Tea ~Queen Mary Seattle

Welcome to Tea Time 2025. These posts will be about Tea Rooms we’ve been to, Teas we’ve given for friends and family, Church Tea events, and High Tea in restaurants from 2008 to the present. Tea in the U.S.A., Tea in England and Tea in Canada. Many of the Tea Rooms are no longer in business, which is sad.

This post is from May of 2008 when my sister Lana, our daughter Katie, daughter-in-love Laura, and I spent a day in Seattle enjoying tea at the Queen Mary Tea Room and time at the Japanese Gardens. The original posts are from June 2, 3, 5 and 10, 2008.

This last weekend my husband and I took a quick trip to our home in Washington. On Sunday my sister Lana (Above the Clouds) and my daughters had reservations for Tea at the Queen Mary Tea Room in Seattle, Washington. So of course my T is for Tea!

The table settings were beautiful with a different tea cup and saucer for each of us to enjoy.

Our Tea food was delicious and plentiful. We started with 3 flavors of sorbet with a butterfly lavender shortbread cookie, Scones, Crumpets, Quiche, Sandwiches, lemon bread, and a variety of sweets. Of course we had clotted cream and jams to go with.

Laura my DIL, Katie my daughter, and my sister Lana G!

All the lovely Tea accessories and amazing assortment of Teas. Each of us had our own pot of tea. I had Lavender Earl Grey, Lana had Jack Fruit (a staff favorite), Katie had a Mango blend, and Laura had a Chai blend.

On the way home from our tea party we stopped at the Seattle Arboretum and visited the Japanese Gardens so we could see this Japanese Tea house where Katie is studying the Art of Japanese Tea for one of her University classes.

The 4 of us were really in awe of God’s glorious creation and how He has given man the eye to plant and plan the beautiful landscape in this garden.

This is the tea house on the grounds of the Japanese Gardens where Katie attends class every Thursday to learn the Art of Japanese Tea.

“I finally received my yukata! Here are some pictures of me wearing it down at the arboretum. Don’t judge my obi tying too harshly, this was the first week that I dressed myself without help from my friend Mika or my teacher.”

It’s Spring so the Rhododendrons and Wisteria were in their glory.

I can almost guarantee that my sister Lana paid for our Tea Time even if the original post didn’t record that.

I’m happy to report that the Queen Mary Tea Room in Seattle is still open for business!

Later I’ll include some posts about Katie’s Japanese Tea class and the Art of Chado.

Purple Bliss Hodgepodge

It’s time for Wednesday Hodgepodge and Jo has the questions for us to consider.

1. What’s a lesson you’ve learned from a mistake?

Don’t judge a book by it’s cover. I’ve made this mistake more than once. I hope I’m learning more and more to get to know a person before I give them a wrong label in my head. Talking to and getting to know someone is a better approach.

2. Do you salt food while you’re cooking or let diners add their own? What’s a food you think must be salted? Do you like pepper?

I do season food as I’m cooking. Avocado tastes best to me salted. Yes, I do like pepper, too.

3. What was the last gathering you attended and what did you do there?

I’m answering these questions on Sunday. We attended church this morning. On this particular Sunday Greg and I were serving by greeting all those who came through the door for the early service. We have other ‘greeter’ responsibilities during the service. Before Sunday School we switch off with the second service greeters and we are free to attend the adult fellowship hour. During the fellowship hour we learned and discussed one of the attributes of God, Everlasting.

4. Your favorite shade of purple?

I enjoy every shade of purple and every purple flower.

What’s your favorite purple flower?

One of my favorites is purple wisteria. The photos above were taken at the Japanese Gardens in Seattle. Other favorites are lilac, clematis and hydrangeas and of course lavender.

5. Share a favorite spring travel memory.

In April of 2004 we took our daughter on a trip to England and Scotland for her graduation gift. It was a wonderful trip and a favorite to remember. We traveled to sites with history of her literary favorites like Tolkien, Lewis, Austen, Rowling, and we threw in a little Monty Python, too. We stayed in Cheltenham, Sheffield, York, Edinburgh and London venturing out to take in nearby cities and sites.

A field of daffodils on the grounds of Chatsworth House ( Pride and Prejudice Pemberley)

Clip clopping with coconuts at Castle Doune with Monty Python.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Speaking of purple, we have 3 graduates in our family from the University of Washington, Greg, Katie and Andrew. Primary Purple and gold are the school colors. Little did Katie know in this photo that she’d graduate from the same University as her father and then her husband, too.

May, the Present and Past Hodgepodge

At the end of April and beginning of May in 2014 me and our daughter were on a journey from Seattle to Jacksonville North Carolina to set her up in an apartment before her husband returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan. On May 3rd we were at the Biltmore Estate and Gardens in Asheville, North Carolina. Talk about beautiful May flowers!

Speaking of May flowers Jo From This Side of the Pond has some timely questions for Wednesday Hodgepodge.

1. May Day! May Day!…last time you shouted for help? Or maybe just asked?

I was shouting for help the whole month of April and mostly from my spouse. There were others I called into service to help me but the best help by my side for huge functions is Dear. We can depend on each other for good consistent effective help in getting an event ready and done. If my sisters lived nearby I’d call on them. There’s a level of good help that comes instinctively. People who walk into a situation and know what needs to be done without asking a million questions. Someone who doesn’t have to ask but sees and gets the task done. When I can’t depend on that kind of help I’m learning to write out detailed instructions and steps to execute an event. I tape those instructions on the kitchen cabinets at church so all can follow along and get things done step by step.

2. What’s something you may do this month?

I may schedule myself a massage.

3. ‘April showers bring May flowers’...is this true where you live? What’s blooming? What’s your favorite springtime blossom?

The daffodils have bloomed and are waning with the Lily of the Valley starting to sprout. The Johnny Jump Ups are showing. The first harvest of rhubarb is just about ready. The peonies are sprouting but won’t flower for a bit yet. The most healthy blooms right now are the dandelions! By the end of May we will see lots of beautiful blooms.

Some of my favorite Springtime blossoms are lilacs, azaleas, peonies, and wisteria.

4. What’s something you learned at your mother’s knee?

That the Bible is the book to cherish.

5. Share a thought about motherhood.

Motherhood is a privilege to cherish and not take for granted and grandparenthood is one of the rewards for enduring, the cherry on top!

6. Insert your own random thought here.

More beautiful blooms from the Biltmore 8 years ago…

A very Happy Mother’s Day is wished for any mom who visits here!

And…

May the fourth be with you! 🙂

Biltmore Shrub Garden

We managed to see a lot in one day at the Biltmore but we were pretty tired by the end of our time. If you are going to trek through the gardens and property I would suggest wearing good walking shoes and if it’s a warm day carry some water with you. I mentioned before that I love Wisteria so I was pleased to be able to see it in bloom. I’ll still be sharing the Azalea Garden, The Bass Pond, and Antler Hill Village.

Now back to the future. Yesterday was my most exhausting air travel experience ever! My flight from Jacksonville was supposed to leave at 3:54 then I got an email saying it was changed to 4:54 then when I was at the airport the time was changed to 6:04 and then the time was changed to 6:41. My connecting flight in Atlanta was at 6:10 so I knew I was in trouble. After lots of juggling and kind talking to the agents I got on standby on a 6:04 flight to Atlanta. When I arrived in Atlanta I ran quite a distance to get to a gate with a flight to Orlando leaving at 7:55 (missed that one) but the agent kindly secured me a seat on the 8:55 flight to Orlando. I arrived 45 minutes after Dear and he was in baggage claim waiting for me. What a great sight it was to see his face after 19 days apart. I was really pleased to find my suitcase, too.

Our taxi ride was harrowing. I don’t know if the driver was falling asleep but he had trouble staying in a lane. He straddled the lanes and braked and accelerated for no reason. I think the best way to describe the ride being so close to Walt Disney World is to stay it was “Mr Toad’s Wild Ride”. I thanked the Lord when we pulled up in front of the hotel alive. I’m going to lay low today and recuperate from my day yesterday.

Is this a long weekend in Canada?

Biltmore Walled Garden and Conservatory

We were at the Biltmore on Saturday May 3rd so the flowers that were blooming well at this point were the Azaleas and the Wisteria still hadn’t lost it’s glow. This walled garden will probably be spectacular when all the roses bloom.

Today is my last day in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Katie will be driving me to the little airport for my flight to Orlando, Florida this afternoon. I won’t be escaping the heat in Florida as the forecast is calling for temps in the upper 80’s the 5 days that I’m there. I’m happy to report I was able to jam everything into my one medium suitcase for this leg of my trip. I’m leaving a small suitcase here for Katie and Andrew to use on their return trip to Seattle. I wasn’t sure I could shlep around 2 suitcases, a computer bag and camera bag around the in Orlando while I wait for Dear to arrive on a later flight than mine so I’m pleased that I can leave a suitcase here.

Can you believe it’s the fifteenth of May already?

Outdoor Wednesday ~ Wisteria!

I love to stroll through the Japanese Gardens in Seattle when the Wisteria is blooming. Please visit Susan at A Southern Daydreamer to see more of the outdoors in bloggyland…

Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone.

Photobucket replaced all my photos with ugly black and grey boxes and they are holding my photos hostage until I pay them lots of money. I’m slowly going through all my posts and trying to clean them up and replacing some photos. Such a bother.

FFF ~ All Things Beautiful…

Time to think about the last week and come up with 5 favorites! Visit Susanne at Living to Tell the Story to join in.

1. Mother’s Day was a wonderful day from the food to the weather to having most of my kids around for some part of the day.

2. Buying new plants and planting them in the ground or in pots was an accomplishment I feel good about. I’m not a great gardener but I love pretty plants around to enjoy. For years I’ve been wanting a Dogwood and this week I splurged and bought a Cherokee Chief Dogwood. Dear planted it on thursday and I can see it from my kitchen window and from our deck!! Update: The flower in the center of the collage is a Columbine!

3. Old established plants that are blooming in the yard. Boy I love this time of year when everything seems to burst with color.

4. A quick stop at the Japanese Gardens in Seattle to see if the Wisteria was in full bloom. Ahh, yes beautiful!

5. New visitors to my bird feeder. Oops that isn’t a bird!

Hope your weeks are going well. Have a great weekend everyone…

Mosaic Blue Monday ~ Jury Duty & 5K

For Mosaic Monday please visit Mary at The Little Red House. Her photography is always stunning. I took these photos of the beautiful Dogwood and Wisteria during a 5K walk I participated in on Saturday morning. I always have time to stop and smell the roses!! I just had to jog to catch up with my walking buddies. I am determined to plant a Dogwood, Wisteria and lilac in my yard!!

For Blue Monday you need to visit Sally at Smiling Sally. She’s a very gracious hostess! These sculptures were on the courthouse where I was on Jury Duty last week. I never had to sit on a jury but at least I got some photo time in! These are a great assortment of Northwest wildlife!

Have a great Monday and start to your new week!

Outdoor Wednesday ~ E.W. Low Tide

Time for another Outdoor Wednesday hosted by Susan at A Southern DayDreamer. My outdoor photos this week are from Ventura, California.

Early on Saturday we drove to Emma Wood State Beach in Ventura to enjoy the low-tide. We love to be able to explore these tide pools that are visible when the tide is low.

I thought the colors of these anemones were wonderful.

We were amazed to spot this Sand Shark in one of the pools and we investigated and discovered it was dead.

The light of dawn had a pretty effect on the water, sand and sky. Those black spots you see in the water are surfers.

On our way home we spotted this pretty Wisteria and I had to stop and take some photos. The Wisteria in Southern California blooms a lot sooner than in Washington State.

For more Outdoor Wednesday posts visit Susan at A Southern Day Dreamer.

Photobucket is holding all my photos I stored with them from 2007-2015 hostage unless I pay them a lot of money. I’m slowly cleaning up many posts from this time period and deleting their ugly grey and black boxes with a ransom request. Such a time consuming bother.

The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b.

To honor and encourage

Tag Archives: Wisteria