What is all this madness???

For those that may be new to this site. I want to give you a tad bit of background regarding the "Tea Group" that I am involved with.

I am part of a small gathering of ladies that joyfully started a "Tea Fellowship" about two years ago. We all have strong interests in "all things" regarding Tea.

We like the romance that is involved in the drink itself and the history, and the foods.
We enjoy sipping various blends of tea, while telling news of our lives and loves, ( loves, consisting mainly of our families) and enjoy trying to solve a few of the "world's problems."

Our dear Tricia, "Composed" our group's name...and it is both regal..and fitting.
We are appropriately dubbed......
"The Royal Court of Tea Sisters."

We hold annual tea "events" have done various things. as a group. (Diane, Tricia, Marsha, Christy, Joyce)
We have traveled to sites for special events...we've driven to Tea Rooms in other cities, but mainly we hold causal "Teas" at each others homes like the Valentine's Tea we held in February at our friend Diane's house.

This past Sunday was "my turn" to host our tea and we had decided months ago...at Christmas actually, to invite "guests" to this tea party.

Now one thing we have learned in our tea group is not to place the entire food burden onto one person. We did that in the past and now we have changed it so that we ALL make a "sweet and a savory" to bring to our teas.

This tea I made small "Tea Cakes" with seedless blackberry filling, that were dusted with powdered sugar.



I purchased this pan at "Williams Sonoma" early last year sometime specifically with our teas in mind, yet, I had never made the Tea Cakes for not one of our teas yet..so I decided to make them this go around.

For my savory I made these "Roast Beef" sandwiches with a "horseradish and mayonnaise spread"..they were sooo tasty.


The "Guests" are beginning to arrive...
Let me see to them now, and I will be back later with more food and photos!

Oh, but before I go let me quickly tell you to visit my good friend Marsha's
BRAND new "Tea Site"..she just had a tea giveaway. Stay tuned because I know she will be doing this again.
Believe me...this lady makes THE BEST cucumber sandwiches in the entire world. And she makes a fabulous pot of tea too!!!

Please go visit her at..
"The Hope Chest."
Tell her I sent you over. She will be THRILLED to hear from you.

~Christmas Tea~

Our little "Tea" group met together last Saturday night at our good friend Marsha's house. Regardless of the fact that it was raining hard, as it had been for DAYS.
The evening was so wet and cold and dark...but inside of Marsha's house....it was cherry, warm and cozy!


We all each prepared a "Sweet and a Savory" dish to bring.......
ALL of the "Savories" were fabulous!
We dined on "mini quiche," a feta and spinach pinwheel sand which, Marsha's "WORLD FAMOUS" cucumber sandwiches...which really are the best in the world....and I made "Double Cranberry Turkey Costinis."

Well actually Don my husband made them for me because I was working and he did a GREAT job of following my instructions for making them. They were so gooooood!! (Not bragging or anything... :~)

We had scones of course, before our desserts...two kinds in fact.
Marsha made these because she's so great at doing them. She makes them all the time. I in fact have her make them for me to keep in my freezer for whenever I want one!

And now the "Sweets."
My friend Diane's "Yule Log" was so beautiful and tasted wonderful! I made the little "Cheesecakes" that were poured into molded Belgium chocolate candy, shaped molds, dressing them off with a bit of "Holly and berries," fake of course. HA!

Tricia brought the little "Bourbon Pecan Pie pieces." Wait, now I am not sure...was it Bourbon or Rum? Hiccup!
HA!They were DELICIOUS! And we couldn't taste a hint of alcohol. Whatever it was in there.Diane and Marsha, "deep in conversation."Tricia had come a bit later because she was at "Christmas Play Practice" for her church."Christy"...Marsha's sweet "DIL," came as soon as she had gotten off work at her job too. Joyce, who isn't looking so grand after working 6 hours of retail all day, and Tricia.
Two dear and happy friends, Diane and Marsha. Me, and "Becky," one of two sweet kitties that Marsha has and loves to bits.

Our little "Tea party" lasted SIX hours...good grief! I was sooo tied when I finally went home. HA! But what a great time and what great memories did I make with my dear friends.

I wanted to post these photos on here before I became much more crazed than I already am.
I will be working alot the next few days, including today...and we leave for NYC on Tuesday!

Hope to see you all again soon!
Be blessed,
Joyce

"The Royal Court Of Tea Sisters".....

Kathleen and Marsha...

My "Tea Group".....which has been rightfully dubbed:
"The Royal Court Of Tea Sisters".....met two weeks ago at our good friend Diane's house.
"Me taking photos.."
Diane set her table with a "Butterfly" theme...

Even giving us each a "Butterfly Pin" to wear...which was pinned onto our napkins at each place setting.

I haven't had time to post these photos and I have more even but at this point I want to let you know to PLEASE pray for Kathleen.....

Her husband died unexpectedly the night before last after a very short illness.
We are all in shock.
However we are comforted in the fact that Bob was prepared to leave this planet at any time and no one imagined it would have been this quickly.

~Miss Priss is DUE home from Africa in the morning!!!~ She's flying across the ocean at this very moment.
So we have been getting ready for that celebration!!!

I will show and tell more on our tea party very soon.