Sunday 15 November 2009

High Tea at The Blue Willow tea shop


Muskoka Birthdays are fun. It is true that birthdays, anywhere, bring much joy. There are lots of ways to celebrate birthdays. In this post I showed how Josephine mastered the Birthday Wave.

Many restaurants around town offer specials for birthday boys and girls. In our case, a hubby celebrating his significant birthday (that ends in zero!) wanted no fuss or muss. I did write him a poem.

When we arrived, I noticed a vanity plate to add to my collection.


I can handle that! It is not tradition in our house. But since his 50th included stops in three cites flying over a handful of provinces, he wanted this one to be serene, sedate, and dignified. That said, we upheld tradition: high tea at The Blue Willow Tea Shop in Gravenhurst.

My British blog friends would be impressed! Muskoka was settled by many form the UK, and you can see these traditions in the culture, the street names, in which aboriginal, UK, and French settlers all have an influence.


A lovely place, with fine china table settings and every imaginable type of tea. We decided to dress up. Brian wore his 'hatching, matching, dispatching' suit. (Which, incidentally had the receipt from last year's tea in the pocket!) This year, however, he wore his Queen's University tie. Afterwards, the ladies in the shop indicated how impressed they were seeing a man in a suit.

You'll notice how I was too hungry to take a photo first. The scones with cranberry jam and the brie and the wee cupcakes were just right. I should have brought a candle, but he wanted no fuss!


They have delightful accessories and tea pots for sale. I love this shop!




Then, photos on the deck with the timer setting. (The cats were no where to be seen, nor were the raccoons - with their opposable thumbs they could have helped!)


The Blue Willow Tea Shop, Gravenhurst, Muskoka - Sandwiches and ... 


"A Victorian-style tea shop at the Wharf in Gravenhurst, offering a selection of quality teas, light lunches, snacks, coffee, tea accessories."

9 comments:

Gaelyn said...

You two look exquisite. I love Hubby's idea for a birthday of high tea and the Blue Willow looks devine. Happy Birthday Hubby!

Lorac said...

That looks like a grand time. High tea!! How wonderful. Happy 50th Jenn's hubby!

Bonnie Zieman, M.Ed. said...

What a lovely birthday celebration. Tea for two and two for tea, me for you, and you for me . . . can't you see . . .

Happy Birthday with a '0' to Jenn's husband! (And he even let's you put him on your blog. What a guy!)

Cloudia said...

Many happy returns of the day, you lovely couple!!
Aloha,

Comfort Spiral

Anonymous said...

What an elegant way to celebrate your husband's birthday!

Jenn Jilks said...

Thank you, all, on Brian's behalf. It was a grand time, especially for my hubby with his secret non-drinking habit (long story, read the book, 2002 chapter!) Hubby regularly visits the blog to see what we have been doing!

Anonymous said...

Great place to celebrate your husband's Birthday!!
Lovely pictures!!
-Cheers from Guildwood.

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

What a great idea for a birthday. I've never done the high tea thing and don't really know what is involved but it has looked so beautiful. I'll have to add high tea to my bucket list. And, I'm going to dress up for it also.

Nancy said...

Cheers, both of you! Happy Birthday, and don't forget to warm the tea pot first, and always use boiling water...