Thursday, September 17, 2009

Sometimes, I am a hopeless romantic

The only thing on my mind while driving home from work today was how tired I felt and how badly I needed a cup of tea to wake me up. I yawned most of the way and nearly fell asleep while waiting for a light to turn.

Nah, there’s nothing wrong with me. It’s just that sometimes I feel so beat at the end of the school day and to help wake myself up, I have a cup of tea around 3 in the afternoon.

Today, I forgot to have my tea.

I was really feeling it on the ride home, and the gently falling rain wasn’t helping matters any. Pulling into the driveway, I saw George come bounding from the backyard to greet me. And when I went inside, the first thing I noticed was how wonderful the place smelled. As I entered the kitchen, I saw my husband pulling a tray of just-baked cookies from the oven, and the kettle on the stove was beginning a slow whistle and I said out loud “it’s so good to be home”.

I went upstairs to get changed, and when I came back down, this is what was waiting for me.

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I hugged my husband and told him I loved him and he laughed and told me that I only love him for his coffee and tea making skills.

It’s not always like this at my house. Sometimes my husband is in a bad mood, or he doesn’t feel well, or he’s mad at me for God only knows what, but today he was just what I needed: A cookie-making, dishwashing, dinner making, laundry folding, tea brewing man.

And that’s how I like him.

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And this is how I like my tea. Apologies to those who have read this before, but I really enjoy the simple pleasure of taking my tea in this cup. It just feels special. And although I’ve searched high and low for it online to share it with you, I can’t find it. I do know that it’s Burton & Burton and was made in China.

I love all the little embellishments like the gold edging and the hand-painted gold highlighting on the dragonflies.

And with that, my friends, I think I’ll leave you now and tell you “until tomorrow, then . . . “

Do you have a favorite cup?

UPDATE: Thank you to Gaelen, who has miraculously found this tea cup online, in a teapot-for-one version. It's called 'Morning Meadow'. [link] What a nice surprise.

47 comments:

Betty said...

Your teacup is all that a teacup should be delicate and beautiful.Your hubby's cookies look scrumptious.You are very lucky,and I love George.

Hilary said...

ah, yes, husbands can be cranky. Mine, too.....sometimes I want to strangle him. He has never made me tea....being a coffee drinker himself, but he makes the best spagetti and meatballs and chicken parm you ever had.
And sometimes, you just need to have dinner ready.
I am so glad you had a good day.

JC said...

I have a mini tea cup collection. Got some from my Mom that where my Grandmothers. I've added a few myself along the way ...

Your cup is lovely ... I do see why you like it !!!

A Scattering said...

Your teacup is stunning. Tea must taste like the nectar of the gods from that cup....

Mary said...

Aw, that's so sweet! My husband makes the best sandwiches, and really good meatballs, and he loves to grill. but I don't think he's ever made cookies.

Your tea cup looks very similar to a plate I have that was made by Godinger's. I love all those little insects!

rxBambi said...

I actually do have a couple favorite cups. I'll have to post some pix. they aren't nearly as lovely as yours, but they are special.

glad hubby was so good to you tonight. they can be wonderful that way sometimes. I think it's to keep us from killing them when they aren't so wonderful...

Maria said...

that is a beautiful cup and I can see how it makes the tea just a little more special ... (and I love dragonflies)

Caroline said...

I do have a favorite cup! So funny it's not that fancy, but it has butterflies on it and it just makes me happy. You are lucky to have a hubby that makes you tea! Enjoy :)

Unknown said...

Those are the best kind of relationships I think and I completely understand your sentiments!

I love special mugs and cups with dainty saucers. I am learning more and more about teas and enjoying the search.

I have missed you the past couple of days and am glad to report that I am turning a corner with the nastiness of whatever I had.

Chesapeake Bay Woman said...

That is quite possibly the most beautiful tea cup I've ever seen. My daily plates and cups have one dragonfly on them, but yours is so much richer and more colorful.

Now, speaking of rich and beautiful and all that, what a gift your husband was today, providing exactly the thing you lacked on your ride home without even knowing.

What a perfect way to come home. I can almost smell the smells of the rain; of the damp earth; of the cookies and the tea; of George.

Thank you, it all smells so good.

Driftwood and Pumpkin said...

I do have a favorite cup...it is crazy colored rainbow tie die and it says "Cool as a Moose. Bar Harbor" I got it this summer in Maine. It makes me smile every time I pick it up!

Anonymous said...

My favorite cup is that one!! I love that. If you ever find where we can get them...post immediately!
Glad you had a nice ending to your day.
Donna S.

abb said...

Nope, but I love yours. And your happiness is so very deserved. You are one very special old soul. And I love that I've gotten to meet and know you. Here's to more times spent in each other's company, my dear friend.

Anonymous said...

Hi country girl,

My husband makes me cookies and tea too and it is wonderful! I do have a favourite cup, it has a thatched cottage and garden on it.

I think I found a source for your cup and saucer at "the tea pot shoppe". It looks like it's called "morning meadow" here is the link http://www.theteapotshoppe.com/momebuteforo.html

great post!

Gaelen

Lena said...

sounds like a wonderful way to end a work day. Beautiful cup!

Char said...

oh, that is a good evening indeed. beautiful cuppa...beautiful. I've never seen that pattern either but I would want it too.

Kerri Farley said...

What a special hubby you have! And I LOVE that teacup! GORGEOUS!

Stickhorsecowgirls said...

Such a lovely china cup! I love the butterfly!- My favorite is a mug from Old Thyme Pottery in Memphis--it's a shade of bluish-green and is otherwise plain, but it's the perfect size and fits my hand perfectly. My hubby can't understand why I am so picky about my mug! I would love to have some delicate bone china cups- maybe I'll find some I can afford at T.J. Maxx some day. V.

Kerri Farley said...

Back again to say I found one similar by Burton & Burton on Amazon.
Here is the link:
http://www.amazon.com/Delicate-Butterfly-Dragonfly-Porcelain-Wonderful/dp/B000L9AF82/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1253155307&sr=8-1

Kathy's Klothesline said...

What a wonderful husband. He must have known you needed that. So romantic!

Mental P Mama said...

The best joys in this life are the littlest surprises....

Hugs to you, L.

Cloudia said...

This ultra-romantic post pefectly mirrors my post for tomorrow!
I'm gonna try to figure out how to link them....
Aloha friend (& Hubby+George) )

Comfort Spiral

Sweetpea said...

Oh CG, I do so love this post & am grateful that you shared it with me/us (your readers). I could literally f-e-e-l your want of that cuppa! I have known that want, too, so I kept saying, "Yes!" to myself as I read your post. Yet, to come home, have it given, prepared for you, unasked, with baked goodies tah boot, well now, that is the specialness that comes from someone knowing you - anticipating - very well...such a lovely, lovely thing.

Anonymous said...

Romance a moment.
Romance a surprise.
Love - Cheers - Love.

Sugar Creek Beads said...

What a joy it is when men surprise us with little things like this and I am glad you had such a lovely surprise! I love drinking my tea in a big pottery mug I found in a little craft gallery some years ago. The beautiful shaded blue glaze always makes me smile.

Anonymous said...

Hi Kate it's Gaelen again.

I thought I'd check out some of the blog links you have posted on your site and got really sucked into "little red house"
Guess what I noticed in one of her pictures back in '08? LOL
Scroll down to the second picture! Christmas Mantel
http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/2008/12/christmas-mantel.html

You knew you liked her blog for a reason, right? ;)

Just thought you might enjoy this,

Gaelen

Donna said...

I so enjoy your blog, but this posting hit home as my sweetheart and I are planning a small intimate wedding...with just a few friends to be included. We were both "longtime married's" who got sideswiped, survived and found each other two years ago. He IS who I was meant to be with....and is a sweet, romantic, caring man who surprises me with similar treats. We are lucky women, aren't we!

Heather said...

Kate, you brought tears to my eyes. Can you believe that? I'm such a soft girl inside, I am. I LOVE your cup...love, love, love it. All of your photos are wonderful! This post blessed my heart, for you. What a sweet treat to come home to. Perfect. Now, I suppose I don't know that you are a ?teacher? - how have I missed that? hmmm

I like this post, as always :)

Flea said...

What a beautiful teacup and saucer. And what a beautiful ending to a work day. Mmm.

Ann Marie said...

I do I do.. I just don't do tea.. it is coffee but I LOVE LOVE LOVE my cup.. I use it every day unless i am with my sister then I use another cup that I love. I have to drink out of a favorite or it is just no fun.

CarlaHR said...

Another lovely post to help me start my day. Love your cup and I do have a couple from my mother, there is one that I really like it is one I gave her for Mother's Day many many years ago bought with earnings from my after school sales clerk job - it is called Daffodil Time - and everytime I use it I think of her.
When husbands are good they are very good but when they are grouchy they're no fun.
I didn't thank you before but want to do so now for the link to the collage tutorial - what fun!!

Christine said...

I love your tea cup! And I'm now rather fond of your hubby too. I always love to hear of a good man.

Daryl said...

Ah the perfect teacup ... a very important ritual ...

Sandy aka Doris the Great said...

I adore that cup. It combines my love of tea, and tea cups and bugs! It's absolutely beautiful; and your tea must taste so much better in this cup than any other!

Deb said...

Darling husband! Adorable doggie!!!!

I love the tea cups, truly. Why does it make drinking a beverage all tht much better?

imom said...

What a wonderful scene to come home to! My favorite cup is one my kids gave me for mother's day a few years ago... It's one of those photo mugs they ordered with a picture of my favorite singer on it!

GailO said...

Mr O makes my coffee every morning....but cookies? Never!...If husbands and wives were always perfect to each other that would be going against human nature...It's seeing the good in each other Most of the time and learning how to respect each other that makes the lasting relationship...You obviously have managed this.

As I was scrolling down your post, reading, I was admiring your teacup...especially the dragonfly...so I was happy to get to the end of the post where you had more pictures and description! It is beautiful...For me it is the feel of a cup too...right now my favorite is a cup from Italy with a simple Tuscan scene painted on it...a gift from a friend.

Debbie said...

Mmmmm, cookies and tea ~ and in such a pretty cup. I drink coffee more often than tea and use a large cup. I like to warm my hands on the sides of the cup when it is cold.

The Weaver of Grass said...

That is one beautiful cup, Kate - and that husband sounds good too - you don't rent him out do you?

Unknown said...

I wanted to tell you that Amazon has that teacup/pot and saucer, (http://www.amazon.com/Delicate-Butterfly-Dragonfly-Porcelain-Wonderful/dp/B000L9AF82) but I see someone else has already found it for you! Beautiful set!

Reddirt Woman said...

I'm not a hot tea or coffee drinker but occasionally I get the hankering for tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich and I have a special mug that I love for my soup. It's got a print of white horses heads going around it, a piece that was painted by a very dear friend of mine.

Helen

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

What a man!!! Before I retired on a cold winter day I drove home from school in the snowy ice to enter home welcomed by a warm fire and a simmering bowl of chili. Nothin' says lovin' like a man who know just what a gal needs!

I had a mug growing up on the farm that had a ceramic frog sitting in the bottom of it. It is the only thing I would drink out of. I miss that mug. Ya'll have a wonderfully blessed day!!!

CHummelKornell said...

What a beautiful post. For that one brief second in time, everything fell exactly into place in your life. Your husband sounds wonderful (and normal). His cookies look awesome.

Alli said...

Oh, what a wonderful ending to a day! Its such a blessing to hear when people have good days - and even better to know that they appreciate them.

And yes, I have a favorite tea cup, its a greenish blue with a city skyline all along the outside.

Jill of All Trades said...

What a wonderful post. You Hubby is grand and I so love the tea cup.

cottage farm villa said...

K a t e, what a lovely post. I hear such a "contentment" in your words. The cup is beautiful, the photo of the tea is inviting, and the words about the way you felt about your husband at that moment was heartwarming. You made me smile for Y o u. ~C

Woman in a Window said...

That cup is lovely
as so too are those times when he is well in spirit and feeds you so.
Hold him in the hand in these times and sip.
xo
erin