Kudos to Tea Friends!

You meet the nicest people over tea!   When I went on a London Tea Tour in 2007 I met Linda J. of Berea, KY, and we've maintained a friendship ever since.  It's largely due to Linda's encouragement that I began blogging.  Linda started her blog, Friendship Tea, in 2008.

[L-R: Linda and Nancy R., also a blogger @ Rosemary's Sampler, at the Atlanta airport bound for London]

In 2010 Linda and I met again at another tea event at the Amherst Rose tea room in Massillon, Ohio.

[L-R:  Me and Linda]

In 2012 I went on a trip that Linda coordinated to Asheville, North Carolina, and the Biltmore Estate.

[L-R:  Linda, Angela M. another blogging friend @ Tea With Friends, Me, Lynn and Sandy.]

Before leaving for Asheville, my girlfriend and I were guests at Linda's lovely home.  She and her husband treated us to dinner at Berea's beautiful Boone Tavern Inn, pictured below.

[L-R:  Me, Linda, and Sandy]

Linda is a tea specialist, who trained at Elmwood Inn, and took the Tea Master's class sponsored by the UK Tea Council in London, England.

On December 14th she will realize a dream come true - she will be the tea hostess at Boone Tavern Inn's first Christmas Tea.  Congratulations, Linda!

From the Boone Tavern Hotel website:

Afternoon Christmas Tea, December 14^th, 2013

A New Holiday Tradition

An afternoon Christmas Tea hosted by Linda Jennings, tea expert.  Spend quality time with friends and family while you sip on Christmas Tea and savor an assortment of delightful foods and desserts.  Make this your family tradition!

Tea Selections:

Christmas Tea and decaf

Savories:

Cucumber,Radish, and Herb Butter Curried Egg Salad

Smoked Salmon, Creme Fraiche, Chives Roast Beef and Horseradish

Scones:

Blueberry and Cranberry with White Chocolate

Served with Devonshire Cream, Butter and Jams

Sweets:

Petite Cookies, Chocolate covered strawberries, Dark Chocolate Brownies, Raspberry Torte, Lemon Bars

Price:  $25 per person

Reservations required and space is limited. Please call 859-985-3700 to make reservations. The largest group reservation is 6. Group reservations larger will be split up.

Another recent honor Linda experienced was being featured in a four-page colored magazine article of Kentucky Living - November 2013.  I was thrilled to receive my copy in today's mail. Raising my congratulatory teacup to you, Linda!  

Below is Linda's picture taken for the magazine article.

[Photo courtesy of Tim Webb Photography]

Due to deadlines for the November issue, Linda had to host a Christmas Tea in August for photographs.  She's ahead of all of us this year when it comes to getting into the Christmas spirit!  Below is the tablescape for her Christmas Tea.

Linda has written several posts about the Christmas Tea on her blog [including recipes for all the wonderful goodies on the three-tiered server].  To read her posts click here.

Angela McRae, at Tea With Friends blog, is an author and editor, and last year at this time she wrote a five page article with beautiful colored pictures featuring a Christmas Tea, complete with recipes. What a pleasure to re-read Angela's magazine article again today too. She blogged about the November 2012 magazine issue here.  I was privileged to meet Angela in person on the 2012 trip to Asheville that Linda coordinated.

Tea is, indeed, a wonderful way to celebrate Christmas!