A Ladies Spring Tea

While it seems that spring has taken a spring vacation... what with snow coming down out of the skies, this on the 13th of April... not unexpected of course, but as we have our hearts set on spring's blooms, it makes the season of "springter" seem more and more a reality. 

Just what we needed to brighten up the moody days of spring, our ladies Bible Study held their annual spring gathering with a tea, and it was a beautiful time of fellowship.  Each year the Ladies Bible study puts on a spring gathering with a different theme.  This year it was decided to hold a tea party.  So it was that each lady who attends the bible study was given a table (or two) to decorate with their own china, making it a very eclectic and special event for all involved. 

Setting up for the tea was pure delight, as each lady brought in their treasured china
sets and set their table up. 

I loved this delightful collection of china dishes. This sweet lady was gifted this set of
china on her wedding day over 40 years ago. 

I made fresh flower bouquets for each table. 

I printed up the little programs for the tea on some pretty writing paper one of the ladies
found at a thrift store.  

My china remains packed in storage, so I used teacups that I have been given through tea exchanges
and picked up at local thrift stores, as well as a set of 6 pretty pink Pyrex plates were also picked up at a thrift store.  

The centerpiece for one of my tables (I decorated two tables). 

I think we should dine on china every day, don't you agree? Food just tastes better on china :) 

 

The centerpiece for another table that I decorated. 

This teapot I found at a thrift store last fall.  It had no name on it, and I searched for a good while to find out what it was.  I finally spoke with an antique dealer who told me that it was a Coalport teapot circa 1860.  It still is in mint condition for being this old! 

Decorating for the tea was so much fun, putting different elements together on the tables.  

 

Well, I could just keep sharing picture after picture... but I think you get the picture... we had so much fun
just getting ready for the tea party, lol! 

Now the food... oh joy!  Such a lot of yumminess to partake and enjoy!

I made these cherry tartlets using cherries I had canned last summer. So good! 

Filling plates with delicious goodies... all the lovely hallmarks of a ladies tea!

Delightful finger foods eaten on china plates with a sip of tea... delight upon delight!

The tea was most enjoyable... each lady that came thanked us for all the work we had gone to, as we worked to make it such a special time for everyone.  We had a special speaker, along with a little skit and overall it was just a very enjoyable and special time for everyone.  We are already in the planning stages for another tea, quite soon.  All ladies from our local community bible studies were invited and it was nice to visit with each one, and put faces to names.  The Bible study I attend is an interdenominational Bible study.  There are 5 different churches represented at the weekly Bible study, and about 10 churches in the area had ladies attending, so it was really a special way to meet other believers in our community. 

I've come to realize that having tea with other ladies brings a special factor into the gathering, it just quiets and settles the heart to sip tea and fellowship with other ladies.  It takes us back to a gentler, quieter time without social media,  to just sit and visit with the lady beside you and share your hearts and lives together.  We didn't ask for this, but I was amazed to see that NO PHONES were in use during our time of fellowship.  Everyone was having such a great time visiting, sipping tea and sharing that phones/social media were set aside.  That was a beautiful thing to see! Most times when I visit any restaurant, at least several tables have phones laying on the table, or in the diner's hand while eating.  So I was quite thrilled to see each lady having such a grand time that phones were put away, and fellowship was a priority.  That in itself was a blessing, and I think it speaks of the quality of time that one has with fellowship over tea.  There is just something calming about a teapot, sweet and savory goodies, special friends, and chinaware that brings a soothing atmosphere to fellowship.  :)

That being said... I can't wait for spring/summer to get here so that I can have tea in my garden... soon, very soon it will be a reality!

These dwarf crocuses are popping up in my garden, and while they are tiny... their
color lights up the world around them!

Drops of pure sunshine they are!

Pockets of joy in the mostly brown world around them, bringing
the promise of spring. 

My tulips are now about 2" out of the ground, and so I think another 2-3 weeks, and I will see some blooms from the tulips, and I am really looking forward to that. 

All my "chickies" are doing wonderfully, and quickly growing new feathers.

Lots of springtime work awaits outside with pine needles that need to be raked and dead limbs and debris that have fallen through the winter that need to be picked up.  Now we just need some warm 60-degree weather for a few days to really feel like spring has arrived... until it does, I will enjoy my early spring blooms, the happy cheeps of my chicks, and the fact that snow is no longer on the ground (don't get me wrong, I love snow in winter... but in spring, I'm ready for it to go, lol!).  Blessings to all :)