It's Tea Party Time!

Tea parties are a special time~

My sweet friend Kathy is a master of giving tea parties. She's given them for her grandchildren in their younger years and continued to young adult age. So she is writing this week's blog. Thank you, Kathy.

Tea parties with my grandchildren began organically.

Before my grandchildren were born, I started collecting pretty teacups in antique stores and whenever I traveled. I treasured each one and was especially proud of a tea set I purchased at Herrod's when I was in London. I had no real purpose for my tea things in the beginning. My collection was simply pretty to me; but the idea of carving out time for tea both intrigued and comforted me.

"Come and share a pot of tea, my home is warm and my friendship's free."

Before I knew it, I had four grandchildren, three girls and one boy. We all lived in different cities and their visits to my home were infrequent and sometimes hectic. I remember the first time I gathered those four little cousins for tea. I let them choose their cups and our "tea" was ginger ale. I made finger sandwiches and still remember their fascination with the potato sticks I served. They loved drinking out of my pretty cups and asking for "more tea please."

"It really isn't the tea, it's the spirit of the tea party."

Through the years our parties became tradition when we were together, and my grandson would be the one who would sidle up to me and whisper, "Are we going to have a tea party?" Once, we had a late night tea party totally by candlelight. One year I packed all my tea things and we celebrated with tea when we all met at a cabin in the mountains. Always we had ginger ale and potato sticks!

"Somehow, taking tea together encourages an atmosphere of intimacy when you slip off the timepiece in your mind and cast your fate to a delight of tasty tea, tiny foods and thoughtful conversation."

These gatherings become almost sacred as we quieted ourselves around a table together. There was something about the cups of china that had a calming effect on all of us. I decorated my tables, had tasty food, and we would take turns drawing conversation topics from a bowl in the center of the table. Conversation pieces like:

• Have you ever jumped in a swimming pool with your clothes on?"
• What do you like best about your Mom?
• Do you wish you could fly?

Those questions were definitely a favorite part of the party.

​Such precious and sweet memories of those four grandchildren who are all adults now.

I think often of this quote by Saki~

"Find yourself a cup. The teapot is behind you. Now tell me hundreds of things."

Note from Gigi:

I definitely think all grandparents should have tea parties with their grandchildren...no matter the SEASON, and no matter the time, place or age of the kids. Again, thank you, Kathy, for sharing your tradition of tea parties with your grands.

And visitors to my blog, if you'd like a copy of the conversation pieces, just use the "Contact" page to write me. I'll be glad to send you a copy of the questions.

Guest blogger Kathy (Mimi) at a recent tea party with her granddaughters and a special guest.