arliss: (flames)
( Apr. 28th, 2017 10:08 pm)
Yesterday was my fourteenth LJversary. I wasn't home to celebrate it. It's hard leaving home, but it's time to make home in a new place. I miss you, flist, those of you who are still here, and those of you who have moved on. Come visit--maybe you'll like the neighborhood.
arliss: (candle with stones)
( Apr. 12th, 2017 01:24 pm)
Hi guys.

Here I am without so much as tea pictures to post. I did want to say that I've had a Dreamwidth account in this name since DW was in beta. I never managed to get xposting to work, but I manually xposted for a while, and then let that lapse.

I'm updating my DW from this account, and when that's done, I'll be moving over there permanently. I have ridiculous paid time, thanks to the new TOS, and as long as that lasts, if the creek don't rise I'll still be reading here and commenting on your posts. But this is probably my last post here.

It sucks. This account is fourteen years old this month. That's a lot of fandom and friends history, and honestly, it hurts to leave it behind. Those of you who'll be moving to DW, find me over there. My arliss account has been dormant for awhile, but I still read and comment there.

I don't want to leave LJ, it's been home. But I can't stay, under the Russian law our journals are now subject to. Find me at Dreamwidth. I don't want to lose touch with any of you.
arliss: (teapot)
( Mar. 24th, 2017 11:05 am)
I know, I know. I never call, I never write. I never make an appearance except to invite you all to tea. Here we are again. Again.

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Paragon's "Melanie" china, Portmeirion "Botannic Garden" teapot. Typhoo black in the pot. Makes a grey and rainy afternoon more cozy.
arliss: (teapot)
( Feb. 27th, 2017 05:55 pm)
H makes a vat of vegebarleybeef soup several times a year, particularly welcome in winter. He offered a quart to the next door neighbor, who said, "Oh, I couldn't eat that much!" and accepted a pint, instead. This afternoon we found the pint container on the back steps with homemade oatmeal chocolate chip cookies inside. I'm liking this arrangement!

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Minton's Haddon Hall plate, cup, and saucer, thrifted sugar and creamer, Portmeirion "A Fine Romance" teapot. It pleases me the tea towel has herbs printed in purple and green.
arliss: (teapot)
( Feb. 8th, 2017 05:10 pm)
It's been a while. I'm settled by the front window, watching the snowflakes fall like it's their job, with a throw over my legs and a pot of English Breakfast. Walker's shortbread and French raspberry tartlet. The cream jug is new-to-me, a Christmas gift from a friend.

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Be aware, I haven't used this account, other than to follow and occasionally comment on posts by people I don't see elswhere. If you're in my circle, welcome. And may conversation ensue.
Blustery afternoon, building to gale force winds, 50 mph, this evening and overnight. Time for curling on the couch with some tea.

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Shelley "Hedgerow" cup and saucer, plate is marked "Mira, Occupied Japan, Royal Chelsea sugar and cream jug, French triple plate spoon, unmarked tea pot.

May all who observe Thanksgiving tomorrow have one full of warmth and laughter. And those who don't are wished a happy Thursday, and your share of warmth and laughter as well.
In need of a bracing cup of tea and a cinnamon bun today.

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Doulton plate, Crafton cup and saucer, Foley cream and sugar, coin silver spoon, thrifted silverplate tongs. Cobalt pot isn't marked.
arliss: (witch cat broom)
( Sep. 25th, 2016 05:19 pm)
Hi, yes, hello, here we are again.

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Another thrifted pot, sugarbowl, plate. Another Foley cup and saucer. This one reminds me of rolling Tuscan hills, or stylized waves in Japanese paintings, or fish scales--maybe dragon scales!
arliss: (teapot)
( Sep. 7th, 2016 10:55 pm)
The weather's turned off cool--in the low 60s, and 40s at night. It's welcome, but a bit of a change. The chill makes my tea even more welcome.

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This is my favorite $2.00 thrift shop teapot. I love how the gold lattice on the Foley cup and saucer pick up the green checkerboard on the plate and sugarbowl, both stamped "Japan."
arliss: (teapot)
( Aug. 31st, 2016 11:48 am)

The color black is used less often than most colors in china patterns. So when I have a few pieces that do have some black in them, it pleases me to use them together.

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The plate is Royal Standard's "1810" black chintzware, with daisies and daffodils. The yellow triangles teacup is Paragon's "718X" first produced in 1918, and the second cup and saucer, while beautiful, are unmarked. Two views, to reveal the floral decoration inside, and the shape of the foot and the pretty handle.
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arliss: (window -my pic)
( Aug. 13th, 2016 09:00 pm)
We drove out to Deception Pass this afternoon. His ashes are scattered there, where you can gaze out past the islands toward Japan. We scattered some on the NC coast before we left there, too. H says he has a foot on each coast, an eye on each ocean.

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arliss: (teapot)
( Aug. 10th, 2016 07:36 pm)
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I love my Brown Betty with the downturned spout--no drips or dribbles! Today's china is Johnson Brothers'  Strawberry Fair. Cookies courtesy of Pepperidge Farm.
arliss: (teapot)
( Aug. 3rd, 2016 04:07 pm)
In anticipation of late summer and fall, I thought this afternoon we'd celebrate in browns.


click to enlarge

The cloth is a dresser scarf with fancy french knots, satin stich, chain stitch, etc. embroidered by my mom, and edged with lace tatted by my grandmother.

I love the English Burslem pot, hand painted with foxgloves and tulips. The cups, Colclough, Sutherland's "Chiang," and Rosina "4951" all have brown details, and look cheerful gathered with the pot. One spoon is coin silver, the other spoons, the lemon fork and tongs are vintage silverplate. Nibbles are raspberry jam bar cookies, and oatmeal bites.
arliss: (teapot)
( Jun. 9th, 2016 04:58 pm)
This afternoon's tea. Black? Or Earl Grey?



Dates stuffed with almonds and cream cheese, dredged in sugar, fresh strawberries, and boxed cookies.

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Paragon China's "Melanie" pattern, antique silver spoons. The silver pot with bird finial on the lid was found derelict and heavily tarnished--it's shiny inside and out, now.

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arliss: (teapot)
( May. 19th, 2016 09:38 pm)
It's been a while. I hope the flist is doing well. I thought I'd share some pictures.

Morning light in the garden. I love the delicate salal flowers.


And this afternoon's tea. Black Typhoo in the pot I found for $2.00, thrifted, unmarked early 20th Century American redware. Restaurant creamer, thrifted teapot stand, coin silver spoon, silverplate tongs. Mt. Clemens “Mildred” pottery, gifted, thrifted, and found. The plate was under a flowerpot with a dead plant in our apartment in Germany. It cleaned up nicely.
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arliss: (teapot)
( Mar. 23rd, 2016 06:57 pm)
(apologies to those of you who may have seen this elsewhere)

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Thrift shop china, the pot was $2.00, unmarked early 20th century American redware. The cream jug was a gift. Cream cheese and homemade raspberry-pomegranite preserves on half the rice cake, homemade lemon curd on the other.

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Books, bears, tarot–Dreaming Way, Deviant Moon, Sun and Moon decks–and tea. The Peanut Gallery: Naomi Laight’s Georgiana, Steiff’s Snap-apart bear, assorted Steiff 10cm bears, one tiny artist’s bear, and Ralph, who started life as a keychain fob. Ralph and Timiny (Steiff, blue sweater) travel wherever I go, in a special pouch in my purse. The bears don’t care about tea, but they’re very fond of honey toast.
arliss: (teapot)
( Jan. 24th, 2015 06:01 pm)
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Yes, that's tea--black and strong. Portmeirion teapot, teapot stand, plate, and tea strainer all courtesy of ebay. Other items from antiques shops: cup and saucer from Havelock, NC, tray from Kernersville, NC, cream jug from Southern Pines, NC, sugar bowl from Hillsborough, NC, tongs from Bellingham, WA. Full-leaded Typhoo in the pot, homemade pumpkin-walnut  bread garnished with plain nonfat yogurt. Nom!
arliss: (holiday)
( Dec. 18th, 2014 04:02 pm)
Some mornings when the better course would seem to be just not getting up, even for coffee, what motivates me out of bed is knowing I get to open another day on my Jacquie Lawson Advent calendar. A little sad, but you know, whatever works.

H just went out and bought a whole string of lights just for four replacement bulbs on our "pre-lit" tree--that has two swaths of impenetrable dark. Ooh! One of those just lit up.

Last night's supper was a giant bowl of steamed broccoli dusted with sea salt. Nom! I should do that more often.

I have not done cards. I have not sent the few presents I need to send. We blew off going to the movies this afternoon as neither of us could be arsed to care enough to go. I am overcome with ennui and the urgent need to nap. A brisk walk in the bracing air does not energize, it merely enhances the nappishness. Moar coffee just makes me both jittery *and* nappish, possibly entertaining for the observer. From here, not so much.

Perhaps I should open tomorrow's day on the advent calendar. Or go back and start at Day One again, that might be fun. Or nap. Naaap.
arliss: (harvest home)
( Nov. 27th, 2014 11:20 am)
To everyone who celebrates this day, let me wish sufficient good food to share with family, friends, and strangers in need. Warmest good wishes to us all.
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