Afternoon Tea at Eldon House

Tea tables, Eldon House, London, OntarioThis past Sunday, the boy and I spent a sunny, relaxing afternoon drinking tea on the grounds of Eldon House in London, Ontario. Nestled under the shade of a magnolia tree, we were treated to the sounds of a ballgame floating over the river, a game played in the oldest continually operating baseball grounds in the world. It was the perfect summer afternoon.

Having lived in London for quite a few years now, I don’t know why it has taken me this long to experience the tea program offered by Eldon House. I’m glad I didn’t wait much longer to rectify this mistake or I would have had to wait another year. Afternoon Tea is only offered from the end of June to the end of August, with a handful of special tea events sprinkled throughout the year.Porch, Eldon House, London, OntarioGrounds, Eldon House, London, OntarioUrns, Eldon House, London, OntarioAfter choosing our spot, a little table set for two, we were attended by a staff member dressed in a service uniform. She explained our tea choices; I opted for the Boston tea and the boy ordered the Eldon House blend. She soon returned with a tray filled with warm scones, jam, butter, whipped cream, fruit, and warm tea pots. We filled our charmingly mismatched cups with the deep amber liquid and left a trail of crumbs for the ants. The tables around us were soon occupied by visitors of all ages, laughing and drinking the genial beverage.

Staff, Eldon House, London, Ontario   Tea Service, Eldon House, London, OntarioCarriage House, Eldon House, London, OntarioFront Garden, Eldon House, London, OntarioServing tea, Eldon House, London, OntarioTea tables, Eldon House, London, Ontario       Cobblestones and Cappuccinos, Eldon House, London, OntarioMagnolia tree, Eldon House, London, OntarioPost tea, the boy and I took a tour around Eldon House, which is included in the price of the tea service. Although we had an option to poke around on our own, we opted for a guided tour.

It was worth every penny to learn that the original estate, built in 1834, stretched to the Thames River and covered 11 acres which included a golf course and pool. The house and most of the contents are original and were donated to the city by the great-grandchildren of John Harris, for whom the nearby park is named. The museum is an exciting and rather rare glimpse into the lives of London’s most prosperous residents. I urge you to check out the contents of the curio cabinet in the smoking nook!

Grounds and pond, Eldon House, London, OntarioWith only three weeks left until the Eldon House Tea Program is over for the season, I highly recommend a visit…and don’t forget to make a reservation! You can find all the information you’ll need right here.

Sign-off

A Birthday Surprise

Razzle Dazzle Cupckes London Ontario - Chocolate Raspberry Truffle ShuffleToday is my birthday!!!! I’m not shy about celebrating my special day and extending it into a birthday weekend. The opportunity to spend laugh-filled moments with my friends and family is a joy I look forward to all year. The ever increasing number on my “age-o-metre” never bothers me because I know that a number doesn’t reflect on my life. It only reflects on the time I’ve had to collect all the experiences which have shaped me into the person I am today!

All year I look forward to the yummy treats I allow myself to indulge in without guilt or regret. In fact, my biggest problem is coming up with where I’d like to go for my birthday dinner. To solve that issue, last year, the boy gave me “7 Days of Dinners” as a birthday gift. Every day, for a week, we had dinner at a different restaurant of my choice! By the end of the week I was stuffed and had all my cravings satisfied. It was amazing!

This year, my first birthday surprise was this beauty. The boy snuck off to my favourite London cupcake shop Razzle Dazzle Cupcakes and presented me with a delicious confection called the Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Shuffle.  The chocolate cake was light and moist, while the pink cloud of raspberry frosting was whipped perfection decorated with tiny pearls. It was a sweet start to my birthday.