Breakfast tea at The West Lane Inn

This is the beautiful inn we stayed in at Ridgefield ...

 

... and this is my morning cup of tea in the sweet dining room.

 Another perfect start to the day .

 

Love this wallpaper.

Physical Graffitea

Last night we walked past a tea shop in St Marks Place in the East Village, that I was very keen to look in, however it was late and we needed food rather than tea. I knew we'd be back this way today*  and made sure we took the time to pop in, and I'm very glad we found Physical Graffitea .

 I had discovered another warm and cosy place to escape from the cold, with friendly people talking knowledgeably and enthusiastically about tea, and happy to share some of their time with curious Australian tourists.



Claudia who served us was lovely and let us have a sniff of lots of different teas before we finally decided on 3 to bring home. There was a lot to choose from!

 I couldn't go past my favourite Earl Grey but this one is special as it is Cream Earl Grey - its got the yummiest smell! I also chose Assam, and Steve chose a Rooibos Chai.

 

Happy Vanna with her bag of tea to take home all the way from New York City!

* We were here on March 5th.

Decluttering update

In amongst my tea posts I thought I should let you know that I haven't forgotten about my decluttering goal. Obviously while I was away I did a bit of shopping, although I did try not to buy stuff just for the sake of it. 

Since I have been home I have returned to one thing less a day and have let go of 3 kitchen knives, a handbag, and Steve has given away some electrical bits and pieces. I did a great clean out of the cutlery draw a few weeks ago and it now looks so good that even my 16 year old son noticed it! In the next few days I plan to declutter my emails and computer files - I always find this hard as I'm guilty of thinking 'I might just need it one day', so I'm working on being more realistic in this department. 

I am also proud to say that I still haven't bought any bottled water this year! 

Vanna xxx

elizabella's

Thus afternoon (March 6th) we spent a few hours looking around the beautiful town of Ridgefield, Connecticut, where we are staying the night to see The Cowboy Junkies at their local Playhouse.

We had to stop at Elizabella's Bakeshop as it looked so inviting through the window, and as we walked in a group of girls told us that the cookies were great! 

                       Elizabeth, the owner, and her son, were very friendly and we had a long chat with them as we looked at her beautiful display of tea, cups and pots,  and baking goodies.
 

Isn't this display gorgeous! I wish I could have taken it all home with me! 

We left with some English Breakfast tea, chamomile and lemon tea bags, and a box of delicious chocolate cookies baked by Elizabeth. Oh, and also 3 jars of caramel and chocolate sauce - yum! 

I had to take a photo of this divine green cup and saucer. 

One of my favourite things about travelling is the opportunity it gives you to talk to so many different people. Over here our Australian accents are like an invitation to start a conversation. Today as well as loving being in such a gorgeous and fun shop, I feel like I learnt a little bit about what it would be like to live in this town which is so different from home in Sydney's Inner West. 

Vanna xxx

By the fire in Branchville

 

I began this post on March 6th ...

 

We have just arrived in Branchville Connecticut, around two hours from New York on the train (and bus today due to track work). 

It is still cold and we have found a café with a warm fireplace to stop and have a cup of tea while we wait for a taxi to Ridgefield where we are staying the night.

I am still learning how to order tea here and keep forgetting to ask for them to leave room for milk - which is always available for you to help yourself.

  The tea bags are big here too!!!

 

The café is called the Tusk & Cup and we found out later that it has a great reputation locally. I love elephants as well as tea so felt very at home here.

What a lovely way to fill in time - warm, cosy and so nice to have time just to stop and sit and enjoy the moment.

Vanna xxx 

A cup of tea in NYC

I began to write this post over a week ago and just didn't finish it - too much else to do! So here is it, now that I am back home with some time to spare. I will finish a few other posts that I started in New York over the next few days - so keep your eye out for more tea!

I can't really believe it but I am in New York having the most incredible time. We have spent the last 4 days walking, walking and walking through the city, and along with the occasional cab ride we have barely scratched the surface of this amazing town!

Along the way I have had, and plan to keep having a few cups of tea and have done my best to document these important little moments!

My first cup of tea at a New York Café -  Café O in the West Village. It is freezing here - actually below zero, so a warm cup of tea inside a cosy café is perfect.
I was happy to see that they like big cups in the USA! Delicious pumpkin bread to go with it.
 

A cup of tea and crumb cake at The Met.

A welcome relief amidst the overwhelming feeling of so many amazing things to see in such a beautiful space.

 

We walked past this gorgeous tea room - I think it was in Greenwich Village.
Unfortunately we were on the way to somewhere else so didn't stop - maybe next time!

More tea moments to come, along with book shops and vintage/thrift clothes shopping .... stay posted.
Vanna xxx