Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Crazy for Teapots

Teapots are wonderful, not only because they can contain tasty teas and tisanes, but because each one is a unique work of art that reflects the moods, tastes, and sometimes even the dreams of the one who serves from them. Teapots range from the very small to large; from plain simplicity to the very ornate; and from English to Asian and more. Someone asked me how many teapots I have, and I don't know. My mother and I both enjoyed teapots. I was quite young when she took a ceramics class and made a teapot, creamer, and sugar with pansy decals on it. A few years later I took the same class and made my own set in blue and white. It was the start of many happy hours of 'searching' for the ideal teapot for our mood and budget. Thrift shops, yard sales, and outlet malls were places we enjoyed visiting together as we searched for them. My sister had her own bonding-themes with mom, but teapots weren't one of them. Sis isn't a 'tea lady', so when it came time to divide mother's things up between us, the teapots and teacups became mine. Due to a kitchen remodel in progress, most of my teapots are packed away right now where I can't photograph them, but I decided to look through my picture files to see what I could find to share. I think the collage does a pretty good job of depicting my moods, tastes, and dreams. . .as they reflect moments in my daily life. . .which is what taking tea is for me. . .moments of everyday life.

I would like to share a story about the blue and white teapot in the fourth row down. My mother passed away nearly four years ago, and in her things I found a beautiful blue and white teacup. I fell in love! It was mom's and I thought it so beautiful! Missing a saucer for it, I inquired on a chat list for tea lovers about finding a saucer for my lonely teacup. One of the ladies in the group had one without a teacup (her's had broken when a shelf fell; she was heartbroken and had scooped all the pieces into a bag and put the pieces away). When she realized I was looking for a saucer, she found the bag of broken bits and pieces and discovered that one saucer was there in one piece. She kindly sold it to me for $5.00 and it married perfectly with my teacup. The first Christmas without my mother was an emotional one, and it became more so when I opened my packages Christmas morning and discovered what my sons had done. They were in their mid-teens then, and had taken time to research on the Internet, finding
www.replacements.com where they were able to obtain a teapot to match my teacup. I'm sure they spent a fortune (for them) and when I opened the sweet gift I could only cry. Since then I've been able to find three more cups and saucers, giving me a set of four. I am so sentimental! I cherish this sweet gift from my boys so very much!

I hope you enjoy my teapot collage. Each one has a story and is meaningful in some way. For some, it's the experience of the hunt (finding an old, mini teapot at Goodwill for 50 cents) and for other's it's the memory of a time spent with a loved one. The little green teaset in the second row was purchased for me in Japan by the boy's Suzuki piano teacher. The white and green teapot is a Susan Branch that has the words "When the tea kettle sings with happiness, that is home." If you have questions about a specific teapot, I'm happy to answer them. Just leave a comment and I'll amend this post. :)

I know this is a little bit 'long', but I'm waxing eloquent because I don't want our blog-a-thon to end. I've enjoyed meeting so many lovely people; kindred-spirits who share so much in common. I've enjoyed reading your comments to one another and have appreciated how you are making new friends as well. I hope we can continue to stay in touch --- and plan on posting each week yet (if I can keep up) with Mr. Linky and other themes related to gracious hospitality and friendship. I hope you continue to join in! I look forward to seeing you then!

Be sure to check back next week for the 'winner' of the participants drawing. It will be so difficult to choose 'just one', but fortunately there is no 'decision' to make with a drawing except for which name tag to pull out of a teapot! The winner will be featured on my blog next week --- with their permission, of course.

Enjoy a lovely day! It's raining here --- I think I'll go make myself a cup of Chocolate Raspberry Bliss Tisane!

Please scroll down for links to this week's theme: The Pouring Teapot

29 comments:

  1. Anonymous9:44 AM

    Well I enjoyed every word. And the teapot collage is wonderful. The teapot your boys hunted down for you was the one that caught my eye as I looked at the collage. Beautiful. What a wonderful sweet thing for them to do. Enjoy and may blessings come back to you for all the blessings received during this fun blogathon...

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  2. Anonymous9:51 AM

    What a wonderful relationship you had with your mother. So many beautiful memories of time spent together. I love the fact that your boys look out for you. I can see you have raised them well. I have really enjoyed the blog-a-thon. You are a great inspiration to all of us. Thank you so much for the time, thought, and dedication you put into making this truly such a lovely event.

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  3. I have enjoyed being a part of the tea blog-a-thon. I pray we can all continue to meet new friends and enjoy our new blogging "community". Thank you for introducing all of us to each other!

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  4. I've enjoyed every bit of your teapot series although I didn't participate in all of them (not enough tea stories to share).

    This story about your mother and the loving gift from your sons is so touching. Thank you for sharing it. I miss my mother and father something terrible, too.

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  5. Thank you La Donna for sharing your story about the blue and white tea cup and pots. What a loving tribute to your mother and a beautiful testiment to love you share with your sons. Your story was moving.
    Thank you also for hosting this very special tea blog-a-thon. What fun it was to participate, and to meet so many tea enthusiasts. It was fun to hear from everyone as they shared their collections, their stories, and their memories. Tea has certainly united us all. What fun it has been.
    Thank you!
    Nancy

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  6. Anonymous2:36 PM

    What a lovely post! I sooooo love teapots and cups. Your blog is awesome and I hope you don't mind if I link to you. xoxo

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  7. Your tea pot collage is lovely! I really enjoyed each week, participating in the tea blog-a-thon and reading the posts of so many others. The Gracious Hospitality blog-a-thon has been a wonderful avenue for me as a fairly new blogger to meet many new blog friends. Thanks you for the time and effort invested in this fun experience...Kathy@ Mimi's Garden

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  8. Anonymous6:24 PM

    Hello LaTeaDah,
    I certainly enjoyed the entire collage. Since I am just now thinking on branching out.... I can see I have a long way to catch up with you - hahaha!!

    I love the blue and white teapot that you have chosen to share the story - very moving!

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  9. Hi LaTeaDah,
    I don't think Mr Linky is working on the bottom section either. I tried linking and nothing happened.
    All of your tea pots are so lovely and the memories attached to them make them that much more special.
    Thank you for hosting. I'm fairy new to bloging so this has been a new experience for me. I hate to see it end.
    God Bless,
    Cori

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  10. The comments have been wonderful. I look forward to continuing on. Thank you.

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  11. I just started the blog-a-thon, but have enjoyed your past posts and tea stories. Its so nice to see so many that still have this old tradition of lovely china.

    neleh

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  12. I so enjoyed your teapot stories, especially the one about your sons finding a pot to match your cup and saucer. I too am sad to see this tea party end but it is ending well with new friends and a greater fondness for all things tea!

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  13. What a sweet story about your sons finding the blue and white tea pot for you!!

    I have enjoyed every thing about the blog-a-thon! Thank you for hosting!

    Katherine

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  14. Your boys must be very considerate.
    I am impressed by your largre collection of teapots, and each one is so unique. Thanks again for this wonderful blog-a-thon.
    Millie

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  15. You're going to continue this in some capacity? Have I told you that I think you're one amazing gal?! (I certainly welcome the opportunity to participate as often as possible.)

    I loved reading about your tea pot collage and the special stories unique to you surrounding tea.

    Hope that you enjoyed your cup of Raspberry chocolate bliss tea!

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  16. That is quite a beautiful collection La Tea Dah! THanks so much for helping us to meet so many new people online through the Blog a thon! It has been raining here too, and the snow hs been melting too fast so we are all on a flood watch...what to do while watching??? Have tea of course, and pray!

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  17. I enjoyed your many teapot photos and the story about how the cup and saucer found each other and then were joined by the teapot. Although your little set has more meaning to you than the Noritake tulip china that I someday hope to find more of, I certainly understand wanting to locate more of an elusive pattern. I have enjoyed your blog-a-thon and will continue to be reading your items in the future.

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  18. I love the teapot collage. Thank you for hosting this blog-a-thon. It has been a joy to participate.

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  19. Anonymous3:40 AM

    Hi

    It is a great and good post and I like it.

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  20. I am soooo happy that I found your blog! I enjoy every moment I spend here. I just love teapots...all china for that matter. I, like you, actually use them often. The only bad thing about your blog is that it made me late for work one morning...I just got so caught up in it that I forgot what time it was! :)

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  21. It's Thursday, and I am just now posting my final Tea pot post! :(
    Sorry it is so late! It has been so busy around here and I am behind blogging, I have material for almost everyday next week, to blog! LOL! It is sad to see the blog-a-thon end! I've enjoyed meeting new people and viewing their beautiful treasures! And you have been a most kind and gracious host! ~Hugs, Rhonda :)

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  22. It's Thursday, and I am just now posting my final Tea pot post! :(
    Sorry it is so late! It has been so busy around here and I am behind blogging, I have material for almost everyday next week, to blog! LOL! It is sad to see the blog-a-thon end! I've enjoyed meeting new people and viewing their beautiful treasures! And you have been a most kind and gracious host! ~Hugs, Rhonda :)

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  23. P.S...Almost forgot to mention, Love your blue and white tea pot and the story behind it! How sweet! Now you have two fond memories behind the beautiful piece! :) Rhonda

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  24. P.S...Almost forgot to mention, Love your blue and white tea pot and the story behind it! How sweet! Now you have two fond memories behind the beautiful piece! :) Rhonda

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  25. What a beautiful post. What a wonderful thing to have had such a relationship with your mom. You are also blessed to have such loving and thoughtful sons--a testimony to the kind of mom, wife, sister, and daughter you are (were). Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and time over the past weeks. I have met so many wonderful ladies and am sad that it is over. I will miss our tea times together...

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  26. Just stumbled across your blog and I really enjoyed all the teapot and teacup photos! I'll be back often.

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  27. Oh my what an amazing teapot collection! So lovely. Karen

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  28. I just love the collage of your teapots and cups...you must have a very understanding husband to be able to keep so many in your home! I guess I have too - one room in our house is full of my antique linen. Hey, that's just given me an idea - I should start a linen blogathon on Patra's Place! Can you give me some clues on how to do it, please dear La Te Dah? Yours has been such a delight to particpate in, and I'm just sorry I've been late sometimes, and unable to participate in one or two weeks...sorry!

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  29. Anonymous7:35 AM

    This is a beautiful collage. Thanks for sharing your stories with us. Take care.

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Thank you for commenting on my blog post. I am always happy to hear from blog readers. Your words encourage and inspire me. I am glad you stopped by to share conversation, recipes, ideas, and thoughts on creating a welcoming home.