Tea Party by Shanna Hatfield

I don't know what it is about the month of May, but it makes me think of tea parties.
 
As a little girl, I often set up tea parties my niece (only four years younger) and I enjoyed using my very best plastic play dishes. Then my grandma gave me a child's set of Blue Willow dishes.

 

To say I was excited would have been a gross understatement. I set up tea parties every opportunity I could. We dined on such delicacies as cheddar cheese and saltine crackers, but they tasted so much better on the pretty dishes.

Everything about the idea of a tea party appealed to me - the beautiful dishes, the delectable treats, the opportunity to dress up.

When I started working as a newspaper reporter, I volunteered to cover any "teas" or similar social events because I loved going to them. 

The year my cousins decided to host a tea party, I drove four hours one way just to attend. Scones, quiche, fresh fruit that was so flavorful, tea sandwiches and decadent desserts as well as some really tasty tea comprised the menu. The table was set beautifully. The three hostesses pulled out their mom’s china and tea sets. It was so special to use those dishes because it made it seem like a Aunt Louise was there enjoying the party right along with us even though she'd passed away several years prior to the event.

We all were asked to wear a hat and that in itself was a hoot. Those who didn’t have hats were able to choose one from a vintage collection a cousin borrowed from a friend.

This is my most wonderful Aunt Robbie and my cousin Julie. The two of them are silly and amazing. Which makes for a lot of fun at family gatherings. It also made for some fun photos at the tea party. (And seriously, everyone needs an auntie like mine.)

Another fun tea party came in the form of a bridal shower. We are all asked to wear a Victorian hat. Of course I was game for the idea.


Guests walked in the door to find this absolutely gorgeous table.

 

And I fell in love with this tea cup. It was so pretty. I briefly considered if the hostess would miss it if it accidentally climbed into my purse and went home with me. It stayed behind when I left, though.

I think, more than anything, the idea of a tea party makes me smile because it provides a hint of the elegance of yesteryear. It also allows us, for even an hour or two, to recall those wonderful adventures and dreams we had as little girls, envisioning our futures as we poured tea and ate crackers.

To celebrate the release of my latest sweet romance novel this week, I'm hosting a Tea Party on Facebook this Friday, May 13, from 10-11 a.m. (PT). I hope you'll join in the fun!

What about you? Did you play tea party as a little girl? Have you ever attended or hosted one?

~*~

 

Convinced everyone deserves a happy ending, hopeless romantic Shanna Hatfield is out to make it happen, one story at a time. Her sweet historical and contemporary romances combine humor and heart-pumping moments with characters that seem incredibly real.

    When she isn’t writing or indulging in chocolate (dark and decadent, please),  this USA Today bestselling author hangs out with her husband, lovingly known as Captain Cavedweller.

 

  Find Shanna’s books at:

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