Saturday, March 3, 2012

Diane’s Tea Party

My friend had her 60th birthday and we celebrated with a tea at my house.  The guest list grew from 10 to 12 to 19 with a possibility of 3 more. Guests were requested by the birthday girl to wear hats.  She herself wore several different ones during the course of the party, mysteriously appearing in changed hat, earrings and scarves occasionally:12-02-04-17-29-46H 12-02-04-15-38-25R

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12-02-04-17-22-47H All the ladies in their hats:

12-02-04-16-15-17H  some of whom were quite elegant:12-02-04-15-31-08R  and others more casual:

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I pulled out all the ‘girly’ stops, gloves, purses, flowers, embroidery and ladies’ hankies: 12-03-03-11-31-08H 12-03-03-11-30-56H

12-02-08-13-57-45H  (Shabby-chic spoon rack displays leftover hanky collection)

12-02-04-15-30-20R  (My mother’s hats and purses and gloves)12-02-04-15-30-58R

12-03-03-11-44-13H (My Grandmother’s tea towels which I salvaged in embroidery hoops)

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Our menu was:

Tea:

Harney Bros. --“Paris”  and “Mother’s Bouquet”

Teavana—Monkey Picked Oolong

Zhena’s Gypsy Tea—Ambrosia Plum (White)

12-03-03-11-29-27H 

Savories:

Open-faced Vegetable Sandwich by Glennie12-02-04-15-30-04REgg Salad Pinwheels by Diane12-02-04-15-29-21RChicken Salad on Croissants

“Teapot” Scones with Clotted Cream and Jam by Amanda

12-02-04-15-29-08R    12-02-04-15-31-17RTomato-Basil Bruschetta with Olive on Rounds

Shrimp/Chives/Cream Cheese on Cocktail Pumpernickel

Brie Triangles with Crackers

Broiled Mushroom Caps Stuffed with Spinach or Artichoke Dip

Fruit Garnish: Pineapple, Strawberry, Orange

Olives, Artichoke Hearts

Sweets:

Cupcakes made by Bethany12-02-04-16-51-21H

Shortbread made by Lindsay

Russell Stover Truffles

For a get-acquainted game we played a Trivia from 1952 game that my daughter had concocted. [What was the Brylcream slogan? (extra points for singing it) Fill in the blank: “Look, Ma, no ………” , etc.]

Over the years I have been given books on teas and tea parties which I enjoy:12-03-03-11-41-02H

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and of course I have my own inclination toward tea:

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and then Susan Branch keeps me inspired: 12-03-03-11-35-23H   (My 2012 calendar, copyright by Susan Stewart Branch)

And here is my wish for Diane the birthday girl and for all of you, my friends:

May you always be blessed

with walls for the wind,

a roof for the rain,

a warm cup of tea by the fire,

laughter to cheer you,

those you love near you,

and all that your heart might desire.

Blessings,

Holly   12-02-04-15-31-36R

2 comments:

Marie said...

Loved the tea party! Everything was beautiful. I have a small collection of teapots and tea cups.
Love,
Marie

Steven said...

How utterly wonderful! Although, I confess to not understanding much of the sentiment of it... :)