Print“In Ireland, you go to someone’s house, and she asks you if you want a cup of tea. You say no, thank you, you’re really just fine. She asks if you’re sure. You say of course you’re sure, really, you don’t need a thing. Except they pronounce it ting. You don’t need a ting. Well, she says then, I was going to get myself some anyway, so it would be no trouble. Ah, you say, well, if you were going to get yourself some, I wouldn’t mind a spot of tea, at that, so long as it’s no trouble and I can give you a hand in the kitchen. Then you go through the whole thing all over again until you both end up in the kitchen drinking tea and chatting.
In America, someone asks you if you want a cup of tea, you say no, and then you don’t get any damned tea.
I liked the Irish way better.”
~C.E. Murphy ~
I don’t celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, but I always celebrate Ireland, the culture and her people. I was blessed to visit Ireland over twenty years ago with my now deceased mother. I had always wanted to visit there, having been raised on Irish and Celtic mythology and faery tales. So, when we arrived, it felt like I had finally come home. So, it is with my love for Ireland, we’ll drink a cup of tea to honor her.
I don’t have any Celtic ancestry that I know of (unless some of my Norwegian Viking ancestors mingled with the Celts), so perhaps it’s memories of other lifetimes long ago that I carry in my heart. I even have in my will that when I die, I want part of my ashes to be spread in the Wicklow Mountains. When we went there, we were told by a local man, that the mountains were a place to find one’s soul. I have never forgotten this and one day, hopefully way before it’s time for me to pass on to the Summerland, I will return there.
Let’s greet the morning and pretend we’re in Eire together today.
These are the skies that greet us this morning…
Can you see the moon wearing her morning light to us? She’s waxing right now, which means it’s a good time for wishing upon things you want to attract to your life. It’s all about growing, intention and asking for blessings before she turns full.
Here is another glimpse of the trees silhouetting the morning sky line.
The flowers are slowly starting to wake up and show us their sleepy faces from dreaming.
Let’s go inside now for a cup of tea. The tea this morning is perfect for our Irish fantasy. No, it’s not a tea from Ireland, but I think you’ll enjoy it.
The company that make this tea are the same one’s who make the delicious “Belgian Chocolate Tea” we drank last week. They can be found on Etsy here.
If you look closely you can see the tiny shamrocks with the tea leaves. It’s actually delicious, a bit sweet with an earthy orange flavor to it.
When I first saw this tea, I thought of that ridiculous Leprechaun that used to make me laugh and want to eat a bowl of his “Lucky Charms” Cereal, that bombarded my youth on t.v. commercials, especially when I was watching Saturday Morning cartoons. Now, I just grimace over his terrible and fake Irish accent and stereotypical mannerisms of a mischevious Leprechaun.
Here’s a little Leprechaun lore for you:
“The group’s namesake is purported to have arisen from the Irish term “leath bhrogan,” meaning shoemaker, according to the site IrelandsEye.com. Other theorists believe the word comes from the term “luacharma’n,” which means pygmy. And yet some say the mythical figures are named after the Euro-Celtic god named Lugh, pronounced “Luck,” according to Angelic Inspirations.
Spotting a leprechaun does indeed bring good luck, according to legend, but it’s not an easy task. The sound of the fairy’s shoe hammer is purported to lead one to an elusive pot of gold, but the mischievous creatures will cunningly try to entice humans with riches, only to snatch it away in an act of trickery, Time magazine reported.”
(Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/03/17/leprechaun-lore-history-famed-mischief-makers#ixzz1Ggbo1KM5)
Miss Bella is my co-host this morning and yesterday a package arrived just for her (or so she thought) because it had a box perfect for hiding and snuggling into.
So, I’ll send you off with a bang on the ear with a video from one of my favorite Irish music bands; “The Waterboys.”
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P237zpWbPRM&feature=related[/youtube]
You can stop by Kimmie’s blog to visit other “Tea on Tuesday” blogger’s and say “Sláinte” with them.
© 2011, Wendy S.. All rights reserved.
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Your opening quotation reminds me of one of my favourite old British sitcoms called “Father Ted” which was set in Ireland. The housekeeper, Mrs. Doyle, would never take no for her offer of “tay” and would mercilessly wear down, nag and bully the priests or a guest into having some. Hahahahahaha, that shtick never got old!
Debra She Who Seeks recently posted..Be Back Soon!
What a lovely visit with you and your kitty
I could “hear” the first paragraph in Irish when I read ‘ting’.
I was lucky enough to visit Ireland with my mother too some years back.
Special raising our tea cups to our mom’s
Thank you for the music too.
oxo
OMG there are shamrocks in your tea!!! how lucky are you, girlie!
I prefer the Irish way as well (mostly cause there is Celtic blood running through these veins). Thank you for sharing all the tales and photos with us with your tea today. Much appreciated, indeed!
Happy T on T
~Dawn
the Irish way is indeed better. a way of gentility and hospitality that seems to have been lost in our country. especially our youth, who seem to have no patience for any thing and always seem in a hurry to “do”.
now I have a problem celebrating the day of drunken debauchery st.patrick’s seem to have become here in the states, so I’ll sit and brew some tea and celebrate in a quieter way.
Sláinte
Flora Goodson recently posted..Hearts and Hands For Sendai
Love this post!!! Must be the Irish in me!!!!
I may have to look up that tea – I love rooisbos.
Glad you could join us!!!
That is the EXACT conversation we would have if you dropped in on me! I always ask someone if they would like tea, and if they say no, I say I was just going to have some anyway, and then they do!! I am Irish though …. And had a tea drinking Irish grandmother who visited lots of friends and was visited by more. It’s a social life based around tea.
I also love The Waterboys and haven’t listened to their music for quite some time. I will have to go to Pandora when I’m done here!
Happy Tuesday! Kimmie
Now i know why my little kitten found me, because i had been wishing for her to do so on the waxing moon.
Gill Edwards recently posted..We have found our new kitten
I would love to go to Ireland and after my visit with you i want to go even more.Thank you for sharing your photos and stories, and happy tea Tuesday to ya.
What a delightful tea Tuesday. I have to agree with Murphy…the Irish way is better. So glad I have a little of the Irish in me.
Rooibos is one of my favorites…good choice!
The skyscapes are glorious and vinca reminds me of my dear departed grandmother…
I’m so glad I dropped by.
oxo
Judy recently posted..…Bright- Bright- Sunshiny Day
Great post
the mountains look lovely surrounding the lake. Your cat is precious! Catchy music, thanks. Happy T day.
Nancy recently posted..Tea on Tuesday
I am a bit of a Flogging Molly fan myself…. the tea sounds lovely and so fitting for this week of the Irish
Janie recently posted..Spring Update
I had to smile at the description of welcoming a guest… because we do the same in England… now in Edinburgh when you go to someone’s house they say ‘You’ll have had your tea’? meaning that they don’t need to go and make you one!!
Thank you for a lovely visit, that tea has such a fabulous name and the shamrocks in it are brilliant!
Voodoo Vixen recently posted..Tea on Tuesday
I wrote a LOT about the lovely shamrocks in the tea, and other such fun. After all that, I couldn’t get that captcha code to work and had to enter name, website, etc again. I hope it works this time. Sorry I was late getting here, too.
Bleubeard and Elizabeth recently posted..Tea Tuesday and a little help from some friends
I’ve not been to Ireland, but there are plenty of Celtic branches in the family tree. My maiden name was Andrews. My husband’s mother was a Brannigan. We tell the kids they’re lucky our ancestors came here or they would never have happened. My family is Protestant and his is Catholic. The cup of tea sounds lovely…if you’re sure t’is no bother. Tomorrow we’ll give a nod to the heritage with a corned beef and cabbage dinner. It’s about as Irish as we get.
Stacy Lynn recently posted..30 Day Challenge- Day 15- Higher Calling
And why do cats love boxes! they make me laugh so.
Hope you are well and having a good day
:O)
You know what they say – everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day! Thanks for sharing your sweet cup of tea. That really was an awesome quote!!!
Theresa
Lovely post Wendy. Love the moon in the morning sky she is beautiful! Happy Lets remember Ireland Day and my dad’s bday!
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