Lori's Birthday Teas - Part II

By the time the third tea came around [2009], I was into making invitations and a menu booklet to coordinate with the theme.

The menu booklet sat on an easel on the table surrounded by colored Mardi Gras beads and feather masks.  The booklet contained the history of Jackson Square in New Orleans, and how it was modeled after the famous Place des Vosges in Paris, France, information about New Orleans cuisine, and the tea party menu: Chicken, Sausage & Shrimp Gumbo, Muffuletta Salad, Po' Boy Roast Beef Sandwiches, Beignets [in place of scones], Bananas Foster Bread Pudding w/Bananas Foster Sauce, and Iced Sweet Luzianne Tea and French Caramel Creme Brulee Hot Tea.

My inspiration for New Orleans was a chalk drawing of Lori when she was four years old.  We were vacationing in Louisiana and made a day trip there.  Local artists lined the black iron fence on the outside of Jackson Square in the French Quarter.  It was SO hot and humid that summer day, but Lori sat still while the artist drew her.  I framed it for the tea party and then sent it home with her afterwards.

I used luggage tags [for the imaginary trip to New Orleans] as the napkin ring, place card, and favor.

I also attached a musical charm to the handle of the teacup for everyone to take home.

The only food item I got a picture of was the Beignets, and that's because I took it before the tea party started.

Lori's two daughters, Tiffany and Marissa attended the tea party along with Ruth and Betty. Betty arrived a bit later so she's not in this photo.

2010 was a Parisian Musical Par-Tea
~ Invitation Cover and Menu Card below ~

An Eiffel Tower trimmed with pink flowers was the centerpiece, along with black and white Eiffel tower candle holders.  I dusted the rims of champagne flutes in pink sugar for our beginning toast of Sence Rose Nectar and Sparkling White Jasmine Tea.  In the photo below you'll notice a teacup with a brulee spoon sitting on top, and a brandy warmer next to it.  That was for our flaming oolong tea served just before dessert.  The hot tea throughout the meal was Mariage Freres Earl Grey Silver Tips, and the iced tea was French Caramel Creme Brulee.

Silk rose petals were sprinkled on the table top.

Regrettably, I didn't take any photos of the food at this tea either.  We began with Soupe A L'Oignon [French Onion], Cream Scones with Blackberry Jam, and our main entree was Ouiche Lorraine [recipe from Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking book.  It was SO good!].  Our cheese course consisted of Le Roule w/Herbs and Toasted Walnuts, Brie on a Baguette with Fig Spread, and Emmental with Champagne Grapes.  Dessert was Eclairs and Madelines.

Along with Ruth, Betty, Tiffany, and Marissa, Melissa, a Pediatrician at the Children's Clinic where Lori works also came.

Three more teas will follow in another post to finish up Lori's birthday teas.  I'm signing off now to go up to the hospital to see Lori.  She had knee replacement surgery this morning. My hubby and I were there at 6:30 a.m. to be with her before surgery, and I just got a text that she's out of recovery and in her own room now.

Special Guests for Afternoon Tea

My daughter was blessed to take piano lessons from two lovely, talented ladies when she was growing up.  If you've followed my blog for any length of time you'll remember that when Lori turned 40 I wanted to do something special to celebrate her milestone birthday.  One day she casually mentioned that she hadn't seen Ruth and Betty for a long time, and it would be so nice to see them again.  That was my inspiration for hosting a surprise birthday tea party with both teachers present.   

That party was in 2007!  My, how time flies!  The tea parties turned into annual events thru 2013.  In 2014 my mother was in hospice at the time of Lori's birthday so I didn't have a tea party that year. Four years have lapsed now since we've celebrated Lori's birthday over tea.  But I recently received a phone call from Ruth saying she and Betty wanted to come to The Whitney for tea.  I was so glad to see them last Thursday, and so honored to be able to serve them tea again.  They're such special ladies!

Ruth [left] taught Lori in her elementary school years, and Betty [right] taught her when she was in middle school and 10th grade.

The Whitney has a baby grand piano in the Great Hall, so when Afternoon Tea was finished I got permission for each of them play something. Mr. Whitney had two daughters who were accomplished pianists, so if his spirit still inhabits the mansion [as has been said ;-)] he surely would have enjoyed their playing.

Just for fun I'm sharing photos from Lori's past birthday teas.  Maybe I'll be inspired to get back in the groove and host one for her birthday this year!  

2007's tea was rather basic, but they progressed into something nicer each year.  The theme for Lori's 40th birthday was a Black and White Music Tea.  

The centerpiece was a baby grand piano music box [a gift to Lori from me] and a picture of her playing a baby grand piano at her first piano recital [second grade].

A "Warm Welcome" Cinnamon Roll began the tea party in place of scones.  I ordered special keyboard china for the occasion, and made musical placemats.

 Rhapsody Strawberry Soup.  Hot and iced tea was served throughout the meal. 

~ Sonata Bartlett Pear Salad with Sugared Walnuts and Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing ~

Savories:  12:00 o'clock position - Steinway Key [Turkey, Cheese & Olive Tapenade], Opus Sandwich [Carrot &  Pineapple], Treble Clef Stuffed Tomato, and Concerto Sandwich [Curried Egg Salad]. 

~ Symphony Brownies garnished with White Chocolate Musical Notes ~

~ 2008 was a musical theme too, but with a different tablescape than 2007 ~

I purchased a musical teapot, sugar, creamer and teacups for this tea party.

~ Lavender Cheese and Crackers ~

~ Coconut Scones ~

~ Tomato Dill Bisque Soup with Teapot Crouton ~

~ Fruit Bouquet Salad ~

~ Jasmine Green Tea Sorbet ~

[Palate Cleanser before Main Course] 

Steinway Key Sandwich, Curried Egg Salad Sandwich, Avocado Salad w/Sesame Green Tea Vinaigrette, and BBQ Shrimp on Creamy Grits.  [I must have really liked the sandwiches in 2007 to repeat them again in 2008!]

Desserts:  Shortbread Lemon Square, Earl Grey Chocolate Truffle, and Pecan Tassie.

After our tea meal we went into the living room where Ruth and Betty played the piano and Lori sang [after some coaxing], "His Eye Is On The Sparrow" - a favorite religious song of hers.

~ The two piano teachers playing a duet ~

~ Lori ~

The theme for 2009 tea was "All That Jazz", and we traveled vicariously to New Orleans.  Since this post is already quite long I'll continue the teas in a subsequent post.

Church at the Ball Park

Once a year in the summer, our church has a non-traditional service where friends, neighbors, and family members are invited to worship with us in a setting where they'd be more apt to come.  Today was that day.  Families have begun attending our church through this type of outreach.

The place was Jimmy John's baseball field in Utica, MI, home to four teams that play in the United Shore Professional Baseball League - an independent baseball league.  

We were blessed with another beautiful, sunny, summer day.

~ Our Greeters ~

~ Ushers ~

The man who coordinated the event on left, and Jerry on right.

Sharon [our daughter-in-law] and Brooke had the children in their own play area.

Pastor Steve chatting with one of our members before church began.

The Worship Team rehearsing.

Pastor Steve and Worship Team praying before service began.

Service began at 10:00 a.m.

Charlene [in worship team below] sang the National Anthem when the baseball game began at 1:00 o'clock.

~ Mom, Son/Pastor, and Dad ~

When the service was over we had tickets for a yummy buffet lunch at the ballpark.  Madison, one of our little girls, got to be a bat girl during the game.

Steve with two of the baseball players.

It was a complete surprise to Steve when they asked him to throw out the first ceremonial pitch.  I took a pic of him warming up his pitching arm.  He loves baseball, so this was a wonderful memory for him.

Picture of him throwing the pitch as it appeared on the electronic board.

It was a great morning and afternoon for Orchard Ridge, and I'm so glad God isn't confined to the four walls of a church building [or in our case a school] where we meet to worship.