The Stillroom

“Spring, being a tough act to follow, God created June” – Al Bernstein

Indeed.  The mornings are cool and give way to sun and rain and roses.

Last year I found a rose bush (more like a stem) overgrown with rose of sharon in my yard.   It was mid to late summer when I discovered this gangly twig and it was too late to really do much with it.  (We recently purchased a home built in 1960 and inherited all of the overgrown and dead plantings that came with it).

This spring, I attacked the overgrown rose of sharon to expose several spindly yet healthy looking rose thingys.  I trellised the rose thingys  as they sprouted out of the ground and to my happy surprise, it produced tiny, tight pink roses.  The fragrant oils that these little flowers produced was incredible.  I love June.

One of my favorite things in life is floral fragrance that you sip in the way of rose, jasmine, and lavender.   The Stillroom Gift & Tea Shop is in full bloom with our Harney & Sons loose Rose scented black tea by the one ounce package or the four ounce tin.  Beautifully scented Jasmine green tea is available in 10 packs by the Stash Tea Co. and the wonderfully fragrant Lavender Tulsi (also known as Holy Basil) herbal tea is here in sample three packs or by the box of 20.

It is not so much a flavor as it is an essence.  They all produce a really nice bouquet.

Speaking of lavender, The Stillroom has culinary lavender by the ounce.  Make sure you grab the recipe card for Lemon Lavender Poundcake and Lavender Lemonade.  The poundcake is fabulous!

The summer months bring all of the fresh, clean herbal flavors that are terrific iced.  The Harney & Sons Verveine (lemon verbena) tea is light and crisp and the Stash Strawberry tea brews up a pretty pink and is a perfect thirst quencher on those days when summer heat hits.  Strawberry Fields forever.

When I served tea at The Stillroom years ago, I did custom iced summer tea by the cup.  It is so simple to do.  I would take the flavor of choice and put the bag in a medium size mug and brew in about a quarter cup of really hot water.  That created a concentrate of sorts.   Brew according to flavor because different teas have different brew times.  I would add sweetener if desired so it could dissolve in that concentrate.  Then I would start topping off with plenty of ice and add a splash of cold water.  My favorite flavors iced are strawberry herbal, white peach, chamomile or chamomile nights.  There are about 35 tea selections at The Stillroom!

The Stillroom has so much more than tea!  Vintage, old, new, tea gear, hats, gloves, some cool old books, and general cool stuff.  There are a few antique pieces that I use for displaying merch but they are for sale.

Stop in and visit the shop located at 311 East. 6th Avenue in Tarentum, PA.  We are sandwiched between Massarts classic diner where you will find good eats and Koskey’s Korner where you will find desserts that will knock your socks right off.  (if you miss the good old days of the Tarentum bakery, you need to get there).  We are across the street from Tarentum Station fine dining, up the street from Seita Jeweler’s and a few blocks from the Tarentum bridge and Gatto’s Cycles.

The Stillroom Gift & Tea shop is located inside of Diamond Antiques and the hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 10-5 and Sunday’s from 12-5.  Look for the black and white striped awnings!  That’s us!

We throw the doors open at Diamond Antiques at the 311 E Sixth Avenue shop at 8 a.m. on Fleatique Sunday’s. The Fleatique takes place  at the Tour Ed mine which  is located off of the Tarentum exit on route 28.

Fleatique happens all summer, every third Sunday of the month and the next one is June 18th from daybreak until 1 p.m. Diamond Antiques sets up there along with several other of Diamond vendors.

Looking for treasure?  Want to get some steps in on your fitbit?  Want to get some vitamin D?  Want to shop until you drop? Or maybe you don’t mind the rain on your skin and sloshing around in a puddle on a rainy, summer  Sunday morning. (that occasionally happens on Fleatique Sunday) Want to be the early bird that gets the worm or the second mouse that gets the cheese?   (Both are good choices).

Experience the A-K Valley’s favorite place to shop…the award winning Diamond Antiques   brick and mortar store or shop al fresco where Diamond sets up on Fleatique Sunday’s.

Amazon schmamazon. Phfooey.

Long live Wilco 🙂