Tea in the garden

 

What better way to spend a warm summer afternoon, than in the garden! Enjoying the sunshine and home-made treats, in the company of friends. I always cherish parties like this, when an afternoon tea ends somewhere in the evening, with rosy cheeks and a glass of wine.

It's fun to make the garden and table look pretty, with old china and bunches of flowers. On the table you can see some of my latest vintage finds. The floral cake stand and the boater are among my favourites.

This time I did not have to do all the baking myself. My friends took the sandwiches, heart shaped quiches and carrot cake with them. They were all delicious. Dear Jeannette, Joke, Roos, Claudia & Cynthia, thank you once again for making the tea such a success!

I want to thank you, my followers too, for taking part in my giveaway and leaving such kind comments. It makes me feel bad not being able to leave comments with you all. The thing is that with a family, a job and a garden, I simple can't manage.

If you like, you can still take part in my giveaway. Just leave a comment. On the 21st of July I will announce the winner.

Wish you all a wonderful weekend! We are off to the North Sea Jazz festival in a few hours.

Love,

Madelief x

Vintage Tea Party giveaway

 

More than three years ago I started this blog. Partly out of curiosity, a way to meet people from all over the world and to do something with the huge amount of photographs I have. I could never have imagined to reach the number of 900 followers this week.

This post is to say thank you, for your enthusiasm, your friendship and all those kind comments you left over the years. They are much appreciated and make blogging to me very much worthwhile.

Because I love having tea parties and everything vintage, I thought I would give away one of my favourite books at the moment: 'The Vintage Tea Party' by Angel Adoree. It's full of recipes, fun things to do and clothes to wear.

To compliment it all, I found three lovely floral tea cups by Elizabethan. I hope you like them too!


It's easy to participate. Just leave a comment on this post and let me know which giveaway you prefer (the Vintage tea party book or teacups). I would appreciate it very much, if you would link my giveaway to your blog. Everyone can participate, old and new followers. I send all over the world.

On the 21st of July 2012 one of my daughters will pick the winning numbers. Meanwhile keep your fingers crossed!

Wish you all a lovely day! To my American followers a Happy 4th of July. I am off to the garden to make everything ready for a tea party with friends this afternoon :-).

LOVE,

Madelief x

Photo 1, 7, 8 & 9 taken from The Vintage Tea Party book by Angel Adoree

Late June garden

Rosa Odorata

I can't turn a smell
into a single word
you've no right
to ask. Warmth
coaxes rose frangrance
from the underside of petals.

The oil meets air:
rhodinol is old roses;
geraniol, like geranium;
nerol is my essence
of magnolia; eugenol,
a touch of gloves.

Wish you all a happy weekend!

Madelief x




Photo 3 William Shakespeare, photo 5 New Dawn, photo 7 Coral Dawn, 
photo 9 Sunny Abundance, photo 11 Rhapsody in Blue, photo 13 Belinda,
photo 14 Constance Spry 

Thermic baths & coffee houses

When in Budapest at the end of May, we saw lots of impressive places. One of them was the Széchenyi baths. a thermal complex with spa and wellness treatments, dating back to the beginning of the 20th century. The architecture of the building is amazing: the neo baroque baths, tiled ceilings and walls and enormous statues. In contrast I liked the wide hallways inside, with 1960s and 70s furniture. Although the weather was perfect for relaxing in the water, we did not take the plunge. We will definitely have to go back and do so next time! 


The photo's below were taken at the museum of Ady Emlék, a famous Hungarian poet. If you want to have a museum all to yourself and see how Ady lived, go and see. Although very small, the house is worth visiting. If only for the 'experience'. 

When in Budapest, you almost stumble over coffee houses. The one grander than the other. We walked through the New York café, had a look at café Gerbaud, but sat down in a little less well know café, a bit out of the way, run by a family for years. We loved it. The kindness of the people and the taste of the cakes are still vivid in my mind.

If you like antiques, I can advice you to go to Czene Tamas, an antique shop at Pal utca 7. It is filled to the brink with paintings, porcelain, glassware etc. It's the place to find the perfect souvenir to take home with you. The father and daughter who run the store, are really nice and can help you in your search. 

The exotic looking photo's in between, were taken at an Indonesian restaurant at the end of the Andrassy ut, while walking in the direction of the park. It's on the left hand side. I tried to find the name on the internet, but alas..... When you enter through the front garden, you walk past a row of huge bamboo trees and elephants. In the restaurant tea is served in the most beautiful Hungarian porcelain. The back garden is like a dream....

Well, that's it for today. Have fun!


Madelief x