Treasured Teapots

I love everything about tea and its accoutrements! Going out to Afternoon tea, serving it at home, there is always time in the day for a cup (or a pot, more likely)! You will be a happier person if you sit for a few minutes over a pot of afternoon tea! I promise.

I don't know which came first, my love of tea or my love of teapots. Whichever it was, I have built myself a respectable collection! Each & every one of them has a story or memory attached. I use several of them frequently, others are just for show. I thought you might enjoy seeing some of my favorites (I guess that is all of them!) and hearing a little about each one. I will break this up over the next several weeks, since "The Tale of 30 Teapots " might not excite everyone else as much as it does me! *Ü*

This photo shows most of my collection.





Here are a few that are fun! The "GirlyFish" teapot below, was purchased in Half Moon Bay, California on the first day of our Honeymoon, 3 years ago! I am fortunate that my husband will wander contentedly in and out of shops with me all day. This cutie caught my eye & I had to have her! She's a very dear momento of a very special time in my life!

Next, is another one with a fish theme. It is a goldfish design by Franz porcelain & it called out my name in a local shop while I was Christmas shopping a year ago. Just wouldn't stop, so I took it home & wrapped & stuck it under the tree, from Santa to me! The goldfish remind me of those gorgeous fantail beauties that you see in aquariums. That was one fun shopping trip!

Last one for this post is a really unusual double pot that I purchased at my very favorite Tea Room, "An Afternoon to Remember" in Newcastle, CA. This tea room does everything right! The owner and wait staff are gracious & very knowledgeable about tea and the ceremony & etiquette surrounding it. The decor is beautiful & appropriate, IMHO, and the food is delicious and plentiful! Almost no one leaves with out a "to go' box. Their gift shop is something to behold! The tea is lined up on the shelves in black & gold tins, with familiar names like Eary Grey, Darjeeling and English Breakfast. But you have to try some of the not-so-familiar blends such as Love Affair, Buckingham Palace, or VooDoo! I get caught up in the atmosphere and just have to have something new!

So, that's it for now! Next time, I'll show you some of my vintage pots. In the meantime, make yourself a pot of tea, put on some good music and for 20 minutes or so, escape!