Tea Party Night

What a great afternoon! Everything worked out so well, and we all (7 of us) had such a nice time. Of course, there was more than enough food (both sandwiches and sweets) but that's the better way to do it-- have more than you need, rather than needing more than you have.

The table looked very pretty with the pink tablecloth, and the porcelain lady figurines for the centerpiece, with pink & ivory china, gold flatware, and fancy goblets for water. Platters and plates with all the different sandwich-squares, and the cookies and tarts and quiches. Everyone loved the miniature china teacup-placecards, and they were happy to be able to take them home as party favors.

I used four teapots so we had our choice of four different teas, and that worked out very well.... the teas stayed nice and hot and the teapots were big enough to hold plenty of tea. My young friends C and L even brought their own antique teacups with them... the ones that I had given them at our Midnight Tea Party last month. I didn't expect them to do that, but they were so happy to have their own cups that they wanted to use them again, so that's what they did.

C made me a wonderful poster-collage, which is now taped to the back of my sitting-room door. She cut out pictures and words that reminded her of me, and looking at it is very flattering. And L came in with a beautiful bouquet of yellow roses, which made the dining room sideboard very festive.

Both young girls dressed up for the tea party. C had on a long blue lace skirt, with a blue top and a blue beaded/fringed belt. She had on bracelets from the jewelry show, and the pink pearl necklace that was mine when I was a little girl. I had given that to C when she turned 13 and she wears it for special occasions. L wore a white dress with pink and green swirls, and she wore the multi-colored rhinestone pendant that I had given her at our Midnight Tea Party. It was so nice to see that the girls took the time to fancy themselves up, and they truly enjoyed the whole idea of an "afternoon tea."

We all had fun picking out the photographs of the "tea ladies," and then we played the Tea Bingo game, which was very competitive for C's mom and L's mom. It was fun to watch them both playing to win, win, win! C and L had fun with the Tea Bingo game, and of course, they said they could make up their own Bingo game for their game-nights with their friends.

Both C and L were surprised with their gift bags...... earrings from Disneyland, and their initials on key-rings (decorated with Mickey & Minnie Mouse), plus a pretty pen & notepaper set. Their moms, along with our friends K and B, got to pick out books from the fiction and non-fiction books that I always have here for party gifts. Such a better idea to let everyone pick out their own books.... I've given away so many books now that there's no way I can remember who has read what and who likes which authors.

My husband came back from his office with paper teacups for all us..... inside of each teacup envelope was a photo of us sitting in a teacup, which was a fun way to end the afternoon. Amazing what computer-magic and a creative imagination can do!

I have given tea parties before in this house, but they've been larger ones where I've invited lots of neighbors and friends. Those parties were fun also, but because the number of women ranged between 15 and 25, there was no way for all of us to be at one table. What happened was that smaller groups made circles around the living room, dining room, breakfast room and the porch. Today we had a group small enough to be seated around the dining room table, but large enough for a party atmosphere. Seven of us today, but if I put both leaves in the dining room table, I can seat twelve.

It's been a long day....... busy from early this morning, getting everything ready, and having everything look so pretty on that dining room table. Not to mention the baking that started a couple of days ago. But it was all worth it, every bit of it. Just to see the expressions on C's and L's faces.... they just looked at everything on the dining room table and squealed like little girls.

There is no better way to make yourself feel good than to do something for a child.