Happy September!

September got off to a very good start last Thursday with lunch at Royal Treat tearoom [in Roseville] with my good friend, Lori.  Predictably, I ordered the Quiche Lorraine with a mixed green salad.  The menu option also came with a pot of tea and an assortment of scones.  We ordered Harney & Sons Cherry Blossom Green Tea and it didn't disappoint.  It was so good that I plan on ordering a tin to drink at home.  Yummy Pumpkin Scones made their debute that day and were delicious.  In addition to selling their scones at several retail locations, Just Delicious Scones now has their own gift shop on Harper Ave. in St. Clair Shores.  I plan to visit it soon.

There's nothing better than getting caught up with a friend over a pot of tea and good food!

Just before we left we decided to have our picture taken with Queen Elizabeth II.  She would approve of Royal Treat Tearoom!

Mansion Tea was a little light yesterday at The Whitney since it was a holiday weekend.  We only had 42 guests, but we had two weddings.  Shortly before I left for home, one of the servers told me a bouquet of flowers had been set aside from one of the weddings for me to take home.  The bridal attendants wore mauve colored dresses, hence the mauve colored roses in the arrangement.  By the time I got the bouquet home, a few of the roses were a little droopy, but still had enough life to enjoy. 

Next Saturday [Sept. 10] The Whitney will host the Autumn & Apples Tea at 12:00 p.m. as part of their City Fest promotion.

Even though Fall doesn't officially arrive until September 22, once September 1st appears on the calendar along with Labor Day, it seems summer is 'unofficially' over.   And with Fall, our thoughts turn to Apple Orchards and Cider Mills.

Our church is in Washington, Mi which is in the heart of orchard territory, hence our name Orchard Ridge Church of the Nazarene.  Apples and orchard trees are our logos.

Last year two apple trees were planted on the mound by the circular driveway in keeping with our logo, and this year they are bearing fruit - just like we as Christians are supposed to bear fruits of the Spirit [Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control].  

Go forth and bear fruit!  [John 15:16]

The children in "The Grove" are also learning how to produce Christian fruits in their young lives and I couldn't resist taking a picture of a painted apple tree in their area.

They ate the cutest pencil cookies in Children's Church as they talked about living for Jesus throughout this new school year.  I think these would make the cutest snacks/treats for children to take to school to share with classmates.

Sign-up for the Ladies' Fall Homecoming Tea is progressing slowly with 24 on the sign-up sheet. Ladies have until Sept. 18th [it's been extended] to sign-up and several will probably wait until the last day.  I mailed out 108 invitations on Friday, so I'm hoping for a good turnout for this first tea in our new building.

My day ended with a great Hallmark movie, Love's Portrait, filmed in Ireland.  If you missed it, it'll be shown again on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.