Up Date on My Tea Trailer

For those of you who are new here, due to Covid-19 I lost my job, which was in a tea shop, and which I loved. On the day I lost my job, I purchased this 12 foot 1964 Vanguard Trailer. Putting in motion my long had plans of turning it into a mobile tea shop and tea room. I have put years of imagination into making this dream become a reality and while acquiring the trailer was only one part of the plan, phase two has already begun.

I will be changing her colors completely and this is the red I selected for the bottom. A friend commented on the name as "redo20" as in "redo 2020" I think many of us would love a do over. But while I anxiously await her makeover from the shop. Behind the scenes have been even busier.

There were uniforms to consider and purchase....

A young and enthusiastic design team, who came up with the name and the logo, hand drawing then making a computer rendering, and sending me messages with their hard work, which I fell in love with and set out to create the merchandise and uniform tops to compliment the bottoms.

 The test kitchen has been in full swing as well, trying out recipes and menu planing...

Taking advantage of the fruits of the season being available to us we tried out strawberry shortcakes...

and now we wait for the paperwork, the painting, the fun that stands to come, from our Timeless Tea Trailer.
Thank you for joining us for a cup of tea and an update on the tea trailer. We hope to share more goodnews with you again soon.

Fathers Day and A Few Cups Of Tea

Today is Fathers day and the second for me with out my dad. I expected things to be a bit easier and I think in some ways they are now that the day is here but the reality is the last two weeks with the emails and adverts for fathers day did make me have feelings of frustration, anger and sadness.
For my sons fathers, I helped them make a shirt for their dad and the are spending the weekend at his place.

Personally though, I still cant seem to bring myself to visit my parents memorial site, or my brothers, for me I know they are not there and I don't feel pulled to go visit, I feel guilty about that but perhaps I am just not ready.

The week has pretty much gotten away from me as school wraps up for the boys. I have not done much reading, crafting or baking. Just been in survival mode.

I have plans and exciting news though on the Vintage Trailer I am working on though, she goes for her make over paint job this week and I am so excited. I promise and update with photos soon.

Thank you all for hanging in there, for talking a pause when you need it, by allowing me to share my  journey with all of you and for joining me here for a cup of tea and a cozy mystery.

Something about best laid plans and the future...

Dearest readers and faithful followers of this blog, how is it June already? I apologize yet again for the length between posts. This new normal of covid-19, still has my world a tad sideways, though thankfully no longer totally upside down.

 I have both good and disappointing news to share with you. I will start with the disappointing news, that like a million other Canadians, in March I lost my job in the beloved tea shop, at the time I had hoped that it was temporary, but I learned last week that due to a few circumstances out of my control  I wont be returning to Murchie's Tea full time. I am disappointed but understand and appreciate everything the Murchie's Tea Company has done for me and continues to do for me. My hope is that perhaps I can return in some capacity in the future. I am currently freed up to continue with helping my two kids at home with their school work as I have done for the last 10 weeks.  On the same day that I learned that I wont be returning to the tea store, I took a leap of faith and am starting to turn one of my long term dreams into reality.

I purchased a 12 foot vintage trailer and this is going to become my long dreamed of tea shop and tea room on wheels. I have been planing and dreaming of doing this for many years and the opportunity from finding the trailer, to the price and condition and even finding an affordable parking spot, all came together. 

Over the next several months, and while I am looking for full time work, with the help of some amazing friends I have gathered for my team, I will be making small changes on the inside of the trailer and some major paint changes on the outside of the trailer. I spent my Saturday morning diligently creating some themed items for my trailer....

 Oddly enough, I purchased my mugs, cups and saucers at our Dollarama store, and then found the perfect teapot at my local thrift store that just opened and I paid $4.99. Using my Cricut Joy machine I was able to personalize them to suit the trailer perfectly...

The enthusiasm for this project I have found is becoming contagious and I am grateful for my friends who have jumpped on board to help make this dream a reality.
Much work to be done but a good time frame to work on it, and the planing and putting the work in is even something my 12 year old is thrilled about.

The plan is to transform this trailer into a food cart, store and tea room on wheels, with attention to working on catering events and parties, ladies nights and farmers markets. I am truly excited to share this part of my journey with you all today. 
While I have no idea what is around the corner, I take comfort in the fact that I am able to work towards putting something that has been a dream of mine into a tangible reality.
So up next, pick a name for it, change the glass on two windows, and a paint job...then a crash course towing it with my VWBug...

Thank you for joining me today for a cup of tea and catch up, I hope to have more to share with you again soon, now that I have found my misplaced kindle and charger, perhaps I can get back to reading, then there is sewing, crafting and oh yes updating my resume.
I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com