Tea for Two

Last week Grayden invited me to take a little ride to visit our favorite tearoom in Virginia.  Miss Minerva's in Culpeper is always an enjoyable place to relax and do something we haven't been able to do for a long time.

 Since Grayden's stress fracture I have been driving.  I'm happy to say he is out of the boot, but is still easing back into his normal routine per doctor's orders.

After parking the car by the Love sign, we venture up Davis Street.  This street has a lot of lovely little local shops that are nice to visit and maybe begin buying a few gifts for Christmas gifting.  Buying from small business owners helps to support the local economy.

After visiting, and maybe buying a few gifts, we come to Miss Minerva's tearoom.  We had made reservations the day before our visit.

We are surprised when we enter the tearoom that we are the only clients.

The sign on the door tells us they only serve tea with reservations and masks are mandatory.  We are greeted by a lovely young woman that seats us at a table for two.  I have mentioned many times that I have been following a low carb diet for the past three years.  They have always accomodated my diet which I greatly appreciate.

We learn from the young lady that last year the women that owned Miss Minerva's had family obligations that would force them to close the tearoom.  She had worked for them so they offered to sell the business to her.  She decided to buy it from them in spite of opening a business during the pandemic. It's been rough going for her, but she is hoping for her business to improve.  We wish the same for her!

We both enjoyed our time at Miss Minerva's.  I was really pleased that she served me a lovely low carb tea.  Grayden tried their Scottish Toffee tea that was so good we had to bring some home.  I'm drinking a cup as I write this.  

We also stopped at a little shop on the way out of town when we spotted the row of chimneas.

Have you ever wished you had bought something and didn't?  Well, our chimnea cracked after 15 years and we were debating whether or not to buy another.  Our debate made us decide to think about it for a while.  Sure wish we had bought it , though!  Maybe it will give us a reason to return!

This month we have been working on solving a very difficult puzzle. (Grayden and Samuel mostly)  Today we finally finished this one that my sister gave me years ago!  Yes,  I really love tea and all that goes with it.

Miss Minerva's Tearoom

It's so lovely when my husband surprises me with an afternoon of something I enjoy.  He really knows my heart and asked if I would like a ride to Culpeper and visit Miss Minerva's Tearoom.  We had the afternoon to ourselves and headed out to take a drive into the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains.

It's always peaceful and serene to drive toward the mountains into rural areas.  Our sweet little town is no longer little and I find I always breathe deeper as we travel down the highway to a place that is full of farms and fields.

The newly baled hay is waiting along the edge of this farm for the livestock to eat in the coming months.

The last time we were in Culpeper Miss Minerva's was closed, but today we called ahead and were happy to know they would be waiting for us.

Here is Miss Minerva's Tearoom.  Isn't it darling?  Love the lace curtains at the window.

After we were seated and reviewed the menu we decided to order the Full English Tea.  I then wanted to thank Miss Minerva for her hospitality.  She has jewelry and hats if you wish to dress more appropriately.

The kind hostess then brought us the most wonderful tea sandwiches and scones along with clotted cream and strawberry jam and sweet little desserts to have along with our tea.  Grayden (the chocoholic) ordered the Mayan Cacao tea and I got a pot of Cream Irish Breakfast tea.  Everything was delicious and baked by the owner.   

We ate every bite, except the little chocolate muffins which were bagged for us to take home and enjoy!

There is a small gift shop that offers teapots and cups and saucers and teas inside of the tearoom.  

After finishing our tea we wanted to take a walk around the shops that surround Miss Minerva's.  All kinds of cute boutiques and antique shops are available to tempt.

It was really hard not to buy more of the Beatrix Potter figurines!  The prices were not bad, but my windowsill is full!

In another very unique shop we spied these very unusual lamps!  Grayden was fascinated by them.

The shopkeeper told us they were made by a local man who called them his junk lamps!

The creativity of man never ceases to amaze me!

Culpeper is such a sweet little town, but we are reminded that it is growing as well.

I've mentioned these LOVE signs before.  It's the Virginia tourism slogan--Virginia is for Lovers.  These signs can be spotted all over our state.  

In one of the shops I saw this cabinet door painted with Piglet and Pooh's quote.  It's a favorite of mine.  A perfect quote to sum up our afternoon. ♥