Tea Time!

My book club has amazingly talented ladies know a thing or two about a thing or two.  They've all been through such incredible journeys--one of them has nine children, one of them has a degree in pharmacy but is also a former B&B owner and incredible cook, one of them is an artist who paints and writes, one of them was our post mistress for years and years, one of them taught in and served on the board of our school for literally most of her life, one of them just celebrated her fiftieth wedding anniversary, and on and on.  Incredible women, superwomen, in fact.  And they all love to read and, even better, they are highly susceptible to suggestions thrown out at book club.

After reading one of our selections, we had a conversation about war brides and enjoying the pictures in the book:  "They're so glamorous--I feel like all women were glamorous in the forties," "NO, they're just young; everybody's pretty when they're young,"  "Well, that's probably true,"  "Hey--we should bring OUR favorite pictures to the next meeting,"  "You mean pictures of ourselves?  From when we were young?" "Yeah, but your favorite one--one when you felt glamorous,"  "Hm.  Okay.  Everybody has a favorite picture, right?"  Right.  So there was that idea conception.

And then, likely because our book was set in England, somebody said something about tea.  As in, high tea.  I don't remember who, or why, but Paula, our pharmacist/chef/former hostess of a bed and breakfast took up the challenge with a gleam in her eye.  She's a great planner--before we left that meeting, I'm sure, she had all the menu and decor all planned out in her mind's eye.  And thus, an event was born.  High Tea complete with Gloves and Glamorous Photos were the assignment for our next meeting, and behold the results . . . .

A gorgeous selection of tea accessories, additions, and sweeteners.

If you cannot find your favorite tea flavor here, you are simply too picky.  There's something for everyone!

Some of Paula's vintage tea cups and saucers.

We helped make these!  Paula assigned everyone a dish--my dish was to make name tags for everyone else's dishes . . . .   Hm.

Did you ever consider using rock candy to sweeten your tea?  Clever, my book club ladies are.

A raspberry aspic?  I think?  Anyway, it was as delicious as you'd think it is from this picture.

This had carrots in it and was a lovely blend of savory and sweet.  Yum.

A trifle, some pecan pies, and a lovely stained glass window.  Wanted to take all three home with me.

Well, this was chocolate heaven on a plate.

A lovely and healthy salad.  Because we're all very health-conscious at our tea.

Paula's tablescape had just precious teacups and teapots--see the vintage lady underneath this picture?

We had such a delightful evening--as we always do.  Please know that we enjoyed our gourmet dishes and book club discussion whilst wearing gloves and passing around our favorite pictures.  :-)  Such a fun evening.  These women are among the strongest and most interesting I've known, and I just can't wait for book club nights--if you're interested in joining this fantabulous group, see the Elkville Christian Church website at www.elkvillechristian.com, read the book, and come on in to our meeting!  There are always laughs, tea, hilarity, snacks, and sometimes some sidetracking, but I'm always excited to get there, and you won't be sorry you joined us!