THE NEW DOMESTICITY
the
NEW DOMESTICITY
The Ceremony Known as
n o o n ter f A Tea
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By Julianna Lawson
U
“Under certain circumstances there are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.” Thus begins the first chapter of Henry James’ “Portrait of a Lady,” and thus begins what just might be a new chapter in the lives of some of our dear readers.
rushed and frazzled. But just a few minutes’ worth of quietly sitting with our children, sipping from pretty mugs, can bring a renewed atmosphere into the home. My Instagram account often features images of my afternoon tea time. A friend recently commented, “Your tea posts calm me right down!” Tea has that effect.
We’ve all been there, frantically navigating that squirmy hour between lunch and dinner. If we have little ones, it’s a post-nap, predinner twilight zone where crazy things happen: time slows down, kids begin to fuss, the house is filled with clutter, and everyone is just a tad edgy. The solution may seem counterintuitive, for bringing down the fine china and sitting down with a gaggle of gigglers doesn’t really seem conducive to productivity.
Tea by its very nature is usually a hot beverage (warm, of course, if you have little ones), which lends itself to being sipped, not gulped. Find a beverage your children will enjoy, such as peppermint tea, apple cider, or even hot chocolate. The goal is not so much to consume tea (as highly as I endorse this practice), but to find joy in sipping slowly together.
But what if “the ceremony known as afternoon tea” is the key to making some sense of the hangry twilight zone? What if dainty teacups, miniature snacks, and gentle conversation could magically transform the most mundane of afternoons? Well, pour yourself a nice, hot cup of tea and join Afton Nelson (AKA Vancouver Family Magazine’s Wander Woman) and me as we consider how to “slowly, simply, and strategically” treat our children—and ourselves—to the simple yet meaningful ritual known as afternoon tea. I’ll be sharing ways to create this magic in our own homes, while Afton gives us a delightful glimpse into her visit to a local tea house in the following companion article.
“A round of tea would do us all a bit of good.” Arthur Ransome, “Swallows and Amazons”
Slowly
“She thought that maybe, just maybe, western civilization was in decline because people did not take time to take tea at four o’clock.” E.L. Konigsburg, “The View from Saturday” The glorious thing about afternoon tea is that it forces us to slow down, even if for only 15 or 20 minutes. Often the dusky hours are
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Simply
Afternoon tea is often a grand and festive occasion, filled with sweet and savory culinary surprises, which you’ll enjoy reading more about in Afton’s article. Such teas can also be translated into home life, tiny sandwiches and all; it just takes a bit of simplifying. A peanut butter and jelly sandwich becomes the daintiest snack when cut in diagonal quarters, peeled and sliced cucumbers are the perfect size for little hands, and milk poured not into a plastic cup but into a special teacup (even a sturdy second-hand find) becomes an ambrosial beverage. To add a hint of simple formality, spread a tablecloth, light a candle and play soft music in the background.
Strategically
“Do you want an adventure now . . . or would you like to have your tea first?” J.M Barrie, “Peter Pan”
Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • December 2017
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