Tea With Friends

A spoonful of sugar makes the history go down …

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Wed, 20 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Unless you were extra observant, you might not have noticed the teaspoons in the Wedgwood cream pitcher I shared a photo of on Monday, but these were some fun finds that I wanted to tell you about!

I was in a local antique mall the first of the year and was plundering through a pile of vintage silver plate items when I noticed teaspoons with some men's faces on them. After whipping out my reading glasses, I discovered that they were Wm. Rogers Mfg. Co. spoons depicting some of our former presidents, and I came home with five of them—George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, William Harrison, and James Buchanan.

Most of them were $3, but George and Thomas were $6. I couldn't really quibble with those prices, though.

Even the bowls of the spoons are interesting, depicting famous sites like Mount Vernon. I'm planning to use these around the Fourth of July each year, so I'm very happy with my fun finds!

Getting ready for America's 250th birthday

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Mon, 18 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Aware that the 250th birthday of our nation was coming up, I started buying a few vintage patriotic items a few years ago, and over the weekend, I started pulling them out. My favorite piece, by far, was this unmarked vintage teapot I found on eBay. I had seen one just like it for over $100, but the rattan handle was in pretty bad shape. This one was in perfect condition and was just $25, so that fit my budget.

Somewhere in this house are some reproduction Fourth of July postcards, but right now, only the Lord knows where they are. So I just filled this old secretary with as much red, white, and blue stuff as I could gather on Saturday, and it needs some finessing but is starting to come together.

Another favorite piece is this old pitcher displaying images of the presidents through Lyndon Johnson. This piece is marked 1965 and Made in Japan. If memory serves, I found it at an antique mall for just $6.

And this is a patriotic teacup with a vintage red, white, and blue hankie in the handle.

Since I still aspire to master the art of making fancy sugar cookies, I nabbed this box of vintage cookie cutters when I came across them in a local shop a few years ago. I also have newer ones that include elephant- and donkey-shaped cookie cutters.

Our country has lots of challenges these days, and I'm constantly praying for God to please give us godly leaders (from Washington on down to the local level) so that we can live in a way that will be blessed. The Georgia primary is tomorrow, and we'll be choosing the candidates who will run for governor in November's election, so it's an important one. (Actually, I think all elections are important!) I voted early, and I'll be eagerly awaiting the returns on Tuesday. Have any of you voted in a primary yet?

A new brew for bedtime sipping

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Fri, 15 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400

If you had to guess, you'd probably say this is some sort of nice berry-flavored tea, right?

But it's not! It's a tea from The Tea Spot, and this "Lights Out" blend is a hibiscus tea with chamomile, valerian root, and other herbs. I do try to avoid caffeine at bedtime these days, and I'll drink chamomile sometimes, but as far as teas go, that one's a bit boring.

These silken tea bags brewed up with a nice strong and tart tea that somehow softens from the addition of the chamomile and other herbs, and I love having it as an evening choice. This was a gift from my friend Gina, and I'm so happy she introduced me to this tea!

Some birthday treats suitable for teatime!

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Wed, 13 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400

My birthday was last week, and I was actually happy to hit year number sixty-two because a) it beats the alternative b) I prefer even numbers (I'm weird that way) and c) lots of senior discounts are available at this age. If there's a free something for seniors, count me in. I was also treated to a nice Indian lunch and a visit to a botanical garden by two friends, others sent lovely cards, and my friend Kathy surprised me with these teapot earrings she found on Etsy. They are absolutely the prettiest ones I've ever seen, and I can't wait to wear them the next time I go to a tearoom!

My friend Margie in California surprised me with this whimsical pop-up card that now has a spot on my tea trolley (really just a small table with wheels). I'd seen these cards advertised on television but had never realized how elaborate they are, especially this one with all the charming hummingbirds!

My friend Tammy has started making her own T-shirts, and she made me two new pink ones, including one with a teapot on it.

And a friend in Arizona, Frances, made my day by sending this gorgeous Shelley teacup with *turquoise* polka dots on it. I'm sure grateful for the thoughtfulness of my friends!

A beautiful Mother's Day Tea!

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Mon, 11 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Okay, let me say up front that these aren't MY Mother's Day Tea photos. No, I was enjoying a shrimp and crawfish boil with my family on Saturday, but my bestie in Statesboro, Kathy Bohannon, is a Christian comedian (among other talents) who spoke at the Countryside Baptist Church Mother's Day Tea in Guyton, Georgia. (Our crafting friend Lucia is a member of this church!) Now, knowing how much I love tea, dishes, and all related things, Kathy sent me these photos, and I was so impressed that I asked if I could share them here. I was happy she said yes, because I was going to do it anyway, but it was nice to have her blessing. I haven't been to an event like this in years, so I was drooling over all the lovely touches. Have you ever seen doilies layered like this? Brilliant!

Even the folded-rose napkin had a touch of lace!

Loved the accents of hydrangeas on this table, as well as the crosses (bookmarks or ornaments, maybe?).

Sage green is one of my all-time favorite colors, and I loved the elegant simplicity of this table. And the daisies and daisy runner!

I had to enlarge this detail from a photo so you could see the china pattern. Isn't that gorgeous? (Google Lens says it's a Community China pattern called "Brocade." Love it!)

And do you recognize all the Fostoria glassware in this table setting? It instantly caught my eye, as Fostoria has been all the rage on those "beautiful table settings" Facebook pages. (At least I think it's Fostoria! I don't happen to own any.)

I thought the olive-green glasses here blended beautifully with the plants on the table. Clever!

Do I spy pearls on this tablecloth? I definitely spy blue in the plates (paper plates, maybe? I've never seen real ones that are scalloped like these, but they're beautiful in any case!). And I like using the toile napkins in the glasses as part of the décor.

All these pastels and scalloped plates! Swoon!

And I'm not sure I'd ever seen brown plates with roses on them before! Now I'll be looking for these to set a fall table that can later be paired with light-green glasses and hydrangeas to make it a spring table.

Kathy said the tea was catered and offered quiche, fruit, and scones. I like that, because the ladies of the church should not have to wear themselves out this weekend! So thank you, Kathy, for letting me sharing the lovely photos with my friends in tea land!

My favorite semiquincentennial dish towels (so far!)

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Fri, 8 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400

To finish up my posts about my recent vacation in Saint Simons, I just had to tell you about one of my favorite finds of the week, which actually came from the HomeGoods in nearby Brunswick.

I had just glanced at a display of dish towels when I thought I spotted a teapot.

Upon closer inspection, I realized there were quite a few charming teapots on these tea towels. The set includes one plain blue towel and two each of the patriotic design. I absolutely love these and wanted you to know about them so you, too, can scoop them up before we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our country this summer! (And I'm betting they're at the sister stores—Marshalls, HomeSense, and T. J. Maxx—as well.)

A special souvenir from Christ Church in Saint Simons

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Wed, 6 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400

On our last full day in Saint Simons Island last week, my friend Angela made sure I got to visit Christ Church and Fort Frederica. I enjoyed both sites very much, but I must say that my heart simply fell in love with Christ Church, the Episcopal church there, and I was delighted to return home with their beautiful cookbook.

Here’s a brief history from the church’s website: “In February of 1736, General James Oglethorpe, who had founded the colony of Georgia at Savannah nearly four years before, arrived on St. Simons Island and laid the cornerstone of the town of Frederica and its fort … On the first day, Oglethorpe and the new colonists joined in Evening Prayer, quickly planting the roots of Anglicanism in island soil. A month later, The Rev. Charles Wesley, a priest of the Church of England and Oglethorpe’s private chaplain and secretary, took charge of the Frederica mission of Christ Church, Savannah on St. Simons Island.”

There’s lots more to the church's history, and I enjoyed seeing its rich heritage come to life in the stained glass windows of the church, including a magnificent image of Christ…

And even a panel depicting General Oglethorpe.

Angela and I enjoyed hearing a brief history from the docent on duty until a huge bus full of seniors (#mypeople) arrived, at which point we headed outside to explore on our own. The church and grounds are just stunning, and I could have spent hours there.

I bought the church cookbook as a memento of our visit, and I was delighted to get home and find a couple of tea recipes inside, including Paris Iced Tea, made with spiced tea and lime juice, and Tomato Tea Sandwiches, as well as, of course, some delicious-looking seafood dishes. I imagine I'll always enjoy cooking out of this lovely book! (It was $40, and you can order one here if you're interested. I learned that it's available at a bookstore here in Newnan as well!)

Finding tea on a visit to Saint Simons Island

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Mon, 4 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400

I recently returned from spending a delightful week on Saint Simons Island, where my friend Angela has a home, and I came back with lots of great memories, fun finds, and inspiration from a part of coastal Georgia I’d never visited before. This island isn’t far from Savannah, which I’ve visited many times, yet I’d somehow never made it to Saint Simons, and I loved it!

As a longtime water lover, I’d been wanting to go back to the beach for a couple of years now, but somehow, I couldn’t go back to the (many) beaches I had visited with my husband. Not yet. But since this was a beach I’d never visited before, it was the perfect getaway, and I so enjoyed wading in the water, collecting seashells, and eating some great seafood.

To my surprise and delight, a tea vendor I’d discovered a couple of years ago has a facility in nearby Brunswick, and when we drove over there for lunch one day, Angela gladly offered to stop by the Biron Tea Factory and Tasting Room.

I enjoyed seeing the pretty roses out front.

Inside, they had many teas brewing in glass pots, and you were welcome to try sample cups of tea.

The two I came home with? The Peach Blossom Black Tea at left and the Keemun tea at right, both of which I have already tried and greatly enjoyed. If you've not heard of Biron Teas, you can learn more about them here. A fun discovery while on vacation!

The puzzle winner is …

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Fri, 1 May 2026 07:32:00 -0400

Frances L.! I've got an email headed your way. Congratulations, and I hope you enjoy putting this puzzle together!

Some fun mail from Harney & Sons

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Fri, 1 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400

I miss catalogs. It used to be so fun to receive catalogs like the Lillian Vernon catalog (all those personalized goodies!) and the Victorian Trading Company catalog. I know that most companies have gone all-in on the online sales, but a happy little catalog in the mailbox always gets my attention, so I was delighted when this lovely publication from Harney & Sons showed up the other day.

It's part magazine, part catalog, and the combination is such a nice one. Here, for instance, I enjoyed reading about Mike Harney's travels to Africa, where the rooibos plant is grown.

And this page tells about "The Storied Legacy of British Teas." I'm keeping this publication, and plan to order soon, so they definitely hit a target customer with me! Did any of you receive this publication?

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

The other night, I was enjoying an evening walk through the neighborhood when I noticed that some white blossoms kept appearing along the side of the road. When I stepped in for a closer look, I couldn't help noticing how pretty the blossoms were, and I suspected they were blossoms on blackberry vines.

When I got home and looked it up on Google Lens, sure enough, these were future blackberries, and I thought they were so pretty. I was also reminded to check the blackberry vines that are growing in my backyard, because I would love to make a blackberry cobbler or blackberry muffins this summer. I guess blackberries were on the brain, because when I saw this Bigelow Blackberry Citrus Herbal Tea at Publix, I wanted to try it.

And I’m so glad I did! It’s such a pleasant blend of both the blackberry and citrus flavors, and while I’ve been enjoying it hot, I suspect it would be good as an iced tea as well. I also like to plop berry- and citrus-flavored tea bags in my water bottle to give a little zip to the water as well. Have any of you tried this Blackberry Citrus tea? Or any other blackberry teas?

Giveaway: A Mackenzie-Childs Blooming Kettle Puzzle!

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

While shopping at a HomeGoods store on Saturday, I came across this darling Mackenzie-Childs teakettle puzzle. Isn’t it great? I loved it so much that when I saw a second one, I decided it would make a great giveaway item!

Lately, I’ve purchased several puzzles that I intend to use as artwork, and maybe one of you would enjoy this puzzle as well. I mean, what tea lover wouldn’t enjoy some teatime art!

So if you’d like to win this puzzle, just leave an “Enter me” comment to this post, here or on Facebook, making sure I have a way to contact you if you’re the winner, and you’ll be entered to win. Deadline is Friday, May 1, at 7 a.m. EST. US only, please. Good luck!

The Summer 2026 Issue of Flea Market Décor Magazine

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

One of my favorite summer magazines has just appeared on newsstands, the summer issue of Flea Market Décor. I always love the vintage-garden vibe of this issue, and I was particularly delighted to see the funky old lamp on the cover, the one sitting atop the large pink table topper. You see, when I was growing up, my mom and dad had one of these oh-so-seventies lamps in their bedroom. Little droplets of oil ran down thin strands of some sort of filament, and I imagine it was the most elegant thing ever to hit our little country road in rural Buchanan, Georgia. As I studied the photo, I recalled that this memorable lamp hung over a corner of a bedroom that featured a king-sized bed with leopard-print bedclothes juxtaposed against walls papered in a swirly gold pattern with red-velvet flocking. I am not making this up. What in the name of Liberace do you suppose my Southern Baptist mother was thinking? But I digress.

Aside from the trips down memory lane that vintage articles always seem to launch, I enjoyed gleaning a few new tea-ish ideas from this issue. In almost every antique store I visit, I come across old glasses from various states across the land. Wouldn't it be fun to collect them as tea glasses?

And check out this mid-mod kitchen backsplash with a vintage tea advertisement hanging on it!

Another of my favorite sightings in this issue was a set of day-of-the-week tea towels. When did we stop using those? My guess is, when we gals hit the workforce and no longer had time to even consider daily décor in the kitchen. (And did you notice the charming typo? Or maybe I should say "stitch-o"?) This was quite a fun issue to pore over, and if you're looking for some fun weekend reading, here you go!

A fun new matcha drink

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

So how do we feel about matcha, friends? I don’t think I’ve written about matcha in a while, and it’s a variety of tea that usually has to grow on me. But then I saw this Strawberry Shortcake Matcha at a local coffee shop, Leaf and Bean, and had to give it a try. I had skipped lunch, so I decided to order this tea and a blueberry scone, which of course were more than filling!

I rarely order an iced tea or coffee drink in a coffee shop, but I wanted to try this one, an iced matcha sweetened with white chocolate and topped with strawberry cold foam. I enjoyed experiencing the different layers of the drink as I sipped, and this was a fun departure from my usual coffee shop order, a London Fog. Have any of you tried a "mixed" matcha drink like this one?

A visit to Botanic in Opelika

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

On Friday, I took a much-needed "mental health day," as I call it, to go thrifting in Opelika, Alabama, with my friend Liz. I found a wonderful vintage mirror I'd been looking for, and she found a vintage stool that was right up her alley, and when we finished, we headed to a place I'd been wanting to visit, Botanic. And there we are at the entrance to the greenhouse!

Botanic, which is owned by the woman who started Chicken Salad Chick, features several restaurants, a garden center, a lovely market shop, and more. When we stopped for lunch, we both ordered the Greek style crepe with grilled chicken (served in a cone-style stand), and it was delicious. I forgot to get a picture, but the hot jasmine tea I ordered was tasty as well!

As we ate, we both admired the plate wall nearby. These plate walls are all the rage in decorating magazines, and both Liz and I like them.

Speaking of decorating, Liz is also an interior decorator, and while we walked through the garden center, she mentioned that she thought this colorful lantana was the kind being sought by a client of hers. She asked if I would mind transporting a few plants, and of course I did not.

They have wagons available for transporting plants, and a worker there kindly let Liz fill up the car to see how many it would hold. We ended up going home with 10 hanging baskets of lantana in my back seat!

Oh, and there were even beautiful swans in the lake there, although I forgot to go back and get a picture of them! So if you're in the Opelika area (or within driving distance) and want a nice new "ladies who lunch" spot where you can also enjoy a good cup of tea, check out Botanic!

A different kind of tea book

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

This is rather random for a Friday blog post, but my book-loving friend Liz spotted this unusual "tea set" at the Powell Library here in Newnan, and she snapped a photo and sent it to me. Is this not the coolest thing? And that's it. That's the post!

Sipping some springtime

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

When I went antiquing with a girlfriend back in February, I came across a vintage teacup for just six dollars that I thought would be perfect for springtime decorating. It sat on a shelf throughout Easter, but it dawned on me that I needed to actually drink out of this teacup too.

I think the yellow and purple colors as well as the green trim make this such a charming Easter/spring teacup, and the handle is interesting in that it's not a solid color, more like that sponge ware finish that was all the rage back in the eighties. (I checked photos of other pieces online, and they have this same finish on the handle.)

And it's by Royal Albert, which is always a plus. I consider this teacup six dollars well-spent!

A Garden Party Baby Shower!

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

On Friday night, some friends and I traveled to Macon for the CeCe Winans concert, which was as wonderful as I knew it would be, and then I was up bright and early Saturday morning to make cucumber sandwiches for my niece Amelia's baby shower! She and Korbin are having a girl, and little Ruby Jane (named in honor of my paternal grandmother, Ruby, as well as Aunt Jane) will be here in July. We love the two precious little boys in our family, but we are all very excited about the arrival of this little girl!

My sister decided to stage the garden party in the gazebo at my dad's, and she had a lovely (and tasty!) strawberry cake set up there, as well as cute cake pops made by one of Amelia's friends.

I loved how girly everything looked!

The tea station had both hot and cold teas. Rhonda pulled in some of my mom's Old Country Roses china, and it was so pretty on the tables. Mother would be thrilled!

We had mini pasta salads, a fruit tray …

Cucumber sandwiches, pimiento cheese sandwiches, egg salad sandwiches, a veggie tray, and chicken salad and crackers.

My niece Madison decorated, and I loved these teapot banners that were waving in the breeze. It was a gorgeous morning, not too hot and not too cool, and we all enjoyed sitting in the outdoors as Amelia opened gifts.

Of course she received lots of cute outfits, and all the pink and ruffled things are right up my alley.

Our friend Sharon made the cutest baby diaper wreath I've ever seen. So much detail!

And this crocheted baby afghan? That was my gift!

I loved having tea parties with Amelia and her sisters Madison and Cari when they were little girls, and I am beyond excited about hosting tea parties for the next generation!

On pins and needles

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Okay, fellow seamstresses. Do you know what this is? If not, you'll be on pins and needles until you find out, right?

Well, it's a vintage needle book, and I found it at an antique store a few weeks ago for just $6 and decided it needed to come home with me. Later, I saw a giant framed piece where someone had arranged their collection of vintage needle books behind glass. Clever idea, but I like to actually use my needle books.

And this one was marked "Made and Printed in West Germany," which tells me it dates from 1949 to 1990, and I'm betting it was from the fifties or sixties. Do any of you collect needle books?

Easter surprises in the mail

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Are you ever astonished at the sheer number of tea vendors we have today? I am. And I was reminded of this when a new-to-me name in tea showed up in my mailbox last week: “Kittea.” My friend Nancy sent me a thoughtful Easter gift, and it included this Kittea Raspberry Oolong Tea, which very much reminded me of juicy raspberries.

Also included was this nice thick Alice in Wonderland bookmark, a leather-like design I’d not seen before.

I love the back too! Amidst all the political flyers that have already started clogging up my mailbox, this was a delightful and delicious package to find in the mail!

Wrap-up of this year's Easter tea wares

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Mon, 6 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Before I move on from Easter, I realized I never shared my Easter table setting this year.

I had been so excited about using these Primuline teacups and bread plates that matched some dinner plates my late mother gave me. The matching dishes were a gift from a lovely woman named Rebecca, who read of my quest for them while she was looking up these dishes on the internet and gifted me with these pieces, which I had been stalking for years but never found. So thrilled that I can now set a full table with the dishes from my mom—all thanks to a kind woman I’ve never met in person!

I still love this T. J. Maxx bunny I found a few years ago and continue to use it on my table.

The tiered server with a bunny on top was a surprise from my friend Margie this year. Isn’t it adorable?

And Margie also gave me the pretty green teapot napkin rings, which I used with napkins my late mother made for me from the Welbeck chintz fabric that was once sold at Joann.

Finally, I was so happy to be able to use the jonquil silver plate pieces I found at a thrift store last fall. These are perfect for Easter and springtime decorating. I hope you all had a happy Easter, as I did, and now I’m preparing to turn to roses for my décor for the rest of April and May!

Wishing you a joyous Easter!

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Fri, 3 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

On this Good Friday, I wanted to share a favorite vintage teatime postcard and wish you all a truly joyous Easter!

An Easter shelfie

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Now that I have young friends who pop by once a week or so, I'm really enjoying pulling out the decorations for each new season, which are on display in my small dining room. I haven't bought a lot of new things this Easter, but I did do a good job (I think!) of remembering where I stored everything from previous years. Some pieces can stay out in the garage after Easter, but others need to be stored inside, so I'm trying to do a better job of remembering what's where. This is the Easter shelfie for 2026, and I think I like it!

The only purchase this Easter was this little tin sign (because … teacup).

I am still just in love with the $1 vintage Avon bunny figurines that I bought when visiting yard sales with my sister on a rainy day last summer.

And then came the matching Avon figurine, a gift from my friend Margie, a piece I treasure not only because it features teatime but also because it belonged to her late mother, who, like me, was once an Avon lady!

I have three chintz teapots and used them all in the display since nothing says "springtime" quite like chintz.

And of course I will always love my vintage Easter postcards. I'm so looking forward to celebrating Easter this weekend!

Everything's coming up roses!

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0400

So I was at a HomeSense store this week to look for pink rose accessories to use on a coffee table that is temporarily located in front of my new pink sofa. My husband had an old glass coffee table he used in his “man cave,” and it was sitting out in the garage, awaiting its transfer to a local thrift store for donation. But then I decided I would clean it up and drag it inside just to get an idea of whether I really want a coffee table there. And I decided that yes, I do! I thought I wanted a white wooden coffee table, but I really like the airiness and transparency of the glass, so this will be staying until I find the (bargain!) vintage coffee table I now desire. I found one on Facebook Marketplace that was being advertised by an antique store not too far away. Alas, that gold bamboo-and-glass coffee table is $425, and I believe I can do better than that!

Meanwhile … accessories. That was the name of the game. I found a vase with pink silk roses that was just perfect, and then I innocently wandered down the dish aisle and spotted THIS! I’d never seen a handpainted cup and saucer quite like this before. A mug, yes, but a teacup and saucer, no. It was just $9.99, and I had rewards points that actually made it free.

The sticker says to hand wash it, so I will.

So technically, this wasn’t a new teacup but simply new living room décor!