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Lady Pamela's Tea Parlor

Monday, March 21, 2011

the 47th Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday , maple syrup

Welcome to....


the 47th Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday







It was a delightful visit-perfect,
in being much too short.

Jane Austen
I always find our visits delightfully perfect and yes, too short.  Reading your kind comments and visiting your posts help to extend the pleasure through the week and inspires me. Everyone is welcome at the tea table. Linger as long as you are able. While you introduce yourselves to our new followers and catch up with familiar friends, I will fetch the tea treat for the day.

Speaking of visits that are too short, my next few months have several.  I am most excited to be heading to Nova Scotia, end of April, to our beloved Wanda's home. She graciously opened her doors to our Kristina, last fall. Kristina has been an addition to the household , as she attended  Dalhousie University.  This has been a haven for my daughter, as her first experience,  away from us in Ontario. Wanda has been a great support and  mentor. There will never be enough thank you's to express our appreciation.  A month away from giving you all a hug - in person.
As the month of March draws to a close I think often of my dad. He loved Spring and it was the month of March that he passed, four years ago. Can you smell spring in the air? My dad would tell me he could. As the winter days grew longer and warmer with sunshine some people have the ability to smell the subtle essence of spring in the air. My dad grew up on a small farm in southern Ontario and on occasion would share his memories of his childhood.
As the farmers enter into mid winter, they look forward to preparing for the tree tapping process in the Maple sugar bush. There is a certain smell in the air when the time gets close. The mature maples require three weeks of warm days and cold nights to get the sap flowing. By the end of March the biological marvel has begun and nutrients, water and sugar (sap) from the roots of the tree is flowing up the trunk to nourish the branches and leaves.
My dad used to talk about this when I was very young and I soon made the connection between the early spring weather patterns and the trip to the sugar bush near the end of March. After walking through the bush to a clearing to see the huge kettle on the fire. The sweet smell of sugar and steam permeated the air as the water was boiled away from the sap, reducing it to a sticky, delectable syrup. I would carry my precious container of maple syrup along the muddy path through the bush to the car. Once home there would be fluffy pancakes for lunch combined with full tummies and grins upon tasting a delicacy that only God and the angels could create. Sweet memories. The sweet taste of spring.
With an abundant host of disease-fighting antioxidants in the sugary sap I am eager to incorporate it in simple ways. Maple syrup in my coffee feels likes an extravagance on Saturday morning.  
































Johnnycake

Ingredients
 1 cup sifted all purpose flour

1 cup yellow cornmeal

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1 egg, well beaten

1/2 cup buttermilk or sour milk

1/3 cup dairy sour cream

Directions
Blend flour, cornmeal, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.

Mix in brown sugar.

Add a mixture of egg, buttermilk, and sour cream all at one time to dry ingredients.

Beat with a rotary beater until just smooth.

Turn into a greased 11x7x1 1/2 inch baking pan; spread evenly.

Bake at 425°F about 20 minutes.

Break or cut johnnycake into squares and serve with warmed Maple Syrup.




If you have a moment to linger I invite you to stop in to Silken Purse to see what our darling hostess, Wanda, has for us to savour.




The more the fun!


We don't want to miss a single teacup or teapot!

*************


As always, we cherish your comments and participation


with our Tuesday meme.



~You will be warmly welcomed if you choose to become a follower!~






Welcome to, Tuesday Tea Time In Blogland!


These are the links to the other oh-so-delightful tea parties and tabletop parties that I attend.

I invite you to drop in. ~ Many thanks to those who faithfully host each week.


~ Hope to see you there!!



( Our own memes are marked with an asterisk * )




*~The 75th, 'Tuesday Tea For Two'




~ Tuesday Teatime with Lady Katherine



~ Teatime Tuesday with Sandi



~ Teacup Tuesday with Martha




~ Teacup Tuesday with Terri



~ Tabletop Tuesday with Marti



~ A Return to Loveliness with Kathy




*~ The 47th, 'Teapot And Tea Things Tuesday', with Wanda Lee and Pam @







Other favorite places I may visit this week:


~Tablescape Thursday with Susan



~ Foodie Friday with Michael




~Show and Tell Friday with Cindy




~Sunday Favorites with Chari






Cheers and hugs from Pam and Wanda Lee; ( Wanda Lee is the other half of our weekly blog tea party meme; 'Teapot And Tea Things Tuesday'.., @ http://silkenpurse.blogspot.com


29 comments:

  1. A very pretty golden tea post today!

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  2. Wow, this is one of the prettiest posts I have seen for teacup Tuesday! Love the beautiful gold dishes, and how you used the gold chain to drip from the spout! Just beautiful!!!

    Debbie

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  3. A cherished moment stopping by, just wonderful and your photo's an inspiration! I just love your photo's of maple syrup and your sweet memories of your Dad. A great celebration of Spring!http://yvettesblogs.com/2011/03/21/springtimes-laughter/
    Yvette x

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  4. Wonderful post...memories and settings. The elegant gold trip is just lovely. Thanks so much!
    Ruth

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  5. WOW, what a beautiful and elegant teapot and teacups! the jewellery are beautiful too! love how you took the pictures! gorgeous post!! x

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  6. Hi Pam,
    I love maple syrup and I always enjoyed going to the sugar woods in NB when I lived there. This time of year I always get a craving for this golden elixir and I especially love the maple cream! All your china looks fabulous with the golden jewelery. A very stunning tea post! I am happy for you that you will be seeing Kristina and Wanda Lee soon.
    Happy Spring!

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  7. Hello Pam,
    What a dear memory. My father passed away 14 years ago - it is he whom I think of when I am in my garden - I believe I got my love for the soil from him. I have been thinking of him lately too.
    I would love to see the time of the maple syrup harvest! I just love maple syrup next to honey - God provides what we need in such marvelous ways. You set a very elegant, inviting table with tones that made me think of the syrup. Just lovely,
    Thank you for sharing this with Celebrate Spring with Victoria this week,
    God Bless,
    Kathy

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  8. Oh, so elegant! Crisp white and glorious gold. Just gorgeous, particularly the gold chain pouring from the teapot!

    - The Tablescaper

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  9. Dear Pam
    Happy Spring Tea afternoon!
    Love

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  10. Hello Pam
    I usually forget to officially follow a blog so I am a follower of yours now. I didn't realize you were from Ontario too; my blogging circle is very small, guess I need to get out more. :-)
    Your tea is lovely and I'll try to link each week for as you say, the more the fun.
    A trip to Nova Scotia sounds wonderful.
    Judith

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  11. Lovely photos, Pam. I love your flatware, the teacups and your teapot. Everything looks gorgeous!...Christine

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  12. Dear Pam,

    What golden, pearlescent, Maple syrup loveliness! ~ Thanks for the kind words and we look forward to seeing both of you soon as well!..,

    Do pop by and visit my blogs as well when a wee moment or two of respite arises and thanks for co-hosting; it's aways fun!..,

    (Can you believe it? ~ This week is my 75th, 'Tueday Tea For Two', blog tea party; I can hardly believe it myself)!

    Cheers.., WL

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  13. I love this post and all it's golden goodness. One of the plates looks like one I found recently at the bottom of a pile of giveaways. Since seeing all the beautiful tea things in blog land, I think I've gained a new obssession.

    Cheers,
    Lisa x

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  14. Beautiful post. I love the necklace dripping out of the teapot. I will have to try those johnny cakes!!! ~~Sherry~~

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  15. Dear Pam, What a sweet story about your father. Mine passed away only last year. He loved to garden and spring was his favorite time of year. Thanks so very much for joining my party too. I'm late due to visiting grandchildren.

    My goodness..your photos of the gorgeous gold painted cups and china are just stunning!

    xo
    Donna @ Comin' Home

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  16. Dear Pam,
    I really love your maple syrup pictures and the beautiful story of your father - Vermont is so dear to our hearts so anything with maple syrup makes me happy! Thank you for your delightful post and sharing such extraordinary treasures with us!
    Enjoy our dear Wanda - friendship is one of the truest blessings we have in life.
    <><
    Concetta

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  17. Hi Pam! Visiting you from Kathy's Celebrate Spring party and I'm so glad I did! Your post moves me on so many levels! I was touched by your memories of your father. Mine also passed away in March (6 years ago). I enjoyed reading about the maples and maple syrup. I have a large maple that if the weather is right, drips sap on me while I sit outside to read. :o) I, too, think your teapot vignette is lovely and I adore the necklace looking like tea coming from the pot. How original! I sure hope to visit all these wonderful blogs again soon, as my time allows! Bess

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  18. Hello, Could you contact me by email. I have a special message for the Celebrate Spring With Victoria participants.
    Thanks,
    Kathy

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  19. A lovely golden tea cup post. I love the gold chain pouring out of the tea pot. So clever. It is a pleasure to view your post today.
    Hugs, Jeanne

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  20. Beautiful golden tea cup and table setting. I could almost taste the maple syrup as I read your post. I enjoyed my visit with you today.

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  21. Oh I adore your gold and white china~ swoon!

    I am currently hosting an auction of vintage and antique linen treasures. Stop by and take a peek.

    Have a wonderful weekend.

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  22. So gorgeous, love how you have the necklace coming out of the tea pot! Lovely setting! Thanks so much for linking up with VIF!
    hugs,
    Debra

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  23. Oh my goodness, how gorgeous that chain pouring out. Beautiful pictures.

    I found you through Kathy's "A Delightsome Life." LOVE your header. I could get lost there.

    Looking forward to visiting.

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  24. Everything is gorgeous, tea pot and cups. I love your photos of it all, great photographer! I love the maple syrup story with your dad too. I'm your latest follower, hope you come by.
    thanks for the recipe, I like it for my little granddaughters, they love maple syrop!
    FABBY

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  25. It's wonderful to have you be a part of Seasonal Sundays!

    - The Tablescaper

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  26. Hello Pam...

    Ohhh...what wonderful memories you have of your Dad and the making of maple syrup! I can just imagine the sweet scent of sugary maple filling the air as that large pot of maple syrup boiled! Mmmmm!!! It was so funny that you mentioned the "scent of spring", my friend! My honey has been telling me for on and off for days now that he can smell spring in the air! I actually had to stop and close my eyes and take a long breath...and he was right! Spring DOES have its very own scent! It's lovely, isn't it?

    How wonderful that you are going to visit our beloved friend Wanda the end of April! I'm just ecstatic for you, dear lady! I know that the two of you will have a wonderful time and...I can just imagine all the sweet teas that you will share! Ohhh...I wished that I were going as well! I would love to sit and chat over tea with both of your dear, sweet ladies!!!

    Well my friend, you have set another gorgeous tea table for all of us to enjoy! Your photos are just spectacular...sooo very creative! I love how you used the lovely golden pearls and necklace with your tea!!! They should be in a magazine, Pam!!! Ohhh...and I just adore those gorgeous teacups and saucers...the gold embossing is exquisite! Thank you so much for sharing this lovely post with us for the Sunday Favorites repost party!!!

    Warmest spring wishes,
    Chari @Happy To Design

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  27. I'm sure you miss your dad very much and think of him often - especially in the spring. What wonderful memories you shared with him during the sugaring season. By the way, the colors of the lovely jewelry you used in your table settings tied into the idea of maple syrup beautifully.

    Thanks for linking to the party each week. I love to see your pretty vignettes.

    Blessings,
    Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage
    http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/

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  28. Thanks so much for being a part of Seasonal Sundays.

    - The Tablescaper

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