One of my favorite teacups is an Old Country Rose, which came to me from my maternal grandmother. Each of us granddaughters received something from her set as a memento...
...and since my grandmother was the 'queen of tea parties', what could be a more perfect reminder than teacup from her china set? When one sat down to tea at her table, everything was perfect...the linens were pressed, and the table was beautifully set. I'm sure she made a wonderful cup of tea, as it was her drink of choice...however, I don't recall the flavour of the tea for all the sugar cubes I added. Her house smelled of fresh baking and was so clean one could eat off the floor. She was a wonderful hostess...and always urged us to eat a little more. One of her favorite quotes was, "Finish it up, or it will rain!" So I cherish my 'Old Country Rose' teacup...it's one of the few things I have from my grandmother.
But let me tell you about another treasured possession which also came to me from my Grandma Isaak. My grandmother grew up in a Mennonite village on the steppes of Russia and would have learned to make tea in a samovar...or tea urn. Within the central body of the samovar is a tube filled with hot coals, which would heat the water. The samovar was placed on the centre of the table and everyone sat around and helped themselves to tea.
When grandma and her family fled Russia in the 1920's, they left behind most of their belongings...but the precious samovar made the journey to Canada. How it came to be in my possession is a long story...but let's just say, I treasure it!
So that's my tea cup story for today. But if you want to pop by tomorrow, maybe we could have a tea party. I'm baking paska (Easter bread), and the coffee will be ready...I could serve it in a special teacup though.
Gracious Hospitality is hosting a Teacup Story event this week...so pop by her blog and learn everything you ever wanted to know about tea...teacups...and hospitality!
And this is what I love about blogs...learning so many new things. I had heard of a samovar in stories, but was really clueless about how they were used or what they looked like. What a marvelous story!
ReplyDeleteI think that tea equaled comfort for your grandmother, too. That's the joy of tea! And it's why the samovar made the journey to Canada.
So glad that you participated, Judy. All of your teacups are beautiful and your special Old Country Rose teacup is exquisite.
I love your display of tea cups, Judy! And of course the stories about them them are most precious!
ReplyDeleteWhen is tea time tomorrow?? I'll come for paska and coffee, please! I drink tea on occasion but coffee is my drink of choice!
I enjoy reading your blog. We don't know each other but have a mutal friend, and we don't live far from each other. Your love for your family and extended family has warmed and encouraged my heart many times. You are a grandma I am learning from. I made the little 'Peep' nests with my granddaughter last week and she took home a little cake plate full for her family after a weekend with us. ( by the way Super Store has the cutest little cake stands ideal for little parties.)Thank you for letting me stop by. I pray for you when i stop by for a read. I ask God to continue to give you His strength.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your beautiful teacup collection and a picture of that AWESOME samavor! What a treasure! I would love to hear the story about it sometime.
ReplyDeleteI have several of the teacups in your montage of the four in your first picture. My Old Country Roses set was started by my Grandfather, of all people! He lived in a skyrise retirement home in Surrey and for some reason he collected many, many pieces to this set. They were given to my mother and then later to me. I cherish them. And I have the dogwood set's teapot, creamer, and sugar. I found them at a thrift store for a great price (pristine condition). We need to get together for a dogwood tea party! Gwen, my friend from Ohio, has some of the teacups to this set --- and you do too. Wouldn't it be fun to get our assorted pieces together and visit over tea?
Thank you SO much for sharing in the Gracious Hospital-i-Tea blog-a-thon. I look forward to your future posts.
Enjoy a lovely day!
LaTeaDah
It is now proven that I cannot spell! LOL! Please change the misspelling above to "samovar". I apologize for my mistake.
ReplyDeleteLaTeaDah
That's a beautiful teacup story, and the teacup and saucer are beautiful too. And thank you for telling us how a samovar works....I never knew it had a tube inside for coals...and always wondered how the tea remained hot. I think a samovar is a very practical way to serve tea...I like that it was set in the middle of the table and everybody sat around helping themselves!
ReplyDeleteHi Judy..I can't begin to tell you how much I enjoy visiting your blog..loved your tea stories about your grandmothers ...I especially enjoyed the story about the Samovar..I can just imagine your family from Russia having tea...Easter Blessings for you and yours...Dee Dee
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful. I especially love your samovar! My parents are both from Russia but they escaped with the clothes on their backs and no keepsakes. I have a couple lacquered samovars (newer) and will be sharing them later. Your tea cups are pretty. I mostly display my teacups and drink tea out of clear glass mugs...
ReplyDeleteThe Old Country Roses pattern is very beautiful. How fortunate that you have a teacup and saucer in that pattern from your beloved grandmother.
ReplyDeleteThe Old Country Roses pattern is very beautiful. How fortunate that you have a teacup and saucer in that pattern from your beloved grandmother.
ReplyDeleteJudy I wonder if the stamps on the side of your samovar are like the english hallmarks that help you date their silver, etc. I could probably read them up close but I still might not understand what they say. Enjoy that samovar. You have one beauty there. A nice old classic one that fetches quite a hefty price nowadays...
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