The Traveling Teacup Shares a Fun and Beautiful Memorial Day

Hi Everybody – The Traveling Teacup arrived at her next host just in time for the Memorial Day weekend. She got to share in the celebration, so let’s follow along on their outing! But first …

Traveling Teacup History

If you’re new to The Traveling Teacup, you might like a little history. Here’s a link to where it all started: The Exciting Beginnings of the Traveling Teacup. I issued that photography challenge over a year ago, and our teacup’s been traveling ever since!

If you want to catch up on the first year, you might start here: The Traveling Teacup Finds Herself In A Beautiful Texas Garden.

The Second Year To Date

Tessa Rose has started the second year off with a bang! She’s already put in a lot of miles, and seen a lot of the country.

• A gorgeous farm in Estacada OR, the home of brilliant blogger, table stylist, and entrepreneur Renae Frey.
• An exciting train ride to Santa Fe NM with the always fun and creative Albuquerque blogger, Jeanne Washburn.
• To Amherst OH and the home of talented tea loving Renaissance Woman and Mantel and Table reader, Valerie.

Stop #4 ~ Ooltewah, TN

Then, Tessa took just a relatively short journey (only 574miles) to another tea lover, Lilly! Lilly and Valerie, her previous host, actually already knew each other from an online tea community. I thought was so fun! Lilly lives in Ooltewah TN, which is pretty close to Chattanooga on the Georgia border.

Lilly had Tessa Rose over the Memorial Day weekend, and took our teacup with her when she remembered her father. I’m honored that Lilly chose to share that with TR and with us!

She wrote a log of their time together, which needs no comment from me, (although I’m sure to jump in a couple times!) So take it away Lilly!

Tessa Rose Visits Southeast Tennessee

_{Tessa Rose arrived on a Friday afternoon.  After carefully unpacking her and welcoming her to southeast Tennessee, I apologized that I had quite a busy weekend scheduled between work and a family outing.  She assured me that she’d make herself at home, and would catch a few moments here and there to get acquainted.}

Working From Home

_{I am a nursing professor at Southern Adventist University. This summer, I am working from home to update an online health promotion course for nurse practitioner students. I steeped a cup of Earl Grey, and Tessa Rose kept me company at the dining room table (my make-shift office ) as I worked on a lecture on health behavior change.}

Unwinding on Memorial Day Weekend

_{The week had been an especially long one for me, and Tessa Rose was a bit weary from her travels. We decided to end the day by unwinding with a relaxing herbal tea and a soak in the tub before turning in early.}  

CommuniTEA

_{The next morning I enjoyed a cup of green chai tea, and posted a photo of Tessa Rose on the Adagio CommuniTEA website.}

_{The CommuniTEA is a unique place where people from all around the world enjoy the same cup of tea on the same day. The exchange of ideas and photos–and ensuing discussion about tea and life–fosters enthusiasm for the tea ritual and provides a venue for the interpersonal connection that is so lacking during the Covid-19 pandemic.}

Doesn’t that sound fun?! I got some Adagio tea and I love it! I’ll definitely check out the CommuniTEA next!

Tessa Rose Visits the China Cabinet

_{Before leaving on our family outing, I introduced Tessa Rose to the other teacups in my china cabinet.  She looked forward to spending the day getting to know them and the stories behind how each one ended up in my collection and what makes them meaningful to me.} 

_{Some were inherited, others were gifts, and a few I have purchased to remind me of special people when I’m sipping tea from them.  She felt especially at home with the other floral and pink cups, and encouraged me to give each one a personal name like someone gave her.} 

_{I’ve always been fascinated by names, especially “old” names that have become new again, so now I’m contemplating just the right name for each cup.} 

That’s fabulous Lilly! I can’t wait to hear what names your beautiful teacups get!

Memorial Day Relaxation on the Front Porch

_{I work part-time as a family nurse practitioner at a primary care/lifestyle medicine clinic. Tessa Rose was having such a good time with my teacups, she hardly noticed my absence the next day when I left early for the clinic.} 

_{Oh the stories they shared–about tea parties, recipes, friendships, conversations, and more–all centered around a cup of tea. How I wish I could have stayed home to listen in!} 

After work, Tessa Rose and I enjoyed a few moments of reading and sipping tea on the front porch.

Morning Journaling

_{Each of my days start the same… sipping a cup of tea while reading my Bible, talking with God, journaling, and planning my day.  I steeped some peach oolong tea and contemplated the significance of Memorial Day–a day set aside to remember the sacrifice and dedication of the United States military personnel who have died while serving our country.} 

Memorial Day at Veterans Park

_{Tessa Rose accompanied my husband, mother, and me to Veterans Memorial Park, a park in Collegedale, Tennessee, dedicated to veterans of all branches of the services.  The park has a memorial for every war fought by the United States and the flag of every state.}

_{A number of monuments and bronze sculptures commemorate various military personnel. There also is an army tank, a Black Hawk helicopter raised into the air as if it is still in flight, and an Air Force fighter jet also displayed in midair.} 

Medic Sculpture

_{We showed Tessa Rose my favorite sculpture–that of a medic ministering to the needs of a fallen soldier.} 

_{We were reminded that freedom isn’t free.  We owe a huge debt to those who sacrificed their lives so that we can enjoy freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and the right to petition the government.}

Nurse Sculpture

_{I was especially intrigued to see the new life size bronze sculpture of a female Army nurse that was unveiled.  The sculpture pays tribute to all women that have served honorably in the United States Military.}

Ringgold City Hall Decorated for Memorial Day

_{We then drove about 15 miles south to Ringgold, Georgia, to see the Festival of Flags. Our first stop was City Hall, where Tessa Rose met an old man who told us more about the event.}

_{For over 50 years, the tradition in Catoosa County has been to raise crosses and flags every Memorial Day and Veterans Day in honor of their deceased veterans. Each cross has a veteran’s name, branch of service, and wars fought.}

Ringgold Flags

_{The streets of this town are lined with more than 1,850 crosses and flags on full-size poles.}

_{Tessa Rose was again struck by the sacrifices made for our freedoms. Our roads are not lined with armed soldiers, as experienced by war-torn countries.  The Traveling Teacup is free to go wherever she wants.}

Memorial Day is for Remembering

_{We ended the day by honoring my father, who served 22 years in the Navy, with a garden tea in my mother’s yard. The table was decorated with a flag, an old photo of Dad, and some pieces of his uniform.}

_{He was an electrician, working on submarines and aircraft carriers. I remember my father being deployed for six months at a time. It was moving to see the sailors in uniform on the deck of the ship as it returned to port, and then the families reuniting when their husbands and fathers disembarked.} 

Garden Tea

_{Tessa Rose, Mom, and I had a lovely afternoon sitting under the shade tree, sipping white Darjeeling tea and nibbling on homemade scones.} 

_{Neighbors walking by would stop to ask about the photo and to chat.  We lingered for a couple of hours, reminiscing and not in any hurry to end the day.}

Tessa Rose Shares Memorial Day Devotions

_{The next morning Tessa Rose was scheduled to travel to Kentucky. Before packing her up, we enjoyed one more cup of tea together during my morning prayer time.}

_{I thanked God for the Traveling Teacup and how she ministers to people and enriches our world.}

Thank You To Our Traveling Teacup Host!

What a great Memorial Day weekend visit Lilly! Thank you so much for sharing it with us! Also for introducing us to the CommuniTEA, your beautiful teacups – and your lovely mother! What a good sport she was!

And so, our Traveling Teacup sets off again. Next stop, Paducah KY! Hope you’ll join us!

Teacup Shopping

If you love teacups as much as I do and want to start or add to your collection, Click HERE for the Shopping Page. Then scroll down and click on the picture of the teacup.

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Pin the Traveling Teacup and Her Memorial Day Outing

Have a Lovely Teacup Tuesday!