FESTIVE EVERGREENS

FESTIVE EVERGREENS

In deepest winter, when the clamour of spring and summer has passed, autumn has slipped away and the world is at its most elemental, three plants have their finest hour:  holly, ivy and mistletoe.

Contemporary Christmas celebrations are very often characterised by a surfeit of decorations, from strings of spakling tinsel and glittering votives to the shiniest of red baubles.  Whilst these have their place, for centuries wintertime celebrations made use of the evergreen foliage that was to be found in the natural environment and contrary to common perceptions, there is a surprising amount that can be brought in from the garden and put to good decorative use.  Laurel and rosemary maintain their vitality throughout winter and have the advantage of wonderful frangrances, while many species of cypress and spruce are useful in arrangements, too.   

LAVENDER

A Perfect Morning

Tea and scones with lavender honey 

The air filled with scented lavender

And my French magazine in hand

I could not resist to share......

Since Roman times, lavender has been used to scent baths, clean clothes and as a herbal remedy.  Its name comes from the Latin lavare (to wash), or from a variant of lividula (livid in colour), depending on which source you believe. It is the traditional cure for head lice and burns.  During medieval times and up to the beginning of the 19th century, the wild lavender growing in the scrublands of northern Provence largely satisfied the demands of shepherds, washerwomen and early parfumeurs.  However, as Grasse's perfume industry started to expand at the end of the 19th century, increasing numbers of villagers in Provence began to cultivate lavender.

Production in Provence grew massively until the 1970s when cheaper lavender started to arrive from the East, mainly Bulgaria.  The decline continued with the development of synthetic alternatives.

What saved the lavender industry was, in part, a beautiful myth.  With lavender came the bees, the cicadas and the scented honey to create a portrait of a bounteous and scenic Provence that appealed to tourists.  Then an interest in aromatherapy and natural, organic products increased demand for the real thing.

Besides its use in perfumes, lavender oil helps to treat insomnia, irritability, headaches, stress, cuts and burns, eczema, bedsores, sunburn and insect bites.  Lavender is used in potpourri sachets and to scent soaps, detergents and washing powder.  

Handshaking - The Ultimate Greeting

Shaking hands creates a favorable impression and influences others to do the same.  The handshake is important because it is the accepted greeting in almost all countries.  Always shake hands when: introduced to a person and when you say goodbye, when someone comes into your office to see you, when you meet someone outside your office or home, when you enter a room, when you leave a gathering, when you congratulate someone who has won an award or given a speech, and when you are consoling someone.  Hand shaking is not exclusively for males.  Women, too, are encouraged to offer their hand when an introduction is made.  A firm but not overpowering handshake is usually a good idea.  Be especially careful of how much pressure you exert if you are shaking hands with an elderly person or if you are wearing heavy rings which might bruise, but be sure your handshake is both firm and brief.  Count to three and let go.

From The Art of the Social Graces Book

Sugar in the 18 century - Jane Austin's time

Hello etiquette friends!  I thought I would start blogging some excerpts from my latest book.

The Art and Proper Etiquette 

of Afternoon Tea

Sugar in the 18 century (Jane Austin’s time) was kept locked up because it was very expensive.  It was sold in many grades, from the highly refined, pure white sugar that only the well off could afford, down to the darkest of brown sugars used by the poor.  Granulated sugar had been only recently invented and was not yet widely available.  Sugar was molded into large, cone-shaped loaves weighing several pounds each that had to be broken up or grated before the sugar could be used.  Sugar cubes would not be invented until 1843 – if people wanted sugar for tea, they had to first break it into irregular lumps with special tools called “sugar nippers,” from which practices comes the traditional question “One lump or two?”

From Polite Society School of Etiquette

HEALTHLY RECIPE FROM POLITE SOCIETY SCHOOL OF ETIQUETTE Apple-Cranberry Crisp

Preheat over to 375 degrees.

Organic Ingredients:

14 large green apples, peeled, cored, sliced

8 ounces fresh, dried, or frozen cranberries

8 ounces currants

Juice of 1 lemon

1/3 cup brandy

1/4 cup light-brown sugar (optional)

2 teaspoons cinnamon

2 tablespoons whole wheat pastry flour

Mix all above ingredients together in a very large bowl.

Place apple mixture in two 8 x 10 baking dishes.

Topping Ingredients:

3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

1 1/2 cups toasted wheat germ

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 teaspoons cinnamon

1/4 cup light-brown sugar (optional)

2/3 cup canola or grapeseed oil

1/2 cup maple syrup

Mix topping ingredients together.

Spread topping evenly over two dishes of apple mixtures. 

Cover the baking dishes with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.

Uncover and bake for 30 to 40 minutes more until apples are soft.

I know you will love this.  

Of course, it tastes best with a cup of tea!

My teapot and tea cozy are from Emma Bridgewater. 

Made in England

Enjoy

The Art and Proper Etiquette of Afternoon Tea

Polite Society School of Etiquette proudly announces

Etiquette Series, Volume II

The Art and Proper Etiquette of Afternoon Tea

Volume II, The Art and Proper Etiquette of Afternoon Tea, was written out of love for tea. It is dedicated to tea connoisseurs who love going out for Afternoon Tea in beautiful teahouses and dining on delicious scones, savories, petits fours, and of course, sipping their favorite brew of tea. In The Art and Proper Etiquette of Afternoon Tea, explore the world of tea etiquette along with carefully selected recipes that will become a cherished part of your repertoire. 

With beautiful photographs, the prettiest china, gleaming silver, and floral bouquets, The Art and Proper Etiquette of Afternoon Tea will take the reader through the history of Victorian Afternoon Tea, High Tea, Formal Afternoon Tea, Cream Tea and other styles of tea. It presents historic individuals who influenced the development of tea. Learn how to prepare a “Proper” tea at home, how to brew the perfect pot of tea and prepare scones, savories, and petits fours. Instruction is also provided on formal and informal invitations, how to set a buffet tea table for a large event, and how to set a tea tray for an intimate tea for two. The Art and Proper Etiquette of Afternoon Tea contains guidelines on table settings, serving techniques, dining with stemware, teacups and saucers, and dining with finger foods. Continental and American style dining are illustrated by easy-to-follow diagrams depicting utensil rest and finished positions. Information on entertaining, napkin etiquette, and healthy organic tea recipes with nutritional information is also provided. 

Whether enjoying a cup of tea in the morning, the afternoon, or the evening, this wonderful companion never fails us. It warms us when we are cold. It soothes us when we are weary. It lends sophistication and grace to our gatherings. Tea can be counted on to always save the day and bring the proper perspective to each day’s challenges. 

So today, as with everyday, let us raise our cup to the hungry Duchess of Bedford who experienced that “sinking feeling” which she remedied by dining in her boudoir with tea, cakes, tarts, and biscuits. Thank you Duchess…and thank you Queen Victoria for popularizing “teatime” and making it a regular pastime of the proper English Lady and helping to inspire this book.

Etiquette Series Volume I & II 
Available in eBook, Softcover, & Hardcover formats at www.PoliteSocietySchool.com.

And, of course, I wrote this book with a cup of tea in hand at all times...

Is does help to have a kitchen assistant by your side.

Emma Elizabeth

THE ART OF MAINTAINING HIGH STANDARDS

The Art of Maintaining High Standards

There is an etiquette when it comes to sending text messages, as with all correspondence and I do believe one should keep his or her standards high.  New technology is in many ways a joy but one must remember it is inappropriate to sent text messages when someone has died or when announcing an engagement or even requesting a favor from someone.  Another important factor is to be considerate to those you are socializing with.  You might be dining or enjoying lunch with a family member or an acquaintance and receive a telephone call or text message.  Please do not answer or begin texting back.  

Tidiness is another obsession of mine.  As most of my friends know, I find it extremely difficult to live in a home that is in disarray.  I believe it takes very little effort to maintain a clean and tidy home.  I also believe wood should be polished, leather cleaned, and floors should be sparkling.  

Just as important is how one presents oneself.  Besides good manners, men should shave every day and women should maintain their hair and make monthly trips to the salon or spa to ensure that she is well presented.

To quote Mrs. Minerva from English Home

"Laziness is the enemy of standards and anyone who cannot spend a few minutes a day keeping up maintenance on the house or themselves will end up in a very sorry state indeed."