A Tea Party That Blessed the Hostess

While originally planning for our tea party, I figured on Autumn, Abigail, and myself, but this morning, I decided to turn it into a tea party luncheon so that Grandma and Collin would be participants as well. I hurriedly set about working in the kitchen.



Grandma suffers from osteoporosis, and takes a Fosamax pill every Tuesday. She can't eat for an hour after taking it. She usually sleeps late, takes her pill upon awakening, and then has an early lunch. I was racing because I didn't want for her to say that she wasn't going to wait on my preparations.



I was surprised that she didn't emerge from her room sooner, but the Lord knew my plans, and directed her steps accordingly. I started setting the table at quarter of noon, and she walked into the kitchen. She exclaimed, "Oh, yes. The girls told me that they were going to have a tea party today, because they baked cookies for it last night."



I replied, "We are all having a tea party, Grandma! You're invited, too. It will only be a few more minutes." She decided to watch a little of the noon news while waiting, but seemed excited rather than agitated.



As soon as I had everything ready, Collin went to retrieve Grandma. She was actually giddy. She kept saying how lovely everything was, and that she hadn't been to a tea party for the longest time.



I had set the table with the china that she had given me years ago. I covered the table with a tablecloth that Verne's Grandma lovingly stitched by hand for me. I don't have small pedestal plates, so I used a couple of tea cups to raise just a few dishes, making more room on the table. It was adorable!



Our lunch was simple fare. I served four kinds of sandwiches: tortillas spread with an assortment of ham and cheese; salami and cheese; and turkey and cheese; and peanut butter and jelly, quartered. We had Raspberry Almond Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies, Banana Friendship Cake garnished with strawberry fans, and pastel butter mints. I served peppermint tea, and English Breakfast tea. Sugar cubes were placed on the table instead of granulated sugar, making the occasion seem even more special. Grandma generally eats a yogurt with her lunch, so I placed it in a fancy dessert glass.



We talked, and laughed, and enjoyed our simple luncheon, but it seemed extraordinary. Grandma generally eats and heads back to her room for her afternoon "stories", but today, she missed them entirely as she sat with us for a full two hours and told us stories of her grandparents home, and how much she enjoyed it as a child. It seems that the Tea Party brought back memories of her grandmother's table linens, china, and even her wonderful smelling linen closet. My heart feels very full at this moment, as she seemed so truly happy during our "party".


I've said it before, but I'll say it again, for I think that it bears repeating. A small gesture toward making others feel special goes a very long way.


Here are a few places to go to get some ideas for your very own tea parties:

Tea Time Traditions
and here