The kitchen is a flurry of activity. Culinary works of art are being crafted. Light, fluffy scones are baking in the oven; delicate tea sandwiches (with no crusts, of course) are placed on porcelain plates; chocolate dipped strawberries repose in the refrigerator waiting for the chocolate to harden. A kettle full of water whistles on the stove.
When all is completed in the kitchen realm, the table must be dressed. Out comes the pure white tablecloth. Next, it is accessorized with a three-tiered plate stand, place cards, tea cups, beautifully folded napkins, rose petals, candles and fancy place settings.
What does this describe?
Why, an elegant tea party, of course!
The guests arrive. It is a time of refined conversation, proper posture, and generally behaving like ladies. It is an opportunity to dress up. Why do you think girls and tea parties go together so well?
Of course, I have just described to you a fancy, all-out tea party. I wish women would do this more often, it is such fun! Planning out your menu with all those miniature goodies, and then making them (and being pleased with how nice and cute they look :-), making your table beautiful, having a chance to pull out the fine china tea set and then having friends over to enjoy it with you. It doesn't get much better does it?
I personally have a weakness for the delicate *clink* of bone china. Particularly when I replace the lid of my Royal Patrician "Summertime Rose" sugar pot pictured below. :-)
But then, tea time doesn't always have to be an elegant affair. Tea is very versatile; it can be refined or it can be comforting (or both!). You can enjoy tea on the couch with your mom, or while you curl up with a good book. Whenever you have tea, however, I absolutely recommend using a real china teacup - none of those clunky coffee mugs (why do you think they are called coffee mugs?!) or worse yet, plastic travel mugs! :-) This is a pet peeve of mine. Tea just doesn't taste good if it's not in a tea cup. The rest of my family doesn't have that problem. We bring tea with in the car on the way to church and they all get travel mugs. On those occasions I have to make do with a coffee mug *gasp*. Even then my dad calls me a purist. :-) I told him I would have a china teacup if I could.
Anyway - you get the point. :-)
Having tea regularly is a great idea too. My mom came up with the idea of having "Tuesday Tea," which is just that - tea every Tuesday. Usually it's not fancy - we use our Brown Betty teapot (not very pretty :-) and don't make the table elegant - but we DO use the china teacups!! (You are probably tired of me referring to this!). We have also thought of inviting some ladies from church over every couple months for Tuesday Tea, but have yet to put that idea into execution.
