At first I had thought to host a small tea party at home to celebrate my birthday...but in the last month or so, too many things were happening and I was feeling overwhelmed.
My son suggested holding it somewhere else...so I started scouting for a good location... I went to town in search of the perfect place and the first one struck out...the second place was closed and the third one fell in place so perfectly, that I knew it was meant to be.
My birthday was last Sunday (19th) , which was also Father's Day...so I chose to hold the tea party yesterday afternoon instead. Five of my girlfriends and I met in the Tea Room in back of Perfect Harmony in downtown Hilo.
We had a cozy corner and 'perfect service'... I had selected 'Lemon Ginger' and 'White Peony' as the two teas we would enjoy during our party.
My niece and godchild, Madeline (*aka Ming) baked and decorated the most beautiful 'tea themed' cookies...in Miami...and shipped them (each inside a little sealed cellophane bag to keep them fresh)...and they arrived just in time! She also sent me the little boxes, which I put together, in which to give cookies for each of my guests to take home.
My friends all brought a little something to share...Brenda made her 'award winning' Cold Avocado Cucumber Soup, Fran brought delicious salted brownies, Georgia brought lemon meringues, Linda brought an assortment of nuts and Gail brought some lovely bubbly...and as Brenda pointed out...our menu was 'from soup to nuts'... (insert cookbook promotion here ;-) ...Kidding!
Our cozy little corner setting!
Gift cookies in the little white boxes...
My sister Sandra made and embroidered the napkins / tea towels for each guest to take home...Did I mention that the Rose is the flower for the month of June and Pearls are the gem stones...? Yes, I wore pearls and was given roses!
Cupcakes were made by Teena Barry of TeenasCakes...she decorated them with Sonia Roses and my favorite summer flowers, hydrangeas and sunflowers! Sorry, Teena, although I was very careful transporting them, some of them shifted in the boxes and caused little mishaps...but they were still gorgeous and delicious!
Brenda's delicious Cold Avocado Cucumber Soup
Everything is coming up dozens of roses! Mahalo Linda for the red ones and Mahalo Brenda and Kevan for the peach ones...
Not only are they lovely, but they smell delicious too!
Thank you Ming, Sandra, Brenda, Gail, Georgia, Linda, Fran & Perfect Harmony for helping me celebrate my 79th in style...