Happy Tuesday my friends. Our spring continues to be a bit unusual. Yesterday morning our low was 37 degrees, a chilly start to the week. Late winter and early spring normally provides plenty of rain, but not so this year. We are in a moderate drought with parts of Alabama in an extreme drought!
“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.”
Proverbs 25:11 (ESV)
Welcome to the Sunshine Cottage and the April edition of Tea On Tuesdays!
Mary and I are excited to welcome back Nancy, a fellow tea enthusiast, from Two Trails, One Road as our special guest. You will find Mary’s and Nancy’s links at the bottom of this post.
I don’t think I have ever shared this teapot, and I am not sure why! It is a ‘Pink Toile’ pattern from Churchill. I have always been a fan of toile. Originating from 18th century France, it traditionally depicts romantic, pastoral scenes. Several years ago I was shopping at Tuesday Morning when I happened upon the ‘Pink Toile’ set of china. It immediately jumped into my cart along with several serving pieces including a teapot!
Mugs were included in the set, rather than cups and saucers. A precious blogging friend, Jennifer from Tea With Jennifer, lives in Australia and almost always enjoys her tea from a mug. She writes an encouraging and inspiring blog. I am serving a delicious Earl Grey, my favorite tea with a hint of lavender!
I was thrilled that two of my peonies have opened and are blooming prolifically. The fragrant white is Festiva Maxima and the crimson red is Karl Rosenfield! Sarah Bernhardt should open up this week! The small enameled teapot trinket box adds a bit of jewelry to the table.
‘Eden’, a soft purple April Cornell tablecloth is a Heritage Print from the archives. It depicts floating butterflies and roses blooming, perfect for a spring tea.
The southwest window next to my table provides dancing light and shadows at different times of the day depending on the season. The magic now happens around 3:00 in the afternoon!
My darling EM and EK came for a visit while I was photographing the table. I had not planned a tea party, but the girls knew they would be enjoying the treats as soon as I finished the photos. Both of them are avid readers and I keep books in the cottage for their enjoyment. The girls had eaten lunch, but there is always room for a sweet treat. My beloved Mother’s two tier tray was serving chocolate petite Bundt cakes and blueberry cream cheese coffee cake bites plus Black Forest ham and cheddar cheese tea sandwiches.
There are four different patterns that were mixed for the plate stack! I paired the ‘Pink Toile’ mug with a vintage ‘Mayflower’ saucer by Copeland Spode. Next is a vintage ‘Rose Chintz’ salad plate by Johnson Brothers, followed by a toile small dinner plate. Rounding out this stack is a red ‘Asiatic Pheasant’ dinner plate by Royal Stafford.
Peonies have a short bloom time and strong winds or heavy rain can turn their blooms into confetti.
“Despite the forecast, live like it’s spring.”
~Lilly Pulitzer
More magic in the late afternoon!
Mary and Nancy invite you to join them for tea by clicking on their links below.
Mary ~ Home Is Where The Boat Is
Nancy ~ Two Trails, One Road
It is always a pleasure to have you join me for Tea on Tuesdays. I’m so encouraged when I read your gracious comments. Wishing you a joy-filled week!
Linking with: Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch,Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Life and Linda
Pam, your April tea in the Sunshine Cottage is simply enchanting! The way the sunlight dances across your table always feels so magical and inviting and makes me want to linger awhile with a cup in hand. Your beautiful peonies are the stars of the show…so lush, romantic, and perfectly capturing the spirit of April! I’m smitten with your ‘Pink Toile’ teapot and mugs…they add such a charming, classic touch and pair so beautifully with your layered linens and patterns. And of course, your treats look absolutely irresistible…I know EM and EK enjoyed them and an impromptu tea party! As always, it’s a treat to share a cuppa with you. Your Sunshine Cottage is such a happy place to visit! 💗🌸☕
Thanks so much, Mary. My girls read for an hour while I finished the photos. They love reading, so they were entertained.
Good morning, dear Pam. What a lovely tea you have set in The Sunshine Cottage. The dancing light makes it feel so charming. I love your Pink Toile teapot and mug set. I often drink tea from a mug, too.
Your peonies bloomed! They are gorgeous! They are quite lovely and are a beautiful presence on your tea table today.
I will enjoy your treats and tea sandwiches along with EM and EK. What fun we will have!
It is always a pleasure to be part of Tea on Tuesdays. Thank you for having me! I cherish our Tea Times. Happy Tuesday!
Thanks so much Nancy! The girls enjoyed the treats and so did PJ🥰
Pam, The Sunshine Cottage is such a splendid retreat to visit, I love your tea parties and this is no exception. You have so many lovely tea pots and dishes but I have to say this toile has to be a favorite for me. I have a few pieces and bedding and I’ve alway loved it. Well the peonies are amazing, just so lovely. I planted one two years ago and just given up on it but it has two buds, so excited! I love drinking both tea and coffee from a favorite mug and these are lovely. The treats look tasty, I’m sure you enjoy along with Butch sitting in the sunshine cottage drinking tea and watching the shadows dance across the table. Happy Spring…..
Thank you Emily for your sweet comments. I hope you see more buds and blooms with your peony! We do love our little cottage! Happy Spring dear one!
Oh Pam, how beautiful your April tea is in the Sunshine Cottage with the rays of light softly streaming in! The pink toile pattern is sooooo pretty and I love how you paired it with other patterns. How lucky for your granddaughters to reap the rewards of your tiered tray!! The tiny trinket box made me smile and I was so wishing I could smell those gorgeous peonies. Thank you for the beauty of a lovely tea this morning.
Thank you, Kitty! I do love mixing patterns and I am enjoying the peonies!
Ahhh. A needed reminder to slow down and find beauty. Happy end-of-April to you!
Thank you Leslie Anne! Happy Spring!!
Pam, a lovely table for the in Sunshine Cottage. You have captured the light dancing across your table so perfect. The pink toile teapot is so pretty. Love the choice of the plate stack. Peonies are such beautiful flowers. A delightful place to enjoy with your littles.
Thank you, Linda. The cottage is a sweet place for my girls to play and for us to have tea parties!
EM and EK have perfect timing. I think of the many memories they will have of tea in the Sunshine Cottage with their grandmother. The treats look delicious on your moms tiered tray. Always love knowing you use her things. The peonies are my favorite flower.
The Karl Rosenfield is a beautiful color I chose all the time and the chintz china plays well with it. My love of chintz has caused me to do a blue and white bedroom n chintz from top to bottom and another chintz pattern in my kitchen. Chintz tea pots in yellow and pink china in a chintz pattern. All will go to my niece.
Yes, my girls came at the right time. Oh Alice I hope they will remember our wonderful times when they are adults. I also love peonies. I would love to see your blue and white chintz bedroom and the chintz in your kitchen. How lovely that it will all go to your niece. Happy week, my friend!
Oh Pam, I have peony envy …and always will because I loved and grew them in Kansas. Yes, I grew the Karl Rosenfield, Festiva Maxima and Sarah Bernhardt, beautiful red, white and pink. (Altho I never had the yellow, I believe it was a much later variety) I adore your AC table cloth with matching napkins and beautiful chair pillow. I am sure the girls found room in their tummies for those cute little bundt cakes and handcut party sandwiches on your precious Mother’s tiered tray. Your plate stack is a feast for the eyes…as is the lovely teapot. I look forward to the dancing sunlight of the Sunshine Cottage…it is always a delightful surprise! Hugs my dear friend…
Thank you Kari. I know you miss your peonies. The girls read for an hour waiting for me to finish taking photos. They remind me of myself, I read all the time and loved the library! You are a sweetheart dear friend!
Pam, Your AC tablecloth is so pretty and I adore your toile teapot and mugs. The plate stack is perfect with the toile. Your peonies are beautiful! Our peonies are blooming as well. I just love them. I think this may be the second year we’ve had blooms; I guess that’s why I’m so excited to see them! It took a little longer for ours to finally bloom as I had to move them before they bloomed the first time. I know the girls enjoyed popping in and having an impromptu tea dessert. That’s the fun part of being a child with a grandparent nearby! Enjoy your day. Clara❤️
Thank you Clara. I am so excited that your peonies are blooming. They are gorgeous blooms, just wish they lasted longer. We are so thankful that our grands live close❤️
What a pretty table! I do love your tea tray with its sweets and sandwiches and I’m so glad you had some assistance in eating them! You couldn’t have a more charming group of girls to enjoy!
Thank you Jeanie. The girls love a planned or an impromptu tea party!
Love your April tea. Just beautiful. I had peonies at my last home and loved them when they bloomed. I did not know until I lived there for a few years that peonies need ants to bloom. Have a great week. Hugs. Kris
Thank you Kris. Peonies are a beautiful flower and I am always excited when they bloom!
The pinks and lavender color theme is beautifully done. I’m sure the grands were happy that their timing was perfect for a bite of sweets.
Thank you, Karen. The girls’ timing was perfect!
What a pretty tea table! Everything is just lovely, and the treats look delicious. I was delighted to see the tiny teapot so darling on this tea table! It’s so special that your granddaughters are able to just pop in and enjoy time with you and that they too have developed a love of tea parties and the beautiful teapots and pretty things…sigh…
Have a lovely day and thank you Pam.
Sue you are always so sweet. It is a blessing to have them so close. They enjoyed reading until I finished taking my photos. The girls and PJ both enjoyed the treats! Happy week!
Thank you for the mention Pam, I do indeed always take my tea in a mug. It gives me just the right amount for an enjoyable & refreshing cuppa. 😊
Such a pretty table setting, I love how you combine different crockery in your table scapes Pam. I do the same, as I think it creates an interest in the setting rather than having everything matching.
Blessings to you sweet friend, Jennifer
Jennifer, I thought of you when I pulled out the toile mugs. Yes, I love mixing patterns, it does make it more interesting! Blessings to you sweet friend!
Pam, I just love the layering you’ve mastered in your teatime. All the toile is so sweet. I love vintage [transferware] toile, but for real life use, what you found at Tuesday Morning is perfect. I could easily snack on your ham and cheese sandwixhes and sweet treats. You and your girls have created such a fun tea on Tuesday tradition. The sweet jewelery of the trinket box teapot is adorable. Having the peonies blooming is the garden’s blessing! I can’t wait for my herbaceous varieties to bloom. Happy Teatime Tuesday!
Thank you Rita! Ella Mae has asked for the toile dishes. I have a service for eight and she always reminds me that it is hers. Having the grands so close is a blessing. They now walk up the hill, EM is very responsible and watches Wyatt. Can’t wait to see your peonies!
Oh, Pam, these are so beautiful. I absolutely LOVE the pink Toile pattern, the small teapot trinket box caught my eye as I love tiny things! The mix of patterns, plates, & the colorful peonies just added the pop of Spring and Hope!
And the amazing yummy desserts, books, and especially the grands make it all even more spectacular. The
Oh, Pam, I’ve tried to comment a couple of times, my apologies if this comes through twice.
I commented on the Pink Toile –just amazing! The mix of patterns, colors, the peonies–and the quote of live like it’s Spring no matter what, all give such hope for this blooming season!
The precious desserts, grands, and the tiny teapot trinket were my favorites too!
Sending so much love and prayers daily. Thank you for making Tuesday Teas, and life, in general, so much more beautiful, dear Pam!
I love you! ❣️💐🌺🌻🌼🪷🙏🏻🙏🏻🩷☕☕
This post is brew-tea-ful! I’m loving the layers of pink and lavender plates which seem to be symphony of pastel wonders. Thanks for sharing a little springtime magic!
So cute. Awesome job.
Pam, you already know how I delight and enjoy the sunlight that always dances across your Sunshine Cottage. I always want to linger at your tables, inside or alfresco. The pink toile is totally charming.I smile at the thought of your precious EM and EK joining you at these teatimes.