Death by Darjeeling, by Laura Childs

A few weeks back we went on an extended weekend vacation. I was kind of feeling in the mood for a mystery and vacations call for light reading. (Why exactly are "mysteries" and "light reading" frequently joined at the hip? And why is murder a pleasant subject while on a vacation? .... No, I don't know either.)

I can't remember which blogger mentioned Death by Darjeeling but it both caught my attention and piqued my interest for a multitude of reasons. Chiefly, it was a mystery integrating the subject of tea. I figured it would be hard to go wrong.

Death by Darjeeling is the first in a series of Tea Shop Mysteries written by Laura Childs. According to my copy of the book, Laura Childs is a New York Times Bestselling Author. My paperback copy lists thirteen titles in this series and a few notes from reviewers who say that "Murder Suits Laura Childs to a Tea." (Nice.) I'll give it marks for being "diverting" and "entertaining." Death by Darjeeling didn't strain my brain and it kept me occupied which is really all I asked of it. I guess that qualifies me as being a satisfied customer in certain respects.

Theodosia Browning is the main protagonist and chief amateur sleuth of this series. She owns a tea shop in downtown historic Charleston, South Carolina and has a dog named Earl Gray. (To my friend who loves tea and Charleston, yes, I was indeed thinking of you while reading this book.) She is a single gal, and capable business owner who is open to romance if it should come along. In this particular story she finds herself stumbling across a murder during a Lamplighter Tour hosted by the local Historical Society. The victim is found dead alongside (gasp!) a cup of tea, a specialty brew created for the celebration. Theodosia and one of her employees is being investigated for foul play and she is eager to vindicate them both. Thus begins her sleuthing career.

Truthfully, I have to tell you that I was not wow-ed by this book. Yes, it hit on several of my loves: history, beautiful settings, and tea. The problem for me is just that I found the book to be "ok" and not much more than that. To my reading audience who enjoys a light mystery and these same themes in books, do be aware that there are about half a dozen foul words scattered throughout this book. They are not concentrated in an any particular area but sort of creep up on you. I wish Childs would have kept her language entirely clean, for if she had I could recommend this book without hesitation.

My other problem with Laura Childs comes about as no real fault of her own. The last mystery I read was by Dorothy Sayers and I was simply blown away by Sayers' ability to weave intellectual arguments amid her mystery. My impression of the Tea Shop Mysteries (and so many other modern mystery series) is that the authors wish to peddle stories out quickly and pigeon hole into a genre that can be easily digested by modern readers. There was not a lot of suspense involved in Death by Darjeeling and no terribly deep thoughts. I know that's being a bit harsh and unkind and I don't necessarily mean to be either. I just don't feel that Childs writes as craftily as, say, Du Maurier or Sayers. If I'm going to read a mystery I want it to be a really good one. If I want a light mystery I tend towards watching sitcoms and that gives me my "mystery quick fix." (I've long been a fan of shows like Matlock, Murder She Wrote and, more recently, Monk or Castle.) If I want to read a mystery, I favor those that are complex and thought provoking.

To end on a positive note, I think I would like Laura Childs in person. She loves to travel, she loves to read, and she loves to drink tea. Her husband is a professor and the two of them have spent a lot of time in Japan and China. She clearly knows a lot about Charleston and is a lover of beauty. I think she would be a fascinating and fun person to spend time with which is why I don't necessarily regret reading the book (although I probably wouldn't seek out any additional titles).

Now, I have a confession to make. I had never tried Darjeeling tea before this book and in the reading of it I felt a sense of guilt rising up. (I "do guilt" really well.) I determined to locate some and give it a try. Lo and behold, on our travels we ran across this downright amazing tea shop which I gushed about over here. I tried Darjeeling as a nod to the book (and enjoyed it). So thank you, Laura Childs, for coming along on my recent journey and for encouraging me to try something new. I appreciate that.

“There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony  known as afternoon tea.”
― Henry James

Children's Tea & Etiquette

Yup, I'm one of those moms. By which I mean that I'm totally of the opinion that children can learn how to behave properly and delightfully in "adult settings." They can learn to be quiet, sit (moderately) still, hold breakable items without actually breaking them, and contribute to society in general. Can they always do this perfectly? No. They are just children who are about the business of learning to be adults. But this does not mean that they are unteachable and/or should not be welcomed in our midst.

My children, like many others (boys included), love a good tea party. They, too, enjoy the fancy table settings and fun foods. They like sampling the teas and dressing up in their fancy clothes. It's great fun! As many of you are aware, I like throwing tea parties in my home. I don't always throw teas which involve the kids. Sometimes the tea is a strictly grown-up affair and I think those are fun too. However, there is something very special in having one's children participate in life's little celebrations and a tea party is one such celebration of beauty and joy and friendship that I'd like for them not to miss out on. I really dislike excluding my kids, in part because I know that they are disappointed when they aren't included. I couldn't really include them in the fun as regularly as I do though if we didn't practice our manners "off set" so to speak. Children who are well-behaved in public are ones that have been trained in private. They aren't well-behaved naturally. They are well behaved because a lot of work went in to the training.

Please know that I don't think I have perfect children, but I do know that my kids and I have the same desire in our hearts: to do life together. That means that we do spend a fair amount of attention on eating politely and paying attention to the way our body moves so as not to break things, or disrupt times of fellowship. Every so often we'll find a decent book to read which allows us to address particular aspects of behavior in (and out of) good company. Children's Tea and Etiquette: Brewing Good Manners in Young Minds is one such book. Admittedly the cover art makes it look droll and boring but let's say that it's the inside that counts in this case.

Children's Tea and Etiquette attempts to teach children how to properly behave at a tea/special event through a story. Harry and Katy are invited to attend a tea party with their grandparents and, as they are preparing to attend, they practice their behaviors by learning a bit about:

• How to shake hands with others (and the proper way to do so).
• How to smile and make eye-contact.
• How to sit in a chair.
• How to drink a cup of tea.
• How to eat a scone.
• How to leave the table when you are done.
• Polite words and language to use.

This book also talks a little bit about the history of tea which is great for older kids but not of much interest for the younger kids.

I can hear you now, "How can anything in this book be of any interest to any kid?" This is a popular question in today's society. There is a general consensus that a.) children are not interested in sitting still and "going through motions of politeness" and b.) that children are incapable of doing so. I disagree. Children very much enjoy being involved in unique, "fancy" and creative things. A tea is rather filled with imagination if you think about it. You dress up. You create interesting foods that you don't normally eat. You create beautiful table settings and light candles. If you make it sound like a special treat, it instantly becomes one. Furthermore, children are perfectly capable of learning how to address their elders and peers politely and to be still and quiet so as to allow all types of fellowship to take place.

(Again, please don't think my children do this perfectly. They don't! But we work on this regularly and I would now contently take my children to a tea shop and can expect decent behavior from them. Perfection? No. But good behavior, yes.)

As I say, I'm a big fan of teaching kids at home and trusting them with even breakable items so that they can learn to be careful with things in their possession and control. I do allow my kids to use real tea cups when we have tea together and with others. I'm not worried if one of my cups is broken. It is easily replaceable. Replacing memories is much more difficult. In order to feel at ease in handing my children, and my children's friends, real tea cups to use, I shop Goodwill and other thrift stores. I've created a small collection of cheap-to-me cups which are beautiful but not personally meaningful. If one breaks, it breaks. A child can come to our home and feel free to use a cup and be a part of an adult event. That's more important to me that a rose covered cup remaining perfect (and unused) on a shelf. I don't want to worry about the "stuff"; I don't want them to worry; I don't want their parents to worry. Thrift shop if it'll make you feel better about creating fancy events for you and your children to enjoy!

Another thing about Children's Tea and Etiquette is that it concludes with the concept of writing a thank you note. I can't tell you that my kids enjoy writing thank you notes (or that I've ever thought to write one after being invited to an event) but the words "thank you" never offend! Teaching children to say thank you is a good habit to get into. Explaining why one ought to say thank you is an even better lesson. This book provides good food for thought in that direction.

I know this post sounds really matter of fact regarding the expected behaviors of children. I do tend to sound rather emphatic when talking about what they can be expected to do and how they can be expected to behave. But I do get so tired of hearing the message that children aren't wanted around adults that I feel rather passionate about making them a part of the action. I care about my children being involved in my life and being welcomed into the lives of others and so I perhaps come across rather strong. There is no wish to offend, but simply a desire to share the idea that children are a blessing in our lives right this very minute. They are not a future blessing, 15 years from now. I am all about sharing this book with others if it in any way helps others to see that children are a beautiful addition to both our lives and to society at large. Helping children learn how to appropriately contribute is a worthy goal in my estimation and I thank anyone who will purpose to train and teach so that we might all enjoy.

Anne of Green Gables Tea Party (2015 ed.)

This year, as every year, I like to conclude the Lucy Maud Montgomery Reading Challenge with an Anne of Green Gables tea, in honor of my favorite of Montgomery's characters. I've been re-reading Anne this past week (and enjoying it thoroughly) and found my theme for this year's party inside of it.

Unlike past teas (see 2014), this time I decided to leave my Anne paraphernalia packed away but instead try to create the mood of one of Anne and Diana's favorite places instead. Inspiration for this year's tea was found here:

"I wish time went as quick sewing patches as it does when I'm playing with Diana, though. Oh, we do have such elegant times, Marilla. I have to furnish most of the imagination, but I'm well able to do that. Diana is simply perfect in every other way. You know that little piece of land across the brook that runs up between our farm and Mr. Barry's. It belongs to Mr. William Bell, and right in the corner there is a little ring of white birch trees--the most romantic spot, Marilla. Diana and I have our playhouse there. We call it Idlewild. Isn't that a poetical name? I assure you it took me some time to think it out. I stayed awake nearly a whole night before I invented it. Then, just as I was dropping off to sleep, it came like an inspiration. Diana was enraptured when she heard it. We have got our house fixed up elegantly. You must come and see it, Marilla--won't you?" Anne of Green Gables, Chapter 8, The Delights of Anticipation

Anne goes on further in her description of Idlewild (because really, her descriptions are always quite long and ornate):

"We have great big stones, all covered with moss, for seats, and boards from tree to tree for shelves. And we have all our dishes on them. Of course, they're all broken but it's the easiest thing in the world to imagine that they are whole."

To decorate the house for the party, I simply went outside sent my children outside to collect rocks, sticks and moss covered things. They enjoyed the sunshine and collection process and then I got to pick through their collection and had the fun of decorating with it! It was easy and quite cost effective and gave things (I think) a more natural feel. Instead of turning on house lights, we left them off and enjoyed fellowship using only natural light from the windows. Even though it was daytime, I also wanted to light some candles because that just makes things feel more calm and old fashioned as a general rule. (I am a big fan of calm and old fashioned!)



The menu was kept simple to allow for things (i.e., myself) to be more relaxed. I wanted to keep it "chicken based" since chickens were a primary source of food and money back in Montgomery's day.  (See this article.) We had gluten-free cream of chicken soup and egg salad sandwiches. Fruit was used as table decor and was also included on the menu. This time I opted for two different scones, both recipes of which were found on my friend Pinterest: sour cream scones and a variant on this recipe for "Apple Pie Scones".

I was kind of stumped on what to serve for dessert. I think at teas you can sometimes have too much dessert but then you simply must do something fun and a bit unique. I pulled out my copy of The Anne of Green Gables Treasury and was flipping through it with my co-host (i.e., my daughter) who was delightedly looking at the pictures and volunteering suggestions. She thought we should serve ice cream. But of course!!!

". . . ice cream is one of those things that are beyond imagination." Anne of Green Gables, Chapter 13, The Delights of Anticipation

So we served ice cream with apple pie and raspberry tart. Why raspberry tart?

"What a splendid day!" said Anne, drawing a long breath. "Isn't it good just to be alive on a day like this? I pity the people who aren't born yet for missing it. They may have good days, of course, but they can never have this one. And it's splendider still to have such a lovely way to go to school by, isn't it?"

"It's a lot nicer than going round by the road; that is so dusty and hot," said Diana practically, peeping into her dinner basket and mentally calculating if the three juicy, toothsome, raspberry tarts reposing there were divided among ten girls how many bites each girl would have.

The little girls of Avonlea school always pooled their lunches, and to eat three raspberry tarts all alone or even to share them only with one's best chum would have forever and ever branded as "awful mean" the girl who did it. And yet, when the tarts were divided among ten girls you just got enough to tantalize you. Anne of Green Gables, Chapter 15

(Photo/quote can be obtained HERE courtesy of Cranial Hiccups.)
Note: the desserts are not homemade. My husband was all for purchasing desserts to help keep the stress levels in myself down as I was hosting alone with my three year old. Sometimes you just have to cut yourself a break!

Our guests included my daughter's friends and their mothers (who would be my friends) and so we had some special mother/daughter time. Instead of playing games, I thought it would be nice simply to relax and fellowship with one another, which is what was done. Each guest was invited to tell the others what their favorite Montgomery book was and/or who their favorite character is. Then they were also invited to share whether or not they wish they had been named something different and, if so, what. This was a hilarious exercise and I learned a few things about my friends as they shared names and thoughts that they had in their own childhood and what names they thought were particularly beautiful now. The nice thing is that pretty much every guest was thoroughly satisfied with their given name. Happy, meaningful, beautiful names!

Besides that we talked books, politics, education, crafts, food, and generally enjoyed one another's company.

Tea was, of course, served. I opted to serve an earl gray (given to me by a bosom friend of mine), a lavender red herbal tea and then the Lemon Chiffon Cuppa Cake Tea from Republic of Tea.

The last particular detail I'd like to share is that I ordered some pecan roll candies after reading Lucy Maud Montgomery's journals earlier this month, wherein she stated these were her favorite candies. (Thank you, Maud, for contributing to our meal!) Using great amounts of self-control, I waited until the actual tea party to taste these candies. I liked them! Very much!

Yum!
One of my friends also brought with her some flowers from our local Green Gables farm. (No joke! Real name!) Aren't they beautiful?

Here are some additional pictures for your enjoyment:


Note the beverage of choice "which starts with an R and a C." A must have at an Anne-related tea!

I'll leave you with this parting thought:

"I believe I could be a model child if I were just invited out to tea every day." - Chapter 22, Anne is Invited Out to Tea

Jane Austen Tea Party

For roughly one year (give or take) I, and several friends of mine, conspired to throw a Jane Austen Tea together. Three weddings and one baby later, two of us managed to pull it off. (One of us having married and then moved away! Sniff.) Excepting the moment during preparation when we realized that we had told our guests to arrive thirty minutes earlier than the time we were operating by in our minds, it all seemed to be a great success. Yet another literary tea party to check off the Themed Tea Party Bucket List.

There is not much to say in the way of a description of the event, but I do have pictures to share. Mostly our goal was to achieve some degree of elegance inside my log home. Here are a few things we came up with:

• You'll (maybe) remember my review of Tea With Jane Austen. This informed me that one of the most popular teas to have drunk in Jane's day was green tea, so naturally we served that. That tea was quite a popular choice, followed by Republic of Tea's Lemon Chiffon Cuppa Cake Tea. I'm quite sure Jane didn't experience the wonders of cake tea in her day and more's the pity. (ha) My current favorite was also served - Republic of Tea's Caramel Vanilla black tea. It is so incredibly delicious.
• The menu was comprised of Roasted Red Pepper & Tomato Soup, pumpkin and blueberry scones, ham & pesto cheese puffs and roast beef w/ blue cheese wraps.
• My friend created a Jane Austen literary quote quiz wherein we tested to see how familiar our guests were with Jane Austen's works. (Some of them are way more knowledgeable than me, by the way!)
• The Sense & Sensibility movie soundtrack played in the background. (This is really a very pretty and soothing soundtrack which allows for conversation to be had over it.)
• My friend is rather a wonder with paper crafts and she made a huge assortment of bookmarks for our guests to choose as a party favor.

Here are some of the pictures of the event.


I also learned how to carve out a lemon and make lemon bowls. Yes, it is hard at first but I got faster as I went along. The bowls contained a nutty quinoa salad with garlic sauce.

The dessert we left to professionals. We picked up a Spice Cake from a local bakery (Market of Choice) and also served Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Spice Salted Caramels. Oh yes. If you live locally and go into our Trader Joe's attempting to find said Salted Caramels you might be disappointed. If they are sold out, check in with me. I might have, um, stocked up.


We had a great time planning this tea and pulling it off. Yes, it did, in fact, spur us on with ideas for future teas (and other parties) because the party bucket list is long.

I love doing/hosting things like this!

******
Other tea related posts:

• Anne of Green Gables Tea
• Tea & Etiquette / Downtown Abbey Tea

Tea with Jane Austen

I have a new passion and that is tea.

My passion used to be Dr. Pepper, but then I married Jonathan and he didn't like coke (I say, "coke" 'cause I'm from the southwest, see?) and so I gave that up for love. I tried to like coffee but it just never happened all the way and why push things? Jonathan didn't like that either anyway. Coke Zero has been a nice substitute (after 7 years of marriage with no DP there had to be an outlet somewhere!) and tea floated in and out. I knew I was supposed to like tea because I liked books. The two go hand and in hand. Alas. I felt like a failure in the beverage department.

Then something happened. 

My friend took me to a tea house and I became instantly obsessed with the different varieties and flavors which can be made and drunk all throughout the day for my glory and benefit. (This, my friends, was all of four months ago.) Now every day you'll find me concocting new flavors as I mix and match my bags (not brave enough for loose leaves just yet) to make things like: cinnamon chocolate, chocolate rose, peppermint chocolate. (I go a little heavy on the chocolate, you see, but you would too if you tried it. And you should try it.)

So, as I say, my friend took me to this tea house little knowing that she was going to create a TEA MONSTER. But that's exactly what she did.

Since that time I have thrown two tea parties (with said friend): a Christmas one and the Anne of Green Gables one. Next on our list is a Downton Abbey tea (even though I quit watching Downton this season because I was tired of having my heart ripped out of my chest and mercilessly stomped on). (Before anyone gets upset - or not - I read every spoiler that I could find online for Season 4 so I feel up to speed and once I've calmed down from episode one I may, eventually, go on and watch some more. But as long as my emotions are in play, I will not. Besides, the Olympics are on and they are more interesting.)

But to get back to the point - I'm really into tea and have at least half a dozen themes for parties at the ready. On my list is a Jane Austen tea and so onto my Amazon wishlist went Tea with Jane Austen, by Kim Wilson. And then it arrived one day thanks to a surprise from my husband who much prefers that I drink tea and not Dr. Pepper. Or coffee. Or Coke Zero. (Ladies and gentleman, we have found our compromise!)

Here's another confession: I've never really connected with Austen. I think that's due in part to the fact that all women everywhere seem to and so I felt pressured to like her when I wasn't yet ready to. (What can you glean from my personality with that last statement?) Then, a year or so ago I re-read Emma and enjoyed it. As our family is in the planning stages for a trip to England, I've been thinking that I should read and re-read some Austen to prepare myself when Jonathan handed me Tea with Jane Austen. I read devoured this title and have begun to appreciate and love Austen because I found something in her to like and not just because I was told by society that I should (because I'm a female and Colin Firth is Mr. Darcy or something like that). You might say that Jane and I are bonding over a cup of tea.

Tea with Jane Austen takes a look at Jane's relationship with this popular beverage. She explores a little of the history of tea, explaining why it featured so heavily in Jane's works. For instance, when tea was first presented to the public it was very expensive and only the wealthy could afford to drink it. The Austen family went to great pains to purchase their tea which they kept locked up, away from the servants. Jane herself was the one who made the family's tea and approached it very thoughtfully.

Author Kim Wilson explores the social aspect of tea, how it grew in popularity, the opposition it met with and, of course, the way it was come to be taken. This is a very fascinating read not just as it relates to Jane Austen but how we, the modern reader, can relate to tea as well. There is something very relaxing about taking a cup of hot tea. For one thing, it's usually served hot so that you can't gulp it in one fell swoop. You take small sips, usually while reading a book or conversing with another. A hot pot of tea makes the world slow down somehow. Like magic. It sets one at ease in a way I've only recently begun to understand. A pretty cup in the hand delights the spirit as well as the eyes and there is encouragement in taking a moment to stop and just be.

Tea has long been linked to books, of course, and I can see now how fitting that is. You want to sit and savor the words as well as the flavor on your tongue. In a world of books and tea there is no hurry and no rush and that is the very opposite of what we're used to experiencing in our lives. It is good to be busy and to be productive but it is also important to stop and rest and fellowship. I think there is something in the practice and habit of taking tea that ministers to the soul. It gives one pause. And it's pretty. Also, it is yummy. There is nothing to complain about here.

If you love tea or Jane Austen (or probably both) then I think you'll find Tea with Jane Austen a quick and entertaining read. I loved it.

For the curious, I read the book in two sittings. The first half of the book was accompanied by a couple of cups of pumpkin spice chocolate tea. The second reading was spent with peppermint chocolate.

Anne of Green Gables Tea Party

It had to happen. I really needed to throw an Anne of Green Gables tea party this year to coincide with the Lucy Maud Montgomery Reading Challenge. I didn't have an Anne party last year and I missed it. Must have parties! Must dress up and drink out of pretty cups!

“One can't get over the habit of being a little girl all at once.”

― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Avonlea

This year my daughter was old enough to play co-hostess with me and be a part of the action which made it even more fun and special for me. Here are a few glimpses into our event.

First, we set the mood with some music. You might want to hit "play" on the following piece before continuing on with the post. We had the Anne Of Green Gables soundtrack playing in the background during our party.

  ***** The menu was designed with older and littler girls in mind. I opted for a mommy/daughter tea so that young girls could come and enjoy not only a tea party but a bit of Anne Shirley as well. (I think both are important. We have to pass these things down to the next generation of females.) The menu included baked potato soup, egg salad sandwiches on potato bread (potatoes being one of PEI's chief crops which are exported out), mini quiches and scones. I made lemon scones which were served with vanilla curd (which I hadn't tasted before but YUM) and blackberry preserves. We had brown sugar cookies ("twenty pounds of brown sugar...") and Anne's most famous drink. (I used this recipe for raspberry cordial.) Fourteen guests were in attendance and we enjoyed our tea (Chocolate Rose, Winter Spice, and Blueberry) and conversation. I particularly enjoyed being able to merge a few of my social circles and introduce a few of my "bosom friends" to one another. Very, very fun. Ever since becoming a wedding photographer I've come to deeply appreciate how you can set the atmosphere for an event with your decorations and attention to details - even in the layout of the room. I never would have thought it so important before, but taking time to make a table eye-catching really does "speak to the soul" in a way. (At least, that is very true for me.) This is not to say that the only way you should consider practicing hospitality is if you "go elaborate" because that's most definitely not true. There are times when simplicity should reign supreme.

Part of my hospitality philosophy, if you will, was shaped when I attended this conference last year. The point of the conference was that our kitchen tables are the place where we offer the greatest service and ministry to our families and to our community. How's that? Well, being that we all are designed with the physical need for food, it is the greatest way that you can connect with another and let them know that you care about them enough to meet that basic need. Buy someone a new book or a framed print or some trinket and they will enjoy it and think it lovely but it doesn't address their inner need such as serving them a meal would. It is easy for us to recognize love and sacrifice when someone else takes the time to prepare a meal for us to feast upon....one that doesn't cost us anything. We know then that we have received grace at the hands of another. We know then that if they had not made the meal for us, the responsibility would have fallen to ourselves to find the food and prepare it. A well-laid/well-prepared table as the ability to let a person know that you not only know of their need but you have worked to delight them by serving them something that they love or something that is laid out in a manner that delights their senses. Anyway, attending the conference gave me plenty of, er, food for thought on how to bless others at my table. Please understand that I am well aware of the fact that I have plenty of room for improvement! But the only way I can improve is if I have people into my home to practice on. (The glory and beauty of it is that even when I'm practicing I am being blessed by their presence and company as well! A win-win!) All of the above may sound like something of an aside and perhaps it is but that teaches does play a crucial role in my desire to have people into my home and create an atmosphere that delights the senses and allows them a few moments of peace and happy in a chaotic world.

“Because when you are imagining, you might as well imagine something worth while.” ― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

Moving on to the decor . . . I used a lot of my own Montgomery-memorabilia throughout the room.  Below on the left you can see pictured the Anne of Green Gables doll which my grandmother bought for me when she went to Prince Edward Island about fifteen years ago. Next to her you'll see my empty bottle of Raspberry Cordial which I drank when I went to Prince Edward Island for myself! On the right, of course, is the Felicity doll (American Girls) which is my new Anne. ;) I found her the blue dress with PUFFED sleeves on Amazon. I'm also a big fan of framed signs around during a party. I think they are sometimes good for a pause and at other times good for a laugh. I made the first sign you see here and the second I found on Pinterest. (I love it!)

What's a tea party without pretty tea cups? I've been collecting for a little while now. Goodwill is a favorite spot to hunt for them. (Bonus: cheap tea cups help lead to stress-free teas. Little girls LOVE using real tea cups and I'm all for letting them!) Personally I'm a fan of mismatched tea cups at a party although I have nothing against a complete set. As I don't have a rosebud spray tea set, I'll go eclectic. I asked my daughter her preference and instead of setting each table, we allows our guests to choose their own cup. My personal favorite from my collection is this one (found at Goodwill)!:

One of our guests brought some beautiful pink roses to share. So pretty I might even be tempted to put them on my hat (if I had one)!

It was not until the next Friday that Marilla heard the story of the flower-wreathed hat. She came home from Mrs. Lynde's and called Anne to account. 

"Anne, Mrs. Rachel says you went to church last Sunday with your hat rigged out ridiculous with roses and buttercups. What on earth put you up to such a caper? A pretty-looking object you must have been!" "Oh. I know pink and yellow aren't becoming to me," began Anne. "Becoming fiddlesticks! It was putting flowers on your hat at all, no matter what color they were, that was ridiculous. You are the most aggravating child!"

"I don't see why it's any more ridiculous to wear flowers on your hat than on your dress," protested Anne. "Lots of little girls there had bouquets pinned on their dresses. What's the difference?" Marilla was not to be drawn from the safe concrete into dubious paths of the abstract. "Don't answer me back like that, Anne. It was very silly of you to do such a thing. Never let me catch you at such a trick again. Mrs. Rachel says she thought she would sink through the floor when she come in all rigged out like that. She couldn't get near enough to tell you to take them off till it was too late. She says people talked about it something dreadful. Of course they would think I had no better sense than to let you go decked out like that."

"Oh, I'm so sorry," said Anne, tears welling into her eyes. "I never thought you'd mind. The roses and buttercups were so sweet and pretty I thought they'd look lovely on my hat. Lots of the little girls had artificial flowers on their hats. I'm afraid I'm going to be a dreadful trial to you. Maybe you'd better send me back to the asylum. That would be terrible; I don't think I could endure it; most likely I would go into consumption; I'm so thin as it is, you see. But that would be better than being a trial to you." Anne of Green Gables, Chapter 12"

All together, it really was a beautiful day and a beautiful tea party. Frankly, it's so easy not to do special events such as these. It's so easy to come up with excuses and find ways to be busy about other things. However, I think parties and special occasions such as these one are important to keeping community with one another. Sharing lives with our daughters and passing down traditions, both of food and literature is also important. I'm glad I didn't make any excuses this year. I wouldn't have wanted to miss out on celebrating life (and one of my favorite literary characters) with my friends!