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They are always having a nice cuppa tea in Norah Lofts books or hoping to have one.

Not only in hers! :)

Themis-Athena wrote: "Not only in hers! :)"

Very true and I always have to get up and have one too!`

Isn't afternoon tea in particular a nice tradition? I have tea every morning for breakfast as well, but afternoon tea is something yet entirely different, isn't it?

My favorite tea (and spice) store -- discovreed some 10 years ago when I moved to Frankfurt. Even though I've moved away again since, I still make a trip to that store a routine part of virtually every time I go to Frankfurt now. And Whittard's, Fortnum's and Twinings in London, of course, never mind that you can also order their products online -- somehow that, too, to me just isn't the same thing as taking in all the smells and sights in a tea store!

I like to collect teapots too, do you also? A college chum sent me an Alice in Wonderland teapot with the white rabbit for a tiny lid. Its so cute.

It does sound very cute!

I don't collect tea pots, but mugs I do collect -- Whittards has come up with great china series in the past; too bad they only carry them for a year or so at a time, otherwise I'd be tempted to go for a whole set; teapot, cups & saucers, plates, mugs etc. They had a Winnie the Pooh series a few years ago which was extremely cute. Alice in Wonderland is one of their current series as well; no white rabbit teapot lids, though -- just a rabbit mug ... and several mugs with key handles! :)

Earl Grey is my favorite "standard" scented tea; I have a huge supply at the office ... I go through several mugs every day.

What kind of pickles do you order from Germany -- just red cabbage and mango chutney? And what brands?

Interesting to see how traveling and living abroad makes us rely on products we don't get at home isn't it? Same for me with certain beauty products as well ...

P.S. Love the butterfly!

Gundelsheim before I forget! I had to go look as often I cannot remember brands. Most of the time I just have to give up eating pickles and at the Costello Street Coffee house I just give them to my husband due to the dye they put in here in the US.

In summer I normally just drink plain ice tea and cannot even have lemon anymore due to migraine. I usually drink Earl Grey when its cold and I can't have it too often as I don't want to get allergic to the bergamot. Apparently that tends to be allergenic. On those days I drink coffee but prefer tea.

the Monarch butterfly starts its migration to Mexico every year about this time. When I lived in Texas I would always count them but they don't come up here due to the elevation. Last year I did see one which is very unusual and 2 days ago one came to my milkweed plant. There was even a caterpillar and its gone now. Glad you like it too. In 2000 I got to see a Monarch butterfly tree with hundreds roosting for the night together.

Thanks for the link and will check it out now.

Thanks for the wonderful link. I have to get some of these.

Great list. I found many books to add to my TBR.