Hanna’s Town Tea

Today’s event was very different but equally fun to the Candlelight Open House.  The 1910 Steel farmhouse was host to two sets of twenty-four guests for the semi-annual tea.  In years past the teas were held in the Klingensmith log house, but since the renovations had been completed, the new space was the perfect setting for the Victorian tea.  Lillian, as usual, was hostess for the event, brewing the tea, which was served in heated pots (thanks to Louise’s expertise!) and placed on the tables.

The mantles and tables were decorated for fall thanks to Paul, our resident floral expert, and they looked elegant and amazing.  Our young servers, Jamie and Aleena, assisted in serving the guests and seeing to their needs.  When the guests arrived and were seated, the ambrosia was already at their place on the table.  Once Lillian welcomed everyone, the servers carried the plates to the tiered trays on each table. 

The top tier contained scones, chocolate-tipped apricots, and sugared grapes. The middle tier held the sandwiches: chicken salad, egg salad tied with chives, cucumber on wheat-bread ‘leaves’, and date bread.  The bottom tier offered Russian tea cakes, tiny gingerbread men dusted with powdered sugar, pound cake (my absolute favorite – thanks, Lisa!), and pumpkin iced sugar cookies that looked delightful. 

The ladies (and I believe one gentleman!) consumed amazing amounts of spiced tea and enjoyed the formality of the tea and getting to know one another.  Thanks to everyone who made this event yet another vastly successful and entertaining one!