It’s a treat for me to welcome my friend Jill Kemerer back to Inspired by Life and Fiction! When Jill visited last time, I mentioned that she wrote 12 novels before finally receiving her first publishing contract. This month, her third novel releases! Jill has released THREE NOVELS in one year. Praise to the One who is, “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” Ephesians 3:20 Amen?
Stay tuned at the end of the post for a wonderful giveaway that Jill put together for you, Inspired by Life’s community. -Becky
Jill
Tea traditions have always fascinated me. I remember being a young girl of seven or eight, sipping tea from a beautiful teacup and saucer at our dining room table. My mom owned three sets of pretty china, and she allowed me to drink tea from them. I would hold my pinky finger high as I took a dainty sip, and I’d set the cup oh-so-carefully on the matching saucer. Let me tell you, I felt pretty grown up!
Living out in the country in mid-Michigan got boring, so I would read. I still remember a book about an apartment building with two little girls. One was American and the other was from Japan. One day the American girl was invited for tea at the Japanese girl’s apartment. The tea ceremony and apartment decorations were described in such detail that I decided then and there I was making my own Japanese dollhouse. I found an old cardboard box and half a roll of leftover wallpaper and spent the entire day creating the rooms and accessories described in the book. I even made the tea set! I think I used a pop bottle cap for a bowl, and I know I cut up one of my mother’s Lipton tea bags to make a teeny-tiny teabag. It was such fun!
My grandmother occasionally babysat me when I was young, and she loved telling me how she’d get me to nap by promising a party when I woke up. These parties usually involved tea and windmill cookies. Years later, I’d visit her in her apartment, and she’d lay out a tea party with a lovely teapot and cookies for me and my daughter who was about five at the time. My daughter still remembers her as “tea grandma.”
My daughter has always been charmed by tiny things. Itty-bitty dolls, animals, and of course, tea sets. For a few years we lived in a cute town with a tea shop, and I found the most adorable wicker basket full of miniature tea cups, a tea pot, and little plates and silverware. She loved that set! Hey, I loved that set…
Needless to say, I still love tea. And coffee. And hot beverages in general! I drink tea all year long. Usually I heat water up in a mug, but my mom bought me an electric teakettle for Christmas. I keep it in my office and refill my mug often. I’m thinking about buying a pretty teacup and saucer to make it special. Because life is special. And sipping tea from a delicate cup forces me to slow down and savor the moment.
To celebrate the release of Her Small-Town Romance, I’m giving away a tea-themed prize to one reader!
Thank you, Inspired by Life and Fiction, for letting me be your guest today.
Jill Kemerer writes Christian romance novels with love, humor and faith for Harlequin Love Inspired. Jill loves coffee, M&Ms, fluffy animals, magazines and her hilarious family.
Connect with Jill at:
While you’re at it, sign up for Jill’s Newsletter!
Interested in purchasing Her Small-Town Romance? Purchase links available here.
Congratulations, Joan Arning! You won the tea package. Enjoy!
Do you like tea? Do you have any tea-themed memories from childhood?
Becky Wade
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I have a few tea related memories. My paternal grandparents were both English. While I don’t remember my grandfather at all and barely remember my grandmother, I don’t recall having tea there. I do remember going to a church bazaar once a year where the “tea bags” were always serving traditional English tea and scones. The “tea bags” were my grandmother’s friends and English war brides who all formed their own little group when they came to my hometown. Also, my great-grandmother on my mom’s side always loved tea and would give me tea and ring cookies every time we visited.
Ellen, I’m smiling that your grandmother’s friends were the “tea bags”!! What a neat story! I love that all these women bonded together to make their own community. 🙂
I love tea. I have to get up pretty early (4:30) in order to be able to have my devotions before work. Let me tell you, I am NOT a morning person. (In fact, my dad has told me that I miss a beautiful sunrise when I sleep in. I shrug and say, “So what? It’s just a sunset going backwards. I see those all the time!”). Anywhoo, tea is what helps me wake up so I. Can spend that morning time with Jesus:)
Amber, I’m impressed! I’m NOT a morning person either! But it’s worth it for devotions. All winter I was able to watch the sun rise with my Bible and prayer journal. Now that daylight savings is in full swing, I still get up as early, but I miss the sunrise. I’m with you–who cares as long as I get some time with Jesus!
I had a small porcelain tea set as a child. Blue and white with pink roses…so pretty! I wish my daughter was me into tea parties! There is still time 🙂
Alyssa, it sounds adorable! Maybe your daughter will get into it as she gets older. If not, you can enjoy tea! Get another pretty set just for you!
I love tea! As a child I drank chamomile. But I first fell in love with tea when I visited England and experienced my first afternoon tea. Hooked ever since.
Claudia, chamomile is so soothing! And you got to visit England and have afternoon tea? Wow! I’m sure that was an experience you’ll never forget!
Ahhh tea! I’m a proud anglophile! My favorite tea cup is one I bought while visiting Althorp (Princess Diana childhood home) in England! A memory I will never forget! And…one I recreate while pouring an English Breakfast into that cup! Congratulations on your book release, Jill.
Gail, wow! What a trip! I’d love to visit England someday. And Althorp?? Mmm! I’m Googling it to look at pictures! Enjoy your English Breakfast tea!
My grandmother had a collection of random tea cups and saucers. She married “late in life” for the times anyway, she was 30. My grandfather was a widower with 5 children, then they had 7 children together. My mom was an aunt when she was born, grandchildren were plentiful too. I don’t think she ever had a whole tea set after she got married. I remember having hot tea with honey in one of those cups and saucers whenever I was sick. It was special because they weren’t used everyday. My grandfather was a coffee drinker and I often wonder if she gave up tea for him. I wish I would have asked more questions before she died.
Andrea, my mind is blown at 30 being late in life as well as the fact she became a mother of 5 kids instantly! She must have been some lady! How sweet that you have a special memory of tea and honey in the special cups when you were sick!
I love tea! I do not drink coffee. I can’t even stand the smell of coffee, but I love tea and I constantly try new flavors. I also collect beautiful china teacups and often use them to ‘fancy up’my cup of tea. I did occasionally have tea parties as a child, but my real fascination with tea began as an adult. I just love the whole English tradition of tea.
Linda, I love tea, too! I found a box of Stash’s Cinnamon Vanilla black tea around Thanksgiving, but no stores around me carry it. Delicious! And I LOVE that you “fancy up” your tea! Life is special, and we make it special when we fancy up!
Thank you, Becky and Jill, for this lovely post and giveaway. Best wishes to you both for all your book releases! My grandfather’s paternal grandparents were from England, and he always preferred tea to coffee. He drank his tea with milk, in the English manner. I was a Paw Paw’s girl, and I just loved it when the two of us would have “high tea”. There would always be cookies and other goodies, and he made sure my tea was not too hot. Just to sit with him and drink tea and nibble on cookies while he told stories from his own childhood was a real treat. I still have his teacup, and it holds many precious memories.
Virginia, this is the sweetest story! I LOVE that your Paw Paw made you tea and set out goodies for you both. And you got to hear his childhood stories which made it priceless. 🙂 Aww!
I love tea and have similar memories of hosting tea parties with my dolls and sisters. There’s a sweet lady who used to babysit us and have tea parties with us (she always had the big tins of European cookies) and now she’s in an assisted living place, so we bring the tea party to her! I’d love to win a copy of the book too! It looks like a sweet story.
Callie, dolls and sisters go hand-in-hand with tea parties, don’t they? My sister and I spent every waking minute together as kids! And that is so wonderful you still see your old babysitter. I know exactly the cookies you’re talking about, too!
Yes I love tea! My Mom had tea ready for us when we got home from grade school every day.(until she started to teach when I was in 6th grade) We could have a cup of tea & one cookie. My Grandma had a china tea cup collection & one cup came from China town in NY City & this cup has a beautiful China Doll in the bottom of the cup. I have that special cup & saucer from her collection. Love it!
Mary, what a great memory! I’m sure coming home from school was even more exciting just to get the tea and cookie! It would be for me. 🙂 I have a sweet tooth! The China Doll cup sounds precious!!
Becky, thank you so much for letting me be the guest today and for all the encouragement and help you’ve given me since we met! I really appreciate it!!
I drink my hot tea every morning. My husband gets up and fixes his coffee and makes me a cup of hot tea and brings it to me in our room while we get ready for the day. I’m going to keep him!
Melissa, he IS a keeper!! That’s really sweet!
I love tea. The time I spent in England made me like it even more. Now its any hot drinks I’m a fan of.
You had me at “the time I spent in England”!! I’m a sucker for hot bevs too!
For me tea is something I think of when I think of England and some of my favorite authors like CS Lewis and Jane Austen. So its all about sophistication. lol Funny I know.
Dianna, I’m the same! I’m still that little girl with her pinkie finger in the air! You nailed it–sophistication. 🙂
I LOVE tea! When we were little, we would go to Maine to visit my grandparents, and we would always have a tea party with Nana in the old camper that they had out back! Great memory!
Baley, Aww! Tea with Nana in the camper! What a fun memory!! I’ve always wanted to visit Maine. 🙂
Yes, I do like tea.. hot or cold 🙂 No tea party memories, other than my sisters..
Deanna, I love sun tea. But I don’t like sweetened tea, which is weird since I adore sugar… 🙂
I love Earl Grey! Usually drink a cup every night. No specific childhood memories of tea parties but I do remember having them.
Jill, what part of Mid-Michigan did you live in? I also live in Mid-Michigan.
Ooh, Earl Grey! So good! I had a cup yesterday. 🙂 I grew up near Oakley, Michigan. Then I lived in Saginaw from the age of 12 to 24! After that we lived in southern parts of the state–Ann Arbor, Tecumseh, Monroe. I love Michigan!Most of my relatives live up there!
I love tea and have a small pot each morning! I have always been an Anglophile and lived in Ireland for 2 years where they really know how to brew tea and “have” tea! My favorite tea party memories are with my daughter, who is now 13, and her dolls. We would use her little tea sets and serve High Tea! Sweet memories!
Lived in Ireland?? Now I want pictures… I’m sure you’re right about them knowing how to brew and “have” tea! Wouldn’t it be fun to go back? I would come with you, of course. 🙂 That’s really sweet your daughter shares your tea party love!
Your story brought back memories of windmill cookies at my Grandma’s. They were so good. I remember tea parties with my dolls growing up and enjoy tea now. I like the idea of using a fancy teacup to enjoy and slow down. Thanks for the opportunity to win! Linda
Linda, I still buy the windmill cookies now and then, and they always bring me right back to Grandma’s kitchen!
My Mom was also a British war bride and brought her lovely traditions with her to Canada. We always had tea made in a lovely teapot and served in a china cup with the milk in first. Mom had knit several “tea cozies” to put over the pot and keep the tea warm. Mom has been gone for many years now but the memories are wonderful. I still have many beautiful china tea cups but they aren’t used much in this day and age. Most people prefer a mug but there’s nothing like the taste of tea from a china cup. Blessings!
A British war bride!! Ooh, I’m sure there’s a good story there! I forgot about tea cozies. Now that you mention them, I’m picturing several I’ve seen over the years. I’m glad you still have the pretty tea cups. Maybe you’ll pour yourself tea in one soon!
Welcome Jill! That book looks lovely 🙂
My tea memories revolve around big family gatherings at Thanksgiving. We’d always go up to my grandparents’ in Michigan and have dinner at my great-aunt’s house. Lots of games and football before dinner, and after there’d be more football and conversation. After dinner, some of the aunts and my mom would always have hot tea while they talked and caught up 🙂 One of my favorite memories of those holidays is refilling my mom’s teacup for her and listening to their conversations!
Sarah C, Oh I love this!! Since I’m from Michigan, I feel right at home with everything you just said. The big family gathering at Thanksgiving. Lots of food! Lots of football! And the ladies chatting over sweets and drinks after. Perfect!!
I truly enjoy tea. The best memory is not childhood, although I loved my miniature tea set, but a few years ago while visiting my friend in England. Tea and scones with clotted cream in a beautiful country and with a dear lady made a very special memory.
Oh Donna, that sounds so lovely! I’m so glad you were able to visit your friend in England and have special tea. Is it wrong I’m hungry for a scone now?
I like cold tea tea, but I love a warm flavored tea with a good book. As for a memory, there used to be a place nearby that my mom would takes my sister and I to and get flavored iced teas where they used syrups that would give the tea color. My favorite was mint so my drink would be green and that was a fun little treat. Thanks for the awesome giveaway and sharing today. I just found another author for my reading list :).
Samantha, I’ve seen those flavored ice teas, but I’ve never tried them. I would have picked one based on color, too! How fun is that??
There are a few herbal teas that I don’t mind (mainly berry or lemon), but my mother-in-law forced a few kinds down my throat when I had severe morning sickness and I still can’t stomach them. I remember having water with sugar when I was a kid and eating Cheerios, as my “cookies.” Fond memories, for sure! Thanks for the chance! Katie (lilacqueen75(at)gmail(dot)com).
Katie, I cannot eat a ham and cheese hot pocket because I was sick when I ate one long ago. And when you’re pregnant and nauseous all the time?? No. Just no!! That’s so cute about your sugar water and Cheerio cookies!
It’s fun to see so many tea lovers commenting on today’s post!
I enjoy both coffee and tea. I drink one cup of coffee in the mornings. Every sip tastes yummy to me and every molecule of caffeine is needed and appreciated at that time of day. Then, in the afternoons and sometimes the evenings, I switch to tea. I almost always opt for decaf tea unless I’m truly desperate. 🙂
Thanks for joining us here today, Jill! You’re a wonderful friend and I wish you all the very best with your new release. May God speak to readers through it!
Becky, I’m the same way–I like my coffee in the morning and tea in the afternoon. However, I will admit there have been several times this month I brewed another pot of coffee in the afternoon. It felt so decadent. And so right! Thank you for all the encouragement–you bless me, friend!
Interesting post!
I grew up in western Michigan and also have memories of a grandma and tea. Windmill cookies were often at tea (or coffee) in my families Dutch households.
Jen, Ahh…am I sensing a Holland or Zealand background? Such a gorgeous part of the state! I can’t get enough of Lake Michigan!
I love tea! I drink it almost every day. I bought a set of china at resale shop to use instead of paper plates at a party for one of my daughters. They have loved drinking tea from them. When I sip tea I sometimes feel like I am part of the conversation of tea through time.
Excited about your new book.
Becky
Becky B, that is a great idea! I’m a thrift shopper myself. Lots of treasures out there! And I love how you put this, “I sometimes feel like I am part of the conversation of tea through time.” Insightful!
Though I’m now addicted to coffee, I love tea and am willing to try any variation. Tea brings back memories of my mother and her sisters, sitting at the kitchen table over a cuppa, reminiscing over their childhood.
Nancy Z, High five! I’m addicted to coffee also! That’s probably not something I should be celebrating, but that first cup in the morning? Oh, so good! Tea’s my afternoon and night delight! I was blessed to eavesdrop on my mom and her sisters too. Good times!
This blog on tea brings back warm memories of when I was newly married, living in apartments in Arizona. My neighbors and I would drink tea together and share about life. It was amazing and the friendships grew. I plan to make a cup of tea today!
Sally, I love that tea brought you new friendships. Tea brings people together! Have a cup for me, too!
I love tea & tea parties. We used to have Tea with Great-Grandma when my nieces, nephew & cousins’ kids were little. Had to change the name to Lunch with Great-Grandma once the boys grew up & decided it wasn’t cool to have “tea” with Great-Grandma.
Becky, I’m grinning! I’m glad so many children had the delight of “tea” with their grandma. When I have grandkids, I’m going all out on the tea thing!
When I was a kid my mom would make us Sleepy Time Tea before bed to help us sleep. That has always been a special memory.
Rachel, I have a box up in my cupboard! It’s tasty!
I do like tea, although I never liked it as a child. My parents weren’t hot tea drinkers, but I remember them drinking lots of iced tea during the summer, which I always disliked. Now, as an adult, I like tea, both hot and cold.
Susan, isn’t it funny how our tastes change as we grow older? I hated tomatoes as a kid. Now? Love ’em!
I love tea! Being from the South, I drink sweet tea like nobody’s business! But I love a good hot cup of herbal tea. I love lemon and honey or peppermint. I keep some in my desk at work just for the times I’m craving it.
Stacey, look at you! Sweet tea is definitely the thing down south! How is your weather? I live in northern Ohio now, and it snowed and HAILED yesterday! Ugh!! BTW, I love peppermint tea too!
Sorry to have to report that we have been having perfect weather. But it looks stormy today 🙁
Looking forward to reading this one. Winning the package would be great!
Charlyn, thanks so much!!
I love tea, too! Tea parties have always been my favorite. In Seattle, there is a fancy tea cafe called Queen Mary’s Tea House. Friends and I often go for a fancy high tea. Tea and coffee both – necessary, right? Thanks for sharing with us.
Angie, I totally want to come to Seattle today to go to Queen Mary’s! So cool!! I love that you and your friends do high tea! And yes, both coffee and tea are required in my life!
I have a small teapot I received as a birthday gift about 69 years ago. The spout has been chipped but it is still a treasured possession.
Joan, I’m guessing it’s a pretty little teapot, too! I don’t mind chipped. It shows it’s seen some action!
Congratulations, Joan! YOU are the winner of the tea, cookies, and book prize pack that Jill put together. Woo hoo!!
I do love tea! I never liked coffee, but always liked tea. I have been a lover of all things from the UK since I was small, so perhaps that’s why. LOL.
Julie, I’m fascinated with the UK, too! A few years ago, I found a book of the National Registry places available to rent, and I dreamed about staying in a castle or country manor. I’m still dreaming! Hey, it’s fun to dream!
I love tea! My mum always gave us tea with honey when our throats were sore. I also have my own little miniature tea set from when I was a child!
Mackenzie, your mom is smart! Tea and honey is proven to help sore throats. I much prefer it to a cough drop. 🙂 I bet your miniature tea set was darling!
I remember tea with my mother. We always shared hot tea together usually in the middle of the night when we couldn’t sleep. She always made tea for me when my stomach was upset. She had several teapots and a couple of tea sets. One was a dragon set. The pot had a huge dragon on it and the cups had little dragons for the handles and it ran all the way around the cup for the tail. I loved that set. We used it in GA’s when we studied about Japan and China. I lost the set when my house burned. She also taught me about the Japanese tea ceremony and why the cups had no handles. She loved reading about these kinds of things and I wish I had realized what a fount of wisdom she was sooner.
Oh, Connie, I’m so sad you lost your beautiful dragon tea set. That breaks my heart. I wish you could still pour tea from it and think of your mom. And I think most of us take our parents’ wisdom for granted. I’m thankful you still have your memories of those special times!
My love for tea started with cozy times of tea and talk with my mom and older sister. We had cute tea pots and cups to warm our hearts and hands!
Merry, what a great way to put it, “to warm our hearts and hands!” Yes! That’s exactly what tea does!!
I hate coffee so I enjoy my tea! My mom got me hooked a few years ago..and then this past year she got me hooked when she purchased this gorgeous tea set. I’ve always been fascinated by tea sets and plan on purchase
ng my own one day! Plus, cozying up with a good book and tea are my favorites.
This book sounds amazing and can’t wait to read it. It’s definitely on my to-read list. 🙂
Rebecca, your mom sounds awesome!! You’ll have to find the perfect little set to buy yourself! I agree, tea and books are the perfect combo!
My grandmother had a miniature tea set we would play with… she passed it on to a great-granddaughter!
Bobbi, I’m so glad she passed the set on! What a special treasure!
Love the cover! Tea is my favorite beverage. I too drink it all year long.
Beth, I love tea. And I have about seven different boxes in my pantry right now!
I used to drink good ole southern iced sweet tea all day long, then I found out it was causing me to have kidney stones on a regular basis. I do drink the occasional cup of hot tea but I’m a big time coffee drinker. And I love dainty and beautiful cups and saucers. Jill, I bought your book for myself for Easter, but haven’t had a chance to read it yet. The cover caught my eye, so cute.
If I should be fortunate enough to win, I’d share with my daughter-in-law.
Gail, I’m so sorry about the kidney stones. I’ve heard they are extremely painful. I’m glad you can still drink coffee, though! Phew!! And thanks so much for buying my book!!
Jill, I am a big tea drinker. I love all kinds – chamomile, oolong, green and any fruit flavored tea. I usually just brew mine in a big old mug, whatever I grab out of the cabinet. But your post today has made me consider going out and buying myself a dainty tea cup and saucer. You are so right. Life is special. And what better way to stop and savor the great moments than to sip tea in a special teacup and saucer just because! Great post!
Christina, I drink out of mugs usually too! But it’s nice to savor the moment. I’m better at savoring when I’m using a pretty cup!
I love tea ,but don’t drink coffee.Once we found a neat tea kettle at a thrift shop!It replaced one that I left on a hot burner and it didn’t have very much water in it so it got ruined.I learned my lesson!
Martha, I’ve been there, too, burning a pan and ruining it. 🙁 I hope you find another tea kettle!
I love tea time. Lots of great memories with the granddaughters and tea times. . I would love to win to share with them.
Karla, oh, that would be too sweet! Tea is a great memory maker!
Love tea time! One of my favorite things about spending time in Africa was we were always offered Chai (tea) wherever we went. It was great to sit and talk with a cup of Chai. Also, did you know Chai was the Kiswahili word for Tea? So when we say Chai Tea here, we are actually saying Tea Tea? 🙂
Amy, I had no idea!! And wow, you spent time in Africa? The stories you must have. I enjoy chai tea (no cream or sugar). The spices warm me up!
Oooh I love tea time!!!!! I am actually a huge fan of tea because where my family comes from you have to have tea if you have guests over. So you could say I kinda grew up on tea! One of my favorite tea time memories was when my family and I would sit down together late at night and have tea together.
Diana, I should make that a rule. If guests come over, we must have tea! Love it!! And what a nice tradition, to sit down late at night together with tea. 🙂
I love tea and hate coffee 🙂 I enjoyed your tea memories. I like finding new teas to try.
Naomi, I like trying new flavors too! I bought Rooibus (is that how you spell it) recently, but it wasn’t my fave. 🙁
My Grandmother was very British, even though when I grew up with her we lived in Ohio. Each day in the winter when I was in late Elementary school I would come home to a cup of tea that was half filled with milk and some kind of pastry she would buy from the local grocery store. Now I have a collection of herb tea and English Breakfast or Earl Grey, so I can have tea anytime. My Grandma is gone now, but my College aged daughter and I use our fancy tea cups every afternoon for our tea and cake break.
Sandra, I would have loved to come home to a very British grandmother with tea and pastries! That is so neat! I’m glad your daughter and you are still making tea special.
Tea is my beverage of choice. I serve tea to the women who meet in my home for Bible study, some of them are surprised how good tea really is when brewed for it best flavor.
Abbie, I love that you’ve opened your home for Bible study. Yes, brewing the tea properly gives it great flavor. I get lazy and just microwave a mug and plop a bag in!
Tea is good.
Kim, it sure is!
I’m so encouraged to hear about Jill’s writing journey! It is so good to hear how she stuck with writing even when she wasn’t getting published. Congratulations on your third book! What a tremendous accomplishment.
And tea is one of my comfort drinks. I’m often drinking it as I write and read. 🙂
Alison, good friends and a good God kept me going! Thank you so much. Happy writing and *cheers*!!
My mother was a great tea drinker and I followed after her. We would often have tea parties. I remember having a special little tea set of my own. My mother also collected tea cupos and had quite a collection. I still have a set of delicate mugs with birds on them that were hers. I still like tea of all sorts. I never drink coffee, but love my tea.
Nancy, aww, this warms my heart! I’m sure those bird teacups are gorgeous. I’m so glad you were able to keep them!
Jill, I love all of your “tea” memories. How special to be able to pass them along to your daughter. My ancestors were all coffee drinkers so I don’t have those special “tea” moments to look back on. I do remember playing with my mom’s childhood tea set whenever we would visit my grandmother. After she passed away I was lucky enough to get the china tea set to keep. I personally can’t stand coffee but I do love a good cup of tea. Right now my favorite is a wonderful Belgian Chocolate Rooibos. It is a wonderful way to have my chocolate desert in the evening without the calories.
Debora, I’ve been very blessed with rich memories. I’m so glad you were able to keep your mom’s childhood tea set! I hope you’re able to pass it on to someone else with some good stories. And oh my, Belgian Chocolate?? I tried a plain Rooibus tea recently and it wasn’t my fave, but throw belgian chocolate in, and I’m guessing it would be decadent!!
I buy the tea at a little tea shop here in Salinas. They have a website that you can order it from. A web search for Gold Leaf Spice and Tea will locate it.
Ooh, thanks for the tip! I’m checking it out right now!
Just found it!! Drooling!!
I love to drink tea, many different kinds. But I have no childhood memories of tea drinking.
Christina, Well I’m glad you found tea! It’s not easy to fall in love with a beverage you didn’t grow up with. 🙂
I have to confess that I am not a fan of hot tea, but I do love a tall glass of sweet tea! It was great to learn more about Jill!Thanks for the great giveaway!! 🙂
Jordann, I’m guessing you live in the south? Haha! Enjoy your tea!!
I can’t remember a time when I didn’t drink iced tea, however, I’ve just become a fan of hot tea in the last few years. I love many kinds, however, usually drink the ones more noted as being good for one’s health. Only problem is, I love a snack to go along with the tea – and usually not the most healthy snack, LOL. I love everything about tea – including attending teas and tea shops, purchasing beautiful cups and anything else that has to do with tea!!
Thanks for the giveaway opportunity – would love to read your book, Jill, while I partake of the tea and cookies. I love drinking tea while reading!!
Bonnie, I love cookies, muffin or cupcakes with my tea. They just go together, don’t you think? 🙂
Growing up tea was the drink in our family. It was always sweet iced tea. I think we went through gallons of it a month. The best thing for me was I spent some time with my grandmother. She was a teacher/Sunday school teacher/ piano teacher. One weekend she had a surprise for me. She had set up a special tea party for just the two of us. I was allowed to drink from her beautiful tea set thst I admired every time I went to her house. I don’t know what happened to the tea set but I always look at them in stores and get a fond memory .
Something so simple means so much! Your grandmother sounds like a wonderful woman!!
I’m one of those weird hybrid people who equally enjoy coffee AND tea. I’ve been collecting teacups for years and have over a dozen now–several bone china ones, almost all antiques and they all have a little story or special meaning behind them depending on where I found them or who gifted them to me. <3
I do too, Meghan! I’m a hot bev type of gal! Your teacups sound really pretty! Enjoy!
I Love Tea and this book looks really great Thanks for the chance to win a copy I used to always drink tea with my mother but she is gone now and My oldest son was only 2 when she passed and My other two children never met her so they don’t have any memories let alone memories of me and her having tea together But I did win an English Rose Tea Set for My Daughter but she is only 4 yrs old and too young to play with them but maybe sometime I will sit down with her and have some tea with her when I can watch her use them 🙂
Linda, you’ll have to tell them all about your mom as they get older, and I do hope you’ll have tea time with your sweet girl!
I love tea. English Breakfast Tea is my favorite! My favorite childhood tea memory is when my aunt and grandma would come to my moms house to visit and we would all sit around the table together and they would have tea. My sister and I usually had a cold drink and we would all share cookies. My mom, sister, aunt and grandma have all passed away but I have those wonderful memories to hold on to.
Cookies are the perfect snack with tea!! I love that your aunts and grandma would come visit and have tea!
I love tea. I might be slightly addicted to teavanna. I had a barbie teaset growing up with little pink flowers.
Brandy, Teavana!! Oh no! That store reels me in, gets me, and than I’m shelling out 25 bucks and I only have a tiny bag of tea–but it’s SO good!!
nice story
Thank you!
Thank you for the chance. God bless!
God bless you, too!
When I was sick as a kid, my mom made me drink hot tea (Lipton) and I NEVER liked it! But as an adult, I’ve found I do like flavored teas. A couple I love are vanilla chai or Earl Grey. There’s also coffee shop here in town (NOT Starbucks, lol) that not only roast their own different blends of coffee beans but carry a vast variety of loose leaf teas. They have what they call “London Fog” that I just love & I make my own version at home. It’s hot Earl Grey with steamed milk & a splash of vanilla extract (the real stuff). OH its sooooooooo good 🙂
Your newest LI book sounds amazing, thanks for sharing and the giveaway chance Jill!
Vanilla Chai! Sounds so yummy! And I know I would love London Fog, too!
As a child I loved to drink tea from my tea set I had. I loved my tea set so much. One day my mom took me to a friends house and she had tea and special teacups. I was such a big girl and when she poured cream into my cup with hot tea in it, I was a was a 12 yr old woman for 20 minutes. A day I’ll never forget.
I know just what you mean! Drinking tea from a fancy set made me feel like a woman too!
Just this evening my sister & I were talking about a bridal shower with a tea cup theme. Buy the vintage cups & saucers at consignment shops. After the showers is over the guests get to keep the cup & saucers as a memento of the bride.
A friend of mine has a tea for her mother’s birthday & she always get her a new set. Fun,fun,fun,…so much fun the hummingbirds come to the table and sit on her cup to partake.
What a great idea for a shower!! I know everyone will love it!
I not only Love Tea, I Adore Tea. I am probably like most people who like coffee, I have to have a mug in the morning when I first wake up and again at night when I retire.
Use to have Tea time with my sisters which I have 4 we would put a big kettle on and sit with mom drinking our tea and just talking.
I am in process oh how to learn proper tea etticut thru Downton Abbey, they are offering free emails to learn how to do a proper English Tea.
I have a favorite which is Irish Breakfast, like many others and if I drink green tea it is only with a black tea as well. Not a big fan of it but know it is good for you in many ways. Started a Tea board on Pintrest.
So do I Like Tea let me count the ways…. Lol
That sounds so nice, drinking tea with your sisters. 🙂 I will drink green tea, but I like black tea so much more!
I love all things tea. And it was most definitely books that inspired my love. I remember one beautiful tea cup that my mother kept in her hutch. She woykdvrib it out occasionally and let me and my sisters use it. With close supervision of course! It was a memorable moment and so special. It wasn’t until recently, years later, that I discovered my mom doesn’t even like tea! But I always think of her when I pull out my own teacups to sip some brew.
My mom was definitely a big part of me liking tea, too! I’m so glad you have nice memories of her with tea!
Tea is a warm fuzzy drink. I like to drink my French Vanilla tea as I do my Bible reading or fellowship with my wonderful bible study group. We always drink tea as we learn the word of God and talk about what God is doing in each of our lives.
Thank you for this opportunity to win your book.
French Vanilla tea is one of my favorites! It’s so nice you and your Bible study share tea!
The cover of the book is very cute. I have always wanted to carve my initials into a tree with my husband, but never have.
I love the cover, too! My initials have never been carved, either, but maybe we should remedy that! Hmmm…. 🙂
Being from the South, I love tea! The sweeter, the better, which is the tea that I remember from my childhood.
Thanks for entering me in your giveaway.
Nice!! Another tea lover!!
I LOVE this post and all of the great tea stories! It makes me recall so many wonderful ‘tea’ moments. Growing up I had make believe tea parties with my dolls because my mother was a coffee drinker. When I was finally old enough to try coffee, I could never understand how something that smelled so wonderful could taste so bad. So as an adult I became a tea drinker and love many kinds.
In the early years of our marriage, my husband was stationed on the island of Cyprus, where there are many British traditions. Everything would close down between 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. for afternoon siesta. At 4:00 the tea shops would open up, and it was such a joy to take tea with tiny melt in your mouth cheese puffs or cream puffs.
As an adult, my daughter has become quite a tea drinker also, and though she now lives in California (the other side of the country from Virginia Beach), we have our favorite tea shops that we frequent whenever I go out there – Tuck’s Tea Room in Carmel, Elise’s Tea Room in Long Beach, and a special time to have tea on the Queen Mary. I have collected demitasse cups from all of our travels, but never thought to serve tea in them until now. My father brought me one from Japan – so delicate, beautifully painted with gold trim, and the image of a geisha that appears in the bottom when the light shines through.
I love seeing my eight year old granddaughter have tea parties with her dolls and friends. Last June I hosted a Princess tea party for her and five of her friends. They had such fun dressing up and drinking out of princess cups. I wanted to do that before they became too old to think of being princesses. I have given her a Beatrix Potter tea set in a travel case that she loves!
Thanks again for helping me recall so many wonderful moments. Congratulations on your book and thank you for the giveaway. Someone will be delighted!! Sorry this is sooo long.
Oh wow! Wouldn’t it be nice to have tea time every afternoon? You have such wonderful memories! I love tea shops, and the ones you mentioned sound lovely!!
I love cold unsweet tea. I drink it as often as I can!
I remember having a small china set when I was a child, I think I have one of the pieces left from that collection. That set brings back some special memories!
Congratulations on the book! I enjoy reading Love Inspired books!
Aww, I hope you do still have one of the pieces! They are special memories!
Thank you for sharing! Congratulations on your new release! I LOVE tea! I drink it year round. Like most little girls I loved having tea parties when I was younger, but having only brothers I didn’t get to have many 😉
Brothers! I’m sure they weren’t okay with tea parties. 🙁 I’m glad you still love tea, though!
I LOVE tea pots, & have a small collection…but never acquired the taste for tea, or coffee!
Neither tea nor coffee? Well, hey you can still drink something out of those lovely cups!
I love my southern sweet tea! My favorite memory with tea is my friends and I having tea parties with our dolls
That sounds like so much fun!
I still have my miniature tea set that I played with as a child, it probably came from my paternal grandmother as she was the one who gave me dolls and such. I also remember what we called Cambric tea which was warm water with milk and a little bit of sugar in it.
Aww, your grandma sounds like a nice lady!
When my kids were younger we decided to have a tea party and invite grandma and great grandma. We called them and said we were baking cookies and to come in an hour or so. They were at the door before we had the cookies out of the oven! We had the best time using the good china cups!
They probably were delighted to come over for a tea party! How cute!
As an adult, I haven’t had the chance to attend many tea parties but some of my most cherished memories involve the tea parties with my dolls and the tea sets that I received as Christmas gifts each year. An aunt and uncle always gave me tea sets and they progressed from plastic to dainty China sets. I still have some and after sharing them with my daughter, I am now looking forward to them being used by my two year old granddaughter. Thank you for rekindling these memories.
Connie
cps1950(at)gmail (dot)com
Connie, your aunt and uncle must be lovely people! I think that’s a terrific gift!
A fancy tea party….how fun!
So enjoyed the memories you mentioned about your grandmother and the tea parties you shared with her. Didn’t have that experience but I have had a friend for the last 20 plus years and when she lived nearby me, I was able to visit her at least weekly. She always had a big variety of teas from which to choose for an individual big mug of hot tea or she always had an iced tea pitcher in her frig for taking. I so loved those times. I help care for my grandchildren and it was always wonderful to sit and talk with another grownup who had similar beliefs and dreams. Thank you for your story.