Tea Room Tour 2011

Well we did it!  Mom and I set a goal to visit six Tea Rooms in Tampa in six days and we did it!

"You gotta have a dream to have a dream come true"

That's how it  started during one of Moms visits with me last summer.  I was looking through a "Tea Room" magazine and noticed that Tampa FL has several Tea Rooms in or close by Tampa. 

So, this November we flew to Tampa, stayed at a lovely condo at Sailport, rented a black Crown Victoria, turned on the Garmin and began a terrific adventure!

The first to visit was "The Royal Tea Room"

What a great way to start.  Each Tea Room had it's own style and their own specialty tea sandwiches and finger pastries.  Even the scones were different at each Tea Room. 

Prices ranged from $16.95/guest to $20.95

Each room had a variety of hats to use, because of course you have to wear a fancy hate while taking tea.




A List of the Tea Rooms we visited:
The Royal Tea Room & Gift Shoppe, Tampa, FL
Tea Rose Cottage, Ybor, FL
Camellia Rose Tea Room and boutique, Plant City, FL
Simply Country Gifts & Southern Belles Tea Room, Plant City, FL
Milk N Honey Tea room, Tampa, FL
The Empress Tea Room & Bistro, Tampa, FL

Each Tea Room was unique.  They had their special finger sandwiches, scones and pastries.  We love the presentation. When they set the 3 tier tray on the table they get to go over all their specialties.  It's great.

Most served a variety of teas, some served the "tea of the day" which was fine as well.  I mean, after all, that is how they do it in England...right?!

This was a lovely tea room.  Can you see the swan cream puffs on the top tier of the tray?  Simply beautiful.

Of course we couldn't resist the cabana on the beach after all that hard work.  Lucky for me they were selling soft pretzels.  Love those soft pretzels!

Plan a Tea Room visit with someone you love!  You will love it.  Bring a hat!

Being Domestic

Wow! It has been some time since I've posted. We have been so busy getting the harvest in, canning, freezing, spinning, crafting for the various Fall Festivals and craft shows, is it any wonder we have not had time to sit and write?
I recently dyed and spun some Llama. I decided to go with a three-ply so purchased an extra Lazy Kate to ply from - it worked like a dream! Then, I dyed it the colors my sister wanted since I was planning to crochet her a scarf. I used Rit dye and placed the dye in three deep bowls and put a section of the yarn skene in each so there were three colors, with some color bleeding up into the edges of the new color - sage green, light purple and blue. Then, I paired the Llama with a creamy silk yarn I had spun some time ago, to give a sheen to it. It turned out so well. I'll try to get that picture, too.
With Thanksgiving around the corner, I've been getting recipes together - some traditional, some new. A friend has a recipe for stuffing a small pumpkin with a variety of fruits - I think that will be yummy. Lots of family coming this year! Trying to decide what game to play at the end of the day - always a fun time with lots of laughter and good natured competition while we eat our pie - pumpkin, sweet potato and pecan.
We have so much to thank God for, it is hard to know where to begin but I think having an amazing family is at the top of the list, with good friends a close second! Happy Thanksgiving to all!