have a favorite. I also love the bird watching year around. I will make a trip to Trader Joes to see if they have the Kringle…it looks so good. Have a great and warm week. Tell Butch that a warm cozy fire sounds so good right now.
Thank you my friend and fellow bird watcher. You will love the Kringle. Wishing you a lovely week
Just love the cardinal plate…the whole set… I made certain we had a heaping plate
of Danish Kringles for Christmas (almond)….always a winner with ginger/spice tea.
Bless Trader Joe’s. But O Pam, the Hummel Icy Adventure just stole my heart. When
we lived in Europe I used to pick the Hummels up for my US collecting circle and only
wish I had seen that one. Warmth and welcome just permeate Sunshine Cottage and
your table setting is a perfect antidote to a chilly winter day. We are going down to
7 later tonight, but the the days have been clear and sun-filled, so spirits are lifted.
Keep warm and blessed.
Thank you, Mary! It would not do for me to easily find the Kringle. I still love my Hummel collection although they are no longer favored by collectors. We were at 8 this morning. The blue skies and sunshine are fabulous!
Honestly, Pam, one only needs to visit yours and Mary’s (and the invited guest blogger) to your teatimes to get inspiration – the best! I love watching birds also, but since moving, I no longer feed the birds, just simply watch their natural tendencies. I love your plates and how you’ve mixed it all up on the table. You’ve said it before – the Sunshine Cottage does shine some beautiful lighting with the sun’s angle in wintertime. And yes, that Racine danish kringle is the bomb! Aldi carries it, typically right before Christmas. I bought the almond, and had to portion myself. I could’ve eaten the whole thing and made myself sick otherwise. Thank you for sharing teatime inspiration with us, Pam!
Thank you, Rita for your gracious comments. I love a mix and winter’s light is almost magical. If I could get a Kringle easily, I would be in trouble. Bird watching is relaxing!
Pam, Sunshine Cottage is a perfect place to enjoy a cup of tea. Your blue and white teapot is so lovely. Love the cardinal plates, I have some as well. Bird watching is so fun. My hummers are always a joy to watch. They never leave. Stay warm and cozy.
Thank you, Linda! Our hummers move south for the winter and return in the middle of spring. What a joy to have them year-round!
I could embrace the tranquility of a cup of tea in any of your creative tablescapes! I’m so pleased there is a National Tea month – a perfect time to slow down and nourish the soul!
Wishing you continued sips of joy throughout the month!
Thank you, Mary! Winter brings a feeling of tranquility!
Pam, Your tea table is cute and cozy on this cold winter day! Your Hummel figure is adorable! Your salad plates with the various birds are so colorful and pretty. The cardinal cup is lovely as well. Hopefully, the temps will warm up soon. I can’t believe the Gulf Coast got so much snow! Clara❤️
Thank you, Clara. We finally warm up today into the upper 40’s ❤️
What a wonderfully cozy table for tea you have set Pam! I love the tartan throw with the mix of blue and white and the bird plates are gorgeous. The dappled sunlight through the window is so pretty. The London Fog sounds so delicious. I hope your temps warm up soon – I think you are colder there than we are here. Crazy. Happy Thursday to you!
Thank you, Kim. I am excited we are supposed to warm up into the upper 40’s today!
Pam, I bet you had a lovely tea with Miss EM! The little Hummel skaters are adorable!! It’s funny, as I get older, I like figurines more. I’m glad I had a few from childhood as they are in my china hutch right now. Enjoy your birds!!!
Yes, we did! Thank you for your sweet visit, Barbara!
Oh, what a beautiful post! I enjoyed every part. I have never tried a tea latte, but I copied your recipe and will be trying it, Lord willing! I love the frothed milk on top. So delicious!
I think you will enjoy the tea latte!