Afternoon Tea

Yes, I know, more flowers, I hope you don't mind too much. I know I only showed you these ones a few weeks ago, but I can't resist photographing them, they are so damn pretty. Little garden posies like this are absolutely my favourite type of flowers. I do like shop bought ones, I love narcissi in the spring, adore tulips, sweet williams and occasionally flirt with shop bought roses if the mood takes me. But nothing lifts my spirits like a little jug of snipped blooms from just outside the door.
I have this dear little jug that is perfect for garden posies. I bought it in Jaipur when J and I spent a while traveling in India. It was 1996, and I carried it all round India in my backpack, wrapped up in tissue paper, hoping it would make it without getting broken (I once bought a beautiful ceramic bowl from Spain which got smashed to smithereens during the journey home when J dumped my rucksack down on the airport floor. So you understand my worry for Breakages).
I noticed Steph at Curlew Country (love that blog) has some gorgeous garden flowers too look, oh I just love them.

So my lovelies, how was your weekend? Here under the Attic24 roof, it was hunkydory. We didn't do a lot, didn't venture far, but it was lovely all the same.
On Saturday I did quite a bit of baking. I am easily influenced you see. I was doing a bit of blog-visiting early Saturday morning and whilst hopping about in cyberspace I called in on the Ragged Roses household. Oh, what a treat! A tea party! I was bowled over by the prettiness of it and immediately decided that I wanted some teaparty lovliness. I got amazingly excited and announced it to the family :: Today at 5pm We Are Having a Tea Party! I picked flowers, ironed my prettiest tea towel (yes, I really did iron it, it was quite an occasion) and set our little coffee table in preparation.

I baked buns (recipe here) and decorated them with little fruit jelly pigs.
And I baked a banana bread loaf. 

I had various Little People in and out of the house all day (my own and other peoples) and as you can see the banana bread did not make it to the tea table intact. And I had to hide the buns because they were under serious threat All Day.

I keep popping in to the sitting room to admire my flowers, oh look how pretty they are and oh I can smell the sweet peas from over by the door. Lovely. Right, on with more baking, something savoury this time.

Mmmmmmmm yes, some Cheesy Crumbles I think. These are deeeeeeelicious and incredibly quick and easy to make, the recipe comes from a great little Book called Cookies Galore.

Whenever I make them, they get snaffled up very quickly, especially by my locust-children. I don't always put the walnuts in, and usually use snipped chives in place of spring onions. They're great served with little cubes of cheese and apple slices. Good for snacks, packed lunches and picnics. And 5pm tea parties.

Oh look, my flowers, my flowers, still looking oh-so-pretty. Did I mention how much I love them?

The tea party was a great success. As well as my baking,  I made egg mayonnaise and tuna mayonnaise sandwiches cut into little triangles. There was a big bowl of strawberries. And jaffa cakes. I used my new Greengate melamine plates with an assortment of napkins from the growing collection. And I served tea from my spotty teapot, milk in a pretty jug.

Sadly I did not get chance to take a picture of the whole table when it was laden and looking beautifully tea-partyish. I had a hungry, demanding, rampaging family who ravaged the food as soon as plate touched cloth. It wasn't polite. Or refined. But it was fun. And delicious.

Comments

[Sarah]

cheesy crumbles look great! I loved looking at your pretty cups, plates etc - gorgeous!

[Maddy]

Yum, and that's my reaction to the flowers AND the cheesy crumbles. What a quick idea, I bet my boys would love them in their lunch box.

[oge]

what beautiful photos you take
x

[oge]

what beautiful photos you take
x

[susan]

oh i LOVE your flowers, too! i just wish i knew what they were. i want to plant some outside my door too!

i found your blog via the hexagon love yahoo group and have been devouring your blog ever since. love your crochet work, love your cooking posts and love your flower shots.

[Forgjengelige ting]

I really like your colorful blog!! Lovely bunch of flowers!!

[Anna]

glad you too were inspired by Kims lovely idea! Your tea party sounds great fun. I love the look of those cheesy biscuits too, yum! May have to try some of those...!x

[Lisa]

I was asked the other day if you could do anything for a w/end what would you do and I said live with my friend Luce she bakes and its all so yummy. Your little ones are very lucky people. Will have a make of those cheesy crumbles yum ! Flowers look lovely hun xxx

[shirley]

It all looks beautiful. Glad you had a good weekend

[clairey]

I love afternoon tea and am hosting it myself this afternoon for my lovely best friend's birthday.

Luce, I LOVE your milk jug!

Regarding your comment on my blog - I too am impressed that Matt dared arrange china!!!

Clairey xx

[Steph]

My tummy is rumbling so loudly looking at those lovely cheese crumbles! I must tempt my boys with the tea party idea, I'm sure they'd love it. Thanks for the link to my blog, you're very kind. And I love your flowers so much. Garden posies are just the prettiest aren't they, the WI stall at our market sell beautiful ones for just £1 but flowers from your own garden are the most special of all. Have a smashing week.
Stephx

[sally]

Hi Luce
The garden flowers look absolutely beautiful. I have been putting the yellow flowers from our sprouting broccoli in a jug with some lavender - they look great! And my mum's sweet peas are a treat too. The tea party sounded fab -am definitely going to try those cheesy crumbles - yum!
S xx

[simone]

I love the fruit jelly pig buns. I'd be a little piggy and scoff the lot myself! The cheesy crumbles look very moreish and I love the banana bread (I've made it myself a few times now). The garden posy sets the scene for a wonderful tea party!