Wasn’t it Lana Turner who was discovered in a coffee shop?

When you hear the words “coffee shop” what do you think of?  The first thing that came to mind should NOT be a big corporate owned conglomerate.

I think of a small place, cozy, with great pie and cake.  Coffee in heavy ironstone mugs (or whatever they call it), and someone who knows that I like a dollop of unsweetned whipped cream on the top of my coffee to stir in with just a pinch of Stevia.

I think of  Katherine Hepburne and Bogey, Doris Day and Rock Hudson.  Coffee shops belong to small neighborhoods whether they are in big cities or po-dunk towns in the middle of a cornfield.  A great coffee shop is an entity unto itself.

When people got hooked on Starbucks at $3 dollars a pop (they don;t call it star-bucks for nothin’) they missed the point.  When Starbucks started selling protien shakes THEY missed the point.

A coffee shop has never been about the coffee.  It’s about the smell, the atmosphere, the camaraderie, and the pie.

Scones, lemon bars, and muffins are great for tea rooms but a coffee shop without a thick slice of homemade pie, warm from the oven with thick fruit syrup bubbling out the top…well that isn’t a coffee shop at all.  A coffee shop should be a haven in an unexpected thunderstorm, a dry mecca where your next adventure awaits.

A good coffee shop will remind you of Cheers, Mel’s Diner, and the scene from When Harry Met Sally all at once.

If you find one don’t go anywhere else.  It is a treasure that could easily go the way of gas station attendants and real diners with blue vinyl swivel seats.

Made ya smile just thinking about it, didn’t it?

image:SXC

Post from: Kettle and Cup

I really need to shop. I am planning on picking up a few items to help set up my photos. As long as I call them props and use them in my blog my tax person says I can write them off. YAY. Anyway..let’s see what is interesting out there!

Tea and cake earring set…wow. this is so cute! I am not big on jewelry but I think I could learn to love these.

Coffee Kitchen soap gets your hands clean and imagine the smell! Coffee grounds, brewed coffee and coffee essential oil. MMMMM!!

Have you ever checked out Ruby Lane? I love it!

Vaseline glass coffee cup is amazing!

This little floral teacup is almost too pretty to use..I love the scalloped edges.

I love the idea of having a dessert set. This foam green and floral antique set is perfect.

sigh.

Would you feel amazingly pampered and victorian with this Limoges tea set? Imagine a croissant and a strawberry on the side.. evenw ith tax write off there is no way I can do this! LOL!

Oh wow! Check this teapot out! I love violets!Why do they not make them like this anymore?

The seller on this is callng it a teapot but it looks more like a chocolate set to me. Opinions?

GASP! I told you I liked violets!

This cup is unlike any I have seen. The coppery interior and the green exterior is just my style. (I am an autumn and those are my favorite colors).

Jadite cannister set…maybe a touch overpriced but still beautiful..

I bought one of these cookie jars for 2.00 at Salvation Army Thrift shop… I felt so good!

I love the vintage refrigerator dishes. They keep leftovers very organized, don’t cost much, look great and, most of all,t hey are earth friendly!

I really enjoyed myself..hope you did too!

Image:morguefile

Post from: Kettle and Cup

I fell in love with this vintage black cup and saucer set…Very delicate with lots of gold trim.

I am going to guess late deco, maybe 1930s with this rose painted tea pot? What do you think?

I have the entire set of these late 1940s cannisters, including the cake plate. These are in much better shape than mine though. The seller is not very knowlegable about these because they have them dated as 1970 LOL!

Ansley cup and saucer…sigh..romantic rose motif with light blue..I could so go for this one! What do you think?

McCoy Pinecone teapot..I am not sure when this was done..but it is fantastic!

Incredible German Tea pot..so you are starting to see how my tastes tend to be, aren’t you?LOL!

I love this footed tea cup with the peaches on it.

Elephant collector? Look at this 1930s deco lusterware tea pot. It is so cute! I love the bright colors.

I love old photos. This vintage sepia of two little girls having a tea party is adorable!

I know I said I liked those other cups..but trust me..THIS one is my favorite..Lattice work saucer, amazing little cup…my favorite..until the nest one, right?

I love red and white kitchens. I think this vintage Noritake set would be so cheery for a continental breakfast with a croissant or brioche and tea…a few pieces of fruit…

Really cute Dutch boy and girl teapot. I haven’t seen one like it before. I would say mid 1950s?

O.k.. My feet hurt…see ya next week.

image: Morguefile

Post from: Kettle and Cup

This week is all about sharing about teapots. Do you have one? two? or three? maybe more? Is it for display only or do you use it for tea? What is the tea server you use most? Your favorite teapot (or is it something like a quart jar?). Tell your teapot story, give it’s history, and tell what it means to you. You can share more than once if you’d like. Antique, new, Asian, English, or something in between — we’d love to know!

So the blogothon goes on.  I am loving these posts! You can find more teapots at Gracious Hospitality. 

There are so many blogs that I have become aware of that it is competing with my food blog addiction! Seeing other people’s images, and reading thier thoughts about tea has been inspiring. Having those very talented bloggers come and comment here has been humbling…

I will need several days to go through my tea pots.  I thought I would start with the one I find most interesting and most mysterious.

I know nothing about it other than my mom picked it up in a antique store in Bucks County Pa. in 1966.  We lived there at the time.  The tea pot is pewter, and has an H inscribed in the back

It is very finely detailed with a band of flowers around the rim…and stipes on the tip of the spout.  The knob at the top is a bit like a shell.

There are two pegs on either side that poke out and the lid is hinged.   I think it is beautiful!  I have tried to find something about it but it has no marks and I am not familiar with pewter antiques so much. I think it must be Victorian, and I am guess 1880s because of the monogram..but still..I don’t know.

Anyone have any ideas?

Images:MaryeAudet 

Post from: Kettle and Cup