My aunt–Tante–collected teacups.  I found them a couple years ago in my parents’ basement wrapped in 1975  Chicago Tribune newsprint (the year my aunt died), along with the beautiful blue and gold plates you will see in some of the pics, which were originally her mother’s– my grandmother’s–and over 100 years old.

The Chrysanthemum tablecloth is from war-time Okinawa. My aunt Pat was with her soldier husband Charles, stationed in Okinawa and my grandparents visited when the war ended. I remember eating on it only once or twice because it was so precious. My mother inherited it from her mother and I’m using it until my sister decides she might want it for awhile. So that’s why I had to have a tea party now and then.

See the cucumber sandwiches, scones, and goodies that everyone brought? Check out the chrysanthemums tatted into the border. Here, Patricia and Anne survey the spread. Kathy is looking for cobwebs after Lisa explained that her get up is a Norwegian tea party outfit. Next we have Jan E. in a lovely eclectic get-up involving pheasant feathers and fur, Alice of Green Gables, and Jan K. of Gone With the Wind. (If I weren’t pouring tea the whole times I could have taken notes and had a better grasp of this).

Here’s a better look at Jan with Colleen B. See? Pheasant and fur.

See that bruiser of a teapot? We found that in my mom’s closet. Perfect!

At around this point, Shelley stomped in, slammed her beer on the counter and Patricia demanded Shelley come upstairs to be dressed properly. Shelley countered with, “I’m your 1950’s lesbian friend.” Plus a few expletives simply not appropriate at a tea party. Well, okay. “…and Dorothy’s little lesbian sister,” she finished (I’d hoped). Fine. And isn’t she lovely!

Now here you have Jan K, Doro (note her lovely Hills-Are-Alive-With-The-Sound-of-Music skirt, and that bad ass Shelley. I mean, really. Do you see her beer? And her cigarettes!!! Let’s go to the next room. Lynn, Elaine, and Alice are far more polite. Back in the dining room, Lisa is still trying to make a case for her Norwegian tea sweater and Debbie, I believe, is telling Theresa that she realized she’s just lost a glove. On the other side of the table is the goddess, Letty–92 later this month–and setting the fashion trends as usual. There, there. Letty is holding one of the 100 year old blue and gold china plates. And Sara’s red hat and Claire’s blue! Yeah, Ladies.  Into the kitchen and we find the three goddesses in one frame–Tauby, Loretta, making a run for it, and Letitia (aka Letty). What is Shelley doing to Letty’s hair? The normally chaotic kitchen here: Pat, Loretta, Becky, Kate, Ellen, Shelley, Patricia, Kati (note that mammoth tea pot that appears to be coming from Kati’s nose), Jan ministering to Letti, Tauby and Doro.

Check out Ellen.  

There are several photos shot into the dark, but here’s P, demanding that her beloved take yet another shot of her, this time with Loretta and Pat.

Claire has just heard the most scandalous bit of gossip from fellow governess, Kati. I just hope she can keep it mum. Debbie is eavesdropping and knows the secret. Theresa is the only one who didn’t hear it, but Jean, clearly doesn’t not believe it for one moment.          Kati, whatever is the secret?

Will Claire reveal what she knows?

Here Patricia is distributing two dozen pairs of white gloves (for those who came without gloves)–(why ever did Mother save 2 dozen pairs of white gloves?) (Is it worth whistling over all those gloves, Mrs. Powell?). Alice is speculating whether it’s worth whistling over it. Sara thinks it is.

So finally, the portrait shot…Rae, vee have vays of making you take part in party apparel. Okay, I’m wearing clean-up gloves. Can you see them, Monica? And Colleen V. is flashing everyone. Lisa, prove that you’re wearing red matching gloves!

It’s time to say goodbye. Goodbye Letty. Goodbye Doro. Goodbye mink coats. Goodbye hats. Goodbye cane.

But wait, Trina’s just arrived. Here she is with Kati.Or is that Mary Poppins and Bonnie (without Clyde)?

Until next year.

xxxxxx

Comment from my cousin Susanna Gilson Hale (who couldn’t remember her log in to comment and I don’t even know what she’s talking about). My six cousins who share the grandmother who owned the chrysanthemum tablecloth were all brought up in Britain, and, all terribly British, even if they live in the colonies. Susie lives in Houston. She says:

That big brown beast looks to me like a Brown Betty – the quintessential English teapot.  Here’s something I found about them:

The unique traditional Brown Betty Teapot range was developed to enable its eighteenth century forerunner to be cast in one piece in terracotta clay embellished with Rockingham glaze resulting in a lustrous rich brown pot. It is said to make the best cup of tea.

There.  A little British trivia for a chilly Wednesday morning.  Would LOVE to have come to the tea party, but nobody sent me an invitation…..

This is not travel, this party took place in Champaign Illinois, but I need a place to post the tea party pics from January 4, 2009.

The party was inspired by my finding my aunt’s (Tante) collection of English teacups in my parents’ basement in Michigan, wrapped in 1975 Chicago Tribune newsprint. When we visited my aunt when we were kids, we could choose the teacup we would use. Tante died in 1975 and the cups and her china were hidden in the basement these 33 years. I was granted the blue china as well. S

These are the elders, starting with Letty; then Letty, Loretta, Tauby, none of them are old, simply eld. Also, Rae and Colleen. How did you get in there with the elders?Here’s a larger portrait, but certainly not everyone, just those in the kitchen.

Oh, this is ever-so-important and we need a change of photo type. Here are my shoes. I got them at a frock swap. Lovely, but crippling.And now for a few portrait shots. Here’s Kate who did it up with P. Then Rae who shopped for the occasion.Now here’s the dining room table, then the kitchen table.And here’s the shoe again.Have I put this one in yet?And here’s an erie picture of clean up time.I don’t think I got pics of everyone, but here’s a couple more:And now it’s time to put the teacups away.