Monday, May 19, 2014

Tea by Three's Closing Sale

As King Solomon once said, "To everything there is a season..."  And so it is with Tea by Three tea room in Clinton Township, Michigan. The tea business began in 1999, and I attended my first Garden Tea there in 2002.  I returned for a private tea with my three granddaughters in the summer of 2004.  Even though the girls are 17, 18, and 22 years old now, they still remember their tea party in Cheryl Nix's adorable Teacup Cottage.


~ Our tea party for four ~

[L-R: Marissa, Brianna, Tiffany and Me]

Shortly after that tea party, I retired from a long-held job to pursue my interests in the world of tea.  Cheryl asked if I'd like to help her at Tea by Three, and I was there until 2009. The tea room was always an enjoyable place to be, and I took my camera to almost every tea party to capture the beautiful tablescapes and themes in photographs.  

I remember the grand opening of the Sun Room overlooking the gardens for the 2004 Christmas Tea. In 2005 there was a February "Dreaming of Chocolate Tea," an Easter and Jewish Passover Tea, an elegant dinner on board the Titanic where First Officer Charles Lightoller was portrayed, a special Henry & Clara Ford tea in July, and a Halloween "Mourning Tea" in October.

 [Cheryl Nix, owner]

In 2006 I typed a commemorative cookbook, "A Year of Themed Teas at Tea by Three." It began with an "I Love Lucy" Chocolate Valentine's Tea, and a second Titanic event where the "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" was portrayed. May featured a Mother's Day Apron Tea. Summer provided four beautiful outdoor teas - a Victorian Wedding Tea in the Rose Garden; an American Girl Garden Tea; Fairies in the Garden Tea; and a Lavender and Lace Tea. In the fall the teas resumed in the Sun Room with a Japanese Tea and the portrayal of a Geisha Girl. A Halloween and Christmas Tea finished out the year.


[Me at the Mother's Day Apron Tea]

2007 featured a Gone With the Wind Tea with Scarlett O'Hara, and many other lovely theme teas. Over the past fifteen years Cheryl has created wonderful tea time memories for countless people.

When I read an e-mail announcing her closing sale, I went last Friday.  Unfortunately, the sale had been in progress for three weeks, so many things had already been sold.  Below is the green house where some of the tea wares for sale are displayed.


I purchased a lovely chintz snack set.  It was bargain priced at $8.00 and I wondered why no one else bought it before me, but I'm glad they didn't.   


~ Backstamp ~



I also bought two Titanic items. Who knows, a Titanic theme tea might be in my future.  If not, they're a nice keepsake from Tea by Three's Titanic teas.



Thanks for the memories, Cheryl and Tom.  I wish you much happiness in wherever the "next chapter" takes you!

*  *  *

Today I'm joining Rose Chintz Cottage for a Victoria Day Tea


Sunday, May 18, 2014

Sunday Reflection...

One of my daily devotions this week was about keeping a clear conscience. Oswald Chambers said the conscience is the eye of the soul [the immortal, spiritual, and immaterial part of man's inner being].  The conscience attaches itself to the highest standard one knows.  As a believer and follower of Christ, the highest standard is God's, found in His Word. 


May the Apostle Paul's aspiration stated in Acts 24:16 be mine:  "So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man." [NIV]  Then I can sing with the songwriter, Horatio Spafford, who penned the words to the beautiful hymn, "It is well with my soul."

May God bless your week!


Friday, May 16, 2014

An Elegant Affair of Roses and Royalty - Part II

After a delicious tea luncheon, everyone was ready to enjoy part two of the event.  


Kirsten began the program with a beautiful solo, "Fly Me to the Moon."


Let the fashion show begin... black and white are trendy this year.


Miss Michigan modeling a coral lace dress - both the color coral and lace are 'in' this spring.


More black and white.


Expect to see nautical and patriotic colors this spring and summer.


A retro style dress.


Black and white top with red capri pants.


Molly, Miss Downriver [pictured below] will be competing for the 2014 Miss Michigan title.


Miss Michigan 2013 modeling a Joseph Ribkoff dress.


The fashion show also included some adorable junior models.





This black dress is made with a jersey fabric, which we'll see a lot of this year.


This beautiful model is a mother of five!


Beautiful!


Here's Molly again, and glitz is definitely in style.


Miss Michigan 2013 


Love this black and gold gown.


The final gown of the fashion show.



Below Kirsten is wearing the gown she wore when she was crowned Miss America 2008. She's presenting all the models with a red long-stem rose.


Kirsten posed for photos when the fashion show concluded.  Isn't she beautiful!


~ Kirsten and me ~


I hope you enjoyed attending An Afternoon Tea with Miss America via my blog!


Thursday, May 15, 2014

An Elegant Affair of Roses and Royalty

After four months of planning, the day finally arrived for the elegant Afternoon Tea with Miss America 2008, Kirsten Haglund.  Committee members arrived at Glen Oaks Country Club at 8:00 a.m. today to oversee last minute details before the Market Place opened at 10:00 a.m. with six vendors.  What event would be complete without giving ladies an opportunity to shop?


The Country Club is a beautiful English-style stone building.



~ Glen Oaks is a Michigan Historic Site ~


Calendar Girl's booth - beautiful vintage jewelry and accessories.


~ Janet Wedell with Premier Designs Jewelry ~


Below are the tables with Silent Auction items.  The clothing racks in the background were from Joseph Ribkoff and The Clothing Cove, who presented the fashion show.


~ One of the Gift Baskets ~


Another Silent Auction Item - An Enchanted Fairy House


Special raffle items. All proceeds from the event went to the Kirsten Haglund Foundation which provides treatment for individuals struggling with eating disorders and body-image issues.


Committee members pictured below [minus Iora Haglund].  Linda Pudlik [center] was the event coordinator.


~ Ladies in charge of registration ~

[L-R:  Me, Mary, Judy and Suzanne]

Haley Williams, Miss Michigan 2013 [center].  The girls on each side of her will compete for the 2014 Miss Michigan Title - Left: Victoria Lines, Miss Saginaw, and right Tiffany Rogers, Miss Capital City.


An exclusive VIP Reception was held from 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.  It included a glass of champagne, and a meet and greet and photo op with Kirsten.  Below is Kirsten's Miss America crown. 


Carolyn [left] chatting with Kirsten before having her picture taken with her.


Strolling musicians at the event.


Everything's Coming Up Roses!


~ Beautiful tablescapes ~



Each table was given a name instead of a number.  My table's name was "Goodness."


Beautiful red napkins were folded into the shape of a rose in keeping with the theme, "An Elegant Affair of Roses and Royalty."


The tea luncheon began at 12:00 Noon.  Below is the event program cover.


Approximately 200 ladies [and a few gentlemen] attended the lovely event.


The tea began with Sweet Royal Delight Tea [a black flavored tea] served with a Blueberry Scone, Lemon Curd and Devonshire Cream.


Next was a delicious "Michigan Salad" with dried cherries and candied walnuts, served with raspberry vinaigrette dressing.


The main entree was Chicken Strudel, Broiled Tomato Parmesan, and Green Beans with Wild Mushrooms & Leeks.


~ Dessert was Chocolate Biscuit Cake ~


Following the meal Kirsten sang, then there was a beautiful fashion show - tomorrow's Part II blog post.  Please come back!