A Return Invitation to Meadow Brook Hall

The beginning of May I received a phone call from Meadow Brook Hall asking if I was available to speak to another group of ladies at a private tea on May 13th at 2:00 p.m.  I arrived at 1:00 p.m. yesterday to set-up.  

~ Meadow Brook Hall is a National Historic Landmark ~

~ The front entrance forecourt ~

~ Front door ~

Lauren greeted me in the Great Hall.   

I unloaded my things by the front door, and then parked my car.  As I was walking back to the mansion from the parking lot, I took two side view photos of Meadow Brook Hall. 

As you can see, the architectural style of the mansion is Tudor Revival.  Notice all the unique brick chimneys - there are 14 groupings of chimneys with a total of 39 individual stacks.

Photos are limited inside the mansion, but the Great Hall facing the fireplace is permissible. Tours with school children and adults were being conducted while I was there. 

The tea was held in Mrs. Wilson's Study. I didn't realize until after I got home and looked through my Meadow Brook guidebook that her study is also referred to as the Morning Room. I need to go on another tour so I know which room is which - no small task since there are 110 rooms in the mansion!

~ Visuals for my tea presentation ~

The Afternoon Tea table was set for eight ladies.

Nancy was the server for the tea.

I took a picture of the savories before the tea started.  The only thing missing on the plate was the quiche, which was still in the oven.

~ Menu Card ~

I prepared three teas for the ladies - Queen Catherine Black Tea to go with the Savories, and Earl Grey Green to go with the Desserts.

The teacups and broulee spoons were ready to serve the ladies Flaming Oolong Tea following their dessert.

Mr. Geoff Upward, Director of Meadow Brook Hall, welcomed the ladies, and shared a brief history of the mansion.

Nancy explained the menu. 

The ladies were scheduled to tour the mansion following the tea, so I did my presentation while they ate.  I had planned to give the same presentation that I gave last March at a Downton Abbey tea, which was the history of tea in England beginning with Catherine of Braganza up through the Downton Abbey time period of 1912 [when Season I began with the sinking of the Titanic]. No two audiences are the same, however, and while I did share some British tea history, these ladies were really enjoying the tea, and wanted to know more about tea itself, than its history, so I devoted more time to types of tea, water temperatures, etc. It was fun helping expand their tea knowledge.

~ The Dessert Plate ~

The tea ended at 3:15, and I packed up my things and headed for home.  Thank you, Lauren and Meadow Brook Hall donor and guests, for the privilege of sharing my passion for tea again at Meadow Brook Hall.