{USEFUL TEA REGIME FOR A SLIMMER YOU}

From my favorite French language  Le Journal des FEMMES, again some great tips.
Learn from Mariette.

For those of you that don't have a translater, I have translated it for you below:

Use the TEA to lose a few pounds, while eliminating toxins from your body...

There is still so much to be learned about tea... Like Lisa Boalt Richardson writes: Tea Twist or Tea Travesty? and:  
Tea with a Twist! 

This is yet another aspect of TEA.

 

Are you using tea for slimming down?

Let me know.

YES, I drink tea every afternoon, it is a ritual here and we both enjoy it!

Those two books are a MUST have... 

I LOVE THEM!

{French Basics Tea Box with Coaster Tile + Dutch Forest Tea}

French Country Style wooden Tea Box composition also painted by Françoise, in Forest Fruits and a Tile with wooden hand painted edge, matching the box. I've filled the Tea Box with Dutch Forest Fruit Tea to match the special decor. See my Boutique page at Mariette's Back to Basics, for additional info. This will make a most welcome French Country Style hostess gift for a special friend.

Perfect gift for yourself or a dear friend...

Related articles

{7 More Romantic French Rose Boxes} (mariettesbacktobasics.blogspot.com)
{Romantic French Rose Boxes} (mariettesbacktobasics.blogspot.com)

{Vintage Christofle Pastry Tong}

For serving your guests some of your home baked sweets, you can use this lovely Christofle Pastry Tong. Very fine, old craftsmanship is being shown here and it is just simple elegant. Again, this was available at my Zen Cart powered on line boutique: Mariette's Back to Basics. Prepare a special tea for your lady friends and create some charm from a bygone era at your own home. 

Here are some 'cashew clusters' from Costco, served on Royal Doulton English Rose China with the elegant Christofle Pastry Tong.

Simple Elegance...

The antique enameled porcelain Camille Tharaud Limoges cocoa shaker I did show in a previous post: 1930s Camille Tharaud Limoges Shaker for dusting YOUR Cappuccino's with Cocoa. 

Also the Christofle toast /napkin/letter rack I did show: Antique Christofle Toast Rack + New Ideas for You!

As well as the antique Christofle sugar sifter spoon to the right on top of the blue berries. Of course it can serve a dual purpose! Look for it here: {1862 Christofle Sugar Sifter Spoon 'Filet Violon'} .

Christofle mark shown up close.

It is dating from the 1935-1983 era.

Sorry Sold out...

{Our Camellia Sinensis Tea Plant and Japanese Magnolia}

• On Thursday, March 3 at the end of the day with still some sun light, I took these pictures. It was so pretty for capturing our blooming Camellia Sinensis Tea Plant adjacent to one of the Japanese Magnolias; Magnolia x soulangeana.

• Since than it has rained a couple of days so the magnolia leaves are for a big part under the trees...
• Rain is also not making the Camellias look any better!

• The Camellia Sinensis has not been that pretty in years.

• In general white Camellias do brown easily after a heavy rain.

Some rain damage visible on the edges...

• You see how huge such a flower is?
• I've put my hand there to turn this one towards the camera as it was hanging face down to the ground...

• This is the other Japanese magnolia at 6:15 PM. Can you believe such lovely weather till the end of the day? 
• Now it looks miserable... of course rain is good for the lawn as it just is starting to re-grow.

• The good thing is that we view these magnolia trees from our bay window at breakfast time and any time we share a meal.

Japanese Magnolia or Magnolia x soulangeana

• The Ipheion Star Flower is coming up next...

• Our pot plants meanwhile remain inside our greenhouse till there is no more danger for frost at night.

• Pieter is mighty proud of the Almond tree from a cutting, which is blooming inside the greenhouse now. Thinking it is already SPRING...

Enjoy our Spring Gardens by having a tour at Book an Event.

{Our last Datura Angel's Trumpets and TEA with a Twist}

Today we just had three beautiful almost white Angel's Trumpet flowers from the Datura.
Its botanical name is: Datura inoxia var. quinquecuspida. Common names: devil's trumpet, downy thornapple, toloache, angel's trumpet. Family: Solanaceae (nightshade Family).
Since it was a rather dark day, I took them out on the balcony for the photos.
Are those blooms not wonderful? Greenhouse blossoms for now...

We got these fragrant beauties from Logee's in Connecticut.

On Friday I did receive my two personalized Tea books from +Lisa Boalt Richardson as she just had gotten back from her Taiwan and Japan trip.
On the above hyperlink you can read her blog about Lisa knows tea.

Made myself a cup of Dutch Mango tea; one of my favorite blends from Douwe Egberts Pickwick.
It didn't quite go together with the Japanese earthenware Kyusu teapot for green tea...
That was a July 2007 gift, from my Japanese host family in Osaki, together with the lacquered round wooden tray.

This is the 360 ml special earthenware Japanese Kyusu teapot for green tea.
The table runner is also from Japan.
Stay tuned as I will write about more travels later...

The teacup is Japanese as well, Pieter did bring it home from an antique shop in London, while on a business trip. The silver rose spoon on its saucer is one of my favorites. Certainly Johanna from Silber-und-Rosen-Shop would love this one, as she wrote the book about Silver Rose Flatware: Rosen-Bestecke. That is another book that I cherish very much!

These books will be great to use with the ladies for my classes, just pouring over them...

Tea with a Twist

 Great Christmas Gifts!

If you are cold, tea will warm you

If you are too heated, it will cool you

If you are depressed, it will cheer you

If you are excited, it will calm you

Gladstone, 1865

Related links:

{Angel's Trumpet}| previous post by me
{Our Datura Angel's Trumpets} | previous post by me
BRUGMANSIAS and DATURAS | interesting info!

{Lisa Boalt Richardson another Georgia Tea Aficionado!}

Today I want to share with you a special lady that lives only a couple of hours away; therefore it is close to HOME! Lisa Boalt Richardson  is as much a Tea Aficionado as I am.  Please read about her new book and her being featured in nwitimes: Author celebrates tea in charming books!

This is one of my favorite desserts. Romantic Rose Petals and Strawberry slices in home baked shells; using won-ton-wrappers and brushing them with melted butter; than dusting with a mixture of sugar with cinnamon. Only about 5 min. in the oven and voilà. Next you whip up some whipped cream and add a few drops of Rose Water (Eau de Rose) and add carefully the pesticide free Rose Petals and sliced Strawberries... Dust with powdered sugar.
Oh, from the same won-ton-wrappers I'd cut out hearts for decoration...
Silver is Alvin Bridal Rose, available at Replacements Ltd.
China is Royal Albert Princess Anne also available at Replacements Ltd.

Just a yummy High Tea that I did from my home...

Tea cups from Mason Chartreuse with golden 4" paper doilies.

Another Tea for Friends...

Using a lace doily as invitation. (click to enlarge)
And YES, Tea goes very well with Chocolates too!