Feet under my table -Leslie J. Watkins,  Life,  Projects,  Table Talk

The Talk of the Town With the Traveling Teacup

When Covid hit a little over a year ago, I have a friend who appeared with an idea that would help those like her who were struggling without face to face meetings. She had been gifted a teacup from a friend who told her that it needed to be passed along to others. Barbara had a routine teatime with friends and when isolation became a part of the landscape, those words echoed in her mind. Tessa Rose, (the gifted teacup) would need to become a traveling teacup.

This reminded me of Flat Stanley.

Have you heard of him? Teachers around the world have sent “flat stanley” photos from their classrooms to other classrooms and it is returned with photos and postcards and memorabilia from the other classroom. A perfect way to connect to classes in other parts of the country or world.

I reached out to my friend, Barbara, at Mantel and Table, and requested that Tessa Rose be scheduled for a visit. A few weeks later, she arrived with some chamomile rose tea tucked in among her box.

I may just have squealed when I met that traveling teacup!

It was a perfect time to enjoy that tea upon her arrival, with her joining me for feet under my table to rest after her long journey. Do you realize she has been all over the world enjoying so many places and people. Wouldn’t you have loved to have been on that tour with her?

An introduction to the garden with the blooming magnolia, hydrangea and daisies. I think she loved the stroll!

You see, teatime has been a favorite time of the day with me for many years. After a summer finishing a masters degree in Britain, that 4 pm teatime alarm still goes off in my head decades later. PG Tips is the tea that I came to love there; but, many other teas from teahouses around the country have found their way into my teacup. Today, I shared a stroll through the garden to see the magnolia blooms just beginning.

Now for planning a week to share with her!

Itinerary ideas began spinning in my head! The next step was determining the plans for her week here. Who did she need to meet? Where did I need to take her?

On the day she arrived, I received another letter in the mail that contained a teabag to celebrate a virtual tea in support of our local human trafficking ministry in our town. I knew that Tessa Rose would be all in for supporting a great cause!

How appropriate to have this arrive on the Traveling Teacup’s first day.

If you have ever been through our city, you may have learned that we have been named a UNESCO city and one of the Southern Living’s best. My first six years were as a Paducahan before my parents moved; so, I was so happy to return to Paducah after I married.

Day 1- Visiting Whitehaven Welcome Center

If you travel through Kentucky on I-24 on your way to St. Louis or Nashville…you can stop at the Whitehaven Welcome Center. It’s history is amazing. It currently offers tours with memorabilia belonging to former Paducahan, Alben Barkley, VP to President Harry Truman.

That great lawn was the perfect place for teatime for Tessa Rose. As the sun was beginning to set, you can see the lights inside turned on. Isn’t it lovely? I think that traveling teacup actually smiled. Doesn’t she look at home?

Welcome to Paducah, Tessa Rose! Nothing like tea on the lawn of Paducah’s Whitehaven Welcome Center.

Day 2- National Quilt Museum and the Historic Floodwall Murals

Many years ago, some great members of our community began the American Quilters Society with a magazine and publication and memberships that have gained popularity across the globe. As a result of the popularity, they began an international quilt show in Paducah and created the National Quilt Museum. Now you don’t have to be a quilter to appreciate the works of art at the show. Many exhibits, classes and tours occur here. It’s worth planning a trip. And when you do, won’t you let me know so that I can join you there?

Each April the AQS has their annual quilt show that brings in 30-50K guests from all over the world. We hope next year the show and all of it’s guests will return to compete, showcase and market their wares. It’s a glorious event and a welcome homecoming for our community.

You can see that the traveling teacup loved her time in the spotlight. Rachel Baar, Museum Curator, invited her to take a seat in front of this beauty. The quilt behind Tessa Rose is a part of the Collection of the National Quilt Museum. and is entitled “Seasons of Life”, 2019 and designed by Sandra Mollon and quilted by Kris Spray of Valley Springs, CA. Isn’t it lovely?

Tessa Rose, that Traveling Teacup was quite at home in front of the roses in this gorgeous quilt at the National Quilt Museum.

The next part of the journey led us to the Paducah Wall to Wall Floodwall Murals.

A floodwall was added to Paducah’s riverfront after the 1937 flood to prevent future flooding. In 1996, a visionary part of our city was born. Robert Dafford, an amazing mural artist, was hired to depict Paducah’s history through artwork on each panel of that floodwall. Through the years, he comes back to touch up details and return those true art pieces back to their original glory.

Can you believe what happened when we took the traveling teacup to view the Floodwall Murals? Wait for it! Robert Dafford was actually painting on those murals. He was happy to meet Tessa Rose and she hopped up on his art table and posed with him for a picture. Thank you, Mr. Dafford, for your hospitality to another guest of our city!

Robert Dafford, artist and creator of Paducah’s Wall to Wall Floodwall Murals, touching up artwork and sharing great conversation with the traveling teacup, Tessa Rose.

Day 3- Frenchtown Station

If you follow along with me for the VUE magazine articles or my IG or FB stories, you will notice me sharing a great little shop here that was recently featured in Southern Living’s-The South’s Best magazine. This original little gas station in the former “French” section of our town was purchased by Chris and Ginny Hutson and turned into the best gift shop, Frenchtown Station. It always gives me inspiration. There are antiques, stoneware, pressed ferns framed onto French antique stationery, lovely concrete pots and pieces and unique finds from all over sold there.

They didn’t stop with this little station, though. There was an original “Slim’s BBQ” next door that was empty and neglected. Yep! They rescued that great building and it now houses their second business, “Slim’s Frenchtown Mercantile”. It’s delightful.

Isn’t this fabulous? Love that one of my favorite places found it’s way into “The South’s Best” by Southern Living.

Thank you, Ginny, for celebrating Tessa Rose. That traveling teacup was happy among all of your pretties.

Such a joy to visit Frenchtown Station and it’s owner, Ginny Hutson, for tea! Don’t you just love this little shop???

Day 4- Meeting the Paducah Ambassadors, General Grant and the American Countess Riverboat.

That traveling teacup was so fortunate to be here for a visit from one of the great river boats that stop at our riverfront. How delightful to take her to see the American Countess and meet with our Paducah Ambassadors- great tour agents for our town.

But, then another surprise appeared at the riverfront. Who knew that General Grant would be there dressed in his uniform? He was happy to be in such great company of Tessa Rose and graciously posed with her. Her adventures continue!

How special to have the American Countess Riverboat, General Grant and that traveling teacup here at the same time!

That traveling teacup was ready for a bit of rest.

What perfect way to relax and see more of the city than via carriage ride and a tour?

This was “Chief’s” first day on the job so he felt a kindred spirit to Tessa Rose’s first carriage ride.

We celebrated teatime with a great cup of Royal Palace tea and some cookies in the afternoon after that carriage ride. Such a luxurious time together with feet under my table.

An afternoon tea with that traveling teacup! Royal Palace tea with toasted coconut “biscuits”. Pure joy!

Traveling Teacup’s final day…

That last day was met with a visit to the Freight House Restaurant which boasts a TOP CHEF finalist, Sara Bradley and owner/chef of that establishment.

Such great food and conversation was had with that teacup before she left us for the next step of her travels. There were so many great events to share with her–Market House Theatre productions, Carson Center shows, movies on the lawn downtown and even the Farmer’s Market. There are too many shops and great restaurants to mention.

We LOVED having her here and showing her Paducah! She has truly left a great impression on all she met. Perhaps she has even encouraged you to plan a trip here.

If you come, won’t you please let me know so that I can be a “tour guide” and show you MORE great favorite places? You can see more of our grand little town that Tessa Rose enjoyed here.

It’s the best place to live and act as a tourist.

P.S. If you’d love to have that traveling teacup visit, reach out to Barbara@mantelandtable.com to see if a visit with you can be added to the schedule!

Here’s some of my teatime favorites if you need to up your teatime game! Affiliate links are for your convenience, at no extra cost to you, but may help this blog with more great content...

Happy Teatime!

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