Share a creative afternoon tea table setting. Linens, serving pieces, teapots and teacup, tea accoutrements and accessories, centerpieces, tea trays or three-tiers, and more. Show one way you enjoy creating a memorable tea experience. This is your opportunity to show the world the fun you have when you create your own special tea experience. Then...invite over a friend or neighbor and share some tea together...
The forsythia is blooming and after days of rain, the sun was out and shining brightly so I decided to stage my afternoon tea on the deck. Yes, I said "stage." Now the thing is, I have already revealed myself to be a pretender after last week's confession that I am also a coffee drinker and I don't like loose tea leaves. So it didn't seem like too big a stretch to bake something and set up the deck a bit and pretend. After all, you know how I hate to miss a week!
In the middle of my preparations the carpenter called and asked about repairing the deck spindles. "Now? You want to come now? Well, okay, but how long is that going to take?" Gee, don't I sound all warm and welcoming?
Then I realized that I had a great helper on hand so out came the umbrella and the deck chairs. (Not to mention my first guest. ;>)
All we had was tea and cake...not much of a tea party, but a tea party all the same. Oh, I even dug out the sugar cubes and the sugar tongs.
Then my mother dropped by after earlier saying that she wouldn't be able to and so what had begun as a "staged event" ended in a real tea party with two guests! We wiled away a warm afternoon in May sipping tea and having extra servings of cake and both guests said that it was grand fun and that we should do it again some day. I think so, too!
Enjoy more of the Set the Table, Tea is On at La Tea Dah's Gracious Hospitality.
How fun! Most tea parties are staged, you know? Spontaneous parties are also lots of fun. Hope you enjoyed both aspects of your little party. You've long since been forgiven the coffee thing. :-)
ReplyDeleteOh, what a wonderful post! The true essence of 'tea' --- an afternoon with special people and a casually wonderful time on the patio. Sounds perfect to me! Thanks for sharing your impromptu tea party!
ReplyDeleteLaTeaDah
sounds like you all had a great afternoon.... how fun!
ReplyDeleteBeats my "tea party". Yesterday was our last CCD class of the year so I brought pizza and we sat on the grass and ate. Just me and 11 9 year olds. I had brought bottled water for them to drink and the little heathens ended up pouring it on each other and me!!!
ReplyDeleteNot quite as civilized as your get togeter, was it? LOL
Terri
I'll bet any amount of money that your carpenter doesn't share with his carpenter friends that he attended a "tea party". He'll probably just tell them you served refreshments. HA!.
ReplyDeleteEither you were up very late last night or you've used Blogger's new scheduled post feature. I'm trying it this morning, having scheduled for 6 a.m. The idea was to sleep late but here I am checking up to see if it really works!
- Suzanne
I love your post! I love having cake at a tea party. It's so yummy. Of course I'm up for cake any time. I love how you set up your party on the deck and those sugar cubes....I've never seen anything like them...They come flavored? How much fun is that! Don't you think the best parties are spontaneous? I do.....
ReplyDeleteGOsh, an honest to God teaparty...I would have come Vee! An accidental teaparty is much more fun than a planned one! That is one gorgeous tea cup...I covet it!
ReplyDeletehugs
Sandi
What a lovely unexpected tea party! I always try to offer guys working in my home some little treat even if it is just a chocolate chip cookie. I've never invited my plumber to tea but if there was cake, I'm sure he'd join me.
ReplyDeleteOh it sounds like you had so much fun! And the fact that you included your carpenter made it that much more fun. He will probably always remember the day he had tea. That's what true hospitality is all about.
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
Your tea party sounds fun and what a nice surprise for you carpenter. I think spur of the moment happenings are great and sometimes a lot more fun than something well planned.
ReplyDeleteI love it! I can't think of a better place to be than out on the deck, looking at God's creations, while enjoying a cup or glass of tea...Kathy
ReplyDeleteThat turned out to be the very best type of tea party -- unexpected, spontaneous, casual and fun! Formal teas are just that, formal and stuffy ....I'd rather go to a fun teatime like yours!
ReplyDeleteI love both coffee and tea too! Have to have my morning coffee, but I enjoy an herbal tea in the evening after dinner.
Hugs, Pat
I'm delighted I hit it right today. . .I actually had a tea party yesterday ..
ReplyDeleteI love your tea party on your deck. . impromtu visitors and all.
What fun! I'm wondering if the carpenter was OK with a teacup...or did you have to go find him a nice, honking-big mug?
ReplyDeleteA tea party on the deck is my kind of party!
It looks like you are having lovely weather there...perfect for tea parties!
ReplyDeleteHow Fun! I love a tea party - even a staged one! When they turn into the real thing - it's magical!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Penny
Now that is just lovely. Wonderful afternoon with and unexpected guest and a cup of tea. Perfect!
ReplyDeleteHi! what a wonderful post! and all your blog is terrific! I love it! I love so much the photo in your banner. you are invited- Virtual Party in 22 nd may What do you like best of your home decoration?
ReplyDeleteYou have one wonderful house, please I hope so!
How lovely... it looks on your deck...what a perfect day for a tea..
ReplyDeleteHugs
Linda
There is nothing finer than tea out on the deck, or porch in the late afternoon! You and I were on the same wavelength, I don't do "hot tea" either, but love iced tea! So my post was similar to yours! And yours, by the way, was great! :) ~Rhonda
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun tea party! I bet your handyman there would work for you again any day! Hostess with the Mostess you are!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Spontaneity...that is so me. I just love it when things kind of just fall into place. I do not relish the all the planning and fussing for a big to do, even though I seem to do a lot of that.
ReplyDeleteYou have spring flowers blooming!
I was so happy to see your forsythia in bloom, a whole lot better looking than your snow pile :0)
Hey Vee, it's looking a bit like Spring in your part of the world. Finally, right? Good old New England, ya gotta love her, she may be a late bloomer, but when she blooms, she's gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteLove your new banner by the way.
I've been reading and catching up on your most recent posts...
Blessings
Now that's the spirit--a spontaneous tea party! I think those are the most fun. Thanks for sharing the little story. I'll bet your carpenter is prompt in returning your calls--he will be expecting refreshments again!
ReplyDeleteBelieve it or not, I do try to return to Comments and answer questions or make a comment myself. It doesn't always happen so if you've really got a burning question, hit me. I'll wake up.
ReplyDeleteTerri, your comment made me laugh. You're a brave woman to go it alone with nearly a dozen 9 year olds...er heathens. ;>
C&M, those sugar cubes fooled me. I thought the brown ones were maple flavored, but it was the pink ones! The brown was an amaretta flavor...interesting for tea.
Sandi, that is just my basic Corelle set circa 1992. But I like it, too, and for deck parties, it seems the safer way to go.
Judy, truth to tell, the carpenter began his tea party with a honking big old mug of coffee, but he did end it with several cups of tea from the prissy tea cup.
KM, yes New England is finally all abloom...God's in his heaven and all's right with the world.
Thanks, everyone, for leaving a comment. Comments are day brighteners!
A precious entry! And you are very inventive. Making use of the 'first guest'! Very good thinking. :-) And I'm sure he had a ball.
ReplyDeleteMari-Nanci
Smilnsigh
Vee, you give me a chuckle! You know, tea and cake is probably what was served at the very first tea parties, so you are by no means a pretender!
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice place for tea. Our deck needs work before I can entertain out there again. Your party sounded like fun.
ReplyDeleteahhhh to have a deck again, I remember some wonderful afternoons with friends, and tea and flowers and hummingbirds, you post was just wonderful!
ReplyDeleteWhat fun I love thispost. Disappointed that I was not there.
ReplyDeleteOur Forsythia has been finished for some weeks now.
LOL, your carpenter friend! I bet he enjoyed the tea party :), top it off with a visit from your Mother, what a perfect day Vee!
ReplyDeleteSounds like fun! Forsythia blooms here in February..I love seeing it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a precious impromptu tea party! I think I almost like that more than a very prim and proper one. It seems more comfortable and inviting. Obviously, your guests felt the same!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lucky carpenter! Such a delightful way to spend the afternoon - an impromptu tea!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful Mother's Day weekend!