Thursday, May 6, 2010

Tea and Cannoli



How has your week been going so far? It's been busy here, with lots of errands in addition to the usual laundry, cleaning and clearing the garden.

None of which I've finished so far. lol





But you know me -- anytime is a good time for a cup of tea and a snack. Mmmm, chocolate cannoli.

(Do you think that has anything to do with my utter lack of ability to lose weight?)




Our lilies of the valley have just opened this week, and their dainty blooms and perfume are perfect for my tea tray. I have set the tray on the sofa in our library; the needlepoint pillow you see in the background of the photo (above) was a Mother's Day present a few years ago.




The cup and saucer belonged to my mother. It is hand-painted Fan Crest fine china, made in Japan. My mother collected tea cups.




The dessert dish is actually the saucer for another tea cup -- Royal Sealy China, also made in Japan. The tray itself is an antique tole tray, which I won on ebay a few years ago.

(Don't you love the phrase "won" -- it sounds so much better than "paid entirely too much in a last-minute bidding war.")

The delicate embroidered linen placemat is vintage, another heirloom from my mother.




So what do you do when you sit down to eat by yourself? Read, of course. The book here is Shakespeare's Art, published by L.C. Page & Co, Boston, in 1901. Don't you love old books? They are so beautiful, with gilded cover art and deckled edge pages. I've added a hand-made bookmark, created together with my friend Toni Anne. We used one of my photos, some ribbon and beads.

If I ever get my act together, I'll list a few of them in my etsy shop.



I'm linking this post to Susan's Tablescape Thursday. You must visit Susan's beautiful blog, Between Naps on the Porch, for more tablescapes.

I'm also linking to Cindy's Show & Tell Friday. Thanks, Cindy, for hosting this fun meme. :)

40 comments:

  1. Oh so lovely. but as much as I love a canoli, I can't take them dipped in chocolate. Just a bit much for me.

    As I look at my last two posts and realize they are about an afternoon treat of chocolates and about cup cakes, they make me realize why I can't lose weight! LOL!

    Life does seem to get in the way of losing weight, doesn't it. My lily of the valley aren't out yet, but soon, hopefully soon.

    - The Tablescaper

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  2. Lovely! I want to sit down and read Shakespeare and eat a canoli with chocolate! Carla

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  3. So pretty and inviting! Love the bookmark especially.

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  4. I just had a "duh" moment as I read this absolutely delightful post...I have a huge bed of Lily of the Valley. It smells so wonderful outside...but I never once considered bringing any of it inside. Whatever was I thinking???

    Thank you!
    I'll be bringing some of that wonderful cuteness and beauty inside tomorrow!

    Becky K.

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  5. I'd love to sit down with this tray and beautiful little book! The tea cup is gorgeous!
    Chocolate canoli...mmmmmmmm!

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  6. How absolutely gorgeous. You really make such beautiful settings ♥

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  7. Hi Mary, Oh my, I would love to sit and have a cup of tea and a chocolate cannoli with you right now. Everything looks so lovely. I love the lilly of the valley, china and placemat.
    Hugz,
    Kim

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  8. I love that bookmark! So personal and pretty. Thanks Anne

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  9. As a booklover, I really like the tea and reading theme....beautiful bookmark!

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  10. Hi,
    questo blog mi piace moltissimo...
    Molto belle le foto che inserisci per farci godere di queste belle immagini.
    Mi piace molto la foto n. 4 e 5.
    Buona giornata.
    Myriam

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  11. What a peaceful setting, and the bookmark is really pretty!

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  12. Everything is so lovely - so many gorgeous details! My weeks have been busy since last November. I am ready for a peaceful tea break! Dropping by from BNOTP.

    Allison
    Atticmag

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  13. That looks so lovely & relaxing — I am now enviously hungry
    : )

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  14. Oh. My. What a lovely setting you've created. And the ph0tos of it are fantastic. Thanks for sharing a bit of your beauty w/us!

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  15. How lovely your post with the teacup and Cannoli, I need to try one. Thank you for sharing.
    Betsy

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  16. Good morning Mary, this is the first time I have ever seen a canolli up close...now I wish I hadn't because I REALLY want to try one LOL! It looks 'delish'. You take the most gorgeous photo's...I wish you did tutorials so we could learn from you. I love Lilly Of the Valley..it's something my Nana had growing in a shady area of her home in Canada. Once our dirt work is done around the house I'm hoping to plant some in memory of her. I love your teacups too...they are beauituful. Have a wonderful day.....Maura

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  17. Hi Mary! I love your tea and cannoli vignette. Your tea cup and saucers are lovely and lily of the valley, truly one of my favorite flowers. They are so delicate and their fragrance is fabulous. I like the tole tray you "won". I like the positive spin!!

    Love,
    Susan and Bentley
    xxoo

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  18. What a lovely teascape...the lilies of the valley are so pretty.

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  19. You treat yourself SO well, Mary. ...i'm taking note of how turn this humdrum coffee slosh and bowl of oatmeal in front of the computer into a lovely tea party for me!! (off to find some chocolate cannoli!) ;)

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  20. hi mary! you do us all a favor to remind us to use things for other than the original purpose! how pretty is the tray setting! i'm convicted to make my presentations more appealing. i recently used beads on a bookmark i made for a friend, so i feel very with it in the blog world! so happy to have your affirmation (although indirect!) and thanks for the follow up about the tv screen/cover thing. i'll keep searching. jkj

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  21. Hi Mary!

    Such a pretty relaxing post. Love the teacup and saucer but, that linen napkin is just beautiful!

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  22. Thiese photos are just what I needed tp lift my spirits. We had snow last night and even though it is mostly gone now, it is cold and cloudy outside. Seeing your lovely blooms gives me hope! In the meantime, a cup of tea and a good book does sound good - but I have no canolli! Sigh...
    Laurie

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  23. The lily of the valley flowers are so beautiful. I'm a huge fan of cannoli's too....yumo! So want one right now!

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  24. Love that little bookmark.

    and everything else.

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  25. Mary...your tray is breathtaking! I LOVE Lily-of-the-Valley and yours displayed in that little old medicine bottle is absolutely perfect :)

    Blessings!
    Gail

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  26. Hi Mary, I found your blog through another and just wanted to say it is very lovely. Awesome photos. I'm following you so I will definitely be back. Too nice to stay away :)

    blessings,
    Vickie

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  27. Mary...the Lily of the Valley is just beautiful! I'm not sure I've seen one that close and it is just precious! Love the darling cup/saucer of your Moms...so cute with its little "feet." I had to laugh because I've "won" a few things on eBay in my time, too. ;-) Beautiful bookmark! Wouldn't those make delightful gifts, included along with a good book, for a friend or love one?! :-)

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  28. Welcome, Vickie! So nice to "meet" you! :)

    Thanks, everyone!

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  29. I hope that it's just not too ridiculously redundant to say but, THIS IS JUST WONDERFUL! All of it! I'm looking forward to following along.

    Love, Katy Noelle

    P.S. Looking at older posts, I love old graveyards. They are usually very peaceful and beautiful and I love all of that history!

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  30. Lovely vignettes, very romantic! The teacups are great and I love your bookmark.
    Greetings, Johanna

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  31. That black teacup is stunning! I use teacup saucers
    for my snack plates too. That way I won't eat too much. that saucer with the cutouts in divine.

    The cannoli looks good and the strawberries. I like chocolate dipped strawberries or graham crackers topped with key lime curd as a snack with tea. Yum!

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  32. How has my week been going? Well as one would say it's going... The strawberries were a delightful reminder of the wonderful morning spent with my Granddaughter! We had them with pancakes!

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  33. Everything is beautiful and I want to gobble up that cannoli!

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  34. You have a new follower! I came across your blog and love it!! If I can figure out how to do a collage of pictures I will join in for Mosaic Monday!! Looks like you are ready for a Mother's Day brunch!!

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  35. Good morning!
    OH! (Whoops - oh excuse me! I ams sorry! I just drooled all over the keyboard . . . )
    LOVE THAT CUP AND SAUCER! OMG! What a wonderful day to begin or end your day . . .
    I married into an Italian family and I just never quite acquired the taste for cannollis. It made my husband's grandmother quite testy around the Holidays, until she remarried after Grandpa died, and her new husband didn't like them either. Then I fit right in! LOL.

    Happy Mothers Day! I hope you have a beautiful day!
    Karen - Some days are diamonds

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  36. It never ceases to amaze me how a little teacup and saucer with lovely placemat, a vintage book, a beautiful bookmark, and a pretty needlepoint pillow can make such a warm and inviting vignette. Your tablescapes and all your gorgeous photos always make me smile. Thanks for sharing the many beautiful views of your world and Happy Mother's Day to you, too.

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  37. Oooo LOVE the sweet lily of the valley! I am also in love with your teacup and saucer. So adorable!

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  38. I wish I was sitting at your tablescape right now! What an amazing way to "decompress" from the worries of the world. Just lovely! I love your writing style - you sound like such a fun person!

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  39. It's so nice to see all the new faces here, and all of my returning friends as well. Thank you so much for your kind comments! :)

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  40. Your Blog is exquisite....I cannot remove myself from it and it is the "wee hours" here in South Africa
    Just beautiful!
    SHEL

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Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment. I love to hear what you have to say!