Normally I'd be working today, but since all dine-in restaurants have been shut-down in Michigan due to the resurgence of COVID-19, I've had the day to work on my latest Shutterfly album - Tea with Nana.
Presently my granddaughter, Tiffany, is 29 years old and the mother of two precious little girls. She was my second-born grandchild, but my first granddaughter. When I became smitten with tea in 1998, my enthusiastic teapot spilled out onto everyone in my family! It's been so much fun scanning old photos of tea times with Tiff for her photo book. [She doesn't have time to follow my blog so I feel safe sharing my project here.] I'm far from done sorting photos and scanning them, but here's a preview of what I've done so far. The pictures make me a little sad as I realize how quickly the years have passed, but also very grateful that I've had the opportunity to make these wonderful memories with Tiffany.
In July 1999, for Tiffany's 8th Birthday, I took her [along with her girlfriend, my daughter and a friend of mine] to a tearoom to celebrate. Victorian Rose tearoom is the first one I visited after being introduced to the pleasures of tea. It's still there, but under different ownership now.
In December of that year I took her to a Nutcracker Tea at the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House.
In 2011 I took her to a different tearoom [owned by a wonderful friend of mine] to celebrate her 11th birthday.
In 2003 I coordinated an honorary tea called Tea Across America, on the second anniversary of the tragic terrorist attacks in New York City, Pennsylvania and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Multiple teas took place across the United States, the inspiration of the Shelley Marshall Foundation, to honor all those who perished on 9/11/2001.
It occurred to me that I've never shared that tea on my blog before. Shelley Marshall was a wife and mother of two young children who worked at the Pentagon. She loved tea and tea parties. Sadly, she perished in the terrorist attack. Her husband, Donn, was devastated. His grief counselor encouraged him to "give his sorrow meaning." So within days he established the Shelley Marshall Foundation to fund activities that Shelley enjoyed, which included tea parties at nursing homes.
Donn, along with his mother-in-law, hosted quarterly tea parties at five local nursing homes. The parties were so successful they inspired Donn to attempt something much bigger - Tea Across America. When I read Donn's story in two national magazines, I volunteered to coordinate Michigan's tea. Our tea was held at Shelby Nursing Center. Ladies from my church, friends, and family helped me serve. Our local newspaper came and captured a picture of Tiffany serving tea to one of the residents to accompany the article they printed.
Tiffany also sang "God Bless the U.S.A." in the program.
Two of my other granddaughters, Marissa and Brianna, sang "I'm a little teapot" [with motions].
Tiffany visiting with one of the residents.
Also in 2003 I had a tea-themed picture taken by Playful Portraits with my granddaughters. I treasure it and will put it on the cover of Tiffany's photo album.
In July 2005 I had a tea party at my house for Tiffany's 14th birthday.
The girls with their gift bags...
Which included, among other things, red wax lips and diamond ring suckers.
In March 2005 we [three granddaughters, daughter, daughter-in-law and myself] went on a girls trip to Chicago to visit American Girl Place. Approaching 14, Tiffany had outgrown playing with dolls, but she was an avid reader and read all the books. Her favorite was Kit.
When we returned home I enjoyed researching Pleasant Rowland, founder of Pleasant Company and American Girl dolls, and I presented a couple of programs about her and the dolls. It's a fun and fascinating story.
Waiting our turn to go in the Cafe.
In 2009 [when Tiffany was 18] I had a Valentine's Tea at my house for three of my granddaughters [Isabella was too little and Ellie wasn't born yet].
