As a young child, I remember my mother buying numerous tea sets for me. There were pink ones, red ones and some with beautiful flowers all over them! I would ask all my mother’s friends to have tea with me. My memories were put on overload at the “Ladies Spring Tea” sponsored by Living Ministries Committee Member, Linda Haarstad, to benefit Living Ministries.

“Ladies Spring Tea” took place on Sunday April 29, 2012. As we prepared for the tea, Linda busily created beautiful invitations, put together a menu and even recruited 2 handsome young gentlemen to serve all the ladies; LM Committee Member, Dale Chamberlain and LM Volunteer, Dale Waddell. Every lady showed up with great anticipation of a Lovely Tea!

Now it had been a long time since charm school for me, so I had forgotten exactly where the utensils go when setting a table for evening tea. Linda gave me a crash course on Etiquette 101 and I managed to set 3 tables, prepare for a variety of teas and plate after plate of sweet and savory treats, with the help of LM Volunteer, Ted Grammount, and Linda’s friend Tawnie Villegas. I was reminded of the times my family members, my imaginary friend, Keylie, and anyone else I could hold captive, were asked to have some tea with me when I was a child. The difference this time, is that I had willing participants that actually wanted to come to a Lovely Tea!

Hot quiche, made with love by our President, Summer Clemenson, bacon-wrapped asparagus tips, and salmon pate on itty bitty peices of bread were the first served! Oh my! The sounds of laughter and happy approving groans were fired around the room like hot ammo from an expensive shot gun!

I tried to make conversation but there was a party going on in my mouth! Even as a fantastic soup creation was passed around.

White tea, Mr. Earl Grey, Dark Tea, Black Tea and many others were right on time for this party production. And the band played on with lively lime sorbet to cleanse the palates of over 30 Lovely Tea Drinkers.

The music didn’t stop there. The last movement was the ever so soulful dessert tray! As Dick Clark would say…I give it at least a 95! LM Committee member, John Coleman created a chocolate brownie that was so good, I actually saw a few ladies do a little dance while they moved on to the handmade chocolate cups filled with Bavarian Cream and fresh fruit!

LM Committee Member, Debra Lawson-Bean brought a few friends and many ideas were heard to make next year’s event an even more Lovely Tea! Special thanks to LM Committee Member, Tom Stebbins, who was a great help even with an injured leg!

Danielle Charlton of Cookie Lee Jewelry graced our presence with glorious jewelry and gave half of the proceeds to Living Ministries. Overall this may have been our greatest fundraiser ever! Our committee members worked together, our community was united, and we were truly blessed by generous guests.

Thank you to all you came and made this the most Lovely Tea I had ever been to!

Written by VP and Acting Secretary, Karen Gidderon.

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