“I don’t drink coffee,” Alex said.
“Then who drinks coffee at your house?” I replied, eying the coffee-themed plaques on her kitchen wall.
Her quick answer, “Oh, Andy does, and I liked organizing the coffee display on my wall.” (This on a visit to friend Alexandra and husband Andy’s house in May 2026.)
Which got me to thinking, “What’s in your cup? Is it coffee, tea, or a nutritional shake for you at breakfast time?”
Then, diving down a rabbit hole, I discovered in my gallery a few tea & coffee photos from days of yore. One, from a trip to Monterey, California in 2013. Tea or coffee, not sure which. It looks dark enough for black coffee.
A few weeks ago, a book cover with vintage teacups on the cover also surfaced.
Viewing the delicate, floral china ware on the cover of Wanda Fischer’s story TEACUPS, I expected to read a tale about heirloom china.
Not so!
Instead, readers learn about Mary Ann’s thwarted childhood dream about a Disney ride postponed for decades, told through the lens of her older “self.” Before the climax of a surprise ending, the author reveals conflicting preferences inherent in multi-generational families on vacation told through realistic dialogue. As the Amazon blurb promises, the author succeeds in attempting to “bring her elderly self into the three-dimensional world that had only been a square Kodak photo,” a memory sixty years in the making.
Find my short review of her book HERE.
A visit to Windsor Rose Tea Room also came up in “Memories.”
Windsor Rose Tearoom, in Mt. Dora, Florida, for many years has offered teas in a British-inspired atmosphere with breakfast and lunch menus .
We enjoyed cozy tea and treats at the Windsor Rose Tearoom in 2019. I later had a book-signing at Barrel of Books in 2020, located right next to the tearoom. Unfortunately, the tearoom closed in 2023. However, Barrel of Books and Games is still open 10:00 a.m to 6:00 p.m. most days.
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31
My Author Friend Features continues this week in July with . . .
Liesbet Coellert
Amazon Blurb for Plunge
Tropical waters turn tumultuous in this travel memoir, as a free-spirited woman jumps headfirst into a sailing adventure with a new man and his two dogs.
My Review
I’d rather regret the things I did than the things I missed out on,” declares Liesbet Collaert. Readers will soon discover that the author doesn’t miss out on much, embracing the nomadic life on land and sea wholeheartedly. In her memoir Plunge, the author pursues a life less ordinary, just as her subtitle suggests. Read more HERE
I’ve met Liesbet, her husband Mark and dog Maya when they visited Florida a few years ago. I even blogged about the amazing encounter: https://marianbeaman.com/2021/01/20/taking-the-plunge-liesbet-on-the-sea/
Plunge: Buy LINK
Melodie Miller Davis
Author Melodie M. Davis spent her first seventeen years growing up on a farm in Indiana, where her father raised sheep, hogs, chickens, turkeys, and occasional cows.
She is the author of ten books and one perpetual “peace” calendar, mostly writing non-fiction stories, articles, radio programs, and TV documentaries. She was employed for 43 years by Mennonite Media, since graduating from Eastern Mennonite University, and earlier from Blountstown High School in north Florida. She is married to a Virginian, Stuart Davis. They are members of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Harrisonburg, Va. (I met Melodie at Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community when I visited Eastern Mennonite University for a class reunion in 2023.)
Blurb: A Place in the Fold
Who would drive away from a beloved spouse the day before Christmas? Monica Sue Herald did, and untold drama followed. Her husband Timothy, is a well-liked pastor but she cringes every time he uses her for a personal story when preaching. His father is also a pastor several hours away, but they don’t always get along like they should. And what is the secret that Monica’s mother holds in her heart for nearly 30 years, and why?
The novel is placed in the 1990s, before the days of almost everyone having cell phones, which might have changed the outcome of this tale. This book will induce tears of sadness and also joy for many, and also help couples with their precious and loving relationships.
A Place in the Fold: Buy LINK
Darlene Foster
“Dreamer of dream, teller of tales—that is one description of author Darlene Foster. A girl from Medicine Hat, Alberta, Darlene now lives in Spain where she continues to delivers the middle-grade Amanda series. She love to travel with her husband Paul and together they explore countries around the world, which serve as settings of Amanda’s adventures. I recently read and reviewed Amanda in Ireland: The Body in the Bog.
Amanda in Ireland: The Body in the Bog
Pre-teens will absolutely love Darlene Foster’s Amanda in Ireland, and so will their parents and grandparents, especially if they’ve visited the Emerald Isle as I have. From the bright green cover to the intrigue within, readers stay engaged with the adventures of Amanda Ross, who has been invited to serve as bridesmaid to her cousin Roison’s wedding. From the moment Amanda lands in Dublin, she is entranced by the towering castles, ancient graveyards, and stunning green countryside. Yet, in keeping with the kid-detective genre, soon villains emerge, villains who kidnap, threaten, and even gag the innocent. Amanda wonders as she ponders questions: Who is to blame? Who can she trust? Will she become another body in the bog? Read more HERE.
Amanda in Ireland: Buy LINK
And so I ask,
What’s in your cup? Is it coffee, tea, or a nutritional shake for you at breakfast time? Something else?
Have you read any of the books showcased above?
Good morning, Marian! Coffee, always coffee! I like good coffee and drink it black (except for a cappuccino sometimes if we go out). In the winter, I sometimes have tea in the afternoon. I enjoyed your tea video with Cliff whispering to you in the background. 😊
It’s so lovely you’ve featured these books and their authors!
I understand your preferences — and I suppose you still savor your coffee in your kitchen.
Yes, long-married like us, send prompts to each other. I’m guessing your husband does the same.
And, yes, I’m happy to go beyond my own front yard and promote other deserving writers. Again, thanks for being an early riser, and commenter. 😀
You’re welcome, Marian! 😊 Hope you enjoy the rest of the week!
Marian, how lovely that you featured these authors. I haven’t read their books, but they sound like good books to read this summer.
I would have asked the same question, had I seen those coffee signs on the wall!
As for what’s in my cup, coffee! In the evenings, I like a cup of tea. However, with the weather so hot, I haven’t had any tea. 😊
L. Marie, I guess if Illinois is hot, it’s hot all over the U.S.
And, I would have guessed coffee for you. Tea is refreshing but only if it’s iced these days. 😀
You are taking us on a journey, Marian, into a world of new discoveries, as you introduce us to some fascinating reading material! Much to my reluctance I have had to cull my huge library to a few favorites as I am moving into smaller living quarters. Am also going through years of correspondence, etc. This is hard for me!
Elfrieda, I do feel the sorrow of parting with books. I too culled my library, but for people like us, books feel like friends.
The correspondence is even harder because it is intensely personal. Hugs to you in this difficult time. ((( )))
As for me it’s tea first thing then 1/2 cup tea (same bag) with multi collagen, turmeric, ginger and white pepper added for memory or is it longevity and then comes out the big gun – black coffee!
What a wonderful surprise to find my latest Amanda book featured on your blog, Marian. Thank you so much for the wonderful review!! Amanda enjoys a cup of tea, and has a one at a teashop called The Dish Ran Away With the Spoon in Amanda in England, and has a café con leche descafeinado in Amanda in Spain. As for me, I start my day with a cup of green tea. I tend to prefer teas, but will ocassionally have a decaf coffee or an iced coffee in the hot summer. I especially like Rooibos teas. Betty’s Tea Shop in York, England is one of my favourite places to enjoy a cup of tea. 🫖
Marian — What a fun post! You and your cup have certainly gotten around. I’m an early, extraordinarily early, riser, so it’s two cups of black coffee down the hatch for me. Then one more after I return from my first walk of the day with Henry.
Your post reminded me of our recent visit to Edinburgh, Scotland, where we found Clarinda’s Tea Room, a sunlight-filled collection of fancy plates and tea service sets, fresh-baked scones, clotted cream, and jam. So of course we both had a pot of tea. But on a normal morning Stuart drinks coffee and I drink either de-caf coffee or tea. Cutting down on caffeine may or may not be good for my health, but I can’t say I miss it as long as I have a fragrant hot drink. The upside is that if I want a jolt of energy, all I need to do is drink a big mug of high-test coffee. When you restrict yourself, you get the reward of greater impact on the few occasions when you allow it. Maybe a metaphor?? 🙂
I’m reduced to herbal tea for breakfast, although since making the switch, I do feel better. Go figure!