Tea Parties in the Garden

June has been a busy but wonderful month so far! We have had fabulous weather, and Spring's Bloom Parade is still happening in the garden! It is always so exciting to see the parade of blooms, and as one ends, another begins. I had some dear friends and neighbors over a couple of times this past week for tea parties. The first tea party celebrated a friend for her birthday, so it was a good reason to get my garden area ready for the tea party season! 

I used mismatched teaware that I keep in the garden; it adds to the delightful whimsy of our time together.  My friend had a lot of allergies, so I came up with a dairy, egg, and gluten-free scone recipe topped with creamed honey and nuts. It was delicious! 

The open book is solar! I found the flower table runner at a thrift store years ago and use it often in my tea parties. Many years ago, I painted the flowers onto the candle vase. I love putting all these fun treasures together for a tablescape. 

Each guest chose their own teacup!

The table is set... 

The three of us with the birthday girl! She is a precious friend and neighbor, whom I love dearly, and she told me she had never had her birthday celebrated quite like this. I was so happy to bless her! 

Wild roses are in abundance this year, and their fragrance is so incredible! The air is perfumed with their scent! 

Irises blooming in such magnificent splendor! 

My heirloom peonies have the most amazing fragrance! Other varieties don't have the fragrance like these do. And they are huge! As big as a dinner plate!

You can see the peony is bigger than my hand. 

This peony is a showstopper! Its color is so vibrant that it shimmers! 

The grandgirls came out to the garden to look at my flowers and pick strawberries! 

Danika loved finding the berries (with our help) and eating them right there! My garden is free of chemicals, and what a joy it is to see my grandbabies enjoying its bounty! You'll notice Danika has a little wrap on her hand; she had a bit of a mishap as a busy toddler and will be in a cast for 6 weeks. It is not slowing her down a bit, though! 

It has been a good year so far for strawberries! I am picking several quarts a day and sharing them with the grandgirls. 

I had another tea party with some of my neighbors! It was such a delightful time! Each one brought a small dish to share. They came to the garden at 9, and there was a lovely breeze which kept us cool. We had such a special time together! 

My peonies held center stage on the table. 

A picture of the tea table setting. I use mismatched china as I think that is so much fun to look at all the different tea cups and plates. 

The ladies loved using china plates and cloth napkins! 

I quilted the little tea blocks for decor many years ago. Always fun to use them at tea parties!

The sun was setting as I prepared the tea table the evening before. Once everything was arranged, I covered it with a clean tablecloth and looked forward to the gathering ahead.

Everyone had such a wonderful time, and it was a blessing to enjoy the company of our dear neighbors. I invited each lady to share a favorite summer memory, and the stories that followed were delightful. It was a joy to get to know each of them a little better.

One lady shared how she swam in a lake filled with alligators as a child, completely unaware that they could be dangerous. Another dear neighbor, who is 93 years young, recalled growing up on the outskirts of New York City and the freedom she enjoyed there. Still another shared a memory of growing up in Idaho and the adventures she had riding her pony.

The afternoon was filled with laughter, sweet memories, and heartfelt conversation. It was a delightful gathering, and I believe every lady left feeling refreshed and blessed. I know I did!

As I reflected on our afternoon together, I realized that the tea party was about much more than tea and refreshments. It was about connection. In the busy world we live in, it was good to take time to slow down, sit around a table, and share our stories. For a few precious hours, women from different generations and walks of life laughed together, reminisced together, and learned a little more about one another. By the end of the afternoon, we were no longer just neighbors living on the same road—we were friends connected by shared memories, kindness, and fellowship. Those simple moments of conversation and connection are becoming increasingly rare, which made our time together all the more special. {smiles}


In other news....

We took the grandgirls to a local park, and Danika had the most fun playing in the sandbox! 

They both enjoyed swinging, too! 

It has been a wonderful and busy spring season so far! It is hard to believe that the official start of summer is this Sunday, which also happens to be Father's Day. My garden is completely planted now, and despite a late frost a couple of weeks ago, everything is recovering beautifully. Fresh new leaves are already appearing, and the garden is thriving once again. We have been blessed with a lovely spring filled with both sunshine and much-needed rain. Everywhere I look, there is beauty unfolding. My heart is full of gratitude for the many blessings God has given us and for the privilege of living here in North Idaho.

I hope to host many more tea parties this summer. There is something special about gathering outdoors, surrounded by God's creation, and sharing meaningful conversation and fellowship with friends. It takes a fair amount of work to prepare for each gathering, but I enjoy every part of it. Even the cleanup has become a pleasure! Who would have thought washing dishes outdoors could be so much fun? I fill one bucket with hot, soapy water and another with clean rinse water, then let the dishes dry in the warm sunshine. Once they are dry, I stack them neatly in a tote, ready for the next gathering. It is a simple task, but one that gives me great satisfaction. I am thankful my garden provides the perfect place to slow down, enjoy these moments, and share them with others. 

I also found time this week to create a new video. It is a short patriotic tribute in honor of our nation's upcoming 250th birthday celebration. As I sorted through my photographs of flags and patriotic scenes, I was reminded how grateful I am for the freedoms we enjoy and for the many sacrifices that have made them possible.

I hope you enjoy the video and that it brings a smile to your heart. As we welcome summer and celebrate Father's Day this weekend, I pray you have a blessed and memorable time with those you love. Our family will be gathering on Sunday to honor the wonderful fathers among us, and I am looking forward to spending that special time together.

Blessings to each of you, and Happy Father's Day!

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, 

and comes down from the Father of lights."

 James 1:17