Southern Tea Time Getaway - Day 1

As you've noticed, I've been missing from my blog for several days.  The long-awaited, long-planned Southern Tea Time Getaway to Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina finally happened.  It was originally planned for last September, but hurricane Irma occurred at the same time as our travel dates, and she went everywhere we were planning to go, so I had to cancel the tour.

We [my hubby, girlfriend, Lori, and me] departed from Warren, MI on Tuesday, May 15th at 8:00 a.m. and drove south 34 miles to Southgate, MI where we picked up five other ladies who were part of our group.   

My hubby was loading the van in the photo below.  He was chauffeur, valet, photographer, and whatever else we needed him to be on this trip.

Then we headed south another 118 miles to Lima, Ohio where we picked up the last four ladies in our group at 11:30 a.m.

The Mercedes 15-passenger, high-top van [below] was our means of transportation for the 2,313 miles we traveled during our 10-day trip.

Once their luggage was loaded we were on the road again.  Judy, one of the ladies in our group, owned a tearoom Flowers and Friends for ten years, and asked if she could bring some homemade treats to share on the van.  Of course, I said yes.  Turns out she treated us to a tea party on wheels!

She made bags of Candied Chex Mix with Pecans for each of us.  Below was Jerry's and my makeshift place setting sitting on top of a cooler in between our front seats.  Aren't those adorable paper products?  Our tea was Oolong, and pictured is a Parmesan scone, which she served with a Pesto spread, or home canned Peach Preserves.

We had Cucumber Dill Triangles [which I didn't get a picture of], followed by Cinnie Minnie Apple Pies, and Pecan Pie Squares.  Yum!

Lastly, fancy 'tour bus' tea cookies.  It was my first time to enjoy a tea party while traveling in a van, and it was a great beginning to our tea trip.  Thanks so much, Judy!

109 miles down the road we had 1:30 p.m. reservations at The Tea Parlor in Liberty Township, Ohio.  I knew I would definitely have to go on a diet by the end of this tour!  Sue Schechter has been operating her tearoom out of her home for 13 years, and we were fortunate to get in because she closed down the next day for a month long vacation to England, Scotland and Ireland.

There were 11 ladies in our group.  Judy was missing from the picture below, but she's in the next one.  

The tearoom is in a spacious country setting.

Everything on the property told us a tea lover lived there!

Susan was ready and waiting for us.  We loved the evergreen garland draped around her living room window with miniature teacups and teapots dangling from it.  Two tables were set up for us.

Her sweet little grandson was there with his mommy enjoying a birthday tea in his honor.  She's training him right!

A tea menu was on each plate, and I ordered Southern Pecan Pie black tea.  It was flavored with pecans, walnuts, and white chocolate.

The teapot said: "Be aglow and burning with the Spirit, serving the Lord."  Romans 12:116

Sue referred to this tea as a "Taste of the Tropics" full tea.  

Top tier:  Fresh Fruit and assorted Cheeses and Crackers. Middle tier twelve o'clock position:  Curry Cheese Pita, open-faced Cucumber Sandwiches,  Sesame Chicken Salad Sandwich; and Ham Pineapple Sandwich.  There was also a Sweet Pepper Savory that was served separately, but I didn't get a photo of it.

Bottom tier:  Tropical Crumbles, Coconut Macaroons, and Matcha White Chocolate Bread. Cream and Mango scones were served last with mock Devonshire Cream, Lemon Curd and Jam.  

Susan [the owner] took this photo of our group and gave each one of us a wallet-size copy before we left.  What a nice thing to do!

 Susan and Me.  Her website is www.theteaparlor.net 

With two teas under our belts on the first day, we all piled back into the van bound for Williamsburg, KY [208 miles farther] where we spent our first night at the Cumberland Inn.

To be continued...

Gift Bags for a Tea Getaway

I've been purchasing items to put in gift bags for 10 ladies going on a Southern Tea Getaway.  It was a fun craft project to decorate the bags with tea-themed fabric from Hobby Lobby.

 One of the items for the gift bags are Moroccan Tea Glasses.

Georgia is one of the states on the trip [Atlanta and Savannah] so I bought peanuts and peach tea for the bags since Georgia is known as the Peach State, and peanuts is one of its crops.

My girlfriend, Lori, came over to help me assemble the bags since they're from both of us.  Below is the finished product.  I hope the ladies like them.

Spring Tea at Littlefield Presbyterian Church

Several months ago I was asked to return to Littlefield Presbyterian Church to speak at their Spring Tea.  The date was last Saturday, May 12th, and the theme was Parasols, Fans, Hankies, and Gloves.

When I was there in 2016 the theme was Long Live the Queen!  Queen Elizabeth II had just celebrated her 90th birthday a few days earlier.  We're all happy she's still going strong.

We had severe thunderstorms in southeastern Michigan last weekend, and the power went out twice while I was finalizing my presentation notes, but fortunately I was able to complete them.  

Below was the sign on the side door of the church where we entered for the tea.

The committee provided a lovely tea for 44 ladies.

Since I arrived early to set up my display table, I roamed around being a shutterbug when I was finished.  The caterers were busy with food prep.

~ My display ~

Do any of these things look familiar to you from yesteryears, or perhaps you collect them today.  They're all nostalgic items that most of us [or someone we've known] have used in times past.

The tea began at 2:00 p.m. and my program followed the meal.

~ Scones ~

~ Sandwiches ~

~ Desserts ~

It was a fun afternoon, and the ladies were very attentive and receptive.  A friend that I met through tea came and brought her mother and two other ladies.  Laura gave me a Grace Kelly book that she acquired from a library book sale [for a future presentation possibly] and a fan, since she knew that's what I was presenting on Saturday.  She chose a blue fan because she knew blue is my color.  Thanks so much, Laura!

Mother's Day 2018

I hope all the mothers who read my blog had a Happy Mother's Day!  I did!  My son, Steve, organized the family gathering at Sycamore Hills Golf Club - the place where we've gone for our Mother's Day celebration the last four years.  They have a fabulous buffet.

I was blessed to spend the afternoon with all three of my children and their families and I couldn't have asked for a greater gift.  Lori forewent her church service to come to church with us, and Steve preached an inspiring message.  Who would have guessed that when he was a little boy and I was teaching him about Jesus, that one day he would answer God's call to ministry and guide me in God's Word!

It all began with Jerry and Me...

Then our sweet daughter Lori came along.

Then Steve [Sharon, Brianna and Brooke]

Then Jeremy [Samantha, Isabella, Landon and Ellie]

John, Tiffany and Evie couldn't join us today, but here's their family picture for Tiffany's first Mother's Day.

Evie will have her 1st Birthday on May 23rd.  A party is planned for May 26th with the theme "You are My Sunshine."

So blessed to be a mother, grandmother [Nana] of 8, and a great-grandmother to Evie.