The Gilded Age, seeing some familiar faces and familiar edifices: Newport's Chateau-sur-Mer

A visit to Chateau-sur-Mer, now featured in Gilded Age

The Gilded Age premiered one week ago today, and we spotted a few familiar faces as well as a few familiar edifices.  In the latter category, the "cottages" of Newport -specifically, The Elms, Marble House and Chateau sur Mer - shared the stage with actors portraying fashionable New York elite of the late 19th century and the staff that supported them. With the help of this past weekend's newsletter from The Preservation Society of Newport County, I could place certain scenes with the particular cottage I visited back in 2016. 

In the past, we've written about the different Newport mansions, but as a companion to the new series, we're featuring weekly snapshots of some of The Gilded Age locations we've visited and, there's no better place to start then the beginning. . . the mansion that kicked off the "grandiose cottage industry", Chateau-sur-Mer. 

 Chateau-sur-Mer

The main staircase of Chateau-sur-Mer is featured in the Gilded Age as part of the grand entry to Mamie Fish's home. Here, the ambitious, noveau riche, Bertha Russell delivers an invitation to Mrs. Fish, who is reportedly not in residence. Could she be hiding in one of the old mansion's elegant bedrooms?

Three story grand staircase

Mrs. Bertha Russell finds Mamie Fish not at home

Chateau-sur-Mer translates to "castle of the sea" and on our visit six years ago, we learned that originally the home boasted unimpeded water views. Its rich landscape once reached the ocean, but it was parceled out to other family members and beneficiaries over the years. 

One of the bedrooms at Chateau-sur-Mer:  a hiding place for Mrs. Fish?

The home was built in 1852 by China trade merchant, William Wetmore.  It set itself apart from other area abodes in its very size and building material. Most residences were modest structures made from lumber, whereas Chateau-sur-Mer was described as "almost palatial" and built out of granite. According to book,  "Newport Mansions, The Gilded Age", it was a "turning point in domestic architecture. . .  signal[ing] the beginning of the architectural competition that would keep builders busy during the last decades of the 19th century."

When William Wetmore died in 1862, the estate passed on to his son, George Peabody Wetmore, who served two terms as Governor of Rhode Island and three terms in the U.S. Senate. While working on his political career, he also wanted to rebuild his inherited mansion and turned it over to architect Richard Morris Hunt.

Chateua-sur-Mer was "remodeled" in the 1860's by William Morris Hunt

Hunt changed the structure so much, some thought the original home was razed to start new construction.  Rooms were added, doorways shifted, a roofed carriage entrance was built and a 20 by 30 foot area was gutted to create a dramatic entryway. The entrance contained a three-story hall with balconies, a skylight and an "imperial" staircase.

The entryway where both Bertha and Barbara have come to call

Thus enters, social climber, Bertha Russell.

And, sometime after that, Chateua-sur-Mer stair climber (and tea blogger), Barbara Gulley.

Blog writer appears in dressing room mirror.

We're looking forward to tonight's second episode! Let's see what other familiar faces or edifices we may see. 

 

All signs point to Alabama tea farm: Fairhope Tea Plantation, an unexpected, unconventional tea tour near Gulf Shores

Fairhope Tea Plantation in Fairhope, Alabama

In planning our Gulf Shores January getaway, my husband, Chris, and I had list of "to-do's":  dining on fresh seafood, long walks on sandy beaches, soaking in ocean sunsets and at least one round of golf. While we easily checked off those activities when we set up stakes on the southern coast of Alabama earlier this month, there was another item we hadn't counted on, a visit to a working tea farm, Fairhope Tea Plantation. But, all signs pointed to it!

Local news pays a visit to Fairhope Tea

Donnie Barrett, owner, interviewed on news 

On the second night of our stay in our high-rise, ocean front Airbnb, I turned on the local news before we headed out to dinner at (yes!) a seafood restaurant. The scroll below the newscasters drew me in immediately:  "Tea crop unbothered by bitter cold weather".  What followed was even more captivating - there was a working tea farm within a half hour drive of our vacation condo. The field reporter interviewed the owner, Donnie Barrett, who not only assured the viewing audience that the tea crops would be just fine in chilly temps (the area was experiencing an unseasonable cold snap), but mentioned he offers personal tours of his tea plantation.  The only request of Barrett was to call ahead, and preferably in the afternoon, as he and his wife are not early risers.

Signs at Fairhope Tea Plantation direct guests to park and honk.

This was clearly a sign! Another "to do" was added to our list posthaste, and the next day, after a requisite long walk on the beach and a quick lunch, we traveled to Fairhope. On our way, we called Donnie Barrett, and told him we were interested in a tour.  Responding like an old friend, he said, he'd see us soon.

Donnie, accompanied by one of the resident pups, talks about types of tea and how they are grown

The tea plantation, like Donnie Barrett, is impressive, unconventional and very informal. At the beginning of the long, inconspicuous, drive that takes you to the tea farm, there's a sign posted on a gate bearing the name of the plantation and assuring you that, no, you did not make a wrong turn. 

Peacocks strut the tea farm

Upon reaching the Fairhope Tea Plantation, two signs greet you with directions:  "Park Here" and "Honk Your Horn".  You may also be met by a couple of friendly resident pups who are as eager to see you as the roaming peacocks are to dismiss you while they strut unconcernedly along the grounds.

Guests are treated to a cup of tea

After a short beep from our car, Donnie, greeted us with two tasty, freshly brewed cups of tea. He explained the tour once we were comfortably seated on his back patio. He would give us a short tea talk, and once we finished our tea, we'd hop on his golf cart to view the grounds. Final stop, we'd get to see the "gift shop".

On the tour of the tea plantation, Donnie shows some of the wilder tea plants on the grounds

As we sipped on the plantation’s own blend of black and green tea, Donnie told us how he embarked on his tea career. In a bit of serendipity, in the 1970's, the Lipton Tea company had been conducting research studies on tea plants grown at the Auburn University's extension campus in Fairhope, Donnie's hometown. After Hurrican Frederick in 1979, Lipton packed up its operation, but many of the tea plants were left behind, part of the storm's debris. On the urging of his father, Donnie gathered up some of the better looking plants and cultivated them at home. 

Both father and son were experienced in horticulture, including growing plants in the Camilia family, but to hone his tea growing skills, Donnie went to China.  Touring several tea plantations with focused observation, he picked up some secrets of the trade.

Joining Donnie as he shows off tea plants that are harvested for Fairhope Tea Plantation's tea

In 1990, Donnie and his wife, Lottie, moved to their current location and established the Fairhope Tea Plantations after much planning and a few naming iterations. Today, the farm has approximately 61,000 plants. 

Donnie took us on his golf cart and, as we rode along the rows of tea bushes, he would stop and explain harvesting techniques. He drove us to one area where the tea plants grow unpruned and in the shade. Under these conditions, Donnie explained, the tea grows thick and full - perfect to fulfill a recent request from a movie company to have the plants "big and leafy".  

Donnie also dug up a few tea plants for us to take home, providing instruction for transport.

Picking out some tea plants for guest to take home

Once back at the neat, brick ranch-style abode that serves as Donnie and Lottie's home and office, the gift store was summoned. In keeping with the lack of pretentiousness of the estate, the gift shop is a portable cardboard box filled with Fairhope Tea Plantation tea. There's black and green tea, offered in loose leaf or tea bags. We purchased two of the loose leaf varieties.

Gift shop, as unpretentious as the tea plantation.

Like Donnie, we, too, encountered a bit of serendipity in finding this tea farm.  Among the sunsets, seafood, and gulf, all signs pointed to Fairhope Tea Plantation and we're so glad they did!

For more information, visit the Fairhope Tea Plantation website.  Tours are currently $10.00 per person. 

The Gilded Age premiers tonight! A ten-year wait, but BTS kept Gilded Age busy for a decade.

Breakers, a Vanderbilt "cottage" in Newport, will be featured in The Gilded Age

Breaker's news alert! The Gilded Age is finally here!

The long-awaited series (certainly by BTS!) premieres tonight on HBO. Written by Downton Abbey creator, Julian Fellowes, this show is a bit of a prequel to the Cora and Robert Crawley story (Lady and Lord Grantham).  Downton Abbey enthusiasts know that Cora is an American and it was her family's money that helped keep the aristocratic country house afloat. But, what was the backstory? The Gilded Age will give some perspective. 

Breakers front entranc

Husband, Chris, strolls the Breakers hallways

The Gilded Age is set in late 19th century New York, where "old money" rules. Families like the Astors, kept elite society to a select few (the often quoted "400").  The nouveau riche, like the Rockefellers and Vanderbilts, were seen as upstarts and their attempts to penetrate the exclusive New York society was difficult. However, some calculating "vulgarians" found a way through.

But, what took so long for The Gilded Age series to air?

Back in 2012, it was announced that Julian Fellowes, was working on The Gilded Age for NBC.  Per the New York Times (The Gilded Age Finally Arrives at HBO), Fellowes was, at that time, immersed in the sweeping success of Downton Abbey and there followed a "drawn out development process". NBC did proclaim the series would air in 2019, but, then, it suddenly moved to HBO. The cost and scope of a period drama proved to find a better home on cable than broadcast. And, now, the day has come. 

Chateau-sur-Mer, one of the older mansions in Newport

However, we at BTS did not sit idle and Gilded-Age-deprived for the past decade.

Prior to 2012, I'd visited some of the homes of the era (The Breakers, The Biltmore), but not so much as a mission than as a tourist.

After, 2012, however, I hit the gilded ground running. In the past decade, I've returned to Newport, Rhode Island, to revisit The Breakers as well as Marble House (both Vanderbilt "cottages"), Rosecliff, The Elms, and, the slightly older mansion, Chateau-sur-Mer, all of which will be featured in The Gilded Age.

The Elms, designed to look as though run by magic

One of the staff's rooms at The Elms

In 2015, my daughter, Rachel, and I, visited another Vanderbilt mansion in Hyde Park. This was a stone's throw from the family home of Franklin Roosevelt and, touring both these homes was truly a tale of two worlds: old money, with its traditional understated furnishings and new money, with over-the-top, palatial rooms and decor.

Gilded Age House party at Biltmore

Biltmore dining room

I also returned to the Biltmore in 2019 specifically to see their "Gilded Age House Party" exhibit. Here, fashions and tales of entertaining were displayed throughout the Vanderbilt home in Asheville, North Carolina.

Stairs at Ferncliff

Ferncliff cottage in Newport

In addition, I traveled to Jekyll Island, a Gilded Age resort/hunting club, in Georgia and Flagler College in St. Augustine, which was once one of the first swanky hotels in Florida. (Flagler was a partner of John D. Rockefeller in the Standard Oil business). 

Blenheim in 2018

Vanderbilt money restored state rooms at Blenheim

But, probably, my most extreme Gilded-Aged themed trips was in 2018, with a stop in Woodstock, England, to see Blenheim Palace. This was the ancestral home of a financially needy English Duke who married a rich American young lady (and, yes, her last name was Vanderbilt) to help keep the country estate afloat. 

A tale as old as 'Downton Abbey". 

What to watch for.

• Actress Christine Baranski 's Agnes van Rhijn, looks to be a delightful blend of fictional Violet Crawley (Dowager Countess of Downton Abbey) and the real-life arbiter of 19th century high society, Caroline Astor.  She'll have her position challenged by Carrie Coon's character, Bertha Russell, based on Alva Vanderbilt.
• Plot lines that explore more dimension to characters beyond the establishment and the wannabes. 
• As noted in the Detroit Free Press this weekend - Two Detroit natives play employees of the wealthy: Douglass Sills plays the Russel's French chef and the housekeeper, Mrs. Bruce, is Celia Keenan Bolger, who won a Tony in 2019 for her portrayal of Scout in "To Kill a Mockingbird".
• Late 19th century Manhattan, filmed on location - but in upstate New York.

Marble House, Vanderbilt home

Interior or Marble House, made of . . .marble!

Are we done with Gilded Age obsession?

We've only just begun! We've got Gilded Age programs already inked in the calendar as well as travels planned. As we've noted before, this is our Gild-y pleasure, so stay tuned!

Happy National Tea Day! BTS celebrated with edible teacups and tearoom visits (If you missed it, there's still time to celebrate: January is hot tea month!)

All you need is hot tea, favorite teapot, cup and scones (pearls optional).

January 12th was "National Hot Tea Day" and, thanks to great tea friend, Barb T., who texted me a reminder the weekend before, we here at BTS were ready!

In years past (most recently in 2019, "A novel way to spend National Hot Tea Day" and 2020, "January is Hot Tea Month"), we blogged about National Hot Tea Day/Month , including some tea industry stats along with recommendations as to how to spend this holiday.  

Combining a few activities, tea with friends at a fav tearoom

The latest statistics provided by The Tea Association of the US (see below) haven't changed much from the last report, except for two notable exceptions: (1) a dip in sales of US tea imports due to COVID and (2) in part because of (1), in-home consumption grew 18% due to "stay-at-home orders incentivizing consumers to drink tea to ease stress, relax, calm and center them."

• US is the third largest tea importer, after Russia and Pakistan
• On any given day, half our country's population drinks tea
• Regionally, the South and Northeast have the greatest number of tea drinkers
• Approximately 75-85% of tea consumed is iced tea
• Eighty-seven percent of Millennials drink tea

The stats remain relatively the same and so does BTS' recommendations as to how to spend National Tea Day/Month. Although National Hot Tea Day has passed, don't worry! January is "Hot Tea Month", so there's still time to engage in any or all of the following:

1. Visit a favorite tearoom 
2. Text an old friend and set up a tea date
3. Set a table at home with your own heirloom/vintage teapots, teacups and assorted accoutrements
4. Make a fresh pot of loose-leaf tea and start a new book.
5. Try a new tearoom

We took our own advice, and, in the past week, we hit 4.5 of the activities above. 

We combined items "1" and "2", by texting dear friend, Laura Q. and enjoying tea at one of our favorite local tea rooms, Tonia's Victorian Tearoom in Rochester.  We each had our own pot of tea (Double Chai and Earl Grey), but shared a teacup filled with a dessert inspired by The Gilmore Girls, Poptarts and ice-cream. 

A Gilmore Girls-inspired dessert, ice cream with Poptarts  in a teacup at Tonia's Victoria Rose

For number "3", I set up a tea table with my newly gifted Wedgwood teapot and teacup, added some freshly baked scones and enjoyed a lovely afternoon-tea-for-one in the dining room (pearls, optional).

Making a fresh pot of loose-leaf tea is pretty much a daily activity for me, but, this week, I did brew up some Earl Grey with the intention of pairing it up with a new book, "The Giver of Stars" to accomplish number "4".  One of my besties from junior high (and, yes, it was a while ago!), Loretta H., and I are starting a bookclub-for-two this year and that's our first read for February (stay tuned for more "Tuesday Tea and Tomes"!).

Bisro le Bliss chocolate mousse served in chocolate teacup.

The last, number 5, we got pretty close, so I'm giving BTS a half credit. We tried a new restaurant, (thanks to bueno amigo, Joni W.!)  Bistro le Bliss, in West Bloomfield, and ordered another super scrumptious dessert in a teacup, although here, the cup was edible! The tasty treat was chocolate mousse filled into a chocolate teacup. (Certainly, worthy of some extra credit).

It doesn't really have to be National Hot Tea Day or even National Hot Tea Month to enjoy a hearty cup of hot tea with a good book or great friend. You can do it anytime and that, we highly recommend!

Happy National Hot Tea Day and Month to all! 

Tuesday Tea and Tomes: Lucy Worsley's "The Austen Girls" - for young readers, but enjoyed by older ones, too!

"The Austen Girls" by Lucy Worsley is for young adult readers, but older ones will enjoy it to!

A historical fiction tale involving my favorite author, Jane Austen, written by one of my favorite British historians, Lucy Worsley -  and autographed by said historian! - would surely be the perfect Christmas gift for one who pens this blog. The only misalignment was the age of the intended audience. As a book written in the "Young Adult" category that targets the 11-18 age group, I'm a few-plus scores past the demographic.

This was a present from my husband, Chris, who, seeing the topic and the author AND it being autographed, immediatly saw my name all over it. When I opened the package, I was thrilled at the cover,  the signature of Lucy Worsley on the title page and, following a quick scan of the chapters, I was actually delighted with the larger-than-usual print. But, after a little more inspection, the true market for this book was revealed.

My copy of "The Austen Girls" is signed by the author.

But, with so much going for it and figuring it would be a pretty easy read, I was excited to jump in. The story of Jane's two nieces on the edge of sixteen was entertaining to the card-carrying AARP- member me and it struck a chord with that long-ago, geeky, middle-school-me who would have loved the story of two young cousins who shared romantic dreams of marrying charming young men met at fancy balls. As a young adult reader, I would also have been intrigued by the sleuthing of the Austen ladies in solving a local crime and would have cried along with Fanny and Anna as tragedy hit both cousins, forcing them to "get real" faster than planned.  

Middle-school me, compulsive diary scribe and massive note-sending teen, would also have been both awed and alarmed that Jane Austen made some good coin from writing books, but had to keep her identity hidden as it wasn't considered respectable for a woman to be employed in any form.  (Her novels were credited to the very generic, "A Lady").

Outside Hampton Court in 2015 with book gift-giver Chris, far right, son, Matt and daughter, Rachel

The author of "The Austen Girls", Lucy Worsley is also the chief curator for the Historic Royal Palaces with an office, appropriately enough, at Hampton Court, home of some of England's most famous royals, including Henry VIII and the Georgian kings (we visited the Palace in 2015). Worsley has become a media personality with her televised programs on The History Channel and PBS.  In many of her shows, she dons costumes and inserts herself in the middle of historical recreation vignettes, taking some of the stuffiness out of higher learning programs. In a recent article in Great Britain's Good Housekeeping magazine, Worsley defends her approach as a way to bring history to a larger audience. "I think entertainment is like the gateway drug, the marijuana of history - you can then get addicted to more serious things later." (Although she quickly added, she would stay clear of drug analogies in the future.) 

Inside Hampton Court at dining table of George I, 2015

I say, I agree wholeheartedly. My true love affair with Jane Austen began in the mid 1990's with the airing of the BBC's "Pride and Prejudice" featuring the most engaging Mr. Darcy, Colin Firth. That spawned a reading of all six Jane Austen novels and a few trips across the pond to Austen-sites. It was also an introduction to the aristocratic norms, including the importance of being the eldest son and the often dire challenges of having several daughters where the focus was finance, not romance, in having them marry "well".

First Austen trip, 2006, Barb and Rachel in Bath

Which brings us back to the "Austen Girls".  Based on real members of Jane Austen's family, it's an engaging story of what life was like for young ladies in the Regency era. There's an epilogue at the end of the book which gives some details on what really happened to Fanny and Anna and when "artistic license" was used to enhance the story. 

Sense & Sensibility at Chawton, written by "A Lady

Barb & Rachel visit Chawton, Jane's home

I'm confident that young readers would use this as a stepping-stone to learn more about Jane Austen and her novels, just as a wet-shirted Mr. Darcy had (in between "AARP" and "middle school") me running back to "Pride and Prejudice" with renewed interest. 

BTS In Out list 2022: The trend zone for the new year includes period dramas and dramatic tablescabes!

New teas and fancy tablescapes are part of the In/Out Zone 2022

For over a decade, Barb's Tea Service, has published our "In/Out" list for the upcoming year. This year, however, we noticed a drop in both print and on-line media  "What's in/What's out" articles for 2022. Maybe it's quarantine fatigue or supply chain* issues, but could In/Out lists be "out"? 

We think, perhaps, not just yet and certainly not at BTS. So, without a whole lot of "out"side influence, we take you on a journey to another dimension, a dimension of fancy food, a dimension of tablescapes, a dimension of mind. You're moving into a land of both shadow and (some) substance, of things and ideas. You've just crossed over to the In/Out list Zone, 2022. (Our apologies to Rod Serling)

Fun-do with scarce pots, but note the chargers!

Food and drink

In: Fun-due! Fondue has been our family tradition for a quarter of a century, starting with our family of five and expanding over the years.  It's an activity as well as a meal and, in times of over-caution, mini-pods of two can share the same pot. The host only needs to cut up and plate proteins and veggies and guests, with their own color-coded skewers for self-serve, can cook in their respective pot of simmering oil. As per our custom, this can all be followed by chocolate fondue, where one can dip fruits and sponge cake in melted dark chocolate. Added bonus, as my husband, Chris, the grand fondue orchestrator, proclaims every year, "if you don't like your dinner, blame the cook".

One of the many benefits of fondue: host is not blamed for bad cooking

Out: of stock! As our fun-due celebration has expanded, so has our need for fondue pots. This year, in need of two more, we found these mini modern cauldrons in short supply.  There were none to be found at Target, Meijer's, Costco, Macy's, Sur-la-Table or Williams Sonoma.  Finally, we took a chance on an Amazon purchase with a sketchy delivery date, and, fortunately, they did arrive on time. Our advice: for your fun-due event, shop early!

Cheesecake cookie - always welcome

Cookies baked from scratch, and no data privacy issues

In: Accepting cookies -  It's always a treat to be gifted cookies, homemade or from a great bakery.  My daughter, Rachel, baked a different batch of cookies every day in December and many of us were the fortunate recipients. We also received a box from the Detroit Cookie Company which included a cheesecake stuffed cookie. Excessively scrumptious! 

Out: Accepting cookies on the internet - although agreeing to a website's tracking system is not necessarily a bad thing, if you do accept, take caution. Your social media feed may provide more customized content, but cookies can clog your computer and invade your privacy. When in doubt, accept the cheesecake cookie instead. 

Partea from Michigan's Short's Brewing, move over hot toddies!

In:  Tea for after 5:00. Move over hot toddies and partay with Partea, a sparkling hard tea from Michigan's own Short's Brewing Company. This is a blend of mango, apricot and black current tea mixed with rose hips, orange peel and cinnamon. With a low alcohol percentage (under 4%), it's equivalent to a light beer, but more at home on your tea table.

In-home Streaming and Movies

In:  Gilded Age  Finally!! I've been going on about the Gilded Age for a while now, but the long-awaited saga from Downton Abbey creator, Julian Fellowes, will premiere on HBO January 24! Stay tuned not only to HBO, but BTS as we will be spinning blog flax into gold with our obsession: Gilded Age experiences and locations. 

Gilded Age BTS talk from 2019, updated for 2022

Gilded Age "cottages" are back!

In:  Downton Abbey - A New Era  The movie sequel is scheduled to premiere March 18th and BTS is ready! We'll be part of some great events at Meadow Brook and The Townsend Hotel, in February and March, respectively. Again, stay tuned! 

Downton Abbey talks at Meadow Brook this year!

In: Bridgerton, Season 2.  More "March madness", with Brigderton, where the hoops are in the skirts at Court.  The series returns to Netflix on March 25.  It's Jane Austen meets "Gossip Girl", but with more disrobing. However, when in pursuit of a count or viscount, be prepared with your best Regency ball gown to gain the approval of Queen Charlotte. (We have ours!)

As noted in our blog last January (Fancy tea sets surge in popularity), Bridgerton has not only piqued our interest for Georgian England, but increased our appetite for the finer things, including fancy tea sets. Continuing on that theme, it's time to elevate the dining room.

Recent period dramas, like Bridgerton,  have influenced demand in the finer things!

Fine dining

Take charger of your tablescape with fine china, fancy linens, gleaming crystal and, yes, chargers!

In:  Dominating tablescapes - take charger of your life!  BTS has long had a penchant for chargers, but I only purchased my own collection last year. As we noted in our blog last month (Christmas tablescapes), respected table design gurus promote them and even suggest employing the economical variety of chargers that can be found at many dollar or craft stores.  The latter is where we amassed one hundred for our daughter and son-in-law's wedding reception in September. Since then, I've used them for almost every dinner party we've had to justify their existence as my husband is taking an unhealthy (IMHO) focus on how much storage space they occupy.

Chargers add a lot with little effort, but do require some storage

Wherever you source them from, however, chargers will add color, texture, and interest to your table. Their magic lies in the punch they provide for so little effort. 

Wedgwood - not just for jasperware anymore.

In:  Fine china. More "In" for your tablescape, we have two favorites: 

(1) Wedg-would you be mine? Wedgwood is more than jasperware (Wedgwood blues) and we're onboard for more!! For Christmas, I was gifted a tea-for-one set in the beautiful Butterfly Bloom pattern. Tablescapes aren't just for large groups! Treat yourself to some luxury.

Herend, a DA trend in china circles back * a century later

(2) Herend  - another great china company, and although it's not from England, it did receive the approval from Queen Victoria. When we visited Hungary last fall, Herend's country of origin, we purchased a tea cup in the Chinese bouquet pattern - the same one used by Lady Grantham in Downton Abbey. (blog story: Herend's fine porcelain in Budapest)

Lifestyle

Friday night punch-out high replaced with Sunday night rush

In:  The Sunday evening rush from not clocking in on Monday morning.

Out:  The Friday evening rush from clocking out.  Oh, wait, these may be more specific to the recently retired. I joined that club last November - but only from my corporate job. That only means more time for Barb's Tea Service and we have so much in store for this year:  events, books, travel and more! 

City Bonfires both romantic and beautiful!

In:  City bonfires - Enjoy a bonfire on the patio without the fuss. Roast a marshmallow or two on the tabletop with City Bonfires, a compact fire pit that literally requires no heavy lifting. Romantic and pragmatic, just like BTS!

Outside:  Even in compact form, this is for the outdoors only!

Don't "no worries", be Merry!

Out:  "No worries"  - this year's list of banned phrases from Lake Superior State University includes the tired, oft used phrase. Many times, it's used to replace "you're welcome", but has become so common as to be meaningless. So, just be "merry".

In:  Be Merry - not as easy to always subscribe to, but, like Bing Crosby in "White Christmas", we counted our blessings this Christmas. Chris and I had six of them under our roof this holiday season (not including the pets). 

And, for our BTS family, where it's always "the more the merrier"! Thanks for stopping by and cheers (Partea or Earl Grey) to seeing you all more in 2022! "In"-clude us in your future tea plans, in any time or trend zone!

*"supply chain" and "circle back" also on LSSU terms/phrases to be banned in the new year.