Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Tea Party!!!

Today Jan & Tom are hosting a blog tea party! Hello to all of our tea party guests!



I love tea parties! I always have ever since I was a little girl, and my mom would pulled out the fancy cups and saucers for the very first time and taught my sister and I to drink with dainty little sips while holding our pinkies in the air! My mom had a beautiful collection of tea cups, and every so often my dad would add to it, or she would pick one up at a vacation destination. Both of my grandmothers and both great-grandmothers that I can remember meeting also had their own collections of the beautiful china cups and saucers.


The cup at the top of this post belonged to my great-grandmother Hilderbrand. (She was my father's mother's mother.) After she passed away each of the granddaughters and great-granddaughters got to select a cup from her vast collection. I drank my tea out of that cup this morning to get myself into the tea party spirit.






Please forgive my poor photography skills, but this beautiful little cup belonged to my grandmother on my father's side. She was a very dear lady, and she used to watch my sisters and I often while my parents were away. She even lived with our family a couple of different times throughout my growing up years. She was very good at making you feel special. After I got my driver's license I would drive over to her apartment after school and she would have a sweet little spread all set up for us to enjoy together. She passed away a month before I graduated from high school, and had set aside a teacup for each of her granddaughters to be given to us on the occasion of our weddings. When we were opening presents the morning after our wedding, I was surprised to find a small square box with one of Grandma's handmade cards attached. On the card, my dad had written an explanation of the gift which was this beautiful teacup and one of grandma's lace hankerchiefs. Both are displayed on our corner shelf in the kitchen.

Grandma Faulkner

My favorite treats that she used to make are called "Buttons & Bow Knots"

(This recipe card was included in a book of family recipes that my parents gave to us for our wedding :) )

Just a quick little explanation of this recipe. First, the dough will be very, very sticky, so I use a TON of flour when I'm rolling them out. And second, you cut it with a donut cutter, so you get a ring and a "donut hole." Bake the holes as is - these are the "buttons" - and twist the rings so they look like a figure eight - "bowknots." Also, be very liberal with the melted butter and sugar when you're coating them! (The best part is the absolute lack of any nutritional value whatsoever!) I'm sorry I don't have any pictures of what these little beauties look like, but they're fabulous! If you try them, let me know what you think!

Be sure to visit Jan & Tom's Place to check out all of the other tea parties going on in blogland today!




Thanks for reading!


25 comments:

  1. Oh, KatyLin...what a fantastic Tea Party and tribute to your grandmothers!!! The recipe sounds wonderful, too!

    Thanks for participating in the Tea Party!!!

    ~Blessings,
    Jan

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  2. I love teacups too and think that a nice cup of tea tastes so much better from a proper cup (with saucer attached of course).
    I hope to have some of my grandma's teacups one day when she passes away - she has such pretty ones and because they mean so much to her - they will mean a lot to me too.

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  3. I loved reading about the origin of your precious tea cups. What treasures you have! Thanks for sharing!
    Karen

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  4. Hi KatyLin and I have enjoyed myself at your tea party! What beautiful tea cups and such precious memories of your dear grandmother! That's wonderful to have these special things from our loved ones. Please come by to my house for my tea party when you can.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia :)

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  5. beautiful tea cups!
    I need to try that recipe it looks wonderful.

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  6. Thanks so much, cutie, for stopping by my tea party. Isn't this fun? I'm having so much fun I just may post a tea party I had a few years ago tomorrow.
    Shelia ;)

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  7. Hi Katy Lin, What a lovely post this morning!! This "tea party" blogging has brought forth such wonderful family stories & recipes!...I just loved yours! And I will definitely be trying your recipe!Enjoy your day!...Heidi XO

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  8. What pretty teacups!!! Perfect for today's tea party! You have such a cute blog, glad I found it today!! xoxox!

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  9. Your cups are precious and I love the handwritten recipe. Thanks for sharing at the tea party!

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  10. Hi Katy Lin! Wait a second, I need to dry the tears from my eyes! Your post is very touching!!! Now that I can see clearly again I just want to tell you I love your teacups! I wish things like this were an everyday item and easy to find!!! I'm glad you stopped by. I didn't think this would be as fun as it is turning out! I think you are smart to wait to have kids! You get to enjoy time together before all heck breaks loose!lol My hubby and I waited 9 yrs and no regrets. Have a great week - Jeannette

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  11. Hi Katy Lin, what a sweet post and tea party. Such wonderful memories! To make the pie crust cookies, you just use your favorite pie crust, I usually have some left over from a pie. Roll it out flat, sprinkle some cinnamon sugar, roll up and slice, bake at 400 till golden brown.
    Thank you so much for stopping by! Have a wonderful day!
    Blessings, Shirl
    Shirls Rose Cottages!

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  12. Thanks for sharing the great story of your tea cup and your family recipe! I hope you'll stop by my tea party, too!

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  13. What wonderful treasures your grandmother's tea cups are, Katy Lin! Both my grandmother's lived with my parents before they passed away but unfortunately, we were very young children when that happened, and their belongings were far away and weren't saved by anyone in the family. I often regret I don't have anything at all from them.
    I am expecting my first grandchild and I hope to be able to pass on some of my treasures to him or her someday. I hope they appreciate them as much as you do yours.

    Thanks for the cookies recipe! It sounds like fun to make... and eat!
    ;-)

    Hugs, Pat

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  14. Katy Lin, first of all I love your name. Second, your tea party and history of your grandmothers warmed my heart. I grew up a long way from my grandmothers and never had a close relationship with them. I miss not having that bonding such as yours.

    Thank you for a lovely time at your tea party.

    Jeanne

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  15. The best tea cups in my opinion are the ones that have been given to us or passed down to us by our family members. You are so lucky to have yours and thanks for allowing us to look and share in your treasures May all your tea parties be special!

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  16. Hi Katy Lin...I really enjoyed reading about your tea cup memories. Although I never had tea parties with my mother or grandmother, I have many, many fond memories of my grandmother. We spent most of our time crocheting and watching Lawrence Welk! ha! ;-)

    Have a good evening!

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  17. Hi Katy Lin,enjoyed your party and I will have to try the button and bows.
    Thank you for your visit to my party.

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  18. What a wonderful post! I'm so glad we had this tea party! Thanks for sharing those special memories.

    ~Susan

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  19. Hi Katy Lin:>)
    What beautiful tea cups and what beautiful memories and of your grandmothers. I have some small items like that from my own grandmothers and they are so special to me. Thank you for sharing the stories of your dear grandmas:>)

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  20. Hi Katy Lin, Love your tea cups and the story behind them was beautiful! How wonderful to have a beautiful memoir of your heritage! I enjoyed browsing over your blog! :)

    ~Rhonda

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  21. Such a wonderful tribute to the special ladies in your family! Love your teaparty! And that recipe sounds yummy!

    Hugs,
    Stephanie
    Angelic Accents

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  22. What a lovely tea party! Everything looks absolutely wonderful. We had a tea party a little bit ago: http://anapronaday.blogspot.com/2008/05/tea-party-vintage-style.html

    I'll be sure to not miss the next one at Jan & Tom's!

    For your daily dose of vintage goodness & a bit of silliness, stop by Confessions of an Apron Queen

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  23. I didn't participate in the tea party but I loved reading your stories! I am VERY sentimental about things my grandparents gave me, too. That was so sweet about your wedding present!

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  24. What a sweet tribute to your Grandma. Your tea cups are adorable, love your blog.
    Love, Ann

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  25. What precious memories! When I was newly married I asked my grandmother to write down her recipes for me, and I treasure collection she gave me. Thumbing through my recipe box since she died, I feel connected to her when I see her handwriting. How sweet that you have teacups from both grandmothers!

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