The theme this week for Scavenger Hunters at ESN is: Hot Weather. After a rather cool June, we are finally getting some hot, hot weather. 100 degrees + that I think is going to last most of the week. Love it!
My favorite drink in the summer is Wild Plum Tea. I guess it was about 20 years ago, my mother, son and I went to visit my daughter in Tennessee down around the Smoky Mountains. One day, we took a side trip to Gatlinburg and visited the Arts and Crafts Community. Pottery shops, candle stores, leather shop, woodcarving shops - just all sorts of great places to browse and even watch some demonstrate their craft. We came upon a small tea shop called The Wild Plum Tea Room. We ate lunch and had the most wonderful miniture banana muffins and wild plum tea. I bought Cindy Freeman Black's cookbook called "All My Best Recipes", but it did not have the recipe for The Wild Plum Tea. Cindy so graciously gave me her recipe (see recipe at end of blog). Lots of sugar - I keep trying to cut back on that, though. It is just to die for and so refreshing on a hot summer day. A perfect tumbler to serve Wild Plum Tea.
Visit the Arts and Crafts Community of Gatlinburg.
Visit CAROLINABLUELADY Vintage Collectibles for other great vintage glassware.
Wild Plum Tea
1 quart boiling water
4 family size tea bags
2 cups sugar (I don't use the full 2 cups anymore)
2 cups water
2 cups orange juice
1/2 cup lemon juice
2 cups cold water
orange slices if desired
Steep tea bags in boiling water 5 minutes. Combine sugar and water and boil for 5 minutes. Add to tea mixture. Stir in orange juice and lemon juice along with cold water.
Makes 3 quarts
Nothing better on a hot summer day, than to sit in a rocker on the front porch with a tall cold glass of wild plum tea and remember all the wonderful memories of the past. Enjoy!!!!!!!!
Our ESN Scavenger Hunt this week is about the Moon. The vintage Moon and Stars glass pattern is one of the most familiar glass patterns around. Just about anything imaginable has been made in the Moon and Stars pattern - candy dishes, relish trays, lighters, lamps, compotes and the familiar canister set - think I have one of those somewhere in boxes. The Moon and Stars pattern actually had its beginning back in the late 1800s and was first made by the Adams & Co out of Pittsburg, PA. They called the pattern Palace. Adams & Co became a part of the US Glass Co.
The Palace pattern became known as Moon & Stars because of the star-like design with round moon-like depressions. This pattern has been made by several different companies. Sometimes it is uncertain of who made what. Moon & Stars came in many beautiful bright colors.
Here is a beautiful Moon & Stars Banana Boat in amberina from L.E. Smith. L.E. Smith called the color flame. Moon & Stars was one of L.E. Smith's most popular patterns and was considered part of the Heritage line. Based on the label on this piece, this was probably produced during the 1960s. You can find this lovely centerpiece bowl at CAROLINABLUELADY Vintage Collectibles along with some other great Moon & Stars pieces.
And, did you know that there is a Moon & Star Glass club? http://www.moonandstarglassclub.com/ You might want to check it out.
