A Message from Ruth at Antiques And Teacups

Welcome to the blog of Antiques And Teacups! Let's share a cup of tea and talk about the things we love...like teacups, antiques, collectibles, visiting England, antiquing and learning about victoriana and quirky gadgets. Fun!

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Tuesday Cuppa Tea, Victoria BC and The Empress For My Birthday

Hello and welcome to Tuesday Cuppa Tea! 



Besides the teacup below I will be sharing the trip we made to Victoria, BC Canada for my birthday during our 2 week break. But here's my teacup for today:





Because I'm feeling fallish...although we are really still continuing our only month of summer with temperatures around the 70s, which is warm for us, and very welcome....our night are getting into the 40-50s and the leaves are turning. So I thought this cup and saucer by Royal Albert was leaning toward fall. I don't know the name of the pattern, but I like the pale yellow and the foliage which looks like plants putting out seed pods and thinking about shedding leaves. The mark dates the teacup to the 1950s, and it's the usual nicely made English bone china that feels so nice to drink out of.




We traveled to our closest big city, Victoria, BC Canada for a birthday visit. We traveled on the Black Ball Ferry the Coho out of Port Angeles to Victoria Inner Harbour. Here is the ferry from the seawall a bit later in the day when we went for a walk just before dinner. We arrived on the early ferry, getting to Victoria at 10:30.  The seawall in front of the Fairmont Empress was quiet, lovely and peaceful because it was so early.








By the time we got the Empress it was close to noon, but because we had a VIP stay (!) we could get into our room in 30 minutes, so we went up the street to a favorite tea room and tea shop Murchie's for a cuppa and an almond croissant.








Murchie's sells goodies for tea, teaware, and their own tea blends. I especially like their Afternoon Tea Blend #10.



After a wander about town to a few favorite areas around the seawall, watching the float planes buz in and out, and admiring the topiary orca killer whale and her baby on the square by the Empress:




it was time for lunch after checking into our room overlooking the habour on the 8th floor, at The Veranda on the pillared porch at the front of the Empress. We hadn't eaten there, so decided to try it.




It was diffucult photographing it...as well as forgeting to photograph ANYTHING until lunch was over and we were having tea, because of the intensity of the light on the lawn in front of us and the Inner Harbour just across the road. Here is the lawn from the opening when I got out from under the covered porch, showing the Hop On Hop Off bus and excursions loading for Butchart Gardens. The old truck is used to advertised whatever is going on at the Butchart Gardens.



We had thought to have afternoon tea later, but were too full. We did walk by the tea lobby where teas were being prepared, and the Palm Court where tea used to be served until it became too popular.








And to the gift shop where you can buy the Empress China William Edwards, (formerly Booth and Royal Doulton), china designed for the visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in May of 1939.




 We had dinner later at The Bengal Room in the hotel, 




Which has a marvelous Indian/Northwest cuisine menu and buffet. And, were surprised with this plate of goodies when we returned to our room:




A cute little tuxedo dressed 3 tone chocolate covered strawberry, white and dark fudge and a chocolate truffle with a little plastic tube and bulb inserted into it. We hadn't seen that before. The tube was filled with a liqueur. We weren't quite sure how to eat it though. Oh well...we are pretty provincial folks...  We had room service breakfast the next morning and generally had a wonderful belated birthday celebration.

Here are some of the wonderful blogs I am joining and a linking for your tea related posts to link with Tuesday Cuppa Tea. For more info on the teacup at Antiques And Teacups, click on the teacup photos. Have a great day visiting the blogs and thanks for joining me for Tuesday Cuppa Tea!


Monday Marketplace
Terri~  http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/ 
Teacup Tuesday
Trisha~  http://sweetology101.blogspot.com/ 
Tea Party Tuesday
Teatime Tuesday
Kathy~  http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com
Victoria - A Return to Loveliness
Martha~  http://www.marthasfavorites.com/ 
Teacup Tuesday 
Tuesday Cuppa Tea
Afternoon Tea
Tea On Tuesday
Tea Tuesday
Tea On Tuesday
Poetry In A Pot Of Tea
Friends Sharing Tea Wednesday

What’s It Wednesday


Share Your Cup Thursday

26 comments:

  1. Beautiful Royal Albert. Is it gray and pink on yellow?
    The hanging baskets from your trip photos were really gorgeous.

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  2. Hi Ruth, that is a very pretty teacup. And what a wonderful visit to Victoria you had. A very interesting post! Have a great week. Pamela

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  3. I enjoyed your post so much about your travels. Your lovely teacup does look like autumn and perfect for the season! Thank you for hosting your lovely party!
    Nancy

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  4. Loved reading about your birthday trip to Victoria, B.C. What a wonderful place to celebrate! Brings back fond memories of my two visits. The Empress is always a lovely place to stay as well as enjoy tea. Thanks so much for sharing your travels with us!

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  5. Hi Ruth,
    What a fabulous time you had! Oh my, I would love to visit the Empress someday. My son lived in Victoria for one year. Had he stayed another year, I would have gotten to see it. Lovely tea treats and photos! Pretty teacup too! Thanks so much for sharing all this loveliness with us.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  6. Hi Ruth, What a neat trip! Looks like you had lots of good things to eat and drink, and time to relax in beautiful surroundings. Happy Birthday!

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  7. Ruth, your Royal Albert teacup is perfect for fun. So Lovely! What a grand trip you had! Look at all the teas, teapots, teacups, goodies! Wow! Happy Birthday and Happy Tea Day!

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  8. What a wonderful and memorable trip you had. Enjoyed reading about it. Thanks for having your party and "Happy Birthday". Deb

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  9. Well Ruth, I was just soaking up all the information and photos of Victoria and the Empress. We were only in Victoria for a short time as our destination was a cruise ship for Alaska.
    I enjoyed this post very much and think it was a splendid way to spend a birthday!
    Judith

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  10. Bithdays don't get better than this - wow! I so enjoyed all these pictures!

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  11. Oh, what a special trip you had! I would love to have tea at Murchies!

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  12. Hi Ruth,
    What a great time you must have had! Such beautiful places you visited...
    And the Royal Albert cup you chose for tea is lovely!
    Thanks for sharing.
    Hugs

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  13. Just the kind of place that I would love to visit. Your cup is lovely! Happy birthday!...Christine

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  14. What a lovely teacup! Thanks for sharing your trip - it looks like fun!

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  15. Oh, your trip looks like it was so fun. What beautiful pictures. Your teacup has such a great vintage look to it. Thank you for sharing it with us. And thank you for hosting. Have a Blessed week!

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  16. Oh my word what wonderful pictures of your travels! I feel as though I went on your journey with you!

    Thanks so much, I always ALWAYS learn things from your posts.

    Thank you, also, for your linky party!

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  17. I enjoyed a lot reading about your nice trip, what a wonderful time and birthday!
    Lovely teacup and that strawberry in jacket is so cute... Thanks for hosting!
    Besos from Argentina, Silvina
    Spring is arriving here....!

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  18. Happy Birthday! That Empress is quite impressive! Would love to visit this area. Thanks for stopping by and for hosting this lovely party!
    Sherry

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  19. Hello Ruth,
    Thank you so much for sharing your trip with us! The Empress tea room is amazing and such a fabulous way to enjoy your birthday!
    Your cup for today is indeed a lovely vintage one! It does look so fifties doesn't it? I love those old patterns too.
    Hugs,
    Terri

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  20. Hi Ruth .. I enjoyed touring Victoria with you ... It's one of my favourite old teatime haunts..so thanks for the memories... Your Royal Albert teaset is perfect for the up coming Fall season .. a delightful pattern...Happy Belated Birthday Dear lady ... Hugs

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  21. Hello Ruth, such a lovely and amazing place! This is a marvelous place for you to celebrate your birthday - I too am in a fall mood changing decor from room to room - love your fallish teacup - love the pattern - I hope you had a very wonderful and blessed birthday - I appreciate you sharing and hosting,
    Kathy

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  22. Thank you for stopping by my blog. I became a follower of your blog and joined your party :) Also, your teacup is lovely - I love it!

    Blessings to you,
    Stephanie

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  23. Hi Ruth,
    that was a wonderful treat for birthday. I love to see you trip as well as the Empress tea room. Oh my, what fantastic china they sell and what yummy looking sweets. And your cup is a beauty, too. Thank you for sharing this delightful tea time and for your sweet comment on my blog.
    Best greetings, Johanna

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  24. Lovely pictures. I love that you took us along with you. I also loved your beautiful teacup.

    Jocelyn @
    http://justalittlesouthernhospitality.blogspot.com

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  25. My goodness this was lovely! I really loved reading your post so full of wonderful detail!

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  26. What a wonderful birthday trip! I have visited the Empress once on a girl trip with friends. We went to the Tulip Festival in WA and headed to Canada for a couple days. What a gorgeous place. That crossiant looks simply devine. Love your teacup and saucer. Thanks for sharing with SYC. and happy belated birthday!
    Hugs,
    Jann

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Thanks for visiting and we love to hear from you! We read every comment. If my husband's health permits, I love to visit andreply. Have a wonderful day and a cuppa tea always at hand! :)

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