Wednesday, March 3, 2010

My Lovely New Tea Set!!! (Yes- it needs 3 exclamation points)

My husband is the best gift buyer in the world. In the past he has bought me a puppy for Valentine's Day (my dear Chelsea), an iMac (where my writing career began) for our 10th wedding anniversary, and the well known and coveted Accumulator for this year's birthday.




This last weekend we went over the border to South Africa with a sick friend and when we came back he bought me this lovely tea set. I make a pot of tea every morning for breakfast and I am very fussy about the pot I use. Size, shape and colour all play a large role. This teapot has now become my favourite by a very wide margin. It is so jolly and green; what else does one need? I'm already a big fan of enamelware of all kinds, so this is like enamelware with whipped cream, chocolate sprinkles, and a cherry on top.


My favourite bits are the little girls and their ever changing dresses and hair styles. The girls on the tray, the sugar bowl, the milk jug, and the teapot are all different. It makes me think of Giant Teenager No.1 who is now free from school hairstyle dictates, and is changing her hair almost daily. Yesterday when we came home from South Africa, she had changed to a wild crop of short maphondo on the top of her head with the bottom shaved nearly bare with three stripes on each side and all dyed maroon.



My second favourite thing about the tea set are the giraffes. I'm a currently considering starting a petition to remove the buffalo (ugly) from the Big Five and have the elegant and beautiful giraffe take its place. I'm still working on the wording for the petition because I'd also like to see how the under-rated warthog might find a place in that illustrious grouping. Big Six perhaps? Big Six is so much tidier with its symmetry of three-letter-word butted up against three-letter-word. Anyway, like I said, I'm still considering the wording, but the point is I like giraffes and I very much like the giraffes I will be having my morning tea with for now on.

Though I didn't know it at the time, this tea set is made by a very lovely South African group called Lumela Afrika. According to their website they do all sorts of wonderful things.


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And here, having nothing at all to do with tea sets or gifts, except that I found this photo in my camera when I was downloading the tea set pics, are the cats busy at their day job.

11 comments:

Not From Lapland said...

what a wonderfully jolly tea set! I'm with you on getting the giraffe in...not to sure about the warthog though...

Natasha said...

What a wonderful tea-set. I'm in India, and have two really small kids, so am most unlikely to go to South Africa any time in the near future, but when I do, I will be sure to pick up a tea-set just like yours.
Don't get fooled by the name of my blog- I am addicted to tea!

bonita said...

Oh! I covet your tea set. I'm a periodic tea freak and have several tea services, esp tea for ones. Never seen one with the tray included. Makes it great to make in kitchen and bring to office for enjoyment.

daoine said...

Oh that is cute! I love the giraffe.

And those cats have a very important job. Testing the bed for continued comfort. Vital. It can be a great shock to climb into a bed that has sneakily lost its comfortability; those cats are on to it.

Elle

Anonymous said...

I am such a big fan of tea sets myself that, like Bonita, I am presently coveting yours. That tea set is better than therapy. Drinking tea from it every morning would set one up nicely for the day. It is gorgeous!

Cruella Collett said...

Just got directed here by Rayna, and I must say I absolutely love your blog! Giraffes are the best thing ever, and since tea is very close to the second best thing ever, I would cross oceans for a tea set like that. Adore it!

Lauri said...

Glad everyone loves my tea set as much as I do. I tried to look on the makers web site but it doesn't seem to have a place to purchase things online, which is unfortunate. Maybe if you contact them they can make a plan.

Nicole said...

that tea set is wonderful!

GutsyWriter said...

I am such a fan of bright colors that I would immediately fall in love with your tea set. The question I have is: How doe the tea taste in this new set?

Lauri said...

Gutsy the tea taste lovely but I must admit the teapot still has that new smell when you put the water in. I think it will go away with time. You should check out their website -everything they make is colourful.

groovyoldlady said...

Hahahaha...I LOVE the tea set. It is fun and wonderful!

And this whole post has me wondering if "upliftment" is really a word. ;-)