Happy Tuesday sweet friends. I hope wherever you are that you are staying cool. For the first time in my memory, we were issued an “excessive” heat warning yesterday…dangerously hot conditions with heat index values up to 113. Today promises cooler temperatures for which I am thankful!
“I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.”
Psalm 9:1
I look forward to the third Tuesday of each month when Mary and I share Tea on Tuesdays!
Today we welcome Shannon from Belle Bleu Interiors. Shannon has a beautiful home that she has designed in her signature French style. The links for Mary’s and Shannon’s teatimes are at the bottom of this post. Also you will find the winner of my giveaway!
Late Saturday morning I set a tea table on the Sunshine Cottage porch. It was the first opportunity last week that was not threatening a thunderstorm! The ‘Famille Rose’ teapot, sugar, and creamer were Mother’s Day gifts last year from my sweet RM. I had long admired this lovely pattern from Williams Sonoma. The morning was to be sunny, but you can tell by the photos the clouds began to roll in.
The teapot was elevated on a small cake/cupcake stand that I had found at TJ Maxx last year. A few weeks ago, I stumbled upon the beautiful floral teacups by ‘Grace Teaware’ at TJ Maxx. Can you believe I walked away and didn’t purchase? But for some reason, I couldn’t get them off my mind. About a week later, I decided to return and they were sitting there kind of lonely. Not wanting to hurt their feelings, I placed them in my cart (lol). EM and EK loved the teacups so they were placed in service for a “little” tea party in the cottage.
A small arrangement of crape myrtle, spent pink diamond hydrangeas, and zinnias were placed in a favorite vintage Wedgwood Queen’s Ware embossed pitcher. The salad plates are my wedding china, ‘Reverie’ by Noritake.
English Breakfast tea was served alongside ‘hummingbird’ bread and mini powdered sugar doughnuts. I have loved these little doughnut confections since childhood. Hummingbird cake is my all-time favorite cake! My beloved Mother baked it often and always on my birthday. I had an idea for a simple way to make hummingbird bread. Krusteaz muffin mixes are a staple in my pantry because they are moist and delicious. I bake them often for my Daddy. Using the banana nut muffin mix which has real bananas and walnuts, I followed their directions of mixing 3 eggs, 1/2 cup water, and 1/3 cup vegetable oil. To this mixture I added 3/4 cup of crushed pineapple and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon. I baked according to the box directions for a loaf pan. It was RM approved and I agreed. A quick and easy way to enjoy my favorite cake. Of course, homemade cream cheese frosting would be ideal and the next time I will definitely frost the bread.
Long-time readers know that I love mixing colors, patterns, and textures. I also love a collected look that takes place over time. With all of that said, my favorite decorating style is English country. The April Cornell floral tablecloth makes a lovely foundation and has that special romantic English cottage style. Embroidered napkins, green depression compote, Wedgwood pitcher, and wedding china satisfy my love for a collected look. Tea set, cups, china, and tablecloth show my love for mixing patterns.
The garden has the look of August…heat, rain deprived, and then high winds and thunderstorms took their toll!
I confess the heat and humidity were so oppressive that I retreated inside the air-conditioned cottage every few minutes!
The skies were becoming very cloudy and I realized I must hurry to finish taking photographs.
Iced tea was a welcome drink!
It seems that iced tea sweetened with simple syrup has never tasted better than on these hot August days!
Adding a sprig of chocolate mint is perfect!
“A big glass of sweet iced tea will not solve the world’s problems, but it does make me forget they exist, until the glass is empty!“
~ Butch Richardson
What is your pleasure my friends? Will it be hot, or iced tea?
I barely finished photographing and placing everything inside the cottage when strong winds and rain began!
Mary ~ Home Is Where the Boat Is
Shannon ~ Belle Bleu Interiors
Congratulations to C. Smith, the winner of my giveaway, “Come for Tea” and the teacup/saucer. Thank you to all who entered.
As always, I appreciate your visit and gracious comments. Wishing you a joy-filled day!
Linking with: Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Imparting Grace,Life and Linda
Good Morning Pam…
Such a lovely tea time in the gardens of your Sunshine Cottage.
The teapot, sugar, and creamer are so beautiful.
Thank you for the quick Hummingbird Cake recipe.
Happy Tuesday! We have family visiting, so I’m off to get breakfast ready.
Thank you, Nancy. Enjoy your family, sweet friend!
Pam, Your ‘Famille Rose’ tea set is a beauty! It’s lovely paired with your April Cornell floral tablecloth and new pretty-in-pink bird teacups. I can see why you had to go back and get them! Your hummingbird bread doctored from your muffin mix sounds delicious and so easy…I love to doctor a mix for easy baking! Your garden still looks lovely despite the heat and humidity and I love your mix of garden blooms in your vintage Wedgwood Queen’s Ware pitcher. I can barely make myself walk outside after 11 am with our pore-cleansing weather. My shed has been sorely neglected as there is no A/C. We’re under a heat advisory today before storms move through later today, hopefully cooling us off and not making it feel like a sauna. As always, it’s a treat to join you for tea and visit you in your garden! Glad you are cooling off some, fall can’t get here quickly enough for me. 🙂 Happy Tuesday. ♥
Thank you, Mary. We had rain this morning and then clear skies and a stiff breeze brought our temps and humidity down. We are supposed to be in the low 60’s in the morning 😀
Such a lovely table, and your iced tea looks wonderful – I think I’ll choose that over the hot tea today, since we’re in a super heat wave up here too! Thanks for the lovely collected table inspiration, once again!
Thank you sweet Barbara for your visit. Iced tea always sounds good on a hot day. I hope your weather cools down soon!
All those floral china patterns look wonderful together. Iced tea for me.
I love mixing patterns. Thank you Carole!
Whew Pam, that’s to hot! I am so honored to be a chosen reader of your beautiful post. Your table speaks to all your love shared with us. Oh the green table cloth. I looked very closely at those delicate napkins with the tiny pink embroidery. But to top it off with the famille rose tea pot sugar and creamer from Butch makes my heart sing. Those pink cups and saucers would have jumped in my cart too! I’m still a pink girl! Many years ago I subscribed to Southern Living and still have the copy of the magazine with the first Hummingbird cake recipe. I made it for my mother in law for her 90 something birthday and drove it 12 hours to her birthday party in assisted living. All of the residences ate cake with her. I love sharing my southern life with others as you do.
Alice, you are a sweetheart and I am honored for your longtime readership and friendship. I still love pink and it is Ella Mae’s favorite color. Alice, what a sweet daughter-in-law you were to your mother-in-law. I love when you share your lovely memories with me and our readers. Sending hugs!
What a beautiful ,inviting table setting! Thank you for sharing all the charming activities that you share with your family and friends.Your environment seems much kinder than that of the NY metro area. Hopefully some of the gentle gestures seen in your blogs will be followed by folks!
Caron, thank you for your sweet comments. Oh that we would all be kinder ♥️
Pam, your teapot elevated on the cake stand is stunning. What a lovely gift from Butch. And his quote is spot on, I will be adding it to my little book of favorite quotations. Those little powdered donuts were a favorite of mine too! You could never sneak one because of the powdered sugar trail! Thank you for sharing the hummingbird cake recipe, I will be making that for sure! When the sweet tea pitcher starts to get low, panic ensues! Between making tea and hummingbird food, I am going through bags and bags of Dixie Crystals this summer!
Thank you, Roxanne. Yes, eating one of those powdered doughnuts would leave a trail and a dusting on your clothes. I still love them. Do try the hummingbird cake/loaf, it is so quick and easy! I have enjoyed way too much sweet tea over the past few days!
You would never know from your beautiful photos that it was uncomfortably hot and then stormy! You were dedicated to set this pretty tea table outside during this excessive heat wave we’ve been having, but it looks oh so pretty! I love your Famile Rose tea set, your signature pattern mix and the tablecloth is really pretty. The flower arrangement in the Wedgewood pitcher is lovely as is the way you’ve set the table with the elevated teapot. The treats look wonderful, I’ve never had hummingbird cake! Yes, bring on the iced tea and A/C! By the way, your garden still looks beautiful to me!
Jenna, thank you. By the time I finished all my clothes were drenched. I really think you would love hummingbird cake! It cooled off this afternoon and feels wonderful outside!
Good morning, Pam! All of your photographs are absolutely stunning! The Famille Rose tea set is so pretty, and the pattern is one of my favorites. As soon as I can figure out a storage solution, I may have to start my collection. Your sweet bouquet, collected treasures, and AC table linens create such a beautiful setting with your gardens and Sunshine Cottage in the back ground, I adore the English Country style as well. It is one of my favorites, and Charles Faudree’s French Country style often reminds me of it. Your hummingbird cake sounds scrumptious! I would love to have a slice with my tea this morning. You won’t believe that after all those triple digit temps we have had that it was 62 this morning when I woke up. Our high is only going to be 87 today. I’m so grateful for that! Thank you so much for inviting me to join Mary and you for tea. It is always such a treat! Happy Tuesday, my dear friend!
Thank you, Shannon. I agree that Charles Faudree’s French Country style is reminiscent of the English country. I have all of the Faudree books, loved his style. He came and spoke at a ladies luncheon at our country club. I enjoyed meeting him. He had just published his first book and he signed mine with the sweetest comment. It was a pleasure having you to join us, my friend!
Hummingbird bread sounds delicious. Thanks for the recipe. I love hummingbird cake and have never heard of hummingbird bread. I’m trying it soon! How’s your sweet Daddy doing? Hope he is staying in and staying cool. Let him know we’re thinking about him. Your new cups are gorgeous! I love the teapot set as well. The tablecloth is so vibrant and lovely. It just ties everything together. We’re getting a respite today, which is much appreciated, from the intolerable heat. Take care. Stay cool. Clara❤️
Thank you, sweet Clara. My Daddy is doing well at almost 93 years of age. He uses a walker to get around. His mind is sharp and his quick wit is still in check. He is the sweetest and loves everything I take him for dinner. He is a joy and never complains. He doesn’t get out much, occasionally to our home, our son’s, and my brother’s. Our weather turned cooler this afternoon, I am so glad ♥️
Beautiful tea post. I love your creative mixing of patterns! The Famille Rose tea set is so lovely and the April Cornell linens. Those mini donuts remind me of my childhood, too. I adore Hummingbird cake and am impressed with your shortcut recipe. I feel the humidity and heat through the screen.It has been brutal. The iced tea looks and sounds so refreshing. The mint adds a lovely touch. I’m probably the only person that can’t get mint to thrive.
I relate to the hurry and photograph problem because is has been an issue for a while now.I agree fall can’t get here soon enough.
Thank you, Bonnie. I was impressed how good the shortcut recipe tasted. I will make it again and again! I think the powdered doughnuts remind many of us of our childhood!
So charming…just everything! Your beautiful teapot set and a quotation from Butch make it extra special. I’m so taken with your sweet napkins…they make me think of a dear aunt, and paired so beautifully with such a stunning tablecloth makes it such a lovely tea time together. I favor some of your delicious iced tea to accompany such delightful treats…and thank you for such a great hummingbird cake adaptation for a loaf cake! I want to use a flowered Nordicware loaf pan. I will take it and some iced tea to a dear friend now living in assisted living. Thank you for all the pretty ideas.
It’s been hot here too, but before we know it, there will be snow, so we are greatful too. Love your teas on Tuesday❣
Sue, your comments are heartwarming. Yes, the hummingbird cake adaption will be beautiful in a flowered Nordicware loaf pan. How sweet of you to take to a dear friend in assisted living. I know it will brighten her day. It turned cooler this afternoon so I will enjoy as long as it lasts. We rarely see snow, but we love it when we do. Enjoy your week!
Oh, that iced tea looks so refreshing! The twist for making hummingbird bread sounds great, Pam! I love your famille rose teapot service, and the teacups you left behind and later retrieved go very well with that service! Every time I see your Reverie I sort of wince, wishing I hadn’t purged all of that set (and there were so.many.pieces). It’s a lovely setting and, apart from the storm I love photos on a cloudy day actually.
Rita, I can’t get over how easy and delicious using the Krusteaz banana nut muffin mix and adding key ingredients delivered a perfect hummingbird cake/loaf/bread! I will be making this often! I almost purged my Reverie several years ago and I am so glad I didn’t. Thank you for your sweet comments!
Even if I don’t sit and drink tea with you, your pictures are always so beautiful, it’s calming, just the same!
How sweet and thank you Leslie Anne!
Amazing Tea time! Always a pleasure stopping by!
Thank you and love your visits, Maristella!
Just gorgeous! I think with temperatures breaking the 100 mark, that ice tea would be perfect.
Iced tea it is…thank you Nonie!
Another lovely Tea Tuesday. happy to be invited. Pam your cups and saucers are beautiful. Everything looks lovely We too love those mini donuts.
Marilyn,Joan and Marion
Help yourself to the doughnuts. They will leave your clothes with a dusting, however! Thank you sweet friends!
Pam, what a blessing to join you ladies for tea. The Williams Sonoma set is absolutely gorgeous; and your find at TJ Maxx “rescued” something that needed rescuing! I love Butch’s quote as much as all the mixtures of colors, patterns, and textures. You make the world more beautiful, Pam. I’ll have to try the bread recipe! Adding cinnamon and pineapple just sounds delicious (I can taste it in my mouth). Like you, I loved powdered donuts (and the little chocolate gems). Unfortunately I’m not able to eat them as much as I’d like now! The tea parties lift my spirits. I just returned from visiting my youngest son and family. I’m playing “catch up” and I needed this tea break! I love iced tea; but I prefer hot tea (particularly green!). I have several teas that I choose from each day—raspberry, green ginger, honey cinnamon and chai, …I just love my tea kettle and choices! But your set is picture perfect! I’m sending love and prayers always, Pam! And your sweet Dad—oh my heart! 💛❤️
I think so many of us love the mini powdered doughnuts. Karla, I am so happy you were able to visit with your youngest son and family. I hope to read about it soon on your blog. Green tea is healthy and your flavors sound delicious. I would love for us to share tea and conversation, sweet friend. If not on this earthly journey, we will in heaven! Love, hugs, and prayer 🩷💚🙏🏻🎶
I can see us in heaven now with our tea! Sip sip hooray! Much love! Yes, I will try and write by the end of the week! It was so precious! Sending love, hugs, and prayers DAILY! ❤️💕💛
P.S.—we had a nice cooler day today, Pam! It was SO humid at the Cardinals/Royals game and a soggy day at the fair! It’s supposed to be back up near 100 by weekend though. I’m patiently waiting my favorite fall season!
It has turned cooler here this afternoon. It will be short-lived, but will enjoy it! My favorite color is Autumn!
That’s my favorite color too, Pam!!
Pam, your table is beautiful! I love everything about it! I love how you mixed the pink teacups and saucers with the green tea set. It has been miserably hot here in Central Alabama, and for the first time in twenty years I closed all the blinds in our house yesterday!
Thank you, Ricki Jill. Closing blinds definitely helps with the a/c. It turned cooler here this afternoon and I will enjoy as long as it lasts!
This is so pretty. I especially love the pink cups with the birds. Oh, love those birds. As always, Pam, your table is simply beautiful and I love it! (I’ll have mine iced, please!)
You are so sweet, Jeanie. Iced tea it is…!
Love your tea parties Pam….and your lovely tea pot from RM….and how true his quote about the sweet tea taking away the cares of the world if only til the last sip of that amber liquid. LOL…we have had heat advisories every single day for the last week and I am ready for it to cool down.
thank you for your lovely table and sharing your tea party with all of us. (I have always loved the powdered sugar mini donuts as well as the chocolate ones.) Makes me want to run to the store and buy them both …Hugs prayers and blessings.
You are always so sweet, Kari! Say yes, to the powdered sugar mini donuts…who’s counting calories?! I hope you cool down in the days ahead. We have a reprieve for the next three days and I will enjoy! Hugs, prayers, and
blessings dear one!
Pam, our summer has brought us daily excessive heat warnings all summer. We’ve never experienced such a hot summer. Fortunately a slight cool front has brought us cooler temps in recent the mornings, but by noon the heat returns with a vengeance. Ice cold water and tea are our constant friends. Anything cold and refreshing!
I adore the teapot! I have the plates, but haven’t seen the tea pot. I may have to stop in to WS.
Stay cool and enjoy your teatime pleasures.
Thank you, Sarah. Your heat must be oppressive. Ice cold water and tea to the rescue. Stay inside and hopefully autumn will make an early appearance!
Pam, your table is lovely. I enjoy both hot tea and iced tea. The bird teacups are so pretty, so glad you went back to purchase them. I love your teapot. It looks so pretty elevated. Lots of goodies to snack on while enjoying tea time.
Thanks so much, Linda. The bird teacups were too pretty to not go back and purchase. Happy week!
I love my beautiful book and tea cup and thank you again, Pam. God bless you and your RM.
Cheryl, I am so glad you love the book and tea cup! I hope you enjoy!
Just lovely Pam! What better way to stay cool and celebrate with iced tea and sweet treats. Love the charming teapot and cups they work well with your vibrant hues! Stay cool autumn will be just around the corner!
Thank you, Mary. Yes, autumn is my favorite season!
Pam, your table is beautiful with your all your wonderful patterns, textures, and colors – you have such a talent for mixing that is so pleasing to the eye! And you make it look so effortless. The Famille Rose tea set is gorgeous and what a lovely gift from Butch. I’m so glad you went back for the teacups as they are perfect for the table and the AC tablecloth provides a wonderful backdrop for it all. We are in a heat wave here too (~95 F which is really hot for us) and the iced tea looks wonderful. Your gardens still look beautiful to me. I hope you get some cooler weather soon!
Thanks so much, Kim. We have had a couple of days of cooler temperatures and it has been wonderful. It is short-lived. But we enjoyed while it lasted!
Such a gracious and inviting table … just reading Butch’s quote brought the temp down by a
few degrees…cool guy. Thank you for your beloved Mother’s hummingbird cake … I am using
your wonderfully simple recipe to make a loaf this weekend. Wish I could transport that exquisite tablescape with the Mothers’ Day tea set and rescued cups and saucers to serve it all. What we garner from your dear example of expressing Southern hospitality, Pam… Will probably add the mini donuts in your honor…bless you.
Thank you, Mary. The simple recipe is really good. I hope you enjoy, dear one! Yes, the mini donuts are a must.
I can’t remember the last time I had a hot cup of anything! I keep a tall glass of icy water with lemon nearby all day … and occasionally treat myself to sweet tea. Again, please pass the lemon!
I’ve never seen that Wedgewood pitcher before. It is absolutely stunning. What a treasure, Pam.
Stay cool this weekend …
Thank you, Linda!
What a delight! The Grace Ware teacups were a wonderful find and the teapot is amazing! Oddly enough, I love “tea things” but I’m not much of a tea drinker. I do prefer hot tea over iced tea, but I am always up for a glass of iced water or lemonade! Glad the heat finally broke for you, our current wave till take us over 100 on Monday and Tuesday. Thank you for the lovely inspiration!
Thanks so much, Janet. Our cooler temps were short lived. We have a couple of 100 degree days for this week!