Friday 1 August 2008

Cupcakes and roses



The sun went on its holidays yesterday and left us feeling grey. Mr Ragged Roses had been busy up a ladder in the garden and had picked some apples from our tree. The apples sat there in the bowl calling to be used.



It started with a recipe - delicious Apple Bread from the equally delicious "Apples for Jam" book - and ended in a tea party.



The girls got cooking - look at that grip on that fork. You can see just how much Little Sister was concentrating. Never has the creaming of butter and sugar been taken so seriously.



Flowers from the garden were picked for our table. Roses, lavender, geraniums and poppies - that'll do. Pretty and sweet smelling, a reminder that it was still summer.



All sorts of china was chosen. Florals and pink reigned supreme.



Linen was ironed (it was a special occasion indeed) and names were beautifully written on pieces of card just so the four of us would know where to sit.



Cupcakes were baked, the icing had to pink of course. A delicate shade of sugar coated almond pink that matched the rosebuds on the plates. Garnished with scented geranium leaves and flowers.



Strawberries were washed and dusted with icing sugar just before eating.



Pride of place went to the Jammie Dodgers, of course!



There was lashings of elderflower cordial in a pretty pink jug served in floral cups and saucers.



The table was set in the garden and it was such a pretty picture, everything looked good enough to eat.



We put on our pretty dresses, we waited for a friend to arrive. We sat down, the clouds burst and the oh so pretty icing ran from the oh so pretty cupcakes.


We grabbed the crockery and cakes, ran indoors and resumed our tea party. No soggy jammie dodgers for us.
If I told you how much we all ate that might spoil the picture, but remember it was a very grey day indeed (but decidedly pink in the kitchen).

53 comments:

Cowboys and Custard Mercantile said...

Lovely to see the Ragged Roses household in the pink! I could so happily of helped you consume those scrumptious delicacies...
Please send an invite to Mrs Custard for the next tea party.. I will wear my best frock and comb my hair for the occasion.

Mxxxx

Alchamillamolly said...

What a pink day - I soooo miss those summer holiday days baking and eating in the garden - keep them close to your heart, they are gone so soon. I am going to try and track down the book and I have promised myself to read Nigel Slater. I am sitting looking at a lovley bunch of sweet peas from my garden - I brought them in here in my little LA jug that matches your bowl. I regret not getting more of the LA red stripe when it was all out in the shop - they only have a big jug and some lovely big fat cups. I am such a ditherer that I always miss stuff - mind oyu it wont be long befroe they bring something else out and off I og falling love all over again!!

Elizabethd said...

I could have helped too!
what a lovely description of your preparations, and the outcome! what fun you all must have had.

Tracy said...

How delicious and festive! Save a cake for me ;o) Happy bake day to you all & weekend too ((HUGS))

pinkgreen said...

Sounds (and looks) like the perfect tea party - despite the rain. Can I come to the next one?!
Cathy XX

Connie said...

That is just toooooo delicious, miss pink chick! If I baked like that I'd weigh 300 pounds and hubs would probably leave me for one of those "arm candy" chicks, my heart would be broken and I'd have to be put in jail for "murder"!! So I'll pass on baking, sweetpea, but yours looks like a beautiful vignette for us "eye candy" chicks@ ;-)
Smoochies,
Connie

Wayfaring Wanderer said...

Can I come to the next tea party?!?! haha.......Everything looked yummie :o)

Anonymous said...

Oh how sweet, how lovely! I feel liked I've stumbled upon a charming little tea party across the ocean in one of the "alternate universes" they speak of. How sweet you must be to take all those perfect pretty pictures and detail your day. Thanks for sharing.

April said...

All so pretty!!

April xx

Gina said...

That is all so perfect and pretty it looks too good to eat!

mountainear said...

What a beautiful table setting - the perfect tea party.

Simone said...

The tea party looks delightful. Presentation is everything! I will have to make do with a cup of tea and a Mr Kipling this afternoon!

Pam said...

How lovely! Can I assume that the Ragged Roses family are all naturally slender?

Betty said...

Oh that's wonderful! I want to have a tea party too!

Unknown said...

It all looks wonderful, what an antidote for a grey day. The apple bread looks particularly scrummy.
Rosie x

A Saucerful Of Secrets said...

HI KIM, THANK YOU FOR COMING TO SAY HELLO. I OFTEN STOP AT YOURS TO SEE HOW YOU ARE GETTING ON.THE WORK AND EFFORT YOU ALL PUT IN TO MAKE THAT BEAUTIFUL SUMMER TEA TABLE,TRUST OUR GOOD 'OL BRITISH WEATHER TO PUT A DAMPER ON THINGS!!STILL,WE MUSN'T LET IT STOP US.
Are you coming to the VH Fair?or is it too far?Best Wishes from Annie x

Racheal Miles said...

Beautiful description, I hope to be invited to the next one.

Racheal x

Thimbleanna said...

Oh Kim. It all looks so lovely. And Perfect. And Delicious.

And at last I think we would find ourselves in agreement. Mashed potatoes would definitely ruin such a pretty party LOL!

HAWTHORN HALL said...

Such beautiful photographs and lovely items. I have always loved going out to tea houses with family. You have a lovely blog.

Gillian

Gill said...

It all looks delicious, simple pleasures can be great fun can't they?! Mind you if I ate all those cakes I'd put on several pounds overnight :(
Puts me in the mood to do some baking htough, I've got out of the habit recently and you can't beat a home-made cake.

Louise said...

It looks like another grey day today. At first I thought you still had a peony blooming in your garden, then I discover it to be a rose, it is gorgeous, so many layers to the flower. Your tea party looked great fun for you and the girls, and sounds like you still managed to enjoy it regardless of the weather. Someone very important must have been coming to tea! x

Just Original said...

Pink buns & jammy dodgers, Heaven!

Great tea party, next time could you send me & little dear an invite!

Vanessa x

Anonymous said...

Oh what a lovely, delicious post Kim. I absolutely LOVE afternoon tea, reminds me of my grandma who always made tea a special occasion. Right now I'm waiting for a banana cake to come out the oven and am hoping we might have some sort of afternoon tea type affair too.
Apples for Jam is on my wishlist, only 2 months till my birthday and it could well be mine, yipppeee
Lucyxxx

Louise said...

How utterly pretty and lovely and so very you! And what a lovely thing to do together. Wish I could have come!

Shirl said...

What a lovely tea party on a special day ... :0)

The Polka Dot Pixie said...

I was thinking as I browsed through all of your lovely pictures that I wouldn't even mind the grey skies with all of the sweet color you created on the table!!! Beautiful!!!

Amanda and Tim said...

Oh how wonderful - I wish we could have such pretty pink tea parties when it rained over here - but I think T might have something to say about that lol

Debbies-English-Treasures said...

It all looks so lovely!
I`m sure it tastes great too!
Kisses Kisses
Debbie
xxx

Cassie said...

How absolutely lovely! I'm glad you had a nice tea party. The goodies look great.

Gina said...

mmm and aahhhwww

Sal said...

It was lovely to come to your tea party,Kim! I really enjoyed it ;-)

This Vintage Life... said...

What a lovely way to spend an afternoon..I think everybody is waiting for an invite now!

Dotty said...

what a beautiful way to spend the afternoon with your family. In the pink :)

Greedy Nan said...

Hi. How was the apple cake? I have that book so might try it if it's any good as we have a few apples spare on the tree. I'm hopeless with fairy cake icing as it's always so runny and goes through the cake rather than sitting on it attratively. Scones aren't much better as they don't rise but I make a mean teabread.

Paper Roses said...

So pretty,
There will be many more sunny days hopefully to enjoy.
Have fun with the girls.
Debbie

Garden Girl said...

You guys know how to party in style...it all looks so pretty and inviting!
Will come as no surprise to you I'm sure that i was looking at Apples For Jam today and umming over that very recipe...hope it tasted as delicious as it sounds!
Glad the rain didn't spoil your fun, and finally- beautiful tablecloth!x

Pondside said...

Gorgeous!
We have had rain here too - nearly ruined Dinner in the Garden, but stopped just in time.
Your linen and china have set a beautiful scene - one your girls will never forget!

Sea Angels said...

Oh Kim, it all looks so lovely, like pages from a beautiful book,this is soooo much better than that though, lovely.
I was thinking, the same that I just preferred grey that little bit more, I like just a smattering of a darker more bitter colour here and there, HA! now I can see it, with a plate of pink iced cup cakes balanced on the top, perfect!!
Hugs for a super week.
Lynn xx

Heidi said...

Remember that the rainshowers give us pink flowers. :) I am enjoying the cooler temperatures and spots of rain right now after the intense heat and humidity of last week. I must admit I love to hear the rain tapping away at the roof of Cranberry Cottage. I could stay awake all night listening to it but it lulls me to sleep every time.

DDs really did some wonderful baking and gave you a grand tea party!

Hugs ~
Heidi

Fancy Elastic said...

That looks like some pretty pink scrummy fun you had yourselves!

Anonymous said...

Oh Kim, how completely beautiful. Your photos are gorgeous, as always.
Carolx

mollycupcakes said...

What a totally fabulous day, even with all the rain it sounds and looks like the best tea party ever.
Pink, pink and more pink what more could you girlies need.
Beautiful photos Kim.
Thanks for letting me about the birdhouses.
Many hugs.
Catherine x

OhSoVintage said...

All those preparations, I am sooo impressed. The least the sun could have done is to keep shining on your wonderful tea party. Beautiful photos as always, Kim.
Ruth

meggie said...

Coming to visit your blog is always so lovely! Lovely things to look at, & lovely thoughts to ponder upon!

Teena Vallerine said...

Oh what a happy pink post! How lovely to have girls to appreciate it all with you! Lovely blog, I'll be back! t.x

Heidi said...

KIm, KIm, KIm!!!!!!....This post of your should be written in the pages of your own book, maybe "Ragged Rose's Tea Parties"!!!....Every detail was so well thought out! The food looked incredible!!!! Did you make the little "jam cookies"?....I need the recipe! & the decorations....oozing charm!...I loved the entire thing!!!....Your friend Heidi Xo
P.S. I have the "Cloudberries" book, but have tried to get the new one, but for some reason is hard to get here in the states???...Isn't Tessa & her household just the best!!

Country Bliss said...

What a gorgeous tea party, it's a shame the rain came. Beautiful pictures as always.
Yvonne

{oc cottage} said...

What a feast...for the eyes as well!

M ^..^

Unknown said...

ok you have made me hungry now - pink cupcakes - not sure anything can be better ;-)

Bonnie the Boss said...

You are a great mum for doing all of that and making the day special.

silverpebble said...

That looks like a spectacularly lovely afternoon tea! Lucky ladies!!!

Jennie said...

Ohh I want to come to your house for tea!!

Hen said...

This looks fabby, you can't beat a proper afternoon tea, can you? Love the floral lidded dish too..
Best wishes
Hen