Tuesday Tea and Tomes: Sense and Sensibility - In Defense of the Senseless

Jane Austen's Sense & Sensibility. Accessorize with pink ribbons for the doctor & pearls for clutching. 

The rereading of Sense and Sensibility has rekindled the conversation on which characters are the most likeable:  the emo-to-the core, Marianne or the rock-solid, rational Elinore. Is it better to lay all your whist cards on the table or keep a stoic poker face?

I take no sides, but I do like those that fall in the middle, the affably clueless.

Dare I say, the ones who take themselves less seriously and seem the less miserable are those that find joy where it is lacking, and, in the process, bring much comic relief to the despair and disappointments that consume many in Sense and Sensibility. Say "hello" to Mrs. Jenkins, Mrs. Parker and, even, Miss Steele.

Jane Austen House in Chawton. Rachel, like Marianne, plays the piano-forte.

Inspired by the upcoming movie "Sense and Sensibility" (to premier in the US in October), and governed by an obliging self-mandate to reread Jane Austen novels periodically, I completed my most recent reacquaintance of Jane Austen's first published novel last month. Each visit to an Austen novel brings something new and this time was no exception. I took a renewed look those who eschew the overwrought and the over cautious.

Like Maren Morris, why don't you just meet me in middle. . .

Mrs. Jennings, is talkative and gossipy, but always well-meaning and even Elinor fell in love with her. Having married off her two daughters - the now Mrs. Middelton and Mrs. Palmer - successfully in terms of their time and class, she looks to others to match up. While Mrs. Middleton is a bit more aloof, Mrs. Palmer, who more like her mother, is always happy and makes the best of the situation. She laughs when there is no obvious amusement to support it and sees her husband's sarcasm as delightful wit. An exchange between Mr. and Mrs. Palmer, while in the company of a party of eight, including Marianne and Elinor , had me literally lol'ing - and there was, indeed, cause for this outburst. 

Mr. Palmer took no notice of her [Mrs. Palmer].

"He cannot bear writing, you know," [Mrs. Palmer] continued. "He says it is quite shocking."

"No, said [Mr. Palmer], I never said anything so irrational. Don't palm all your abuses of language upon me."

"There now, you see how droll he is. This is always the way with him! Sometimes he won't speak to me for half a day together, and then he comes out with something so droll - all about anything in the world."

And, then there is Miss Steele, the older sister of Lucy. While neither Steele sisters have much to recommend them in status and education, Lucy, is pretty and cunning. Anne, who eavesdrops and blunders, is gifted with no self-awareness and the ability to move on without self-recrimination. And, she joyfully partakes in being teased about the romantic attentions of the Doctor, of which there is no real evidence of their existence.  Undaunted, Anne commits to the bit - even wearing pink ribbons, as she knows that to be the Doctor's favorite color. 

Though I'm not in favor of denial or delusion, I find the cheerfulness of Mrs. Jennings, Mrs. Palmer and Miss Steele to be the feel-good diversions from the sometimes-exhausting polar emotions of the two elder Dashwood sisters. I think I'd enjoy a cup of tea with the former three, and indulge in a little spilling, too. 

🫖🕮🫖🕮🫖🕮🫖🕮🫖🕮🫖🕮🫖🕮🫖🕮🫖

In 2011, my daughter, Rachel, and I visited the Jane Austen House. At the time, the Chawton residence was celebrating the 200th anniversary of Sense and Sensibility. Rachel, like Marianne, played the pianoforte, and I like Mrs. Dashwood, went in search of a cup of tea. 

For more of our visit to Jane Austen's House, see the link to our blog directly below. 

Jane Austen House in Chawton

Going (almost) to the top of One Vanderbilt: The Summit provides NYC vista views (and mildly sweaty palms)

The Summitt, 91st floor- exhilarating and not even outside!

 I've visited many impressive structures connected to the Vanderbilts including Biltmore, The Breakers and, even across the pond to Blenheim Palace - but none have caused me as much panic and delight as The Summit, located on the eponymous avenue of the Gilded Age new-money clan. 

Though the tallest skyscraper in New York City, completed in 2020, was not built by a Vanderbilt, it sits just across Grand Central Station, originally Grand Central Depot, commissioned in 1869 by the originator of the great family fortune, Cornelius Vanderbilt. And, while your humble, and terrified-of-heights, blogger, has always been content to view the impressive commuter hub from the street level, those in our party had other ideas.

Great views from The Summit at One Vanderbilt

Last week my husband, Chris, and I were in the Big Apple for an extended family celebration, hosted by our favorite NY couple, son, Matt, and daughter-in-law, Jenna.  On our last full day in town, the four of us had planned to dine in Manhattan and take in some touristy activity. Chris, inspired by a sightseeing cruise around the island the previous day which showcased many of the City's skyscrapers, thought a stop to a high-level viewing deck might be fun. So did our favorite NY couple.

Mirrored floors, magnificent reflections everywhere.

 A few Summit Stats:

1. The One Vanderbilt building stands at 1.401 feet.
2. It is the fourth-tallest building in NYC and the tallest skyscraper in Midtown,
3. The main Summit observation deck is at 1, 063 feet.
4. The Ascent glass elevator ascends to 1,210 feet. 

After some discussion and a spike in someone's heartrate, we settled on The Summit - it tops the One Vanderbilt building - and its viewing experience starts on the 91st Floor. From, that level, one can travel two additional floors, each with different art installations, but all have floor-to-ceiling glass walls overlooking all four corners of New York City. In addition, the floors are mirrored, so you see magnificent reflections everywhere. (And, just a note, slip-on coverings are provided to wrap around your shoes to protect the glass floors, so leave the stilettos at home.)

Panoramic views from every side of The Summit. 

As someone who doesn't, literally, aspire to great heights, I found The Summit to be an enjoyable and spectacular experience - and that's because there were options. And, I opted-out of the outside elevator. 

From the 93rd Floor, one can take an outside elevator, all glass as well, for several levels above and beyond the interior landing spot. I enjoyed a cup of tea, while Chris, Matt and Jenna continued their upward journey.

Matt and Chris on the outside elevator. 

They all loved the outside elevator and came back with some great photos. 

I, on the other hand, was content to live vicariously through their fearless rise to the top. 

All of the Vanderbilt money couldn't persuade me to follow suit. 

Two thumbs - and mildly sweaty palms - up for The Summit. 

Return to the Brooklyn Museum's Visible Storage: Setting the Table Exhibit (more than just knife rests!)

"Setting the Table" display in the Brooklyn Museum's Visible Storage.

Knife rests first brought me to the Brooklyn Museum; their Visible Storage keeps me coming back. 

This month, we discovered the "Setting the Table" exhibit which brings together an eclectic mix of American treasures from different eras that "explore the joy of dining in the United States".  In a come one, come all environment, luxury goods created for the wealthy, such Tiffany butterfly-shaped napkin rings, join kitschy, mass-produced tableware, like Tupperware salt and pepper shakers from the 1960's.  Off to the side, a pretty, 19th century, Union Porcelain cream-and-burgundy vegetable dish awaits its guests, inviting them to pull up a mid-century Eames chair and dig in.

First visit Brooklyn Museum & knife rests, 2022

"Setting the Table" is just one of the many displays in the Brooklyn Museum's Visible Storage - a place I like to think of as an elegant "grandma's attic". It houses over two thousand items in organized and catalogued collections. Opened in 2005, this warehouse spans 5,000 square feet on the museum's 5th floor, filled with an array of objects that would prove too numerous for an unshared spotlight. For those who like things that are rare, fancy, quirky and/or bring a bit of nostalgia, Visible Storage is the place to go.

Chris' fav, Ancient Egyptian Art on 3rd Floor. He's walking like . . . 

My first trip to the Brooklyn Museum was in 2022 (Visit to the Brooklyn Museum to view rare ceramic knife rests). I found a rare pair of ceramic knife rests were in their possession - and, as luck would have it, while visiting our son and daughter-in-law who reside in New York's largest borough, our hotel was a short walk to this New York institution.  My husband, Chris, and I soon learned, there was so much more than knife rests worth seeing here.

Beyond Visible Storage: 4th Floor Period Rooms

I found more to love on the 4th floor, where the "period rooms" reside. I'm particularly fond of the Gilded Age rooms from a Saratoga Springs home complete with an excessively decorated parlor. Chris favors the 3rd floor which features Ancient Egyptian art. And, yes, once inside, he does, indeed, walk like an. . . well, you know the rest.

Last week marked our third visit to the Brooklyn Museum and we plan to make room for all its many rooms every chance we get to NYC. 

For our Barb's Tea Service's short video featuring Brooklyn Museum's  "Setting the Table", click the link directly below: 

Brooklyn Museum 2026: Visible storage return - tables setting with Tupperware, Tiffany & Eames chair

Happy Waffle Day! A BTS and Presidential favorite - and we've got a First Lady's recipe!

National Waffle Day celebrates the waffle and creation of the improved waffle iron. 

Happy National Waffle Day!

At Barb's Tea Service, we're serving up a delicious combo of presidents and waffles to celebrate!

According to National Day Today, this tasty holiday falls on August 24 in honor of Cornelius Swartwout, who improved the waffle iron and received a U.S. patent for his safer, easier‑to‑use design on this day in 1869. Swartwout hailed from Troy, New York — one of our favorite Gilded Age towns — making the celebration feel doubly appropriate.

Chicken and waffles, a savory option.

Waffles have long been a beloved staple in our family, especially for daughter Rachel, who embraces every topping from classic syrup to savory chicken. When she still lived at home, Rachel and I made an annual sojourn to Louisville for the Jane Austen Festival, and each trip required at least one stop at a Waffle House along the way — made all the more “exotic” by their complete absence in Michigan.

The exotic Waffle House, not found in Michigan.

But waffles (and Jane Austen) aren’t the only passions Rachel and I share. We also love visiting presidential homes and libraries, and we’ve toured several together — most recently Warren G. Harding’s home in Marion, Ohio (Harding Home and Library, BTS blog, April, 2024). As it turns out, Harding was not only the 29th President of the United States, he was also a devoted waffle enthusiast.

Mother-Daughter shared interest, include Presidential Homes/Libraries & waffles

During our visit, we learned that Harding preferred not to travel while campaigning. Instead, he adopted the convenient “Front Porch Campaign,” staying home while supporters came to him. As the name suggests, Harding delivered speeches from the front porch of the house he and his wife, Florence, built.

Florence Harding's waffle recipe, a souvenir from the Harding House.

During the Front Porch Campaign, waffles were consistently on the menu. Florence's recipe was published in women's magazines with glowing reviews. 

Today, the Harding Library now hosts an annual waffle breakfast using Florence's original recipe (attendance to this event, another shared goal of mother and daughter.) 

In the gift shop, I picked up a bookmark featuring Florence Harding’s Famous Waffle Recipe. We’re sharing it here in honor of the holiday.

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs
• 2 TBS sugar
• 2 heaping TBS butter
• 1 pint milk
• 1 pint flour
• 2 heaping tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt

Directions:

1. Beat yolks of eggs
2. Add sugar, milk and flour
3. Add melted butter and just before ready to bake, add beaten whites of eggs.
4. Cook in hot waffle iron
5. Don't eat them on a full stomach. Cover well with butter and then pour maple syrup over the plate.
6. Enjoy!

Harding wasn't the only waffle-loving president. President Taft admitted in a letter to his wife that he overindulged in Waffles and Chipped Beef (a special favorite of Harding) while visiting the Harding's home in 1920.

FDR's Little White House modern kitchen includes waffle iron. 

                   

And, just a bit more waffle/presidential trivia. While visiting FDR's Little Whitehouse in Warm Springs, GA, in 2025, the kitchen, though small and unpretentious, was considered "modern", outfitted with an electric stove, toaster and waffle iron.

Electric stove, waffle iron far left, next to breadbox.

However you like your waffle, know with confidence, that not only is it a scrumptious snack anytime of day, but if you're a fan, you're in some very impressive company.  (My favorite waffle holds ice cream).😊

My favorite kind of waffle holds ice cream. 

The good news:  Happy National Waffle Day can be celebrated anytime! Enjoy!

Harry and Meghan return to England: In London for Royal Wedding Week, we still have the HRH tea and biscuits - both title and cookies have crumbled!

Harry & Meghan back to UK - 6 years after Megxit, 8 years after Royal Nuptials (souvenirs BTS collected in London, wedding week!)

Last week, it was announced that Harry and Meghan were returning to England - six years after a headline-grabbing move to North America and eight years since their equally publicized wedding in St. George's Chapel. Although we were not invited to the Royal Wedding, May of 2018, we were in London a week before, caught in the excitement of the upcoming nuptials of the English prince and an American actress and scooping up souvenirs of the occasion. Little did we know then that some of those commemoratives would boast a title to be taken away in just a few short years.

That's the way the cookie - or as the Brit's would say, "biscuit"- crumbles. 

As the Duke and Duchess come full circle, we highlight chapters of their titled, and eventually untitled, story.

Wedding week, London, 2018, Meghan becomes an HRH (and we were nearby!)

Saturday, May 19th, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were married in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.  The wedding not only garnered hundreds of millions of viewers globally, it also bestowed the title of "Her Royal Highness" to Meghan to match up with her husband's "His Royal Highness", which he received at birth.

Chris at St. George's Chapel, 2023, where Harry & Meghan were married.

My husband, Chris, and I were in London a week before the wedding, meeting up with great friends, Pam and Quint, a few days before heading to Southampton to embark on our transatlantic cruise home via the Queen Mary.

Met Harry's uncle, Lord Spencer, in 2014.

Though I had met the groom's uncle, Lord Charles Spencer, four years earlier, I had not close enough connections to receive an invite to the wedding, but I wasn't to be idle on that day.  I had a date back home to appear on Fox News and talk about the Royal nuptials (and a BTS afternoon tea at The Townsend). For that, I needed a new fascinator as well as some commemoratives to show off. I found all at Harrod's (as well as a few other London retailers).

More Wedding Day, BTS presents at Townsend

Wedding Day! at Fox 2 News

                  

I quickly amassed a carry-on's worth of wedding treasures including two elegant cups, a box of shortbread cookies and, of course, a pretty tea tin filled with tea. To date, the marriage has held on, but some of the labeling on the tea and cookie packages have not.

Megxit

In January of 2020, Meghan and Harry announced that they were going to "step back as 'senior' members" of the British royal family, split their time between the United Kingdom and North America, become financially independent, and only represent the monarchy on a reduced basis.

Tea and cookie tins carry the HRH titles, though Harry and Meghan no longer do. 

The announcement of their decision led to a meeting of the royal family on January 13, dubbed the "Sandringham Summit" and described as "unprecedented".

Queen Elizabeth II still in charge, issued a rare personal statement and was praised by many for her rapid handling of the matter

Less than a week after the summit, an agreement was announced whereby the couple, while still valued members, would "no longer be working members of Britain's royal family" and would not use their "Royal Highness" styles.

Only the cookie and tea tins still hold the title!

Duke and Duchess of Sussex return to England, With-out Love, Without Titles

Harry and Meghan began their tales-for-sales after leaving the UK, with Harry's autobiography "Spare" (see BTS' Tuesday Tea and Tomes, May, 2023)  and their eponymous Netflix six-episode documentary. But without the Royal dish, media interest waned.

Prince Harry's sort of tell-all, "Spare", 2023

Last year, after the seismic ratings dip of Meghan's lifestyle series, "With Love, Meghan", Netflix began loosening ties with the Duke and Duchess for future programming as well as pulling support for Meghan's "As Ever" merchandise which includes candles, honey and herbal teas. It's speculated that the reduction in Netflix revenue as well as the costs of living in tony Montecito, California combined with Harry's mounting legal fees, may have been factors in their decision to move back to England - despite all their previous public statements as to why the Duke and Duchess could not find it a welcoming or nurturing place for them to reside.

Happily As Ever After?

What's next for the Sussex family? News outlets have daily updates: home in Cotswolds, Meghan returns to acting, more time with King Charles. . . 

Although the story, sans HRH titles, may have even more twists and turns than we currently know, we'll continue to keep up with this page-turning saga. 

As we like to say at Barb's Tea Service, "please stay tuned" (and we'll refresh the tea and biscuits, too!).

11 Ways to Reuse Tea Containers: Finding gold in repurposing tin!

Tea tins make pretty flower or herb containers for indoors or out.

 

Tea tins can often be as much of a treasure as the precious cargo they store. While serving up a bounty of tea, there comes a time when contents are depleted and you are left with an empty tin.  While some are destined to the recycle bin, some are just too pretty to toss aside - especially ones that are souvenirs of a special place or occasion.  In my household, the moment finally arrived to stop hoarding these lovely tins and start repurposing them.

Originally, I was saving my used tea tins for my up north tea garden. For a variety of reasons -  most particularly, a brutal ice-storm - I had to delay this tea tin deployment. This year, however, the tides had turned, and I brought up some of my favorite tins to use as planters.  It was hard to contain my enthusiasm for these containers, so I sought out other uses, tapping into tea friends and, the rarely disappointing, tea websites. 

I struck gold, or perhaps the more appropriate metal - tin!

Barb T. uses tea caddies for office supplies.

Great tea friend, Barb T., uses tea tins for pen and pencils - practical, attractive and a conversation piece.

More repurposing inspiration was found on Harney and Sons website, Ten Ways to Reuse Tea Tins to Get More Organized. . .  

1. Baking Supply Holder

2. Recipe Card Holder

3.  Candle Container

4. Tea Tin (office) Organizers

5. Refrigerator Herb Garden (BTS used ours for outdoor gardens). 

6. Portable Sewing Kit

7. Tea Tin Pendant Light

8. Qtip, Cotton ball and Make-up Brush Holder

9. Gift Boxes

                 10.  Refill with . . . TEA! 

 11. For those who like to decorate for the holidays, Barb T. shared an idea from one of her tea amigos. 

Holiday decor with tea tins. 

No shocker here - I still have quite a few empty tea tins, and so do my fellow tea enthusiasts. If you have a way of using these tea tins, beyond storing tea, we'd love to see them! (send to barb@barbsteaservice.com).

A Patriot's (and dentist?) silver tea ware to be revered! Paul Revere's teapots on display at The Met.

Barb G. at The Met, next to the earliest of the three known tea or coffee urns crafted by Revere.

 Listen, my children, and you shall hear 

Of the incredible talents of Paul Revere,

A midnight ride, tea thrown in the tide and more - you bet!

An engraver, a dentist (!) and the maker of silver teapots at The Met.

Paul Revere was known as a Patriot, a participant in the Boston Tea Party and for his "mad skills" as a silversmith - that is locally. That changed 85 years after Revere started on his legendary  midnight ride to Lexington with Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's famous poem, Paul Revere's Ride. 

As noted in the Paul Revere House Museum's website, Paul Revere's Ride, transformed its subject into a national folk hero. 

While the poem spotlighted Revere's patriotic endeavor, he had many professions in his lifetime, including engraver, dentist and silversmith - and it's the latter craft that we got a front row seat to a few years ago at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC. That collection included teapots and tea urns that would make any tea lover swoon. 

 But, a little bit of background on this Midnight Rider. . . 

Paul Revere

Paul Revere was born in Boston’s North End on December 21, 1734, the third child (and eldest surviving son) of Apollos Rivoire, a French Huguenot immigrant, and Deborah Hichborn, daughter of a local artisan family.

Rivoire, born in France in 1702, changed his surname to Revere after immigrating and made his living as a goldsmith. Not surprisingly, Paul followed in his father’s footsteps, learning the trade that would define his career. (Though goldsmiths worked in both gold and silver, today we generally refer to them as silversmiths.)

Revere operated his silver shop for more than 40 years, employing apprentices and journeymen and producing everything from simple spoons to magnificent tea sets. His work was known for its quality, elegance, and craftsmanship — something we can personally attest to after seeing many of his tea wares gleaming in the galleries of The Met.

Hammered from a single disk of silver, this teapot was made as a wedding gift for Revere’s cousin.

Revere silver tea urns and teapots at The Met

Displayed in the American Wing at The Met, these pieces first captivated us during a 2019 visit to Manhattan — and we’ve returned several times since, like old friends reunited with beloved treasures.

Three favorite Revere teaware pieces:

1. Large Tea Urn (1791) Recorded in Revere’s account book, this urn was made for Hannah Rowe, widow of wealthy Boston merchant John Rowe. Weighing in at seven pounds, it is the earliest and largest of the three known tea or coffee urns crafted by Revere.

2. Smooth Teapot (circa 1782) Hammered from a single disk of silver, this elegant teapot was made as a wedding gift for one of Revere’s cousins. (One imagines Paul was a very popular wedding guest.)

3. Fluted Teapot (circa 1795) With bright‑cut swags and ornamental bands, this teapot exemplifies the “elegance and restraint” of late eighteenth‑century Neoclassicism.

After the Revolutionary War, Revere’s shop produced many oval and fluted teapots — beautiful pieces that remain a treat to behold up close.

* note - The Met's display includes more silver serving ware of other artists as well

This teapot exemplifies the “elegance and restraint” of late 1eighteenth‑century Neoclassicism.

Something to sink your teeth into, the other careers of Revere:

Revere didn’t rely solely on silver to support his family. He supplemented his income with several other ventures:

1. Copperplate Engraving During the economic depression following the French and Indian War, Revere turned to engraving.

2. Printed Works He produced illustrations for books and magazines, business cards, political cartoons, bookplates, songbooks, and even tavern menus.

3. And now, the wildest one… dentistry. From 1768 to 1775, Revere practiced as a dentist as time and skill allowed.

• He cleaned teeth.

• He fastened in false teeth.

• He sold toothpaste.

• And contrary to popular myth, he did not make George Washington’s false teeth — nor is there evidence he made full sets of dentures.

Though Longfellow singled out Paul Revere's midnight run, we know he did so much more. He was a tea-tosser, engraver, part-time dentist and, near and dear to our hearts, creator of beautiful tea ware.

Listen tea lovers, you won't regret, a trip to the American Wing at The Met!