A Tea Honoring Queen Elizabeth II

Last Saturday, April 23rd, I made my way to Littlefield Presbyterian Church in Dearborn, MI for a Women's Spring Tea - a fundraiser for missions.  Trudy, the Program Coordinator, contacted me several months ago asking for a list of my presentations, and Queen Elizabeth II was agreed upon by the committee.  It was a very fitting theme since the Queen had just celebrated her 90th birthday two days earlier.

It was a beautiful spring day - perfect for a tea party!

The tea was held in the church parlor.  I don't know the attendance count, but it was a sellout. I enjoyed looking at the display table of Royal memorabilia pictured below.

The yummy cake was a door prize, won by a lady from England celebrating her birthday.  It was a chocolate sponge cake from Darren McGrady's book Eating Royally, called Royal Birthday Cake.

I arrived a few minutes early and took a few behind-the-scenes photos, beginning with the tea station.

I loved the colorful savories [tortilla roll-ups] in the center of the sandwich plates.  

~ Savory Scones ~

For those who didn't wear a hat, there were several available for ladies to borrow.

~ Silent auction table ~

I sat at the table below with my girlfriend, Sandy, and her daughter, daughter-in-law, and 4 month old granddaughter.  There were fresh miniature pink roses on each table, and at each place setting was a beautiful linen hankie to take home as a keepsake.  

~ Below is the lovely menu ~

It was Rylyn's first tea party, so a picture was in order.

Trudy, Program Coordinator [below], is Canadian, so the Queen is especially special to her. Her parents bought the family's first television set to watch her coronation.

I spoke when everyone was done partaking of Afternoon Tea.  I don't do Power Point, so I took a poster board filled with photos of the queen and her family.   I particularly like the two photos in the top row, far right.  The black and white photo was taken of Prince Philip and Princess Elizabeth on their honeymoon in the Broadlands - Mountbatten's Country Estate. They returned on their 60th Wedding Anniversary [2007] and stood in the same location and same pose for a retake.  

I don't usually wear a hat when I speak, but I knew I couldn't talk about the Queen without wearing one - it would almost be disrespectful if I didn't! ;-)

I touched on the Queen's love of horses, but there wasn't time to mention that she had a winning horse called Highclere [named after the Carnarvon stud farm]. Her life-long friend, Lord Henry Porchester [or Porchey as she called him] who later became the 7th Earl of Carnarvon, was her racing manager for more than three decades.  The Queen has made many visits to Highclere Castle. The 8th Earl of Carnarvon [current Earl] is the Queen's godson. That's a fun tidbit for Downton Abbey fans. ;-)

I was honored that two of my blog followers [besides my girlfriend Sandy] were present - Laura Lee and Amy.  I was so grateful they came, but regret I didn't take a photo of them.  

~ Sandy and Me ~

It was a beautiful tea and wonderfully executed.  Thank you ladies of Littlefield Presbyterian Church for inviting me to be your speaker.  I really admire the subject of my presentation and feel Queen Elizabeth II is one of the world's most fascinating ladies.   Long may she live!

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Today I'm joining Rose Chintz Cottage for No Place Like Home