Christmas 2025

 Merry Christmas!

We're leaving shortly to go to our son's house [Steve & Sharon], but I wanted to write a quick post to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas!

We celebrated with all our family last night at our house.  A family Christmas Eve celebration has been our tradition ever since Jerry and I married.  The tables were set and awaiting everyone's arrival for a 4:00 o'clock dinner.

With s0 much going on at church and work I was late getting our Christmas tree decorated, but I finally got it done on Sat., Dec. 20th!  It will stay up now until mid-January.

Five of our eight grandchildren. It's always good to have Brianna home from Nashville, Tennessee.

Our daughter, Lori, and husband, Dave.

Steve, Sharon, Brianna & Brooke

Jeremy, Samantha, Izzy, Landon & Ellie

Our children and their families were very good to me!  I received a Mary Frances Tea Time beaded purse that I had been wanting.

Izzy gave me [among other things] an autographed copy of Tom Hegg's book, A Cup of Christmas Tea, so I read it to everyone.

After all the gifts were opened and games were playeed [more on that in another post] we had birthday cake for Jesus - the Reason for the Season!  I bought a decorated cassata cake from a local Italian bakery and I made the chocolate mound cake.

I hope you are enjoying a beautiful Christmas Day with your loved ones.

High School Girls Christmas Lunch

This year it seems there hasn't been much to write about or if there is something there's no time to write a about it.  These have been very busy days for me, as I'm sure they've been for you too.

Last week I drove down to my childhood stomping grounds to have lunch with a group of gals I went to high school with.  When possible, we have lunch once a month.  When I first started going to the lunches [around 2008] there were nine of us in the group.  Two have since passed away and one has dementia and no longer attends, so our group is down to six and of the six two have become widows.  Life is full of change.

We had a fun gift exchange.  My girlfriend, Sandy, gave each of us a tea-themed key chain, and I gave everyone a Napier Christmas brooch.  I love their Christmas brooches this year and bought one for myself too.  ;-)

After our get-together, one of the gals texted me about a pair of tea-themed Cuddl Duds pajamas at Kohl's.  I ordered a pair online [there were none left in the stores near me] and they're on sale for $24 regularly $40 [excluding shipping and tax].  

Only three more days until Christmas.  The clock is ticking.  My shopping [gifts and groceries] is done, the tree is up and decorated, gifts are all wrapped [thanks to my hubby] and I've begun cooking for Christmas Eve dinner with my family.  I had to work today and will be going in tomorrow also.  A lot of tea lovers are coming to tea at The Whitney for the holidays.  Are you ready for Christmas?

Christmas is Children... and Friends

Last Sunday, during the morning worship service, the children of Orchard Ridge presented a short Christmas program.  As always, they were delightful.

After church, a group of us who have been friends for many years, went to a Chinese restaurant for dinner.  I ordered Chicken Lo Mein and it came with bottomless pots of Oolong tea.  So good!

Children, Friends and Family [my hubby, daughter and son-in-law] are the perfect combination for a lovely day!

2025 Whitney Christmas Tea

Last Saturday, December 13th, was The Whitney's Christmas Tea.  160 guests were anticipated, but by my calculations there were about 141 attendees.  I took lots of pictures but will just share a few of them here on my blog.

We had a 11:00 a.m. seating on the first floor and a 12:00 o'clock seating on the second floor.  The flow and timing was so much smoother than last year's tea.

There were strolling carolers who were delightful.

First floor guests were seated in the Receiving & Drawing Rooms, Library and Music Room.

I took a picture of the soup and salad course when it was plated in the kitchen.

Below are the Sandwiches/Savories.  And, of course, there were bottomless pots of Mistletoe Kiss black tea on the tables for the guests to enjoy with their meal.

After the guests finished their third course, they assembled in Great Hall where Dave Dewey, Director of Operations, read A Cup of Christmas Tea.

While the guests were in the Great Hall, the servers put their favors at each place setting so they'd be there when they returned to their seats for the dessert course.  I was pleased with the way they turned out and relieved when all 160 were assembled!  Behind the ornament [but it's not visible] was a half oz. package of loose-leaf Mistletoe Kiss black tea - enough to make 7-8 cups of tea.

~ Dessert~

Me with Joel, The Whitney pianist.

I was delighted to see Amy, a sweet tea lover and Whitney patron, at the tea.

Then it was up to the second floor to repeat everything again with the guests who were seated in Mr. Whitney's bedroom, Mrs. Whitney's bedroom and her sitting room.  Below is Max Ceaser, our new General Manager, who read A Cup of Christmas Tea in the Ballroom.

A good time was had by all.  Now that the two big teas on my calendar are done I can focus on Christmas Eve for my family.  The Christmas tree is up and the lights are on, and it's waiting to be decorated.  Thankfully almost all my Christmas shopping is done.

2025 Ladies' ORCN Christmas Tea

The Ladies' Christmas Tea [at Orchard Ridge Church of the Nazarene] has come and gone.  It was held last Saturday, December 6th, and was the largest one we've had in our new building, with 89 ladies reserving a spot.  A great time was had by all.

For this tea I opted to give ladies an opportunity to set and hostess a table.  We had 11 tables.  Our ladies were shy about volunteering, so two ladies set two tables and I set three, but now that they've seen how it's done and how creatively rewarding it is, I'm hoping the response will be better the next time we do it.

The hostesses gathered last Thursday from 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. to set their tables and get them ready for Saturday's noon arrival time.  Some of the hubby's even helped set-up

~ Overview of the Room ~ 

Our seating chart and ballot box [guests voted on their favorite table].

~ Photos of each tablescape ~  

The hostess who set the first table pictured below was so happy to be able to use her grandmother's silver cutlery.  It was the first time she had ever participated in setting/hostessing a table and she did a beautiful job.

The hostess below set two tables.

~ Second table ~

My girlfriend, Lori, set this table which was voted 3rd Place.

This table was set by a sweet young gal from England - hence the Christmas Crackers at each place setting.  It was her first time to set/hostess a table also.

The hostess below set two tables and the first one pictured won first place.  The Limoges china was her grandmother's.  She received a gift card to Hobby Lobby.

~ Second table ~

Below are my three tables. The first one had a blue and silver icy, wintry theme, and I used my Petals Depression Glass by Federal Glass.  The table was voted 2nd Place.  In reality, all the tables were winners.

The second table was a Nutcracker Theme with Gracie Fine China dishes purchased this year.  I made the centerpiece.

The third table was Farm House Christmas Truck and I succumbed to purchasing the dishes I blogged about previously.

The meal was catered by Pamela's Catering and we served Harney & Son's Hot Cinnamon Spice Tea [regular and decaf].

~ Blueberry Scones ~

~ Savories ~

~ Desserts ~

A few pictures of the attendees...

~ Three Generations ~

My girlfriend, Sandy

~ Mother & Daughters ~

I read Tom Hegg's book, A Cup of Christmas Tea and told the story of how he came to write it, and then we were dismissed.

My girlfriend, Lori, with her new great-granddaughter, Parker.  It was her first tea party, and she slept through it all. 

I hope you enjoyed a recap of the tea.   The boxes and tea totes are patiently waiting for me in the garage ready to be unpacked, dishware washed and everything put away.  I haven't had a chance to tackle them yet.  All the floor length tablecloths had to be washed and returned to church today for a senior Christmas event this Saturday.

160 packets of tea also had to be assembled and placed in red mesh bags to take to work tomorrow for The Whitney Christmas tea this Saturday.  The ornament picture frames will also go in the mesh bags.  

Tis the season for being busy!