The beginning of September Gazette

Before I begin, let me remind you again that I lost all my email addresses for the Tea Room a few weeks ago due to my computer dying. I got a new computer, but haven't been able to recover my addresses yet. If you have written me in that time I was able to get your email address from your letter (about 40 now). PLEASE spread the word to anyone you know who was on my list to write me so I can recover as many addresses as I can. I am just sick about this as it's the only way I can tell you what special teas I am having or what changes I am making that could affect your visit. I appreciate your help in this and your business.

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I'm open on Tuesdays and Fridays in September AND October.

I hope this helps you plan your visits a little more easily. I know it's hard when I am changing days on you like I did this year. It worked out much better for me though. Partial retirement agrees with me.

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Well folks, I am thinking Fall has begun. I dug out my hunter green velour jumper that I swore I'd never wear. It's sort of shiny. I don't do shiny clothes and was appalled when I got the darn thing last year. I ordered it online as I'm not a mall person. This morning it felt pretty chilly and as I was peering blindly into my closet the jumper caught my eye, sparkling in the there. Dark and glittering. it shimmered in the depths of that closet, beckoning to me. "I'm warm and snuggly "it said. "I won't bind on you or let you catch a chill". "You won't look bad, honest!" Funny thing about clothes you don't like. If you keep them long enough you eventually think they aren't that bad after all. I guess desperation enters into it, but as I stand back and look at myself I am thinking it doesn't look too bad with 2 tri colored Corgwyn standing beside it. You know, the black, tan and white of the dogs against the hunter green of the dress. Now to keep them at my side wherever I go! Like that will be hard. The hard part is getting away from them. In any case, I am comfortable and colorful in my Autumn outfit, even if it is a week ahead of time by my schedule.

I always change the curtains and my antique china the first week of September, so officially this is the start of my Fall season this week. I may even get rebellious and change them before my Tuesday Tea. Only if I have the energy to do all that cleaning. I love putting my Fall dishes out each year. The Furniucals Quail pattern of Spode China is my favorite. I buy a piece here and there whenever I see it. I have other patterns of brown transfer ware which I've had for over 35 years. I've been a long time collecting china and other pieces I use in the Tea Room. I never knew there was a purpose for it. I just thought it was an obsession. I have used almost all of my treasures in one way or another over the 14 years I have been doing the Tea Room. I have Spring, Summer and Autumn antique china. That is part of the reason I enjoy doing this so much. I get to use the things I love while I serve you and share my lovely things with you. I hope you will tell your friends about Prudence's 'magnificent obsession. Now that school has begun and vacations are over I hope to see a lot more of you. I know the price of gas will slow some of you down, but if you carpool or share the cost of gas among you, it is still something I hope you can do.

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When I ordered Tea a few weeks ago I got some of the delicious Fruity Russian Caravan tea which I always think of in the Fall. It has a full, malty flavor with just a hint of sweetness. Sort of like Earl Grey on steriods. I used to order all kinds of teas to serve, but found that most of the time what were my favorites turned out to be yours. Now, I order what I like and trust that you like it to. Most tea rooms pride themselves on serving a hundred or so kinds of tea. I don't have that big of a clientele that warrants keeping all that tea in stock. I would rather serve a smaller variety of tea that is absolutely fresh and delicious, than a huge number of teas that have been sitting around all year. If I had a tea room in a town where there was more traffic I could do that. I hope you like what I serve. By the requests for refills I would guess you do.

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I told you last time I wasn't doing my newsletter like this anymore. Well, seems like a good number of you couldn't get onto my blog spot from the link I gave you. When you click on the blue address it should take you directly to it. It works for me and about half of you also, but if you can't get to it it isn't doing me any good. I thought I would do the whole newsletter like this again, add my blog spot addresses again and have the newsletter there also. Understand what I'm saying? You can just read this, or you can go to my blog at www.prudencestearoomgazette.blogspot.com and see it complete with pictures and read the things I have added over the last few weeks. My other blog is at www.prudencesteagarden.blogspot.com I add things to that blog also. That one is mostly my stories and things relating to the garden . It's sort of like having an online magazine that is updated sometimes daily. You can bookmark both blogs and then whenever you are fooling around the computer you can check in to see what is happening here. It takes no room up on your computer and if you want to forward it to friends all you do is highlight the address and copy and paste into your letter. It couldn't be easier to share Prudence's Tea Room Gazette with all your friends now. I love using my digital camera to add current photos to both sites and show you what is going on here.

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The Puppy Report

You knew it was coming. I can't stop talking about our new Corgi boy. What a totally delightful little guy he is! Now I know we are partial, but when the tea room Garden Club met him they ALL agreed he is absolutely adorable. I'm so pleased with how friendly and outgoing he is. Everyone is his friend. He isn't obnoxious, he greets each person cordially and moves on to the next, spreading himself around like butter on bread. He's smooth he is. He knows how to schmooze. When there is work to be done he isn't shy. If Aunt Phoebe says someone is at the door, he is right there with his shrill little bark alerting the world to the intruders outside. I have to figure out a way to teach him not to copy EVERYTHING Aunt Phoebe does, but it won't be easy. He looks to her for guidance and encouragement, and she doesn't let him down. What a pair. She is so tender with him. She learned on Mr. Beasley and really missed him when he was gone. I think she is trying to be sure we don't lose this little bit of magic. He has an adorable little face. His ears are standing up, he is so bright and there is no doubt he is a Corgi. Okay, I'll stop. One more thing. He loves his cottage cheese on his noon meal. I mix it all through and he cleans out his bowl and looks at me like he wants a refill. It's the only meal of the day he cleans out his bowl. He goes for his checkup this week at Dr. Dodson's. Can't wait to see what he says about him. He loved Beasley, and of course the magnificent Miss Phoebe always gets a lot of attention when she goes for her visit. One thing we had to do was get rid of our Marans roosters. Three of those loud mouths at 6:00 am every morning waking Goodie up was more than I could stand. Like clockwork, they started crowing and he started barking to go outside. They are going to the great roasting pan in the sky tomorrow. The Mennonite family back our road is taking them and putting them to good use. We still have plenty of Cochin Bantam roosters, but they aren't nearly as loud as the Marans.

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