Christmas at our Green Cottage

Blake and Benjamin Winter 1999

This is the story of our green cottage. We bought our home in 1994. It was our first home. It has a little over 1700 square feet. It was to be our starter home. You know where you live for five years and then move on to bigger and better as your family grows.

Blake and Benjamin Christmas time 2000

Blake was born in 1995 and Benjamin was born in 1997. We started A Spot For Tea in 1996. We continued to add children and employees and we kept living in our green cottage. I always wanted a picket fence and window boxes so Eric built both for me to add some charm to our little home.

Blake and Benjamin playing in the snow Christmas 2000.

Our pastor did a sermon a couple of weeks ago about contentment. He said that in 1950 the average home use to be 1200 square feet. He said Americans have added more square feet with each passing year. He gave a lot of statistics about contentment and happiness. There were a couple of lines that he said that I won't forget. He said we've added bigger kitchens but no one is staying in them to cook. He said we've bought more stuff and now we have storage units everywhere filled to the brim because we don't have room in our bigger houses for all of our stuff.

Christmas lights on Christmas Eve 2000

Then after the sermon that my pastor preached my friend Lindy came in the tearoom and shared that her husband John's favorite verse in the bible is:

Proverbs 30:7-9

I ask two things from you, Lord.

Don't refuse me before I die.

Keep me from lying and being dishonest.

And don't make me either rich or poor;

just give me enough food for each day.

If I have too much, I might reject you

and say, "I don't know the Lord."

If I am poor, I might steal

and disgrace the name of my God.

In other words, Just give me enough Lord to meet my daily needs.

Now you can see picket fence and window boxes up close.

This past summer I started looking at bigger homes and then the economy started getting shaky and we decided we would stay a little while longer in our green cottage.

Blake with a snowman he built Christmas 2001

We have many Christmas traditions we started and do each year in this home with our boys. Its the only place they've ever lived. I think by the time I was 14 I had lived in 7 different houses since my dad was a pastor. Last night we put up our Christmas tree and hung the ornaments and listened to Christmas Carols. It made me realize bigger is not always better.

Brock's first Christmas 2002

So this year I'm finding many things to be grateful for and thank Jesus for His many gifts He has given our family. Thank you Lord for our green cottage especially since there are many homeless people without jobs this year.

Philipians 4:11-13

I am not telling you this because I need anything. I have learned to be satisfied with the things I have and with everything that happens. I know how to live when I am poor, and I know how to live when I have plenty. I have learned the secret of being happy at any time in everything that happens, when I have enough to eat and when I go hungry, when I have more that I need and when I do not have enough. I can do all things through Christ, because he gives me strength.

Rose Cottage Tea Parties in December 2009

Miss Alaynah Frost

Sixth Birthday Party

December 5, 2009 11:00am

Alaynah and her mom Pat

Alaynah and her guests around the fountain.

Alaynah and her guests by the Gingerbread House.

Miss Christina Barnett

Fifth Birthday Party

December 5, 2009 1:30pm

Christina and her mom Tasa.

Christina and her guests in front of the Gingerbread House.

Christina and guests by the gumdrop Christmas tree.

Christmas Cookies

" The Beast" at the tearoom.

Benjamin and mom making cookies at the tearoom.

Cutting out our sugar cookies that we mixed the night before.

Sprinkles of sugar danced in their head.

Peanut Butter Cup Cookes.

Cookie plate for Christmas Party.

My mom and I have had a tradition since I moved back from Texas where we get together in her kitchen and bake cookies for trays that we take to Christmas parties or have in our home for guests and family. The last couple of years we have kind of quit doing that due to our hectic schedule during the holiday season.

I decided to start baking again this year and I recruited Benjamin to help me. Now I have to tell you a secret... I've owned 3 Kitchen Aid Mixers in the six years we've opened the tearoom. Every time one burns up at the tearoom we end up taking mine from home. We bought the BEAST a couple of years ago, our big mixer we have in the tearoom, but sometimes we need a smaller one for smaller jobs. On Thursday night I came home and decided it was time for another mixer at my house. So off to the store and we've been baking up a storm. We've made sugar cookies, spritz cookies, Tollhouse cookies, Rice Crispy Treats and Peanut Butter Cups.

Peanut Butter Cups are the boys favorite and we cheat on these delicious treats:

1 pkg peanut butter cookie dough

1 pkg of Reeses Peanut Butter Cups

Just roll out a ball of dough and bake for 10 minutes in small muffin pans and then when they are finished baking...pop in a peanut butter cup in the middle of the dough. I then put it in freezer for a few minutes to harden back the chocolate. MMMM...they are so good and easy.

Peppermint Bark Tea

Peppermint Bark Seasonal Tea

The holiday season is upon us again and we have the perfect way to relax after those busy days of shopping, parties and baking.

It's a warm delicious cup of Peppermint Bark. This tempting vanilla and mint black tea with adorable candy cane sprinkles is sure to please. Come in and try a cup hot or pick up a 2 oz. bag for $5.99 to try it at home.

Christmas Ideas in our gift shop

It's Christmas at A Spot For Tea...out come the ribbons and bows.

We have our tea mugs filled with a bag loose leaf tea for a

quick gift for someone special all wrapped up for you.

Retail: $9.99 each

French cannister set among jams and teas.

Pretty party dresses and Tea Lover's Starter's Kits ($19.99 each).

A great way to get a novice started in the world of tea. The kit

includes signature mug, infuser, tea scoop, sugar cubes and a bag of loose leaf tea.

Tea sets and tea ornaments

Wind & Willow Cheeseball mixes (Retail $4.99 each) and tea accoutrements.

Bottled raspberry, peach & mango iced tea flavorings

Retail: $9.99 each

I can't believe 22 more days until Christmas.

The most important thing this holiday season:

Set aside twenty minutes each day to catch your breath.

Make yourself a cup of tea, put your feet up and relax.

Serving Others - Sips For Renewal

The only ones among you who will be truly happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve. - Albert Schweitzer

Interesting quote for tearoom owners and staff. In A Spot For Tea employee manual we have under waitress, job description: You basically keep the guests happy, when they aren't happy, you listen to why, and make them happy. Even when you have had a bad day. Nobody should know it. You can't take it out on the guests. Waitressing is hard, it's demanding, it's a daily struggle. I think it's a mind set. You really have to like dealing with people. You have to believe that "serving others" is NOT a demeaning thing to do. You must realize that you are often the first line of contact that a customer sees, and he or she will base their entire opinion of the tearoom on YOU!

Think about how you have been treated at the places you liked the most, and at the places you liked the least. I'll bet that in both cases, you will come up with a name, a face or a memory of how you were treated by that "front of the house" staff member.

We ask that you uphold the traditions of A Spot For Tea and apply serving from the heart in all that you do for our guest. We are here to build great memories.

Tea Cup Chandelier

In the Queen's Room over one of our tables hangs our tea cup chandelier

Tea Cup Chandelier

Find a tag sale chandelier in good electrical working order that has arms spaced wide enough to accommodate the saucers placed under the cups. You will need teacup/saucer for each light. They don't have to match. Our chandelier has all different teacups. Use a diamond-tipped drill bit to make holes large enough to accommodate a light socket. Support each piece in a bucket of sand for support as you drill; Place the drilled saucer face up over the socket and secure with epoxy or super strength adhesive. Next, slip on the cup and glue in place. Let dry. Use candle flame style light bulbs for a romantic glow. I bought shades for each light. It adds a special touch when you are having tea.