AURORA - Finger sandwiches and a spot of Earl Grey with classical harp music playing in the background make the perfect atmosphere for a high tea.
To celebrate Mother's Day the members of the United Ministry of Aurora's fellowship committee decided that this was just the thing the ladies of the village would appreciate.
“This is the first time we've done this,” said Sharon French, one of the event organizers. “We wanted to make something that would be welcoming to everyone in the village to be able to spend time with good friends and good food and good tea.”
The idea originated last spring when the ministry hosted a chautauqua. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, these were traveling events that brought education and culture to communities, with courses in music and speech and guest lecturers and things of this nature, as well as an emphasis on societal events like high tea.
“We had an organ concert,” said Ellen Schaffer, another event organizers. “And afterwards we decided to have a tea, and that was very well attended, so we thought we should do something like this again next year, and Mother's Day seemed like the perfect time.”
French and Schaffer were joined by other friends in the village, including Elizabeth VanVorce, a Scotland native, who gave them a crash course in high tea etiquette.
“She gave us a lot of ideas on a proper tea,” Schaffer said. “Like they don't serve peanut butter and jelly and they have coffee as well as tea, things like that she really helped us with.”
From there, members of the fellowship committee all made up various pastries and other dishes.
“Everyone just made something,” French said. “We have sandwiches and crumpets, clotted cream, a little bit of everything that makes a high tea.”
The tea drew many mothers and daughters, as well as friends, who were looking for a nice way to spend a sunny spring afternoon.
“We're all friends and neighbors at this table,” said Maralee Gunderson, who was joined by her friend Polly McGuire. “I think it is nice, very nice, they have put something like this together for people to sit and talk and have a cup of tea.”
Sarah Wells and her daughter Mara, 5, decided it was the perfect way to begin their Mother's Day weekend.
“It's really nice,” Wells said. “It's something different to do and to see a beautiful church and spend a little mother-daughter time. It's a really nice place to be and a really nice way to spend Mother's Day.”
Wells said her daughter was excited the whole way there, singing one of her favorite songs.
“I like Mrs. McPuppet's song,” Mara said. “'The Tea Party Shuffle.' I like to sing that song.”
French and her fellow organizers are looking forward to the chance to make tea a regular event.
“I think word of mouth will help it grow,” French said. “We may do this again for Mother's Day next year. We may do it again at some other time, too. I can always find an excuse to have a cup of tea, so I think this is something we'll do again, and maybe next time it will be even bigger.”
“This is the first time we've done this,” said Sharon French, one of the event organizers. “We wanted to make something that would be welcoming to everyone in the village to be able to spend time with good friends and good food and good tea.”
The idea originated last spring when the ministry hosted a chautauqua. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, these were traveling events that brought education and culture to communities, with courses in music and speech and guest lecturers and things of this nature, as well as an emphasis on societal events like high tea.
“We had an organ concert,” said Ellen Schaffer, another event organizers. “And afterwards we decided to have a tea, and that was very well attended, so we thought we should do something like this again next year, and Mother's Day seemed like the perfect time.”
French and Schaffer were joined by other friends in the village, including Elizabeth VanVorce, a Scotland native, who gave them a crash course in high tea etiquette.
“She gave us a lot of ideas on a proper tea,” Schaffer said. “Like they don't serve peanut butter and jelly and they have coffee as well as tea, things like that she really helped us with.”
From there, members of the fellowship committee all made up various pastries and other dishes.
“Everyone just made something,” French said. “We have sandwiches and crumpets, clotted cream, a little bit of everything that makes a high tea.”
The tea drew many mothers and daughters, as well as friends, who were looking for a nice way to spend a sunny spring afternoon.
“We're all friends and neighbors at this table,” said Maralee Gunderson, who was joined by her friend Polly McGuire. “I think it is nice, very nice, they have put something like this together for people to sit and talk and have a cup of tea.”
Sarah Wells and her daughter Mara, 5, decided it was the perfect way to begin their Mother's Day weekend.
“It's really nice,” Wells said. “It's something different to do and to see a beautiful church and spend a little mother-daughter time. It's a really nice place to be and a really nice way to spend Mother's Day.”
Wells said her daughter was excited the whole way there, singing one of her favorite songs.
“I like Mrs. McPuppet's song,” Mara said. “'The Tea Party Shuffle.' I like to sing that song.”
French and her fellow organizers are looking forward to the chance to make tea a regular event.
“I think word of mouth will help it grow,” French said. “We may do this again for Mother's Day next year. We may do it again at some other time, too. I can always find an excuse to have a cup of tea, so I think this is something we'll do again, and maybe next time it will be even bigger.”
Citizen
Hot Jobs
New! Off the Menu
The Citizens' Say
Post your comment - click hereThere are No comments posted.