Trees And Teas on Tuesday

In case you have been following the
Tale Of The Giant Oak
and wondering if it can be saved, I have good news.

In brief, there is a large, very old oak tree at the far corner of our property.

You can read my Friday post about its near-death experience here.

The tree in question is right in the middle of this picture, taken
from our dining room.  He is the big husky fellow with the wide arching canopy.

Our neighbors believe the tree is dying; it's what their tree surgeon told them and they contracted with him to take it down.

We see no telltale signs of tree distress, but we're not tree mavens.  So we hired an arborist to give us an unbiased opinion.

He came today, and gave us good news.

The tree, he said, is very old, but is in good health and is solid.

Now we negotiate with the neighbors.  We'll give them a copy of the arborist's report.

We aren't letting this old tree go without trying our best to stay the execution;

we'll call the governor for clemency if we have to.  :-) 

*****************************************************

Good Things Come In Packages That Are Left on Your Front Porch.
Yes, they do!
Yesterday, the postman brought a box of goodies to That Old House, from
Kathy, who blogs at A Tiny Cottage On Grand.


Because I won Kathy's 100-followers Giveaway!
Join me as I rummage through this box of wonders.
Just be warned -- I'm gonna take a load of pictures.

OK -- dig in!

First out -- two feedsack bags, printed, tied,
and full of lovely tea bags!

Look at the dried rose in the ribbon ties.  Beautiful!

Maybe not beautiful, but fun; a spider
and some bat confetti sprinkles, tied in a bag
with what looks for all the world like mummy wrappings!
This girl can wrap!

Twelve beautiful notecards by Tracy Porter.
Gorgeous, and also beautifully presented.

Now what's all this?

A couple of saucers, wrapped in tissue, tied with ribbon.

Methinks this package may be related to the saucers.

 Yes!  Two cups!

I adore flower-painted tea cups, but especially
when there are flowers on the inside.  That is so special.

The pile is getting bigger, and we're not done yet!

Filet crochet lace.
Be still my heart.

There is enough of this handmade filet crochet lace to edge a pillow sham,
or to edge a small curtain in, say, someone's kitchen.  Like, mine?

 Oh come to Mama!
 It's a big gorgeous white ironstone platter!

Seriously, this is a fabulous vintage Homer Laughlin platter.
Isn't white ironstone just so pure and beautiful?  It is perfect form and function.

 A vintage book!

It's a beauty; soft green and wonderful gilt.
There's nothing like the mystique of old books.

So many things!  But don't go yet; we aren't done!

 As the old Ginsu knife commercials used to say,
"But wait!  There's more!"

 Beautiful white napkins, with Battenburg lace trim.
And so charmingly presented, with ribbon and flowers.

A big gorgeous lavender soap from France.

I love lavender soap in our upstairs bath,
and am in need of a new one!  Serendipity.

How cute is this little guy?
He's a pear candle.

 Wow . . . growing still!

Vintage sheet music, nicely foxed.

A lovely old crystal drop.  Love the arrow-y shape.

Wow.  I am overwhelmed.
Kathy told me she was gathering things she thought I would like,
but I never expected so many wonderful gifts.
And all wrapped and presented with such care and grace, too.

 Did I tell you that the box smelled deliciously of lavender?


**********************************************

 Tell you what -- let's have tea, you and I.

We'll use my new vintage cups, because they are simply beautiful!

 Go ahead, choose your tea from amongst the delicious ones Kathy sent in those feedsack bags:

Whoops!  Not that one; the raspberry tea is for me.

 Oh dear!  Mr. Spider is butting in on our tea party.
But it's okay; he seems to be ignoring my raspberry tea,
and instead is heading for one of yours.
I'm good with that.

If you are curious -- and who among us isn't? -- the tea cups and saucers were made by Lamberton, in the USA.
The pattern is "Linda Lee," in the company's Ivory China.  They are pre-1952, as that's when the company stopped production.

Interestingly, the part of America where Lamberton China was made was Trenton, New Jersey.
Does that Ivory China color remind you of any other American china maker?
Trenton is also the ancestral home of Lenox China.

So thank you, Kathy!  Who knows where these cups and saucers have been in their lifetimes,
but just this week they traveled from your home on Alabama's Gulf Coast, all the way back to New Jersey.
Where they were born.
Go visit Kathy at A Tiny Cottage On Grand; her blog is lovely!

Tuesday Link Parties:
Marty at A Stroll Thru Life hosts Tabletop Tuesday.  Click here!

The Plumed Pen and A Breath Of Fresh Air host Tuesday Tea For Two
and Teapots And Tea Things.  Click here!

 It's Tea Time Tuesday with Katherine, at Lady Katherine's Tea Parlor.  Click here!

 Martha of Martha's Favorites is our hostess for Tea Cup Tuesday.

  Click here!

 

 Martha and Terri of Artful Affirmations share the hosting duties for this fun meme.  Click here!

 At Rose Chintz Cottage, it's Tea Time Tuesday.  Click here!

Whew!  Tea is the Tuesday drink of choice, methinks.

And methinks I'm going to go put the kettle on, and brew up that raspberry tea.

While I listen to the jack hammering continue in the cellar.  Story tomorrow!  -- Cass

Mystery Outdoors, Gratitude Within, Sunday Favorites!

I am taking advantage of Sunday Favorites, hosted by Chari of Happy To Design blog. That means I get to re-publish a post from the past. This time, it's a post from the very recent past -- last Wednesday, in fact. And I'm not really republishing... but adding the link.

I'm taking a break from blogging for about a week. Have a good week, everyone! -- Cass


Do you think these poor little green tomatoes will ever reach their goal of being nice, big, red, fat juicy grownups? I have my doubts.

They are proud to be part of Outdoor Wednesday, hosted by Susan at A Southern Daydreamer. Go visit for more Outdoor Posts, just click!

Welcome to Wednesday at That Old House.

It's a day for Mystery, and Thanks.

**********************************************************

Gratitude first.

Shouldn't it always be that way?

I owe humble apologies to Tam of The Gypsy's Corner, for being so slow in acknowledging her wonderful Giveaway. I opened it late; it arrived here last month, and in the flurry of moving Anne to her new apartment, it was mistakenly put in the Pink Bedroom. It took me awhile to find it, but oh my it was so wonderful when I did!

Open it with me. . . .

Don't you love to just see a big ol' pile of peanuts?

And a charming note from the charming Tam!

It all came packed in the loveliest box that just happens to be the exact

right colors for my bedroom! The box says "Dream" -- how appropriate.

Can you believe how generous Tam was?

I can't believe she managed to put so much into one box; the girl's got mad packing skills.

So many wonderful things!

Individually. . . a wonderful white porcelain bird which I believe is a parakeet;
I adore parakeets and have owned several. Okay, I know it's not a parakeet, but to me it is.

Black and white toile potholder and oven mitt -- too pretty to use. A candle -- lovely fresh scent -- and the most beautiful matches to light it. A charming little glass bottle, with a crown on it. See, Howard? Tam knows I am a Queen!

Then, a print that is so perfect for our hall bath that I cannot believe it.
And ...drum roll please... chocolate! Feast your eyes. (Sorry, no chocolate feasting; they're mine!)

If you haven't visited Tam at The Gypsy's Corner, well . . . you should! It's a delightful blog, very well done, with excellent pictures. And Tam hosts one of my very favorite blog parties ... her Three Or More Tuesdays! I have blogged about trios of everything from big white ironstone pitchers, to pets, to French guys named Pierre! Join the party next week, ok?

*****************************************************

As they used to say on the Ginsu knife infomercials... But wait! There's more!

*****************************************************

I have two more wonderful ladies to thank.

The first is Renee of the beautiful and informative Cottage Lifestyle blog. Renee is an amazing writer; on her blog are links to articles she has written -- loads of information on decorating, thrifting, organizing, junking, creating . . . all that stuff we hold so dear! Renee's blog is a wonderful resource. And great eye candy, too.

Renee sponsored a Giveaway about 3 weeks ago, and it was unique:
you got to choose a beachy watercolor print from the talented Sara Tetley.
Well. Well. Well.
I am a seaside girl from the days my Daddy would strap me to the seat of the old rowboat,
bring along diapers and a bottle of formula, and take me flounder fishing.
I am not kidding; he did that will all the babies.

I looked at Sara's Etsy shop, and fell in love with her images. This is what I grew up with -- little summer houses with their horizontal siding, their exposed rafters, their tiny rooms and nooks, the shutters that were only down for hurricanes, and after Labor Day.

I chose one. And here it is, still in its protective sleeve
because I'm not going to take it out until I get it framed --

Isn't it beautiful?

I am awed by anyone who paints in watercolors. They are so difficult!

Don't you just want to go inside this cottage? I feel I know exactly what it would look like.

Sara sent me such a lovely note; she's a delight. She is so sweet she even wrote "Please do not bend" on the envelope. I just always put "Do Not Bend." I wonder if the postmen respond better if you say, "Please?"

You can visit Sara's shop for yourself and see her charming and dreamy watercolors.
They are affordable, signed, and I can tell you that the quality is excellent.
Click here!

Sara sent me a couple of business cards; she has a place she rents
in Beaufort, South Carolina, one of the loveliest coastal towns in the USA.
Hmmm.... vacation next year?

I haven't had the print framed yet. I am not sure where I will put it. Maybe in the beach house, but not until next summer. Right now it is sitting on my printer, where I can see it from my computer perch. I used to have some of Annie's fashion drawings propped there, but they have been displaced.

I think I may need a second Sara Tetley print, don't you?
Say Yes.

*************************************************************

Many, many thanks to Tam, Renee, and Sara for their kindness and generosity.
My apologies for not posting about these wonderful windfalls sooner.
If you haven't already, please visit these terrific and generous women. I'm sure glad I did.

**************************************************************

Now, about that mystery mentioned in the title.

Several months after we bought That Old House in the Spring of 2008, I noticed some carving on a stone in the old wall outside, next to the steps. Can you see it? The top stone, the big one.

For more than a year, I'd stop every once in awhile and try to figure out what the words were. I couldn't get it. Then, one day last week, I was coming back from a walk with Dion, late afternoon, and the low sun just hit the stone the right way and I clearly saw the second word: Tuttle.

Tuttle. Aha. This house is known to the local historical societies as The Tuttle House.

The Tuttles didn't build it; I think they married into the original family, but they were here a long time. Tuttles are still in this area, and are also prominent in the Eastern Long Island community where our family has a beach house. The name is spelled both Tuttle and Tuthill.

I still couldn't get the first word. I told Howard, who by the way had never noticed the chiseled letters, and he took one look at it and said, "Oh, it says Robert." And son of a gun, so it does.


Now I am going to find out who Robert Tuttle was; I believe a Robert Tuttle was born in this town in 1900 but I don't know if he is my Robert Tuttle.

Maybe I should get a handwriting analyst to tell me if he was the comedian who wrote Hunger on the wall of our cellar in red paint!

**********************************************************

Whew! Off to have dinner with Annie, and visit the Goodwill Store near her campus. Have a lovely Wednesday! -- Cass

Tablescape Thursday, A Giveaway, and the Sisterhood Award!

*************************

(... plus a giveaway and an award.)

It is Tablescape Thursday, hosted by Susan at Between Naps On The Porch. Visit to see some really creative table settings!


Whew... lots going on -- china and a giveaway and an award -- so let's get going!
I am not sure when table settings morphed into Tablescapes, but I'm late to the game. Here goes nothing! (All comments will be entered to win a blue and white Johnson Bros gravy boat, see below. Giveaway "entries" will close on 2/27 at midnight.)

Let's set the stage:
Imagine. . . It's a cold February night in a creaky old house; a fire is lit in the parlor, and in the dining room . . . it's time for a bowl of bubbling hot stew, ladled out of a big tureen onto china that echoes the Chinese Export ware of centuries ago:

A bit of wine adds to the glow. The stemware is a crystal reproduction of an old form; the same shape wineglass might have been on the table when this house was new.

Nearby, a small cake plate and cup and saucer await dessert; maybe a slice of hot apple pie, and cup of good strong coffee.

The china is Mikasa Far East, and I bought it nearly 30 years ago at Kaufmann's Department Store in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I was very into simple "colonial" then, and this was the closest I could get to an antique look pattern, at least that I could afford. Luckily, I still like it, because by now I have service for more than 20.

Lenox made the crystal wine glass, the tureen is Fitz & Floyd,
and the silver ware is my old Ebay flatware.

Don't look too closely at the folded napkin. It needs ironing and a good soak in Oxi-Clean, but it's such a sweet old linen piece, with lovely hand crocheted edging. I can't remember where I got the small lace topper cloth, but I thought its angles nicely reflected the angles of the dinnerware. Upon reflection, I think I should have used something less busy.

Ta-da! The giveaway! Kaufmann's had a "no one else wants this stuff" department back in the day, and I found a Johnson Brothers gravy boat there, blue & white, in a pattern I had never seen: Old Bradbury. I still haven't seen much of this pattern, even on Ebay.

It's a lovely piece. There is some underglaze crazing (like much Johnson Bros.) and a small chip on the underside of the boat itself. The liner plate would make a gorgeous soap dish in a blue and white kitchen, with a big chunk of fragrant hand-made soap in it.

I love the pattern, and will miss this pretty piece, but I have enjoyed it for years. And that's the whole point --
you should like the things you give as gifts!

If you leave a comment on this post, you might win it. (You can always decline it if you think it's the fugliest bit of china you've ever seen!) I was going to list this little bit of ironstone on Ebay, but this is much more fun.

And. . . I have gotten my first blog award (another mystery land to me, but I'm learning!).

Thank you to Nanna K of Blessings from Nanna's Cottage for The Sisterhood Award!


Nanna K posted these lovely words:

"Sometimes, I just cannot believe what an awesome world our blogging world really is. We need to go out and teach the world how to get along happily, don't you think?

Everybody here in our new world cares about one another and shows it. We pray for each other and help each other through hard times and happy times. When there's a problem here, everyone comes.

Sometimes you wonder, how did they know so fast? I just love my new world ladies. I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart. We all are carrying some kind of burden, whether it's our own or a loved ones. it is so grand to always know we all are there to catch each other when we fall."

If you accept this award, the rules are...
1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude!
3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post
4. Let them know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received the award.

And my nominees are (the envelope, please!). . .

Molly at Molly's Mellow Moments
Blondie at Blondie's Journal
Becky at Holiday In The Sun
Deanie at Deanie's Space
Susie Q at Rabbit Run Cottage
Bobbi Jo at It's Good To Be Queen
Elizabeth Ann at My Place In Cyberspace
Barb at Grits and Glamour
Paula B at In The Shade Of The Oak
Heidi at Bargain Hunting In The Corn

Many thanks to so many wonderful bloggers and readers; I had no idea there was such an extensive network of talented and caring and creative women "out there," until I started exploring the blogging world.

You are all truly remarkable.