Goodbye Summer, Hello Fall ~ Tea on Tuesdays

I'm happy to report that we finally have cooler temperatures here in Austin.

Today, Lidy and I are joining Pam for Tea on Tuesdays.We all mourn our longtime friend, Mary, and thinkback to the many beautiful tea parties Mary shared.I noticed a couple of friends are having their own little tea party out on the terrace.Let me introduce you.

Meet my longtime friend, Fredricka. 

She showed up on our doorstep in 2019.

You can read about her arrival and her dear friends here. 

Mortimer joined our household later, 

and these two immediately became close friends.  

This eccentric couple enjoys afternoon teatime 

on the terrace when autumn's cooler temps arrive.

After a long hot summer, you can well imagine, 

October is their favorite month.

The orange, black, and brown plaid table linen is years old.  

No identifying label, but I've used it most fall seasons, 

and it still looks fabulous.  

I do love a good 100% cotton table linen! 

The flowers, a grocery store potted plant, are tucked into a vintage metal basket.  I added a few pumpkins and fresh acorns foraged on my morning walk, and I had an instant tea table waiting for my friends.

Mortimer selected a favorite tea pot, 

a whimsical piece from Anthropologie, marked Balducci.  

He gets high marks on his choice!

Look at the beautiful sculpted form

 and the touch of gold detail.

It pairs nicely with petite rotund teacups with plaid-like pattern from MacKenzie-Childs.  The shiny gold detail mimics the gold detail on the teapot, and the gold stems on the Martha Stewart pumpkin plates.

I think its fun how the various elements mimic each other, 

~ the plaid of the linen with the plaid of the cup ~

~ the dots on the napkin repeated on the cup and

again on the vintage metal container ~

~ the exaggerated belly shape of both the cup and 

the owl's teapot tummy, much like the full, round pumpkins ~

Mortimer selected a Harvest Blend Herbal Tea from Trader Joe's.

I think Mortimer picked this one because the description says 

"each sip, will make you feel like a wise owl who's 

just discovered the secret to eternal happiness."

There's even an owl on the side of the box!

What tea party would be 

complete without cookies?

You can tell by Fredricka's ear to ear smile, 

that she definitely approves. 

Mortimer simple responds with 

that wise old owl look.

Please have some tea and cookies.

Fredricka and Mortimer would be delighted!

I tossed in a few of the acorns to sit on the tray, but during the course of snapping photos, a single small feather appeared on the tray.  

When I noticed it, my thoughts immediately went to Mary.  

You see, I find single feathers waiting for me from time to time.  

I open the door to step out, and there on the door mat,

 center stage, is at times, a single feather.  

Sometimes one lands on my car windshield, 

or directly on my path where my foot lands when walking.  

Ever since I lost Monnie, and then my sister, 

these single feathers have appeared on my path.  

I take them as messages from above.

Yes, I think Mary was in her own way inspiring much of this post.

Thank you for joining my friends today.

Links to Pam's and Lidy's beautiful posts are below.

Pam @ Everyday Living

Lidy @ French Garden House

Goodbye summer, Hello Fall!