Okay. I’m going to show my age here. When I was little – as in kindergarten little – my family would faithfully watch the Ozzie and Harriet Show. I adored Ricky Nelson. I think he was my first crush. By first or second grade I was proudly wearing my Dr. Kildare shirt, but that’s another story. Years later little Ricky came back into my life with his grown-up name. Rick Nelson. His hit “Garden Party” was on the radio today. I know his lyrics have nothing to do with an afternoon tea garden party, except for the title. But, the ideas began to flow. A garden party. I remember my grandmother loved her rose garden. She had a back porch with trellises covered in ivy. We would sit on the wicker chairs and watch the birds and butterflies in her back yard. These times were often accompanied by iced tea and a cookie. Or Heavenly Hash. A favorite snack for me. Marshmallows, pineapple, maraschino cherries, coconut and whipped cream. Yum. (She usually left out the nuts.) Sometimes she would have a few blooms that had damaged stems. She would snip these off and bring them into the house to float in a bowl of water. Peonies often received this treatment, too, and would make a lovely table decoration for a tea.
While I thought about the garden party, I thought of one of the most famous ones – the annual garden party hosted by Queen Elizabeth II. Pastels, big hats, sun dresses. Finger sandwiches and Petit Fours. I looked at Pinterest and Martha Stewart’s website and found a ton of ideas. But, Mamo’s floating flowers were my favorite. Of course, on a sunny day a big hat is a help, but not the only solution to the sun in your eyes. If you had a garden party and didn’t have a trellised porch or a big shade tree or two then you might consider going a little more beachy in the theme and putting out beach umbrellas. Or you might make canopies out of pretty cloth and poles or even invest in a garden tent. If your party extends to evening, twinkle lights and citronella candles can add ambience to the event.
If it’s been raining as much in your area as in mine, then you might want to move the party indoors. Continue with the floating flowers, or fill bowls or glass cylinders with lemons and limes and add cranberries for a touch of color. Use the lemon and lime colors or even summery pastels and florals for décor, linens and china (or paper items. There are lovely paper plates and napkins these days.) Invitations can match the color scheme and theme. You’d still like it outdoors, but have no yard? Ask a friend or neighbor if you can use theirs (set-up and clean-up is your job, not theirs) or go to a park or public garden. Picnic baskets or hampers come in handy for these outings.
What to serve? Match the theme. It could be a theme as easy as just the two of us, girl’s get-together or fun in the sun. Or more formal such as a bridal or baby shower, a royal garden party, Mad Hatter’s party, Downton Abbey or Victorian, Secret Garden or a fundraiser for a cause in which case there may be a color association.
The food? Chilled soup such as Gazpacho or Vichyssoise, mini quiches or tea sandwiches, Petit Fours or individual fruit tarts. I thought of cup cakes or individual cakes, but on a warm day the icing may not hold so well and ice cream may melt if not properly cared for. Iced tea and lemonade would make wonderful beverages. Use your imagination. A garden party is basically a picnic. Pay attention to how you will keep cold foods cold and how to prevent spoilage of not only the food but the event. A garden party can be a fun dress-up event or even a great casual event. The choice is yours. The main thing is to enjoy.
Garden Party
by teaattheunicornwineguildllcJane Austen
by teaattheunicornwineguildllcThis week marks the 200th anniversary of the publication of “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen. What a perfect time for a Jane Austen celebratory tea. “Pride and Prejudice” is downloadable for free from Parade magazine and Amazon. Invite your friends for an afternoon of discussion and enjoyment. Discuss the book or watch the movie while you enjoy refreshments. You might even want to dress in period costume and read portions of the book in review. Tea Party Girl describes the setting for the tea party and gives recipe ideas. Food TV has a great collection of recipes. Even Pinterest has a collection of wonderful ideas for a “Pride and Prejudice” tea party. Jane Austen is celebrated at Jane Austen.org with free online copies of her books, a virtual tour of the settings of her books and information on the fashions of the time. Jane Austen died at the age of 41, before afternoon tea became fashionable. I’m sure, however, she would have enjoyed the tradition. While time may be too short to actually get the invitations, the costumes, the setting ready for a tea this week, there is time to fix a cuppa,and maybe a scone, find a cozy couch and lap robe (maybe even a lap cat, too) and begin reading “Pride and Prejudice.” Let yourself drift back in time and enjoy one of the most famous regency writers ever.
Holiday Tea Party Themes
by teaattheunicornwineguildllcThe holidays are here and you want to spend some time with your friends. You feel you should host a party, but don’t have the funds for a huge holiday blast. An afternoon tea can be more relaxed and can even provide a sense of accomplishment. Here are several ideas other than the traditional tea. If you have a Christmas set of dinnerware, use it. You can decorate in the traditional red and green colors or expand to the new themes of lime and blue, blue and silver, brown and cream or whatever you desire.
Tree trimming. This theme can have a variety of sub-themes. You can decorate your tree, make it a progressive party and decorate each others or decorate a tree for charity or for a shut-in or care facility. In our area there is a tree decorating contest each year with the trees being auctioned and the money going to a charity. If you do decorate for a shut-in be sure to arrange to take them down after the holidays.
Card writing. This is a great time for each of you to do those special cards for family and friends. You can meet at someone’s home and each of you provide part of the needed items. Someone might buy the postage stamps, someone may be into scrapbooking and have colored pens, stickers, and other embellishments for the cards. Someone may bring the cards and others might bring the food. Have a fun time for the afternoon. Have a table to place the cards while they dry. Have a table for the food and plenty of work space. Already have your list done? Send cards to shut-ins or to our military personnel away from home.
Peppermints and the Nutcracker Suite. Use peppermints for decorations, as table favors, and in the foods served. The either go to the live performance (or have the tea after the matinee), what it on TV or just listen to the music in the background as you share an afternoon of catch up.
Exchanges. There can be several types of exchanges. Cookies, ornaments, tea cups, tea (a great way to sample new teas without having to buy a lot), gifts, books and more. Bring enough for each person of whatever you are exchanging plus one for sampling at the event – or bring two. One for those present and one for a shelter or charity.
Christmas Bling or Divas. This is the time for you to bring out the best, or worst, in you. Dress up in your antlers and jingle bells, the holiday tiaras and the blinking Rudolph pin. It’s up to the hostess as to whether she was classy or campy for the party. There could be prizes. Or maybe you dress up and go to tea out in public. You don’t have to be a Red Hatter to do this.
Candles and Firelight. Ward off those dreary days and evenings with a table set with candles and a cozy fire burning. Candles bother you? No fireplace? Bring on the twinkle lights.
Christmas Carols. This theme could also mix with some of the others. Enjoy the tea and add a caroling event to a nursing facility or hospital. You’d look great in your Christmas Bling. Or just sing along around the tea table.
Traditions Around the World. Each person tells about a tradition, either their family one or each study a culture’s tradition. Great theme for a club meeting.
Afternoon at the Movie. Enjoy tea while discussing the movie you just attended or while watching one on TV. maybe the Downton Abbey Christmas Special (dress in the theme), Christmas Vacation, It’s a Wonderful Life, etc.
Friendship Tea. This is pretty much your traditional tea. You can share any of the exchange, the carols, etc. This is a time to renew a friendship with someone who’s moved back to town or is in town visiting or even that new family that just moved into the neighborhood.
Victorian Tea. Share the tradition, the dress, the food of the Victorian era. Maybe combine it with a movie, book review or songs related to the era.
Where’s Santa. This is like Where’s Waldo. The person who finds the most wins a prize. Decorate with Santas, hide a Santa, and wrap gifts in Santa paper. This could also be the theme for a tea where the attendees also bring a gift for a shelter or for Toys for Tots or the local food pantry.
It’s a Wrap. This is kind of like the Christmas card party, but you wrap presents for your family or a charity. This is a great time to share paper, ribbons, etc. And you might even be able to exchange storage space so your daughter doesn’t find her new doll too soon. It makes the chore go faster and maybe talents can be shared. It could even be assembly line time.
Cup of Christmas Cheer. Include a reading of the Cup of Christmas Tea. Decorate in the Christmas theme. It can be combined with a visit to a shut-in or a nursing facility.
Holiday Stress Relief. Yes. Aromatherapy, a spa day, massages, guided imagery or a Christmas Comedy. The idea is to relax, take off your shoes and enjoy each other’s company.
See the Sights. After afternoon tea, pile into the van and drive around town to take in the decorated homes, the lights in the park, etc. Then finish with another cup of tea before parting company for the evening.
I hope you find these ideas helpful. Have a wonderful holiday season. Merry Christmas.
I admit it. I’m addicted to books
by teaattheunicornwineguildllcYes, I admit it. Books. I’ve loved books since I was big enough to turn the pages on my Dr. Suess books. My parents made sure my brother and I were surrounded by books. My great-grandparents and grandparents also left shelves of books with leather covers and gilt edges when they moved on. My library has also grown and parting with a book for a book sale is sometimes difficult.
There is nothing better than curling up on the couch – or even comfy in bed – with a nice cup of tea, the cat, and a good read. I have lots of tea books for reference. But, when I want to relax, a book is the number one way. It used to be historical romances, then Star Trek adventures. Now, it’s a good cozy mystery. Laura Childs and Joanne Fluke book releases are circled on my calendar.
I was devastated by the closure of the local Borders. A large green tea latte’ and a few minutes to wander the store relaxed me from the hours working in surgery and transitioned me to working on the winery. And, of course, there is a stack to be read on my bedside stand. I took advantage of the sale as the store closed.
Other people may leaf through decorating books. Personally, I love to read about afternoon teas. And while e-readers are the future, I still like the feel of paper. When I lamented to a customer that I missed my Borders and found out that the remodel was not for a book store, he told me to get over it and get a Kindle. I have an e-reader. I’d rather have a book. OK, I’m old fashioned. And I have a library as big as a small town’s. Is that such a bad thing?
A cup of tea, a furry companion, a book, a comfy warm spot. Bliss.
A Winter’s Afternoon
by teaattheunicornwineguildllcLooking out at the snowflakes drifting down reminds me of a favorite past time as a young woman – before life became so hectic. On a winter weekend where the snow was falling and the wind was blowing, I would fix myself a cup of tea and make cinnamon toast. A piece of white bread, or wheat, slathered with butter and topped with cinnamon and sugar, would be placed on a piece of aluminum foil and watched carefully under the broiler until it bubbled and browned. Add to that a cozy book or favorite TV movie, a comfy chair or sofa and a lap robe and I was set for the afternoon. If I wanted to really be special, I would make a pecan pie from scratch using my mother’s recipe (substitute maple syrup for Karo) and with the leftover pie crust make cinnamon roll-ups using the same butter, sugar and cinnamon mixture. These cookies and a cup of tea and a good book made for a great winter’s treat. I’ll have to take the time to do that again. Soon.
Afternoon Tea at the Unicorn Wine Guild
by teaattheunicornwineguildllcWe were pleased to have our first “cotume” tea at the Guild a couple of months ago. One lady and her daughter arrived in their Vicotrian finery and I was in my Edwardian tea costume. The other attendees were dressed in their afternoon tea finery. Our newest employee, Stephanie, served up a delicious meal complete with cucumber sandwiches, scones and other goodies, finishing with wonderful handmade tea chocolates. Please visit our website at www.unicornwineguild.com to find out about future tea events.
Just what should I call this tea party?
by teaattheunicornwineguildllcMost people think of “tea” as an afternoon event. However, a tea can be held just about anytime. But just what does one call it?
Elevenses is like an America’s “Coffee Break” and is usually a small snack between breakfast and lunch. This is a good tea for beginners to serve.
Cream Tea is an easy to do event consisting of scones, clotted cream, marmalade, jam, curd and tea. This is a good starting place for a beginner. It is an informal event and is easier to plan and prepare.
Low Tea is also known as Afternoon tea and is really a meal. It consists of scones, sandwiches, and a dessert or two in addition to tea. It is called “low tea” because it is not served at the dining table, but in a more informal setting using side tables.
High Tea is a full evening meal and usually meat and potatoes or other substantial foods are served in addition to the other foods. It was originally a “working class” meal, but now has a connotation of elegance. In earlier times, the”rich and famous” would often have a High Tea on Sundays when the servants had the day off or lighter duties. It is also called a “man’s tea.”
Royal (or Royale) Tea is a social tea with champagne being served early in the meal and sherry at the end of the event.
Tea at the Unicorn Wine Guild 