2022 Whitney Christmas Tea

I'm a bit weary tonight, but I promised some pictures of today's tea so I'll post them before getting comfy to watch a Christmas movie [and most likely falling asleep before it ends!]. 

We were anticipating 200 guests, but by my count there were 177.  The count may have been slightly higher because it was so busy and difficult to be certain everyone was counted.

I have a picture of the Scone Course, Strawberries and Chantilly Cream, and Savory Course, but nobody photographed the Dessert course.  All courses were plated today instead of using tiered servers.  I'm a stickler for detail and accuracy and had I taken this picture I would have made sure the cup handle was on the outside!

When the guests finished their savories, they were seated in the ballroom where I read Tom Hegg's A Cup of Christmas Tea on the second floor, and Dave Duey, Director of Operations Emeritus, read it on the first floor.  If you look closely, that's Mr. Whitney's portrait hanging above the fireplace. I'm sure he'd be happy to see so many people visiting and enjoying his beautiful mansion.

~ Dave and Me ~

When the story was over [which took about 7 minutes] the guests went back to their individual dining rooms for dessert.  A very good trio of vocalists strolled the first and second floors singing Christmas Carols throughout the first and second seating [11:00 a.m and 1:30 p.m.].

One of the servers wanted me to pose for this photo by the second floor ballroom fireplace.

I will be off work the next two Saturdays [Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve], so I wished the staff a Merry Christmas before I left for home and told them I'd see them next year [Good Lord willing].