The Red Hat Ladies Came!

Several months ago a long-time friend asked if I'd do a tea for her Red Hat group. The tea was last evening. The day started out brilliantly but ended up with a thunderstorm rumbling through the county right before the planned dinner hour - and yes, we were going to eat outside. But we need the rain and the group of eleven fit into the dinning room perfectly. What a fun evening - these ladies pack a mean 'WOW!' and there was lots of laughter! While I did the finishing touches, they roamed the gardens.

 Sue, in the purple top was in charge of the group.

The recipe for this delicious salad can be found HERE.

Two lovely things happened last evening - I made new friends and it made the appeal of being a Red Hatter myself very appealing! I also learned if one is below fifty years in age, the appropriate colors are pink and lavender.

I was too tired to clean up the kitchen last evening but was up this morning at 5:30 to do it...cousin Sue, should I have given you a call then? :)

doing a tea for twenty three

several months ago Vern, who is married to my cousin, asked if i would do a tea at our house for her mother, Hannah, who is celebrating her eightieth birthday this month. i've been processing this idea in my head for a while and figured this is as good as any time to dabble my feet in the 'hosting-teas-at-my-house' waters. today was the day! for a bit, it felt like going from...safe-ankle-deep-waters to...i'm-sinking-in-these-waters, but it quickly passed and i truly enjoyed it! i asked DIL M to make the sandwiches and scones to save me time but more importantly, to benefit from her creativity. i love setting up the table and doing fun foods but it all takes lots of time! i prepared most of the food the day before, leaving as little last minute things as i could.

Vern, helping with last minute details.

Hannah...isn't she beautiful?

she's in the middle of a brave fight against a recurrence of cancer.

 the day was perfect so i could set tables up on the back deck.

twenty three guests and it looks like the table goes on forever!

four generations!

enjoying a good sister-fest!

Vern was the meal hostess, freeing me up to introduce the foods and staying caught up with kitchen duties, an arrangement that worked well. and the food was yummy!

this drink came from my mother who got it from a friend and is de-lish!*

a wonderful, simple salad from a friend that got raves.

refreshing fruit with an option to eat with a dip.*

these blueberry and poppy scones made by DIL M were wonderful!

devonshire cream, blueberry jam and lemon curd* served with the scones.

cucumber on rye, chicken salad on wheat and asparagus wrapped in prosciutto

made by DIL M - sooo tasty!

lemon squares, tart cups filled with real cream, cream cheese, a little sugar

and topped with a blueberry and chocolate cookies with peanut butter filling.

and this little cutie-pootie pie was the youngest guest there -

her first tea party at her great-grandma's 80th birthday party...

how cool is that?!

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i was left with wall-to-wall dishes and a MOUNTAIN of warm, wonderful memories! i feel honored Vern was willing to 'chance' me for this birthday-party-tea. will this lead to hosting more tea parties at our home?
 i hope so! :) 

(* indicates recipe will be posted.)

...blessedness!

ox