2025 Ladies' ORCN Christmas Tea

The Ladies' Christmas Tea [at Orchard Ridge Church of the Nazarene] has come and gone.  It was held last Saturday, December 6th, and was the largest one we've had in our new building, with 89 ladies reserving a spot.  A great time was had by all.

For this tea I opted to give ladies an opportunity to set and hostess a table.  We had 11 tables.  Our ladies were shy about volunteering, so two ladies set two tables and I set three, but now that they've seen how it's done and how creatively rewarding it is, I'm hoping the response will be better the next time we do it.

The hostesses gathered last Thursday from 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. to set their tables and get them ready for Saturday's noon arrival time.  Some of the hubby's even helped set-up

~ Overview of the Room ~ 

Our seating chart and ballot box [guests voted on their favorite table].

~ Photos of each tablescape ~  

The hostess who set the first table pictured below was so happy to be able to use her grandmother's silver cutlery.  It was the first time she had ever participated in setting/hostessing a table and she did a beautiful job.

The hostess below set two tables.

~ Second table ~

My girlfriend, Lori, set this table which was voted 3rd Place.

This table was set by a sweet young gal from England - hence the Christmas Crackers at each place setting.  It was her first time to set/hostess a table also.

The hostess below set two tables and the first one pictured won first place.  The Limoges china was her grandmother's.  She received a gift card to Hobby Lobby.

~ Second table ~

Below are my three tables. The first one had a blue and silver icy, wintry theme, and I used my Petals Depression Glass by Federal Glass.  The table was voted 2nd Place.  In reality, all the tables were winners.

The second table was a Nutcracker Theme with Gracie Fine China dishes purchased this year.  I made the centerpiece.

The third table was Farm House Christmas Truck and I succumbed to purchasing the dishes I blogged about previously.

The meal was catered by Pamela's Catering and we served Harney & Son's Hot Cinnamon Spice Tea [regular and decaf].

~ Blueberry Scones ~

~ Savories ~

~ Desserts ~

A few pictures of the attendees...

~ Three Generations ~

My girlfriend, Sandy

~ Mother & Daughters ~

I read Tom Hegg's book, A Cup of Christmas Tea and told the story of how he came to write it, and then we were dismissed.

My girlfriend, Lori, with her new great-granddaughter, Parker.  It was her first tea party, and she slept through it all. 

I hope you enjoyed a recap of the tea.   The boxes and tea totes are patiently waiting for me in the garage ready to be unpacked, dishware washed and everything put away.  I haven't had a chance to tackle them yet.  All the floor length tablecloths had to be washed and returned to church today for a senior Christmas event this Saturday.

160 packets of tea also had to be assembled and placed in red mesh bags to take to work tomorrow for The Whitney Christmas tea this Saturday.  The ornament picture frames will also go in the mesh bags.  

Tis the season for being busy!

Post Thanksgiving - Farewell November

I didn't get a chance to write a post Thanksgiving Day, Friday or yesterday, but I hope you had a holiday filled with gratitude - family/friends and lots of good food.  We celebrated the first Sunday of Advent today [Hope] and tomorrow is December 1st with the Christmas Season rapidly approaching. 

It was a small group around the Thanksgiving table this year... Lori & Dave were in California, Brianna was in Oregon visiting a friend, and Sharon's mom is in rehab following surgery from a broken hip, so her dad spent the day sitting with her.  

Sharon had a cute Gingerbread theme going on throughout their house.

Her house was decorated so festively for the holidays with two Christmas trees, and I don't even have one up yet.

Lori and family in California facetimed us Thanksgiving Day, and texted us this picture.  I mailed the girls pumpkin pie headbands and turkey glasses which they're wearing in the picture.

[John, Tiffany, Lori, Dave, Evie and Jules]

Jeremy and his family came over later in the afternoon after spending some time with Samantha's family.

[Jeremy, Landon, Brooke & Izzy]

[Samantha & Ellie]

It snowed for a little while [but no significant accumulation]. I took a picture of it coming down looking out the doorwall.

Izzy had to work at Ford Field yesterday for the Michigan State vs. Maryland game.

Today was the last day for ladies to sign up for the Christmas Tea at church next Saturday, December 6th.  89 ladies will be attending.  Harney & Sons Hot Cinnamon Spice tea [both regular and decaf] will be on the menu.  I'll be sure to post pictures of the different hostess tables.  Have a good week as we welcome December!

Thanksgiving Eve

Today was a work day for me, and it was a challenge getting into The Whitney parking lot.  The restaurant faces Woodward Avenuue and Detroit's 99th Thanksgiving Day Parade route is a 3-mile stretch on Woodward Avenue.  It goes right past The Whitney.  Crews were setting up road blocks all along the Woodward Avene parade route, so it took a little ingenuity to get into the parking lot. 

We're still featuring Apple Cinnamon Black tea at Mansion Tea but on Friday we'll switch over to Mistletoe Kiss Black Tea.  A yummy spicy Christmassy tea.  The Whitney was having their outdoor tree lighting tonight and the interior is beautifully decorated for Christmas.

On the way to an appointment after work, I was pleasantly surprised to see pick-up trucks pulling over 30 floats on Warren Avenue in preparation for tomorrow's parade.  My hubby was driving so it gave me the opportunity to take several photos through the car's windshield and his driver's window.  I'll share just a few photos but you can be sure I'll be watching the parade on TV when coverage begins at 8:45 tomorrow morning.

We had high winds and light snow flurries today, and light snow is also predicted for tomorrow.  Those watching the parade in person will have to bundle up.

I was so happy to see the Hudson's float which had three parts [only two are pictured here].

The Jazz float paying tribute to the Detroit Jazz Queens.

The Oz float

And part of the very last float - Santa's float

After dinner tonight I made a 9-inch pumpkin swirl cheesecake with a gingersnap crust for one of tomorrow's desserts.  It's been several years since I made one and The Whitney inspired me with their pumpkin cheesecakes made in the pastry kitchen and sold thru tonight for $59.  

I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving.  🎜 Count your blessings, name them one by one... and it will surprise what the Lord has done. 🎝 That line comes from great hymn Count Your Blessings that was published in 1897 and it's still true in 2025!

I loved how one of the officiating clergymen began his prayer at former Vice President Dick Cheney's funeral service at Washington National Cathedral last week:  "Oh God, whose mercies can not be measured..."  I jotted it down and tucked it in my Bible.