RASPBERRY SCONES WITH ORANGE CURD..A SPOT OF AFTERNOON TEA

Happy Valentine's Day to you and those you love!
Today's post is a tribute to springtime party ideas..
fabulous florals and table setting...

A flowering touch...
blush toned blooms and white linen

Gilded elegance...
an afternoon tea is a perfect excuse to use your best china
and heirloom silver...
set the mood with a serene tone in mind

Worthy of being served in the finest tea rooms..
a warm glazed raspberry scone

What pairs perfectly with this scone?
Orange Curd and crème fraîche......

Now I would say this is a lovely way to impress the guests
at your next gathering of book club....

We served peach tea this particular afternoon with a tiny pitcher
of sweet cream...

Afternoon tea is what I would categorize as leisure comforts...

If you and your guests are made to feel comfortable,

you are more likely to linger longer and enjoy the day...
it's all about setting the scene and serving good food..
it can play a major role as a lovely backdrop for southern hospitality!

 

WINTER INSPIRED....SNOWY DAYS and A WINTER TEA

It's our last chance, we are told this morning,
to prepare for our wintery weather mix
of sleet and snow....cold ....really cold wind chills..... 

There are so many ways to practice self-care during
the sometimes isolating winter days.....
today, we are going to treat ourselves to an afternoon
delight in the dining room...



Beginning with a delightful hot loaf of
freshly baked Sweet Alabama Pecan Bread

My mother gifted me this plate years ago and I think
it's not only perfect for Christmas, I love using
it in the Winter...

I  am loving my new tea pot I purchased last month..
pine cones and berries are perfect for this time of year...

One of my favorite tea cups to use often,
is my grandmother's pine cone motif with matching saucer...

The finishing touch is this beautiful linen napkin
along with a silver pastry server.....

This is the time to slow down, bundle up and snuggle in....
Thank you for stopping by today......

Ah, indeed....we were gifted a few days of snow....just beautiful!

HIGH TEA FOR THE HOLIDAYS....DALLAS STYLE

Good Morning Loves....
I have created a few posts on hosting
and afternoon tea here at Estelle's
and so enjoyed this rather sophisticated
gathering... 

Hosting a holiday High Tea is an opportunity
to bring out your favorite serving pieces
and make some delicious tiny bites....

I loved this one which featured Mother's Spiced Tea for 
the Autumn season...

I combined this High Tea with Book Club
featuring the Jane Austen Cookbook....

Dallas features some glorious tea rooms
to meet up with your closest lady friends
who enjoy this type of experience.
But specific rules apply and it can be a bit pricey...

All of the hotels and tea rooms require an advanced reservation
made a week in advance.
Prices per person range from $60 TO $115..
Children under 12 must have separate reservations
that range from $35 to $80 per person.

The Taschen Library at The Joule

You will be presented with a menu for adults,
in addition to a menu for children

There will be a variety of Champagne choices to choose from
as well as selected choices of loose leaf teas...

Most also offer a Plant Based Menu
Guests will enjoy a three course dining experience...
which will include..
Savory Indulgences
Scones with Clotted Cream
Tea Cakes and Pasties
Caviar and toast points

The French Room at The Adolphus Hotel

And remember, there is a dress code for all tea rooms....

A few others which offer High Tea

Hotel Crescent
DeGolyer Tea Room
Potpourri Boulanger

This would be a very special holiday experience
to enjoy with your daughter and granddaughters...
a delightful afternoon of sophistication....

A COZY AUTUMN COFFEE STATION FEATURING THE HARVEST TEA LATTE

This past week I felt like FALL WAS IN THE AIR.....
waking up to cooler temperatures and even rain (at last).

You can notice that the days are a bit shorter which
tells me autumn is just around the corner.....
how exciting to enter yet another beautiful season
which brings forth a special cozy feel to our days...

Using the colors of Autumn will welcome
the crisp cool days that lay ahead.
Let's just have fun creating little vignettes
that serve a purpose....
I decided this was the perfect day to create
a little pop of drama to the kitchen counter
while the Pumpkin Cranberry Scones 
were baking the oven.....

I searched the cupboards and pulled out some old favorites...
creamers, woodland figurines, pretty paper napkins
and thought about creating my own
Starbucks inspired fall Latte.....
It seems the fall season inspires so many of us
to get creative......



My true heart and spirit connects to the autumn season
more than any other...I think it always has....
many of you feel the same....
there are so many wonderful events happening
all around the country and I believe it brings us such joy
so why not decorate to our hearts content...

My gosh, I have had these beautiful leaf plates for years.....
and I so love them....I really marvel at how old
some of my collection has become...

I believe I love the colors of the season most of all....so warm
and vibrant...just like a walk in the woods...

This reminds me to put out my squirrel cookie jar.....
Mae Mobley used to so enjoy watching the squirrels
in Maine enjoy pumpkin season......

I love leaf prints and came across this sweet little napkin set
at Hobby Lobby....

Do y'all have a mug obsession too?

I think everyone is going to enjoy a cup of hot spiced cider
featured at this little station throughout the season....

With the mornings becoming cooler and crisper.
I feel like a Harvest Tea Latte may be in order.....

One ingredient we are going to use is a good quality
vanilla coffee or tea syrup....

Oh my word...how delicious is this going to taste!!!

There is something so heartwarming about sipping a Harvest tea.....

.