On My Table and In My Cup April 28th-May 5th

This week flew by and I am sad to say I did not get much reading done. I did get lots of tea drinking in, lots of family time and a ton of great thrift store and yard sale finds! Above is a $3 find a tiny May tea cup, that brightened my table on May 1st.

Tuesday I was thrilled to go with some of my girl friends for tea to celebrate our April birthdays at the Neverland Tea Salon. As usual it was a spectacular tea and great company. I could have stayed all day. I loved hanging out with these ladies and eating some of the best tea sandwiches, scones and treats offered in Vancouver.

I got some wonderful surprises in the mail as well! I got a beautiful bird feeder from my friend Lin who made and sent this for my birthday. She also sent some wonderful tea for me to try as well. I love this and hung it by my front door high enough up so that my cats can't use it as a trap!

Remember a few weeks back I told you about the swap I was doing? Well my partner put together a wonderful package for me as if she new me! Lights for my tea tent, shaped as roses (I went out and bought enough to do the entire inside of the tea tent! A lovely cup and saucer, handmade jam! A journal, teas, roses, seeds and the lovely little zippered pouch. I carry these everywhere with me, my purse is filled with them and all sorts of things so zippered pouches make me very happy! I felt truly blessed. I cannot wait for my partner in Australia to get hers! The partner that sent to me is from Ontario! I love making new tea friends.

I had house guests this week as well. My niece #1 came with three friends and went to a concert, they stayed over and we had a quick tea party before they had to get back to Vancouver Island.

I do love a great excuse to make scones and use my china sets for more than just myself!

Yesterday niece #7 joined me for lunch at the tea table outside.

Nieces #2, #3 & #4, along with Nephew #1 (and only) moved into a new house in Montreal this week and Niece #2 is having a Paris Themed room. I wanted to help her find some accessories and set off to our local thrift stores and hit the jack pot! All this for under $15, a Paris memory board, battery operated candle, black teapot and paris tiny cups and saucers and a earring holder that I hope she will love! The thrift stores were great to me this week but the yard sale was even better.

I have been on a great adventure with re organizing my china cabinet this week to accommodate my yard sale finds. I got all of the above for $27! It was a wonderful start to the yard sale season here.

I found this William Morris quote this week, "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful" and paired it with one of the teacups from that yard sale, this one is called American Beauty for those of you who might be wondering.  All and all it has been a very successful week for everything accept reading! I have also been writing more for some of my cozy mysteries this week and doing lots of behind the scenes work in many areas of my life. I cannot wait to share more of my finds, reads and experiences with you again soon.

Thank you for joining me here today for a cup of tea and a week in review. I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

On My Table And In My Cup July 4th-11th

On my table was Juliet Blackwell's fantastic Spellcasting in Silk. I reviewed this book yesterday and I really can not stress just how much I enjoy this series. I love a witchy mystery and this is one of my favorites. If you are looking for a series to read that will keep you engaged this summer this is a good one I highly recommend.

The highlight of my week was being able to donate a copy of Terrie Farley Moran's new book that came out this week called Caught Read Handed. My scone recipe is printed in the back of the book and Terrie kindly sent me a few copies to share. Be sure to enter our give away!

In my cup this week was Neverland Tea Salon's Heavenly Creme,  I did not venture to try anything new this week I am afraid, but when you have such an amazing tea it is best to enjoy it.

Where I live we have had a very ominous sky for the last several days due to the many forest fires burning fairly close to us. We are in drought conditions which is very serious when you consider we live in a rain forest. This last Tuesday my sisters, sister in law and our children met at Amblside Beach in West Vancouver for a photo of all the grandchildren on my parents side. My sister who lives in Montreal and her 4 kids are visiting us for three weeks, my sister in law came with her daughter from Vancouver Island and my sister who lives quite close to me brought her three girls. Yes this really was the color of the sky, I took this photo myself. I had the photo printed in Sepia for my wall as it more truly reflects the color of the actual sky that morning. I think this is a photo I will always treasure. I was asked on social media if these were all my own kids, which made me laugh! While there are 10 children from 7 months - 15 years, and I know there are families out there that size, if I had 10 of my own children my tag line name would not be Karen Mom of Three, now would it?

Thank you for joining me for this week in review and I hope that you will join me again tomorrow for another cup of tea and a cozy mystery. As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Happy Canada Day! A Few Morning Tea Photos and A Witchy Review!

Today is Canada Day! I love this holiday and it is our 148th year as the nation of Canada. We will celebrate this morning with a parade and later with Fireworks. First I wanted to share a review of Any Witch Way You Can by Amanda Lee. I was looking for something to read the other night but nothing was sticking by way of paper back from the library or a friend so I turned to my Kindle app and was very pleased to have found, read and enjoyed any Witch Way You Can. This is not a series I had read before and really is one I am looking forward to reading more of. On the surface it is a story about a family of witches, dig a bit deeper and it is a story about a very dysfunctional family of Witches, Read more then the first chapter and you feel like you belong in that very dysfunctional and highly hilarious family of strong women and a main character with a brilliant mind and a knack for timing. If you love witch mysteries this is a great book, it has everything you could possibly want in a cozy, great setting, witches, ghosts, bikers, FBI and so much more! Click here to add Amanda Lee's Any Witch Way You Can to your Kindle App. At time of publishing this story is offered at $.84! STEAL OF A DEAL!

Now for some morning fun photos! This is me at the last Canada Day Parade, looking back it has been an incredible year, so much has happened and so much has changed I hope that you get a chance to spend the day with people you love and surround yourself with friends and family! It is really hot here right now and this parade is going to be a scorcher!

This year I have some house guests with some pretty cute manners. My nephew Ethan joined me for tea and yes I let him have the good china too! This is actually a wonderful set gifted to me from a friend recently it is called Maple Leaf Tartan. I was made in 1964 by Royal Adderley for the Centennial in 1967. It has the most lovely shades of Autumn Colors of Canadian Maple leafs and Canadian Tartan featured on the saucer and the cup.

Letting a toddler use the good china and encouraging this interaction is important and priceless! I loved sharing this time with him, keep in mind that he is a toddler so tea time did not last long before he was off and running again but I have these lovely memories and photos of that time to share.

In my very patriotic and beautifully designed tea cup this Canada Day is my current favorite Canadian Tea Company Neverland Tea Salon's Black Tea called Heavenly Cream Tea.
I hope where ever you find yourself today you enjoy yourself and if you are Canadian like me I hope you will get out and enjoy all your community has to offer on this our National Holiday!
Thank you for joining me for a cup of tea and a cozy mystery this morning.
As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Obsession Patisserie-Bakery Macaron Review

My sister and her kids are visiting me from Montreal this month and my sister brought me a treat from her local Patisserie called Obsession in Chateauguay Quebec.

In a quiet moment to myself after a much needed nap (we were up all night, heat wave, late flight and no power at home made for a 2 hour sleep Monday morning) I opened this lovely little package of indulgence.

This little container makes taking these delicate cookies to go so much easier, all my take out macarons are cracked or smushed by the time I get them home. These were as perfect as when my sister picked them up and brought them 3,000 miles to my tea table.

Savoring these tasty bites with my Heavenly Cream tea from Neverland Tea Salon in Vancouver, I first had the Mocha ones, then the "oreo" flavored one and saved the S'more for last...each was a taste unique and complimentary to each other, three very rich and decadent cookies were such a treat!
If you happen to find yourself near Chateauguay Quebec I highly recommend stopping in and bringing these home to your tea tables.
Thank you for joining me for A Cup of Tea and A Cozy Mystery. As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com 

On My Table And In My Cup June 20th-27th

School is out, calm is in and the boys are home! That first cup of tea yesterday knowing that I did not need to rush and the fact that I slept in until 7 am was delightful. This past week has been so hurried and so rushed and at times I felt like I had the weight of the world on my table and my shoulders. It feels fantastic to have that week over and weight lifted.

I get restless when I do not have an actual paper book to read and took a trip up to the library this week where I joined the Adult Summer Reading Club and spun the racks for some wonderful titles. Buried in the Bog I read and completely fell in love with it's series and can not wait to read the rest in the series.

I will tell you that my little library I love has a great cozy section and some wonderful programs as well. It is also located in a tiny village called Edgemont about 10 mins from me and boasts a library, Starbucks, Davids Tea as well as fun shops and places for food. It has a wonderful small town cozy feel to it and is a place I delight in going too. If you are ever my way check it out or visit it virtually by clicking here. 

A wonderful surprise in my in box this week and now on my Ipad and on my table is Fatal Fairies, an up coming release from Joyce and Jim Lavene, such a treat to have it first and a fun renaissance village read! My review will be up very soon and I am so touched to have been selected to review it.

I love fairies, I always have so reading any cozy mystery where I can find mention is always welcome. I also love garden gnomes so if you happen to know of a folklore cozy featuring them do let me know!

Some truly beautiful cups graced my table this week and they are such a pleasure to use and share. On my table were vintage cups from Royal Standard (shown above),Royal Adderly, Adderly and Royal Albert all containing black teas I purchased Sunday from Neverland Tea Salon. They are currently my favorites. They have a black tea called Vanilla Ice Cream that is a wonderful afternoon treat and their Heavenly Creme is most often in my tea pot these days.
Thank you for joining me again this week for a recap of what has been on my table and in my cup. I look forward to sharing more tea, more reviews more crafts and more books with you again soon.
As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

On My Table And In My Cup May 30th-June 6th

This week on my table and in my cup, I started with a simple Saturday Morning tea. An old standby and one I have mentioned before an Earl Grey de la Creme this one happens to be from Steeped Tea. I have been asked to share about the tea pot I use and the one featured in today's post is the current favorite. I use my Royal Albert Old Country Roses Tea Pot From Time To Time but admittedly I drink several pots of tea per day and my go to for my black teas is a Trusty Dove Grey London Pottery Farmhouse Filter Teapot

My friend Anna gave me the teapot as a gift in November and it very quickly became my favorite pot, as the lid fits over the basket and nests perfectly in place. I would love to get a few more of these pots as they are well made, the filters are fantastic and the tea is kept very hot even with out the cozy. One of my favorite local spots for tea has a few they use in personal size that I would love to get my hands on. You can order them on line, I saw Amazon had them and in specialty tea shops as well. I was reading the Scarlet Wench by M.K. Graff when it arrived which is set in England and it just felt right.

On my table this week I tried something different and hoped you may have found it fun. The days of the week morning tea had me hoping and noticing the need to get a few more tea cups so that you may all not tired or get bored of the ones I use all the time.  I enjoyed doing this and may try it again, I hope to find another set of these little letters so that I could write more words, Wednesday was a challenge for me and thankfully no one took offense. Not enough "D's" in the package!
Did you have a favorite setting or day?

On my table this week and a series I just love arrived The Diva Steals A Chocolate Kiss by Krista Davis, I love love love this series and am enjoying this latest mystery so very much. Krista Davis' writing makes me feel like I am living in the story not just acting like a bystander. It feels like hanging out with your fabulous friends you have not seen for a while. A truly great weekend escape. I am enjoying Neverland Tea Salon's Black Tea called Vanilla Ice Cream, it is a sweet treat and perfect to go with this chocolate kiss diva mystery!

Finally I wish to say thank you to all of you who took the time to vote for me for Vancouvermom.ca's Top Blogger of 2015. While I did not win, I so appreciate your time and your votes.
I hope wherever you find yourself this weekend you find yourself some quiet and peace.
Until next time, thank you for joining me for a cup of tea and a cozy mystery.
As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

On My Table And In My Cup This Week May 24th - May 30th

This week on my table and in my cup I enjoyed so many lovely new teas but my favorite is the Wild Strawberry Green Tea my sister in law bought me at Neverland Tea Salon. This green tea is so refreshing hot or cold and really does taste like you are eating a freshly picked basket of strawberries. Neverland Tea Website can be viewed by clicking here and it is my understanding that you may soon be able to order their loose leaf tea shortly! 

Monday new cozy on my Kindle App Chef Maurice and A Spot of Truffle by J. A. Lang. In my cup  Paris tea by Adorabelle Tea Room.

A few stolen moments of peace this week and my favorite tea moment and photo from my table this week has to be this one. I was anxiously awaiting each sip of this Heavenly Creme tea from Neverland Tea Salon. Sleepless nights with the cats since a raccoon stopped by one evening for dinner at their dishes in our kitchen...Nocturnal animals and hot late spring evenings with open windows is a disaster waiting to happen  here on the West Coast.

I have wanted to order this book for a long time and finally splurged on it for research for the next book I am working on. I am so looking forward to learning this time honored craft. I would love to come to your next tea party an entertain your friends! Tea parties by skype or face time can be arranged if you can not send your private jet to come get me.....

Thrilled to receive A Nate to Remember by Barbara Jean Coast...fun interview coming up early next week to share with all of you.

I am working on my June Bookmark an Cup of tea give away, with a little help from Squirrel. I will draw May's winner Tomorrow and announce June's give away on Monday.
Thank you for joining me for this week in review some wonderful reads on my table and some fantastic teas. I can not wait to share more with you again soon.
As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Wild Strawberry Tea From Neverland Tea Salon. The Taste Of Carefree Childhood Summers

I picked up four new teas while I was at Vancouver's Neverland Tea Salon and one of those teas I wish to share and review with you today.

I am normally a black tea enthusiast and rarely find a green tea I feel is full enough flavored to peak my interest. This Wild Strawberry Green Tea however was a complete surprise. When I went for afternoon tea, Wild Strawberry was the tea of the day and while we waited to be seated I was offered a hot tea sample of this marvelous green tea.

One sip of this green tea and I was transported to those carefree summers of my childhood. You remember those hot summer days when the smell of fresh cut grass and the allure of strawberries growing in the back yard pot. This tea served hot tastes like that perfect strawberry warmed by the sun that you pick and pop in your mouth with out a second thought. With each sip the flavor intensified and had me reaching for more. When we were seated and I was asked which tea I wanted to start with I choose to have a pot of Wild Strawberry tea. It is so refreshing and holds it's flavor even when served cold. This is one of my most favorite green teas of all time.

This tea would pair nicely with dessert and is fantastic as an afternoon tea. Light, refreshing and the perfect taste of summer.
If you find yourself in Vancouver I highly recommend stopping by Neverland Tea Salon you can visit their website by clicking here.
Thank you for joining me for this amazing cup of tea.
As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Aternoon Tea At Neverland Tea Salon In Vancouver BC

Last Sunday I went to afternoon tea with my mother in law, aunt in law and two sister in laws at Vancouver's Neverland Tea Salon. Neverland Tea Salon is nestled along quaint shops on West Broadway minutes from down town Vancouver.

 My sister in law Janeen suggest this tea room and I have had their tea in the past but had not dined in their tea room. It  was a wonderful place to celebrate 3 family birthdays at once!  This was a very full tea tray each level held undeniably delectable treats, I have never left a tea room feeling as full as I did!

The tea of the day special is what I had in my first pot of tea, Wild Strawberry, a green sencha tea that was light and full flavored, would be equally delightful iced. I very much enjoyed this tea.

 My second pot of tea was a Darjeeling tea called Margaret's Hope it was a very strong robust Darjeeling and went well with the tea sandwiches and savory items. The selection of vintage tea cups used in the tea room are as exciting as each tea we tried.

The staff were kept so very busy in this tea room but were attentive, well educated and kind. Our table never lacked for anything. I highly recommend Neverland Tea Salon and can not wait to go back. I did not leave empty handed and brought home 4 of their teas to try I can not wait to share some of the reviews of these teas in the coming days. If you are lucky enough to live in the Vancouver area or are heading this way this summer you will not want to miss Neverland Tea Salon. Click here for their website.
Thank you for joining me for A Cup of Tea and A Tea Salon Review I look forward to sharing more tea moments with you soon.
* Neverland Tea Salon is located at  3066 W Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6K 2G9

Reservations are recommended (604) 428-3066