Monday, November 20, 2023

T Stands For Surprise and Happy Mail (and teabag holders, too)

 

Today we're meeting in my dining room.  Sorry this post is so long.  Grab your cup of whatever makes you happy and join me.

I have before me some incredible and very happy mail, as well as seven teabag holders.  Of course, you can see my PBS mug that contains water with lemon wedges, too.

Seven teabag holders and all are a bit different.

It started with these two.  I've never seen any like them since.  I wish I had bought more when I got these.  I apologize for the shadows.

The British teapot was a gift from Voodoo Vixen, aka Annette.  I picked up the other two teapot teabag holders and the silver one at The Spice Merchant.

The one that doesn't look like a teapot was also from The Spice Merchant and it was gift from my friend Scott.  Sadly, I never think to drink teabag tea, so never have the opportunity to use and appreciate these beauties.  I don't plan to purchase more anytime soon.

Now for my happy and surprise mail.

You know I don't like to show metered mail, but I made an exception for this.  Although I'm having trouble getting close up shots, this being the best I could do, you can see the date it was mailed to me.  I received it last Saturday, November 18.  I could have walked it here quicker than it took USPS to get it to me!!!
 
I'm having a terrible time trying to get close ups to focus,

so I apologize to Deb who went to the trouble of stamping the teacup and bats.

Look at the beauties I found when I opened the envelope.

I sincerely hope you can read this.  It was very interesting and a fun read, too.  I love how Deb used orange ink to highlight the various items.
 
I love everything about this card, from the bats to the jewel in the top hat to the skeleton's gold tooth.  I LOVE it, Deb.

I hope you can read the back.  I love the cat with the green jeweled eyes and the heart attached to its tail.  Thank you so very much, Deb.  Although it is late for this year, I'll have it on my rotating table next year.  Thank you again.

I love Halloween because it brings out the black cats.  And this black cat came all the way from Scotland.

So did this adorable black cat that is stretching.

Not a good photo, but you can see it is Royal Mail.  The cats are wishing us a purrfect Halloween.

Look at the adorable card inside.  Two black and one orange tabby.  Aren't they just adorable?  I think so, too!!  By now I'm sure you know these cats are courtesy of Elle (eotc).

Elle sent it specifically to Bleubeard and me.  I love it, Elle.  Bleubeard gives it two paws up, too.  Thank you, thank you, thank you for thinking of us.  I know it will come out next Halloween.

My final happy mail arrived all the way from Australia.   It was mailed on October 11.  It's ironic all three of these arrived the same day.

This came from my dear internet friend Elephant's Child, or EC as most of you know her.  I think you can see the postage stamp better in this photo.  I learned this bird is a kookaburra.
 
Inside was this gorgeous magnet from the spring flower festival called Floriade.  I hope you can read what EC wrote about the kookaburra.  Thank you dear friend from the bottom of my heart for the magnet and the lovely card. They and YOU mean the world to me.

It's now time to share your own drink related post.  It can be gifts you received like I did today, photos, a place you visited, movies, postcards, mail art, junk mail, catalogs, books, sketches, mixed media, drawings, paintings, handmade cards, tags, scrapbooking, or other art that is digital, hybrid, or traditional, a favorite mug, cup and saucer, teapot, coffee pot, or even a wine glass. Regardless, please join us by linking below.  Bleubeard and I will gladly visit, as will other T participants.  Please link only your T post and not your blog in general.  Bleubeard would like to remind you that old photos are acceptable because they may be taken any time, not just on Tuesday and not just this year.  Please, please remember to visit your fellow T participants.






26 thoughtful remarks:

Tom said...

...today our mailbox was filled with JUNK!

Valerie-Jael said...

You got some wonderful happy mail cards and goodies - enjoy! I especially love the cats on Elle's card and the lovely skull and letter from Deb, such fun! Happy T Day, hugs, Valerie

Carola Bartz said...

You received some wonderful mail, Elizabeth. Deb's mail, although having taken so long, is gorgeous and of course the black cats had to come from Elle. Such a beautiful card! I love EC's Floriade magnets and have a few of them on my fridge, they are all so beautiful - and so is yours.It is indeed such a coincidence that all of this mail arrived on the same day - a very good day! Happy T day to you and Bleubeard.

Kate Yetter said...

Wow, you always get the best happy mail! Loving the cards and goodies. Those teabag holders are fabulous.
Happy Tea Day,
Kate

Violetta said...

Nice suprises and nice postcard with the cats- you like cats as I have noticed - happy t-day and all the best.
Bleubeard is a nice name for a cat - in german it is Blaubart - the meaning is the same.
Violetta

My name is Erika. said...

Oh it is fun to see those teabag holders. I'm glad you shared them. You've shown your British flag one a few times, but I haven't seen those image ones. They are quite nice. And nice happy mail too. That was an interesting sheet in Deb's envelope. I knew about he bats and oysters (that's a common thing to hear here at near the coast- but I've always heard that it's because of poisons like red tide, but this also makes sense) but none of the other bits of info. And I never shared my card from Elle. Thanks for the reminder that I needed to do that. It is interesting all your mail arrived on the same day. Have a great T day. hugs-Erika

Mae Travels said...

I have had one or two teapot-shaped tea bag holders (some were ceramic and have been broken) but most of mine are circular, like little plates. We also use them as sort of a cap on a mug to keep the tea warm, and I sometimes use them as spoon rests when I'm cooking.

It's fun to see your little collection. And as always it's a great thing you do, hosting the Tuesday tea party.

best, mae at maefood.blogspot.com

jinxxxygirl said...

I'm so glad that skeleton card made it to you dear Elizabeth and that you like him... Tea bag tea is the only tea i drink and then only one really cold winter nights do i seem to reach for it..lol I do not have any tea bag holders as i leave the bag in the mug while i drink it then pop into the trash... What lovely mail you received... funny how it all came the same day...like the post office was saving it for you... Happy T day! Hugs! deb

kathyinozarks said...

awesome Happy Mail!! enjoy hugs

Jenn Jilks said...

I loved that, "I could have walked it here!"
I think your photos are fine. They give us an idea of your treasures. I find it so difficult, some days, to photograph them close up.

Christine said...

Nice collection of teabag holders

Amila said...

Those teabag holders are truly delightful! I really love those.
And that happy mail? Deb's choice of orange ink is such a fantastic touch. It adds a warm and vibrant feel to the entire package. It's amazing how much joy a little creativity and thoughtfulness can bring. Thanks for sharing this delightful surprise with us!
Happy T Tuesday!

Iris Flavia said...

To happy mail! Like Tom we only get junk mail. Last was from ... tax office!
Love the black cats, awww... one day, Elizabeth and Bleubeard, one day I join you!
So far it´s only teabags in the Kookaburra-holder ;-)

Elephant's Child said...

I LOVE those tea bag holders - and I am very glad the magnet finally arrived.

Lisca said...

What a lot of happy mail! But it all took more than a month to arrive! So long!
I love the cat with the heart on its tail.
The teabag holders are so cute. I have one too but I don’t always use it for tea bags. It sits on my worktop in the kitchen and is alternately a spoon rest, a lemon slice dish or a holder of small ingredients. It prevents my egg from rolling around when I prepare ingredients and occasionally it will carry a teabag too.
My heart kept when I saw the Floriade fridge magnet. In the Netherlands, the Floriade is a large horticultural exhibition held every ten years. The first one was in Rotterdam in 1960 and I remember it well. I have since then learned that they have a Floriade in Australia too. So your magnet comes from down under. But it’s very uplifting with its colourful tulips.
Happy T-Day,
Hugs,
Lisca

Rostrose said...

Dear Elizabeth,
I admire your teabag holders - I didn't even know such a thing existed until today! We usually put our teabags on the saucer. In any case, they look adorable - and I think they can also be nice collector's items if you DON'T use them for teabags ;-)) (I would probably put them in my old typecase that I have hanging on the wall... Here I'm exhibiting various pretty little things and souvenirs.) What wonderful mail you received - I'm very happy for you (even though the postal service worked like a snail...) I also learned something new: I always thought that Oysters are BAD in the months without r...instead it's their mating season. This was very interesting to me (since my husband told me that one of his friends was once scolded by a waiter because the mussels were bad - the waiter said at the time: "It's your own fault if you order mussels in months without r!" :-C Firstly, the restaurant shouldn't have offered mussels and secondly, the customer should at least have been informed beforehand... And NOW I even have an argument that the mussels aren't BAD because of that, but that they were just disturbed during mating .)
Thank you for the kind words you left on my blog!
Hugs and happy T-Day! Have a nice week, Traude
🍂🕯️☕🍂☕🕯️🍂

Dianne said...

Such a pleasure to visit you again! Your tea bag holders are so charming, I love the many forms they take. the British flag is really splendid!
I received an email from you about a new address, but I now can't find it, so I may have accidentally deleted it! ugh. so sorry... if you could send again, that would be wonderful. Hope you are well, and keeping warm! Hugs from Ohio

Empire of the Cat said...

I'm so glad the card finally arrived - that took a long time! I put all the washi tape on the outside so that you can peel it off and reuse it if you like :) The teabag holders are cute, nice collection. Happy T Day! Elle xx

Empire of the Cat said...

I'm so glad the card finally arrived - that took a long time! I put all the washi tape on the outside so that you can peel it off and reuse it if you like :) The teabag holders are cute, nice collection. Happy T Day! Elle xx

Rita said...

USPS! The prices keep going up but the service keeps going down. Even in town here. Used to be if you mailed right in town they got it the next day. Now it is 3-4 days--in town! Anyways, what a lot of great happy mail! I don't ever want to give up snail mail! :)

Divers and Sundry said...

How exciting! We don't get real mail here unless you count bills lol

Happy T Tuesday

DVArtist said...

Wonderful mail and I love the tea bag holders. That is very clever. The skulls and halloween items are fabulous too. Have a nice day today.

pearshapedcrafting said...

As you may tell,. Blogger has sent me back to my tablet again to comment this week! I love your teabag stands, my mum used to have one! Lucky you to get a nice bunch of post all on one day! I had two etsy orders arrive on the same day the other week! Happy T Day, Chrisx

CJ Kennedy said...

When I'm drinking tea alone, I don't bother with the teabag holders. I do use them as spoon rests/holders to get some use out of them. Wonderful happy mail. Happy T Day

mvmaithai said...

I'm envious! I too love receiving real mail. I sent a package to Calgary this summer and the tracking showed it moving all over the place before getting there two months later!
Love the first 2 tea bag holders.

Jeanie said...

I love your teabag holders! And I especially love the cat art!