Story of the Niagara Falls Teacup

Traci Levy — Sun, 16 Nov 2025 22:30:41 +0000

I’d like to tell you the story of the Niagara Falls teacup, in the photo nearby. It’s me with the teacup in the wind, the mist, and the light but blowing RAIN. I’m standing in front of the Horseshoe Falls in Niagara Falls, Canada. My hands rest on a white teacup and saucer decorated with pink roses. I’m laughing at the absurdity and fun of taking this photo under these conditions.

How Did I Get Here?

Mid-August, I was lucky enough to go on a last-minute vacation with my mom, sister, and daughter to Niagara Falls, Canada. I was experimenting with how minimalist I could travel with tea. (Answer: not THIS minimalist! I usually travel with tea gear, as I have written about.)

I didn’t pack any teacups this time. Instantly, I regretted it for multiple reasons. I made the “mistake” of telling my family that. With a teacup, I sighed, I could avoiding drinking out of a paper cup at the hotel and maybe get a tea photo by the waterfall. Then, still thinking out loud, I said: “Maybe we could find one in a thrift shop.”

The Thrift Shop in Niagara Falls

I wasn’t beholden to this idea. And, when the time came to stop at a thrift shop, I said: “It’s not necessary. Let’s just skip it.”

They weren’t having it.

We went to the thrift shop. Actually, it was an antique shop (Coach Stop Antiques in Niagara-on-the-Lake) with lots of gorgeous and expensive teacups. (I had to use A LOT of willpower not to buy more teacups!) The salesperson was very nice and helpful—even though I said I wanted an inexpensive cup. He cheerfully helped me find one. That’s how I bought this Niagara Falls white teacup and saucer with the pink roses and green leaves in the photos.

Heading Down to Horseshoe Falls

When we got back to the hotel on our last afternoon of the trip with the teacup, I didn’t want to walk down to the falls again.

They weren’t having it.

When we got down to the falls, it was windy, misty, and raining—sometimes lightly, sometimes more heavily. I wanted to back out of standing in the wind and rain to get the photo. (I’m not exaggerating! I had to wipe the water off my glasses before the photo…lol.)

You already know their response! They. Weren’t. Having. It.

Tea Friends: I was reminded of something powerful. Namely, if my mom, sister, and daughter think I have a dream—or even know something I want to do—they are going to support me (and nudge me) ALL THE WAY. They weren’t going to let me talk myself out of doing what I needed to do to make it happen.

Tea and Family

A loving and supportive family that supports your tea nerdery: that’s a wonderful gift. I’m so lucky! And, this little Niagara Falls teacup holds that experience, in addition to my tea. I’ll always treasure that photo of me, taken by my sister. It and the photo of the teacup, taken by me, will always remind me of this story.

To be completely honest, I also realized that I have to be careful what I tell those ladies about what I want to do!

Story of this Teacup

I shared this story of the Niagara Falls teacup recently at my annual charity fundraiser, Story of a Teacup 2025. It was my fourth annual chariTEA fundraiser. This time, ALL proceeds went directly to World Central Kitchen. This wonderful non-profit feeds people in disasters and war zones around the world.

Together, the storytellers who donated their time and skills to participate and all the folks who generously donated to Story of a Teacup 2025 raised $875 for World Central Kitchen. I am proud of what we did to spread empathy through this online storytelling event. It’s wonderful how the communiTEA came together to support the important work World Central Kitchen does.