Blueberries & blue Ball jars

Antique malls have carried those vintage blue Ball Mason jars for most of my collecting life, and I've used them as flower vases and for other purposes myself. Lately, though, they seem to really be having their star turn in magazines and on decorating blogs. And as with regular clear Mason jars, I think these pint-sized blue versions make terrific tea glasses!

When tea friend Lisa recently shared on her blog about finding reproductions at Target very inexpensively (mine were just $10.99 for six), I knew I had to have some!

I recently returned from my parents' home with more fresh blueberries from their bushes. What to make, what to make? Well, blueberry-infused simple syrup for iced tea struck my fancy this time!

Simple syrup is something many of us have probably made before to sweeten our iced tea in summer. The recipe couldn't be any easier: 1 cup water + 1 cup sugar. Boil. Let cool and add mint leaves if you like that flavor combo. This time, instead of the mint I added 1/2 cup fresh blueberries, letting the mixture boil until the berries started to pop, just as I do when making cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving. After the mixture cooled a bit, I strained off the berries and had blueberry-infused simple syrup for summertime tea sipping! (I could have poured it in one of the blue jars, but I wanted to show you the bright purple color.)

My Blue ball jars came from the Target store in Carrollton, by the way, because I couldn't find them at the one in Newnan. I wish I'd bought more, so I may have to make a return trip. I love that these great Heritage Collection pint jars are 100th anniversary editions, and if you don't live near a Target, I've found they're readily available online. (Who in the midwest lives near a Mills Fleet Farm store? They're just $6.99 for six there right now!) I'm going to use one of my jars for corralling pens, one or two for seashells, and I'm thinking I could use a dozen as glasses for my (future) beach house. How would you use these jars?

Guess who's having a wedding tea!!!

Well, you just never know what fun news a day will bring, do you? I was busily editing some things at work yesterday when the receptionist called upstairs to say someone with a funny accent was on the phone and wanted to know if we had a secure line. She was told the call was of rather a confidential nature and they wanted to be sure privacy could be guaranteed. She said that as far as she knew that was the case, so of course when she told me this I was *dying* to know who was on the line.

A fellow named Nigel with a wonderful British accent came on and asked if he was speaking to Angela McRae. I assured him this was the case, and then he told me he was with Fortnum and Mason, the wonderful department store in London. I adore that store and immediately knew something exciting was afoot! Nigel works in the St. James Restaurant at Fortnum and Mason, a site famous for its elegant and delicious Afternoon Tea. It seems Nigel is busy getting ready for some special events planned in conjunction with the Royal Wedding four weeks from today. One of these events will be an American-themed tea some American friends are giving for Prince William and Kate Middleton right there at Fortnum and Mason! It turns out a cousin of Nigel's favorite niece reads my blog, and she told him to give me a call about consulting on the tea!

As you might imagine, I am simply beside myself! I love Fortnum and Mason so much I would be thrilled just to get to go there for tea again, but Nigel is actually flying me to London the week before the wedding to help with this special tea in honor of Will and Kate! I've already loaded up my suitcase with books on American teatime fare (Blueberry Scones! Country Ham and Mini-Angel Biscuits! Pimiento Cheese Finger Sandwiches!), and my biggest problem at this point is deciding what to wear since I'll be meeting the future King and Queen of England! So, friends, I need your help. What would you wear?

If you have any ideas, please send them -- and fast! -- to angelamcrae@HAPPYAPRILFOOL'SDAY.com. Thanks so much!