Does anyone have tea-time with their family? [Archive]

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Tussiemussies

10-5-12, 12:37am

IshbelRobertson

10-5-12, 5:54am

I do!

About once a month I do the full Scottish 'high tea' for a group of friends. Always starts with a hot savoury dish like Welsh rarebit or poached eggs on small circles of toast, thin cut sandwiches (with crusts removed, of course!) with fillings like Coronation chicken or cucumber or smoked salmon, followed by home made cakes, all served with various types of teas.

I do this most Sundays, too, in a simplified version.

Rosemary

10-5-12, 6:44am

It is a customary among my German relatives to have coffee/tea and a small piece of cake about 4pm. They usually still eat their main meal at noon, and their supper is equivalent to our lunch and very light. This schedule doesn't work for me when dinner is our main meal and we have to eat before 6:30 for DD to get to bed.

herbgeek

10-5-12, 7:14am

I do this with my husband sometimes in the fall/winter. I'll have him make a fire in the woodstove while I prepare the itty bitty sandwiches and some sweets, and we eat it by the fire.

Mrs-M

10-5-12, 8:11am

We do enjoy "tea time", however, not in the traditional formal fashion that some partake in, which, by the way, I wish I could do, and would do, if I had the proper home to do so.

In my mind I always picture a large beautiful veranda, with floor-to-ceiling windows gracing all three sides, an array of relaxing seating, and a group of my closest in company. It would be a once a month affair, where those invited would bring something special in the way of baked goods to indulge in.

A special reserved room, like this (http://www.idesignarch.com/wp-content/uploads/Champ-DOr-Hickory-Creek-Mansion_15.jpg), just for tea-time, also sounds appealing, as does a loggia, like this (http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JTsM1AJ9A4c/SbliSvAU3OI/AAAAAAAABzk/pMucvtldReY/s1600/IMG_1958%2BVilla%2Bdel%2BBalbianello%2Bloggia.jpg]), or like this (http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UNLZ32R9ogw/TqgolFt1TFI/AAAAAAAAALA/PL2Z0SEvyyQ/s1600/Harkness+10-18-11s.JPG), situated in a formal landscaped garden.

I love to dream, how about you?

razz

10-5-12, 8:24am

Oh, Ishbel, your tea sounds lovely.

DH and I will stop for about two tea breaks throughout each day and visit but since we went on our portion control diet way of life, the snacks have been limited to an oz of cheese or a few almonds.

IshbelRobertson

10-5-12, 9:09am

Believe me, Razz, after a high tea, I don't eat any more that day! And it is only as a treat every four wheels or so!

herbgeek

10-5-12, 9:19am

Love the pictures Mrs M although the second picture screams champagne and hors doeurves to me, not tea. :)

lmerullo

10-5-12, 9:20am

I have been known to do a simplified version of tea-time. Being from British parents, this is a tradition that reminds me of my heritage, and something I should perhaps partake of more frequently.

Hubby and I actually do tea more often while visiting our vacation home up north than in Florida. Something about the cooler weather (some would call me a reverse snowbird, as I love to be up north in the fall and winter) makes it more conducive to hot beverages.

Dh and I have also had high tea out, in restaurants. We "dress" for the occasion, and make it something quite special.

* We also do elevensies - or however it's spelled - with a cuppa and a cookie or two.

IshbelRobertson

10-5-12, 10:30am

Elevenses!!

Tussiemussies

10-5-12, 11:44pm

Enjoyed reading over everyone's posts and Mrs. M. Loved the beautiful places you picked for a formal tea party!

I sit down for tea in the cooler/cold months and use this pretty butterfly Lenox teacup that sits on top of a little teapot. I
also have two of these from Celestial Seasonings that I bought a long time ago when they were selling items and the pot and cup are a generous size. DH will sit with me in the living room but isn't a hot tea drinker.

I did once have a really nice tea party for Mother's Day years ago and it turned out really nice. I used to collect tea pots at that time and
used many of them, had special food items and copies of Pictures of my Mom with all of us and cut them out and placed them underneath a plastic tablecloth that I always keep over my nice tablecloth. It is a nice memory.

Wildflower

10-6-12, 4:42am

I've had some lovely tea parties with my granddaughter. :)

iforonwy

10-6-12, 9:06am

We have tea-time most afternoons at about 3.30. A pot of tea - not just a tea bag in a mug - in china mugs or cups with either a round of toast with home-made jam or marmite or maybe, something Ishabel will know about - a Tunnock's Teacake. As I am still going to Weight Watchers I still have my afternoon tea as being my treat of the day and I "point" it accordingly.

Ishabel "high tea" reminds me of a wonderful holiday we once had in Scotland visiting friends in Oban.

We also love to have afternoon tea when we are away on our cruise holidays - that's why we like the smaller British theamed cruise lines.

We find that inviting folk around to afternoon tea - which we do about once a month and I will bake scones and little cakes then - is fun and does not have the hastle of having folk over to dinner.

Also our god-daughter is having afternoon tea at her wedding. They are not having luncheon but rather a "posh" afternoon tea. Pretty cups and saucers are going to be the wedding favours and we are all busy collecting trios (cup, saucer, teaplate) from charity shops, car-boot sales etc.

Float On

10-6-12, 11:39am

iforonwy - love your god-daughters plan and how fun for you all to be a part of it by helping find them.

My husband hates tea of any sort (calls it dirty water) so anytime I sit down for tea I have to make him a hot chocolate.

Amaranth

10-16-12, 6:57pm

tea of any sort (calls it dirty water) so anytime I sit down for tea I have to make him a hot chocolate.

Hmm...muddy water?;)

Love tea time with family and friends. A hint if you have young children who don't like tea yet--use ginger ale or applejuice for them.

Stella

10-16-12, 7:57pm

LOL. You guessed right Tussiemussies, we do have tea time, usually when kids are up from naps in the afternoon. They all like herbal and decaf teas and I have some kind of snack or them. Sometimes a cookie, but more often crackers and cheese or fruit. It's nice.

Tussiemussies

10-16-12, 8:53pm

I just knew Stella, you are so creative with your children, that it just had to be a part of your day! Such a nice thing to do with them!

Christine

SimplyL

10-18-12, 2:04pm

The kids & I enjoy having a tea time with sandwiches, cheese, crackers, sweets. I had Royal Doulton, which I sold when we downsized, which included my 3 tier and tea pot (I do wish that I had set those aside from the set). My favorite tea (at the moment) is Sweet Apple Chamomile (Celestial), Caffiene free, if it's something someone would like to try and look for at the grocer. :)

Raziela

10-18-12, 9:21pm

Was just looking at Amazon at one of my favorite magazines "Tea Time" and saw a book entitled "Tea Time For The Whole Family." Was wondering if anyone does anything like this on the weekend? Bet Stella does...

I was looking for the this book but cannot find it, either online or at the library. Any help?

Tussiemussies

10-18-12, 10:14pm

Tussiemussies

10-18-12, 10:20pm

I did a search for you book Razela, and a lot of interesting links came up...

Poetry for tea- time which I think would be excellent and excellent for children, forming a tea time club, and then this book -- "Family Tea Time" which may be close to what you are looking for...

http://emmaleabooks.com/family-tea-time/

On the right side of the site of this book are children's books written all with a tea time theme. They looked really nice...

Raziela

10-25-12, 10:03pm

Tussie... the first part of my post was a quote from your opening post. the book sounded so appealing, i was anxious to get my hands on it. i will definitely be checking out the links and books! thanks!

Tussiemussies

10-26-12, 12:54am