tea and roses |

my friend sharla asked me to help her plan our friend janean’s baby shower. it only took two seconds thinking about before i had my heart set on an english tea party in a rose garden. and then the ball was rolling.

sharla had an amazing and gracious friend who let us use her back yard. the church lent us tables. our host had all the linens and chairs. another friend brought the mass quantities of snack sets. everything went together lovely.

best of all i could tell the girls were utterly transported.

i think it was something they will always remember.

even judith was stoked.

sharla and i had so much fun planning. i drove out to her house and we went through her storage shed collection of china. not everyone keeps tea service for 40.

there she is. a glutton for punishment that one. she can hardly stand it.

she arranged the loveliest victorian table settings. my dear husband even pressed and folded 40 cloth napkins. he only does that when i’m pushing critical mass.

i re-used both the girls’ buntings on the gazebo.

a tour of teacups. i had a set of 12 of these. now i have 5 since the bottom of the box dropped out and sayonara.

the kids had a whole miniature service.

this green one (was) my favorite.

it’s a good thing there were so many flowers. the girls couldn’t keep their hands off them. fortunately i don’t think they made a real noticeable dent.

here is janean expecting number four. (sharla, by the way, had her boy last week. janenan is still packing.)

i got up that morning and baked a pile of blueberry scones. sharla made lemon lavender shortbread cookies and fruit salad. someone else brought cucumber sandwiches. and best of all, my friend kimberly made clotted cream. i’m thinking i should go back in time.