Monday, January 25, 2016

Quiet Tea


Hello All!
It is time for tea once again.

 January has been very interesting,
with wild weather and cozy dark days. 

I hope those of you that were in the storms path
are all safe and warm.


Today the sun came out and all 
the icicles were dripping sparkling water.


These days are good for reading...
A vintage find I have re discovered, 
was an entertaining companion 
on a chilly afternoon.  


The title was certainly apropos!
 Two days a storm has kept us indoors.


A surprise awaited within the pages,
a small card with a name....


Sitting down with a warm cup of oatstraw tea,
I opened the book once again to see
what kind of story it contained,
and found it was a collection.  

I wondered about the card,
did it belong to the owner of the book?
  I checked the front inside cover 
and, yes, there was a signature!
 It is hard to read though,
maybe Allie Werkman?


It is much easier to read the card...
Ivan Epperson.
Such handsome script!

Hmmmm,
Did Ivan give Allie the card? 
Did she allow him to call on her?
Maybe they married...
Maybe they were never able to 
satisfy their longing for each other
but remained true in their hearts...
from a distance? 

lol!
 This book is a collection of poems by 
It is named Snow-Bound
but contains several other poems 
as well as a very long preface.

Snow-Bound was very well accepted
when published in 1866.
It is a narrative poem
about a week during which 
he and his family were snowed in
due to a 3 day storm. 
John earned $10,000.
 John was surprised.
Imagine that for a 
narrative poem in 1866!
I will admit I had not heard of him before.
Have any of you?
He fought very hard to abolish slavery.
 "Unwarmed by any sunset light
The gray day darkened into night,
A night made hoary with the swarm
And whirl-dance of the blinding storm,
 As zigzag wavering to and fro
Crossed and recrossed the winged snow:
And ere the early bed-time came
The white drift piled the window frame,
And through the glass the clothes-line posts
Looked in like tall and sheeted ghosts."
(a sampling of Snow-Bound)


The lovely cup that I sipped from?
A beautiful filigree Collingwood cup. 

This is one of my all time favorite
winter tea cups. 


Thank you for visiting!
Martha has the linky to 
Tea Cup Tuesday,
and I am on my way over to visit her.
Thank you Martha! 
I am joining Ruth Sandi  for tea,
and Judith for Mosaic Monday.
Thank  you for hosting ladies!

Wishing you all,
where ever you are,
the best week possible. 

Hugs,
Terri
 

 

31 comments:

  1. Oh what a truly lovely post.

    It is these kinds of posts that make me sooooo glad to be a blog reader. Thank you so much for this amazing loveliness, Terri. It is swoon-worthy perfection.

    I need to get back to posting, I have been amiss for far too long.

    Hugs.

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  2. Hi Terri, how are you? Good to see you back. There was something missing when you were away. Tea parties wasn't the same without you gracing the table.

    What a lovely find and the story that comes with it.

    Have a good week.

    Hugs,
    Aida

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  3. Hi Terri: Love this cup. I really thought I had answered your email, oops, sorry. Kyle is having a good night! Life is good. Hugs, Martha

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  4. Hi Terri! We saw on television the snowstorms in the USA! Wow, beautiful, but terrible for the victims. Your book sas really to the point, with a nice cup of tea... and dreaming about the card you found... here we had one week winter and now it is spring again!

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  5. What a lovely post Terri. I thought of you when I heard reports of the snow storm, I am glad you were warm and cosy. That is a beautiful tea cup. I had not heard of oatstraw tea, but it sounds like it would do me good, I need to look into it! I love the look of your vintage book. It looks perfect for the recent weather and the hidden card and names make you want to know the history don't they? Funnily enough I thought of you when I read the story behind one of Tammy Tutterow's new stamps yesterday here http://tammytutterow.com/2016/01/dear-ruby-shadowbox/

    Keep warm and safe and I hope the worst of the weather is over for now and life can get back to some normality for your community.

    Elaine xx

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  6. Used books are the most delicious dessert in the world. Sentences underlined, comments in margins, pages filled with the energy prints of past readers. Yum.

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  7. tha tis a gorgeous teacup Terri! And that lovely book- be still my heart. The cover alone is so pretty and I too would have been weaving thoughts about the book owner and the card. I have never heard of the author. This sounds like a wonderful read. Glad all is well by you. We were stuck for two days also and still have some secondary roads not plowed. We're going to be seeing mounds of snow for a long time:(

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  8. How exciting to find a vintage book with gorgeous calligraphy on the card. I've been reading more with a cuppa by my side since winter weather appeared yet we were lucky in southern Ontario to have escaped the huge snowstorm.

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  9. Hello my dear Terri, thank you for your lovely story about the beautiful book with the wonderful poem, -are the rest equal lovely? And oh your cup, sitting cozy in a good chair, sipping, from this beauty, and with the book in your hands is a great way to spend the aftetnoon. The writer see to have been a good man, and very succesful. Im in Nadja s home waiting for them to Come home. I loved seing and reading your post very much, dear friend. See you soon,--hugs Dorthe

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  10. This is such a lovely way to spend a Winter day. Beautiful Teacup with nice warm tea to sip. Delightful book complete with treasured card and script of old. Reading and sipping tea is very calming and just what we need to reset our weary holiday batteries. 2016 will be an amazing year dear...

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  11. Enjoyed your post immensely! How nice to snuggle in your cozy home with a cup of hot tea in a beautiful cup and enjoy such a lovely book. The calling card would certainly add to the air of mystery in the book, how fun to find that hidden within the pages! Thank you for sharing a verse of the lovely prose... truly a delight. I have never heard of the author either.

    Hope the snow is not causing too much trouble for you!

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  12. Such a beautiful cup and saucer set.

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  13. What a perfect read for this past week with tea! Lovely as always Terri!

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  14. I am glad you made it through the storm, Terri. And with great companionship in your book and tea cup (beautiful, by the way!) We totally missed the epic storm in Ohio, but we have so many friends and family on the East Coast who did not fare as well, however they are SAFE, and that is all that matters. Have a great day!

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  15. Oh Terri, what a lovely, elegant teacup you've shared with us. I can certainly see why it is a favorite wintry one of yours. I so enjoy bringing out teacups to sip from, during the seasons. It's like meeting an old friend again! The book has such a pretty cover, and how interesting about finding the note inside, with the most gorgeous handwriting. Happy tea day, sweet friend!

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  16. Such appropriate reading material and in a beautiful book. Love the cup that looks like it was made for a queen.

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  17. That is a lovely book, Terri. And yes, I have heard of the author before as I adore poetry. The card written by Ivan reminds me of my father's handwriting. He had a beautiful hand for a man! Now about your teacup; it is so very elegant. A true beauty and has everything I adore in a teacup. The gold gilding and a precious rose inside the cup. A delightful work of art to enjoy your tea in. Thank you, my dear friend, for sharing with us and enjoy your day. I was wondering if you had gotten any snow down there. The storm missed us which was a huge blessing.

    Hugs,
    Sandi

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  18. That book looks so romantic. That poem made me think about those snow storm pictures on news from North America. I hope everything went well. We just had almoust -30°C in Finland and we just stayed inside.

    Thank you for this lovely and warm post. And I need to say that I really love your cup.

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  19. Such a beautiful teacup...and a lovely card. I love finding things in second hand books...although my husband just found a health report in one, and it wen't good. I love Victorian calling cards. Thanks so much for linking to Tuesday Cuppa Tea!
    Ruth

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  20. Thank you for the birthday wishes, Terri. I've always been drawn to black teacups so I'm loving your Collingwood beauty! The card that you found inside your Snow-Bound book was intriguing!

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  21. Terri: Having trouble returning your email. You will always be my dearest friend. I am going to work at this email problem. Will write you as soon as I figure it out! Sending hugs your way, Martha

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  22. Dear Terri:
    Isn't that book pretty. Words from a bygone era- how romantic. Your photos with the cup and saucer are lovely, as is the collage!

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  23. Lovely post. I just adore the cover on that book. We should all be snowbound once in our lives!

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  24. Hello Terri, I love your gorgeous tea cup! So pretty. I love your blog and I'm your newest follower via google friend connect. Wishing you a wonderful day and weekend.
    Hugs, Julie xo

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  25. A beautiful, informative post, and a gorgeous teacup and saucer! Your words and lovely photos brightened my day!

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  26. What a great find, Terri. An old book with a wonderful calligraphy on a card. Gorgeous! Thanks for the lovely story about the book. I always enjoy your posts.

    Have a nice weekend!
    Hugs,
    Gaby

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  27. Gosh Terri, that is one fine tea cup! No wonder that it is one of your winter favorites. I have never heard of the maker before. I also love the cover and design of the vintage book. So nice that you are reading poetry. I think most people nowadays don't find the time and quite anymore to read and enjoy poems.
    Wishing you a nice rest of the Sunday!
    Warm regards,
    Christina

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  28. What a most elegant tea cup! I so enjoyed the information on you little book. The author is new to me too. Don't you just love the writing on the card?
    We are having a very wet winter...sometimes it is warm but wet. This weekend the temps dropped a bit, so it feels more like winter.
    Stay warm,
    Love,
    Linda

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  29. What a beautiful tea cup Terri....

    What amazing hand writing on the card.... if that book could speak it would answer all your questions :) What fun that would be :)

    Karen x

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  30. Hi kindred....gorgeous post..wonderful words..beautiful book! Wowness..what a stunning black tea cup..I have always wanted one..you have inspired me to hunt for one yet again! The florals on the inside of the cup are absolutely enchanting too! mesmerizing colors.. black and gold!

    Wonderful to visit your world today!
    Hope your world is sparkling and the sun is shining!
    Victoria

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Thank you so much for stopping by!
I so enjoy each and everyone of your visits.
I read every single comment and try to get back if I can to visit you as well.
Please forgive me for not always being able to as there are so many of you lovely friends to see!
Hugs,
Terri