Tea. Toast. and Trivia.

Season 2. Episode 11: Frances on a Farmer’s Day in the 1930’s

All of us have a story to tell.  Our lives are full of drama, celebrations, joys, sorrows – even a little mystery, intrigue, and magic are sprinkled on some of the more mundane moments My mother, Frances was my first storyteller.  Over the years we have shared many stories. So put the kettle on and listen in as mom and I look back on what it was like to be a farmer in the 1930’s.

I am your host Rebecca Budd and I’m looking forward to sharing this moment with you.

Music by Gabriel Lucas "Moonlight Night" Epidemic Sound

Season 2. Episode 10: Brian on The Navigating Transitions

Welcome to Tea, Toast and Trivia.  Thank you for listening in.  Today, we are linking British Columbia and Alberta.

Brian, my brother, came back to continue the discussion on embracing a greater journey. Today, we are looking at transitions and life cycles. How navigate the stages of life.

Do we recognize that we have stages in life? How do we live the fullest in the stage of life that we find ourselves in? How do we embrace the twists and turns that life gives us? How do we gracefully give up the things of youth and embrace the age of wisdom? How do we applaud the next generation?

So put the kettle on and add to the conversation on TeaToastTrivia.com.

I am your host and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you.

Music by Eric Williams “When I’m Out With You” Epidemic Sound

Season 2. Episode 9: The Trio on What Happened to the Spoons?

Welcome to Tea, Toast and Trivia. Thank you for listening in.  

I am joined by my mother, Frances, and my sister, Sarah to solve the mystery of the missing spoons and discuss the importance of storyteller.

So put the kettle on and add to the conversation. We would love to hear your thoughts on TeaToastTrivia.com

I am your host Rebecca Budd and I’m looking forward to sharing this moment with you.

S2.E8: Celebrating Robert Burns Address to a Haggis

Welcome to a special episode of Tea Toast and Trivia. I am you host, Rebecca Budd and I’m looking forward to sharing this moment with you.  Tonight, we celebrate Robert Burns, affectionately known as Rabbie Burns, the great Scottish poet and lyricist.  He has been given the honoured titles of National Bard, Bard of Ayrshire and the Ploughman Poet. He penned in the language of the Scots, even though much of his writing is in light Scots dialect and in English.

January 25, 2020, Rabbie Buns will be celebrated with the traditional Address to a Haggis accompanied by the rousing sound of bagpipes.  For those of you who have not tried Haggis, please do – you may be surprised by how much you enjoy the “Trenching your gushing entrails bright.”  Never fear, there is vegetarian Haggis so all can join in the merriment.

Thank you for celebrating this special day with Tea Toast & Trivia.

Music by Traditional "Auld Lang Syne" Epidemic Sound

S2 E6 Dave Astor on Connecting via Books

Welcome to Tea, Toast and Trivia.

Thank you for listening in.

Today, Dave Astor and I are bridging the 3,923 kilometers between New Jersey to Vancouver.

Winter is a time for books, tea, great conversations and more books. Dave will be sharing his thoughts on how to decide what to read next, how to write a book review and should you read a book you don’t like?

Put the kettle on and add to this exciting conversation on TeaToastTrivia.com

I am your host Rebecca Budd and I’m looking forward to sharing this moment with you.

Thank you for joining Dave and me on Tea Toast & Trivia. And a very special thank you and shout out to Dave from the blog, Dave Astor on Literature. 

In closing, I wanted to share a quote from Dave’s book, Fascinating Facts: “Literature can send our minds to another time and place, allowing us to forget our lives and troubles for a few precious hours. It can educate us about history, open our minds, increase our empathy, make us think, give us things to converse about, and/or provide plenty of excitement along with the escapism.”

Connect with Dave on Dave Astor on Literature.  Be prepared for an adventure.

Until next time, dear friends, safe travels.

Elisabeth van der Meer from the extraordinary blog, A Russian Affair, has joined me from the far distance of 7,514 km or 4,669 miles. Yes, I am thrilled to report that once again, we are connecting Finland and Canada via Russian Literature. Elisabeth has come back to discuss the life and work of the brilliant writer, Ivan Turgenev, and the complicated relationships that existed between the great Russian writers.

So, put the kettle on and add to this exciting conversation.  I am your host Rebecca Budd and I’m looking forward to sharing this moment with you.

Thank you for joining Elisabeth and me on Tea Toast & Trivia.  And a special thank you to Elisabeth for sharing your love of Russian literature.  I am truly grateful for your willingness to come back and speak about Ivan Turgenev.

I would heartily recommend Elisabeth’s blog “A Russian Affair” which is highly entertaining and an invaluable resource for understanding the complexities of Russian Literature.  Stay tune for more from Elisabeth.  She will be back to discuss – I will only give you a hint!  Something about a dual.

One last thought comes from Ivan Turgenev, “If we wait for the moment when everything, absolutely everything is ready, we shall never begin.”

Music by Leimoti, “Jeanne in a Waltz” Epidemic Sound

Frances and I are in the sewing room, with the material stacked on one side of the room and on the other, the finished costumes for an upcoming dance performance.  It’s exciting to see the progress, week to week on the colourful tutus and jazz outfits. Sitting in this vivid assortment of cloth and glitter is a reminder of Frances and my many sewing projects of past years.

Sewing has an ancient history and has been around since the Paleolithic age aka, the “Old Stone Age.” After all, those caves were rather cold in the wintertime, even with the discovery of fire.  And well, necessity has always been a motivation for progress.  Archaeologists have been busy in their digs finding bone, antler or ivory needles and thread  of sinew, catgut and veins.  These were the beginnings of today’s enormous fashion industries.

Thousands of years passed before the sewing machine came into being in the 19th century.  Now with our computerization, we are in the era of mass production. But there are those who choose a more artistic way in which to design and sew garments.

So put the kettle on and join in the discussion. Frances and I look forward to your insights on TeaToastTrivia.com.

I am your host Rebecca Budd and I’m looking forward to sharing this moment with you.

Thank you for joining Frances and me on Tea Toast and Trivia. Sewing, fashion and clothing are huge subjects that continue to be featured in the mainstream news, magazines and other social media venues.  It is also a main topic when we are planning a wedding, vacation, party, or first job interview.  Every morning, we chose our fashion statement,  which is a nod to the vibrant history of sewing.

One last thought – no, two last thoughts come from Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli, worthy opponents in the fashion world of the 1920’s and 1930’s.

Elsa Schiaparelli declared that,  “In difficult times fashion is always outrageous.”

Coco  Chanel adds that, “The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.”

Music by Francis Wells “New York City (Instrumental Version)” Epidemic Sound